179th day of 2006

I woke up at 6 am and got readied at 6.30 am for a bicycle ride around the campus. This second time cycle was much more fun with the companying Rain. The ride seem short but we took half an hour to finish a round. I tailed behind Rain because her bicycle, unlike mine, is less geared or more manually labored.

We were at awe to see the shining golden which rises in front of us from the horizon. The surroundings are so beautiful and they take my breath away. I am not sure if a student could enjoy the green trees, chirping birds, the fresh air, the nosy geeses that stubbornly crosses the road even though we were on the road first, the running doe (it is small like kancil) which then scared into the grassland, or the smell of skunk ... all these, with the sense of peace, cannot be found in a city . Yes, Rochester is a suburban area.I have always like this kind of environment. Not only it is peaceful, but to be able to focus on the other companion, engaging in more deep and meaningful conversation and forge stronger understanding.

End of the exercise, I felt sense of gratitude to know God keep me safe and protected . I also was filled with pride that I have now take the chance to do something worthwhile in the morning. This is because life is precious, to be able to walk on two feet, to see, to hear is a blessings. What more can this ride be... it's not something hard but an opportunity to see life of it's potential, right in the grasp of my hand. Do not take advantage...


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After that, I made waffle-with-fruit breakfast. Glad to see Zeu Ven enjoyed my preparation. I just want her to have the energy to go through the day especially now she is still recovering from sick. She needs to study for Biochemistry exam too. Hehe.. I also purposedly made the breakfast early so that she would not go to gym. It is not that I don't want here to exercise but she need rest , need to recover after all the trip she had done to and fro of Germany.

Peach, banana, Yoplait strawberry yogurt, Nestle chocolate syrup, fresh red cherry, half half soy milk. 


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At 7 pm, I went to swim in my new swim suit.

[Acknowledgement Department]

Taken from forwarded email:

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing
me around. We walked Side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with
angels.
My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and
said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said
in prayer are received."
I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy
with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper
sheets and scraps from people all over the world.
Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section.
The angel then said to me, "This is the Packaging and
Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for
are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them."
I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working
hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were
being packaged for delivery to Earth.
Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we
stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise,only
one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. "This is the Acknowledgment Section,"
my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He
seemed embarrassed. "How is it that? There's no work going on here?" I asked.
"So sad," the angel sighed. "After people receive the
blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments.
"How does one acknowledge God's blessings?" I asked.
"Simple," the angel answered. "Just say, "Thank you, Lord"

"What blessings should they acknowledge?" I asked.

"If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your
back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep .. you are richer than 75% of this world."

"If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and
spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy."

"And if you get this on your own computer, you are part
of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity."

Also
"If you woke up this morning with more health than
illness ......you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day."
"If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the
loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of
starvation ... you are ahead of 700 million people in the world"
"If you can attend a church meeting without the fear of
harassment, arrest, torture or death .. you are envied by, and more
blessed than, three billion people in the world."

"If your parents are still alive and still married ..
you are very rare."

"If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the
norm, you are unique to all those in doubt and despair."

"Ok, what now? How can I start? "

If you can read this message, you just received a double
blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you
are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read
at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you want,
pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

Summer Research: Terresterial Isopod

Have you been wondering what kind of research I am doing? More information will come in later...

Terresterial isopods. They are kind and gentle insects to work with. Luckily, I am not studying about slugs. 

Market and Hang out

Today, I went to the public market. This was the first time I went for the summer. Esther drove and, Fook Nee and Pritti joined us too. I was able to enjoy the cold fresh air from outside of the car. We had the window wind down. It was peaceful during the time we did our shopping at the market. The last time I came down here was with Renee before winter. I don't think I ever go there during the Spring. There were many differences in the goods that were sold. There are sure more fresh and cheap than usual time. I was amazed to buy 1 dollar long whole wheat bread that one can buy from Walmart, which normally cost 3 dollars or more. Beside from apples, tomatoes, honey dew, carrot, peaches, the most interesting purchase was the cherries. As you can see from the pictures, those cherries are really different. They are fresh and sweet unlike the weird tasting cherries from the can. Esther, Fook Nee and I shared 9 dollar 4 lb cherries. The amount I have right now is more than enough for me. So great to be able to taste on these delicious cherries. Don't you think they are c0lourful?

I learned new Tamil word from Esther...guess how it sounds like... 'cherry cherry'..I hope it spells the same. It means 'Ok , Ok' :D So coincident , isnt' it...

Beautiful fresh cherries bought from the public market. 


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At about 5 pm, Esther and Fook Nee came to fetch me from my house. They were late because they had to cook the chicken curry. I felt more energetic to talk or get involve in their conversation compared to this morning when I was with to the public market. I felt more relieved and light hearted after my wories about research meeting at 3 pm today. I guess for a person like me to be able to enjoy the time with other people, I should at first dissolve the worries in my heart. If not, I won't be able to see the meaningful time with friends. I am not like other people, or maybe it is common, I usually keep my problems in my heart. I rarely show them in front of my friends. Beside from wanting to make them worry about me in return, I have already made decision of taking the chance of being with them. Why make situation sour with my problems, when everyone is having fun. It is not often that we were able to hang out together like this especially with Christian sisters. Well, back to the point, I enjoyed the dinner with them. Also, the table conversation between Fook Nee, Esther and I was some what too girly for Yat Wei to the point that he took out his fishing rod. He went to the river under the highways not far from Fook Nee's house, to fish. But to no avail, when we saw him cycling towards us with the fishing rod tug inside his back pack, we found out that he didn't bait any fish. The more funny thing was he stuck his bicycle into Esther's back car and had Fook Nee to hold the fishing road vertically, sticking out through the car's window. I guess he would have just cycled home if he caught something.

