Balik Kampung

'Balik kampung', a very localised maxim that reminds me of my vocation now. I rarely blog. This one is sort of a come back after a long time.
The day before I came back, my boss worked me until 9.05pm. It was an insane idea of driving back right after my work and immediately began my new job the next day at 8.30 am. Thank God His sufficient grace and mercy as I travelled home with Andrew. Poor guy. He purposely waited at the car park for me that entire night to ensure that I could make it back safely and he offered to drive me home. After all, the journey seemed long and tiring. I slept soundly in the car.
The first day I arrived at the college gate, I was anticipating for new challenges and a fruitful briefing or orientation to kick off my day. My first day was rather short, simple and sweet. Nothing much from the senior lecturers but kept asking us to be careful with the students' mischief.
Then came the second, third and going to be the forth day soon! Still not much work or preparation to be done. I have to wait for the new textbooks in order to plan my lessons. As for now, I better start reading some stuff about class management, culture and psychology for me to comprehend deeper regarding the post-modern students' mentality.
I just returned from Ipoh with my parents. Basically Kampar is just a nice place for me now. No rushing. No deadline. No pressure meeting with boss. No proposal. No editing. No changes and what not..
Balik kampung..oh...Balik kampung...the feeling is just indescribable..it's raining out there.
Yay, i can get to sleep when it rains and I love it.

In action again

Another out-of-routine day begun as I woke up this morning. There were loads of things in my mind. First of all, I needed to keep the house spick and span. To keep myself sane, surprisingly i did some academic read up. And to make myself feel comforted and assured, I needed the word of God. The time was ticking too fast. I couldn't even sit down and think of what I desire to do with my one and only life.
The morning was somehow occupied with phone calls and house chores.
Then came afternoon...a pleasant surprise was given by my sister.
The surprise was, I met with Victor. Victor is now my sister's colleague and not anymore soon. Quite a bit to catch up with each other though. He seems to be still the Victor that I know of. Good to know that too. Somehow, we cut down a lot of crappy jokes. We had a simple yet meaningful fellowship time with each other. He brought the issue of opportunity cost. Why so?
It is decision making time for me. These thoughts lasted throughout the afternoon and partly evening until i decided to blog it. May be it helps to release what I need not have to contain within myself. Of course I do hope not to make the wrong step but how do i define my wrong step? I am still searching for the answer. Faith must come with action. Therefore, this will make me constantly be on my toes to pray, believe and act.

Yet it is a day without regrets

Today, the sun seems brighter. The air appears to be filled with invigorating fragrance.
I have made an effortless decision earlier of the day, "Not to go to work". Not only because I felt tired and fed up with my work, moreover, it was because of a nagging migraine pain resulted since the day before yesterday. However, my conscience whispered to me not to simply take emergency leave without a valid reason. Eventually, I was more than convinced that I needed the break. Break away from the weekday routines. The routines are dull if I started my day without remembering to whom my life shall be dedicated for. Only surviving on the sole daily bread everyday,I know I need to take time to be still and quiet before Him. Although the entire day I was occupied with some other things such as doing household chores, brisk walking in the morning and you-know-what (of course shopping!), today was extraordinary for me. Thanks to the one whom has given me this day. These may not sound as special to others, but strangely, i find that even doing household chores is comforting for me and it is capable to draw me closer to Him. Despite having to sweat all over the body, I enjoyed managing the household and cooking. Perhaps, it may merely last for only a while. I don;t mind as long as it helps me to move on with my life, discovering new leisure. (oh, it reminds me a lot of Camp Cameron)..
Well, waiting for someone to come home has been part of my agenda lately. I will start to prepare for dinner as well as for the following day's breakfast. Unfortunately, i have spoken too soon. Sometimes, i find doing all this can be frustrating too soemtimes...
Today, is still a day for me to treasure. Seldom will I be able to live my day like today unless of course I am still a student but I have learned to grow up and take responsibility of the decision I make. May I grow to become more mature spiritually and find my strength renew day after day. Tomorrow will be a better one for me, I believe.

