Virus H1N1? No! It's virus T1D0

It has been a week since I returned from UK. The quarantine period (for H1N1) also is over, which confirmed that I'm negative for it.

Tapi seminggu balik dari UK, all I wanted to do was sleep, sleep and sleep. I get a really bad jet lag this time I guess. Bila siang jek asyik nak tido. Kemaruk tido sungguh! Tengah malam buta bila hubby and juju tido, kita terjaga plak. Hubby said "awak ni bukan kene virus H1N1 ni, tapi kene virus tido, which is T1D0 (T one D 0)". The reason hubby said so is because he himself and juju pun macam terjangkit-jangkit asyik nak tido jek :P. Hehehe.

Okay, ramai request cerita dari UK. Sorry la ek tak update blog sepantas yang mungkin. As I mentioned before, sebab sebelum ni asyik nak tido jek...harini baru rasa bertenaga dan tak ngantuk sgt.

Let me start with the experiences as well as the euphorias that I learnt and encountered in Cambridge. I spent almost a week kat Cambridge University.


It was indeed a spectacular experience. I think I might know every nook and cranny of streets at Cambridge University. Name it, Bene't street, Trumpington Street, King's Palace, Little St. Anne Mary Street..suma nya dah hafal dah :P. Masa pegi sana UK tengah musim panas. Rasa tak best gak coz tak dapat merasa salji. Tapi kalau nak rasa salji pegi la vacation sendiri kan? Ni orang taja pergi pun dah cukup baik walaupun musim panas. Kene bersyukur okey.

Walaupun berkursus seminggu sahaja di Cambridge University, tapi kitorang diberikan privileges seperti pelajar which includes access to their library and computer lab. How nice kan? Memang terasa macam student betul, duduk dalam lecture hall, siapkan assignment and balik bilik hanya untuk tido sahaja.

-my room at Corpus Christi College. Percayalah, paling lama dapat baring melelapkan mata kat katil ni pun hanya 4-5 jam sahaja sehari-

Persekitaran Cambridge University ni adalah satu community yang sungguh academic. They are proud with the scientists yang graduated from their institutions. Dalam dining hall dia tergantung gambar2 scientists seperti Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton etc. yang merupakan graduate dari Cambridge University. Diorang kat sini admire Charles Darwin okehhh. Masa pergi sana, ada muzium ni (Fritzwilliam Museum) sedang buat pameran mengenai Charles Darwin.

-wall of fames at their dining hall. This one is at the dining hall @ University Centre-

Kat Cambridge University jugak, they are proud with their Eagle Restaurant. The Eagle Restaurant ni tempat bersejarah di mana Watson&Crick discover their idea pasal DNA tu and had their discussions here whilst refreshing themselves with ale.

And lagi satu kebanggan diorang ialah Corpus Christi Clock..Ada cerita menarik behind this clock. For more info read here. Istimewanya clock ini ialah it was unveiled by the renown Stephen Hawking yang juga merupakan Physics graduate dari Cambridge.

-corpus christi clock. ada grasshopper besar atas tu yang gerakkan clock tu-

Naaa...have I or haven't I told you that Cambridge University ialah community yang sungguh academic and scientific? Couldn't you all agree more?

I am now quite well-versed in understanding British accent, walaupun pada memula sampai tu rasa almost burst into tears cuba mamahami English dalam British accent (the mentor in my group, Marie Taylor, has a strong Bristish accent) and Spain accent (ada participants kursus tu dari Spain). The very next day I was determined to catch up with their accents, or else I will be left far behind, and alhamdulillah, I did it. The tricks are to stay focus on their mouth and face and eye, and watch their gestures as well. Sounds simple eh? Wait until you hear and try yourself!

And here also I practised my skills in speaking several Spanish words with my Spanish friend, Raoul. He marvelled at my ability to speak in Spanish language (thanks to La Usurpadora, Maria Mercedes etc! *LOL*) which according to him, I speaked with the correct pronounciation too :). Gracias Raoul. Muchas gracias! ~De nada...

-my Spanish friend, Raoul, is on my left-

I discovered also orang-orang lelaki Barat ni teramat peramah rupanya. Ada satu hari tu I asked my group facilitator to take picture with me (he's a Frenchman), dia dengan selambanya cakap "OK" and then letak tangan dia atas my bahu. I was damn speechless! Few days later, I asked Raoul to take picture together with me and my friend. Dia pun dengan selamba letak tangan atas bahu kita. Mujur masa tu ada lelaki Malaysian tegur..so I politely asked Raoul to take his hand off from my shoulder. Auuwww....husband I marah tau orang lain pegang2 bini dia ni...:P.

I also had a face to face experience and conversation ngan lelaki2 mat salleh yang tak percaya pada institusi perkahwinan, they flirt and ada anak 'illegal' with their partner. Selama ni hanya tengok kat TV jek, tapi bila2 bende tu berlaku depan mata kita, terkedu kejap.

