My Story

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Exams

So halfway through finals. 3 down...2 more to go. And the coming one PC1432 that's Physics on Friday is gonna need so much preparation. Cos I feel like I have lost touch with everything in Physics. Physics now and in STPM...there's so much difference. I miss my Physics teacher, Miss Ratnam. She was always so patient in explaining to us...even though sometimes we don't really pay attention when she teaches...but when we ask her how to do the question or ask her to explain again, she would do so tirelessly. She's just such an amazing teacher. Thanks to her I could fully understand the stuff I was studying. But now, I'm left hanging in the air...not familiar with anything at all.

After Physics it'll be slightly more relaxing...cos only left Marketing. Though that period is another time of cramming since I know nuts about it...gosh...it's too bad my tutorial didn't force us to do all the assignments. I would have learned much more if I had done it. Okay...maybe should blame myself for not taking that extra effort and checking the answers...arghh...but it's just too late to turn back time. Gotta just deal with what I did and can do right?

Anyway, so far my exams...not too good la...I'm never the type that can come out of the examination hall and say YES I know I scored that paper...it's either an ok or hmm I didn't do very well...could have done better if.... Haih 'if-s'...

I'll be going back on the 6th, 2 days after the exam...wahaha....home sweet home here I come.... Honestly, I can't wait for the final 2 exams to come...so that I can be FREE....well at least for a month haha though I did plan to start to brush up on some stuff during the hols. If I don't, I'll be lagging like now again. For now, cram Physics.... *sigh*
posted by z_jun at 8:07 PM 0 thoughts

Monday, November 26, 2007

I salute her

Mew Choo claims historic win for Malaysia in China Open


By RAJES PAUL

PETALING JAYA: Wong Mew Choo pulled off the greatest achievement for Malaysian women's badminton by claiming one of the most difficult titles on the international circuit, the China Open, in Guangzhou yesterday.

And the 24-year-old Mew Choo chalked up the historic win in superb style – beating world number one and two-time world champion Xie Xingfang of China 21-16, 8-21, 21-17 in a 62-minute final that saw the Malaysian staging a spectacular comback to win the rubber game.
It was Mew Choo's first-ever Open title since she made her debut on the international senior stage five years ago.




She now holds the honour of being the first Malaysian women and only the second non-China player to win a women's singles title on Chinese territory since the country first staged their Open tournament in 1986.

Wong Mew Choo made it into the Malaysian badminton annals by winning her first major international title in grand style at the China Open in Guangzhou yesterday. En route to the singles title she packed off the top Chinese women shuttlers.


The only other player who has beaten the seemingly invincible Chinese at their home ground was South Korean Bang Soo-hyun, who pulled off the feat in 1994 before going on to claim the Olympic gold medal in Atlanta two years later.



In fact, Mew Choo is now the first Malaysian woman in three decades to nail a major title for the country. And for the world number eight, it all seemed like a dream.



“I just cannot believe it. I have never ever won an Open title before and I have ended the drought in China. This is incredible ... I am so happy right now,” said Mew Choo in a telephone interview from Guangzhou yesterday.



“The hopes are usually on the men to win titles for the country but I am glad that I have done it for the women.”



En route to the title, Mew Choo eliminated four China players and China-born Pi Hongyan, who now plays for France.



Mew Choo knocked out reigning world champion Zhu Lin in the quarter-finals and upstaged 2004 Athens Olympic champion Zhang Ning in the semi-finals.



“I came here with a target to reach the quarter-finals. I knew I had a fighting chance against Hongyan (the world number five). But beating Zhu Lin for the first time gave me confidence,” she said.



“Then, I defeated Zhang Ning for the first time after losing seven times to her. I kept asking myself, is it all really happening?



“After reaching the final, I was bent on winning the title. I have beaten Xingfang once (at the World Championships) but many thought that I was lucky to win it. Today, I proved that the win was no fluke. She had the crowd behind her but I never gave up even though I lost terribly in the second game.”



Mew Choo put up a solid show to win the first game but a fired up Xingfang rebounded with a 21-8 win in the next game.



Xingfang appear to be cruising to victory when she surged ahead to 8-3 in the decider but Mew Choo clawed back to claim the crown.



With the win, Mew Choo is now assured of a place in the eight-player Super Series Finals. She was lying in ninth spot in the rankings going into the China Open.



