Infected- A Second Visit To The Doctor

I just came back from the clinic. This time round, the doctor recommend me to take an antibiotic jab. Doctors and nurses in Kampar are very nice people. They actually explain to you (when they really should) why you should take a particular medicine and how the medicines will help you. The doctor said if I was given an injection, the concentration of antibiotics to my target organ (which is my throat) is higher as compared to taking the antibiotic capsules orally where 40% or so will be excreted out of the body.

So anyway, I went ahead with the injection. It's better than coughing throughout the night and not able to sleep. After what seem like years, I don't even remember how long ago since I had my last jab on my butt. Lol. But this time is not exactly on my butt, more like my hips.

This visit costs me slightly more. I was given a stronger antibiotic, cough mixture and phlegm-diluent and it's RM 50. Pretty reasonable but the dispensary nurse kept explaining to me that the antibiotic pills I'm given are very good pills and are far stronger than the previous ones so it's more expensive. Like she's feeling guilty for charging a high price.

Well, I hope there'll be no more third visit.

Infected

I haven't been very well since 2 Saturdays ago. The symptoms were the usual runny and blocked nose, sore throat, fever-ish, coughing and sore limbs. Naturally, I would definitely though of cold. I did not bother about it for a couple of days till I felt a little worse even after getting some flu inhaler from Sito. Then I started to take some traditional herbal pills I got from Chinese drug stores. Consumed for a day or two and there were no changes, then I tried traditional herbal tea. No changes as well. But heck, I did not pay much attention to my condition. What do you expect anyway when I have 2 reports due (luckily one got extended) and 2 tests (on the same day, to boot!) in a week followed by a report and another test and next, thesis.

So, I coughed till I vomited twice, rest in between my studies and work but my health did not improve and my voice got more and more hoarse. Till one night, when I was out to watch football, I talked till I completely lose my voice. Completely! Never there was once in my life I completely lost my voice. The worst I've endured before this was hoarseness and that's all. But this did no scare me either. I knew my voice will come back to me the next day and yes, it did. Only it got a little sexy and 'shy' to come out (I had to scream to produce a low volume voice). Lol.

2 other are liquids, not shown here.

We all know about the emergence of H1N1 lately and my family, one by one, called and persuaded me to visit the doctor. Finally last night, after 13 days of torture, I went to the clinic. The doctor diagnosed me with laryngitis. It's a type of viral infection on my larynx, that is my voice cord. This is why my voice box is non-functional. I was given 7 types of medication and cost me RM 45. One of the medicine given was antibiotic. I was so tempted to ask the doctor why did he prescribe me with antibiotic when I got a virus infection. Antibiotic does not work on viruses but as a typical Asian, I did not ask. I started taking the drugs since last night and it has been 4 doses since but I haven't felt better. Let's hope for the best! I want to speak loudly like I used to ><

Hectic Schedule

I received my FYP schedule a few days ago. Have a look.

Items 4 and 5 especially caught my attention.

4. Completion of bench work - 3 Jan 2011

5. Submission of project report draft to supervisor - 31 Jan 2011

And this simply means one thing.. No sem break for me.

Will I Be Graduating?

What is the worse thing that could happen to a person?

What is the worse thing that could happen to a student?

What is the worse thing that could happen to a final year student?

What is the worse thing that could happen to a final year student working on her final year project?

What is the worse thing that could happen to a final year student working on her final year project in the effort of graduating with good grades?

 Answer : 1) She graduates with bad grades.

               2) She doesn't graduate!!

Earlier this afternoon while I was walking back to the lab from lunch, a friend broke a shocking news to me. What she told me was that we (as in my group mates and I) might not be able to complete out projects. You see, since my supervisor, Dr. Wong is a new lecturer, he doesn't have his own lab yet, which is why we under him are using the common lab. Luckily for us, this lab is not in use this sem because the juniors went for their industrial training.

However, next sem, when they return, they will need to use this lab. I don't know why but the lab officers decided not to allow us to use this lab anymore next sem. Which means, we have no lab to work on our projects! We are only half way through our projects. It's impossible to complete them with only weeks left. Even if we could, some of our ingredients have not arrived yet. I have 2 genes to work on and so far, only ingredients for 1 gene arrived.

It is clearly not our fault! We only have one short sem which is 7 weeks for our project. Other students are doing their projects this sem and can still continue next sem. Some even have one whole long sem last sem and they are still working on them this sem. 

