NZ part 1: Arrival (27 Dec 2016 to 2 Jan 2017)

Year 2017 has started too fast for me, with a lot of things happening each day, everyday a new one, I am still need to adjust myself and get ready for the next ones.

To conclude one word in 2016 and 2017, it will be "RESTART".

A friend of mine reminded me to update my blog, being too lazy, or too tired, or too contented, I did remember about this but don't know where to start. So, forgive me for my messy paragraphs below,

Last year, two days before Christmas, I had the last farewell with my friends in Johor (after celebrating it for one whole December) and bring everything back to my hometown. Soon after Christmas, I packed all the necessity and all the blessing from the love ones, took the flight off from Kuala Lumpur to Auckland and had my first countdown of New Year 5 hours ahead from Malaysia.

All lovely gift from my love ones. 

Not managed to bring them all with me thou

Stay in Auckland for almost a week to get my bank account and apply for IRD number, it was just a few days of rest for me before I start my first job in New Zealand.

A Malaysian girl, Rachel had offer that we could travel together when we arrived Auckland and until we reach our workplace, the same location but different company.

Stayed at Malaysian family's homestay and get to know a few new friends, from Malaysia and Singapore, Zen, Si Shi, Jia Yen, Jin, and Olivia.

It was just a sudden kick that day in the morning, I decided not going to visit Auckland city with Rachel but follow Jia Yen to the shopping mall nearby, then we had good talk ( I suppose? I feel good to talk and sharing some thought with her and it was how I made new friends), and we tried the New Zealand Starbucks secret menu.

 Then at night, the housemates decided to countdown at the Sky Tower. It was a whole new start for me, for year 2017. The first "solo" trip in my life.

Fireworks at the Sky Tower

New Year day, we left Auckland and departed to the south island- Queenstown.

Surrounded by all the mountains, is my first impression to this place. 

It was really limited accommodation in Queenstown especially in the summer. We almost have to stay on the road. A Malaysian auntie offer me a night stay at her place - my first experience on couch surfing. She brought us around Queenstown that day and the next day sent us to the bus station.

My bed of the night

The historic bridge

Lake Hayes that take 3 hours to walk one round- we just walk for 100 m there. 

Goodbye 2016, Bello 2017!

2016 has been coming to the end, I chose to come to New Zealand after Christmas, managed to visit my late grandma before leaving the country and see most of the relatives.

2016 has been a good year, I am glad that everything end up well.

Looking forward for 2017 to come, in fact it has been a whole new start waiting ahead.

I am here at New Zealand, going to start working next week. Everything is new, people and environment, after rounds of farewell in Malaysia, all goodbye with the awesome people that I meet thus far.

Before leaving, hear a few good news from my friends, congrats to my 15 years brother that is going to get married next year in May, I really wish I can attend but no luck; my 10 years 'mui mui' Kai Loon that finally managed to free up his time to catch up before I leave, looking forward for your red boom in the coming years then; my long lost sister May Sian, waiting if you get to join me next year; my lecturer Dr Syahariza and congrats her for the new born; my professor Prof Norziah for the final quick call before flying off; my uni buddies in Kerry,  Bariqi and Iznie, wish you all the best in your career; my Johor gang, sofi, shadai, kha pui and seik hua, take care in JB.

Last but not least, all the brothers and sisters that I meet in JB, my managers, USM seniors, minions, Debera, Jia Yi, and Sarah. Millions thanks for all the memories in these two years. Looking forward for more good news in the future and thanks for supporting my dream and give me good advice.

My pure luck is not only limited to I got this opportunity to come to New Zealand, I have been having a great time with all of you, all the stories, laughers and tears that we shared.

Nor matter how close we are, or those that I only met occasionally.

Thank you all, for all the love and friendship.

Hiking In Johor : Gunung Pulai

It was not the original plan to visit Gunung Pulai during the Deepavali long weekend.

The original plan was to visit Gunung Lambak, Kluang as for the preparation for Penang Marathon. However, it was a whole day raining at Kluang the day before we went for hiking. But not to bring the whole event down, we decided to go to Gunung Pulai instead. 

Faith to bring me once again here, the very first place that I find to get near to the nature and inhale some fresh air. 

And the road condition was still good even though it has been raining earlier also. 

Maintain the same timing, and with some extra time spend while waiting, I noticed there is a few spider web build at the plants and it was my first time seeing a complete spider web in life. Normally I will be the spoiler and destruct all their nest. 

And not sure is it because of the raining season, or the flower growing season, or after a few months of closure, this time we saw a lot of flowers, different colors. 

Not forget to mention, the refreshing air that smells the after rain. 

A good day to celebrate the festival. 

A good day to hear from one of my long lost friend also. 

I am happy to hear that she is getting much better in life now. 

And I am hoping to see her in life to have a big hug as well. 

Once again, HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, my buddy, Elizabeth. 30th Oct 2016. 

Good Memories in 2016

2016 has almost come to an end. I am glad that it has been treating me well this year with a lot of good things happened in  the year since January.

