Naik pangkat.

Assalamualaikum and a very good afternoon to all. 

Caption oleh Fatin Kamarulzaman via FB: 27 September 2012. Boys at the front! Hari ini dalam sejarah. Yay!! Ps: sarah dekat belakang sekali weyh!! Haha

(well, not really. duduk row 2nd last -____-) 

Since 1st year (we had our classes at the auditorium) up till 2nd year and now the 3rd week of 1st semester of 3rd year, MY PLACE had always been there, 

FIRST ROW on your right, the 3rd seat.

I love sitting in front of the class, as it puts me into direct eye contact with the lecturers and it refrained me from falling asleep in class; sitting in front builds confidence within me, and it's really easy for me to ask questions during lectures.

But yesterday, on the 26th of September 2012, 3rd week of 1st semester of 3rd year, the batch leader had said

'Brothers have requested to sit in front. So, the first two rows on both right and left sides of the class will be reserved for the brothers'.

The reasons:

1. Brothers are supposed to be the leaders to women. 

Before this, the sisters were the ones who occupied and conquered the first 6 rows on the right and the first 5 rows on the left. Brothers semua duduk kat belakang. What to do? The unofficial 'system' had always been there since the 1st year. 1st year dulu bagi chance tak nak duduk depan. HUHU. 

2. To 'menjaga pandangan'.

I don't know what's with guys and their 'pandangans'. LOL. 

3. Brothers dah ada kesedaran nak membaiki diri dan to be a better man (better men)! (nyanyi lagu Robbie Williams) (my own opinion, LOL).

Of course la, dah 3rd year, mestilah ada kesedaran untuk jadi lebih baik supaya boleh menjadi bakal suami dan ayah yang mithali!

And so, sadly and reluctantly, I was forced to move to the not third, fourth nor fifth, but the SIXTH row!

The funny thing is that the next day (the day of which the 'system' commenced),  everyone (the sisters) tried their best to come early to class to reserve the 'frontest' place possible!

One of them includes yours truly. The class started at 9 a.m and I went out of my room at 8.30 am!

Upon reaching the class, I was dismayed that the 3rd, 4th and 5th rows are fully occupied!!!! NOOO!!!!

The sisters made a pact with the brothers. If they came any later than 5 minutes after the lectures had commenced, then the sisters will move to the 1st and 2nd rows.

Surprise, surprise!80% of the brothers came early (8.55 is early for them) to class and so, yes, their rights to take the front seats are justified.

Throughout the 3 hours classes, I was squirming uncomfortably at the back, not to mention, feeling rather sleepy but then, an amazing thing had happened.

I COULD ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND BETTER of what the lecturers had taught when I'm SITTING at the BACK as compared to when I was in front. ALHAMDULILLAH!!! 

I guess sitting behind with lots of obstructions (people's heads in front of me) and distractions (the sound of my other friends talking) actually exert positive effects on my concentration. 

My concentration power is levelled up as I tried my best to focus despite all those hurdles.

Another good thing of sitting at the back.

YOU COULD DO WHATEVER YOU WANTED TO DO!

Nak menggeliat bila mengantuk, nak menguap luas2 (tapi tutup mulut), nak gelak, nak duduk dengan cara yang tidak keperempuanan, nak tengok handphone ( I tak tengok handphone), you nak makan nasi lemak, roti canai, hatta semuanya bolehlah (cuma jangan bising sampai distract kelas dan lecturer yang mengajar). 

I gotta admit, my movements were a bit restricted when I was sitting at the front. In front of me was the lecturer and there were BROTHERS at the back who could see what the sisters are doing at the front. So kena control behaviours, pergerakan semua tu la.

And as for the brothers, HAHAHA.

After the class, I asked one of my male classmates with syrupy sweet sarcastic manner. 

'Best tak duduk depan?' 

He laughed and said 'Rasa macam ada boundaries. Tak boleh nak menggeliat, etc'.

Hehe, see? 

My friend, Liyana who had been sitting at the back since 1st year (LOL) even commented,

'Budak-budak lelaki ni bila duduk belakang ramai yang tidur, kepala terlentok semua tu. 

But based on what I've observed, tak ada seorang pun yang tersengguk-sengguk kat depan tu!

Another classmate, Sharifah who was sitting right behind the brothers said that 'H**** tu tidur sebenarnya. Tapi dia pejam mata je'. LOL.

Conclusion: the brothers had shown more positive behaviours when they are sitting in the front rows as compared to the back rows.

I can't wait for Prof Noriah's class! Dia suka tanya orang duduk depan. :P 

So, Sarah. Whatever happened, it's for the best. Believe it!

This is the story of how a front bencher turned into one of the backbenchers. HAHA. 

Oh Jupiter, I'm going to the West

I don't know if any of you who's reading this is a classical music/orchestra fan, like me....

But either way, I'm going to share some of my favourite songs. 

1) Gustav Holst's The Planets Op 32 Jupiter, the Bringer of Jolity. 