So how does this affect me (or rather, us under Dr. Wong)? We write our thesis till where our projects are force to stop. Which maybe only half way through our projects. Then we'll only get half the grade due to incapability to complete the assigned project. If we did our project well, then we'll graduate with low grades for our fyp. If, God forbid, we did badly, we might not graduate at all.

Rubbish!

Time (And People) Destroys Kampar

I think I've figured out the reasons I kept complaining how hot it is in Kampar. Of course, it may be because of the world climate change, green house effect, thinning ozone layer and etc.. But I think the reason why Kampar is getting hotter day by day is because of UTAR's fault, mainly. Lol.

It's not that UTAR uses more electricity compared to any other buildings in Kampar, it's not that UTAR students spend all night awake hence, their laptops/lights/TVs on. It's not that UTAR indirectly built McDonalds. Well, maybe these contribute as well.

Area after the flyover, 2007.

Just less than an hour ago, after breakfast, I went to a place I haven't been for years. I went to the other side of the bridge. You must be wondering, what bridge? Well, for those of you who are aware, there's this flyover before the turning into UTAR. I've been there a couple of times years back. I went there with Leon, Guat Shan, Ah Wei and Sito to fish. There were 3 small lakes over there and full of greenery. I still remember how we got bitten by mosquitoes and stuff.

Area after the flyover, today. (Bad quality photo taken using my hp)

So, while Eric and I was riding on his bike around, we spotted a lorry went across the flyover. Curious of what such a big lorry doing over there and where it is going, we decided to follow the lorry (yea, like some detectives ==). What greeted me was a wide plot of white sand dessert. What happened to the lakes and the greens? I don't see any lake, I don't see as much greens as before. Everything are covered with sand!

 As you can see, Harvard didn't exist until 2 and a half years ago.

Another one of our sacred fishing spot, Batu-batu China, 2007.

Apparently, developers realize that they are able to make big money from students by building more accommodations. Shops and more houses will be built on this once-green-and-beautiful land. Isn't Harvard enough? Isn't Westlake enough? As if they aren't, the once 'Batu-batu China' (as what Leon named this place) is now Beijing.

The so-called Batu-batu China is called Beijing today. 
Rows of houses instead of water and plants.

It's not that I don't support all these developments in Kampar but I just hope developers know the limits. Instead of developing Kampar, they are destroying Kampar. When I first came in here 4 years ago, I remember I need to put on a blanket every night and how I shiver every morning when I bathe. Now, I wear as thin as I could to bed and woke up sweating.

Please, Kampar has a life too!

Another Accident, Another Student, Another Death.

Two Fridays ago, I received an sms from Guat Shan saying, "Accident in front of our house."

Shocked, I text-ed her back asking if it was her involved in the accident. She then replied me saying no, which made me feel so relief but soon, excited (no, not exactly excited but I can't find another word more suitable. More like curious?) about the accident. I was told the accident took place in front of my house, along the Westlake main road to UTAR. It was about 9.15 p.m. and being such a 'kepo', I went and have a look.

When I arrived there, there were lots of cars and people. There was an ambulance and a tow truck as well. I saw a black Mercedes ran into the fences of Westlake and 2 young motorcyclists, a guy and a girl, lying on the road, both motionless. By that time, I've already figured out that the motorcyclists were students. The motorbike was parted into 2, the body was near them but the head was thrown several feet away.

I was there for about an hour then I went home.

Next day, I check on J-on (click!), which is a website by UTAR students on UTAR-related news, for any news or update about this accident. Then I head from my friends that the guy was okay but the girl has a dislocated leg. She was sent to Ipoh hospital and then there was some news about she had clot in her brain. She had a surgery and went into coma.

She was supposed to awake from coma on Monday but she didn't and she was on life support. I then got to know that she passed away on Sunday evening, a week later.

The sad thing about this accident is, we'll never know the real story behind this. There's a story from the Mercedes driver that protects herself and there's another story that supports the motorcyclists from other sources. Then, from Chinese newspaper, the information was so false. I was there during the scene (I mean, I was there after the collision). It took place in Westlake but the newspaper reported that it took place somewhere near Tesco, which is in the Eastlake.

This is the 4th accident in Kampar involving UTAR student's death and the nth accident involving death in Kampar. I update on this because of how false information given in newspaper can be. I do not understand why newspapers report on information they are unsure of and why won't they get the reason behind the accident rather than reporting that the victims had their dinner and were going for revision. How important is that?

