승이, 힘내세요! Please.

It's funny how one occurrence can make the rest of the initially okay day become disheartening. You'd say that it's the circle of life and everyone faces it sooner or later. I know that. Still, I feel so down right now. The smiles and laughter I had in class earlier today are just by gones now. At least, that's how it seems to me for the rest of this unfortunate day. ㅠㅠ I'm so sad right now. It isn't related to my own family or relatives or friends but the person involved is very dear to me.

You know how much of a BEAST's fan I am, right? That's my #1 group. Even though I love all members so much, I have a favourite member and it's Jang Hyun Seung. And it's his father who passed away today. He had a heart attack.

According to reports, the whole Jang family was taken aback by the sudden passing because the father was healthy and no symptoms were shown. It was said that Seungie (the nickname I affectionately call Hyun Seung as) was in the state of shock. The rest of BEAST members cancelled their scheduled activities for the day to join in the mourning. Being an idol singer who lives with his group members and not his family, Seungie hadn't been seeing his father so often. Plus, he's been extremely busy with work like the other members. One of the occasional meetings between Father Jang and Son Jang that fans were aware of was when BEAST's fathers made a surprise appearance on a talk show that BEAST guested on. I remember thinking that Seungie looks like his father. Even my dad saw them and agreed. I also thought that Father Jang was quite a good dancer after seeing the fathers dance to a BEAST's song during the show. Ah! The sad feeling is coming back to me! ㅠㅠ I'm really worried. It's not that I don't believe in Seungie's willpower and perseverance. In fact, I'm confident of how persevering he can be. But having to cope with a family member's death, especially a father's, is not even close to easy no matter how you look at it. Now, Seungie has to continue to persevere and move on with his mother and younger sister. BEAST is getting busier as a sought-after group of singers. I don't want Seungie to feel overwhelmed. Just be strong and stronger, Seungie! ㅜㅜ

I got the news once I got back from campus. As I was entering the car while still at campus, I received a news notification. I could only read part of the title preview that read something like "BEAST cancels activities after Jang...". I knew it was about Hyun Seung because that'a his family name but I couldn't read the rest of the news yet at that time. I was quite in a rush to go back because the weather was turning dark all of a sudden. It was sunny earlier on. In the middle of my journey back home, it rained heavily. Water puddles on the road are always a challenge when driving in the rain, especially for a driver like me who doesn't like to go slow for too long. Impaired view is another. Of course, extra care needs to be taken since the road is slippery.

When I reached home, I checked the related news and my jaw just dropped. "...Jang Hyun Seung's father passed away.." ㅠㅠㅠㅠ I don't personally know him even though I'd always wanted to meet him. However, I felt really sad. I told my family members about it. They were surprised too. Mom tried to make it sound okay by saying that everyone will someday have to deal with such a thing. Yes, mom. But it's still sad. ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

I didn't even feel like updating MYBTOB with new pictures of BTOB (BEAST's junior group) on Mnet M! Countdown. The group was having their 'Wow' performance on that music show as part of their promotional activity. There were a number of adorable and eye-candy pictures but I only posted one, which was a group picture, on MYBTOB page. I live-streamed to watch BTOB's performance. I was so proud of them but no voice or shriek of cheering could come out of me. I just smiled for a while because BTOB did awesome as expected.

God, pour Your love and grace upon the Jang family and the people around them. May Jang 아바님 rest in peace. Everyone, be strong!

On 승이 Day

Yesterday, September 3rd, was 장현승's birthday. We were born in the same year, so he's only a month and 10 days older than me. He used to have a Twitter account but it was deleted some time ago. So, fans just wished him happy birthday through the other BEAST members or CUBE.

I had to be on my way to my university campus to get several things done for the new semester. To tell you the truth, I never liked this part of being a university student because it can get really troublesome and frustrating sometimes. But it's necessary, so just suck it up.

MYB2UTY gave a few Raya envelopes as free gifts for preordering 'Midnight Sun' album.

I made use of the envelopes to keep the cash that I had to bring with me to pay for my fee.

I was then on my way to campus after two months not going there.

 As usual, I brought CDs with me for entertainment while driving.

This time, they were BEAST's 'Midnight Sun' and BTOB's 'Born to Beat' Asia Special Edition.

Woohoo...the CUBE boys~~

So, I arrived at the campus. I had to first pay for my semester fee at the Finance Unit.

It's located on the left side of the ground floor of the building in this picture below.

There weren't many students at the time I arrived.

Thank God! So I didn't have to wait too long for my turn.

For those who have never been to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS),

let me tell you that the landscape is pretty eye-catching.

Plain water was given to me after I answered a survey by the management(?).

 At first, I thought of stopping by at a mall or a shop to buy things but I headed home instead.

I was starting to feel tired as I hadn't slept yet.

My head feels 'hanged' since I haven't properly slept yet and it's almost 6.00AM right now. So, I'll end this post soon. Come to think of it, some people have to stay up as part of their jobs. Artists are examples of this. In fact just a day ago, BEAST completed their 'Midnight' Japanese MV filming at around this time. I know they must have felt exhausted. Even 요섭, BEAST's main vocalist, tweeted about it. He mentioned that 막내 동운 was considerate enough to volunteer as the first and last one to shoot his parts. He's so dependable. They're working really hard. And they're the perfect definition of perseverance. If you know what they had gone through as well as how tough some days can be for them, you'll understand what I'm trying to say. That's why I'm such a fan and I always try to contribute in the supportive role of a fan. Plus, they're good at what they're doing.

Oh, that's right! BTOB will have its comeback this month! Yay! That's what Papa Hong stated. I'm so looking forward to it. Their talents are no joke and I want more people to see them perform their best.

Alright, have good days ahead!

Time to Step it Up. For Real!

