United Kingdom the Impromptu Trip

Edinburgh is a beautiful city.

I forgot what building is this. :( But it's so pretty. Too bad I didn't get to revisit the castles. 

Then, LINH CAME! haha. We went around Birmingham city centre, shopped for the necessities and she really did help my settling down in Birmingham easier. We went grocery shopping one night and had to carry what i thought was about 10kg of plastic bags back to where I live which is about 20-30mins of travelling time (including taking the train).

This is the view from Starbucks in Bullring, Birmingham.

We were chilling there, having a cuppa coffee and skyped wenxian! hah.

On the night Linh was supposed to leave, we went to this french pattisserie, Maison Mayci, on High Street (Harborne Road) in Birmingham. Their tarts are good, beautifully decorated too. About 2.60pounds for a palm-sized tart. This would cost about 8-9AUD in Adelaide.

Afterwards, when Linh was about to leave, I was looking at my timetable and wondering what will i do before going to Leeds in the afternoon as plan, suddenly i was wondering if i should go with linh! it was bout 6pm. Linh booked my ticket online and I packed in 5mins, left the hostel by 6.20pm, rushed to the train station (thank God no one was selling/checking ticket through the whole train journey which save us some time AND money), we dragged our hand luggage and ran to the coach station! 10mins to 7pm! We were 10mins early! SO! i'm In LEEDS NOW.

This was by far the most impromptu interstate trip decision i've made. It is fun, hilarious and exciting. I know it's a God-given opportunity for me to experience. I will look back at these memories one day and will be glad that i did it. I do this now, its called adventurous. If i do this in 10 years time, i'll most probably be called irresponsible.

So, this is only a small part of Leeds!

This is a nice city that I like. the Britz say this is a small city, i think they should visit Adelaide before defining what small means. :D alright, i still like Adelaide ok, just in a different way.

OH YEA! I went to Jamie's Italian (by Jamie Oliver) too! The food is good, but it's not "WOW" good. It's worth trying, because you know, it's Jamie Oliver. ;)

<3,
pRis

Hi 2012. Hi Birmingham.

I haven't blog in a long while. Anyway, Happy New Year! Greetings to all of you from Birmingham.
*This is just a record of what happened on my first day in Birmingham, it may be a lil boring for you*

I had such a long day yesterday. I traveled for about 22 hours to reach Birmingham. The landing to Birmingham wasn't like anything I was imagining: gracefully touch down and looking at the city with full of emotions. NO. The weather wasn't great, so it was so bumpy. It was like a roller coaster ride for at least 15mins. Kids were screaming and crying. I was looking at the downward camera of the plane. The sum of everything led to nausea. Got off the plane feeling sick.
After quite a long wait at the immigration, waited for almost an hour for my luggage. But thank God both my luggages arrive safely.

When i reached the reception of my hostel. i was dead tired. but the receptionist suggested that i should get my ID card from the uni. after much hassle and walk a path that i think is longer than needed, i reached uni. but the person said i have not completed my registration. so i couldnt get my card then. have to go back on Monday. Me, having no sense of direction, tried my luck to get back to uni from another way that i came from. But luckily i found my way back and there were quite a few pedestrian that i asked to just make sure i was in the right direction. I rushed back before 5pm to get my duvet set and internet cable for my room, only to know that reception is 24 hours.

Afterwards, i rushed off to High Street thinking to get my sim card. On my way out, i opened a fire door, thinking that i can use it as short cut, but i set off the alarm. so i had to run all the way to reception and ask for help again. the guy, Amirk (who is kind enough to help me carry one of my luggage to my room) shook his head. I was so embarrassed.

So, as i set off to get my sim card, thinking i must get it then, broke my heart when the stupid phone shop do not have micro sim. :S What kind of phone shop is that!?! he said i need to get to City Centre to get it done. Which i still have no idea where it is. Argh. with much disappointment, i went to get some things from this shop called Home Bargain. and then went to Marks and Spencer to get myself an apple pie and some ham. The living cost here is quite okay. I get the pie for 89p. I couldnt have bought a pie at this price in Aus.

So, using my almost-non-existent sense of direction, i manage to get home in one piece. My new neighbour who offered some help earlier gave me a sim card that she got in her welcome pack, after i told her i couldnt get a sim from High Street. I was so thankful. Thank you God for giving me a good neighbour/toilet mate (we share the same toilet).

So after a long day, i showered (the water was not HOT! i almost froze when i first showered until the water warm up towards the end of my shower), fixed the internet, put the sim in my phone, pack for today, and went to bed. Even though i woke up at 11+pm, 1am, 2am and finally wakes at 4am, I feel well rested.

Thank you God for everything, and my safe arrival. Now, I'm setting off to Edinburgh for 3days! Can't wait to see some family. Hope it'll cure my homesickness a little.

