La Esperanza, Honduras - Being up close and personal with scabies, lice and other infectious diseases, not being able to brush your teeth with tap water or consume any fresh fruits or salads, hardly sounds like an ideal spring break to some.
But last week, a team of 34 volunteers — some students, some faculty and some alumni — in one way affiliated with UT, got together as a group and headed to Honduras, one of the poorest countries in Central America, leaving the bounds of their comfort zones for a week.
The team, made up of mostly medical students, doctors, nurses, nurse practitioner students, students majoring in Spanish and faculty members, spent months preparing for the trip, with their activities ranging from manually counting and repackaging thousands of capsules and tablets to fundraising projects.
The leader of the trip, Richard Paat, Students for Medical Missions adviser and clinical associate professor of medicine at UT, said this was the biggest mission team he had led and with the most diverse members.
It was his 33rd medical mission, and he said he expected to achieve no less than before.
“We’ve got, I think, a very outstanding faculty,” he said. “We’ve got faculty from the College of Medicine, pharmacy and nursing as well as [a] BGSU [Spanish] instructor, so we have a multidisciplinary faculty that brings a lot to the teaching environment, and they’ve all been down here before, which adds more credence to what’s happening,” he said.
The positions for students were limited and competitive, he said.
“I reviewed everybody’s résumés, and I knew that they were top-notch in terms of where they were in classes, but in terms of humanitarian experiences, they’ve volunteered in the past,” he said of the medical students.
Diane Cappelletty, an associate professor in pharmacy, said the medical supplies come from two sources.
“The College of Pharmacy students have a fundraiser to help [offset] the cost of those meds, and this year they raised just under $1,900,” she said. The medical supplies are ordered through St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee, Ohio, where Paat is the chief of staff.
The other source is donations from King Pharmaceuticals.
“They collect meds from various companies throughout the country, and they ... will distribute to medical missions on a basis of request and what they have in stock,” she said.
Products donated are usually close to the expiration date, she said, although the team is careful not to accept expired medications.
“It was close to, at least probably close to, $5,000 worth of medications [for this trip],” she said. In total, including supplies, hygiene packs and other miscellaneous products, the team had about $8,000 to $10,000 worth, all packed in 24 duffel bags.
However, the estimated retail costs for the medical supplies were about $250,000. The team had more than 150 types of medications, which were divided into 15 categories, ranging from antibiotics, to de-worming tablets and vitamins.
The game plan
The Lion’s Club, the host for the team, chose five different villages for the team to visit, a different site every day. The site’s school buildings and classes were cancelled on the day of the visit. The team had to use the school desks and chairs to set up a triage station, where the patients register their names and ages, and for children below the age of 12 had their weight and height measured. Then, there were usually about five to 10 clinic stations set up, a pharmacy area and a private room for the obstetrics and gynecology. Most members of the team had the chance to hold different roles throughout the mission.
A typical day for the team started at about 8 a.m. and ended as late as necessary; some days the team members resorted to using flashlights to see their patients.
Day 1
The team loaded up the bus with duffel bags full of medicines and supplies, piled in a bus and a van rented by the Lion’s Club and traveled to a village called Quiaterique in Intibuca.
The team was greeted with excited school children, seemingly fascinated by the strange-looking group of people taking over their school. Ryan broke the ice with showing the kids how to do the "La rocka" followed by the explosion.
“It’s my first time writing my own prescription, take a picture!” said Amanda Mure, a first-year medical student, who saw a patient with guidance from Paat.
I saw an 87-year-old woman, who reminded me very much of my late grandaunt as she tries on a pair of glasses and wanted to make sure it complemented her features. She got really excited when I filmed her and she was obviously pleased with what she saw.
The first day consisted of a lot of running around, especially for Paat and Ann Reed, professor of pediatrics and medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, as most of the medical students had limited or no clinical experience prior to the trip.
The Spanish-speaking members were popular as well because a majority of the team was not fluent in the language. Two Peace Corps volunteers, Matt and Tommy joined the team, serving as translators.
One of the cutest patient I saw was Ronmel, a two-year-old who lost two fingers to a machete accident a year ago.
Most of the locals who showed up at the site were seniors who either showed up alone or with their grandchildren as most adults were out working in the fields.
