ONE MONTH AGO

One month ago, was all eventful and all learning month. Last month was a month of Floor orientation after college orientation. That month, we newbies to the floor spent hours and hours chatting with seniors of the floor. Also, with seniors from other floors as well. We did really learn how to communicate and break the ice. And also do stupid mindless stuffs LOL. The key ingredient here is SPORTING.

Examples of funny fun acts that we did was:

1. We all 4 people hid inside 2 closets. And, counted to 10 together, then open the 4 doors together, jerk head out and shout ‘coo coo coo coo’ like the imitation of an antic alarm clock. Value: cooperation
2. When we graduated, we were given floor name. What’s interesting about floor name is that it has its own meaning. For example, ‘BADUNG’ which stands for BAbi punya hiDUNG. And, we have to act out our floor name. On the last day of graduation day, we acted our floor names, ate official ‘floor food’ that is a mix of variety of ingredients. Value: Be sporting.

There’s a lot more, but I’m very lazy to tell all.

But, since we ‘graduated’, we were given obligations to organise activities like BBQ and trips. We also can hang out with floor mates’ room anytime we like. The ice is totally broken. Seniors will play with you or ask you for sports just because there is no ice between them.

Well, from that past month as well, I got myself into my kolej debate team. Which is what I would actually never dream of? I mean, I never even thought of debating before. It’s because there’s this opening that the kolej’s looking for first years who are interested in debating. I thought its one way to be extrovert, so I joined.

And also, there’s my course, Course Night, which intergrated us with our seniors.

And I went to a lot of places for that 1st month. Went to Times Square, Alamanda, Sunway Pyramid, KLCC, Mines, Jusco Balakong, South City Plaza, Wangsa Maju, Cyberjaya. Thanks to transportation, I get to travel a lot of places.

Of course, it all come to happen that I did unwell in my first test. But, its time for better time management now.

I’m no superman, just a man

Decisions are always hard to make nowadays. Especially when you get older and older, experiences and responsibility is the two friends (or foe) that guide you all the way to you final decisions. No longer can we choose what we want to according to our own feelings; unlike when we are little, we just need to cry to get a whole box of candy.

This is but another post of one of my many ranting(s) about my tertiary education issue. It’s hard to see that one clear choice of mine means losing my parent’s dream home. If I am adamant into going to Curtin University, I would have to endure the look of mum’s face of losing her dream home.

Through uncertainties, after visiting education fairs and many Universities’ Open Day, I have reach a verdict that if I were to get into private University, my parents would have to sacrifice a lot just to pay for my cost of living alone, not yet mentioning the course fee.

When my dad, after long consideration decided to give up on purchasing a new house, I was a little heart-shaken. When my dad tell my mum that he decided to give up the purchasing of the new house for the sake of me and my brother, I could see a little glimpse of disappointment on her face. I feel like I am responsible. You see, living closer to town, with a beautiful house has always been my mom’s dream, and also our family’s goal. Finally we found one, and I have to take it away.

Oh how I wish I am superman, or the rich super-villain.

I am applying for cheaper courses at cheaper universities like Uniten or UTP and Public Universities. But, these applications are not as certain as my Curtin University’s application, which is a for sure to get in. My USM,UTP and Uniten application stands a chance to get rejected. My UPU’s application may result into getting a course I didn’t choose, a lousy course. If my applications on these Public U and GLC’s Universities is successful, then our dream home can materialize.

Money, a love-hate object.

Scholarships? I do apply for them. Working hard on them too. But my STPM result may not qualify me for any at all. It will be one grand miracle if I got shortlisted for any.

Oh boy. Life is hard on me. My STPM, my lowest point of life; now the follow-up dilemmas. I will need to, have to, become 1^st class scholar so that I will not let my parents down, so that I could get a scholarship when I am doing my 1^st degree. My sole aim now, first on the list when I am university. My parent willing to give up their dream home for me, I must never forget that.

I hope light will shine on me, and matters will be much easier for me. I pray for it. Always.

Names

I was wondering how many people share my Christian name. So, I Googled ‘eric’. And came out this ‘Results 1 - 10 of about 197,000,000 for eric’. I guess ‘Eric’ is a very common name to have. And, I am just 1 out of millions. I still remember in my Form 5, I share classes with another Eric, and there are 5 Erics in total taking Form 5 in my school.

Then came along nicknames for me. Oh yes, it started when I was in primary 1 when every of my little classmates started to get smarter and learn words. Consequently, the name ‘Eric Soo’ would be the best platform for them to show off their newly discovered skill and words.

