SHE'S A SCAMMER!

Guess everybody is well aware that the internet is littered with scams here and there such as attempts to gain our personal information, dating scams, investment scams, fake charities and many more. I, too am well aware of most of these modus operandi. Especially during this technology era that everyone can freely share about what happened in a very brief moment of time. Where we, at the same time, can learn about so many things just by being online even for just minutes.  

As for me, i don't have much experience with scammers. Though i am somehow and avid online shopper that i ordered lots of things online (and plenty more to go). But Alhamdulillah, every orders were delivered as wished. Oh, as for other type of scams, i did experience few guys even one from Saudi Arabia that Yahoo Messenger-ed me, begged me to be his wife. Lol (what even?) There was also this one Malaysian guy pretended that he didn't understand Malay but English only (duh), dm-ed me on Instagram and proposed me to be in a relationship with him online. No meet ups, just online. Hahaha. But don't worry, i'll never fall for that kind of nonsense. And i hope that nobody ever will too.

However, very recently, i was almost scammed by this one MUA on my best friend's wedding day. I already exposed about her and her Instagram account on my social media but i deleted the posts right after she refunded back my money. But since this was my first ever case that involved my money, so i don't want to forget about this and will leave it all here. In my blog. Haha. But i already forgive her already. No grudge no worries.

Long story short, i hired a MUA to doll me up as a bridesmaid on Sarah's wedding. On the day of my appointment with her, she told me that her dad passed away and she couldn't make it for the makeup session at Shah Alam since she's already on her way to balik kampung at Ipoh. She also told me to give her my account number for her to refund my money. This news was a shocking one that made me speechless of how anything can happen in a day. And all i said to her was "It's okay, Allah loves your father more". And thank God for Sarah's Mama's MUA that were at the same place with me at that time. So even when my MUA bailed on me, i still get to doll up. How God is the Greatest planner right? 

I didn't give her my account number right away on that day because i don't want to push her while her dad just passed away. So i waited few days to finally send her my account number for refund but she didn't respond to the text at all. I guess she might be busy and hit me back later on. On the next day, Sarah reminds me about the refund and suddenly we were talking about Instagram that the conversation required me to search for her Instagram account. And guess what? I just realized that she blocked me on Instagram because i couldn't find her Instagram at all using my account. 

I played dumb and asked her why i couldn't find her Instagram. And again, she just keep shut, didn't respond to any but keep being online on Whatsapp. Then i confronted her on the issue and then she just replied, "sekejap ye". But the sekejap turned out to be hours. Lol. 

On the next day, i told her to refund my money by noon. Or else, i will expose her to the public and report her to the police. Especially when she was all online on Whatsapp and active on her Instagram which was obvious enough that she was ignoring me on purpose. And again, she just replied "sekejap ye" and ignored me again for another effing hours. Of course, i ran out of my patience. Then i asked, "Kenapa tak refund lagi ya? Apa issue dia sebenarnya? Apa yang susah sangat?". Because she really was ignoring me on purpose without any valid explanation. And then she was like, "Busy. Sabo jap. If by tonight tak refund, nak report, report lah". Wow. Just wow. I told her by noon but now it's postponed to tonight. And she also blocked my Whatsapp right away after she replied that. Smh.

During the night, i was waiting and waiting and i just couldn't wait anymore. I dm-ed her using my idle IG shop about the refund because she blocked my personal Instagram and 2 of my Whatsapp numbers (!) And right after she read my message, she blocked my IG shop pula right after. SHE. WAS. INSANELY. RUDE. 

And so, right after that, i posted a screenshot of her Instagram account on my social media accounts. Yes. It was a viral attempt. I spill everything on the posts because i believe that if she can do that to me, lied to me, blocked me and took my money, it is possible enough for her to do the same damn thing to another. Imagine if she did this to 10 people or 20 or many more? And i stand with berani kerana benar philosophy. Because there's no way she can twist me on that issue. NO. EFFING. WAY! All the evidence are with me, i got all the screenshots and whatnot. I mean, i hate doing the harsh way but if i had to, i will do it. 

And guess what? After only about 15 minutes of the viral attempt, she unblocked me on Whatsapp and returned my money back to me. Alhamdulillah. She told me that she was really busy. Then i thanked her and said that i don't mind if she didn't has the time yet. But why blocked me everywhere? And just like that, she blocked me again for the very last time. Hahahaha. I swear it was the funniest of her. But don't worry girl, i got my money back so i won't find you no more. Don't even want to. Enough energy i spent on you. 

