Fundraising for Graduate Study in the USA

I never thought that I will finally decide to set up a crowdfunding page to raise funds for my graduate study. It was mixed feelings because I never did something like this before. In the beginning, it felt wrong because I know and am aware there are a lot less fortunate people out there that need cash to survive the day. As the deadlines for enrollment get closer, I start to feel anxious that I will not make it. After a few months of searching for potential scholarships available in Malaysia and the USA, I get to a dead end. Most of these scholarships are closed for applications or I am not eligible because of certain criteria that I could not meet. This is the ultimatum that makes me decide to finally do this. Besides, I get strong backup and support from Dr Alison that I should do this. Although in the beginning, it was my best friend, Najjah that came out with this idea which I did not even think of.

Here is the link to my crowdfunding page: Fundraising for Graduate Study in the USA.   

Please help to spread the word and your generosity will make this dream possible. Thank you so much for your kindness.   

Ash Wednesday 2023

 

Source: CatholicLink

Today is the beginning of the Lent season for the year 2023. I have felt so lost these past few days because I was trying to find available funding to be applied for me to pursue my degree. However, I met a dead end. I no longer see it will be possible for me to go this coming June. However, I must put my trust in the Lord that He will provide. Let His will be done and not mine. Let my desire align with His will for me. Therefore, I will try my very best to put my total trust in the Lord.  

As I open my Spotify web player this morning, this podcast shows in my podcast playlist. Thank you Dr Edward Sri for this beautiful sharing. Do you trust the Father?

Then, I saw this video on my YouTube channel notifications. This young priest has a pearl of great wisdom and I think this one is meant for me too. Thank you, Lord, for all this talk and sermon. 

He will help you. 

May you have a blessed Lent these coming months.

God bless. 

CAUSE: Cookie is My Third Stray

After almost five months, I decided to keep Cookie to accompany Puffin. Puffin is too lonely and she needs a companion anyway. Although, both of them give me a headache sometimes but, they are my happy pills when I feel down or overwhelmed by everything around me. Cookie is such a playful puppy. She always calls me out to play with her and while doing that she will always have the toy in her mouth. That is why I always allow both of them to play together at least once a day. We don't have a big compound but it is just enough for them to run around. 

The photo was taken on August, 13.

Based on my reading, puberty (or sexual maturity) in dogs on average is when they reached about six months of age, but this can vary by breed. Since Cookie is a smaller breed so that is why she had her first estrous cycle at an earlier age. Meanwhile, large and giant breeds may not come into heat for the first time until they reach eighteen months to two years of age. Thus, I think she is about 6 months old now. While she had her first menstrual cycle now, she is more clingy and wants to be pampered. 

Actually, I plan to spay her early this month but something came up and I could not send her to the vet. Hopefully, I can do that after her menstrual cycle is over. It worries me when male dogs start to visit our house and are interested to mate with her. 

Another photo was taken on August, 13.

HIKING: Back on Forest Trail

 

Mt Singai Summit last Sunday hike

I have decided to be back on the trail again after a few months. One of the main reason is because of my fitness and health is not at an optimum level now. When my age reach the 40s I start to feel body ache and easily fell sick. This is not only an age factor but I am sure it is related to my lifestyle. I begin to ignore my physical activities and consume too much sugar and carbs too. 

In June 2022, I went for a body medical checkup and I was warned about my cholesterol level. It is not yet reached borderline but due to my age, I need to watch out for my food intake to control my cholesterol level. Besides, my family history shows that I might be at risk as I aged. One way that I think might help me is to start again with the physical activities that I used to do before. Hiking was in my mind because running will be limited by my feet and knee conditions.  

Photo Credit to Cleveland Clinic

However, the medical check-up results only make me anxious for a few months and then I return to my old habits. I stop my running and hiking activities and did not careful with my food intake as well. After returning from Spain at the end of October, I still feel okay but there is one night after having dinner with my friends I feel a bit uneasy. I had quite a lot of prawns that night too. I feel pain in the neck and back which I thought may be related to my cholesterol level. 

So, I decided to book another slot to do a full-body medical check-up last Friday. Before this appointment, I want to have a more active lifestyle, so I start to go hiking every weekend. I decided to fight my lazy ass and just go! I have been hiking for three consecutive weekends and I feel more fit and healthy. Oh, my medical check-up appointment was cancelled due to the polling day public holiday on Friday. I have not set another date. Hopefully, I can continue with my weekend hiking activity and eat clean and healthy too.