Mew Choo said that the win had also boosted her challenge in the Beijing Olympics next August.
“I do not have to worry about making the cut for the Olympics if I continue playing like this. In fact, this win has given me a lot of confidence. Now, I know that I can challenge for an Olympic medal.



“However, I do not want to be overly excited. I will be competing in the Hong Kong Open next week and I hope to reach the last eight.”



Said national coach Wong Tat Meng of Mew Choo's success: “What more I can say? Mew Choo has made us all very proud today. She has given a new image to Malaysian women's badminton.”



posted by z_jun at 12:36 PM 0 thoughts

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Admire her strength

Wong Mew Choo is one step from her Super Series title after she defeated Zhang Ning in the best manner on Saturday. She’ll take on Xie Xingfang, who had little effort to produce to beat compatriot Lu Lan. Raphael Sachetat, live from Guangzhou. Photos : Badmintonphoto.com

Sport isn’t always fair. Wong Mew Choo struggled her way to the final while her future opponent, thanks to the usual Chinese way of yielding, has kept some energy towards the final. But more than ever, the tiny Malaysian deserved to win her match against Zhang Ning. Against the whole spectators. Against China as it seems.

Playing both safe but fast, Wong quickly took the advantage over Zhang Ning, who seemed not in her best day. The Malaysian style of play may have been slightly different from yesterday – as she played a more attacking player – yet her regularity and variation worked just as well as against Zhu Lin. And for once against Zhang Ning, she wasn’t afraid to play at the net “I don’t know what happened today. Usually, when Zhang plays at the net, I just lift, but today, without thinking, I would play back to her at the net, and I was very fortunate” said Wong. Indeed, as the Chinese lost few points when both shuttlers were facing each other, few inches away from the net. The tall Chinese also did commit many mistakes, while on her side, Wong kept bringing back the shuttles in. “She might have been tense because she played in front of her home public, but I didn’t have anything to lose. I am very happy now” said Wong. The Malaysian was close to see Zhang Ning get back in the second game when she led 20/15 before seing Zhang get back to 19/20. “I was very eager to win and I couldn’t control my emotions, so I kept telling myself to be patient.

However, on the last match point, when I saw the opportunity I took the chance” said Wong, speaking about a magic Net rush she opted for while Zhang was still at the net. When asked about the fact that Xie Xingfang had spent little energy thanks to Lu Lan’s poor fight, the Malaysian was very diplomatic. “I can not control such things, so, I just focus on my own game. It will be difficult tomorrow, but I’ll try to do my best, as usual”. Xie had beaten Wong in the French Open last month to avenge her World Championship loss earlier this summer. The World number one however will be definitely the favorite on Sunday. “Xie Xingfang has been very consistent lately, so it will be very difficult for Wong Mew Choo, but she’s played very well through out this tournament. We train hard for this, and it’s not only the fact that she can upset top players from time to time that matters, but mostly that she is able to play constantly at that level, which is what she’s done this week” said coach Tat Meng. “She now develops her own brand, her own style, and these victories are a good sign for the Olympics” added the delighted Malaysian coach.

China out of mixed double

Even if Xie wins on Sunday, China’s clean sweep is already out of question as the last pair in the mixed double event was beaten by Thailand’s Prapakamol and Thungthongkam in a brilliant manner. The Thais were very much in control of the match and played wonderful rallies, bullied by the home crowd. Yet, in spite of a clear misjudgment by the umpire of the match at 16/20 in the second game – he faulted Sudket (pictured arguing) for an imaginary fault at the net which saw a 5 minute break occur – the Thais proved stronger and eventually won 21/16 – 21/17. The Thais will take on world champions Widianto and Marissa who took care of England’s Robertson and Emms Later in the day, Bao Chunlai had gotten his ticket to the final by beating Park 21/13 – 21/16, while Lee Chong Wei was hoping to pursue Malaysia’s good run by playing Chen Jin in the best match of the day.
posted by z_jun at 7:27 PM 0 thoughts