-me with group facilitator, Girtel from Estonia and Emmanuel from French. Both are MBA student in Cambridge University-

Lagi satu, I just learnt that... buruk rupanya orang putih ni mabuk. Masa kursus tu, time tea and coffee break and networking dinner, they had liquor with them. Bila these mat sallehs got drunk, muka diorang akan jadi merah2 and pastu start la melalut2 cakap dengan senyuman yang ntah apa2 ntah. Ngeri I okayyy... Prior coming to Cambridge also, I didn't even know the smell of wine/liquor tu macam mana, tapi lepas ni kalau restaurant kat Malaysia ni serve wine etc dalam makanan rasanya dah boleh cam dah baunya.

Orang2 kat Cambridge University ni suma baik2 and humble. The speakers are very humble walaupun bertaraf CEO company yang nilainya berjuta-juta pound! Unlike Malaysia, our politicians and CEOs are wayyyy to snobbish I think. People in Cambridge University also are concern about Muslim food. During lunch and dinner, they provide us with halal food. Pas tu kat cafe diorang, diorang akan label each food served. Contohnya ada satu lunch tu diorang served udang ngan mayo, mmg nampak sedap dan kita ingat boleh makan, tapi bila dia cakap kat label tu dia letak white wine dalam salad tu, terus tak jadik amek.

Overall pengalaman di Cambridge University provide a good platform for me untuk sambung study nanti. I learnt how to deal with the Westeners and also how to choose the right food untuk Muslim seperti kita. Rasa bertuah sangat dapat befriend dengan professor2 dari Malaysia kat sana. Diorang suma very friendly and banyak beri tunjuk ajar kepada a naive girl like me :P.

Kat Cambridge gak, I went punting. It was a last minute decision sebenarnya. Tapi alang-alang dah sampai Cambridge kan, jangan lepaskan peluang punting. It was yet another spectacular experience! Kalau you all berpeluang gi Cambridge, ini adalah aktiviti yang you all should not miss.

-punting time. Do you notice that I'm wearing a Cambridge University T shirt? *ngee* :)-

Sedikit gambar yang menarik di Cambridge:

-setiap pagi breakfast @ Corpus Christi College. Dining hall diorang sebijik macam Harry Porter's!-

-bersama Prof. Wan Azlina of UTM and Prof. Rusy of UKM yang sungguh humble dan banyak memberi tunjuk ajar, berlatar belakangkan King's College-

-shopping spree at Cambridge-

-bangunan kitorang berkursus (Judge Business School) tu sebenarnya was a hospital dulu. And this lecture hall was originally an operation theatre!! Seram tak?-

-Bersama Malaysians in my mentor group. Kakak yang tengah tu is a kind-hearted lecturer from UM yang sudi temankan saya pegi punting :)-

-Day 7: End of Cambridge trip. Ni on the way pegi Cranfield kat Bedfordshire-

Story at Cranfield and London akan diupload kemudian ye... Sabarrrr...

Luv,

Eating cupcake by herself-Comot!

Kitorang pegi umah orang kawen tengahari tadi. Instead of bunga telur, they gave us cupcakes as doorgift. Dalam kereta, si kecik ni meraung-raung dan merajuk tetiba. Aiseyyy.. baru tinggalkan seminggu lebih dah pandai mengamuk ek? Mama babap kang!

Ingat kan dia nak apa...rupanya dia nak makan cupcake sendiri! Tak mo mama dia suapkan... Layan jek la.....

Yes people, I'm back in Malaysia...Masih kind of jet lag, waktu tido masih tak menentu. Will update cerita di Cambridge, London and Cranfield soon!

Lawa tak baju juju atas tu? Jangan tak caya...beli kat car boot sale at Milton Keynes at only GBP 3!! Kat UK barangan car boot sale tak semestinya barangan terpakai atau second hand. Macam baju juju ni masih elok lagi dan rasanya sales untuk habiskan stok kedai diorang. Bila balik malaysia, belek2 nak basuh baru tau tu baju Marks&Spencer sebenarnya. Owwh..seronoknya shopping at UK especially summer sales. I bought a Crocs for juju kaler maroon at shopping complex (Midsummer Place) at only GBP10 okayyy!!! Kat malaysia jgn harap nak beli crocs...mahal seihhh...

Punting at Cambridge

Have been eyeing punting since the second day I was here. Alhamdulillah petang tadi kursus habis awal, and punting ni dibuka sampai pukul 8 mlm during summer time.

Jom tengok gambar!