Woah...it's becoming more and more real! I have only one year left before earning my bachelor degree! Hopefully, things will go well and I'll get to graduate as originally planned. I kind of gave myself a scare a few times before when thoughts that are similar to "What if I get tired of studying before I even get to graduate?" lingered in my mind. They're just thoughts, though. And they came several times only when I felt very very tired after sleepless nights due to assignments or revisions. I used to be very studious when I was younger. I'm thankful to God for giving me a good enough brain and willpower to have interest in academics since young because I believe that early stage education is crucial. But then again, I also believe that learning is a lifelong process. We never stop learning about so many things as long as we live. That's a good thing, definitely, because it keeps our minds sharp and functional.

It's getting more nerve-wrecking for me now that I'll be in my final year. It's not just the academics. Yes, academics is indubitably a vital portion but that alone is not enough if I want my days to be perpetually fruitful. This is about my future, after all. I don't always like to be all serious about things but it's necessary sometimes, right? Just don't add unnecessary stress. Stressful situations will come and go. We just need to be strong when they come and loosen up when they go away. Go with the flow, as some would say.

Alright, so the final year in university is probably the most crucial for everyone, right? True enough, there are some things that must not be taken lightly. I haven't gone through my final year yet but I have some ideas how it's going to be like. It won't be all glittery and glamorous (although I think that senior students deserve some of that >.<) because of these reasons:
1) We have two semesters left to either maintain or improve our cumulative grade point average (CGPA).
2) We need to give our best effort in completing our final year project (FYP).
3) We are required to go through an internship for a few months prior to our graduation ceremony.
4) We should be envisioning more vividly where we want ourselves to be as career individuals.
5) Let's face it. We've got to think about settling down and starting a family sooner or later. [If mom reads this, she'll nag something like "People these days are getting more modern and career-focus. You can think about getting married when you're over 30." Okay mom! I get that. I'm just listing out the things that we're getting closer to as we get another year older. It's not like I'm planning to get married right after I graduate. Unless 승이 puts aside his celebrity status and suddenly proposes. But do I have to be 30? I mean, I know I look younger than my age but....really?]
OMG I feel like a real adult! That's just....a little weird. A little.

A macro that I made to sum up how I'm feeling now

Alright, I'll write out my elaborations on the five items above.
-Item 1-
Semester by semester, I've been busting my butt off (*Not trying to sound inappropriate here by using a word that refers to a particular body part. It's a metaphor, okay? I know you'd get it.*) to get worthwhile results. Let me admit this - I could have done better. But I'm grateful that I didn't do so badly. Plus, I have this personal issue with perfection where perfection freaks me out a little bit, so a perfect set of grades might not suit me well. LOL.. I feel like I've put on mediocre effort a few times before. *Sigh* Frankly, my result for the 4th semester is the worst by far. >.< I promise to be more disciplined and motivated, okay? God, grant me patience and wisdom, alright? It's only going to get tougher but as the saying goes, "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going." Very true.

-Item 2-
Oh, FYP! I know it was created for the sake of the students but I would be lying if I said that it's not a burden at all. Just like in examinations or assignments, I don't like it when I get mediocre results. If I plan to do well, I should go all the way. Let's all do that! So...for my FYP, I had been thinking since the beginning of last semester. If possible, I would rather do a topic that's a little unconventional than typical Finance topics but it has to still be related to my major. That's just how I am. If there's a way to be different (in a good way), why not? Plus, I want to do something that's quite close to my own likings. Therefore, my proposed FYP topic is about Korean pop culture! And since Finance is my major, I chose to relate it to stock performances. Truthfully, I have some doubts every now and then on whether or not I'll be able to pull it off. It's not easy to make certain people get the significance of your own ideas and beliefs, you see. But this is part of it. If there are people who are skeptical about what you're doing, stand by what you believe in and try your best to convince them. Just try and try. That will make your experience so much more meaningful.

-Item 3-
Now.....I also need to think about internship. It's one of the requirements in order for us to successfully complete our degree but I don't want my internship to be just an internship. I can't predict how it's going to be but I want to somehow enjoy it, or part of it. Well, I'm the kind of person who can be a little bit of everything, so it might be harder for me to see what really clicks with me. Therefore, I need  to wisely choose from the options that I have and stick through it once I've made my decision. This is another thing that makes me feel a little anxious. Ahh...it must be the high-achiever side of me from the time I was younger. As much as I like to be carefree, I must not take this lightly.

-Item 4-
My career option would depend on the opportunities that I see at the time when I need to apply for a job. I don't know where I'll end up at but I hope I'll learn to like what I do and be very good at it. Taking chances can lead to greater outcomes but I must be reasonable too. So, we'll see.

-Item 5-
I'll leave this part to destiny for now.


25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
(Matthew 6:25-26)

Best wishes to everyone!
BTW, hello September!

I Don't Want to Hate

It's not a fiction that I'm a CUBE stan, so I have soft spots for talents from CUBE. However, due to limited financial support, my main focus when it comes to buying albums or merchandises is BTOBEAST (BEAST + BTOB). Every now and then, I spend some money on 4Minute, G.NA, and A Pink (from A CUBE, a separate company from CUBE but is a family of CUBE).

Despite all that, I do support other singers even though they're not from CUBE but my support towards those other singers won't even come close to my passion towards CUBE talents. I understand that the other singers have their fans, so I should tolerate it whenever the other fans are getting all excited about their favourites. They may share updates, scream frantically, praise endlessly, etc. Those normal things, I can tolerate. I do the same too. But there are times when I feel a little bit irritable. I know I should just let those fans be but their constant rantings can be a little too much for me. One or two consecutive times is okay but that's not the case sometimes.  Some of them used to chant for the same singers as I do but it seems like they've had a change of heart. It's alright to expand your list of favourites because it shows that you're growing as music lovers. However, to forget about a group of singers that you used to admire and replace then with new ones from the same industry/genre is just.....unfaithful. Fine, maybe you were figuring things out in the beginning before discovering what you really like. Just try not to make it so obvious. It can get annoying. But I guess it's not a big deal. I think I have this sense of loyalty up to the point that I feel irritated by those who used to be in the same fandom as me but have taken a different path. I'm fine if they just keep silent and move on but when they spazzingly talk about their "new love" so publicly so many times in a row, I just...can't.. I don't hate it but I just don't like it, you know?