We had a pretty chill night. I got into some ethical discussion with the med students. Personally, I think health care providers [i.e. doctors, nurses, etc] should not judge/have opinions when it comes to their patients. Their job is to treat them, nothing else. Almost like journalists, I think, it's not our place to judge or inject our own opinions.
While we were having this intense discussion, of course the "seniors" were downing shots of Honduran Rum, probably reminiscing previous mission trips or whatever it is they talk about these days.
Day 2
The site for the day was El Cemane, in Yamaranguila, about an hour away.
The team was really excited at the cleanliness of the toilet. There was a roll of toilet paper, which was rare at the sites and the cubicle smelled like potpourri. The experience was almost ... pleasant.
My role today, is measuring the weight and height of kids 12 and under. I had a lot of fun. And as always, I had my bag of Skittles handy, it can almost silence any screaming children!
At the end of the day, Josie Hardy, a nurse and medical missions veteran, gave out colored crayons and papers to the children, which they quickly rolled up and held tightly in their hands, as if not knowing what to do with them.
I took a little girl's paper and drew her name on it, and drew some other "artistic" stick figures, in a way encouraging her to express her creative side. That started the ball rolling. She, [Laura] and her galpal, Duniya started drawing, and drawing, and drawing. Following me around at the same time, anxious to show off their masterpiece.
Day 3
The team was in Candelaria, San Francisco, Opalacaon on Wednesday. I was assigned to work with Marnie and Carolyn at one of the clinic stations.
Marnie Wagner, a first-year medical student, performed her first wart removal surgery with the guidance of Carolyn Snarkis, an intern at INOVA Fairfax Hospital. The patient had about 10 warts on her right hand and had them since she was young. The process took about one hour.
*I was there to film it all, it'll be posted some time this week.
At the end of the day, a group of children sang the national Honduran anthem, which was followed by shouts of “Gringos,” pointing at their “white” audience. Ryan Squier, a third-year medical student; Joshua Evans, a Spanish instructor at BGSU; Billie Sewell, a nurse practitioner and Jonathan Berger, an intern at the National Naval Medical Center happily accepted the challenge and sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” with all their might and their right hands firmly over their chests.
** Look out for the video.
Right before the team left the site, a young girl pulled my hand and said, “Que le vaya bien,” which Sarah Parker, one of the Spanish major students, explained that it meant “Best wishes to you.”
The Lions Club prepared a Cultural Night for the team at the terrace of a hotel. Most of the team members took advantage of the little time we have to freshen up for the night. Some of us however, have something else in mind, something much more important of course. Matt and Tommy took us to a bar a couple blocks from the hotel.
We had a traditional appetizer called Anafres. Essentially, anafres is a refried black bean and cheese fondue, served hot over coals in a clay pot. Tortilla chips accompany the anafres for dipping.
At the bar, we met a bunch of people from all over the world. Suzanne, who's part of the group said she works construction but there are others who teach, work with water sanitary, etc. all brought together by a organization call Eye to Eye.
At the Cultural Night, a group of dancers entertained us with their traditional Honduran number. I think most of us had a little too much Honduran rum in us by the end of the night. No one's complaining though.
*ps. My glass just flew out of my hand, I swear! I wasn't THAT drunk!
Day 4
The team started the day with a two-hour bumpy bus ride to Ojo de Agua, San Francisco in Opalaca. I had to sit on the pile of duffel bags the whole way there!
The team was greeted by a loud, “Good morning,” which was a surprise to many of the members, as that was the first English words that came from a young Honduran. Marlon Gonzales shouted out loud and used dramatic hand gestures. His classmates followed suit. It was really amusing. As if enjoying the attention he got, Gonzales went on with randomly shouting “Nice to meet you” and “See you later” at us.
The village, according to Paat, was possibly the poorest among the sites that the team visited.
At about 10:30 a.m., the children were lining up with cups in their petite hands, waiting to get some mid-morning snack, “leche de harina,” an oatmeal-like texture made of corn and sugar. It has a really bland taste to it.
Paat explained that for an actual meal, in most cases, only sponsored children through programs like World Vision would receive a meal.