-beli tiket dulu. £14. You can do self punting, tapi for a first-timer, it's better they do the punting for you-

-our handsome punter-

-trying my own punting-

-King's college-

-rasanya ni kali pertama amek gambar scenery lawa2 :)-


-me and the punter, Theo, a nice Irish man-


-dinner at Indian restaurant-


-chapati and vegetarian main course. Lovely!-

-Corpus Christi clock. Unveiled by Stephen Hawking. He's a Cambridge graduate-

Esok hari akhir kursus. After the last session tomorrow, I'll be going to Cranfield, Bedfordshire before going to London the next day. Rindu zara!!!!

Lebih sibuk daripada biasa

Maaf ye kawan2. Tak sempat nak update blog. I'm having really a good time kat sini, tapi jadual kursus amat pack. Malam pulak kene siapkan assignment. Ni ada few pix untuk tatapan semua.

Happy Anniversary Sayang :)

Bersiaran secara langsung dari Cambridge University ehem ehem... *wink*

Selamat tiba di bumi London at 5.45 a.m.

It took an hour plus from Heathrow Airport to get to Cambridgeshire. We hired a cab ramai-ramai instead of naik tube or coach. After check-in to our college that morning, kitorang round Cambridge on our own, and did a little shopping before the programme started in the evening :). Summer sales are everywhere!

-at Corpus Christi College entrance-

-our college building. This is from my camera. Cuba bandingkan dengan gambar dari previous entry tu :)-

-the school where we will be having our course-

- at the King's College-

Happy 2nd anniversary sayang!

29th June 2009- our 2nd wedding anniversary. It's so sad because we couldn't celebrate our anniversary again this year. Last year I was in confinement, this year plak I go abroad :(. Tak pe, Insya-allah tahun depan kita sambut together kat Holland ye bang :).

Sempena anniversary ni, I dedicate this lovely song by Ungu (featuring Rossa), Tercipta Untukmu, version from Ayat-ayat Cinta Soundtrack. Nice lyrics and very melodious. Ingatkan nak dedicate kat hubby dulu, buat surprise, tapi dia dah wish dulu and dedicate lagu ni via text message tengahari tadi. Chet! Tiru orang plak abang ni...macam tau2 jek..tak aci tau :P

Anyway, try dgr lagu ni...tengok videoklip dia untuk lebih feeling. Chewah!

Sayang abang sentiasa! Husband lah pendorong semangat saya untuk terus berjaya dalam kerjaya. When I was weeping and crying leaving behind zara masa nak bertolak pegi KLIA, he's the one who comforted me and gave me strength. He's always there when I needed him. He is a good friend, a shoulder to cry on and my inspiration. Imagine pengorbanan dia willing to quit his job and accompany me furthering PhD..not all husbands are willing to do that, rite?

Owh, how I miss abang and lil zara!!!!!!!!!!

salam rindu dari cambridge,

UK Trip and PhD planning

Will be extending my stay kat London for 2 more days after the course in Cambridge University over. Dah contact travel agent and tukar tarikh..kene penalty RM139 (sebab tukar tarikh balik) tapi tak pe la, bukan selalu dapat pegi UK free kan? :P. Will be staying at rumah my colleague yang sambung PhD kat sana on the two nights. She said she'll be bringing me around London city :).

And pasal sambung belajar, tengah berusaha mencari tempat di Holland. The university I am trying to apply has a strict admission for PhD. Kalau susah2 sangat I'll resort to my initial plan- Ireland :P

Wish me best of luck!

Road to Cambridge University

How should I start this entry? I'm already hyped up for next week's trip to London, and not mentioning my worry regarding the pandemic *oink oink* flu.

Ok. Let me begin with this.

Semuanya bermula on last March when me and my two other colleagues were nominated by our superiors to attend this course in Cambridge University. All the expenses there (return flight ticket, accommodations, course fee, meal and transport allowances) will be borned by the sponsor. Punya la teruja bila dengar kan? All travel-free, who wouldn't resist such a chance kan? Prior to that, we have to write up a proposal to attend the course.

After the first screening by the sponsor, only me and my other colleague made it, the other one didn't. Surprisingly, because the one who didn't make it wrote an excellent proposal compared to both of us. I myself didn't put much hope during the first screening as we have to compete with those lecturers and Profs from universities. It was quite mentally daunting. All I ever wanted was to write a damn good proposal so that kalau tak terpilih pun, kita dah buat yang terbaik dan sehabis baik. For the second pare down pulak, the lists of the successed ones from the screening were forwarded to Cambridge University whereby the respective personnel will set up a telephone interview with the candidates. Remember my Fig & Olive entry? That was after my telephone interview session.

Before the interview session, in spite of meetings here and there, alhamdulillah, I managed to squeeze my time to google on tips for telephone interview. I applied the tips during my interview but sometimes lidah melayu ini ter'slip' juga keluar words like "errr...", "emm..." and ended up my sentence with our typical Malaysian "-lah"! (e.g. I think so-lah, We will try on that-lah).