I find today very exciting and exhilarating , even though we didn't do much, because the peaceful time was spent with good sisters Talking about sister, I ought to visit Yan Yan tomorrow. Sigh...I like my oranges. Well, friendship is more important, gonna give them to her.

Third Week of Summer almost ending

I have not report about my activities for the past two weeks. I wonder if I would still be able to post things up. Well, I will slowly do it.

Today, I spend the whole day studying for biochemistry exam. I don't know what to say but I hope for the best.

I went to the field again to record data for the isopods. I am used to the woods now. However, I am still lack of discerning between the types of threes . I feel lost in the woods. I think it is because I don't know the names of the three around me unlike when I am in Malaysia. Even if I do know , the names are in Malay or Chinese.

Punch out for 6 hours.

I went out to Esan Thai restaurant for dinner. After such a long time not hanging out to eat, I enjoyed the food very much. All the food was spicy at different levels of spiciness. One interesting dish I have never tried before was the Yum (Thai salad) which comes in spicy sauce. Terribly spice and yet refreshing. I felt so happy ,despite of the constant panting, for trying different Thai dishes at one time and paid a price of $10. After that, Ja , Rain, Tiffany and I went for a stroll down Park Avenue. I stopped by Abbotts (famous for frozen custard and yogurt) and came out with $3 vanilla sugar free yogurt.

I came home and decided to move my table facing the window but on its right. Now then, I can write something on the window with my whiteboard marker. Yep my own bulletin board.

Relax...

Guided by the Shepherd

For the past four days, I anticipated my days with anxiety and worries. However, I love the idea of being alone just for awhile, from the sea of people. Been around with too many people drowns me and overwhelmed me very much. Anyway, with the sense of peace and tranqulity, I am able to focus and have my own thoughts.

What do you think about when u read this word, TIME? Most people think about "I need more time to finish my study. I need to rush because I don't have enough time. I need time to rest." Yes , no doubt, everyone is tied up with time. No matter how uptight 'time' becomes, it has a soft side. Without time, a beginning won't cycle to the ending and from ending to the beginning. With just 'time', a small beginning of a friendship , either with the proffesors, students alike or housemate, bud out from the unity of understanding and encountering. As time moves on, this little bud turns into a ball of petals, which yet to show itself, of how beautiful elements it possess. The creases and folds of petals show the diffulties, conflict, up and downs or whatever that leads to barrier of friendship. But, as the petal slowlys flatten out and curled outwards, you see, these creases dissapear. Of course, this won't be easily done without energy/ effort (from the sun and nutrition). So, without our effort to work through or invest for friendship, the flower will stay closed or died if left too long alone. Imagine, with all of the precious time to maintain friendship, in the end we see the beautiful flower blooming with characteristics of color, shape and heart. You may wonder that the flower does not last long to show its beauty, however, in our mind we will always remember how the flower looks like. Same as apply in friendship, although two friends may be apart, the memories together we shall cherish.

I think I got myself too far. The point is, I can't tell you wonderful and amazing it is to get to know my profesors more than before. They are just like us , people with sense of humor. As for students alike, they are funny and smart ..hehe. Hmm...research is going well too.

Daring myself to a New Place

Ah... today is Sunday and the mark of the summber break ending. It is also the day of leavingmy comfort zone. I am no longer leaving in the International Woman House. With the help of Sarah, I moved all my things to University Commons 747. I should have taken some pictures of the apartment. I do no know hot to tell you how wonderful this apartment is. It is well-furnished and very comfortable to live in. There are two bathrooms for the four bedrooms. In the bathroom, the wall is covered with big mirror. I can see my whole self from it. Even in my bedroom, the the door of the closet is a big mirror. I really like the walls here because they are just painted white. I like staying in a new and clean place.

Are you wondering whom I am staying with? Right now, a Korean guy is staying in the house. I will only have Zeu Ven's presense with me after a month has gone. She is in Germnay right now. May God bless her and keep her safe especially when she is traveling around with her boyfriend.

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I went to church earlier than usual. I was with Sarah in a Woman Bible study. They were discussing about beauty ...of how woman sees beauty in every way. I learned that sorrow can be a beauty, which is interesting. I hope someday God will show me how to see sorrow. Most of the women in the group are married. There were 4 singles. I hope that I can start on reading the Captivating book so that I can catch up or rather say, answer to the interesting questions to be discussed for the coming bible study.

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Rain is sleeping over at my place tonight. It's good to have her here especially when she is facing difficulty getting housing. I can understand how she feels of having to be frustrated about where to live.