** Check out how you can adopt a child at www.worldvision.org, you'll be surprised at how little it actually costs.
Towards the end of the night, Katrina and Jon performed a "surgery" on a girl who had chopped off part of her fingernail in a machete accident about 5 days prior, and had gotten the wound infected.
I think it was a pretty exciting moment for Katrina as it's her first time doing this.
It took Tommy and Chris [peace corp volunteers], Aileen, and a couple other people holding her down and consoling her. I think at one point she stopped crying after the World Vision volunteer told her that she wouldn't wanna be known as the girl who cries in that village.
I can imagine it can be rather daunting with a crowd of maybe ten people or more with flashlights, camera flashes and video cameras surrounding her.
Later that night, we met up with Suzanne and her group again, at the same bar and had a couple "cervesa." Apparently it's the law for bars to close at 10 p.m., so we went next door and got a shady, VIP room, thanks to Tommy. That was a night of many shots of liquor and cans upon cans of beer.
At about 3 a.m., a herd of cows walked by the hotel, it was definitely a priceless experience. It's amazing the way they move, as if the leader of the herd knew where to go, which turns to take.
Day 5
We went to a town about 5 minutes away from our hotel, which is really close to the city. The group had mixed reactions about the choice of this site.
Some thinks it's a PR move on the Lion's Club part, some said they had rather the team return to the site from the day before, saying that our help is much more needed there.
There are others who think that their help is as needed here than the other sites. Just because health care is accessible [close to a hospital], it doesn't mean that those people can afford to get the treatment/medication they needed.
Right as everyone piled up into the bus and van to head home, a woman came limping towards us. She had a broken ankle. The team offered to give her a ride to the hospital but she refused, saying that her son is waiting for her at home. She was given a leg brace instead.
On the way back, some opted to walk and enjoy the warm night, breathing in the fresh Honduran dust in the air. At one point, Tommy decided to pull a little "act"
He went in front of the bus and dropped his pants, yeap, showing off his pale, white butt cheeks. Lydia documented the moment forever with taking tons of pictures.
*I'll have to post them at some point.
At the end of the night, the team had dinner at the Lion's Club building. Each group of students performed a skit and the nurses won the first place.
The night ended with almost every member of a team breaking out their dance moves. Even Dr. Paat did the worm at some point.
Day 6
It took us almost 6 hours to get to Copan from Las Esperanza. The ruins site was pretty sweet and it costs us $15 to get in. That very night, there was a huge party outside out hotel.
We went to the Red Frog Bar and almost all of us took a shot of Uterus Shot. It burned. Not the best shot I've had. Then, Zach, Attaya and Kristen tried the Man Shot: Snort salt from the back of your palm, take a shot of rum and squeeze lime in your eye. Yeah, insane!
Towards the end of the night [midnight], some were still at the bar, while some were dancing the night away at the street party. I was just by the pool, enjoying the warm night with bottles of Salva Vida [Honduran beer] and Beaumont [Honduran ciggs donated by Andrew, lol]
At about 2 a.m., I decided, why bother going to bed? We had to leave at 5:30 a.m. anyways. So, Paige got permission from the security guard for us to swim. So, Nate, Paige and I excitedly hopped into the pool.
At about 4 a.m., I guess the locals decided to entertain us with "fireworks" that sound more like gunshots. Nonetheless, it made the night even more romantic, in an odd way. We talked about everything, from Nate's travel to gossiping about the "interesting dramas" during the trip, to the possibilities that lie ahead of me after graduation [this summer!! yikes!]
I returned to my room at 5 a.m., with wrinkly fingers and toes, and smelling like chlorine and to find Katie and Lydia just about waking up.
Right before we landed in Houston, Texas, the pilot made an announcement. "Congratulations to Jon and Carolyn!!" Jon proposed to Carolyn with a plastic ring he bought from Honduras... how sweet!
We all decided to celebrate with shots of "godknowswhat" and the delicious Fat Tire Beer. Jon and Carolyn are off the D.C., while Ann Reed and Josie to Minnesota and Linda, back to San Diego.
Reflections
“By No. 1, hands down, some of the most common cases we saw were kids with big bellies full of worms,” Paat said.
