Happy New Year!

 

A very Happy New Year to all the readers of Countrify! As I type this, fireworks are exploding outside my hotel window, illuminating the night sky with bursts of brilliant colours. Ah, the beauty of celebration! May the new year bring us even more great music in the country industry!

2010 Top Albums of the Year

It's the time of the year again, when we bid a glad farewell to the days gone by. Yes, 2011 is coming, in just a couple more days. But first, let us look back on the country music scene, and my top three albums of the year. It wasn't easy to pick out three albums that in my opinion, shone among the rest in 2010, but I finally did.

3. Get Off On the Pain - Gary Allan

What can I say? This was one of the best surprises in the first half of 2010. Filled with songs about heartbreak, reconciliation and moving on, Gary Allan sings with raw emotion in his gritty vocals, giving each of the songs his own authentic feel about it. From the hard-rocking title track about a masochistic man who had his heart broken one too many times, to the album closer, a heartbreaking ode to his wife who passed away years ago, this is one album you'll listen to and remember for a long time.

2. Nothing Like This - Rascal Flatts

Nothing Like This; a real game-changer for the Flatts who had a mediocre year with their sixth studio album, Unstoppable, the title track of which, ironically, was stopped from reaching number one on the country charts. With their latest effort however, they decided quite rightly to steer away from their new sound (apparent in their last few albums) and instead, going back to the basics. I have to admit, that was a great decision, and as a result of it, comes an album reminiscent of the time when Rascal Flatts was just three guys dreaming of making it big on the music scene. Yes, this album brings back memories of their double-platinum debut and the triple platinum follow-up, Melt, allowing us to travel back in time to the good old days.

1. You Get What You Give - Zac Brown Band

No matter how hard I searched, I could not find a worthy contender to the Zac Brown Band's chart-topping follow-up to their double-platinum debut, You Get What You Give. With a whopping 14 songs (and an additional 4 in the deluxe edition) the band has definitely been generous. And why shouldn't they be? 2010 has been an extremely successful year for them, with this album debuting at number on on the Billboard 200 Charts, the lead single As She's Walking Away becoming their sixth consecutive number one single, and the band themselves being honored by CMT as one of five Artists of the Year.

Listening to this album, a perfect representation of the band's unique sound, I found nothing to complain about. Each track on it was sang to perfection, especially the epic 'Colder Weather' which would undeniably have topped my Song of the Year list, had I bothered to create one. Yes, You Get What You Give definitely deserves the honour of being my choice for Album of the Year.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all the readers of Countrify! There will be much more in store for all of you next year so make sure you check back constantly for the latest updates on country music! Till then, have fun unwrapping presents under the Christmas tree!

Happy Halloween!

I would like to wish all the readers of Countrify a very Happy Halloween, with the very cute picture above of a puking pumpkin, courtesy of Montgomery Gentry's Troy Gentry. This is probably the most unique pumpkin design I've ever seen. So, enjoy yourselves, guys and girls, and don't forget to check back to Countrify for more updates on the latest news in country music after all the trick-and-treating is  over! :-)

Adam Lambert Tickets!

HELL YEAH! My tickets are finally here! Paid RM193 for the Rock Zone, which is quite near the stage (see below). Hopefully I can see Adam properly from there, without being blocked by anything!

Seeing as this is my first concert, I've no idea how things go. Will there be meet and greet sessions like those in Rascal Flatts concerts? Will those of us who are not in The Pitt get to go near Adam at all? Hmmmm..... maybe I should bring a pair of binoculars along, to ensure a great view of the proceedings. (I do have a pair, gotten free from ordering Readers' Digest, but that's another story) There should be large screens erected onstage for the benefit of those with cheaper tickets (including myself)

I'm kinda hoping for there to be autograph/meet & greet sessions so that perhaps I'll even get to shake hands with Adam! And take photos with him! And get his signature! OK, now I'm rambling, getting a bit too excited about this. But how can I not be, this being my very first concert and all? Adam Lambert is here "For Your Entertainment" guys, and I'm sure as hell gonna get entertained. 

