The Big 8s of 2008

Woooo 2008 is coming to an end!! It has been a great year, full of hardship and wonderful surprises. 2008 is big for me because it is a totally different path in life compared to my sheltered life in secondary school. So I have met new people, gained new experiences, made new mistakes (and some of the old ones), picked up new habits and a slightly bolder attitude, I think. Teehee

Since it is the end of the year 2008, I thought that I should do a write up on the 8 biggest/coolest thing that occured in my life throughout this year. These events are arranged in chronopredator chronological order since there is no way I can rank any of these events...

1. I CAN DRIVE!!!!!!!!!!!

Uh huh uh huh!!! BE AFRAID KUCHING (and sometimes KL), be very VERY afraid!! I have now, in my hands, my driving license!!
Lolz fret not! I am a good driver!! I have people that can testify to that, right Suria? Chad? Eddie? Edwin?

I passed the JPJ test one day before SPM results came out, and I ACED IT! It was easy, after praticing numerous times, but honestly, ask me to go up that hill now and I just might fail it!

Yea I consider this to be a big thing because it means that I can go out where ever I want WHENever I want, provided that the car is available for me to use. Teehee

Since I have been driving, I have taken up the role of chauffeur and cab driver. When I go out with my friends, most of the time I will be the one driving. Sometimes I would even turn out to be the ONLY person driving among them.

Imagine this, more than 10 people out in town and I was the only one driving! Owh yea no joke! The boys had to walk in the rain while the rest of us girls squeezed in the car.

And you all shall WALK!!!!

And here are the pictures of the people that had the privillage of getting a joyride in my car:

Michelle and Yen Hua

Steeeeeek your tongue back in Panda!!

People squeezing at the back of my car. FIVE PEOPLE!!

Driving people around can be tiring, but I am not complaining. I enjoy it XD

2. SPM!!!

Back then, I thought that SPM was super super important and that if I do not do well, my world would end. Ok that was an overly-dramatic statement. But I knew that if I did not do well in my SPM then a lot of windows of opportunity would be closed for me.

Despite my silly and useless worrying, praise the Lord I managed to score 9A1s and 1A2 for my SPM! A whole lot better than what I had expected or even deserved. So yes getting straight As for SPM was a big deal for me this year.

Cindy and I collecting our results in the school hall

So yes, trust in the Lord for He will sort out everything. Even though during the day of exam you were turning insane to the point of laughing like a hyena from the canteen ALL THE WAY UP to the third floor where the exam was taking place. Teehee owh yea I was super crazy back then, and still am!!

3. Petronas Educamp

After obtaining my SPM results, my mother nagged me into applying for scholarships to further my education. I tried my luck with MARA, JPA, Khazanah, BNM, Petronas, UM foundation. At that time I had my mind set on dentistry. But little did I know that something else would steal my interest and attention.

When I received the letter from Petronas to attend their Educamp program, I actually thought of passing it up because they were offering Petroleum Engineering while like I said, that time dentistry was on my mind. Thank GOD I went for that camp!

Educamp was more or less like an interview camp, Petronas' way of scouting for potential future scholars and employees. It was fun! The interview was more fun than I thought it would be. Honestly it was not intimidating at all, unlike the MARA interview I went through.

I was not the only Townian selected for the interview. Cindy, Yen Hua and Ning Jian were also called in for interview. In the camp, I met new people, which includes my cousin that I never knew existed and these two monkeys.

The matching monkeys Edwin and Eddie

Since May we have been hanging out a lot. Now, one is in Perak, the other in UiTM. And when we get together, Eddie gets bullied well, lets just say that we have a lot of fun XD

4. I GOT it!!!

I never really expected to get any offers at all. I knew that I had a good chance in getting something, maybe at least ONE offer. But the Lord blesses His children exceeding abundantly above ALL that we can think or ever hope for! My offers were:

-MARA; Dentistry. IB in KMS then India

-Science foundation in UM

-Matriculation in Labuan

-Petronas; Petroleum Engineering. A-Levels in KDU, then 4 years in the States

Guess which one I picked. INDIA!!!!!!!!!!!! Petronas DUH!!!

It was not an easy decision. I had many factors to consider. Each one came with its own pros and cons, but the ultimate would have to be Petronas of course.

So yea I was spoiled for choice, and I praise God for helping me choose the right one.

5. Cool College and a Kickass Condo

Since I got the Petronas offer, Alep and I had been on the edge of our seats, waiting for July to come so that we can start classes in college. KDU rocks!! The lecturers are nice, facilities are satisfactory. Heck, we even have the best cafeteria!!

Before I got here, some people were warning me about those studying in KDU. A lot of rich kids attend classes there, so there was an assumption that everyone that goes there are snobs and that we are going to be bullied around by them snobby rich brats.

Yes KDU has a lot of rich kids there. Look around and you will see branded goodies like Nike, Adidas, Gucci and what not. But no, we have never been bullied by anyone who has a much higher spending power than us. Hence, statement about stereotypes in KDU proven to be wrong. So far. Teehee

I have to thank KDU for setting us up in a very very very VERY nice posh place to stay in instead of banishing us to stay in its hostel and also to Petronas for willing to splurge on us like that!!

The view from 1st floor

At first, it felt as though Sterling was in the middle of nowhere since there were not many shops nearby with only one VERY expensive mamak stall and a 15-20 minutes walk to Giant for groceries. Cabs were really hard to flag down, and Rapid KL had not started taking a route in front of the condo.

