Sorry..

.. for not updating :P

I've been completely blindsided by my workload so I do apologize!

My first few days back to Soton was quite a nightmare.. Not only was I grappling with the task of settling in with my jetlagged state, I was battling this huge sense of loneliness as well.. I guess after 3 months of being in constant contact with family members, the sudden realization that you're on your own again was a bit too much for me to handle.. It's weird really.. I've flown to Soton three times by now and yet I'm still gripped by sheer sadness each and everytime..

But the days became better as time went on.. I worked as a Jumpstart helper for my school and then became a student helper for the uni-link buses.. I totally love my jobs! Sometimes you've gotta face the occupational hazards that come with it (i.e. getting squished by people, doors, drivers, etc.) but the fun factor is truly amazing.. You meet all sorts of people doing all kinds of wacky things and you get to learn stuff about buses that only a privileged few know about.. The pay's not too bad either.. The day we finished, all the uni-link helpers were wallowing in their jobless ways!

Yesterday was Eid-ul Fitr.. Or better known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Malaysia.. I still remember the moment the Islamic Society announced on Thursday that Eid was on the next day.. The faces of us Malaysian students literally dropped to the floor.. We were all glum thinking about the prospect of celebrating Eid in lectures! But we had no choice.. On Friday we went for the morning prayers, decked out in our nicest dresses, and then proceeded to class.. Well some of us anyway.. Not for the others.. (like me, eheh..)

Today's the big celebration where the Malaysian Society organized a massive Eid party for the whole Malaysian community here in Southampton.. There were loads of food around but I didn't stick around for long.. I arrived (late) at 11am and had to leave by 12.15am because I had to play a chess match in Basingstoke :(

I made a huge fuss about it with my chess captain.. I told him it was Eid and I had to skip the celebrations because he asked me to play.. For each match, we need to pay GBP2.50 to pay for the venue.. In true diva style, I refused to pay and my captain just obliged! It probably helped that I won my match.. It must've helped leverage my demands quite a bit :D

The chess match was quite amusing though.. Some guy asked whether we've played on a website called "Red Hot Porn" which actually turned out to be "Red Hot Pawn".. rotfl :D

BTW, I think if there's one thing that Malaysian men should learn from English counterparts is to open doors for ladies.. All the way from Soton to Basingstoke, I didn't hold a single door handle, be it cars or proper buildings..

Tomorrow's mission: Raid people's open houses :D