“The public health system we have here is somewhat lacking, so when your team comes, even though sometimes we can’t solve every problem here, sometimes the referrals that you make especially to Las Esperanza really do help the people and every small things that we do [here] have a big impact,” said the President of Lion’s Club Maria Mejia, who is also a practicing doctor, as translated by Sarah Parker, a Spanish major student in BGSU.
Some of the patients had to travel on foot for about three hours to seek treatment from the team. By the end of the trip, the team saw about 1,800 patients.
“In five days, you see an exponential growth, and you see how much students were able to learn in five days [and that] they would never be able to experience anything like this in the U.S.,” Paat said.
“We can’t cure the world, but we can help one patient at a time, and I think we were able to help 1,800 patients [this time],” Paat said.
“The other important thing about these missions is the exposure to the students,” he said “That’s important for the future — maybe not so much, maybe not this week, but it’s a stepping stone, especially for the students to get them actively involved in international health in developing countries.”
** It was definitely an eye-opener experience for me, from a journalist's point of view. I learned a lot more about the medical field, working with med students, etc., the Honduran culture and just how lucky I am with all I have.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
The start of my final Spring Break 2009
3 a.m., which was really 2 a.m. because of daylight savings time, about 30 of us met up at St Luke´s Hospital in Maumee, on Sunday Morning.
The first flight was at 6 a.m. from Detroit to Houston, Texas. I got upgraded to first class, which was pretty sweet. Breakfast was great and plenty of legroom.
After that, it´s about 30 mins of layover in Houston at about 8:30 a.m., then about a two-hour ride to Honduras.
The weather was amazing, it was warm and sunny, what a contrast from the weather in Toledo, Ohio. It felt kinda weird. I almost forgot how amazing it felt to be under the sun and loving the breeze against my face - unlike the cold wind in Toledo that actually hurts your face.
IT was about 12;30, and our bus arrived, and it was about four and a half hour bus ride to our hotel in Las Esperanze.
I was assigned to room with Lydia and Katie, both 3rd year med students at UT. A bunch of us walked around the hotel and checked the town out for a lil bit before dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Dinner was interesting. We were given two pieces of white bread, cheesy mashed potatoes, spicy barbeque chicken and steamed vegetables. It was different, but tasty. That was all that matters and I was starving anyways.
At 7;30 p.m., we spent about an hour unpacking the medicines and supplies that we packed in duffle bags before the trip. It was kinda chaotic. All 34 of us in a small room, yelling out categories of the medicines/supplies/soft toys and throwing them in the air, over our heads, across the room, you get the picture.
After thst, Dr. Richard Paat, the leader of the team briefed us on the next day. He spent almost 45 mins just going over what we expect to happen tomorrow, who´s assign to what station, which team, etc.
To end the night, the students were each assigned to research and make a short presentation on a certain medication/disease. I left right when they got started to take a shower. You have no idea how gross I felt.
I was told...
... some new mothers would stop breastfeeding, and they didn´t know any better, and fed their baby with Pepsi...
... do not brush your teeth with the tap water... use bottled water...
And we figured out the conversion rate is about $20 = 380 Lampiras
The first flight was at 6 a.m. from Detroit to Houston, Texas. I got upgraded to first class, which was pretty sweet. Breakfast was great and plenty of legroom.
After that, it´s about 30 mins of layover in Houston at about 8:30 a.m., then about a two-hour ride to Honduras.
The weather was amazing, it was warm and sunny, what a contrast from the weather in Toledo, Ohio. It felt kinda weird. I almost forgot how amazing it felt to be under the sun and loving the breeze against my face - unlike the cold wind in Toledo that actually hurts your face.
IT was about 12;30, and our bus arrived, and it was about four and a half hour bus ride to our hotel in Las Esperanze.
I was assigned to room with Lydia and Katie, both 3rd year med students at UT. A bunch of us walked around the hotel and checked the town out for a lil bit before dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Dinner was interesting. We were given two pieces of white bread, cheesy mashed potatoes, spicy barbeque chicken and steamed vegetables. It was different, but tasty. That was all that matters and I was starving anyways.
At 7;30 p.m., we spent about an hour unpacking the medicines and supplies that we packed in duffle bags before the trip. It was kinda chaotic. All 34 of us in a small room, yelling out categories of the medicines/supplies/soft toys and throwing them in the air, over our heads, across the room, you get the picture.
