the promised land

tuesday...18th december was a day full of good news...it seemed surreal, such that it got me asking "what's the catch?"...there isn't many of such days in one's lifetime

i checked my estudent that day...and i saw there...written...confirmed...that i am all good to graduate....yeay!!!!! no...not really...it wasn't really a 'yeay!' but more of 'alhamdulillah'...and a deep deep sigh of relief...i mean, results was ok...but seeing that confirmation had effectively put all doubts to rest...

then i saw my scheduled graduation ceremony...17th april 2008.....what?! SEVENTEENTH APRIL TWO THOUSAND AND EIGHT??!!!!! (i spelt the numbers...meaning it's a HUGE shock..hehe)....that's my birthday!!!!!!!!!! now this time it is a big 'HAHAHAHA!'...wow...what a bonus!

i am really looking forward to that now...i will definitely come back to sydney for it...now the finishing line is in sight...i just cant wait to cross it...phewwww...really, if anyone understands what i've been through, they'd know how big a 'phew' that is....

i remembered a conversation i had with azan waayyyy some time ago...when i was dealing with my problems in uni and looking at people graduating...he reassured me that i will reach the promised land...i will cross the finish line in this race we call uni...it might seem like a simple point to make but being where i was back then, i really needed some serious boost in my self-belief...and those reassuring words couldn't have come at a better time for me...(thanks dude!)

Allah is almighty, he is Ar-rahman and Ar-rahim...all praise to Him for all this...i would never have made it this far (or anywhere near it) without His love...my parents, family and her ... they had been my source of strength...when times are tough and i felt that it is all too much...when the next day was a big exam and i felt i needed an extra boost...somehow...i feel their prayers and somehow that provided much needed source of confidence....

and all my friends who were with me all this while or at any stage of my journey, no matter where you are...whom i find support and happiness in...who believed...who made life here so meaningful....thank you all very very very much...

and...

later during the day i received a phone call from a company in malaysia whom i have been in contact with...and they confirmed an offer for me as finance analyst there..i am very thankful that i have this already...and while this sparked a whole deeper (and sometimes confusing and frustrating) self debate about my future, can i complain? no.

and so i hope everything goes well...the graduation...my career...and my transition to the next stage of my life...i also wish all my mates who are at the same stage here all the best and a safe journey into the new unknown...



p/s- i have watched 'Gone with The Wind' twice in the past 5 days!!!!! (anyone wanna make it thrice?) maaan....the movie is AWESOME....haha! how did i start this madness? RANDOM! yes tasha, randomness is COOL!

Sebuah entri yang padat dengan ucapan =)

Selamat pengantin baru Firdaus & Azlina~! Moga bahagia sampailaaa ke anak cucu =) Walaupun ko dah kawin, ko la muka paling kanak2 antara kite suma wahai arip...hahahahaha!

Tak sangka, member yang paling 'ABC' (*hint* Ali--Bu--Cro-- HAHA!) rupanya yang paling awal kawin antara kitorang....takpe, itu semua zaman gila-gila remaja, sekarang dah ade bini dah =) so, 1/4 dah settle...siapakah seterusnya? Firdhouskah? Lokmankah? Sunnykah? =P

Kepada member2 TESL cohort 1 yang akan mula bergelar cikgu tak lama lagi...selamat mengharungi pahit manis masam masin kehidupan sebagai pendidik...ajar laa anak orang baik2 ye...bagi je homework banyak2 macam kita semua dapat dulu2 *nada berdendam* haha! =P Kalau boleh, tiap2 minggu bagi spelling & dictation...muaahahahahaha~!

Kepada mereka di TESL cohort 2, bergembiralah semua di samping keluarga tersayang & malaysia yang panas & tanpa berbilik mandi en-suite (hahahahaha!) .... selamat menempuhi tahun akhir pengajian di IPBA dengan jayanya...moga berjumpa lagi =)

dan...

Kepada bandaraya Sydney....belum lagi...belum lagi...masih ada beberapa minggu =)

all will come to an end...slowly, yet surely...

it is almost the end for me here in sydney...or is it? well, i still have the matter of getting the right final exam results before super confirming that i'm on my way off..but..yea..i have a feeling this is it..dont wanna jinx it tho...Allah help me...

as of now...i am just slowly withdrawing myself from this place i've called home for the past 4 years...it isn't easy...only those who have experienced it would truly understand...indeed, i see everything now through a very different set of eyes...i will miss everyone who have been a part of my life here...and i will miss those who have defined 'life' here...

it can be sentimental...especially because i am the one leaving now...no longer being the one left by people (as was the case last year)...sometimes i feel a bit down when it seems i am the one being emotional about this departure...no..i dont expect others to be emotional as well...but like being in a relationship, once in awhile it is comforting to be shown the love, even when we already know deep down that our partner do love us...

anyways...as i said, right now im slowly phasing myself out...doing things i want to do...hanging with people i care about...i really must say that life has been great for me lately...

here's some of the things i've been up to:

1. chilling at kamal's place...like me, he too is leaving...i just hang around here, and we both do things we enjoy...like playing Pro evo soccer...talking about football...going to Sydney FC vs LA Galaxy a.k.a Beckham (wooohoooooo~!!!!)...Beckham's free kick is among the magical things in soccer...and to witness it live, with another soccer fan...wow....historic!

2. went to a full family karaoke for one last time...enjoyed it very much...i dont know about others, but it was certainly one of my most sentimental moments...the thought that it is the last complete karaoke session just cannot be brushed aside...

3. went to emergency room for labyrinthitis...damn...what a spoiler of a moment...i really want to thank all who have shown utmost kindness in that very short and random spell of sickness...from people at MHall like preveen who gave me soap n toothpaste while i was recuperating there, to the friends from macq who were very concerned like azan and joyce, to those who were there to witness the action (haha!) - zek, kamal, hawa, sheera, may, fini, anas, nik arif, firza, faisal and dewi...all that puking...im sorry guys...and i am deeply touched by the kindness...

4. coffee with faisal and edward till very very late, chatting, talking about things we all love to talk about...msian politics...student politics...mfest...tourism msia...those old guy's coffee shop conversations :p probably the last good long conversation between three of us before faisal leaves for good...i will definitely miss this a lot...

5. more choco san churros...man, i gotta stop...hahahahaha~!

6. enjoying LIFE...hahaha...bbq-ing n dinner by coogee beach...poker n frisbee at night on the sands, spending the night by the beach gazing at the stars..waking up to sunrise...it was cooool....i dont know when else in my life am i doing that again...

ah well...a month or so left...i must make the most of my time =)