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Don't look back

We have come so far. I have chosen NUS to study rather than NTU and UM. I have bid for the 5 modules that I have stared at the past 3 months. The exams are coming nearer. I have survived so far in Raffles. Everyday is a new day of life. There's no point looking back thinking of what I should have or should not have done. There's nothing you can do about the past except keep the sweet memories and try to forget the bad ones. What you can do now is change your future, what has not yet happened, what you still have control... Regretting what you did, not done, is of no use. I am satisfied with what I have now. Stop complaining, stop moaning and groaning. There's still so much life ahead. Of course there will be obstacles, there will be events that you might despise or think "I should have"...."Why didn't I". But, what else can you do? Complaining doesn't help...so just deal with it. Get on with life and fulfil it with satisfaction. Move on. Don't look back. Just look ahead in the bright bright future you have layed out in front of you....
posted by z_jun at 4:20 PM 1 thoughts

Monday, November 12, 2007

Programming is KILLING me

Ah....programming practical exam coming in 2 days time...k 1 and a half days. It's horrible. I've got no idea how I am going to get through it. I don't think I'm even going to get an output. If I succeed in producing one function I think I'll be very glad already. Ok...aiming very low I know. But, what can I do? 1 hour 45 minutes....do the whole program? Sounds so tough...so hard to achieve. I thought that everyone might be having the same problem...or at least most people. But, once you talk to people, you realize that many might be able to do it....at least 3/4 of the program if not fully. It makes you feel so lagging...so slow...so behind time. Time...another issue!!! The whole program we need to do is mostly using 2D arrays or strings which we only learnt about 1 plus weeks ago. How to grasp so quickly? No time to get the concepts how to do the program? It's all so new...to me at least...argh...
posted by z_jun at 6:05 PM 2 thoughts

Friday, November 09, 2007

My trip home

I went to JB Wed evening and came back today morning for lectures...*%#$.... Ok my home is not in JB though. My family came over to visit me and my sis in Skudai. So, I go over there to meet them lor. It's one refreshing visit...I am so glad they came...

It took me 2 hours to get from here to JB...mainly because of the jam at customs...phew. Pity my family had to wait so long for me...my mum insisted that she wait for me outside the customs itself. Moving around in Malaysia is so much more convenient cos of the car. Haha... Anyway, after they picked me up at JB we went to Skudai to meet my 2nd sis. By the time we reached think it was already 8 plus. We happily wanted to go for dinner liao. Then, my sis's friend called. Her friend was driving my sis's car and it ran out of petrol....oh no....so we had to be Superman and flew from petrol station to the car to fill up. We made altogether 3 trips....4 bottles of petrol... 1, 1, 2....thank goodness the car could start after that...at least we know there's nothing wrong with the engine... Luckily we were in a housing area so not so dangerous or ma huan...just imagine if it was in the middle of the highway...choi...hehe....So, by the time we kau tim-ed that it was 10 plus I think...and everyone was hungry...so go dinner liao...appetite very good, I ate a lot according to Miao...shit...means I fat liao ler... :(

Then, yesterday, breakfast we went to a shop in JB that used to have yong tau foo but now no more liao...then we had meat tim sum...yeah the tim sum was all meat (pork)...even the "har kau" also got pork gosh... not a very nice breakfast. But, alright la...rarely eat dim sum what. After that, shop at Zone, tried to shop for clothes but as usual all the clothes bo ngam me wan. My mum got to get a few nice clothes though. Hehe... Lunch time went to nearby restaurant to eat. The boss there very weird wan. He doesn't wear his shoes. And, he doesn't allow ppl to order wan.

Boss: Western or chinese?
Us: Chinese.
Boss: Ok 4 dishes: fish, tauhu, vege, and something else
Us: Uh 3 enough
Boss: 3 means 3 ya....here we don't let you add later.
Us: ??? Okkkk....1 chicken, fish, and vege

Order made. No chance to choose what kind of fish, how you want it, and what kind of vege. Weird boss. But, he's alright la...food also not bad. So, overall did enjoy our meal.

At night, went to City Square got my shoes and some supplies... Been wanting to buy shoes for long time liao...haha...finally got it. After got them d, went for dinner. Discovered a new place at a nearby housing area which seems to be quite popular. Lots of people. Also some seafood restaurant la. Ate some mee, sotong (nice....just the sotong...not fried wan and dipped with some sweet and sour sauce...sort of) and tauhu. Seems like my main activity in JB is eating huh...nola...actually is spending time with my family. I really appreciate them coming down to see me and my sis...but it doesn't heal my home sickness...it makes it worse doesn't it? Had so much fun....missing them already... *sigh*

But, guess I'll be too busy trying to study to think also la. Should concentrate on my finals. So much to do, so little time...
posted by z_jun at 1:41 PM 0 thoughts

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Charge!!!