Wonder what songs he'll sing? Probably those from his debut album, For Your Entertainment, but I'm hoping he'll pick some tracks off his pre-Idol album, Take One as well. To be honest, I like that way better than FYE. There's less shouting for one thing, and also the songs are more soothing, my kinda songs. However, Take One is almost unknown in Malaysia, as it is not available locally, but there are certain unscrupulous means to obtain copies. (I know you get what I mean so stop pretending)

Well, 3 more weeks to go before I get to meet one of my idols LIVE! These 3 weeks are gonna be a helluva long wait, but with the many presentations, tests and assignments awaiting me in college, I'm sure time will simply fly by. I bet it won't feel like 3 weeks by the time the 14th of October arrives. But hey, I'm not the only one undergoing this mental torture. I'm sure there are hundreds of you all over Malaysia feeling the same anticipation and excitement as I am right now, as I type these words. So here's to us, the Glamberts of Malaysia!

(There'll be a full review of the concert upon my return [pictures included], so wait for it!)

Welcome to Countrify!

Here's to a total makeover of my blog! Previously titled Alone in A Crowded World, which seemed somehow inappropriate due to the main topics posted here, I've decided to change the entire thing, from the layouts to the title to the address. There are still a few tweaks to be done but Countrify is now open for viewers. Welcome to my new blog http://countrify.blogspot.com/!

Just Another Trip Home...WTF!?

One memory shall always remain clear in my mind of last night. It wasn't the moment we heard the explosion. It wasn't even the moment we were shrouded in a thick cloud of smoke. Instead, it was the moment when a rag-tag group of people were running helter-skelter across the highway, in the middle of the night, with cars whizzing past at a hundred kilometres an hour. Yes, that is a moment I will never, EVER forget.

The trip began normally, with the four of us settling into our seats in the bus, waiting for the long, arduous journey to begin. I reclined mine and leaned back, plugging my ears with the country-gospel blend of music by Tracy Lawrence. It didn't take me long to fall asleep. When I finally regained consciousness, it was pitch black. Night had fallen, and the stars must've failed to put up an appearance. Yawning, I took a swig of water, squinting at my watch to see what time it was, but in vain. The other choice was to check my phone, and I was feeling a little lazy for that. So I settled back down, hoping that the journey's end would come soon.

Well, it did, and a little faster than I expected. For suddenly, in the silence of the night, an explosion shattered the lull of slumber in the bus. Everyone instantly jerked awake. Our eyes roved wildly to find the cause of the commotion, but it soon became apparent when the bus started drawing to the side of the road, before finally stopping. The driver left his post while the rest of us were peeking out the windows, trying to see what was happening. A trail of liquid, originating from our vehicle, was slowly snaking its way across the highway. Whether it was water, or oil, none could tell.

Then, without any warning, the bus was shrouded in a thick cloud of white smoke. Some of the more nervous passengers left the bus, maybe fearing that it would explode and send them to heaven. I stayed put, trying to figure out what could be going on. when the bus' engine spluttered and died. Slowly, the smoke cleared, adnwe could see again. But it wasn't a pleasant sight. For all of us were suddenly stranded in the middle of the North-South Highway, with no way of making it to our destination.

For me, it was the first time I faced such a situation, so I was totally blank in the area of what to do if such a thing happens. Godd thing a friend of mine on the bus had face a similar situation before, and when a second bus pulled up in front of ours, she urged us to run for it. However, as we were located in the middle of the bus, by the time we finally got out, the available seats were already taken. Disappointed, we joined the tiny groups of people scattered at the side of the road.

One thing i noticed was that most of us pulled out handphones, and started making calls. I wondered what they could possibly be doing. Calling a cab? Informing their family that they would be late? Or even trying to get someone to drive all the way to the middle of nowhere we were stranded in to pick them up? I was the only one who neglected my phone, knowing full well that it would be pontless, because we didn't even know where we were. That was when another bus pulled up, but this time on the other side of the highway.

(At this point, I feel a need to explainthe layout of the area, for those of you who have not been there before. There were two separate highways going north, one was headed exclusively to Ipoh, while the other was the normal one. these two run side by side, separated by a divider made of stone. Our bus was on the latter, and the this newcomer bus stopped on the Ipoh one.)

We watched anxiously as our bus driver clambered over the divider and ran across the highway towards the other bus, where he apparently told his coworker of our predicament. then he looked back towards us, lifted up his hand and showed seven fingers. Seven seats. For almost twenty of us. And this time I never hesitated, knowing full well that if I missed this one, I might end up stuck there for the rest of the night.

Immediately, I swung myself over the divider (thank God I was tall enough!) and simply ran towards the other bus, completely ignoring the incoming cars. All around me, I could see some of the other passengers following suit. It was then that I witnessed human nature at its worst. For at that very moment, a man tripped and fell onto the highway. I am not proud to say that I hesitated, then raced on. The others didn't even pause. Up to now, I'm still haunted by the thought of what would've happened if a car roared past. Had he gotten killed there, would I ever be able to forgive myself? For my selfishness? For simply blocking out the plight of a fellow human being? For racing by while another man could have died, and not offered help?