Another extraordinary day

Again, the exclusives had their monthly meet up.
Strangely how we ended up in one of the not-so-popular restaurant although the food is not too bad.
It was an almost two hour session of catching up and sharing our recent happenings to each other. Exchange our so called "news" about ourselves as well as others was part of the agenda, as usual I could say. Well, if you were one of our topics, that means Christine really misses you tremendously! haha...
This kind of meeting i truly cherish as we sincerely share our genuine friendship and talking endlessly almost about anything even though we may misuse some words for some other context like "pre-marital".
Anyway, I had a whale of a time, laughing too much i guess. My cheek hurts until now.
I came home with a satisfied feeling as I know there are still friends who care.
I thank God that each of them are going overseas for their holiday trip this year end and have a safe trip to your respective destinations and enjoy it to the fullest man!
As for me, I have a plain simple get away with my parents and Andrew this year end. I think I would most probably be going for the paragliding once again=) which i did two years ago.
Christmas is approaching. It is time for me to prepare myself during this Advent season that I may truly rejoice to share Christ's love to everyone around me. His unfailing, amazing love...
A conversation (as much as I wanted a conversion at the same time), took place pertaining to how one should celebrate christmas and what is the meaning after all. I chanced to explain further what Christmas was and is to me to this colleague. She is a non-believer, a rather staunch Buddhist or is she an atheist im not quite sure. She merely has Santa as the most essential part of christmas. I told her that funny how it is not called "Santa-mas" but "Christmas". Immediately, she rejected the true meaning of Christmas that I was attempting to tell her. I told the Lord that hopefully she'll understand fully what Christmas is all about. She was a little too obstinate regarding the meaning of Christmas. Reason being, she kept telling me how she didn't want to be reminded herself of the harshness of reality in life and Christmas should be a joyous occasion where everybody should be enjoying life and it's only a celebration. It will break her heart if i were to tell her the truth about Christmas.
Deep down in me, there were tonnes of things that I wished to share it to her. First is the birth of Christ that brings hope to everyone living in this sinful and fallen world. Secondly, is that, once you know the truth, it will set you free and not to live in denial. Of course, oppression, injustices, conflicts are inevitable in real life but one thing that a Christian arms with is the unconditional love and forgiveness.
Well, i need to be prepared and take another opportunity to let her know how much Jesus loves her...

wasting time

wasting time is somehow a sin for me because i have not make good use of my time when i can do something about it..sigh...i settle what i need to. I hate to even wait here like this.

I'm done.

Jus two minutes ago, my two bosses left. Phew, it was a very intensed meeting. I'm pretty sure i can sleep soundly tonight. All the energy in me oozes whenever i have meetings with them. Lots of brainstorming session together with them. Whatever i have prepared, i expect tremendous changes. Well, it's a very humbling experience to work here but thank God that my bosses won't humiliate me for what i'm not certain of or do not know.
Immediately after the meeting, i would like to spend some time in my own space. That's why i write this. I'm done with what i should at this moment.
Thank God I'm still in one piece. Amen...

It'll be definitely late for tonight

Ever since i have started working, life has tremendously changed. I come to face the reality. The working environment isn't too bad after all. It's just that the work load is unbearable sometimes and my sense of timing has to be accurate somehow as it is project-based work is all about deadlines. Well, come to think of it, I am given an opportunity now to be discipline and prudent. In big or small decisions, whether it's pertaining to personal life or work, definitely the every single minute detail has to be taken into account. "Can not be short-sighted," as how my boss mentioned it.
But unfortunately, i have been slacking in my spiritual life. Seriously, i'm growing but not spiritually but horizontally. Well, at some point of time, i truly need to break away from the life that i am living now. I am not satisfied at all honestly in terms of my relationship with the One above.
However, there are things that i won't stop giving thanks to God. Regarding my work, i have two programme advisors(the founders) and one direct supervisor, who are generally humble and generous in sharing their knowledge and experience in our field of work. On top of that, all of them are Christians and "the strong ones" i would say=). Isn't it amazing? I thought it won't be too good to be surrounded by a bunch of Christians but i came to realization that wherever i have been sent to, i will always have Christian friends around me or in way, am i too comfortable or God knows that i would fall easily that's why He sends many angels to "watch over" me? Well, well, well, perhaps...
In terms of my personal life, i thank God that i have the determination to make a change, of course for the betterment of my future.
Therefore, i am staying late tonight in the office to complete with what i can. The battle starts tomorrow..