HOT!! (again)

Just to demonstrate how hot it is in Kampar...

 It's 33 degrees Celsius with a feel like of 34 degrees anyway. Damn! I already have 3 fans blowing me!

Cracked

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

It's not even a year old. Sigh.. I wonder if I can send it for warranty? Tell them it cracked all of sudden instead of I dropped it. Lol. Guess Guat Shan and I always share the same fate. Her phone was soaked in water!

On a random note, I can't wait for week 13 (another 3 weeks) to come.. PANGKOR this sem! :D

Bon Odori 2010.. Off.

Today is the 34th Bon Odori in Malaysia. The last time I went to Bon Odori was 4 years ago in 2006.

30th Bon Odori, 15th July 2006.

I think many already know that Bon Odori is a Japanese Ghost Festival and every year, there would be a festival held in 2 places in Malaysia, which are the Matsushita Stadium in Shah Alam and Esplanade in Penang, to celebrate this event.

I've never been to the one in Penang and since I enter my uni life, I made a some sort of 'promise plan' to myself that I would go to Bon Odori in Penang while I'm in my uni life. I made this self-promise back when I was in foundation, almost 4 years ago.

My favourite Bon Odori fan.

There are many self-promised plans I made and for most of them, I managed to fulfill, if not contented with what I did. But for this Bon Odori Penang plan, it is otherwise. 

Ever since I made this self-promised plan for Bon Odori...

31st Bon Odori 2007 - I was in foundation and I remember clearly I had my Economics test on the same day.

32nd Bon Odori 2008 - I was in my first year degree and I have no 'kaki' to go with.

33rd Bon Odori 2009 -  I was in my second year degree and I attended Manchester United Asia Tour 2009

34th Bon Odori 2010 - This year.. :(

Reason for missing Bon Odori 2009.. but did not regret :D

This year I have the group of friends I want to go with, I have my housemate who wants to go as much as I do. I might have the time and there was even an initial plan but.. I did not go after all. Why?

* I have 3 tests on the following week and though I might have the time to finish studying and actually attend Bon Odori, the guilt is there.

* We might not have enough transport to get there.

* Guat Shan have a paper on Monday.

* EE have test today and will be tired (burning midnight oil the night before) if we go later and especially more tired for those who will be driving.

I even got my mom to send me my yukata from home.

It's already my final year as a university student and yes, I know many told me that I can attend next year and that Bon Odori will still be there and all but this is my self-made promise and attending next year is not the same anymore. It's no longer under my uni life plan. Every year I tell myself, "It's okay, I'll go next year", and heck, I can't tell myself this anymore this year.

As exaggerated as I may sound, things will not be this bad once it's over ;)

Another Saman?!

I kena Toto again. This time, second prize, RM 100.

My money!! TT

According to this summon, I 'tidak mematuhi isyarat (papantanda trafik) lalulintas.'.

Location : Jalan Kolej, which is along KTAR or Loong Fong Kok area

Date and Time : 9.03.2010, 11.50 a.m., which fell on a Tuesday on week 8.

On a typical Tuesday, I would wait for Guat Shan's class to end at 10 a.m. then we would go for our brunch before I attend my lab at 12.30 p.m.. I remember once I illegally parked (not only me, but everyone else did) and then the police came but I successfully shifted my car on time! And I checked, that incident was not on week 8. It was before the 5th of March.

Papantanda trafik means road sign, correct? So, are there any road signs near that area? Like maybe no entry or one way street etc.? 

People in Kampar, or people who are familiar with Kampar, help me to brainstorm, please? ><

This is not the best April Fool's joke. Ever.

Not The Luckiest Day

Since this morning...

It was damn freaking hot at night and I could not sleep very well.

I did a stupid mistake in my Molecular Biology test.

When I tried to snap a group photo for my Moral assignment report, my camera battery died on me.

My bottle cap broke and water spilled on me. Twice.

After class, my car couldn't start. The battery was dead thanks to me, forgetting to off the lights.

With Jo's help, we tried to jump-start my car but failed.

It was hot as hell.

Went to old town in Jo's car to get help from mechanic only to be told the foreman was out in Jeram (about 15 minutes drive back to Kampar)

Waited in a drink stall for what seems like an hour.

Went back to UTAR with the mechanic to fix my car, done in less than 5 minutes.