When I arrived at the bus, 3 people had gone up before me (most probably because I hesitated halfway). I looked back, and breathed a sigh of relief to see the fallen man right behind two of my friends. God is merciful, both to him, and me. Then I stood there, waiting for the final member of my group to catch up before ascending the steps together. There were only 4 empty spaces on the bus, and the man who fell gave it up to us, so that the 4 of us could remain together. Which made me feel even worse. He had graciously performed a completely selfless act, and I wondered if I would have done the same thing in his place. Probably not. I'm definitely flawed, aren't I? But aren't we all?

As I settled down into the seat of this new bus. I realised that I was rather shaken up. My knees were quivering slightly, and I couldn't do anything to stop them. That's what happens to you after a traumatic occurence, and I know because I've felt the exact same feelng before, though I will not recount that experience here. Anyway, when I finally arrived in my hometown, it was past midnight and we were two hours ahead of schedule. The bus had gradually emptied itself until only the seven of us were left (it was actually bound for somewhere else, before Taiping) when we pulled in to the bus station. Our ordeal was over, but it was not something any of us would forget in a hurry.

That night, a completely unknown stranger taught me two important lessons. But I won't mention them here, and risk sounding like some corny fairy tale. You can work them out for yourselves.

Busy Busy Life

the view from my room at Casa

So, after 6 months of doing practically nothing at home, I've finally started college! The past few days have been busy and I scarcely had time to come online, let alone blog, so sorry for abandoning you guys. My roommates and I have taken to exploring the surrounding area since Friday, and we've visited most of the major malls in the area. Sunway Pyramid was amazing, The Summit sucked (though I did get two new books from there).

And now that my Maxis broadband is giving me hell every day, even if I do get the chance to come online, I find that I keep getting disconnected, which is totally annoying. I can't even post comments on FB properly. And don't even start on Youtube videos, which stops loading just a few seconds into it. Finally solved my problem when I realised the reception was a helluva lot better in my living room. So now I can come online, even though it is still not ideal for videos, at least I can get on FB and ReCom without any hitches. Which is like a tremendous gift, after the past few days of volatile connections.

But I digress. I'm not supposed to spend that much time online anyway, with the mountains of assignments that are sure to come my way as soon as classes start on Wednesday. I'll be busy, but hopefully I'll still find time to FB and blog about my life here. It's a great experience, meeting new friends every day, and being able to wear anything I want to college. And food is no longer a problem now, since my roommates and I have started cooking with our trusty rice cooker, bought just yesterday from a Mydin within walking distance from our new home.

Well, money is still scarce though, because JPA only provides us with RM430 per month, and the predicted expenditure at Sunway is RM 1450 per month. What with the books costing more than a hundred bucks each, and the expensive food at the cafetaria, sure makes me wonder how we're going to survive for the next 1.5 years. Hopefully, by cooking ourselves, our wallets won't be as empty as they would've been!

OK, so here we are. My last week at home. It's been a great 6 months, I give you that, and now I'm finally going to leave home! I know, I know, most of you have already done that earlier this year, in fact you've even completed your first exam, but for me, it's Taiping all the way since SPM bade adieu last December. Great times, wasn't it? Back in school, when my friends and I were all together; and now, we're scattered all over Malaysia, and soon to be all over the globe. Will we ever see each other again? Well, maybe, but not in these next few years. Maybe when we're all older, in our thirties or forties, we might all have a gathering back here in the town of everlasting peace, but for now, I'm sure most of you are pretty busy.

When I was younger, I always dreamed of one day, leaving home and heading off to college on my own, without having to hear my parents nagging at me all the time. How I miss those olden days; times that have long gone now. I can't believe that I simply wished them away, back then. If I knew then what I know now, how different it would all be. Ah, wishful thinking! Don't get me wrong, I'm still eager to go off to college, but I know that I'm going to miss all this. All the times I spent with my family; going on outings, chatting, playing boardgames, it's all over now. Time definitely flies, doesn't it? 

I' m glad I realised this earlier, back when I first heard Trace Adkins' 'You're Gonna Miss This'. The song was like a wake up call, showing me exactly how much the memories of those days would fill my mind, how much I would miss them.