I never intend to dislike any fandom or group or solo act, so I'll just stay away from them. They have their fans behind them, and I'll stay by my favourites' sides. It's all good. :) Everyone, 화이팅!

CUBE and I

Cube Entertainment, or in short, CUBE, is without a doubt my favourite South Korean entertainment agency. It's not just because the first ever K-pop group that I like so much comes from that agency. As much as that influences my favouritism, it's not enough to keep me loyal to the agency. So, apart from BEAST being the reason I'm a K-pop fangirl and CUBE is the agency that manages BEAST, I'm also impressed by the other talents in CUBE. 4Minute, CUBE's first girl group, portrays a bold yet feminine girl power image. G.NA (a.k.a Gina) is such a friendly and talented solo singer. More recently, BTOB (Born TO Beat) managed to capture my attention as a boy group that doesn't only sing well (very well, in fact) but dances well, plays musical instruments, and consists of members who are funny and down-to-earth. I really believe that CUBE is a company that doesn't only pay great attention to its artists' career development but also provides family-like environment. Of course, that would depend on the members' personalities and compatibility, you would say. Yes, that's true. So, I'm marveled at how closely tight the relationship between CUBE members are, especially those in the same group. As the matter of fact, in a poll among K-pop artists this year, BEAST was chosen as the group with the best teamwork. Even BEAST members acknowledged that to a point that they pointed out that they are in fact "too close".  Despite having talented artists (and trainees), CUBE doesn't flaunt too much of what it has got, at least not out front or in an obvious way.  CUBE does it silently and steadily.  So, there's humility in the agency.

But let me tell you this - being a fangirl (or fanboy) is tough. I'm referring to being a devoted or truly supportive fan. It doesn't only drain you financially but emotionally, mentally, and physically too. Financially as in having to spend (or how I like to call as "invest") a wholesome amount of money on albums, merchandises, tickets, donations, etc. Emotionally as in having to feel the exhaustion that the artists go through every day for the sake of showing their best, as well as the emotional challenges that some low-lifers or haters enjoy giving you. Mentally as in having to withstand the psychological games that come along due to (initially healthy) competition with other artists or fandoms. Physically as in having to suffer the night and day right after a concert or airport stanning or hotel stanning or lining up to buy tickets, etc. All of these are common sceneries in a fan's life. What's more is that fans aren't paid to do all that they do for their artists. In fact, fans are the ones that spend their money, time, and energy for the sake of showing their support and love. So, take the time to acknowledge and respect the fangirls and fanboys around you because they've gone through so much and it shall continue. ^^

I often think of how nice it would be if I could work at CUBE someday. I could work in the finance and administration department since that's my major in university. If not, I could be one of CUBE managers since I think I can flexibly adapt to the artist(s)' schedules and routines. Hey, who knows? :D

Apart from my growing fondness towards the talents in CUBE, I'm also flattered by the luck I've been receiving with regards to CUBE, directly or indirectly. Let me tell you about some CUBE-artists-related contests that I've won in the past and happenings that occurred recently. Last year in July, I won tickets to two of BEAST events in Malaysia - BEAST Asia Fanmeet in Kuala Lumpur, and MTV World Stage 2011. I blogged about these two winnings before, so you can read it here.

This year, I've been quite lucky with BEAST's junior group, BTOB, contests.
First, it was the contest by ONE TV Asia, whereby winners would get signed picture along with either BTOB's 1st mini album or official merchandises.  What contestants were required to do was to answer two questions based on footages of BTOB in Jakarta for the launching of ONE TV in Indonesia.  FYI, ONE TV Asia is an SBS (Seoul Broadcasting System)-linked channel for Asian countries besides South Korea.  I was fortunate to have won BTOB signed picture, official sticker card set, and Lee Chang Seob (BTOB's member) official clear file.

I was delighted to receive these all the way from ONE TV HQ in Singapore.

The second BTOB contest that I joined was by 8TV Nite Live.  For this contest, participants needed to complete the slogan "BTOB's music is irresistible because..... (in less than 50 words)".  So, I put on my creative cap to come up with a sentence that I aimed to be straight-forward and intelligent-sounding.  I don't remember my complete sentence but it was something about BTOB being capable of making our hearts beat fast through their upbeat songs and also moving us emotionally through their ballad songs.  So, that was the point that I put forward.  Just the point, not the actual sentence, okay.  About a week after the contest' closing date, I received a message, telling me that I was one of the winners!  I won BTOB's 'Born to Beat' Asia Special Edition album (which I've already bought before, actually) and a poster.

Here's the good news that I received!

Isn't the poster lovely?  The CD+DVD too.

Another occurrence was not a contest.  I preordered BEAST's 5th mini album 'Midnight Sun'.  In every album, there is a random photocard of a member.  We wouldn't know whose photocard we would get until we unbox the album and look for the photocard inside.  Even though I love all of the members in BEAST, I have my bias, a member I especially adore.  A lot of BEAST's fans do, and it's not just the group BEAST, of course.  So, I received my 'Midnight Sun' a few days ago through mail.  I was very excited but also nervous since I don't know whose photocard I was going to get (not that it's a really big deal).  I had two albums with me because I preordered another one for my sister's friend.  I picked up one of the albums without thinking much.  After unboxing the album, I opened it up to see the photocard inside.  At first, I thought I was trolled by CUBE since I couldn't see any photocard in between the attached photobook and CD.  I then flipped through the pages of the photobook and something fell down from between the pages.  Guess whose photocard I got?  JANG HYUN SEUNG!!  And yes, he's my bias in BEAST.  It was such a happy moment for me.  There was a one sixth chance that I would get my bias' photocard and I got it!  That wasn't all.  It turned out that the photocard wasn't the only thing I got.  I also got a Cashbee card with BEAST as the illustration image.  A Cashbee card is a prepaid card used for transportation, shopping, movie, and eating in selected shops in South Korea.  Discounts can also be obtained for some items or activities.  So, it's very useful and quite valuable.  BEAST is the current ambassador of Cashbee.  Only some 'Midnight Sun' albums contain Cashbee card, so I was lucky to get one of them.

