Yaya, it's turning cold.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, in short, SAD.

People are so much affected by the weather that has turned cold. The feeling-like-fall-season's weather stepped foot at St. Cloud on last Monday. Why SAD? I don't know. My roommate Derek got a "full-of -swear-words-reply" when he greeted our neighbor at the opposite of dorm.

In spite of the coldness, there were still people, in whom I called them the ai-mei ones, dressing in spaghettis. I think they've gotten their lesson when they had to run to classes when the wind started to move mightily. As of today, there's no more ai-mei people. Well, it took them 3 days to find out that being non-fashionable is better that shivering. Everyone started to layer up, 2 to 3 layers of clothings. I find 3 shirts work the best, at least for me, because the vital organs are located at the top of the body.

I only like the cold when it is not as cold like now. I can feel the coldness even though the doors and windows are closed. Gggggggggg.....(shivering)



Oh Well. Life's normal. Cheers everybody!

W E E K end

What I've done (that I remembered, in no specific order):

-Watched "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatball"
-Breakfast & dinner in Garvey Commons.
-Celebrated Anh's birthday.
-Walked in the rain, twice.
-Ate at Garvey again.
-Played table tennis.
-Project discussion.
-Chatted on MSN.
-Went to church.
-Read no books.
-Watched "UP"
-Bookmarking.
-Played pool.
-Showered.
-Facebook.
-Blogged.
-Slept.

What a weekend. =)

To the Right, to the Right!

It's been a month since I came to the States, still, I have one habit that I've not "overcome" yet.

It's been countless times of me bumping into people when I was trying to "avoid" people coming from the opposite direction. I guess you understand what I mean.

Indicator: Blue (Me), Green (US people)

I am still used to the Malaysian traffic rule, keep to left. I hope this post kept as a reminder to me, not to bump into people anymore!

I know this is too random...thanks for spending time sharing my thoughts. =)

Feeling good today. Cheerios!

A trip to the Apple Farm

After all the frustration I released last night, I had myself off the study table for a day! 6 of the St. Cloud newbies headed to the Apple Farm - I forgot its name - that is just a few miles off the Twin Cities.

Let the snapshots speak for themselves:



Nice view at the entrance.



Caramel Apple!!



In Progress..



Apple pie or doughnut?



Look at the pumpkin!



Random..



I like this shot.



I ate about 5 apples in the farm, for free.



At the pond.



Picking or modeling?



Waaaaaaaaay to greedy...jkjk



The smallest apple I ever seen. (Not a cherry)



"I can pick too!"



New friend.



Our weekend driver, thanks Huy!

I feel whole lot better after today's outing. Slept all the way back to campus. Watched "Year One" at campus theater.



The tunnel that bring me back to my textbooks, notes, and due dates.

Cheers!

Well, you call this payback?!

Today was rather disappointing cos' I only managed to score 5 out of 10 in the Information Media quiz. It is different here, some questions don't come from textbooks, don't come from readings, don't come from professor's slides, they go about your general knowledge. I was so surprised to see some questions that I asked myself: "what on earth is that?"

Most of the times, professor will just assume that you understand, I mean, it is somewhat contradicting, it is not explained in class (so, I don't even know those things existed), then it is your fault because you never ask the professor about it, but the thing is I don't even know it existed!

Today, I hate myself for being "not as smart", or may be those so called general knowledge are not so general after all.

Well, the rest of the day was just lousy. Took a ride on the bus to Walmart with my friends, shopped for some needs. Then went to Shun Jie's home for dinner, one of the best Chinese meal I ever had, thank God for that. As a reward to them, I cleaned their kitchen.

Came back here, releasing my ng-shongness through blogging. The thing that I am looking forward to is the weekend that starts tomorrow. Will be heading to the cities again tomorrow, friends bring us for apple picking, should be fun I guess. Sunday, church and evening BBQ at church member's home.

So, when to study? I don't know. I am so unmotivated to do so.

Will be chatting with parents online later, something that kept my spirit alive.

Cheer-lah.

Ice Age rocks the B.O

It is a fact! Ice age: Dawn of the dinosaurs is the 3rd highest grossing movie overseas (only) behind titanic and lord of the rings: the return of the king! Its screenings haven't stopped thus, it is expected to go even higher. These are awesome news for an animated movie and it proves that not only kids are loving animation but also adults (many of them)! The first ice age had an decent 383

Paranormal activity movie

Hello hello! for all the horror fan out there, an awesome movie seems to exist! On september 2009 a screening was help in California entitled "Paranormal activity". You can see in the trailer what happened! The trailer looks so promising and not at all fake! No tones of gore and splatter or fountains of blood, no CGI monsters, ghouls and shit like that! Just a couple of cameras and two actors.