My friend called and my phone battery died on me.

Came back home, hoping I could rest for an hour and a half before returning to uni but Prince told me the dean wanted to meet us and I was left with no time to rest.

Dad called and started questioning me about the new and old batteries when I was so inexperience about all these.

When I was trying to post a new status in Facebook, a security check appeared. Even a website was trying to bully me?!

As a result from this series of misfortune, I...

Got sun burnt.

Broke a nail.

Allergy reaction got worse.

Spent RM 180.

And it's only half a day now. Great.

To all who helped, physically, emotionally and mentally, Thanks a Mil!

H1N1?

I went through Vincent's blog yesterday and read his post on H1N1. He posted the symptoms one would experience if he or she is infected with H1N1. This was what I got from his blog..

Symptoms of H1N1 included:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
  
  

Out of the 6 symptoms listed, I experience 3 obvious ones. Confusion.. well, I get confused easily so that's not counted (I guess?) and flu-like symptoms, I have it but it have not return yet.


Avoid me? :(

P/s : Man. Utd will be playing against Birmingham tonight at 8.30p.m.. Let 's hope this will be a good start! :D And psst! Let me show you my jerseys..


Jealous? XD

SMS-es

Total sms-es this month : 3375

Average : 112.5 sms-es per day, 4.7 sms-es per hour

Top 3 numbers in random order: 016-3xxxx12, 016-xx0x0x0, 016-xx017x (you know who you are ^^;)


I personally feel 4.7 sms-es per hour aren't too much. But how come the bill is so high?!

Stuck

This week..
Monday : Physiology lab test
Tuesday : Biochemistry report due
Thursday : Biochemistry test
Friday : Microbiology test

Next week..
Monday : Physiology quiz, Biotechnology report due
Tuesday : Microbiology report due
Wednesday : Biotechnology test
Friday : Biotechnology report due

The week after..
Monday : Microbiology lab test
Tuesday : Biochemistry report due
Unknown day : Physiology final lab test


My second brother is back. I don't know how to arrange my schedule so that my family can come over to visit.

Is It Even Worth?

I wasted..

RM 18.50 for papers and ink
147 pieces of A4 sized paper
72 hours a.k.a. my entire weekend
Petrol for driving here and there
My stress I reserve for exam week

For a 10 marks Ancillary Statistic assignment.

The numbers @_@

On Friday, my group mates and I started working on our assignment on 9 p.m. and only ended at 6 a.m.. Next day, we went to Jo's house after dinner and ended our discussion for that day at 3 a.m.. The whole of Sunday was spent editing and compiling the solutions for printing until it's time for football.

All for how much?

147 pages! It's already a book, not an assignment.

10 MARKS!


P/s : The match last night was so exciting! Took all my 'sorrow' from assignment away :D

The Idiot Which Is Me

Which is worse?

Committing a mistake, thinking it wasn't wrong, or committing a mistake knowing it's wrong?

I had my Properties of Matters mid-term exam earlier this morning and I've never been so disappointed and pissed at myself.

So, there were calculation questions and we know calculation means formula. I did the question and I knew I got the answer wrong. How? Tell me, it is possible to have a 2000++ pm edge length of a unit cell? No.

Great. You won. I lost.

So, I knew my answer was wrong. I checked my calculations, rechecked and re-rechecked. I just can't find where my mistake lie. Not just this one question. Almost every question in that paper.

I was mad. I was pissed. I was upset. I cried in the car (Well, not those wailing kind of cry ^^;) I wanted to curse myself so badly but I just can't. I mean, can you imagine me cursing out loud, "@#$%^*! ELIZA LOO!". Then people around me would be like, "What the heck?". In fact, I'm fighting the urge to spell a foul word out here.

This sucks.

I suck.

It's Not Over

The worst week of my sem (so far) has just ended.

I feel so relived, as if I've just finished my third year final project and graduated.

So, I had my Biodiversity and Concepts of Ecology test earlier today and I wouldn't say I did very well. I had my Ancillary Statistic too and heck, I don't even know if I could pass that paper.

What's the title of the book? Heck, it's Biodiversity!

Dropping that depressing topic, I bring you another depressing topic. Lol.

I FAILED AS A KLANG-LANG.

I took the challenge to cook bah kut teh on Monday. You guessed it, it didn't turn out right.

Ta-da!! The failed BKT :(

Guat Shan gave me an 8, Sito a 6.75 and Shiau Ping a 7.1.

