PTPTN Loan

Once graduated, I have incurred myself with several debts, namely PTPTN loan, credit card and car loan (in sequential order). I was happy when I checked my PTPTN loan statement. Almost 5 years into work, and I have almost paid up half of my loan amount.

Principal amount was RM21,000. Didn't know what was the total loan when added with interest though. Remaining balance to be paid up is ~RM13,000. I am proud to announce that I service my loan monthly. PTPTN helped me a lot during my uni years. And I will make sure that I play my part so that juniors can benefit from it as well (whether there is free education or not).

I used the money so it is quite logical to pay back the sum loaned to me. I don't understand why most people don't bother to pay up. Different principles? Probably. Not my business to comment anyway. As long as I can answer to my very own self-conscience.

But of course, if only I studied hard to earn first class degree, I don't even have to bother to pay since it will be waived. Talk about never putting in 100% effort... lazy is the word~~~

Gratitude

If you have never experienced

the danger of war or the solitude of imprisonment,

the agony of torture and hunger,

you are much ahead of the 500 million people who live in this world.

If you have food in your refrigerator,

clothes to wear, a roof on your head and a place to sleep,

you are richer than the 75% of the people who live on this earth.

If you can go to your place of worship

without being threatened, arrested, tortured or killed,

you are luckier than the 3,000,000,000 persons of this world.

If you have money in your bank account and your wallet

and some loose change in some little box,

you are one of the world's 8% well-to-do population.

Work as if you have no need of the money,

Love as if nobody ever made you suffer,

Dance as if nobody is watching you,

Sing as if nobody is hearing you,

Live as if the paradise were on this earth.

Lesson 3

Sometime ago, when ice cream was not so expensive, a ten year old boy went to an ice-cream parlour. While sitting at the table:

Boy       : How much does a Sundae cost?
Waitress: 50 cents
The boy took out his money from the pocket and began counting it.
Boy       : Well, how much does a simple ice cream cost?
There were other waiting to be served, so the waitress began to get a little impatient.
Waitress: 35 cents!
The boy counted his money again.
Boy       : Please get me a simple ice cream.

The waitress served him the ice-cream and his bill. The boy ate his ice-cream, paid his bill at the counter and left. When the waitress went to clean the table, she began to cry... for there, in the corner of the plate, were 15 cents... her tip. The boy took a simple ice-cream instead of a sundae so that he could leave a tip for her.

Lesson 1 & 2

Wish to share an email I received...

#Lesson 1

After some months at the faculty of medicine, the professor gave us a test. Being a good student, I quickly answered all the questions... all but the last:

"What is the baptism name of the maid of our institute?"

I handed over my test paper, leaving the last question unanswered. Just before the lesson ended, another student enquired if the last question would be marked.

"Certainly!" the professor replied. "You will meet many people in your life. All of them will have some degree of importance. They will deserve your attention, even if it is a simple simple or a simple hello."

I never forget this lesson... and went on to learn that the baptism name of our maid was Marianna.

#Lesson 2

One a rainy, tempestuous night a "coloured" woman was standing on the roadside. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed help. Wet to her core, she signalled to the passers by.

A white young man, as if unaware of the racial conflicts that tore apart America in the 60s, stopped to help her. He conducted her to a safe place, called a mechanic and hailed a taxi for her. The woman seemed too much in a hurry, but did not forget to thank him and take down his address on a piece of paper.

Seven days had already passed when someone knocked at the door of the young man. To his enormous surprise, it was a packet to deliver a big colour TV along with a note:

"Many thanks for helping me on the road that night. The rain had completely drenched me and my soul when you appeared. Thanks to you I was able to reach my dying husband just in time. God bless you for having helped me.

Sincerely,

Mrs King Cole"

Same Name Different Place

This is what happened when you have two places with the same name but with just a bridge dividing it.

A: Hey, we reached Subaidah already. We are having breakfast now. Where are you?
B: I had just reached Subaidah as well.
A: The one at the corner one right? Can't see you pun.
B: It is the one near the XXXX (Couldn't understand it), right?
A: At the corner one. Are you having breakfast with us?
B: No, had taken mine. Will wait for you guys at Tesco Extra opposite Subaidah.
A: OK.

Waiting at Tesco Extra park with no familiar face to be seen.