After thst, Dr. Richard Paat, the leader of the team briefed us on the next day. He spent almost 45 mins just going over what we expect to happen tomorrow, who´s assign to what station, which team, etc.
To end the night, the students were each assigned to research and make a short presentation on a certain medication/disease. I left right when they got started to take a shower. You have no idea how gross I felt.
I was told...
... some new mothers would stop breastfeeding, and they didn´t know any better, and fed their baby with Pepsi...
... do not brush your teeth with the tap water... use bottled water...
And we figured out the conversion rate is about $20 = 380 Lampiras
Friday, 6 March 2009
An ordinary afternoon...
What started off to be an ordinary day turned... a day I would probably remember for a long time...
I realized the deep relationship I have with my roommates when I got home at 4 a.m. and found Jenna and Kelly up studying [again] and being silly and crazy... like they always are...
...waking up at 8:30 p.m. to Bailey, our black Labrador [well, technically Haleigh's] wagging her tail in a my face...
...sitting in my macroeconomics, listening to Mike Dowd, my professor giving his normal lecture with his usual fire and passion... thinking to myself... it sounds lame... I know.. but I'm learning so much in this class, I'll be able to remember all this when I turn 90, all old and wrinkly thinking of Dowd's words...
Then, I headed over to the Student Annex, where students were encouraged to spray paint graffiti and were given sledgehammers to take a whack at the building before they tore it down.
... pretty crazy... I started talking to an administrator, whom I've met through my assignments for the IC and also my other job [catering]. We started talking about my life goals, his crazy college life... and pointed out the fact that this is my time... I can't turn the clock back... I have the chance to do whatever the hell my heart tells me too...
and that, is one advise that NEVER gets old...
now, time for a beer...
I realized the deep relationship I have with my roommates when I got home at 4 a.m. and found Jenna and Kelly up studying [again] and being silly and crazy... like they always are...
...waking up at 8:30 p.m. to Bailey, our black Labrador [well, technically Haleigh's] wagging her tail in a my face...
...sitting in my macroeconomics, listening to Mike Dowd, my professor giving his normal lecture with his usual fire and passion... thinking to myself... it sounds lame... I know.. but I'm learning so much in this class, I'll be able to remember all this when I turn 90, all old and wrinkly thinking of Dowd's words...
Then, I headed over to the Student Annex, where students were encouraged to spray paint graffiti and were given sledgehammers to take a whack at the building before they tore it down.
... pretty crazy... I started talking to an administrator, whom I've met through my assignments for the IC and also my other job [catering]. We started talking about my life goals, his crazy college life... and pointed out the fact that this is my time... I can't turn the clock back... I have the chance to do whatever the hell my heart tells me too...
and that, is one advise that NEVER gets old...
now, time for a beer...
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Malaysia: Woman legislator quits over nude photos
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A prominent Malaysian opposition legislator resigned Tuesday after photographs of her sleeping naked were circulated to the public by cell phone, an embarrassing disclosure that she slammed as a plot to discredit her party.
Whoever's behind the distribution of the picture will keep doing this to whomever they wish to. The legislator should not resign and throw in the towel. Keep doing what you do and fight back. I'll be surprised if her political party, friends, family and the rest of Malaysians will not back her up.
Whoever's behind the distribution of the picture will keep doing this to whomever they wish to. The legislator should not resign and throw in the towel. Keep doing what you do and fight back. I'll be surprised if her political party, friends, family and the rest of Malaysians will not back her up.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
The best Valentine's gift ever
Morning's light turns sleep to sight,
As her black curls rest gently in the bend of my arm.
The taste of liquor stains my sigh of contentment,
As the needle skips softly across its worn vinyl path.
Its subtle gritting dance,
No longer emitting the tunes of lyrical geniuses.
As I close my eyes once more,
I can hear the songs from the twilight hours of yesterday,
A soundtrack to strained breaths,
And delicate fingers on my chest.
Their voices stitching together our two beings,
Like the seamstress who sewed the mountain of sheets that contain us.
What cosmic titan bestowed upon them
The ability to embody life's purity?
My thoughts quickly disperse,
As her deep exhale warmly blankets the skin around my neck.