Let this be a lesson to us all. This can happen anytime to anyone. I pray that i don't have to face and deal with such scammers no more especially on my big days such as engagement day or wedding day. Amin YRA! It's sad and pathetic especially how people want to take for granted and ruining someone's big day by being a scammer and steal their money. You have no idea how devastating the feeling would be. Nauzubillah. Please be reminded that during this lifetime, we can simply take people's money and belongings, twist the story, be mad at them when they are angry for your wrongdoing, shut them down and after few phases, they are tired with your crap, so they let you go. You may feel good with the current situation and proceed with another prey. But, in the hereafter, whatever you do, no matter how far you run, JUSTICE ONLY FAVORS THE TRUTH. Because Allah is never unjust in the least degree. For verily, Allah is not unjust to His servants. 

MY BEST FRIENDS ARE MARRIED!

MY BEST FRIENDS ARE MARRIED! Alhamdulillah for all the blessings. My BFF, Sarah got engaged on the 28th January 2018 on her 25th birthday. I was the only friend present at the ceremony at Bukit Jelutong. And ever since, the wedding preparations were on and on, this and that until the day of the wedding. I didn't contribute much on her wedding but what can i say is that, i've seen how she's going back and forth, here and there, how crazy worried she was over a very late reply from her MUA, how the nikah was supposed to be on the same day with the wedding reception but then the plan changed and etc etc. The hustle was just as real as it gets. 

And i am so happy that in the end, on the wedding day, everything went well just as planned. Yes, there were lacking here and there but that were only the minors and i bet no other people really see the flaws but the bride and close relatives / friends. So yeah. Alhamdulillah and i am as always, really happy for her. 

Guess i don't have much to say to her because i've said it all since i am such a grumpy mom. Lol. But knowing myself, i know there are always a lot to say especially to her. So here we go again. 

To the girl / woman who give me so much assurance that i will have that one close friend forever, that she even grow me into an independent someone who don't even bother to make time to find another close friend in the world because i know i already got one for life (but i do make new friends guys! In case if people think that i am so, whatever lol). Sarah Yazmin, tomorrow marks a week of you being a wife. And i am still stuck in between believing that you are now such a grown up woman and sumpah lah Sarah dah kahwin ni (?) Haha. I am beyond happy that you wedding was held so beautifully. Your 1+ year of planning, saving and hard work are all paid off. Since i am such a momma but sometimes sucks at giving good advice, so i've been reading and take note on few out of many marriage advice online before i blog this. Lol. Hence, here are some for you (and me) to ponder to becoming a good wife:

1. Be your spouse's best friend. By being his best friend, you got to show interest in his interests (not just vice versa). I believe that not everything that your spouse likes could interest you but do give your spouse the space to pursue his interests in whatever he choose to have interest at. So there would be no such thing as being the lame-only-stuck-with-wife guy after marriage. I'm not saying that it is the bad thing, but you know what i mean. We've seen few bad examples. So let us together avoid that. 

2. Love his family as your own and NEVER force your spouse to choose between you and his family either directly or indirectly. Because he may choose you and pick your side today and tomorrow, but in the end, same goes to us, we will realize that it was our family who were there first before our spouse. I believe that in marriage, there should never be things like, "my family" and "your family" because all together are one family now. I remember this one quote from Cinta Paling Agung movie. Not exactly but the quote sounds like this; "Suatu hari nanti, dia bisa jadi bekas suami kamu. Tetapi mama dan papa tak akan pernah jadi bekas mama dan papa kamu". The quote hit me hard of how parents and family always comes first no matter how we try put anyone before them. 

3. Last but not least; It's not about the amount of money that we spend, but it's about the thought that goes into something. I believe that this is nothing new to both of us. And so far, i guess, we did well in this department. We did and do spare our thoughts and effort for everybody that we love and care. But somehow, being a gender that have good reason for such caution, i know that we talk a lot compared to our spouse that we tend to listen with the intent to reply instead of listen with the intent to understand. What i have learned is that, to be unified, talking and listening to each other is absolutely necessary. So, always listen to him either when he was talking or when the silence do the talking. And of course, he got to listen to you too. I mean, duhh! Haha. 