"You're gonna miss this
You're gonna want this back
You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times
So take a good look around
You may not know it now
But you're gonna miss this"

How true it rings for all of us! We spend every moment of our lives waiting for the next, and in the end, we fail to live in the very moment of it. These past 6 months would be the very last time I'll be able to spend together with my family without interruptions; assigments, exams, even work, but I wasted it all away watching television series and movies which even now I'm forgotten about (Breaking Bad excluded). Maybe I should've spent less time in front of the computer and more time just... talking to my family, you know? Sadly it's all gone now, and no matter how much I regret doing what I did, the past can never be altered.

Ah, how I wish I had more time with my loved ones! All these memories are what would keep me afloat during my days as a scholar. Whenever I feel stressed, pressured by work, depressed by examinations, or anything at all, I shall just conjure up memories of these past 18 years with my family, and the savage breast shall be soothed. The happy memories shall chase away the demons within me, and leave behind a warm, cosy feeling, like my family is always there beside me, even though they aren't. Listening to Tim McGraw's Still made me realise this.

"There's a place I need to be
Mom and Dad my brother and me
First time I ever saw the beach
Back to 1983
And all I have to do is just be still

When the road gets crazy
And tries to break me
And I've had all I can stand
I can close my eyes no matter where I am
And just be still"

 

But I digress. (This post is starting to echo the throes of melancholy, isn't it?) Well, I shall try to banish these thoughts from my mind and look forward to a brighter future. I'm heading to New Zealand! Hell yeah! Haha, that's definitely a great pick-me-up when I'm feeling down. Of course, it isn't America, which I've always wanted to visit so that I can catch a Rascal Flatts concert, but it's still a different country, a different world for me to be in. And I'm pretty damn excited about it, seeing as my cousin is studying there as well and I can meet up with her after so many years! I can always save up and fly to America during the summer holidays (and that is exactly what I intend to do!)

One and a half years. Eighteen months to go before I can fly away from this country, and land among the Kiwis. Of course, I will be pretty busy with my AUSMAT during this length of time, so I probably won't be thinking much about my next 3 years abroad. But I simply can't wait to go! And one of my classmates (you know who you are) is going with me, which makes it all even better. At least I'll see a familiar face in a totally new environment. It'll be extremely lonely if I don't know anyone there, but now I do!

OK, enough with the ramblings. I'm pretty sure I've bored most of you to death (if anybody's actually reading this, that is). I'm never sure if any of you actually read what I've written on my blog, but still, it's a great place to express any hidden feelings that I simply can't put into words vocally. I've always had trouble conveying my emotions through the spoken word. I feel  more comfortable writing it all down, and it flows so much more smoothly compared to when I try to speak. Maybe that's just who I am, you know. A writer.

Happy Teachers' Day!

I would like to take this opportunity to wish a very Happy Teachers' Day to all the teachers who've taught me my entire life! There're so many that it would be quite impossible to list them here, but know that I will always remember you and your kindness. Without you I will not be where I am today. It is because of your dedication, patience and continuous encouragement that I have found success in my life. So, thank you, again, for everything you've done for me, and all the students whose lives you've touched!

Lastly, I would like to dedicate this song to all my teachers. Happy Teachers' Day!

And The Wait Goes On...

How long has it been since I went for my first scholarship interview? Months? It was back in December, during which I had just finished my SPM exminations. The incident took place at the Uplands International School in Penang. After two examinations (Maths and English respectively), some of us were selected for the actual interviews. I was lucky enough to be among the finalists, even though my English score was among the lowest (so sad!). A week later, I was informed that I got the scholarship, which included 50% of the school fees. However, it was still way over my family's  budget, so I decided to reject it.

Back to the present, I'm currently waiting for the results of my JPA interview (way back in April) and my BNM interview (a little more recent). Khazanah was a total flop for me, because clearly I never possessed the qualities they were looking for in a scholar. I never managed to get past the second stage, which means I only went halfway through. But for the other two, although I did screw up a little, the results aren't out yet, so I should remain hopeful, right? But tomorrow's the last day for the BNm results to be announced and as far as I know, nobody got the call yet, so everything comes down to the next 24 hours, for all 100 or more of us.

As for the JPA scholarship, quite a few people emailed the authorities and it's been confirmed that the results will be released on the 21st of May, which means another week of me as a nervous wreck. (Don't ask me for proof of this, you can disbelieve it if you want, it's your choice) I've been restless this entire week, waiting for the results to be out and suddenly I hear that it won't be out for another week. Damn. I spent this entire week shopping and packing stuff for college, even though I have no idea which college I'll be going to, because I needed to do something or I'd have gone crazy with the all the sitting around and waiting.