Behold: Assignments and Deadlines

I am supposed to be writing my Child Psychology project report right now. But I am stealing time to just release myself from the stress that I've experienced since 2 days ago.

This week was the most busy week I've encountered so far. I never had felt so burdened by assignment deadlines before. These 2 nights I had been writing reports and study notes till late night. It is indeed not easy to handle when assignments and quizzes come in conjunction. I am not a last minute person, it's the schedule that's formed that way.

Upcoming tests:
Friday - Information Media Quiz 1
Tuesday - Cognitive Psychology Test 1
Wednesday - Intro to Mass Comm Test 1
Thursday - Due: Child Psychology Individual Project 1
Tuesday - Child Psychology Test 1
Friday - Due: Intro to Comm Wikispaces Group Project

That's all for September. More to come for Oct, Nov and Dec. If I don't complete the assignments before the deadlines, then I'll be literally meeting those "dead"lines myself.

I guess it's the psychology subjects that are killing me, shouldn't have taken 2 psy subject in one sem.

I'm really looking forward to each weekend, going to church and keep myself away from studies.

I need 1 day of holiday.

Cheerios!

Kanye West freaks out (again!) at the VMAs

Dude, this guy has completely lost it!!!!! I bet everyone knows right now but i have to report this because i don't approve it at all!The last sunday during the VMAs a girl named Taylor Swift won the best female video destroying Juggernauts such as Beyonce's "Single ladies" (wasn't very impressed but anyways) and Lady Gaga's "Poker face". However, a very awesome-my-ass Kanye West appeared in the

Michael Jackson's This is it official Trailer

Woohoo! THIS IS IT! this is the official trailer for the now-never-going-to-happen- London concerts! I have to say, this looks very promising!!! Pyrotechnics, explosions, intense choreographies, lights, so much stuff seem to be a part of these shows. Unfortunately with Michael's passing one is sure. We will never experience them the way he wanted us to. However, let's hope this documentary will

A Whole New Week

Its Monday again and this will be my fourth week in the States already. Everything seems to be going right, praise God for it.

I'm sitting in front of the library PC, planning to do some online quizzes soon. As September creeps to an end, tests and assignments too are on their way. I've never really tried the "American exams styles" but having done the quizzes for most of the subjects, so far so good.

Went to Good News Church last Sunday, really awesome. It is the third church that Jasmine and I had attended since the first weekend we arrived in U.S. The first was Joy Christian Center followed by Park Fellowship. Church members David and Karen (from Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship on our campus) also invited us to have dinner (which is lunch actually, at 1pm) at Dave's parents home. They are so warm and lovely. This is also the first time I ate in an American home. I'm looking forward to going to Good News again.

Meanwhile, gotta face all the challenges that I may encounter in this whole new week. Like I shouted in Facebook: Expect the Unexpected. I find it really true.

OK folks, thanks for reading, till then, Cheers!

Something Beautiful

Nehemiah Deason at 9 years old sings "Colors of the Wind", got this from youtube. Listen till the end as it really touches me, beautiful voice at such an age.

Some kids just have the talent. However, some of his recent music are somehow disappointing. Nevermind, at least this is nice!

Enjoy!

Random photos. Make-up-updates.

Season sales! It was the Labor Day sales. At Albertville Outlet Stores. It was the longest outlet stores I've ever seen. But, it was all single storey only. People walk, and walk, and walk...The sales was really crazy, 40% is like minimum. You can see it yourselves at the advertising bill board.

Look at the leaves. They are starting to turn yellow and some orange. Awesome view in front of the Lawrence Hall. Can't wait to see the view when all the trees turn yellowish. Will update you when it officially enters to Fall.

Nah, too bored, hope you saw me. A lot of homeworks and texts.

That's for today.

Cheerios!

Happy Holiday

Happy Labor Day! This is my first ever holiday in the States. Had a long weekend, Friday to Monday. Seems nice huh?

Friday - Dinner at Malaysian friend's house. She is a Graduate student. Her boyfriend is a Nike shoes collector! They sold some never-wore-before winter clothings to me, saved a lot.

Saturday - Outing with the Vietnamese friends to Albertville Sales and Maple Grove Mall. Bought quite a lot. Broke.