How Cashbee card works:

The album and the cards inside it

Cashbee card

I hope my lucky streak doesn't end anytime soon.  Plus, it's not just about luck, you see.  The contests that I usually choose to join are the ones that involve some thinking as well as persuasive strategies.  I want to earn the prizes.

My "Clans" and the Little Stories in Between

I attended a private kindergarten for a year. ["Private" as in "non-government", not exactly "exclusive" like some schools in J-dramas or K-dramas that I used to watch. My mind keeps thinking of the elite all-girl high school in J-drama "Mei-chan no Shitsuji" (Mei's Butler) where every girl from very rich or influential families attend special classes while being carefully taken care of by their respective mostly-cute young butlers.] Thinking about it now, I can't seem to recall much of what I've learnt from that one year in kindergarten. I remember playing with clay, I remember practising for year-end performance, I remember being slow in learning Mandarin and there was this Chinese boy (classmate) whom the teacher assigned to help me with my Mandarin workbook because I was crying after not being able to answer some of the questions. Yes, I remember that particular part. ㅜㅜ I remember how the helpful boy tried to teach me what was in the workbook. He explained and showed how to write the (simple) Chinese characters. He didn't give up easily even though I wasn't catching up right away. And mind you, we were as young as 5 to 6 years old at that time. I feel really bad for not remembering his name now. He probably forgot mine too. I hope he did, so that he doesn't remember me as the hopeless crybaby who was bad at Mandarin in kindergarten. >< I thought of mentioning about that boy here just to acknowledge the good deed that he had done back then (even if it was the teacher who ordered him to do so). My point is, it's nice to have someone giving you a hand or simply keeping you accompanied throughout your life. Being on your own is necessary at times but having your friends around brings extra joy and enlightment especially when your life is like a roller-coaster of events or happenings. It doesn't matter how old you are. Friends are special and those who are close enough with you make it feel like you're having your own little "clan". Or you can call it your "gang", in a more relatable manner. So, when I was in kindergarten,  my little clan consisted of my cousin Mariana and me. I was really close with her (and still am) as she attended the same kindergarten with me and we ended up in the same class even though she's a year younger than me. Sorry for acting up or being more child-like back then, okay Na? You've been very patient and kind. ^^

In my elementary school years, I went to a school not far from grandma's area. My parents and I moved in to live with grandma and uncles because my parents were transferred somewhere that required them to commute to and fro on daily basis. A simple house was actually provided for them to live near the school but they didn't permanently live there. Sometimes, they brought me along to stay overnight at the house near the school they were teaching at. OMG I just remembered this one thing! There was a band performing at my parents' school for an event one evening. The band members were youngsters not too much older than me. The lead vocalist was a foreigner (or mix-blood, IDK). At that time, I thought he was cute but never approached him. *Typical young girl thingy* xD At that school, which was (and still is, I think) located next to a village, everyone was getting along well with each other. Students, teachers, parents...they all knew each other. They even knew me since my parents were working there. Even years after my parents moved to different places, we still went to visit the village during festive seasons. Well, we stopped doing that quite some time ago because of the hustle bustle of city life that we got ourselves into. My school at that time (the one near grandma's area) was built on a hill. I wonder how it looks like right now. Was I particularly close to anyone in the three years that I was at that school? I don't remember. Probably I was too busy doing tasks as the class monitor. I was one of the faces that the teachers in the teachers' room saw very often. Having to carry such responsibility at such young age made me forget to be closer to any of my classmates or schoolmates. 흐 But I remember this boy (classmate) who always took away my cute sharperners and never returned them. Laz, why were you so mean to me?! ㅜㅜ The funny thing was, not too long ago, we 'met' on Facebook and he introduced himself to me as the boy who often stole my stationeries during elementary school. LOL.. There was also this boy (another classmate) who sneaked a love note into my school bag! A freaking love note! Why is it hard to get such gesture these days?!! It's not that hard to do it, okay guys! Screw the high-tech phones or computers! You can sway the girls with simple yet sincere actions. >< Okay, back to the love note boy. I remember his name but I better respect his right by not revealing it here. LOL.. Sadly, I don't remember exactly what he wrote on that note. I also don't know what happened to the note. OMG did mom or dad or grandma see that note but never told me that they did? Not that it's a big of a deal but it would still feel awkward. xD So, to cut the story short, it didn't work out between us (What the heck! xD Seriously, I feel like slapping myself right now for using such sentence and tone to talk about this petty yet worth-mentioning thingy. Just bear with me, okay? Don't take it too seriously.) because I had to move to a different town and a different school the next school semester. Maybe we weren't meant to be. That's why God worked his plan to keep us apart. Okay, I really should give myself a slap for sounding so modramatic. We were just 9 at that time! 9! Not 19! Not 29! Just 9! What the... But you know I'm just trying to be lively and transparent in this post here, right? Bukan selalu pun. ^^