Results were out few weeks later, and much to my anticipation, I'm accepted to the course! However the other good friend of mine didn't make it :(

Mula-mula takut jugak nak prepare beli barang untuk dibawa ke London.. mana tau kot-kot last minute tak jadik ke apa kan. But after receiving the flight ticket on last Wednesday (17th June), impian kini hampir menjadi kenyataan. Receiving a return flight ticket to London and to know the result of furthering study on the same day on my birthday is definitely a double happiness for me!

Before this pernah tulis proposal nak berkursus di Jepun, tapi tak dapat. Pernah apply nak kursus kat one of the universities in UK pun boss tak luluskan. Early of this year pun I was this close to go to Vietnam for a meeting, but when my top management interfered with the final decision, I couldn't go. I guess Allah reserved the very best for me :)

Insya-allah, I will be departing to London next week. From Malaysia there will be 15 representatives where majority of them are from higher learning institutions/IPT. Statistically (this was revealed masa programme briefing haritu), overall, 58 candidates submit their proposals to the sponsor for this course. 28 were chosen after the first screening. Cambridge University did the last paring, choosing only 15 participants from Malaysia. Semua yang pergi ni masing-masing carry titles of Prof., Assoc. Prof. atau sekurang-kurangnya Dr. It's only me who have none :(. I think I'm the youngest too. Masa pegi Swiss haritu pun I'm the youngest sampai dapat diskaun buat kad naik public transport sana sebab masa tu below 25 years old :).

We will be arriving Heathrow airport pukul 6 pagi, and kene pandai-pandai naik tube (macam LRT kat sini) untuk ke Cambridge University. I am not that worry coz rasanya semua yang pergi ni pernah ada pengalaman belajar kat UK ataupun datang UK. What I worry is macam mana nak tarik my luggage tu nanti...*uwaaaa*. Dah la kene bawak lap top along to the course...berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahuku memikul...*uwaaaa*. Rasanya sementara tunggu registration tu sempat la shopping kejap. Petang tu lepas registration ada sightseeing trip arranged by Cambridge University. Then the following days jadual kursus akan padat seawal 9 pagi sehinggala late evening. Bila lagi nak shopping and sightseeing weih? (Hubby cakap focus first! Souvenirs kemudian2 :P).

I've been to London once, that is masa transit dari Swiss ke KLIA. Dari London City Airport ke Heathrow Airport naik taxi kene GBP 100.. masa tu pejam mata jek la jangan convert ke RM. Kalau convert mau sakit jiwa wooo, equivalent to approx RM700 naik teksi..meroyan okehhh... Naseb baik naik taxi ramai-ramai. Masa transit 12 jam tu tak ke mana pun, kami hanya stay kat Heathrow Airport sebab masa tu tgh kecoh bombing issue kat airport thus tak boleh senang-senang tinggal luggage kat sana. Dah la counter check-in MAS bukak lambat time tu :(. Nevertheless, pengalaman lalu depan Big Ben, Trafalgar Square etc di London memang a sweet memory :). Owh, that was 5 years ago.

Kali ni, tinggal la hubby, tinggal la juju untuk 10 hari. Sejak ada juju paling lama mama kursus atau attend seminar and meeting pun 4 days 3 nights jek. The course in Cambridge University is a one-week course, tapi depending on the ticket availability, I might be extending my stay there to visit my mentor and sleep over at her place. Wah, jimat cost lodging kan? :P. Rindu mmg rindu kat zara nanti, tapi kene bertahan berkorban sedikit. Perjumpaan ngan my mentor tu I regard as an important matter before I proceed to further study. I might be visiting her research lab there. She's the one yang banyak tunjuk ajar dan also as a good sister to me.

Okay...tak sah rasanya entry tanpa gambar kan? Gambar2 ni I searched kat google jek... Jom layan....

Ni gambar antara building the prestigious Cambridge University. Bangunan kat Cambridge ni suma very Gothic!

Ni Judge Business School di mana kursus akan diadakan. This picture was taken during autumn by the photographer

Kitorang menginap di student's college jek. Tapi pihak penaja booking kan the first class punya bilik, i.e en-suite (tak payah sharing toilet), equipped with internet etc. Itu pun dah cukup baik kan? This is the Corpus Christi College. Read in the net that this building was founded in 1352. It sent an eerie feeling to me to read such a fact. Already bayangkan poltergeist memacam kat kolej ni *LOL*

This is Cambridge University's library. We will be having assignments and presentations kat sana nanti. And we are permitted to have access to their library. Yippiee!! Dah lama tak masuk library. It's now the perfect time for me to familiarize myself dengan student's life prior to further my PhD

Till then all...

Take care and have a nice day. Tak yah nak jealous2 coz u have ur loved ones with you here di masa-masa I'm alone without hubby and Juju kat sana :(