Cheers,
Pris

C'est le vie

People come and go in your life.
Some are around you but you don't see them often.
Some are far away from you but you keep each other updated.
Some who are not catching up regularly but still close to your heart.
Some who are going away and you wish they stay.
Some who you have a love-hate relationship with.
Some you know you want them but still push them away.
Some left your life due to miscommunication.
And some loves you no matter what you do and where you are.

C'est le vie!

PERFECT

God is indeed perfect. Once again, I've experience his grace and mercy. I'm so glad I waited.

It was last week, during my exams, I wanted to book my airticket to Melbourne to have biometric scan appointment (just one of the things you have to do to apply for student visa, and Adelaide doesn't have British Embassy, sad i know). Anyway, I was told to wait until Friday before making any decision. I prayed to God, if you were to send me the acceptance letter of University by Friday, I'll book the airticket immediately to Melbourne, if not, I really didnt know what to do.

Friday (11th Nov) came, alas the acceptance didn't. I had property exam the next day, so I didnt think much. I was worried about it, but I thought to myself, worse come to worse, I'll just have to stay in Australia for a longer period of time, less time in Malaysia and a possibility of no family holiday end of the year (my mum said she'll leave me at home while all of them go on holiday). So, I decided to finish my exam before doing anything. At the thought of me not able to go home for a long time, mum offered to call the British Embassy in Malaysia. Since she was busy, she only did it on Monday and told me about it on Tuesday, after my exam.

She told me I can not apply for a visa. I was skeptical. HOW can you NOT have a STUDENT VISA when you are going to study there???!!! my friend who went needed one (Vietnam passport holder), and it did not occur to me that I REALLY DIDNT have to. I called the embassy today (16th Nov 2011, Wednesday) and confirmed I really don't need a student visitor visa to go to the UK because I'm a Malaysian passport holder. I was thrilled. ECSTATIC. because, that means I can fly home very sooon instead of being stranded in Aus indefinitely until i get my visa done.

So afterwards, I just continue doing things and went out to the beach and have a good time with three other friends. When I came home, i felt the urge to check my student email. and guess what's next? I SAW ADELAIDE ABROAD SENT ME AN EMAIL REGARDING BIRMINGHAM ACCEPTANCE. *GASP* I clicked open and I've been accepted! even though i know I probably get the acceptance, but the wait kind of make the you feel incomplete and have some reserve. But now! It's here!! I can't stop smiling.

I really thank God for his perfect timing. IF i've gotten my acceptance last week, I wouldn't have called the embassy or my mum wouldn't have called the embassy to find out I don't actually need the student visitor visa. and I would have waste quite a large sum of money by going there and have to wait for another (at least) two weeks before getting my passport back for the visa application to be completed. I thank God for his PERFECT TIMING. The timing is too perfect. and only God can do it. If i had let my impatience get into the way and booked my ticket, only to find out i didnt have to spend that sum of money, i'll be cursing myself for being such a fool.

And so, i've got most things done. I need to apply for accommodation and run some bank errands. and that's it! I'M ON MY WAY TO UK. Thank you Jesus. Thank you everyone who have been praying for me and praying alongside with me.I really appreciate that and I know God does hear your prayers for me. :)

God is ever faithful.

Signing off,
Pris.

F.R.I.E.N.D.

What kind of friend i am? I feel so irritate with myself for expecting things from people around me. I need to learn how to stop expecting. stop justifying what i do is right. It might be right in my point of view, but others might not see eye in eye with me. I just wish I can be more "flexible" in the sense that i dont rigid things to go only one way. It's for sure tiring when i try to accommodate the reaction of the rest in one event. and frustrating at times too. I'm not even talking about deep stuff like our point of views in life, its just friends keeping the promise they make, like sticking to a dinner plan, or not being half an hour late. SIGH.

I remember a friend once told me he didn't want to reach to a point where he stop expecting others. I vaguely remember that particular conversation, but yea, i can feel what he felt right now. Mind you, this is not the first time. I've been agitated by this recurring feeling almost my whole life. so i don't think it's the people around me, it's me who needs to change, and not expect. Or perhaps, i haven't been close to this kind of people. I guess i need to be one in order to meet one.

I know i'm not the most punctual or the most reliable person on earth, but i know when i need to. i hope i havent make some of you feel this way. If i do, i'm truly sorry. I'll try my best to be good from now. If i'm not showing up, i'll tell you.

NTS: patience patience patience.. i'm imperfect myself, thank you for everyone who still loves me. thank you God for loving me.

Frustration over Emotion

I seriously dislike myself being so overpowered by my emotions.
I feel weak-and-needy.

iwannarunaway.mayberunintoyourarms.

God, please help me. :(

Ugh

I'm under stress/panic attack.
CRAP.
I DO NOT WANT TO GO BACKK.
more like
I do not want to face the PILED UP WORK.
kill me already.

Bye home sweet home,
i will definitely miss u. :(

its time like these that i question is such education really necessary?
YES IT IS.

kthxbye.