Me, still the same, occasionally doing some crazy decision in order to make life more miserable. I did not plan for the to-do list this year, just trying to focus what I wanna to do. Surprisingly, it comes out to be looking like a plan.

First target archived is the Full Marathon that I promised myself to train regularly and revisit this year in order to tick one of the bucket list. Learning the lesson from the past, and participating more half marathon this year in order to get ready the long distance running, I made it!

Then is resuming my target to visit at least one new place a year. It has been a stop since I graduated. And finally I have extra leave to clear this year and managed to join my sister for one in Adelaide, Australia. It was a short trip, I had fun with looking the house just like "The Sims" but started to miss the Malaysian food after the few days of bread and fish&chips.

Mar is confirm to be one unforgettable memory I had in the year. Although it look like just a short dream. One thing that I need to use a longer time to digest and make it just part of a memory and proceed in life.

I keep in touch again with Ms. Sue Anne thanks to marathon : Malaysia Woman Marathon, we ran the half marathon. Part of the luck that I have since I entered university, I get to know this friend, One people that had taught and as the fertilizer to my craziness. We are normal being when as individual, but every time we chat or meet, both will transform become monkeys. Thanks to her for being there to join marathon's marathon with me in 2016, to support my training to get ready for the Full marathon.

Not forget my lovely sister, Jiao Mei's wedding in June. Hopefully she faster get a baby for me to play and make me officially an auntie. Thanks to her and my brother in law that always provide me shelter and transport when I visited Penang.

Last but not least, a few good moments with the seniors and team in Kerry and JB.

The Supply Quality Team, managers and peers. projects handling, presentation skills polishing, peers learning, communications and friendship building, one key reasons that I couldn't ask for more. The recognition and appreciation from the bosses. I am just too lucky to be part of the team.

The Minion's Dinner dates organized by Thong Thong and Terrence. One gathering the people, one recommend for the venue. The laughs and stories shared. Even though I am so called the youngest and always ruined the birthday plans, always lack of face expression even for my birthday surprise (I was too surprise until dont know how to express. Thought that since I have got my birthday present earlier so it will only be a dinner with Debera that night). These are part of the good damn time in Kerry.

Then, the USM marathon kaki, Lee Hoon, Doreen and Hui Ying, and a few other nature lovers in crime, who willing to be the driver and bring me for hiking as part of my training. Hiking at Gunung Lambak and Gunung Pulai, train and running marathon together, and join the full marathon (thanks to them I decided to join once again).

The USM course mates, two other Food Tech that join the company same as me. Even though not same department, they have been my Skype mates since then. And my first few months will not be so funny and friendly without them. My sayang and my temporary boyfie. Those are the people that we  shared the first steps in working life. Another two who are staying in JB too, as my karaoke buddies, Seik Hua and Kha Pui. To continue my university hobbies.

The APAC Early Career Training, that I get to know more new friends in Kerry, and get some concepts for work and for life. I was first nervous to join the training, yet we had been complaining since we enter the work as it should be part of the Graduate Program, to eat, enjoy and make friends.
We made it through (Sayang missed it, she jump too fast). Not sure how much that is going to impact my life, I did hopefully the friendship will continue to grow.

2016 has been come towards the ending, Christmas is coming soon, and then the New Year, I am a little shocking when get the news that one ex colleague has met an accident and leave us forever. It is time to re shuffle everything and start all over again for 2017.

Thanks to all the humans and monkeys that I met in life so far. I am such a lucky kids to meet each of them. Getting advice, courage and supports.

Let's look forward for 2017 to come. Wish everyone has a good holiday in the end of the year (to clear all the annual leave!) and have a great year ahead. Bello 2017!

Psychology World

Kill Me, Heal Me is the title of one Korean drama that I have recently watched. 

source

This drama talk a lot about dissociative identity disorder and child abuse elements as pivotal topics.

which succeed to grab my attention and interests to finish the drama. 

Recently read another novel, one story about how the writer heal her childhood bad memories using writing. related link here 《生命书写》蔡美娟

I read it quite slowly due to too much of memories has come to mind while reading it. Sometimes it is just too hard to remember it again. Due to loss of time, or due to you cannot afford to remember it again. 

Sometimes you tends to forgot part of the life story because it has been too long ago. Does it mean that you have totally lost memories about it? 

How things can suddenly happen and make everything out of control? 

Why sometimes a little thing can trigger your anger?　

It has been the lucky and unlucky 25 years for me. 

By some unclear reason, I have also lost my memories for some part of my life which it will be part of the good reason for my upcoming plan, to find the lost world from my memories. 

I need to dig out the hidden injured kids, talk to her, and hopefully together we are able to find the forgiveness and also to have a new life born again. 

The long awaited moment: let everything start from zero again. 

２０１６年的年度词：归零

November 2016 - Finish a FULL Marathon

Penang Bridge International Marathon, is one of the annual event that I will be joining since year 2010, and now it has been the 7th time I join for this event.