So, while I sit here trying to spend as much of my time typing this, and singing along to Montgomery Gentry's songs, the aura of gloom surrounding the possible fact that I might not get any scholarship haunts me. As a result, I take longer to sleep at night, and wake up earlier in the morning. I pick up my phone every few minutes, knowing pretty well that no one has called, but hoping anyway. I turn on my computer the entire day, checking ReCom and my email repeatedly for updates. Looks like the whole thing is taking an emotional turmoil on myself. Hopefully this'll all be over soon (except the Montgomery Gentry part).

But I digress. I'm sure many of you feel the same way, given the fact that 10114 people got selected for the JPA interviews, and another 100+ for the BNM one. So there might be 10200 people out there doing the exact same thing I'm doing right now, typing anxiously into a blog that nobody is going to read anyway. I picture the scene and I smile a little, while comprehending the apparent idiocity of it. But there's nothing idiotic about an 18-year-old's hopes and dreams, which could be crushed at any moment without hesitation or prior warning.

And so the wait goes on. There's nothing I can do to speed things up. Luckily there're many things to occupy my time with (Breaking Bad, House, 24, Lost). So far, all have kept up to my expectations, but with House ending next week, Lost ending the week after, 24 the week after that, and lastly Breaking Bad, I'll soon be left with nothing but crappy shows like Glee and ridiculous ones like 30 Rock and The Big Bang Theory. not to say that TBBT is bad, because it's actually very good. Show after show, book after book I've devoured, but sadly I'm still no closer to the results. How depressing!

Maybe it's time to consider my other options, like going off to college. I have been preparing stuff, going shopping and such, but I haven't registered anywhere yet. It;s still too soon for that. And I haven't given up hope. But by this weekend I would either be very happy or extremely disappointed, depending on the outcome of the BNM scholarship interview. If it's the former, I do not have to worry about the JPPA scholarship any longer. but, if it's the latter, JPA would be my only hope. Kinda like a Hail Mary for me. It's either that, or I'm doomed to life in college without a scholarship. That sucks because money is scarce, and my dream to go to the US will be shattered.

Well, I know that Accounting students don't get to study in the US, but if I somehow get a scholarhip in UK, I can just grab a flight over the ocean, right? (don't remember the name, my Geography sucks) And then I'll finally be able to watch the 3 concerts I've been waiting for for so long, namely Rascal Flatts, Sugarland and Montgomery Gentry. But if I don't get a scholarship, most of my money will be spent on college, so bye-bye concerts. Another depressing thought. Sigh... If I try to go when I'm working, there wouldn't be a point for all the artistes would be rather old by then, if they're still together, that is.

Ok, to put an end to my endless ramblings, I shall play While You're Still Young, MG's newest single and sing along to it, stopping all possibilities of me typing on and on about stuff people don't even care about. Like the song I've just mentioned. So goodbye, my dear readers, and good luck to those of you still awaiting JPA scholarships (or any others).

Happy Mother's Day!

I would just like to wish all my readers (and your mothers!) a very Happy Mother's Day! On this wonderful day, we should all grab the opportunity to celebrate our beloved mothers who have worked hard for us for so long. She deserves it, guys and gals, so make sure today is a memorable one for your mothers!

Khazanah Global Scholarship Stage 2

Stage 2 was pretty normal compared to its predecessor, but still an interesting and beneficial event throughout. No strange gusts of wind, mysterious rumblings or ear-piercing bells. Well, maybe because we're now at a totally different place than before.

Stage 2 took place at PNB Darby Park, a 5-star hotel and apartment suite. Sweet, huh? Well, this building consists of a karaoke room, a swimming pool, a putting green, a gym and goodness knows what else. Those are what I saw on the elevator wall anyway.

Arriving there at 7.30am, I was happy to see that some of the other interviewees had arrived. With no other notion of what was about to happen except what we all read in a blog, (where they had an Amazing Race-esque session). Everyone was really excited and nervous, and we chatted for a while. Lots of people from ReCom, mainly Adrian, Resha, Joey, Dick, Fun and some others whom I have forgotten (sorry!).

At 8.30am, we were ushered into a hall (on level 4), where we were briefed on what was to come. We had already been divided into our groups (green, pink, blue, orange) and I found myself in the green team with Fun and several others I did not know at first.