My other three years of elementary school were spent in a school within a housing area in town. So, is that like the suburban area in American towns? IDK. I was a prefect in those years. Mom was a teacher in the same school. We moved to that school at the same time. So, I know what it's like to have own mom teaching at the same school, okay? It wasn't that bad but I had my challenges. LOL.. Since the school was a walking distance away from my house, I usually walked on foot when I was going back home. In the morning, dad would send mom and me to school on his way to work. In those years, I was close with a friend named Angela. Her house was located at the same lane as me back then, so we often walked back home together and hung out together. I think she still lives at the same house. It was me who always moved here and there. Now, Angela is happily married and has a son (or is it two sons already? orz). She's one hot mama now. :D And then there's me.... Am I left behind? Will I end up as a boring loner? Where did I go wrong? Okay okay...being dramatic again. xD No wonder my sis calls me a drama queen. I kind of am. Kind of. Apart from Angela, I also hung out often with Sylvia, Sara, and ___ (Oh my! I forgot the name of one of my childhood friends! Why can't I remember? The two of us even went to the same matriculation college. ㅠㅠ Forgive me.) whose houses were also at the same lane as mine but they went to different schools. We would get together after school to play ting-ting or cops-and-criminals or hen-and-chicks or batu seremban or "zero point" (OMG I miss this game!) with other kids, if I weren't playing Mario video game at home instead. As for those whose houses were not at the same lane or housing park, I was pretty close with Grace and Felicitys (I knew two girls whose names are Felicity M and Felicity A.) Once, Angela and I stopped by at Felicity A's house after school instead of going straight home. We spent a couple of hours there till my parents became worried sick and searched for me around our neighbourhood. That time, it was hard to contact parents at home since I didn't have a cellphone. But I could have just called using my friend's house phone, right? -.- There was another time when a few of us were late to our school's cleaning activity only because we were baking cookies that didn't come out right. *Sigh* The young and foolish us were so confident that we would be able to pull it off in time. Then, Felicity A's older sister brought us back to reality by telling us that it would need longer time than we had to bake the cookies. Our teachers and classmates who heard about our silly story kept teasing us by asking for the cookies that were never successfully baked. ㅜㅜ

After completing a total of six years in elementary school, I went to a secondary school that was different than the school which I would be automatically placed in based on my elementary school. So, another goodbye to classmates/ schoolmates. I sure moved a lot. In my second and third years, I was the only non-Chinese in the class. It was pretty cool to be the only one (in a way) even though I would be lost when they all spoke in Chinese and I couldn't catch it. And some of you may think that I would be good in common Chinese phrases or sentences since a lot of my friends are Chinese, but I never bother to learn from them. They did teach me some words but I couldn't improve much as I was preoccupied as their almighty class monitor for a couple of years. During my secondary school years, I was close with Melissa, Stella, Sharina, and Catherine. Melissa was the one whom I got close to as we sat next to each other in class for a year. We have the same native language but we mostly communicated in local Malay language. Stella too has the same native language as me. In our matriculation year before university, the two of us became closer when we happened to go to the same institution. Melissa also went to the same matriculation college but she stopped to pursue her diploma at a different institution. Sharina and I became close when we both were fans of Westlife. She even gave me Westlife VCD and poster for my birthday. Oh, Sharina also went to the same matriculation college as I did but we didn't meet up so often in matriculation. Catherine and I took Accounting as an extra subject and we went to tuition for that subject because we weren't taught that subject in school as we were Science stream students. So, we had to learn on our own and we learned it for one year instead of two because we finalised our subjects only a year before the big exam. One of the memorable happenings during my secondary school years was when my classmates held a birthday celebration for me at Pizza Hut. EiChi, a dear friend who is very talented in arts, won a Pizza Hut meal package. She didn't know how else to make use of that package, so she discussed with my other classmates and decided to throw me a birthday celebration. How thoughtful! Another memorable happening was at the end of our final year in secondary school. I planned a Christmas get-together at home with the permission of my parents. BTW, we just quite recently moved to our current house at that time. Like I said, I moved quite often. I prepared gifts for all of them who came. I even made fruit jellies myself as their desserts. Some of them came with gifts. For me! Oh, I just remembered something! That evening, I asked all of them to bring something from home to put in our time capsule (which was a box, actually). You know what? I still keep the time capsule and the chain around it is still intact. When are we going to open it up, you guys? We never had a proper reunion. Some of you are now working, some are still studying, some are overseas....we're all scattered around the globe. Tell me if any of you are already at a different planet, kay? *Lame joke*

After secondary school, I went for a one-year matriculation programme. It was my first time being away from home to study. I lived in a dorm with three other roommates. Coincidentally, one of my roommates was my secondary school classmate. I was glad to have kind and fun roommates. Phyllis, Fifa, Fathiah, and I went for outings together sometimes. One of my favourite things to do is watching movies or dramas with Fifa. We would squeal or sulk while watching. Oh right, Fathiah, the youngest of us four roommates, had just gotten married not a long time ago. Remember Stella, my friend from secondary school? More than anyone, I spent my weekends with her the most. Even though we were placed in different lecture groups, thus different tutorial groups, I went to the church and mall with her regularly. We even booked the same flights almost all the time.

I'm now pursuing my bachelor degree in university. At first, I was a student of Faculty of Medicine and Health Science. I made good friends with the Medicine and Nursing students there. In my first year there, I stayed at the dorm even though my house was about 15 minutes away by car (minus traffic jam). There was this group of friends I was very close with. Another friend jokingly called us "buah-buahan" because the seven of us together reminded him of "buah-buahan tempatan" (local fruits) since five of us are locals from the state our university is at and the other two are non-Chinese-like Malaysian Chinese. Do you get it? xD Later on, we were known as "unifruit". I miss the time when Valerie, Rebecca, Chien, Joannes, Calvin, Ibi, and I had our days or nights out. We also won first place in a group activity during our batch's trip to a beach some time ago. We rarely hang out now because of our different schedules and routines. I wish to have a meet-up with them soon. After two years at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, I had to experience what I deem as the most uncertain and confusing period of my life so far. A lot of study-related things were playing in my poor head and I felt so distressed that I didn't want to get out of bed for days. It was no fun at all. After consulting some individuals, I obtained the help from my original faculty to transfer me to a different faculty. It also meant that I would no longer be receiving scholarship from a government-linked association. I'm telling you, I then realised how considerably "rich" I was while being a scholar. xD So, my new faculty is Faculty of Economics and Business. A 180° change, you say? It sure was. And I met some wonderful friends. All my coursemates are fine but I'm especially close with five kumangs by the name of Marcella, Rachel, Victoria, Martina, and Mariam. It was like we were programmed to find each other. This is part of Your plans, isn't it, God? From time to time, I recall the good times I've shared with my friends. They're precious.

Okay, I'll stop right here. This is longer than I planned it to be. You did read all of it, didn't you? You better! :D

Let's keep SNSs safe and fun!