Sunday - Went to church at downtown, Park Fellowship. It reminds me of my church in Malaysia, mostly elderly. But they are really friendly and warm to us. The host also treated us Asian food for lunch! Then we went to Asian Grocery store at Minneapolis, stocked up my snacks. Dinner at Lawrence Hall, Tom Yam, abit tasteless as this is the first time cooking. Supper, Chinese Tong Shui at Malaysian seniors house, across the roads.

Monday - Today, after all the fun and relaxation, time to get back to books and prepare for the this week. At least 3 quizzes and 2 texts to be completed.

So, had a great holiday? I guess so!


Good Luck.

Thank God it's Friday!

Just met with the Mass Comm department advisor, had some of the questions being clarified. Next, will have to meet the TV production professor on Monday for the "bigger picture".

After today's session, I might have changed my mind. I may switch from a Double Majors-Mass Communication and Psychology to Single Major-Mass Communication and Double Minors-Psychology and Communication Studies.

Why? It is all because of the previous college that I've been to. The Communications Major that I've underwent leans towards the Communications Studies more than Mass Communications. Thus, I'm now ended up splitting my legs between the two majors. One would have to be the Minor, and I've chosen Mass Comm for my Major.

Since my dream is to venture into Mass Comm and most likely to do a Master's degree in Mass Comm, I don't think switching Psychology to Minor will affect me very much.


Will see what God says about it. =)

Cheers!

Overwhelmed

Pff...

I am seriously overwhelmed with all the assignments and readings.

Readings:
1 Chapter for Intro to Mass Communication,
2 Chapters for Child Psychology,
2 Chapters for Cognitive Psychology;

Assignments:
2 Online quiz for Intro to Mass Communication,
1 Conservation Project for Child Psychology,
1 Lab Report for Cognitive Psychology.

Besides, what burdened me the most is having to run around departments to get my course credit transferred and fit into the course requirements, the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC), instead of being indicated as just Electives.

I am trying my best to shorten my undergraduate's time in SCSU. If necessary, I might switch my Psychology Major to a Minor. I want to finish my Bachelor's degree in 2 years. Don't wanna waste so much time in a Bachelor's degree, might as well spend my time doing a Master's degree.

These few days...Appointment after appointments..duh!

Ok, gonna rest, ciao!

Special Event: Mainstreet

Mainstreet is an opportunity for student organizations, campus services and community connections to welcome new and returning students to a new school year, as well as showcase what they have to offer. This is an opportunity for organizations to recruit new members and learn about other organizations on campus.

It is also a tradition in SCSU.

So, this mornimg I volunteered to help set up the tables for the event. It is one of the projects that I have to complete for my academic and culture sharing scholarship. About 9a.m., off I headed to the outside of Atwood Memorial Center and registered at the Info desk.

I thought it would be just another easy task, setting up tables. It was not. I struggled through putting the plastic cloths on the tables and there were at least 200 organizations (crazy huh?). The best part was the wind, that kept blowing the cloths off. Even though I used clippers to stablized the cloths, the task was still challenging.

I don't have any photos with me, but you can have a look at last year's Mainstreet, it is exactly the same.

Another thing that I wish to share is that I'm proud to be a Malaysian, having been educated to speak at least 3 languages. Look at some of the comments I received from my coursemate from an online subject. We were supposed to introduce our friends (the name below your name in the classlist), and talk about something special about him/her. So these are some of the feedbacks:

"I find it very difficult to speak one other language but 3 I give you credit man. Thats some good work. Good luck on the semester. "

"That is VERY impressive that you can speak 3 different languages! I still struggle with English alone! "

"Thats awesome, I wish I was a foriegn student. Good luck to you man"

"I'm so jealous you can speak so many languages!! That is awesome! "

And this one makes me feel proud to be a Malaysian:

"Welcome Jason! I have a friend from Malaysia who is awesome, so I'm sure you are too. I hear that your country is a beautiful place, and I hope that one day I'll have the opportunity to visit it. Best of luck at SCSU - you'll enjoy your time here! "

To those who are schooling, heads up and appreciate your languages!

Cheers.

Being occupied

Yea, after planning out my schedule, I feel so occupied. Feeling so much better having a scheduled life - going to gym and library almost everyday.

At least, now I'm able withdraw myself from all the nonsense thinking that always make me feel down. Thank you for those who had supported me in time of need.

The weather here is getting colder each morning, I suppose Winter is on its way. So, ya, preparing myself for the worst. I heard that the weather had dropped to -60 degrees Fahrenheit before, scary. I hope it will never happen for the years tht I will be here.

OK, keep me in touch with the happenings in Malaysia!

And oh ya, Happy 52nd Independance Day to Malaysia. (a little too late...)

Cheers!