My first nick-name: Sony-Ericsson. Haha, I don’t know how they got the idea of associating me with the company name. Maybe the pronunciation of ‘Eric Soo Soon’ as in ‘aeric su soon’ is almost similar to ‘Ericsson’. This nickname I still will hear people pronounce once awhile.

My second nick: Susu. For obvious reason it’s derived from my surname ‘Soo’. Susu, for those who don’t understand Malay, means milk. The creamy milk. This nick lingers around me even till I get into secondary school. It all started with primary 1 when everyone started to learn Malay and till now sometimes people still address me that way. “Eh, soo soo” or “Eh, susu” which is the one they use, I can’t differentiate. But, my friends got more mature and they seldom tease me anymore.

They even got a song sang after my name: Oh yeah, I was in Form 2. One of my friends, funny guy, sang a Hokkien song. When he saw me, he will sing ‘su su yang yang, su su yang yang’.. then it later turns to ‘susu yum yum susu yum yum’ LOL as in ‘milk tasty milk tasty’.

Then, there is this: Kiasu.. Lol, it’s a term that means ‘afraid to lose’ in Hokkien. It can bring good meaning or bad meaning, depending on how the person uses it. But often in my case, its associated with bad meaning. Haha, I first heard people calling me that when I was Form 4. “What’s your name?””Eric Soo.””Huh? Kiasu!!!” ROFL.

This is odd: Erica. I was, am still I think, called ‘Erica’ by a couple of my friends. Hahah, by adding a single vowel, they refer to me as a girl. How did this come along again? Haha, but I join the laughs anyway.

Entirely unrelated nick: Santa. Huh? Why indeed. This nick was given to me about 1 year ago or so. I was told, its because I was introducing ‘Loving Hands Gathering’ about visiting sick children in hospitals to my friends. And they say its like Santa Claus. And they start imagining I’m a Santa giving children presents. That is how it started. I am a little proud of that nick because Santa means Saint. Lol.

I wonder if any other ‘Eric Soo’s out there will have the same experience as I do. (Results 1 - 10 of about 2,560,000 for ‘eric soo’.) Anyway, its not that I dislike or anything about all those nicknames and song . Haha, with little sarcasm and mockery, but that’s fine. In fact, I thank them for giving me names. Haha, maybe this how they chose to remember me, and I appreciate the efforts they put into remembering me. Haha, keep calling me names or even sing, I don’t mind. I might sing-a-long with you too.

I may be a normal plain eric among millions of Erics but I live my life for myself. And it doesn’t matter of how many Erics that share this common name with me, it matter most is how I make this eric name of mine distinctive and significant in my own way .

So world, ‘Santa’ or ‘Susu’ or ‘ Eric Soo’ or ‘Soo Soo’ or the song, I will still give a response. ‘Kiasu’ or ‘Erica’, hmm…, maybe, depends. Hahahz.

WHY!! Why am I addicted to this game?

This is Utopia, a multi-player browser game. It does not have cool cool graphics, fancy characters but what I don’t get is this: Why am I addicted to it?? Currently this age I end up in kingdom 6:1 and I am The Legendary S. And, of cause you can’t see the browser, I cropped it out. Continuing, I am playing in the same kingdom with Chin Ngan. Haih…

I played a lot of games. You name it, CS, DoTA, RA2, Ragnarok and many many more. But I can quit those games easily. But this is one game I can’t quit. Usually I just log in once per day and end up playing in it for 2 to 3 hours. I am trying to beat this addiction. Wish me luck

Can’t put the book down!!: THE RIGHTEOUS MEN

I stumble across this book about 2 weeks ago when I was at MPH, Spring Kuching. Its the skin design that attract me at first, haha. When I first bought it, I did not start right away. But instead I finish my RD magazines and RD story book first.Maybe because the author is not ‘world-wide phenomenon’ like Brown, Meyer or Rowling; I didn’t pay much attention for it.

As soon as I finish all my magazines and book, I turn to this novel (that have been sitting on my shelf gathering dust) right away. Too my amazement, I end up absorbing every word and keep turning the page. Really, if you are a keen reader of Brown’s novel, this novel by Sam Bourne can captivate you anytime.