There's no denying that technology, particularly internet, keeps us well informed and connected to the people that we know (or don't really know). Related tasks have been made so much more convenient and time-efficient. I'm one of those who support the utilisation of today's technology for online matters such as twitting through Twitter, updating through Facebook, sharing videos through YouTube, and blogging. As long as our intentions are clear and not harmful, why not, right?

On the other flip of the coin, there have been cases where some unthoughtful and irresponsible individuals took advantage of the convenience and accessibility provided by the internet. Hacking, identity theft, spamming, and cyber bullying are some of the issues that a lot of us are concerned of.  These issues have made the internet seem unsafe to some people. This is understandable. And it's such a pity, considering how advantageous the internet was originally meant to be.

So, to everyone who would like to make good use of this obviously beneficial technological tool without worrying too much about the possible problems it might bring, take some precautions. This is especially for the younger ones. Listen up! Big sis Pris has something to tell you. LOL xD But seriously..

1 - On Facebook, try to approve only your actual friends, family members, and relatives. You can still approve those who are strangers but would like to make friends. JUST REMEMBER to check on their background even though this is actually pretty limited. Plus, they can easily put false information, right? That's why it's safer to approve only those you personally know. In my case, though, I have been approving friend requests from some whom I didn't really know but I only do that for my fellow J-pop or K-pop friends, or actual friends of my siblings or relatives. Besides, I can always unfriendly them if I find their posts to be constantly disturbing or discomforting. *Meanie me, you may think? But it's necessary, okay!*

2 - Twitter is different than Facebook. Even though they are both social network sites, they work in distinguishable ways. Twitter is more publicly accessible unless you set your Twitter account to be private. However, setting it to private kind of goes against its purpose (for fandom-participants, I mean. I'm a devoted fangirl, FYI. ^^). Tweets or hashtags by private Twitter accounts do not count towards the trending on Twitter. As fans of certain groups or soloists, we often want to get specific things to be trending to promote to the world who and what we're rooting for. Apart from that, if your purpose is to connect with only certain people, why not just send them text messages or use Facebook? That's just my opinion. Don't come and stab me if you disagree, okay.

3 - Think twice (or thrice) before making a personal photo public. Once you post in on any online sites, ANYONE can see it. Of course, your intention of posting your photos is to knowingly share the photos with others. It is a good thing to do when you want to update about your whereabouts or activities. Bear in mind, though, that your innocent/ cute/ gorgeous/ charismatic/ lovely photos can be misused by someone with bad intentions. *Ah, screw those who make things complicated for us, right?! If only they back off!* Celebrities might not have problems in this matter because it can actually benefit them in terms of raising public awareness about their existence and promotions. It's part of their PR necessities. But for regular people, it's better to be safe than sorry. That's why I think it's best to accept Facebook friend requests from only those you know. At least on that site, you can still share photos for the sake of your friends and relatives. As for other sites like Twitter or Blogger or Instagram or Google+, extra considerations need to be made. There's always an option of making certain posts private. Another option is to add tags or labels on your photos before sharing them. This way, if your photos happen to be spreaded somewhere else, people can see who they belong to or where they come from based on the tags. *This is something that I haven't been doing for my Twitter and blog but I'm going to do it from now on.* Yes, it's more time-consuming but it's for a good purpose. I recommend PicsArt application for Android users if you want a quick and easy solution in adding tags. Photos of items or sceneries might still be harmless without tags but be more mindful when it comes to photos of people or your own selcas. I'm not trying to sound paranoid but prevention is better than cure! :) I'm actually quite an open person and I don't mind seeing personal photos of others freely being shared. In fact, I don't mind sharing my own photos as well. It's just that we have to be more careful these days. Also, those people in the photos that you share have their privacy rights, you know? What if your own friends want to sue you for publicly share their not-so-viewer-friendly photos? That's bad, right? Yea, I know that your friends won't be that critical but who knows.

4 - Whatever that I have mentioned about photos also apply for videos (and audios?).

See you next time!

Things that Less than a Quarter of the People I Know Already Knew

1) I prefer my toasted breads almost burnt, BBQ meats almost burnt, sausages almost burnt, nuggets almost burnt, instant noodle undercooked, french fries undercooked,...that's all I can think of for now.

2) Sometimes, I sleep on my bed with my head on the supposed-to-be-feet side of the bed simply because it feels strangely more comfortable.

3) I keep watching horror movies even though I'm honestly a scaredy cat.

4) One of my ways to prevent myself from spending money on attractive but unnecessary things is by looking at the item(s) or holding the item(s) at the shop for a while until I hopefully lose interest in it/ them and walk away after that.

5) I'm convinced that if I were properly trained since young, I could have been a very successful athlete or dancer, considering my achievements in the mentioned fields as a child in the past.

6) Before I got caught up in my J-pop and K-pop fandoms years ago, I passionately rooted for Westlife, The Click 5, and Jonas Brothers by diligently buying and collecting their cassettes, CDs, VCDs, and posters.

7) When I'm not particularly impressed by how I look while getting ready at a certain time, I'll shamelessly blame the mirror or lighting for being low in quality.

8) I don't cook, bake, or prepare a meal often but once I do it, I always pay extra attention on the food presentation apart from its edibility.

9) My style of maintaining my room is more towards spring-cleaning than regular reorganisation.

10) I used to be hospitalised and have my leg casted due to an incident with a motorcycle exhaust when I was in my first year of elementary school.

Malaysian Film, Korean Setting

Blog Contest

by Korea Plaza KL

Come up with a Malaysian musical film in a Korean setting, and what do we get?  A movie that I must check out!  Even in the midst of preparing for my university's final examination, I can't help but to take some time to watch the movie and write a blog post for a contest based on that movie.  It is always nice to see our local producers or directors embarking on a setting outside of our own country but maintaining the Malaysian aspects of a movie.  So, what is 'Aku Ada, Kau Ada??' all about?  Here is the trailer for those who did not get to watch it yet.  The main characters are played by actress Yana Samsudin (playing Tina) and actor Shaheizy Sam (playing Nordin), and this film was directed by Rahila Ali.

