My 31-hour-long Birthday

I know this is kind of overdue, but my exams ended right before my birthday and I’ve been so drained the entire week. So yeah, I took some time to chill out (which also means I slept a LOT). Anyway, because you guys have been so awesome, I’ve decided to get off my lazy bum and do a short write up. =)

This isn’t my first birthday without The Twin, but it still felt weird. The 7-hour time difference between Malaysia and Poland made things even weirder because I started receiving wishes as early as 5pm. No, even earlier, if you count my dad wishing me on Facebook wayy ahead of everyone else. haha.

So sometime on the 9th, I started receiving birthday wishes for myself and for The Twin from Malaysia. It started with Facebook wall posts and messages, and then Whatsapp messages and then there was a phone call from Malaysia! Yee Jia, I know you read this, so thanks! Because everyone from Malaysia was already wishing me, I started asking my friend if I should wish my twin (I know, super weird right). She drew the conclusion that me freaking out over what to wish my twin was akin to someone talking to their crush. I told her twinships were more complicated than those. XD I’m pretty sure I’m right on that one.

Long story short, I called The Twin. Cost me all my credit! For the record, it costs RM4 per minute for a phone call from Malaysia to Poland and vice versa. More or less.

At around midnight, I was sitting in my room catching up on all the social media stuff I’d missed out on because of exams, when suddenly I heard the light switch click and the lights went off. I was so ready to yell “Who turned the lights off!” when my housemates – Zhi Qi and Wendy – came in with two slices of cakes with two candles on them and a cardboard card. One of the simplest surprises ever. I totally wasn’t expecting that. One was a cheesecake, the other a coconut cake. And then they hurriedly tried to explain why the card looked so drab – they rushed to make the card an hour before midnight because they didn’t have time to do it before that. And they ran out of glue to stick photos on the card, and I was the only one in the apartment with glue! So they stuck them on with sticky tape. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Frankly, I thought that the card was very nice. =)

My former roomie from college, Xi Xing, also gave me a letter, complete with a Hello Kitty sticker (I’m no fan of the mouth-less Kitty, but she likes it so very much). I liked that too. But then again, I just like words. The letter and what it said sort of reminded me of why being all smiley all the time is a good thing, and a blessing, even. It reminded me why I’ve got to keep caring and loving the people around me, and the people far from me. It showed me that even little things like listening and empathizing can make a difference to someone else.

So moving on. I woke up the next morning to more text messages, phone calls, tweets, Facebook messages and wall posts. Most of them were really nice, and very heartfelt. I appreciate things like that, that seem so sincere. And my mum had to text me to say that they were having lunch with The Twin. T.T

But then my housemates insisted on cooking me lunch! They cooked bak kut teh, steamed egg and broccoli! Okay, broccoli isn’t that awesome, but steamed egg! I’ve definitely missed that! Bak kut teh too! Zhi Qi remembered that I mentioned some time ago that I missed having steamed egg back home, and so she tried her best to make a nice one for me. Fantastic. =D

Later that night, I went out with 4 other friends to the cinema. We were supposed to watch John Carter (in 3D!) but we got the wrong time, and so we had to change movies. Ended up watching The Vow, which is a romantic movie. I’ve never been one for watching that genre in cinemas, but I had a good time. We were stifling laughter throughout the movie for all the oddest reasons, and I’m pretty sure we ruined the other couples’ dates. I’m definitely the worse person to bring to a romantic movie. Ever. I say the lamest things at the oddest times (oh look! It’s winter again, which means that one year has passed. Now if this was set in Malaysia, they’d have to print the year onscreen because there’d be no seasons to see *whole row stifles laughter* ) .

Oh and I got more cakes when I went to the movie! A friend baked cheesecake for me, and he was so thoughtful about it. Another friend likes the crust more, so his cake had a thick layer of crunchy crust. Zhi Qi doesn’t enjoy cheese, so he cut out a teeny tiny piece for her just so that she’d still be able to eat it. And he cut me an extra large piece because I like cheesecakes so much. And I got to bring home another slice, all for myself. =D That brought the amount of cake I had to four delish slices.

Well, then I went home, thanked a few more people for their wishes and a good birthday, and then I checked Google Reader (which, btw, is a pretty neat way of following blogs and news portals. Which keeps me updated with what’s happening back home.) I literally grinned from ear to ear when I saw this. A blog post! About ME. Terharu giler. Thanks Corn! I miss you loads too! And I’m still waiting to meet your twin.

All in all, I had a pretty good first birthday in a foreign land. There weren’t any fireworks, but it’s still special. I guess it’s just so good to know that the people back home and the people here wurve me. Good to know I’m not making people hate me too much. haha.

But really. Thanks so much to my family and friends and acquaintances for all the effort and care. Thanks for all the cakes, food, phone calls, texts, Whatsapp messages, wall posts, Facebook messages, tweets, cards (this includes those I have yet to receive, hurry up postman!), letters, blog posts from literally 5 different countries. Just. Thank You. God bless and keep you in His own little ways. =)

Thank you! <3

Oh and if you haven’t already figured out. my birthday lasted 31 hours because I started counting from 0000hours 10 March, Malaysia time and ended at 0000hours 11 March, Poland time. =P

A Letter

I stumbled upon this while browsing through my Facebook updates, and I thought I’d share it with you all since I still owe you guys an update about my first trip to Warsaw. heh.

The title of this letter/poem thingy is “Abraham Lincoln’s Letter To His Son’s Teacher”.

Honestly, I don’t know if this really is a letter written by Abraham Lincoln, but it is a rather thought-provoking one. I know I talk a lot, but I’d rather just sit down and mull over things and discuss serious stuff. Provided it’s not about some brain-frying thing.

This I can manage, so I’d like to ask you to ponder over this a while and uncover the many hidden meanings for yourself.

 

He will have to learn, I know,
that all men are not just,
all men are not true.
But teach him also that
for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician,
there is a dedicated leader…
Teach him for every enemy there is a
friend,

Steer him away from envy,
if you can,
teach him the secret of
quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that

the bullies are the easiest to lick…                                                                                                                              Teach him, if you can,
the wonder of books…
But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him

it is far honourable to fail
than to cheat…
Teach him to have faith
in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him
they are wrong…
Teach him to be gentle
with gentle people,
and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son

the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the band wagon…
Teach him to listen to all men…
but teach him also to filter
all he hears on a screen of truth,
and take only the good
that comes through.

Teach him if you can,

how to laugh when he is sad…
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics
and to beware of too much sweetness…
Teach him to sell his brawn
and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag
on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears

to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he’s right.
Treat him gently,
but do not cuddle him,
because only the test
of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage

to be impatient…
let him have the patience to be brave.
Teach him always
to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have
sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order,
but see what you can do…
He is such a fine fellow,
my son!