Well, a bit of summary of the book here. Its about this reporter, Will Monroe who works for Times. He was assigned to report a murder case in NY. It was the murder of a pimp. But when he interview a witness, he found out the pimp has done the most righteous deed a man could do. He was then assigned another reporting task. He reported the murder of a badman who turns out to have donated his kidney anonymously; another righteous man. Then, his wife suddenly got kidnapped. And the kidnappers aren’t interested in money. He investigate, and he found out his wife is in a Jew community. His wife is kidnapped by a Rabbi and they told Will his wife is fine and he should just keep quiet for his and his wife’s own good. He keep investigating and found out that righteous people are killed around the world. Its related to the bible and ancient Judaism teaching that says God will destroy our world if all 36 righteous men are killed. He found out that the group of people who are killing the 36 people are very close in achieving the goal. He ends up protecting his unborn son who is the 36th righteous man.

The book reveals a lot to me. About Jews that I have never known. Its nice and also a cool thriller. I can’t ait to buy another 2 of his novels.

友缘 – A business by my friends

I just found out my friends just opened business selling Chinese New Year products. Its truely intriguing that my friends are doing some enterprising to fill up these holiday time.

友缘

Which sells homemade cookies, cakes and tidbits are run by 6 of my old Form 6 buddies, Andrew, Boon Yee, Fui Lip, Kwong Yong, Suk Thin and Min Huang. They are known as ’sales and marketing agent’ but I wonder if they make and bake those stuffs themselves or their family did.

Just 5 days old, their petite stalls is located in Tabuan Jaya Commercial Centre (near 100% Discount Store) and  Stutong Jaya Commercial Centre (near market). Their Tabuan Jaya HQ and open from 5pm to 10pm on weekdays and 10pm to 10pm on weekends. Braving through rain and heat, they put their endurances to the test. Do read up on in one of their ‘company log’ at http://youyuanlive.blogspot.com/

I hope their business will run successfully and I will render my support. I have yet to visit their stall yet, but I have already received my New year Cake from them. Thanks Min Huang, for your delivery ^^ Keep going guys

RM35 small ‘PORTRAIT’

My friend came to my house to pass to me the photo that I’d taken with 15 of my friends last Christmas. It came to me in a pink coloured scented envelope envelope. Behind the envelope wrote: LIFE’S TALK, Life is full of colors… Life is full of excitement… Life is full of love… Life is full of joy… Life is beautiful

So far, this is the most expensive photo I’ve ever paid for a 4R size photo, RM35 a piece. I learned from my friend that this photo had been photoshoped before they are developed out. So much for original and I pay a very high price for it. Probably a lot goes to the big laughs we had when we took the photo too, thats how I laugh so big.

Sitting front row from left to right: Bryan Ng, Poon Tzia Tzen, Angeline, Grace, Ho Kui Lan, Pau Horng’s girlfriend (who I don’t know her name), Shane, and Patrick Choo.

Back row from left to right: Steven Yeo, Nicholas, me (and my fake smile), Alvin Ng,Pau Horng, Bryan Kho, and Jason Chong.

We took this at Jacky Studio, No 18, Crookshank Road, Kuching. Well, since its already mine, then I just have to appreciate it. An expensive photo, but a priceless snapshot of memories.

Recycle, Recycle and Recycled Numbers

Almost anything can be recycled nowadays and surprisingly, phone numbers too! I happened that I’ve bought a DIGI 016 number from an online shopping portal. I reckoned that the number is quite nice. So, I bought it without giving any much thought. Besides, DIGI is quite cheap and many of my friends us it.

Anyway, just a few days after I started using the number I got weird messages from strangers. I just ignored them as I thought they have gotten the wrong number or something. Then to much recently I got calls from strangers! A lot chinese calls, few company calls, few malay and few unknown languages. All looking for aliens. And I began to wonder, how many person have actually used this exact same number!! *nose started to whistle* And I realised when my friend told me, that my number must have been recycled.

Lately, I got calls and calls from an insurance or bank company, I think. Asking me if I’m Mr. Goh Chin Huat. Yea, I hear his name so much that I could memories it already. So, Mr. Goh Chin Huat, please please update your bank or insurance company of your current active phone number and save me from all your crap!!!!! I’d BEEN telling the same company over and over again that they have been calling the wrong number and I godamn don’t know that guy.

Its kinda irresponsible for people to just swict their new phone number without informing their friends and companies first handedly.

And for future phone number buyer, please becareful ahen you want to buy a new number, they maight be recycled and you might ended up getting all this fuss I’m having.

And telco company, please recycle number after 80 years like that, so the past owner can be so outdated and the number is so old that no one will be calling it and when a person buy it, he’ll be buying a brand new number and not a reaycled number.

At the end, I still have to keep on using this number I bought. Keep on denying those alien calls and smses  form west Malaysia. It sucks. I do not want to lose my own contact, so have to keep on commiting to this number. *sigh*