A: Hey, where are you? Can't see you.
B: At McD. Will reach in a shortwhile.
C: Why don't we go meet them there instead?
A: No need, better wait here.

After some time...

A: Are you guys here yet? You are coming to Tesco Extra, not the Tesco E-gate right?
B: Ya, Tesco Extra, last time is Makro.
A: OK, then it's correct destination.
B: Front or back entrance?
A: Front, the one facing mainroad and traffic light.
B: I am here already but can't see you. I am driving silver Persona.
A: Can't see you either. You drive to King's here.
B: OK, let me make another turn... Reached already but can't see anyone. I am at the ATM there.
A: (huh, ATM? OMG...) Hey, don't tell me you are at Sungai Dua mainland ah...
B: Yup.
A: OMG, we are in Tesco Extra, Sungai Dua, USM la...

After ding dong for so long, at least we finally got to know that we are not waiting at the same place. OMG, that is supposed to be Tesco Extra Seberang Jaya, no one calls that Tesco Extra Sungai Dua, although it is near the Sungai Dua highway. I wonder why do they like to give same name to different places, so confusing!

9 Tips to Work Less and Live More

#1 Disappoint people
Bite off only what you can chew. Other than that, learn to say no. No point suffocating yourself for the sake of others.

#2 Keep emails and meetings short
Straight to the point. Beating around the bush really takes up time. You can socialize despite brief emails and meetings.

#3 Hit delete
Delete emails. I will delete emails after reading it. Still no courage to delete emails without reading.

#4 Let them judge
Can't please everyone. No point focusing on living up to other people's standards.

#5 You don't need to fix people
It can be annoying especially when people don't request to be fixed. No harm helping others, but only if they deserve the help.

#6 Trust
Have faith that others can execute their tasks properly. Stop micromanaging.

#7 You can't give it all
Be realistic. Not every job requires perfection. Not possible to give each task equal priority and time.

#8 You can't have it all
Need to make choices and sacrifices. You can do everything at one go but do you really need to? Perhaps not 100% of the time. Fix your own priorities at different points of life.

#9 You are worthy just sitting still
Doing nothing is sometimes the best investment in your life and your health.

Decided

Decided. Point of no return. Don't care so much already. Initial intention is to change environment. Well, I am getting better now. In fact I can feel the motivation starts to strike back in. So is it the right timing to leave? I don't know but I have made the decision anyway.

I took up the offer despite it not being what I really wanted. 5.5 days work. Something which I swear I wouldn't take up since day one. But now... I did. Take it as a challenge. New environment. New networking. Re-adapt. New knowledge. Never try never know.

Let's see how far I can go. But one thing for sure, I will still apply for New Zealand working holiday no matter what. Who knows if I am so happy working in the new environment that I no longer wish to go? No one knows what lies in the future. So I should stop worrying about the future and live in the present.

KP, jia you!

Q & A

Q: What did sushi A say to sushi B?
A: Whassup B?

Q: Why can't a bicycle stand on its own?
A: Because it is tired.

Q: In Malay, what do you call a happy burger?
A: Bergembira.

Q: What is brown and sticky?
A: A stick.

Hope these brighten up our days. Remember to smile. Remember to enjoy the moment. Remember to relax. I did and I feel good.

Coincidental Friendliness By A Little Girl

Was in a lift. A mom with daughter in it. I just smiled. Suddenly the small girl called out "Ah Yi" (aunty in Mandarin). I turned over. Turned out that she was calling me. She recognised me though I didn't recognise her. Perhaps she thought I was someone else.

She asked her mom, "Why Ah Yi didn't stay with us?" Can't help smiling at that.

We exit the lift at the same floor. Then only I realised that they were my parking lot neighbor. And to think that I had previously wrongly parked my car at their other lot for about two weeks. So humiliating! But the mom was very kind, keep on smiling, though we didn't talk.

I really like the little girl. She reminds me why I like kids in the first place. Reminds me of my niece, Hui and En. Now I miss them. Kids are naive and sincere. Kids talk to you without any discrimination. They don't pre-judge you. You make them feel good and they will treat you like their super best friend in no time.

That little girl proved it... she was so friendly. She talked to me as if she saw me everyday. And that... makes my day, really! Amazing, a simple act of friendliness from her (I don't think she realised it) opens up my day.