2nd from left : Ness, Fun, Wee, Azri, me, Amanda and Anis

forgot the names of the guy and girl at the edges (sorry!)

When everybody had gathered in the hall, the programme administrator, Marie, told us that there would be two events, the group activity and the personal interview, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. Since there are 4 groups, 2 groups did the group activity while the other 2 headed downstairs (level 3) for the personal interview.

My group was chosen for the group activity and all of us were pretty excited about it, and maybe about not having to do the interviews first. We thought it would be fun and less taxing than the other. Oh how wrong we were!

The group activity was divided into 2 sessions. During the first session, we had to make a Powerpoint presentation on Malaysia exporting ICT to the world (or something like that). The other group had something about health tourism. There was to be 4 slides, prepared in 45 minuted and presented in 5. After a discussion, we decded to do something on broadband connections and how Malaysia could help a third world country develop theirs.

Amanda (our de facto leader) decided that everyone should be given a chance to present, so we divided ourselves into groups according to the slides. I ended up at the last slide, and my line was something about how FDI's could help develop funds and expertise to increase the skills of the workforce in our country.

Everything went well until my turn, when I suddenly paused for a few seconds, lost for words. The panel of judges were staring and I was willing myself to say something and it all came rushing back so I babbled a single sentence before handing the spotlight to Amanda. She started, and was interrupted by the bell, which signified the end of our 5 minutes. Ouch. She was told to summarise in one sentence, which she did successfully, thank god.

We were then bombarded with questions, each and every one of us. Since Anis had commented earlier on Malaysia's political stability, one of the judges immediately asked her "How would you compare Malysia's stability to another country like... say, Israel?" Wow, hard one. She managed to answer somehow, good for her.

When the session was over, everyone was still a little shocked from the brutality of the questioning (it was like an interrogation) and we were given a bathroom break. When we returned, they handed each of us a paper. Mine went something like 'You're too reserved and slowed down the team. We regret to inform you that you have not been chosen for the delegation'. Pretty shocked then. Everyone received something similar, though the coments were different for each one of us. We all thought that it was over, that we were being sent home immediately.

Oddly, it turned out to be a decision we had to contest, this time with a written argument that had to be completed within 5 minutes. I quoted Julius Caesar 'I am no orator as Brutus is' (LOL) and explained that I was more of a writer than a speaker. When the 5 minutes was up, our papers were whisked away.

Time for session 2. This time, we had to choose an industry for MATRADE to get involved in and the reasons why. Written again, to be completed in 20 minutes. Being the idiot I am, I had no idea what industries were in Malaysia (we couldn't take ICT or health tourism since those topics were covered in the presentations). Without much facts on either the automotive or agricultural sectors, I settled on one that didn't even exist. The Literary Industry. The people in charge must be laughing their heads off when they read my paper.

 Then it was over. We were told to head up all the way to the 39th floor for lunch. That's where the cafetaria is located, and wow! The view was amazing up there!

The cars look like toys!

Well, after we got over the breathtaking view, there was still the lunch. Oh, and a 5-star-hotel lunch does not disappoint! Not going to spend too much time on food but since we had 2 hours to kill, I took the opportunity to try every single type of food available (except those that I can't eat). Azri remarked that I had worked up quite an appetite, which wasn't exactly true because I always eat like that, maybe a little more that time. :-P

Around 1.30pm, we headed down to level 3 for the interviews. Upon reaching, we were told that the interviews would only start at 2.30pm. Ok, so we settled down on a couple of sofas and couches there to wait. At 2, suddenly one of the doors in front of us opened and a lady appeared, calling one of us. She asked the girl if she was ready to be interviewed. LOL! She looked pretty surprised, but readily complied while the rest of us waited nervously.

There were four panels, and the 19 of us were divided equally between them. I was in panel 2, together with Dick, Ness and a guy whose name I forgot. Panel 2 seemed to take the longest time (a guy from the morning group came out of the room while we were sitting there) then Dick was called. He went in for an impossibly long time, before coming out and the other guy was called. After that it was my turn and I was pretty nevous and clammed-up when I entered.

The interviewer was a Malay lady (just one, I was surprised) and we started chatting about myself. She's really friendly and the whole process was really relaxing. It didn't feel like an interview at all. She hmmms and nods a lot, and also frequently repeats "Interesting..." to my responses. When I told her that I liekd reading, she remarked that she has thousands of books at home and recently acquired a Kindle. WOW! Wish I could be like that!