After all, this is not just the advice for you but also for myself, for my own reference in the future. In the end, everybody knows the basic 'rules' and secrets to a long marriage. But how we understand and practice the 'rules' makes us differ from others. No two relationships are ever the same in this world. Therefore, we know ourselves better, we know us better compared to others. And all we can do is to always have faith, give our best and make du'a to our only Creator. InsyaAllah, the relationship and marriage will happily last forever. Amin YRA. 

Never to forget, my one and only Nadia Natasya, the one that always next to me with her marching horn / french horn for solid 5 years without failed. My cakap laju champion kinda friend, even my jemah highest level cannot beat her talking speed. Hahaha. Tasya got married the same time as Sarah. Tasya reception was on the 27th July 2019 which the same time with Sarah's reception where i was Sarah's maid of honour. 

Funny story was, i've already told in our WhatsApp group that whoever want to get married, please do not get married on the 27th July because i will be so unavailable no matter what. I remember Tasya texted me and said "Kalau aku nak kahwin juga 27/7 tu macam mana?". I was like, okayyy what now? Can i cut myself into two please? Lol! But since, i don't love Tasya that much to sacrifice and cut myself to two to death (i mean, i wish to live longer haha). So i went to Tasya's at Pekan, Pahang the next day after the reception to give Tasya her precious wedding gift, which is me in front of her eyes. Hahaha.

I went to Pahang with my sister. Thank God for the economy class flight that me and my sister can go from KL to Pahang in just 40 minutes. I wonder how cracked i would be if i have to drive all the way featuring my barai-ness from the previous reception. First stop was Tasya's house at Pekan, then we went to Kula Cakes and Teluk Cempedak together with the newlyweds, Qistina (my long lost 2 years bedmate) and Tasya's Japanese friend, Saco. It was a well spent Sunday. 

Dear Tasya, congratulations on your union with Shadiq. I am happy that you choose Shadiq to be your husband. I believe that he will be a very good husband of yours and i have no doubt of you being the best wife to him. I apologize for couldn't make it to your bachelorette party, your nikah and your wedding day. But please be known forever that if i was all available on that day, i am 1000% sure that i'll be there for you. I know you have so many close friends now that we are not that close anymore but thank you for still expecting me to be there on your big day and told me about your happiness and few disappointments during the wedding. Which i know that you still trust me even today. Please read the three bold-numbered paragraphs above as marriage advice from me to you as well hehe. May Allah bless your union and shower His blessings upon you and your husband. And unite both of you in goodness. Amin YRA. Enjoy your final year in Japan. Please come back to Malaysia for good. And even though i didn't make it to your wedding on time, i really hope that you can make it to my wedding in the future. Hahaha. Life is unfair. But at least we still love each other xx

21 QUESTIONS GAME

Has it really been 2 months? Wow guess i was really busy with my daily schedule (which i was and still am) that i can't fit blogging into it as well. Supposedly since i am already done with my kursus, i should be blogging about my experience, memories, etc like i always did for me to read it all back again in the future. But instead, today (well, it's been days actually since i've logged back in), i went blank and really have nothing to let out. It's a shame of how i have been waiting months compiling things on my brain on what to blog, but just ended up not blogging about anything at all.

But since i'm already here, so in a nutshell, my 13 weeks of kursus until end of June at ILSM, Sungkai, Perak went really well. And now i'm already at Putrajaya for i got posted at the DOSM HQ. Alhamdulillah i've been praying hard hoping that i will be posted and working at the HQ to begin with instead of state offices (which we have state offices all around the map in Malaysia) and Kader (Kader is a term for DOSM Statisticians that are posted and working at other government agencies). However, although i am now at the HQ, in 34 years from now (until my career ends), i might experience working at the state offices and Kader as well. But let's pin it for the other day.

So for today, instead of blogging about the details of my experience, i would love to do this 21 Questions Game that i found from the lifehacks blog. I will be answering all of the exact 21 questions from the blog because why not? 

1. If you had a time machine, would you go back in time or visit the future?
I would definitely go back in time so that i can meet my late grandmother and tell her that i am all okay today. And i also wanted to apologize for everything and hug her so tight because i knew it too well that i can never get the chance to do that ever again. It's heartbreaking though. Al Fatihah.

2. Would you rather have a home on the beach or in the mountains?
I would love to have a home at the beach. Right at the beach that my front yard are all sands. The waves are crawling gently to the shore and the sea breeze blows from the ocean right to my front door. Best feeling ever.