Now, onto the contest questions...

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1) Name two places in the movie where Tina and Nordin constantly clash with each other in Korea.

Even though a number of places are featured in the movie, the two places that I found to be the "meeting points" where Tina and Nordin often bump into each other are Kyung Hee University (Seoul campus) and Nami Island.

Kyung Hee University (Seoul campus)

Nordin is a second-year student at this university.  He made it his "resolution" to be seen as a cool guy but whenever the spotlight is on him, he starts to feel giddy and eventually throws up.  Tina is placed at the same university under an anger management programme called "99 Hari Senyum" (Smile for 99 Days).  Starting from the first moment that the two clash with each other when Nordin's reckless driving almost hits Tina who happens to be in the way, it can be seen that they often clash at the area near the water fountain in front of Kyung Hee University's administration building.

Nami Island

Have you ever watched a 2002 Korean drama entitled 'Winter Sonata'?  If you have, you would notice that some scenes in this movie were filmed at the same place.  The place is Nami Island, an islet with a very eye-catching scenery.  For those who have watched the movie ('Aku Ada, Kau Ada???'), I am sure a lot of you will agree that the most meaningful meetings between Tina and Nordin happen at the tree lanes of Nami Island.  Who wouldn't be mesmerised by the ever breathtaking view of pathways with trees and shrubs on both sides?  Purely beautiful (and romantic)~

2) If I have a flight ticket to Korea, I will...

... do the following in order to utilise the chance that I've been waiting for.

i - Polish my Korean language
I've always enjoyed learning about Asian cultures.  Learning languages other than my country's is part of it.  I haven't got the chance to join any Korean language classes but I've been learning the language on my own with the help of online communities, books, and dictionaries.  I can say that I'm gradually improving at my own pace.  My effort in learning this beautiful language shall continue.  As long as I don't give up, I'll be fluent enough someday.

ii - Visit Kyung Hee University

Thanks to the movie, I've become interested to know more about Kyung Hee University.  It seems like the university is a panoramic place to visit.  As a university student, I know for a fact that "university life" is very much different from "school life" or "working life".  It is a phase in one's life that needs to be seized and cherished.  Seeing from the movie and from posts by other individuals, Kyung Hee University indeed has a surrounding that is unique and captivating.  It is a private university that offers quite a wide range of courses for undergraduates and graduates, both domestic and international.

It's a pretty cool university, isn't it?

Click here and you'll be directed to the official website of the university.

iii - Explore Lotte World

Of course, I won't miss the chance to go to Lotte World!  I'm excited just thinking about it.  This place is perfect for entertainment, sightseeing, and shopping.  Going with your family or friends will multiple the fun and satisfaction.

This photo of Lotte World is courtesy of TripAdvisor (NatL3)

This photo of Lotte World is courtesy of TripAdvisor (missjess85)

This photo of Lotte World is courtesy of TripAdvisor (kisetsu)

This photo of Lotte World is courtesy of TripAdvisor (kisetsu)

This photo of Lotte World is courtesy of TripAdvisor (Lynne000)

This photo of Lotte World is courtesy of TripAdvisor (Lynne000)

This photo of Lotte World is courtesy of TripAdvisor (SETYADARMA)

So, who wants to visit Lotte World with me?!  Raise your hands!

Click here to see the official website of Lotte World.

iv - Stop by at cool cafes

I've heard and read that there are pretty cool cafes in Korea, particularly around Seoul.  The cafes are not only known for their beverages or meals but also their ambience.  It would be a pleasure to step my feet in some of the cafes that the people around me have been talking about.  The cafes that I would love to go to are Coffee of Dream (가베 두림), Coffee Smith, Star Cafe Miss Lee (별다방 미스리), Hello Kitty Cafe, and Cube Studio Cafe.

Coffee of Dream

345-13, Gasan-dong, Geumcheon-gu

02 562 8268

Click to go to the website.

Coffee Smith

541-7, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu

02 3446 9383

Click to go to the website.

Star Cafe Miss Lee

144, Gwanghun-dong, Jongno-gu

02 739 0939

1-74, Dongsung-dong, Jongno-gu

02 747 0939

199-1, Euljiro 2-ga, Jung-gu

02 755 0939

Click to go to the website.

Hello Kitty Cafe

358-112, Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu

02 6326 6500

Click to go to the website.

Cube Studio Cafe

Cheongdam-dong

I'm a huge supporter of Cube Entertainment, the agency that manages BEAST, 4Minute, G.NA, and BTOB.  So, going to the cafe that Cube Entertainment came up with would be more than just a normal cafe visit to me.

v - Go to Kwangjang Market
Why would I miss the chance to go to 광장 시장 (Kwangjang Market)?  To me, it's one of the places that a visitor must go to in order to experience how it's like being in a Korean market.  I want to try the food sold there and probably buy some souvenirs to bring back home.  I might even have a chat with one of the 아줌마 (aunt) or 아주씨 (uncle) at any of the stalls there.  Even with my broken Korean skills, I can still start a casual conversation, can't I?

6-1, Yeji-dong, Jongno-gu

02 2267 0291

Click to go to the website.

vi - Blog about my awesome trip

What good is a great trip if it isn't shared, right?  Especially since I have a blog, I'll be more than happy to tell others about what I have experienced in Korea.  Through accounts on the places I have visited and food I have tried, accompanied by related pictures, I hope that others will be able to be part of my trip through reading my post.  Blogging about it can also be a way for me to preserve the wonderful memories I've made.  I can always look back and reminisce the joyful days.

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Thank you for reading this!  Best wishes!