When it was over, I came out again, and waited for another 3 long hours before everyone finished with their interviews. The last to do so was Juanita, a girl from another group. While waiting, we chatted a lot on a variety of issues, including how to pick up girls, television shows, homosexuality and Barney. No idea where Barney came from though...

It was past 6 when we were told to go back to the 4th floor for the debriefing session (so 24-esque!) and some of us were asleep by then. Everyone was drained, both emotionally and physically, and wanted nothing better than to sink into a soft, warm bed and close our eyes.

Ness and Amanda, feeling really sleepy

Then we were allowed back in, and Marie concluded the session with a speech telling us not to crap our way through presentations and dig a deeper hole for ourselves to be buried in by the questioners. That's all I remembered, the rest of the details were pretty fuzzy in my mind. All I know was that by 6.30pm, we were finally allowed to go home, with tiny Khazanah notebooks as souvenirs. Everyone cheered up considerably, at the prospect of finally going home after such a long and arduous day!

Stage 2 complete!

Khazanah Global Scholarship : Stage One

All was silent. There we were, all 100 or so of us, all quietly poring over our test papers, totally unaware of what was going to happen next. Then, it began. A loud, piercing bell shattered the silence of the hall. Before we could do anything, gale force winds swept through the room, whipping our papers into the air. All around me, people were grabbing for their papers, trying to prevent them from being blown away. Then came the ominous, rumbling sound from the heart of the building. We looked at each other in excitement; what exactly was happening?

Confused? Well, let’s go back a bit.

I arrived at the Mercu UEM Building at 8.00 in the morning. Drove there, since when I tried walking there from KL Sentral the previous evening, I arrived drenched in sweat. Definitely not a good impression to make so I ditched the walking idea altogether. Anyway, lots of candidates were already gathered there, even though the exam will only start at 9. We lined up at the main counter, signed our names and were then shepherded into an elevator and whisked up to the 7^th floor, where the exams were taking place.

Waiting outside the exam hall, we spent time chatting and generally getting to know each other. It was fun. I managed to make quite a few new friends, though we never enquired about each other’s names. Somehow the thought of it never crossed our minds.

When it was time, we were told to register again at a table and hand in our certs and stuff. The email mentioned that we should only include co-curricular certs that were mentioned in our application form, so I was pretty surprised to see people submit what appeared to be an entire thesis about themselves. Honestly, some of them handed over gigantic stacks of papers that must contain at least a thousand certs. Mine was just one or two millimeters thick, but what the heck, I just gave it in.

After that, we entered the exam hall, and sat anywhere we wanted, two at a table. Naturally, everyone avoided the front of the room. I met a Malay guy and we decided to sit together. It was 9 pm. We talked about our results, activities in school while the hall filled up. Then, at 9.15, the organizer announced that we would be starting the exams at 10 instead because some of the candidates were trapped in traffic jams and were unlikely to make it until then.

So, some of us stayed in the hall, while the rest decided to explore the building. We headed up to the 9^th floor, where the cafeteria is located. Lots of nice food available. But I was already full from the terrible breakfast served at my hotel, so I hung around for a few moments before returning to the ground floor to see how my dad was doing.

When we finally got started at 10, the organizer, a very friendly lady, briefed us on the test. There were 5 papers, each one testing a part of our IQ. Can’t really remember the names, but I’ll try to describe the tests. First was a test about sets (like the maths one). Then a critical reasoning test, which is something like A lives above B, B lives below C, C lives above A, so we have to see which guy lives where. The third test was about spatial recognition, where we were given a jumbled up comic strip and required to rearrange it so the whole thing made sense.

Here’s when all hell broke loose. After the initial confusion, in which papers had to be caught, the bell, wind and sound stopped. The organizer joked about how we had to be able to work well under stressful conditions, and this was one of them. LOL! Later we learned that someone activated the fire alarm. That was the bell, but no idea what the wind and rumbling was.

Anyway, back to the tests. Part 4 consisted of us identifying basic shapes in a complex pattern of various other shapes. Lastly came a number sequence test, where we had to determine the next two numbers in the sequence. That was all. The only test I managed to finish was the first one, since there was a matter of time in the equation. The 2nd one made my head hurt, some of the comics in the 3rd one didn’t make much sense to me, missed some of the shapes in the 4^th and didn’t have time to finish the 5^th, so left out one question. All in all, I felt a little stupid. Wonder if everyone else felt the same. My neighbor did.