3. What was your favorite game as a child?
I never had a specific favorite game as a child. Most probably because i never get too attached to any.

4. What food do you crave most often?
I eat it all so i crave it all! However recently, i craved for K Fry Chicken Bumbuk. But i got to eat the fried chicken last Saturday with my boyfriend. Hehe another craving satisfied.

5. If you could visit one place on earth, where would you go?
Makkah al-Mukarramah.

6. What would your dream house be like?
My dream house does not need to be large, fancy or have a lot of facilities. But it has to have enough rooms for everybody and everything. And the interior has to be minimal but classy.

7. If you could own any three cars, what would they be?
Will answer this to myself later on. Because i truly have nothing on mind at the moment. Lol.

8. What makes you the angriest?
People.

9. What always brings a smile to your face?
Love and good vibes.

10. Which song reminds you the most of your life?
Tetap Dalam Jiwa by Isyana Sarasvati. This song is literally my all time favorite.

11. Which is more important, truth or happiness?
Truth. Be true to yourself and others. And happiness will follow.

12. Would you rather be rich or famous?
I'd rather be rich. Money > popularity. I mean, who cares about being famous when you have all of the money? And yeah, with money, i can buy popularity. Zass!

13. If you were a superhero, what powers would you have?
Time travel, be invisible, a power to grant wishes (especially my own wishes) and a power to protect all of the animals in the world from cruel, ruthless humans.

14. How would be your ideal partner?
Loyal, honest, love me as i am, respectful, has sense of humor, reliable, responsible and someone that can bring me closer to Allah.

15. If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?
I want to shed few kilos #sinceforever

16. Would you rather trade some intelligence for looks or looks for intelligence?
Wow this is somehow a hard one. If i trade my looks for intelligence, would i either be uglier or just fatter? And do i really want to lose some of my valuable knowledge only for vanity? Guess i just pass this one.

17. If your parents hate the partner you love, would you ditch him or carry on despite the protests?
Both of my parents are very understanding in this department. If they hate the partner that i dearly love, i will try my best to convince them. But if they still against the relationship, i believe that mother and father knows best, so i will obey them.

18. If you could choose one celebrity to be the father of your child, who would it be?
Adam Levine. Imagine how cute and good looking our baby would look like. Hehe.

19. You are walking to work. A dog is drowning in the canal on the side of the street. Your boss told you if you are late one more time, you'll be fired. Will you save the dog?
I am not leaving any dog in the canal to die. I will definitely save the dog. Animal rights are my rights! Especially in this case, to relate, i am not a latecomer. No boss will fire me because of my time management. And the dog too, shall be okay.

20. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
An eagle. I learn that eagle do not mix with other birds but only enjoy flying at high altitude. Eagle also can see a long distance prey / enemy. And eagle loves the storm too. So eagle it is.


21. If you could be trained up in any profession of your choice by top professionals, what profession would you choose?
Statistician.

HOW STATISTICS MATTER IN DAILY LIFE

This is one of my assignments at Institut Latihan Statistik Malaysia (ILSM).
I post it here just for my own archive.

Imagine you are a working person. It is a typical Monday morning that you wake up fresh for another week at 6.00am in the morning because you remember that last Friday you were late to work since you woke up at 7.30am instead of the usual. It takes you approximately 1 hour from your home to your workplace. Therefore, you need at least 2 hours before the working hour to get ready.

After you are all set, you then go to the kitchen to make some breakfast for one. Definitely a cup of coffee with a toast since toast is your favorite and the easiest and fastest to make. There are 4 types of your preferred jam in the fridge and even though all 4 are your favorites, your most favorite is the strawberry jam. Compared to the other 3, strawberry jam is the least left in the bottle because you spread it on your bread almost every day. And sure enough, you know that after the working hours today, albeit you still have another 3 bottles of jam in your fridge, you will still have to go to the groceries store to buy another strawberry jam for the upcoming days.

Then, you drive to work all alone as usual, take a sip of the hot coffee through your tumbler, listen to the radio and the rest of the working day is just the same as the other Mondays. Nothing extraordinary happens and the day passes by.

This may seem like a typical morning timeline to most of us, but whether you think about it or not, we use statistics every day and we rely upon standards to make our lives simpler which standards make our fast paced lives possible. Our daily life is surrounded by the product of statistics.