Pilihan Raya Umum ke-15

 

Photo Credit to Berita Harian 

Pilihan Raya Umum Malaysia telah berlangsung pada hari Sabtu, 19 November 2022. Setelah hampir tiga hari berlalu dan keputusan juga telah diumumkan, nampaknya kerajaan baru belum lagi dapat ditubuhkan. Pada ketika ini, banyak desas-desus yang kedengaran dan semoga kerajaan baru yang akan terbentuk dapat menerajui negara ke arah kegemilangan, demi rakyat dan negara. Yang Dipertuan Agong telah memperkenankan permohonan presiden parti-parti untuk menerima kunjungan mereka pada hari ini. Semoga perbincangan di antara parti juga akan mempertimbangkan kepentingan rakyat dan negara, bukan hanya semata-mata kerana kepentingan peribadi. 

Sebagai rakyat Sarawak yang lahir di kawasan pedalaman Sarawak, terdapat beberapa perkara yang saya rasa perlu diubah dan ditingkatkan kualitinya.

1. Kemudahan asas prasarana - jalan raya, jambatan (Sarawak mempunyai banyak sungai yang menyebabkan kawasan terpisah dan terasing antara satu sama lain), elektrik, air bersih dan sekolah. 
2. Hak Tanah Orang Asal - penyukatan semula sempadan kawasan tanah yang dituntut oleh orang asal Sarawak yang mempunyai konflik. Bantuan kerajaan sangat diperlukan untuk mengiktiraf hak orang kampung dan sila pertimbangkan untuk meminda semula Land Code (Chapter 81), 1958 berkaitan dengan hak tanah adat atau NCR. 
3. Pendidikan untuk semua - terutama sekali anak-anak Sarawak yang masih lagi tinggal di kawasan pedalaman yang sukar untuk keluar ke bandar untuk melanjutkan pelajaran mereka selepas tamat pendidikan di peringkat sekolah rendah. 

Tiga perkara di atas adalah asas kepada peningkatan kualiti hidup masyarakat di luar bandar kerana kehidupan mereka masih lagi sangat bergantung kepada tanah. Terdapat banyak lagi perkara lain yang saya rasa turut penting untuk dipertimbangkan termasuklah pasca-covid, mempertingkatkan peluang pekerjaan kepada keluarga yang terkesan daripada pandemik dan juga tindakan negara ke arah menangani perubahan iklim dunia. 

Akhir sekali, saya berharap dan berdoa agar kerajan baru yang ditubuhkan akan mempunyai pemimpin yang mampu berfikir ke arah Malaysia 10 tahun yang akan datang dan bukan hanya memikirkan keadaan pada masa sekarang sahaja. Fikirlah demi kepentingan rakyat dan negara. 

Sekian. 

CAUSE: Rescue Another Puppy

 

Having breakfast this morning.

One after another, a new stray puppy attracts me (or I may say I am drawn to them?). This puppy, I named her Cookie. She was staying outside of the house in my neighbourhood. I thought she belonged to them until one of the neighbours told me she does not belong to anyone. No wonder I saw the house where she always stayed put up a wire mesh on their house gates to prevent her entry to their house compound. 

Every time we passed by that house, Puffin stopped and wanted to play with Cookie. Cookie also responded to Puffin, and they played chase and run, and I let them do that for a few minutes two days a row. So I decided to take her home yesterday evening because I feared she would be hit by a car. After all, sometimes, they drove fast in this lane. 

Comfortable in her bed. 

I gave her a bath, dried her fur, fed and played with her for a few minutes until she was comfortable with the surroundings of my house. Then I show her the bed, and she follows my instructions to lie on the bed. I left her alone, and she slept soundly until morning without crying or barking for me. 

I fed her again this morning and let her do her business before giving her toys so she would learn to differentiate between toys and my other belongings. Hope for the best, and she is just doing fine when I return from work this evening. I am aware puppy is always a puppy.     

Playing with toy which is owned by Puffin. 

I hope, i will find a kind hearted person to give her a Forever Home! 

DIARY: Preparing for GRE General Test

Photo Credit: Google Image Search

My GRE general test is less than two weeks away, and I am not ready for it yet. My preparation is not even reached 50%, and I am worried. My English is still poor, especially in vocabulary and grammar. Whenever I want to write an article or journal, I lose appropriate words to describe in detail my opinion or views on specific issues. 

Over the weekend, I try my best to cover two test sections: analytical writing and verbal reasoning. After trying to answer the verbal reasoning test example (easy), I did not think it was easy. However, it is still tricky, and I only scored 9/17. 

Other than that, I also listened to the podcast on GRE tricks and tips, but I know it still needs more practice and readings. Practice indeed makes perfect; there are no shortcuts in doing this. 

Wish me luck for my upcoming GRE test, guys!