Last night, we had the Final Year Special Programme, Talanto....supposed to be spelled in Greek. I was on "duty" for hall tech so spent the time from 6.45 til 12 midnight setting up, "mixing" and coling wires haha. It is a brand new experience for me...this tech stuff. Never really saw a mixer or imagined playing with it. Although I didn't touch much of the mixer, just at the end adjust the mike a bit hehe... It's quite confusing seeing all those wires going here and there neatly from the mixer, and all the colourful signal lights. Pretty intimidating but if get used to it I think it'll be fun haha. Mostly enjoyed the show quite a lot. Had quite a nice view since tech was set up right in front of the stage this time instead of the usual side view.

The events, mostly music and a dance item. They had CME, Ee Hiang and Lucian, Jack, Transformers, Yuko and Eileen, and Chevy. 6 items all together. Damn these ppl are talented! My favourites were Ee Hiang and Lucian, Jack, and Transformers I guess...but the Transformers dance was a little....urm...weird. Ee Hiang and Lucian, you're both damn talented....play piano until like that...so cool haha. Though I liked the sniffing "drugs" part during the preliminaries. Couldn't see if you all did that during the finals. But, well congratulations getting 1st runner-up. Jack's performance with the 3 "beautiful girls" was definitely a hit with the audience. It managed to entertain everyone in the crowd. Haha...definitely high entertainment value...by the way they won...

Well, just realised that exams is creeping nearer and nearer. K...maybe not just realised but there's only 1 week left to CS PE...and after that only 1 and a half weeks to start of finals!!! And, what am I doing??? Staying up late at night to finish up Marketing assignment....argh....waste of time...wait...Marketing is a module as well...oh no....damn....I'm turning into those night zombies d. Sleeping late...well my late isn't that late...it's still early for a lot of ppl. I need to do something about myself. I want I want I want....but don't do what's the use...haih...plan this and that....but in the end only can finish some....exams coming....concentrate!!!
posted by z_jun at 1:33 AM 0 thoughts

Saturday, November 03, 2007

I have not been blogging recently. Y? Too busy? Haha...maybe....too busy "studying" til no time to write. Actually not really. Past 2 days all I have been seeing is the C programming. The 'if' and 'else' words are crowding my brain. And I never thought that multiplication and division can become so complicated...guess the computer's not so smart after all if we need to feed it everything haha. Talking about C, practical's exam coming in 2 weeks....shit....less than that. And, I haven't done any past years...people say programming must do must try wan...but if I c the thing and dunno where the heck to start then how...Haih. But, I guess it's do-able....but needs lots of time and effort...(time which I dun hv much)...after all...we manage to complete the labs in time... It's amazing that we can finish up the labs of our own weeks...and not the labs of the other weeks haha...Js proves that self motivation is the driving force...if you NEED to complete it, u will...

Just had supper...a gathering among a number of people from my block (& some intruders) mainly us....well you know who you are. It has been quite a long time since our last supper. Most prob cos of the exam period and everyone was busy studying or busy with concert activities. Haha...so today we had ciku party which we had plucked from trees behind out block few days ago I think. Never really ate ciku before but if it's hand plucked by us, surely we had to try it. And, surprisingly it tastes pretty good. It feels good to just sit around at the benches and chit chat...occasional lame jokes from Alex livens up the day, no worries, no stress. There's a warm feeling to that... Need to point out that sleeping late and suppers has not been part of my lifestyle until I came here haha. Now I sleep at 1 or 2 am at most...and it's considered early wow. I can't imagine how do others stand sleeping at 4 5 am and yet still waking up at 7 or 8 am...gosh...I can't tahan...

Oh ya...and I'm goin halfway home this Wed/Thurs. Wahaha...cos my family will be in JB and I'll be going there to meet them. Hehe... yay yay....Miao I'm coming to c u....so long nvr see u. U have to learn how to come visit me in Sg d....Looking forward to Wednesday...

Countdown: 4 days....
posted by z_jun at 2:36 AM 0 thoughts