You are aware that last Friday you were late for work because you woke up later than the usual, hence, on the next Monday morning, you wake up at 6.00am so that the unnecessary rush in the morning can be avoided. This is actually the action from the result of your own research on time management. You too have your own most favorite jam which is the strawberry jam while you actually have a total of 4 bottles of your preference jam in the fridge. This is when bias happens.

If every drive to work is the same as the other days, will you remember exactly about what happened during the daily drive? I bet the thing that you really remember is only the thoroughfare. This is because there was nothing along the way that caused your brain to interpret a deviation. Unless, if something happens to deviate you from the norm. For example, the road you are driving is very clear, but suddenly out of nowhere, a pedestrian cross the street right in front of your car. You need to make a real-time decision to avoid collision with the pedestrian. Your response to the situation is your response to a deviation.

Our daily life is full of decisional situations. Whether we have mathematical skills or not, we frequently estimate and compare probabilities, especially when making decisions. We use statistics to analyze and forecast the situation around us. Along a clear road, we expect the car in front of us to keep going. And if we are referring to the naïve trend of forecasting, which the last period’s actual is used as this period’s forecast (without adjusting or attempting to establish causal factors), we assume that no irregular situation would happen along the road such as a pedestrian suddenly crossing the street right in front of your car or the car in front of you does something unexpectedly.

I remember when in high school one of my friends asked the mathematics teacher, “Are we really going to use mathematics in our daily life? Does mathematics really necessary?” Well, the answer is positively yes. We are not just using mathematics in real life, but also statistics, which is major part of mathematics. The previous examples itself already shown on how close statistics to our daily life. Merely most of us do not yet realize on how much statistics are used in day to day and how useful statistics can be especially in today’s era of big data where everything can be measured realistically and statistics is the medium on how to make the data useful.

Statistics in life is like blood running in our veins. There are applicable examples everywhere. Data nowadays is the new gold. I can’t think of better time to appreciate and discover statistics than now. Where the world today produces and long for more data than ever before.

In my point of view, it is not vital for all of us to go very far to see the tracks of statistics and how it weaves its way in and out of our lives. As long as we are capable to ascertain what it all means and able to see how reliable the decision based on the real story behind the numbers, we are already halfway there instead of creating superfluous myths on our minds by the day about almost everything while we have statistics to prove that implications are well captured.

In brief, statistics is important to the whole process of life for decision makings, predictions and new insights. We can save time, money and other valuable resources all by understanding number by using statistics. Statistics links to us in every activity that we do, every decision that we make, every service that we use and also every product that we consume. Time is racing and the world is rapidly changing every day. We need to ceaselessly learn and improve our aptitude to pick up the pace and comprehend the changes around us. Learn to use data and statistics resources as instrument to learn and understand at a deeper level. If not, we will be left behind and continue to be misled by the wrong information and judgment.

WHERE IT ALL BEGINS

I promise myself initially to hold myself together and only blog about this in July after i am done with the training program. But then i realized that at that time, i will have million words + memories to jot for my own archive that i know the post would be crazy long including this one. Hence, this post today.

To begin with, last December 2018, i got an email for an interview to be a Statistician at Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM). It was somehow an unforeseen blessing because i don't even remember when was the date i applied for the job (did the checking, i applied the job on March 2018).

I was working at Starbucks at that time. Unlike working at the office, working as a server at F&B doesn't require us to check our email at all. I almost missed the email but Alhamdulillah, i viewed it just right in time which was one month before the interview date. I was really happy because it's unquestionably my dream job. I studied statistics ever since Diploma. The interview date was on 18th January. And i finished and presented my dissertation on the 17th January. The timing was just perfect. 

Funny story: I just realized the night before the interview that i didn't have my original birth certificate with me. I only have the copy. And it said in the form that i need to bring the original one to the interview. I was in Mont Kiara, KL at that time and my birth certificate was at my hometown. I don't want to blow my chance just because of one missing document. So, at 4am in the morning, i drove from KL to Rantau. And went to Putrajaya for the interview right after. Haha. Thank you to my sister for accompanying me for the interview since she happened to be at home on that day.

My group on the 18th January was the last group to be interviewed for this position. The interviewers which were from Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam (SPA) and from DOSM itself told us that they already went to many places and met numbers of candidates before us. And it was supposed to be an individual interview but because of time constraint, we had a group interview instead. 

