Last Friday Night in Cordoba...

My elongated European travel is coming to an end in the this Spanish land. By next Monday afternoon, I'd greet one of the first colonial explorers of Malaysia - the Portuguese. It is very strange, and thank God, I survived and will continue surviving. In fact, many have told me I live the dream of many. Yet, I am but a subject of God, seeking and looking for His will be done. My part in Spain is considered done. I had my share of witnessing Asian church with some young people. Though not many, I pray someone's heart was touched by Christ like how He has touched mine.

With packing to be done tonight, and tomorrow morning, I'm getting nervous about moving. Would I be able to finish packing on time before my friend's visit this weekend? Where will I be for my final semester? Yet, an assurance in my heart that His will be done unto me. As much as I'd love to be where my heart would like to be, whatever that happens, it always happens for a reason. All the ugly stuffs which happened to me this semester, all the past uncomfortable experiences with individuals... All have gone with the north wind to somewhere beyond my knowledge. With a new chapter of my life starting in Lisbon, Portugal, I pray that I'm closing this chapter of my life beautifully. I have bade farewell to people who matter to me starting early this week, been on a trip to Malta and Madrid and Granada to visit various people, done all my exams and did pretty well for some of them... All these "doing" parts, I have completed. It is time to settle down and start with the "listening" parts.

With the start of Lenten season last Wednesday, carrying the promise that I am an ambassador and soldier of Christ, a promise which I have made solemnly before the Bishop of Malacca-Johor diocese then during my Confirmation, I pray that I will go forth and witness for Jesus with the aid of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord shines His perpetual light upon me and everyone out there. Amen.

Final Month in Cordoba, Spain

Yups, this is the weekend when the cold North Wind starts to blow  (finally!). This year, apparently, it is late, for some reason, the north wind was trapped in Arctic due to the "sibling" of El Nino/La Nina. Oh well, those who know me would know how glad I am that this winter isn't too cold. It is weekend, so I can hide inside my rather cold apartment for the whole few days, going out only when necessary. Anyway, I would have about 13 days to walk around, spend time with people who matter and checking out new places before I leave to Lisbon, Portugal.

Wow. Final month in Cordoba, Spain. Having been here for around 5-6 months, I wouldn't say that I won't miss this place when I leave, but I think I would miss the people whom I have come to know more than the place itself. When I bade goodbye to KK, I knew that the reason I call KK my home is the people whom I left behind to climb the staircase of studies.

The North wind stopped howling outside my window since this evening. It means that Cordoba will return to the normal 18-20ish degrees Celsius winter-spring weather. Then when March comes, it shall be summer once again. Strange place, really, weather-wise. I've experienced only few times of rain since I arrived. Only once I got drenched here. Comparing to Malaysia... Oh well.

I could not sleep because I probably had too much of Pepsi. And yeah, as I tried to sleep just now, the autopsy report kept ringing in my head. I've finally completed around 80-90% of it. Now I feel less restless. Time to sleep I guess.

Signing out at 6.02 am. (What?! It IS morning already!!!) Day 22 counting down to Lisbon.

Have a blessed Sunday, my friends!

Forensic Pathology Class

Strange enough, I actually enjoyed attending Forensic Pathology class even the human anatomy class gave me headache when everybody seemed to be so confident of themselves. I could go extra miles just to find out more about the assignment I have been assigned to do. It is a similar feeling when I did assignments related to molecular biology, genetics and DNA topics. For once, I know my strength of being passionate about these areas.

I can't deny that I care a lot about a comment someone made when I expressed that my passion lies within these areas of interest - molecular biology, genetics, DNA, phylogenetics etc. - that even if I like these areas and want to do a project on these areas, that doesn't mean I'd get an opportunity to work on a final masters project on these areas. Sounds too much like a warning that I don't get what I wish for, and there are many others who are more worthy than me to receive what they want. At that moment, I felt like killing him, tearing his mouth into pieces. That surge of anger surprised me, I'd say. Yet, it was also very clear to me that some people just have to protect themselves. Like how my defensiveness caused anger in me.

I'm pretty messed up recently, with all these analytical chemistry subjects to tackle I know I'm not performing the way I should be. I just hope I can pass through these challenges, and have a better 1.5 years ahead of me. Never mind that cold and heartless comment that person expressed when I shared my dream. I hate to see people crushing my dreams, but this is life in a blind and self-absorbed world. So I shall work for the sake that what I do will glorify God. I am certain I don't need people like this in my life, making me feel small about myself. It is enough that I was brought up this way. Time to break free from this bondage which caused me not to believe that I have equal opportunities as others.