During my first year in USM, I was invited by my uncle to join the Half Marathon, where before that I have never think I would fall in love with any sports other than badminton and swimming. Well, I am always bad in sports activities since young, even I have trained hard. 

It was my first 21 km run and I thought I can never do it in 3.5 hours. Everyone who heard about it was having the same thought also and say that I must be crazy. At the end, I managed to finished it with the time of 3 h 25 m.

It was an eye opening experience. A journey that you will not be alone, you will see thousands of people running with you, everyone has their own reason to run: Some wanted to collect the medals; some want to challenges their best times, there are a lot of youngsters like us who just want to show off to their peers that they have come so far; there are also a lot of middle age or older people who are more physically fit and ran faster than you. From observation, there are thousands of stories you can see within the 21 km. That is how I fall in love with running a marathon, eventually you will forget to scroll your phone and keep focus on the road, on yourself, your mindset, your legs of course, when it gets hurt. 

Surprisingly it did not stop there. 

3 years later, after the third Half Marathon, my senior approach me and we both thinking if we should challenge ourselves to another level, the Full Marathon. We have been considering it since then but no one dare to really go for it. Luckily, thanks to another special friend of mine, who have not join any long distance run but decided to join it with his university friends during that time that finally encourage me to go for it as well. 

It was during my final year, where I have more flexibility while doing research for Final Year Project, I have more control of my time that I can arrange for training. Not to forget, those who spend time to motivate me for training: running in the campus, or go to the gym. Elizabeth and Sue Anne. It was 2013, my first attempt to Full Marathon, a little ran out of time, 7 h 03 m. 

I failed the second attempt the following year, lacking of exercise and also wearing a wrong running shoes. I got myself a few big blister and the feeling kills me each step I walked. I decided to give up on the run and realized that I need more training in order to keep myself in fit condition. 

Last year I go back to Half Marathon, managed to finish it without much training. 

But there are still something that I would like to challenge myself, some noise that telling me that I must try again before I say I cannot. Something that I know I need to come over, because I afraid of.(similar to talking to public, my legs shake every time I need to do so). 

This year, after 3 years since the first attempt, I decided to join again with my crazy running buddies here. A year challenge for myself also, that I wish to stand up from where I have fallen badly and the nightmare of 7 hours. I would want to prove that if anyone can do it, so do I. 

This year, thanks to the crazy marathon buddies (Lee Hoon, Doreen, Debera and Victor) that join the marathon with me.Thanks to Sue Anne that accompany join a few marathon in KL (Malaysia Woman Half Marathon, PJ Half Marathon, Pantai Bagan Lalang Half Marathon, Superman vs Batman was requested by her and I FFK her from the KL Standard Chartered Marathon), and my weekly training buddies - Hui Ying, Jia Yi and this year, surprisingly, Angelina mentioned that she is considering to join us for the gym session and she make it! From 400 m to 2 km! 

I am barely to continue the training without all of their supports and accompanies. 

This is the pride for everyone of them. You never know how much you have done to support a dream. And now, I can finally say it out loud that I have completed a FULL MARATHON.

Thank you! 

Without noticing the time is flying AGAIN, here come, the last day of November. Today, there have been two people come to me and say some words, it means a lot to me. For along the period here and growth. More to come for December?

Meanwhile, time to write down the to-do list for the coming year. And Happy Holiday to all the school kids!

Kerry APAC Early Career Program: Part 1, 2 and 3 - Completed

2016 has become a very interesting year, part of it is the graduate training program has come to live, after we had thought that it will never be happen again. But with a different mode. We participated this not as a fresh graduates but with bunch of experienced workers.

It was unexpected fun yet gaining a lot of insights for preparations for future leaders. I am sure that I am not ready to lead yet when I don't have confident on my technical skills, which I think it is important to make sure that it is important to cultivate it before you get into the management roles.

Besides of the knowledge sharing in this program, I guess what is more important is having the chance to meet new people in life.

Life started after 6 months of working has become a routine. There is limited of graduates for our year (hmm, I am not sure I have know them all, but 2 were my classmates, then through badminton I have know the others from production), I have the chance to know more seniors as well through the USM seniors, Supply Quality team,  badminton, and also Thursday dinner date.

Even though the job requires me to know new people in order to get the work done, the virtual communication way has make everything to be less human more formal. People come and go, and you can only accept the changes and to deal with the new one. Without much relationship involved.

This training has become a little bit different, when it combines people from the other departments and sites, a totally different background but gather together for the classes and become teammates.

And finally it has been officially ended, marked the end of the graduate program (damn, I still missing my university life!) but also another new journey going to start.

It has become a lot more challenges when you are facing the real world. What make it worth is nor matter how tough the journey will become, I will make sure it is confirm a journey of growth.

End of this program, I need to get myself ready for Penang FULL MARATHON, which will be held in less than a month time.

And there is still other to-do list needed to be clear before end of the year.

Keep calm and keep going.

Good Luck!! for you and me.