Even if you HATE classical music, do at least try to listen from part 3:15 to  5: 13 Isn't it beautiful? :')

Oh yes, the melody of this song is incorporated into one of Britain's patriotic songs 'I Vow to Thee My Country' which is also late Lady Diana's favourite song.

2) Joe Hisaishi's Journey to the West (Princess Mononoke OST)

The song is quite similar to 'Jupiter' in some parts. It has a more melancholic tune. Unlike 'Jupiter', this song had managed to capture my attention even from the first beat. 

I love most of Joe Hisaishi's songs that I couldn't afford to put every video here. 

3) 

>50 million cm from Le Home

Salam 'alaik...

 I am here, typing in my new room situated in a mahallah in the boring land of IIUM Kuantan. How I really wish that I'm studying in Gombak instead (still taking Pharmacy), instead of being stuck here in the far away land of the eastern region, away and awaaayyy from the land of Merong Mahawangsa. No offence to the 'native people' of Kuantan. Kuantan is more developed than Sungai Petani, in my parents and siblings' opinions. It's just that it's so so so far away from home. You see? And I'm not going to take back my words which said 'IIUM Kuantan is boring' for it is indeed... Boring. *put hands over chest dramatically*

As contrary to a particular blog post which I have posted one year ago, I am not going to rant about how 'homesick-ish' am I feeling. Why is that so? The answer is, ladies and gentlemen, I DO NOT HAVE ANY FEELING OF HOMESICK AT ALL AND THIS IS VERY EXTRAORDINARY AS MY FAMILY MEMBERS REGARD ME AS A 'FAMILY-WOMAN' LOL.

The more peculiar thing is that, I even felt (feel) really excited and enthusiastic upon starting my brand new 3rd year study in the land of the nerds! This is really astonishing, isn't it?

After unpacking my bags and boxes, I have discovered several things
1. 'Unpacking' is indeed an easier work as compared to 'packing them all in boxes'.
2. I couldn't find my camera charger which I thought I brought it home but couldn't find it at home and so I thought it was left in IIUM in one of the boxes which later turned out to be untrue as well sigh so I'm gonna hunt for the charger in ecm or whatever store sigh sigh.
3. I lost my spoon. I is sad. I loveth that spooneth. :((

Oh yes, how I lost my homesick feeling.

a) To tell the truth, I felt the homesickness about 2 weeks before returning to UIA. Haha.  I could say that the feeling had been drained over until none is left by the time I returned to UIA. That is the first reason.

b) The second reason is that, I am very determined to make my parents proud by giving my very best for this semester. And I know Allah is helping me and He wants me to succeed as well! In other words, I know that Allah is together with me on this journey towards success. I don't really feel alone then. :D
Also, I have re-watched Dae Jang Geum during the semester holidays and I was (am) struck by her perseverance and diligence. After watching the whole series, I could derive a conclusion:

Just focus on your goal straight ahead, don't think of the things on your left and right that tried to distract you and pulled you away from your path towards your goal. In this case, the 'things' could be emotional feeling and all those negative stuffs.

So, I am going to make Jang Geum my inspiration! YEAH!! LOL.

c) I good-naturedly told my brother that whatever it is 'I can always come back homeee' *sings Jason Mraz's songs*



93 million miles from the Sun, people get ready get ready,
'cause here it comes it’s a light, a beautiful light, over the horizon into our eyes
Oh, my my how beautiful, oh my beautiful mother
She told me, "Son in life you’re gonna go far, and if you do it right you’ll love where you are
Just know, that wherever you go, you can always come home"

240 thousand miles from the Moon, we’ve come a long way to belong here,
To share this view of the night, a glorious night, over the horizon is another bright sky
Oh, my my how beautiful, oh my irrefutable father,
He told me, "Son sometimes it may seem dark, but the absence of the light is a necessary part.
Just know, you’re never alone, you can always come back home"

You can always come back…back…

Every road is a slippery slope
There is always a hand that you can hold on to.
Looking deeper through the telescope
You can see that your home’s inside of you.
Just know, that wherever you go, no you’re never alone, you will always get back home


Indeed, Jason Mraz's '93 Million Miles' had managed to lift up my spirit, to even inspire me to do my best in what I do (so that I'd end up loving it LOL) and....

Whatever happens, wherever I am, I would remind myself that I still have Allah, I still have my family and that I could always come back home (or home(family) will come to me when I need it- it happens once.

So Sarah, you have your family to turn to, why should you be sad/feel homesick? Haha. Have faith that Allah will look after your family and that whenever you're alone in a faraway land without any of your family members with you, He will always be there *sings Maher Zain's song*

In return for the countless bounties and blessings that Allah had bestowed on me (and that includes the wonderful blessing of having a loving, complete family), I'm going to give my very best, to utilize my utmost capability, to express my gratitudes by studying hard, to help the less fortunate; those who are not as fortunate as I am.

 I know that I can do it. Insya-Allah. Amiin.. Please pray for me, everyone. :D

Bought Haruki Murakami's 1Q84!!! :D

Different cover, though.