If it is meant to be, I will get the project I want.

P/S: Can someone please shut up the radio that is broken nearby? It's a literal translation of I'm tired of listening to humming and singing when I need to concentrate in studying in my room without needing to plug my ears with earphones. I don't need noise pollution.

Excellent Sunny Day in Radcliffe, United Kingdom

I'm currently in Radcliffe, UK, visiting my friend's ex-director since Friday evening. There was no snow, but definitely lots of rain. Yet, by God's blessing, today has been a wonderfully sunny day. We decided to go for a walk to the water canal nearby and there were a family of swans swimming us by. Look at the pic! The daddy and mommy swans swam ahead of the 3 ugly ducklings.

Daddy and Mommy Swan leading the babies...

Teenage ugly ducklings :P

I visited Barcelona too. It was great to have a lot of sun there, so warm that I could visit the seaside again and again during the 3 days there...

Here's how it looked like to be going to the beach during winter...

Cold wind but sunny day and blue Mediterranean sea as background.

Indeed, the Lord has been gracious to me, to allow me this opportunity to visit Europe in a leisure manner, not squeezing everything in a tight schedule.

Blessed 3rd Sunday of Advent

Yes, I am smiling genuinely. I don't know if it's due to the McD effect or because I finally found a young adult prayer group here. Though some speak very little English and the prayers are generally in Spanish, but it's a young adult group!! My 3rd family... Last night I attended for the first time the gathering, and this photo was taken as the post-prayer gathering makan-makan session. Haha. McD!!! The first mcD after Gibraltarian McD with my Malaysian delegates to YAI.

Last night, the priest spoke about constancy in prayer life. I have to admit it's not easy to be consistent in prayers... The whole praying daily thingy... I really salute a friend - Joanna Chai - for the constancy she had shown as an example during my uni days. I really miss my friend, but we have lost contact since... two years ago, and her email address is no longer working. I really hope to know what had happened to her since our last email contact early 2010.

Hope God will provide a way for us to contact again.

Blessed Advent. Joyous Sunday.

Another 4 hours before Forensic Botany Exam...

Yups, another 3 hours plus before I face my first final examination of this Masters course... Kinda unsure if I should abandon the last part of the classes in lab - Wood and also Fruit and Seed - I also meant to revise again the techniques for Pollen Extraction --- Or I should just try to close my eyes and enter into dreamland. Well, after the grande Nescafe in the middle of the night... I better try to cover the rest of what I haven't covered. Oh well... I only have myself to blame... All the hibernation I have done when the polar bear me starts escaping into reality.

Let's consider I'm taking a break to relax my brain by blogging. I've just shared my blog URL on the Moodle platform which UCO is using as virtual classroom. I wonder if this is a good step. Maybe not-so wise. At this moment, I'm inviting stalkers to my site. Until further notice... Maybe in few days I will take down the URL. LOL. Not that I don't have a possible bunch of stalkers who love me enough to check me out. LOL. A little self-flattery is needed to keep me awake now.

So, WELCOME, to all first timers.

Oh yeah, I'm looking forward to Saturday night. I'm invited to another church for a gathering... there will be a few English-speakers there. It was good that I persevered and attended Adoremus just now. I attended the first day of obligation of this year after Advent! It's the Feast Day of Immaculate Conception. Attending Adoremus is one of the activities which I truly rejoice in, though many-a-times, I struggled to get on my feet to walk there. It lightens the burdens I felt as they accumulate when the week starts. Adoration and receiving Eucharist are always good food for soul.

So, God is good. And time to get back to studies...

Happy 2nd Sunday of Advent 2011

Blessed 2nd Sunday of Advent! I haven't written much these days - been a bit occupied with negative thoughts due to the coldness I face in where I am living. How I wish we're using normal room heater rather than central heating!!! I have to bear for another 3 months and LIBRE!!!! Yes, all these pent-up emotions have found their ways to kill my joy of awaiting Christ's coming this Christmas. So today, I want to prepare the way for the Lord to enter into my life once again. Even when it is tough, but my Jesus is tougher than the enemy.

So, my friends, let us prepare for Christmas together, even if it means we have to move mountains and cross oceans to clear the path to our hearts for Christ.

Yes, the TRUTH (JESUS) PREVAILS.