After everything was done, a Malay lady gave a short speech about integrity and how Khazanah aims to create future leaders for the country ie. politicians. Got me thinking at this point. I never wanted to be one, since all they do is bicker and fight, but let’s just see what happens. Then the lady invited us to ask questions. I was almost frozen by this time, due to the air-conditioning, so I was praying for it to end quickly. Sadly, my wish didn’t come true and I had to rub my hands together constantly to stay warm.

When it was all over, we left the building and bid adieu to our newfound friends. Some of them were heading off immediately for their MARA interview, so they had to rush. I simply found my dad, got our car back from the valet, and we were off. Stage one complete.

The results will be announced on the 24^th of April, through call or email. Stage two, which consists of interview and group activities, will be held on the 26^th and 27^th. Stages 3 and 4 are both interviews, but I doubt I’ll make it through. Don’t even think I’ll get into the 2^nd one, due to my poor performance n the tests. But it was definitely a fun and exciting experience, mostly because of the ‘incident’!

Khazanah Tomorrow!

After a tiring day of exploring KL and walking to and from monorail stations, I'm now finally back in the hotel. Yeah! Thank God! This place is a nightmare for small-towners like me. But it's something I'll have to get used to the life here, seeing as I'll be studying here for the next 5 years most probably, whether or not I get any scholarship offers.

Staying at the Mandarin Court Hotel, the first thing that hit me was how small the entrance to the parking area was. I mean, it's so freaking tiny that the walls are covered with paint stains from other cars. What a place! Good thing my car didn't add to the decoration on the walls. As we headed up into the depths of the car park, I realized that all the ramps were so damn tiny that it is just right for a car to fit through. Any larger and oh, the hotel has a new paint job!

In the lobby, we ran into a large group of tourists, either from China or Korea, since they were speaking both languages (I guess). It took several trips until the coast was clear and I could get a lift to myself. Huh, what a relief! My room is on the 13th floor (what a number) and has a view of a gigantic poster of Percy Jackson (one of the movies I absolutely hate!). but that turned out to be the least of my worries.

Entering the room, I realized how small it was. It was half as large compared to any other hotel I've been to, including the cheaper ones. There's a tiny TV, two single beds, a table and a couch, all stuffed so close that there was just enough space for us to squeeze our way through the room. I was thinking, ok, I can deal with this. Then I entered the toilet and WTF!!!!

The shower doesn't work. Only a thin trickle of water flows from it when I turn on the tap. What a toilet. I ended up bathing from the sink using a cup I found in the room. Don't try to picture the scene, it was weird! Ended up wetting the entire bathroom because I couldn't reach the bathtub from the sink, even after considering how small the toilet was. I'll be repeating this modus operandi tomorrow morning. Really pity the guy who drinks from the cup next time. HAHA!

Feeling sleepy now after a whole day of walking. Maybe I'll turn in earlier in preparation for tomorrow. Have to be there by 8.30, guys! I'd better not be late or risk creating a bad impression of myself. So, I'll update after the event tomorrow, most probably when I'm back in my home sweet home again. Taiping, seriously miss you when I'm here.  :-)

I Got the JPA Interview!

I'm so happy I finally got it. Spent the entire morning worrying and refreshing the website, but I finally got it, so hooray! Congrats to everyone else who did, and I wish you all the best for the interviews. Don't screw, this up, guys and gals, because it is extremely important and will most probably influence our future undertakings.

Does anybody have any tips about the interview? I mean, for those who've been there and done it before in previous years. Please help us newbies who are really nervous and have no idea what to do for it. You are our only hope! LOL! Just joking!

Anyway, congrats again, and good luck!

Dreams or Reality?

I've always wondered which of my memories actually happened? Some of them might be nightly fantasies that have stayed stuck in my head for inexplicable reasons. For certain quirky scenes, I can be absolutely sure that they're created by my overactive brain during the lull of darkness. But for the more... let's just say 'normal' ones, I'm in two minds about them. Those with conversations, chance encounters with old friends; sometimes I mistake them for real events and end up confusing myself and the other party involved.

Imagine telling someone something about him that you heard in a dream. Like... he won a lottery or something and promised to give you a treat. How embarrassing would that be? I did that once, not the lottery thing, but another incident about how two of my friends were related when they are actually, not. I wish these recollections come labeled with something you could use to distinguish between its authenticity and ersatzness (I hope this word exists).

Till today, I am still wondering. Had my life really been this way, or is it all just some distant fantasy, a result of an extravagant imagination and too many story books? But I digress. I would never trade either of those for anything else in the world, for if I do, then I won't be me anymore.