But now, we have a few more food stalls opened, a stationary shop that also sells groceries, and we can even sneak inside Kelana Mahkota which is just next door to get some groceries. Plus, Rapid KL bus T624 now passes in front of Sterling, which means that we do not need to spend RM3 just to get to the Kelana Jaya Station!! Woohooo the Lord provides!! Teehee

6. Them Crazy People I Go to College With...

Wow I have never been in a group where everyone is so united within a few weeks of getting to know each other despite having religious, cultural, ululu and background differences. Nevertheless, I am very blessed to be in this group. We all love each other and all our whackiness and insanity. Awwww

My housemates and Nazirul

The three science chicks under Petronas

Lepak-ing at Pavi

Everyone has charisma, personality and a sweet caring heart! Yes some were shy at the first few weeks, but after that, they become more open and even start cracking very unexpected jokes! It is very easy to get along with these people since we have things in common. Alep and Yvonne are my first friends since before we even set foot into KDU, along with June and Pei Jin. Also not forgetting our seniors Syamil, Wendin and Farah, who helped us so much in our preparation!!

Usually when I have an idea, Alep would usually be the one that I would turn to. The Pah and I have alot in common, what can I say. Hehe Jie Jie really is the Da Jie in my house. She always takes care of us and is great in giving advice. Kautsar, my darling roomie. I am amazed that she is still sane after bunking in with me for the past 6 months. Haha Suzie is not human. She is damn smart. The tok guru of further maths and physics, alongside Zul. Haha ahhhh I love them all!! They make life in KL a whole lot of fun and enjoyable. Nipaporn!! Teehee

One of the best thing about these people is that they are INSANE!! Endless entertainment I tell you!! You can count on them to come up with nonsense and do really funny stuff as well. Which explains why we have a whole lot of inside jokes that comes from virtually every single funny thing that we see or do.

Chad trying to be funny with someone else's specs

Pah's signature look

Playtime with Aliq and Mun Mun

Lets dance or pose or point at people...

Chad hunting after his ululu lesson

Don't poke your eye out Suzie!!

I have about 1.5 years left with these people. And they make time fly pass really fast.
Together we went through a whole lot of laughter, and a whole lot of crap. But whatever it was, we stuck together. And we always will XD

7. Sweet Mama Drama!!!!!!

We did a play for our english class back in September. It was energy zapping, time consuming, stressful, difficult to manage and was extremely problematic. It was, it was... Fun. Haha

Fatin, Mun Kit and Daniel rehearsing a scene

Just My Lady takes the stage

Ms Hema who helped made it all possible

I say it again. We are family!!

That experience has really brought us closer to one another, just as Nipaporn said. Besides, we all know that we probably would not get this kind of opportunity once we enter university. And that is why it is a big deal for me. We are doing another production in February. This time, big scale. This is going to take up alot of our time, our Saturdays, and most importantly, our sleep time!!! ZOMG my SAT!! AS!! SLEEP!! T.T

It will be worth it, I know. It had better be...
Lolz

8. KDU CF Christmas Camp

Ever since my first week in KDU, I have been attending its CF every Friday.

But it was the week before and during the camp when I started to be closer friends with the CF people. Especially this guy:

Poser!!! Lai lai do the Lala pose number 1-10!!! Teehee

That is Vincent. His real name is Hippo. He talks to hippos, and loves to eat mud, soil and drink mud water. Teehee Hippo has been a great encouragement to me and is extremely random. I know that I inherited my mother's lameness, but this dude brought out the lameness in me! Yea ho? hahahaha

Wei, I want ice-cream, cookies and TGIF. Teehee... NNGGIAW!!!

Anyway, the CF camp was one of my favourite events this year. It was a fresh revival and the fellowship was awesome. A small number of 20+ did not hinder the Lord from pouring out His presence during the camp. Just as what the scripture says:

For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them (Matthew 18.20)

"Rawr!!! I have pretty pink fingers!! It was personal wasn't it??"

Err, yes and no...teehee

Tossing Mr Ulu into the pool. He's actually enjoying it...

Elaine and I!! Put us together and you are going to get a pair of crazy people laughing the entire night for no apparent reason

"We all have pretty pink fingers, but I think mine is the prettiest!" LOLZ

One big happy family in Christ. Not hot here, no vulcano :p

KDU CF is very important to me as it is the one place where I can get fellowship and grow spiritually. CF has very erm, interesting people there, and an awesomely cute couple, XiYing and Aaron!! Aiyo I knew there was something between them the very first time I spoke to Aaron back in August. Hehe. Joshua and his family are a great blessing! I would not be going to church if not for them. Thanks Mi for giving me the heads up about Mr New. Yea its good to know people right? Teehee

TO ANY KDU CF PEOPLE READING MY BLOG!!
I just want to say that it is a blessing to know each and every single one of you. I hope that you guys will continue to have fellowship with one another no matter the time or day, just as His word says:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as we see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Thank You Lord for giving me such wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ there in college!

So the end of the year is here. Thank you all for following my blog since I started ranting in May, and I hope that you all will continue to read my crap that is more to come next year. With that said, people, say goodbye to 2008 and say hello to 2009!! Stop clinging onto the last and start looking forward to the future that is filled with God's promises and blessings!

Happy New Year everyone!
Loads of Love,
Sherene.