The contrary

In Australia, I notice a lot of things that is wayyy different from my country:

1. Drivers will responsibly stop their car if they see you want to cross at the zebra. So, apparently it's safe to cross the road without looking at the right and left and right again, as long as it's on a zebra cross ~ I will definitely have to change the habit after going back to Malaysia.

2. People will greet you whenever you are making transaction with them (eg at the bank, cafe, stores, even the cashier will ask 'how're you doing today') ~ a little bit awkward at first, like, err do I need to answer that to the perfect strangers?

3. Birds and cats here are so BIG ~ I feel like wanna catch and bring them home.

4. No wild cats or dogs are left wandering on the streets ~ never see one.

5. You can find a tree with nothing left but only branches, or a tree with only the fruits left. And they're so beautiful.

6. You can't throw the rubbish just like that, you need to separate things that are reusable and recyclable from the things that are non.

7. Foods left on the table during winter won't spoil even for a week! ~ so, save your time and energy by cooking for a week..hehe..

8. Smokes coming out from your mouth when you speak ~ excited at first..hehe

9. Lots of chocolates!! Cheap and taste great!

10. Kissing couple in public (even in the campus)..errk!

And in the lab:

1. All standard buffers are prepared by the technician and you just have to pick up a bottle and pour it and use it. ~ what? I feel so excited to go to the lab everyday, and finish my PhD.

2. You won't need to wash the used glass apparatus cause there will be somebody clean up for you. Put your dirty lab coat in the right place and they will do laundry for you. ~ heaven! they even have a 'labmaid'

3. You will be given a lab coat, a bench, a set of pipette and an office desk with computer (except for us) ~ I can offer myself to work forever at lab like this!

4. Lab manager will do all the ordering for you ~ frequent cases of fighting with suppliers can be avoided.

5. Order a set of pipette today, will receive it tomorrow!

6. Falcon tubes, weighing boats are thrown away after used ~ what a waste! I want to collect it all and bring it to my lab.

Wayyyy too different doesn't it? Now I know it's true that we will discover and learn so many things as we travel the world.

At my favorite spot. Love the trees :)

Nerve-wracking moment

We have been facing many first time moments in our lives and for me it is always a nerve-wracking moment though it is full of curiosity. And tomorrow, I'll be facing another first time moment in my life, but the feeling is totally different this time cause I'm facing it in a different country, with different culture and people. I'm a little bit afraid when thinking about working with people in here, can I cope with their way of working? And one thing that I'm most afraid of is can I understand what they are talking? Because from my experience for the past 5 days communicating with Australians (during custom checking, when making payment at the mall, when opening a bank account etc.) It's quite hard to understand their accent, cause they talk so fast that I can't catch the words. Then it would be so shame to say pardon all the time, all over again *sigh*. I really hope that this will past over time.

So tomorrow will be my first time at school, maybe at the lab too, and I'm kind of excited too when dreaming that I want to solve my research problem here, InsyaAllah. I'm hoping that my research will progress faster, and that dream is the only reason that I'm looking forward to go to the lab tomorrow :)

p/s: Ya Allah, mudahkan urusan kami...

Australia

It's been a while since my last post in here. Lots of things came up for the last few weeks. My life have been so hassle and everything just happened so quickly. And now, I can't even believe myself that at this moment, as I write this, I'm here in Australia! I feel like I'm dreaming. What? Aussie? Am I really here? yeah.. I'm here..

So, what had happened last week, I got a phone call telling that the 16th airplane ticket was sold out. We have only 2 choices, whether to board earlier which on 12th or later which on 25th. Then my supervisor encouraged me to go on the 12th. What? I was told on 7th and I have to board the plane in the next 5 days? First thing to do is cry! Oh crap, how am I gonna face this. I'm not ready yet. I just have 5 days to settle everything. You know at that moment, I'm so grateful that I have friends that couldn't be more understanding. They helped me out as much as they could. I owe my roomate, kak tim, who has been spending all day accompanying me to make the travellers cheque, though she's so tired and at the end of the day the mission was not accomplished. I owe Nuar for driving me to uptown to buy winter jackets. And I owe my best friend Fizah for helping me sending my samples to Monash University, I know that's the biggest help of all and I owe you the biggest. Thanks to my lab mates for helping Fizah with the courier process. I don't know how to thank all of you. I love you all!

On 9th, I packed, I put just everything in the bag cause I have no time actually to think about the weight. Then, the night I boarded plane to hometown, my bag was overweight, 10kg than allowed. And I have to pay RM300 for that! WHAT! Oh my god, that was the first time ever happened. My head have been so messy and I'm tired and I want all of this to end. I have no idea, and I just paid it. That was a really big waste, but I don't want to think about it anymore. At least I have my friends at that time, Kak Iza, Kak Atul, Kak Tim, Kak Faiz, Fizah and Laura that sent me to the airport. Thank you guys, you made me forgot about the wasted money on the bags.

So, Australia. Can't say more about it yet. I'm in the middle of adapting to the culture, people and off course weather. One thing I can say, it's COOOLD! I'll be freezing to death if there's no heater in this room. And I'm so grateful that I met Kak Naz, whose allowing us to stay in her house which is very perfect! I have no idea how we're gonna find a room if we didn't meet you. And it's so fun to have your adorable 2 years old daughter around the house, she's darn cute!

It's a long first entry in Australia I guest. haha. So guys, who read my post, please pray for me. Hope everything's going well here, especially my lab works. Little bit nervous to think of my new supervisor which is very very strict person. huhu. As my supervisor said, I'm coming here as representative to mosti and MGI, so it is very important to show the best first good impression to them and I know that is the biggest responsibility that I ever take in my life. And I will try my best, insyaAllah. So, photos are coming soon in the next entry :)