I guess you noticed that my sentences are relatively short. Guess I'm just tired. I slept at 6.50 a.m. this morning and woke up at 7.15 a.m.. Yes, I'm crazy. I actually slept at 2 a.m. then I dreamt that I failed my Biodiversity exam. Shocked, I got up at 5 a.m. and started half-asleep-half-reading my notes.

After my Biodiversity test, went lunching with classmates then went home, slept for like 30 minutes and continue the misery of Statistics. I'm so glad it's over but not for long. Part 2 is coming up.

Sigh.. Well, at least there's a yum cha session in 20 minutes with my classmates :D

Earth Is Rotating Far Too Fast.

I guess the time has come- the busiest time in a sem. My schedule is so pack these few weeks. It's as if I have something to do everyday. And it's not like there only one thing to do in a day but there are several things to prepare for. Take this week for example,

Monday - Rush for Chemistry report.
Tuesday - Rush for Statistics and Properties tutorial.
Wednesday - Study for Properties quiz and prepare for Pengajian Malaysia presentation.
Thursday - Rush for English journal draft.
Friday - Study for lab test on Saturday (today).
Saturday - Study for Statistics and Biodiversity mid-term on Wednesday.

Nerding.

The most frustrating part is that when I've finally finished, say, preparing for my presentation, the class was canceled. And when I finally cracked my head for my English journal draft, the tutor said he did not want to check it during class. URGH!!

This busy schedule will not end anytime soon. See,

Week 8 - Biodiversity and Statistics mid-term.
Week 9 - Properties mid-term and 2 Chemistry lab reports.
Week 10 - Bio lab report and Properties assignment due, Pengajian mid-term.
Week 11 - Perhaps Statistics assignment.
Week 12 - Statistic test 2, Biodiversity quiz 2.
Week 13 - Properties mid-term, Bio lab test 2.
Week 14 - Chemistry lab test.

Phylum, genus, species, common name.. That's what Biodiveristy is.

And after that, I'll have a week of study break and then my finals. Great.

I'm so tired lately I can just doze off while studying. I mean really doze off unwillingly. It's not the type of dozing off because I'm bored or something. But it's the type that when I stay still for a while and I'll fall asleep unknowingly, until I wake and notice I fell asleep... if you get what I mean ^^;

I'm jealous. I hope I could sleep as carefree.

I'm risking my A's for my tests by updating my blog now.


P/s : I've changed my layout. What do you think?

So Much For A CNY Break

I'm on my Chinese New Year one-week break now.

Everyone celebrated until late on Thursday night
and slept during break on Friday class.

A CNY break = help around in house, get some new and nice clothes, buy more new shoes, make plans with friends, visitings, receive ang pows, eat ba kua, peel Mandarin oranges, play with cousins, nieces and nephews, light firecracker, attend family reunion, all without feeling 'heavy hearted'.

Or at least, that's how it should be.

This year, my CNY break = Reports. Assignments. Tutorials. Tests.

A simple list of what I'm burdened with this break

1. English assignment 1.
2. Lab report.
3. Pengajian Malaysia assignment draft.
4. English assignment 2 draft.
5. Study for Properties of Matter (Thermodynamics) pop quiz.
6. Study for Biodiversity and Concepts of Ecology quiz.
7. Do Ancillary Statistic tutorial.

THERMODYNAMICS!! *gasp*

7 things to do for a 7 days break. Though the last 3 can be procastinated (Lol). But wait.. Thermodynamics? I think I can already predict my result. Since week 1, I've never understood what was taught.

Yeah, I think I'll enjoy my break.

New Toy!

I got a new toy! I bought a new Mp3 player today! Yay~

The reason I bought it is because it's not the 'ear plug' type.
It's very much similar to my old one, only thing is that this one is foldable and cooler. I know, I know. I've only bought my previous one for like how many months? Less than 3 and have only used it twice but hey, this new one suits me more! :D

A disadvantage is however, it's battery operated.
Anyway, just a short update to let people know that I'm cool (LOL!) and so that people won't think this blog is dead.

P/s : Apparently not only my modem was struck by lightning but my router too. Everyone at home is able to online now except me! I don't understand why. There's this error message saying my laptop is unable to get a certificate for the network. What is that supposed to mean? How do I fix it? Is this some kind of a punishment for someone who sticks to her laptop? :(