I was not happy about the group interview at first because i was afraid that i can't do well like others and i had fear of not being good enough that the interviewers might not even see me at all. But thank God, it went really well for me. For one second out of fear, i forgot that i am actually a very competitive person. I want this job so much, i got to do something. So, with the presence of other candidates, i got the see their strengths, flaws during the interview, and me at the same time, adapting and present myself in my best way.

I was pleased with the interview and somehow, very positive that among the 8 candidates in the room, i was the most outstanding one. Like, if the interviewers want to choose only one person from the 8, i believe that i am the first in line. I even went home happy because of my confidence level hahaha. I mean, even if i didn't get the job, at least i knew that i did my best during the interview. 

The interview result came out exactly a month after the interview date. And i still remember i was at Melaka on my way to eat Chicken Rice Ball haha. And the email came in. Instead of getting an email saying that i succeeded or failed the interview, i got this result: Tertakluk Kepada Kelulusan Mesyuarat Suruhanjaya. I was in total blur and had no idea what it was about. I called SPA and DOSM and nobody's giving me the exact result of my interview. All i had to do at that time was wait. 

I have one good friend who is already working as a Statistician at DOSM, Zaidatul Azreen (Reen). I've been in contact with her since day 1 i received the email of my interview. She was actually my classmate during our Degree year and we also went to same the company for intern and was really close back then. She told me not to worry because her interview result was also as mine and she got the job. I was like, okay. But still, my heart was not at ease at all.

The status of my interview remain as an unsolved puzzle until early of March. I logged into my SPA account and it said that i was the number 3 reserved candidate out of 20 candidates. I swear, God knows how devastated i was at that time. I texted Reen, and she said that during her batch, the reserved candidates reported duty after 6 months compared to others. And she told me not to worry because i might have high chance of getting in since i was the number 3 reserved candidates. 

There were total 21156 candidates that applied for the position, only 578 candidates that were called to come for interview, there were only 28 positions to be filled and 20 reserved candidates. Reen being all positive told me that among 28 successful candidates, surely at least few of them will reject the offer. And i will be in. But at the same time, she also told me to seek for other jobs just in case. 

It takes some time for me to move on from my disappointment. I feel like the weight of the world was on my shoulder. Like, i was already jobless for about 2 months since i finished my Master's Degree. I was broke and pathetic. The feeling was awful. Especially because i was really confident and i didn't applied for any other jobs at all. And these days, getting a stable job is not easy at all. 

Two weeks after, i slowly moved on and focus on what's in front of me instead. God knows best. Since i believed that i will not getting any job on March, so i planned with my mom to go to Penang for a makan makan trip. We planned to go on the 27th until 29th March. I already bought the flight tickets and booked the hotel on the 19th March. And suddenly a day after, i got a phone call from DOSM telling me that i am one of the successful candidates to be a Statistician in DOSM. 

The feeling was OMG ONLY GOD KNOWS! I was genuinely happy and feel so blessed. No word can describe the feeling at that time. The officer told me that i will receive an email with offer letters and all. And the officer also told me that i need to attend 4 months training at Institut Latihan Statistik Malaysia (ILSM), Sungkai, Perak. Report duty was on Monday (25th March). The officer just informed me about it on Thursday, and i need to be at Perak on Monday. Which i only have one working day (Friday) to complete my documents, medical check up and whatnot. But Alhamdulillah everything went smoothly. 

And i also had to cancel my trip to Penang with my mom. I did got refund for the hotel. But i didn't managed to get refund for our flight tickets which total of RM490. But i considered the lost as a 'payment' of me getting the job. RM490 is nothing compared to the job that i got. I can refund that for myself with my own salary and i can also take my mom to Penang the next time using my salary. InsyaAllah. 

Both of my parents sent me to Sungkai, Perak. My sister didn't managed to tag along because she was busy with her intern. In a blink of an eye, we've already been here for five weeks for training. 10 weeks to go before the real business. Everything was good. So far so good. I am genuinely happy here meeting great friends, learning and digging more on statistics. This is just a beginning for a long journey. Funny how when i was a kid, i wanted to be a doctor, engineer, even stewardess and whatnot. But Allah knows best. Who would've thought that i finally becoming a Statistician hehe. Praise be to Allah.

There's a lot to learn, more room for growth and improvement. I still lack in everything. But i really hope that i can give my best in this along with my great friends. InsyaAllah. Amin YRA. 

