Tokyo, Japan: Part 1.0

If all goes well, I will be in Japan in May 2012.

Purpose of visit: 50% "part-time" work, 50% leisure.

This post will be a W.I.P until the day I fly off to Tokyo.

p/s: This will be my first time in Japan

Setahun Jagung

It was this time last year that I got myself published - for the first time.
I was 23.
The first article was just a translation. The rest was really, mine.

A publication by KasehDia, Rezeki - Inspirasi Kejayaan is a Malay business magazine aimed to promote work as a lifestyle.

Although it was pretty tough writing in Malay, I liked the challenge. And it turned out alright.

It feels really good to know that I have accomplished something.

What's important is that I did it on my own - sure I had a little push but, if I had chose not to take up the challenge, I wouldn't have gotten myself published would I?

What I had to learn the hard way is that, you don't need to fall before you realise that you need to change something in your life. Although falling does give you that extra motivation, that extra push, that extra energy and that extra realisation to make you climb up higher - you really don't want to go through hardship to make you learn that.

Cliché as it may sound, I'm proud to say I'm a walking-living experience.

You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks or even months over-analysing a situation; trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could've, would've happened.. or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move the fuck on -Tupac Shakur

Forehead

 This Dahi..

 Got me this..

Like A Longboard

Mostly used for cruising or downhill race, the simplest way to describe this is that a longboard is like a surfboard/snowboard but with wheels. It is longer and slightly wider as compared to a skateboard but most stunts and the boards themselves varies to that of a skateboard. The boards are designed specially to suit the type of "surfing" - downhill race, cruising, slides, etc.

Depending on how you skate or ride your board, a longboard can go up to at least 20-30 km/h. 

My brother has picked up loangboarding for a while now. Quite obsessed with it I must say. And even though  you could brake an ankle or scrape a part of your skin if you fall off your board, I am in total support of my brother picking up this sport. 

Enthusiastic would be an understatement. 

He even won himself a new board - a Sayshun Compass at the KKB Outlaw Race 2012 organised by the newly opened Jungleskate Shop @ Jungleskate LB

When you invest time in such hobby, it really gives out a positive outcome. You go around discovering new places, meeting new people, making new friends that automatically creates  a web of network that is very niche yet very broad. 


Your passion will guide you to places you'd never even think of. 

The boy in Mambu Flux40 promo

He was chubby, but now.. he's as good as the longboard.

The last race that he entered (that I know of) was the Push Don't Pollute Race 2012 in Singapore.

Nyeah.. he didn't win but I'm sure he still enjoyed the trip down to Singapore - skating and socialising.

So, are you all geared up yet?

My Dua Sen

The latest buzz in Malaysia is that of the proposed act of abolishing the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) by opposition; Pakatan Rakyat’s (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should PKR win in the next election. Even though it was DSAI himself – then the DPM, that approved the establishment of PTPTN back in 1997.

A big HU-HA this one is.

Let’s not dwell and dive into the political aspect of this matter.

So, what about the PTPTN?

The PTPTN education loan scheme is a financial aid set up to give a higher chance to the less fortunate for a chance at tertiary education.  While abolishing PTPTN loan may sound good, we neglect to look at the big picture. The fact is the Government is already heavily subsidising up to 90 per cent of our higher education. 

Since the establishment of the PTPTN, the number of students pursuing higher education has risen from 27,000 to 230,000. For deserving young ones, this loan could make a change in their lives.

If you really think about it, the PTPTN loan allows room for comfort to accommodate to one’s financial standing. Even though we can all agree that it is a little unfair that graduates are given 6 months repayment grace period upon graduation, failing which could result oneself to be blacklisted. 

Like any other loans, PTPTN loan works the same. 

If you don’t pay at all, you will be blacklisted. 

If you settle your debt early, then you will get an early settlement rebate.

One should really know what they are getting themselves into when they are obtaining financial aid.

Applying for the PTPTN loan is an option. To some, it could be their only option. So, if you don’t want to be burdened by it in the long run, don’t take up the loan. You could simply choose to work your way into a classroom. 

Free education could result in higher taxes being imposed to the Rakyat. As it is, Malaysia has one of the lowest income tax rates. Should the tax rate increase, Malaysia would definitely make headlines in international news. 

In some countries, they give out free education to the people. Yet some of them have become so complacent living life for free that they decided to continue on studying. Food for thought - so what will happen if all of us were still studying and none working?

MAYBE what the Government could do is suggest a conditional scholarship whereby only the outstanding performer deserves it. By way of loan converted into a scholarship which replicates the MARA mandate. Not to dive into socio economy, but it kills two birds with one stone doesn’t it? Because we all know that MARA is only eligible to bumiputeras. Or, the PTPTN loan could provide interest cut on the loan scheme which subsequently will attribute to ease their future financial commitments.

See, when you put aside all the political aspect of it, the dollars and cents, the quarrel and the qualms, at the end of the day, it’s a matter of whether you have received and equipped yourself with good education or not.

The economy works in such a way that it is accommodating to everyone – at least to most if not all. It all boils down to the basic necessities of demand and supply. It is a perpetual cycle that will crumble if you factor out just one aspect of that necessity.

But wait, I did touch on a few things that I didn't want to dwell didn't I? Oh well..

Ini aku punya dua sen - bukan kau punya kan?

Dulu, aku rasa terasing sebab aku tak apply PTPTN. Sekarang, baru aku faham dan rasa sangat bersyukur.

Debutante

Well, for one, I am a young woman. And I am now “formally” paving my way into society – into the cyber world if you must. Not one from a wealthy background, I in fact hate that frivolous and snobbish bunch.  For the third time and hoping that this will be the last time - I’m setting up my blog.

My justification:

1)      Deleted the first 2 blogs to be "accommodating"

         (its dumb I know, but I’ll have a different post on that one later)

2)      To practice my writing - I believe that I have become very rusty at it

3)      Back then I believed that blogging helped me with a lot of things. I still believe in that.

I’ve gone back and forth thinking whether I should start blogging again. Topics I could write. Topics I should write. What my theme should be. How people would perceive it. What the heck, I can’t change what people think or feel or say. I can only control how I react to them.

Here it is! I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it. So let’s just see how this one will go.

I’m not a debutante.

I just like being dramatic