Its been a long time since I write, more like 4-5 years ago really. What inspired me to write after such a long time ? I don't know. So many things have changed in these 5 years and as I get more matured, I've developed a whole different personality. I will be writing a fiction inspired storyline basing on myself. Some incidences may actually happened, and some ... Let's just say that I wished it had gone that way...
Exactly 2.5 years ago, I was an undergraduate who applied for a twinning program to complete my final year of bachelors in Staffordshire University. I was a bold lady, and I just went abroad knowing I will not have friends there.
Since then, the #achievementunlock and #firsttime incidences came across:
It was my first time in a flight without family or friends beside me;
It was the first time I had to figure out a way to get myself registered in a new university/accommodation;
It was the first time spending my parent's hard earn savings like water to support myself;
It was the first time I spend on cooking utensils and groceries;
and so many more ....
Thinking back right now, everything feels so right, like I'm in control of everything and nothing could go wrong. Although, I have hall mates, I still have my own room - Privacy. I guess the perks of studying abroad, I get to have everything to myself. This entire feeling feels so new to me, like so much power. But thankfully, growing up with my family had made me feel nothing towards owning a branded item. I just don't desire a expensive Victoria Secret undergarment, Channel lipstick and etc. I spend most of my time and money on travelling and grocery stuff.
I am totally loving and rocking the "so much control" feeling that I have discovered myself another talent - Cooking. I just love cooking, controlling the ingredient amount, recipe, temperature, and food presentation. I declare myself a talent because I know my food is tasty, although a newbie. This is also when I found out that I am allergic to coffee and alcohol. Boom, saving even more cash.
Living in a different country, alone, -well according to my personality, I think its great! I meet all sorts of people from all over the world and pick up some socializing skills. Definitely boost up my confidence talking to a group of people with different nationalities. As a Malaysian, trust me I am not one bit racist. Malaysia is harmonious place to live with different race and religion, a melting pot of culture! So the group of friends I manage to blend myself with was the Indian and Chinese (mainland). It can never go wrong being around people that I'm used to in Malaysia. Blending in as a Chink in an Indian group, scares them because I know Sharukh Khan, Hritik Rohsnan, Briyani, and curry. Hanging out with them means never ending food coming!
As for the Chinese (mainland), party. Sadly I can't drink. Literally the case of 1/4 of a 350ml cider, I continuously puked for at least an hour until I fell asleep. They party like there is no tomorrow, amazing socializing sessions with beer and food, amazing! We talk about China's politics, and politics related to Hong Kong and Taiwan. I learn so much just from the conversations. Strict education, intense competition when it comes to workplace and they are a goer ! I managed to visit London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool with them lots. One thing that amazes me is that they really desire and value luxury brands, it is the exact opposite of my principle but I love the experience anyway. Walking into a luxury retail, minding my own business and being able to experience the shopping style of an upperclassmen.
It feels as though, I haven't been truly myself when I'm living with my family. So many things to discover within my personal growth and so many personality traits to explore. 3 months felt like 2 weeks to me, time move on so fast. I love my lectures, I discovered my style in writing an assignment, and I do not know why but I love getting late to classes, exactly 10 minutes late - every time. Sometimes I get to lectures early, but never later than 10 minutes. My everyday routine just goes on like that for the first 3 months, and then I realized, what about my friends back in Malaysia ? I know they don't miss me because I'm just a text away, we've our own group of friends to hang around. It just feels ... weird and empty. The timezone difference started to kick in, and I have my own selfishness to explore the new thing - UK. So in this 2.5 years, I've learn so many things about life which I haven't experience before. I have more or less lose a good friend or two along the process of rediscovering myself.
From the selfish person I was when everything is new, it feels like the party is over as I further my studies to be a MBA postgraduate. The first year, I hadn't been able to click with my classmates and to be hanging out with them for social events, but my MBA classmates, homies ! This program, constantly have group assignments going on as classmates, we learn to trust each other and rely on each other. I've joined amazing teams in my class, and achieved high marks for the quality work/performance we produced. During my postgraduate year, the hype died down a bit. It became more like a business life like. Attending classes and group discussions are like work and staying at home is leisure. The Staffordshire Uni MBA life is so intimidating with tasks and group discussions, by the end of the week I just want to forget about partime jobs and just be home, relaxing in Nottingham instead. Home is where your love is.
Thats all for today, bye for now.
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