There's Something About 서은광

Yes, there's something about 서은광 that gives me a tingly feeling every time I see him in a video or a picture.  You know, that kind of churning feeling inside that instantly makes you have a certain reaction upon seeing someone or something?  In Korean language, it would be described as "두근 두근".  That's "dugeun dugeun", pronounced as "du-gun du-gun".  In English, you can call it "thump thump" or "thumping" for short.  Like seriously...it's not just having 'butterflies in the stomach' kind of thing.  If I may alter that phrase, it would be 'butterflies in the heart' in my case.  It's because I feel more warmth in my heart rather than my stomach when I think about 은광이.  (Haha...somehow the sentence sounds funny.  "More warmth in my heart"??  xD )  And it's not exactly the same as the normal situations where I get excited on my own when I see other namja idols who catch my eye.  My friends and family know well enough how I am when I get excited because of those eye candies (but I see more than their outward appearances, believe me).  Really, it's a little different.  I don't know why yet.  You may say that it's nothing unusual especially since I'm a fan of the group BTOB who is a junior group of BEAST.  So, I'll try to keep silent and post about it instead.  ^o^

[Credit: Glitter Boy]

// Please do not edit fantaken photo. //

I've come up with several reasons why 은광 has a special spot in my heart.  (P/S - BEAST's 현승 has been staying in my heart too ever since I knew BEAST.  Just FYI.)  It's not very hard for me to list out some of the things that I find captivating about this currently blonde guy.  (P/S again - He bleached his hair blonde for the group's debut and his hair remains bleached with occasional variation of pinkish shade or lighter tone.)

Reason #1

His Refreshing Look
I put this as my first reason because I was first attracted to 은광 before I heard him sing or saw him dance since he had not debuted yet at that time.  The first time I saw 은광 (not live, just in a video ^^) was in the sitcom 'I Live in Cheongdam-dong' where he played his character as a member of a 5-guy group of aspiring singers.  The others who played the characters of the remaining members of the group in the sitcom are also in the same agency, Cube Entertainment, in real life, not in the sitcom.  Although I didn't watch the sitcom, I watched clips of this particular group compiled by fans.  From there, I started noticing 은광 and I was drawn to the refreshing vibe that I got from him even though I didn't know his name at that time.  Then, the group BTOB officially debuted and I got the chance to watch their debut showcase live on YouTube.  In the showcase, BTOB members were introduced one by one in a fashion runway style.  은광 was the first to come out and I was *_* 'ed by his smooth yet subtle move as he walked towards the front of the stage.  His gaze shot right through the laptop screen and caused me to +_+ .  And then he smiled, making me #_# .  Yeah, I can't find the words to substitute those emoticons right now.  Can you help me?

By the way, some have said that 은광 resembles 현승 but I didn't realise that.  I still don't see the close resemblance of those two.  It's funny because 현승 happens to be my bias in BEAST.  Do they really resemble one another in any way?  Hmm...maybe.

Reason #2
His Vocals

Have you heard him sing?  If  you haven't, you should.  And prepare to be amazed.  He's definitely one of the best vocalists ever existing on this planet.  It's not just my opinion, it has been said so many times by many individuals.  He himself knows that too and he aims to become one of the greatest singers known.  I would love to learn how he can control his voice projection and breathing technique.  Teach me, 은광이~  On a side note (since this post is about 은광), the whole of BTOB members, which consists of seven members altogether, are undeniably talented in singing, rapping, and also dancing.  Acting can be in it too but that's not their focus right now.  Let them be the BTOB that serenades fans with their voices and excites fans with their moves.  So, BTOB really is a group that is well equipped with impressive talents that can do wonders if polished and maintained in the long run.

Reason #3

His Dance

Who isn't attracted to people who can dance wonderfully, right?  But 은광's moves when he dances captured me (as if he didn't capture me already way before I saw him dance) like an arrow that was steadily released from its bow and found its way to me.  Every person has his or her own style or tendency when dancing.  은광's style is by far one of my favourites.  Just like how he was "smooth yet subtle" when he walked the runway during BTOB's debut showcase, he does the same every time he dances.  I don't know if anyone else realises it but I seem to notice the extra smoothness that he has when he dances.  Okay, I shall not talk more about this because you might not be able to imagine it well yet I'm the only one envisioning it perfectly and being crazy all by myself.

Reason #4

His Brotherly Love with BTOB Members

I love it when members of a group get along well and looks after one another like best friends or close siblings.  BTOB is one of the groups that have great bonds with each other.  They remind me of BEAST members who are close with each other and has each other's back.  In fact in a survey conducted by a TV programme (I think), BEAST was voted by fellow entertainers as the group with the best teamwork.  BTOB made it in the top list too!  And A Pink too, from A Cube Entertainment.  I'm so proud of these CUBE talents.  :')  은광 isn't just the leader of BTOB.  He's the big brother, which makes prefect sense since he's the oldest among the seven.  Oh, did you know that the seven members of BTOB share one bedroom with three bunk beds?  The youngest member, 성재, once said that it allows them to become closer but in the morning, their washroom becomes a war zone.  Cute!

Reason #5

His Giggle

I'm so in love with 은광이's giggle that I recorded his short but contagious giggle from their debut showcase and saved it in my phone.  Now, the recorded audio is in my Galaxy Tab too.  Enough said!

Reason #6

His Pronunciation

은광 might not be very fluent in English yet but he's getting there.  His English pronunciation might not be the best out of all idols but he's really not bad.  As a matter of fact, I like how he pronounces some English words.  It's like hearing a Korean speaking in simple English and then suddenly a particular word is pronounced so beautifully in an accent that it makes you think "Wait?  Was that the same person for a second there?" when you hear him speak.  It doesn't apply to every English word that he says but just some of them.  From his singing and interviews, some of the words that he has pronounced remarkably well (according to me) are "pain", "point (from "point of view")", "pursue", and "leader".  Peniel, teach him more!

You know what?  The list can go on because I can be as detailed and thorough as I want to but I'll have some mercy and stop here.  ^^  So, those are the top reasons why I adore you-should-know-who-by-now.

[Credit: btob-confessions.tumblr.com]

This was requested by me, actually.  I'm not kidding.  I requested for it about a week after BTOB debuted.

Thank you for your time and please support our blooming love.  What the...  LOL.  I'm just being me.  Okay, bye for now!