Top left to bottom right: First day at ILSM, one with my interviewer (Chief Data Scientist & Director of International Trade Statistics Division), one with Chief Statistician Malaysia, and a photo of very recent version of myself. Hehe

MOST ANTICIPATED POST (REQUESTED)

Last week, i lost my one and only watch for three effing days. Been searching high and low but the watch was nowhere to be found. It made me crazy sad because i've been with that watch since my degree year. And my sister also have the exact same watch since our mom bought the watches for us together. I mean, it was really the perfect time for me to be sad over a watch (rare occasion). I told my boyfriend about it blablabla. Especially i thought that i left the watch at the surau and i assumed that the janitor took it because the watch is gold in color and somehow looks like a real gold (at least to me). Absurdly, in the end, i found the watch in my handbag. Lol. Idk how but i did the searching in my handbag like three times and the watch was not there at all. But suddenly i found back the watch by accident in the handbag. Bizarre. 

And my boyfriend being a thoughtful lover, he bought me a brand new watch. A pink one! And it's pastel that i love! (Let's skip the part of where two episodes of drama happened between us because of the missing watch hahaha) ... Okay now i am out of words ... I love to break to whoever reading this that it was not initially my plan to write about this. But my boyfriend, who is somehow one of my avid blog followers, he's the one who remind me everyday to blog about this pink watch. Fun fact: he likes to read about himself here especially because i rarely mentioned about him anywhere publicly. So yeah. 

So, to the guy that made love songs even better now that they're about you and me, my perfect distraction, the one that makes me happy (and angry) in ways that no one else can, thank you for the thoughtful gift. I love everything about the watch including the fact that you asked me to blog about it. Hehe. I know it is still too soon to know but from where i'm standing, our future together looks great and i hope that you are the one for me. Our love can be difficult at some point, but it's real. May Allah ease us in the process and grant us contentment in everything that we do. Amin! I love you sayang, AE. 

PRK RANTAU, NEGERI SEMBILAN

The moment i've been waiting for is finally now! (Lol the intro). 

I remember during high school when i said i am from Rantau, nobody knows where on earth Rantau is. That i had to say that i was from Senawang, Seremban, Port Dickson or simply just Negeri Sembilan. Even my teachers thought that i was from Sabah Sarawak. And after high school, people assumed that i am either originally from Selangor or Kelantan hahaha. NOBODY ever guessed it correctly that i am actually from Negeri Sembilan while i am a 100% pure Nogorian. 

As i get older, people from my circle started to directly know where Rantau is without me putting tons of effort to show it on the map. Maybe because of the circle itself. And today, as i am currently at Sungkai, Perak meeting new bunch of great minded friends nationwide, i am glad that i have about 6 friends who are from Negeri Sembilan. I mean, i know most people from other states had already experienced being in the same room with hundreds of their negeri-mate and for me to have only 6 in the same room is not a big deal. But whatever. Just don't burst my bubble. Lol.

And thanks to the Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK), the quiet, slow pace Rantau finally took a different turn. The country finally noticed us hahaha. The atmosphere was also rather festive this time around. I swear the traffic was insane on the day of election like never happened before. And oh, for those who wondering why this PRK was happening, please know that i am not in the right position to write more about why this by-election was happening. Especially because we can simply just Google the info. Plus i am also no politician or pro anything to comment about it. 

But, i know it's plain easy to throw those with 'incoherent' politics believe under the bus. Then we continue with never ending arguments. But in the end, i believe that if we want to see change happening within our communities, we must rise up as a community and come together to help one another in every possible way. Part of me does agree in politics for change, but on top of it, i accept as true that we must first look to ourselves for change. Idk. Just my 2 cents. 

Back to the main topic, so i went from Sungkai to Rantau last Friday and went to vote the next morning. And today, as the usual Sunday morning, i went to Titiwangsa for my regular class that i also regularly love to skip (because it's during Sunday morning hahaha k). And now here i am back in Sungkai for this week onwards. All of my friends here know that i went back to Rantau to vote because i sent them a photo of me with my ink stained finger cause they really need to know about what's happening in the country especially Rantau at the moment (hashtag crucial). And in return, i got photos of them went for gotong-royong during the PRK day and they also went to Lata Kinjang Waterfall. Which they were happier. Lol.

Brb, reading bunch of advice on how to deal with FOMO.