Thoughts.

Been sometime seriously since this blog has been updated. And among all the four authors of this blog, only the Js in the blog seem to be still rather active here. Looks like it's still fine this way. Better than nothing, I would say.

Look, I'm not one to be absolutely politically active in my life, and if you know me as an individual, you will know why but yet, I am not blind to see how unrest is happening here in my own country and is just bound to erupt sooner not later.

Yes, the other author of this blog has been rather open with his views about the recent events happening here in Malay-sia and I am here to say that, there is much truth in what he has said. It's not that I'm gonna say more of what he has said but just that, even for someone like me who isn't that updated with the political situation here, I am also aware of what is going on.

So much is always been said on the dinner tables, even during the Chinese New Year celebrations and I find this rather disturbing. Such celebrations last time was really awesome, with everyone just in the mood to laugh and enjoy. Now all I hear at the dinner table, is how this politician is wrongly accused or how this politician is so backstabbing...

What is wrong with this world we live in? Or have we been just living a so-called fantasy of everything being peaceful, a fantasy probably created by our previous prime ministers?
What is going on? I am not living in peace here!

All these hidden agendas been kept from the public's eyes are now haunting back. Perhaps the release of such ghosts will finally clear everything or will it shatter the entire country to its core? Maybe only time will tell for that.

For now, let it be that this world we living in has a deep scar that must not be ignored. We being the future generation to take over the country later must understand unity in its deepest meaning. Be truthful to yourselves and treat others like how you would to your friends. Racism is not the way and let it stop by starting from you.
It does not matter the colour we have in our skin, in the end we must all know that we are born in the same land and same soil. No matter what the other might believe in, as long as we know that life is much richer when everyone is holding a peace sign to another without the index finger down.(Thanks Jeremy for the inspiration here.)

Maybe there is a song that can create thoughts here, a song which can be said rather old but yet, the lyrics are so meaningful...It is a treasure in the history of music. For those that might be familiar with it, the song is entitled "Imagine", a song by the famous Beatle, John Lennon. Yes, imagine the world with certain things it can do without. Imagine the difference it could probably make, for better or for worse, that is yet to be known.

And I end this article short because in truth, I am not prepared for this article with any huge message to pass on. I am only here with a short thought I had when I read my friend's articles earlier.
Hopefully, my words mean something to you loyal readers here and maybe bring food for thought.
And how would we know, ideas will generate which can help to make this world a better place for tomorrow!
Thank you for listening to my thought.

Nostalgic Reflections

Three year's ago on this day, I boarded a Malaysia airlines flight to Singapore. I spent five hours in transit in Changi airport then boarded a Qantas flight to Germany. Thus began my AFS exchange year, which would turn out to be the most profound experience of my life.

I still remember the day of my departure was also the eve of Chinese New Year. That meant that that year, I was absent at my family reunion dinner. There was also no ang pao for me back in 2007. Nevertheless, I was still very excited that I would be living abroad for the first time. Despite my excitement, I was also a little nervous as I would be leaving behind my friends and family and everyone I had ever known and flying off into the unknown.

I remember having all sorts of pre-concieved notions about Germany and about my host family. I remember having various expectations about what my exchange year would be like. This was despite AFS Malaysia telling me during my pre-departure orientation that I should expect the unexpected. In the end, my exchange year turned out to be more or less completely unlike what I had expected it to be like, but looking back now, I realize that that was probably for the best.

Time flies and it's hard to believe that it's been three years since that day. Looking back now, I wonder if I had known the impact AFS would have on my life, would I still have dared to board that flight? Looking back now, I realize just how naive I was back then before my departure, and I also realize just how much I grew up during my time in Germany.

My AFS year made me a more confident and independent person. It has also helped me learn how to be more open minded. I am now better able to view things from different perspectives. My appreciation for cultural diversity has also increased thanks to my AFS year. I also gained a new family and many new friends.

While I was still on exchange , I did not realize just how much I had changed. It was only after my return that I became more aware of the impact of my AFS exchange year on me. Not long after my return, discovered that I could not click so well with my old friends anymore and gradually began drifting apart from them. Once upon a time I would have been saddened by this but I am not anymore. I also look back on my past friendships differently as compared to before. Since my return to Malaysia, I have gained new friends here and I realize that there are differences in the way I interact with them as compared to how I interacted with the friends I had before I left for Germany.

I could write on and on about my exchange year but words will probably never suffice to capture and describe the magic and depth of my experience as an AFS exchange student. Not a day goes by when I do not wish that I could have just one more day as an exchange student but I know that will never happen. Thus all the more do I treasure the memories of my exchange year.

Three years on, I'm still very grateful and thankful to everyone(especially my parents) who made it possible for me to board that flight from KLIA that would mark the beginning of my AFS exchange year. Even though it's been more than two years since my exchange year ended, I'm still very grateful and thankful that it was all a real experience and not just a dream. And now whenever I lie in bed before I fall asleep, I can hope for no better dreams than to dream of my exchange year and the people I shared it with. For though in real life I can never turn back the clock to the year 2007, at least in dreams I can still do so and relive the best experiences of my life, the memories of which I will cherish till the end of my days.