I dare not continue my inquiry in fear that she may wake,
And morning's ecstasy will fall victim to the day's agenda.
~~ From J.G.
As her black curls rest gently in the bend of my arm.
The taste of liquor stains my sigh of contentment,
As the needle skips softly across its worn vinyl path.
Its subtle gritting dance,
No longer emitting the tunes of lyrical geniuses.
As I close my eyes once more,
I can hear the songs from the twilight hours of yesterday,
A soundtrack to strained breaths,
And delicate fingers on my chest.
Their voices stitching together our two beings,
Like the seamstress who sewed the mountain of sheets that contain us.
What cosmic titan bestowed upon them
The ability to embody life's purity?
My thoughts quickly disperse,
As her deep exhale warmly blankets the skin around my neck.
I dare not continue my inquiry in fear that she may wake,
And morning's ecstasy will fall victim to the day's agenda.
~~ From J.G.
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Friday, 13 February 2009
Economic stimulus package
Faculty supports stimulus aspects
Here's additional information that was supposed to go to print with the article.
A closer look at the Economic Stimulus Package:
Jan. 28 House passed $819B Stimulus Package
Feb. 10 Senate passed $838B Stimulus Plan
Feb. 11 Both House and Senate came to an agreement of $789B Stimulus Package
Breakdown on differences between House and Senate’s Stimulus Package in education
House
-Similar aid to states and school districts;
-$21 billion for school modernization;
-$16 billion to boost the maximum Pell Grant by $500 to $5,350;
-$2 billion for Head Start.
Senate
-$79 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cuts in education aid and provide block grants; -$26 billion to school districts to fund special education and the No Child Left Behind K-12 law;
-$19.5 billion for school modernization;
-$14 billion to boost the maximum Pell Grant by $400 to $5,250;
-$2.1 billion for Head Start.
Source: CBS news
Sources projected:
A final vote by the House as early as Friday, with the Senate to follow, clearing the way for President Obama to sign the bill by Monday.
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Friday, 30 January 2009
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Saturday, 10 January 2009
Thursday, 8 January 2009
Spring Break 2009 [March 08- 15]
This time around, I'll be in San Pedro Sula for a week. I'll be putting my journalistic skills to test, in this real world experience.
Dr. Paat, the leader for the Students for Medical Missions trip to Honduras decided to give me the opportunity to tag along. I will be doing an article for the Independent Collegian and a video package for The Palestra.
Hopefully, I'll be able to capture the motivations behind the people who paid almost $1,000 to be on this trip, work from dawn till dusk giving out medical supplies and treating patients, and what kept them going back.
You'll get to see why students on the trip would give up Spring Break Partying to work their ass off for zero dollars an hour.
I know the language barrier might be a problem, but I'd really like to interview the locals about their culture, the highs and the lows, and what it takes to be a Honduran.
Dr. Paat, the leader for the Students for Medical Missions trip to Honduras decided to give me the opportunity to tag along. I will be doing an article for the Independent Collegian and a video package for The Palestra.
Hopefully, I'll be able to capture the motivations behind the people who paid almost $1,000 to be on this trip, work from dawn till dusk giving out medical supplies and treating patients, and what kept them going back.
You'll get to see why students on the trip would give up Spring Break Partying to work their ass off for zero dollars an hour.
I know the language barrier might be a problem, but I'd really like to interview the locals about their culture, the highs and the lows, and what it takes to be a Honduran.
Friday, 26 December 2008
Thursday, 25 December 2008
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
X'mas in Cleveland
Being in Cleveland with Joe's family reminded me so much of my family and how crazy we get when we get together for Chinese New Year - minus the gambling and the red packets that the kids get.
But the booze, good food, good conversations with aunts, uncles and grandmas... I wish I could be back there for this coming Chinese New Year...
Anyways, all these got me thinking about getting this amazing X'mas gift for the fam!!!!
But the booze, good food, good conversations with aunts, uncles and grandmas... I wish I could be back there for this coming Chinese New Year...
Anyways, all these got me thinking about getting this amazing X'mas gift for the fam!!!!
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Sunday, 14 December 2008
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Saturday, 6 December 2008
Monday, 1 December 2008
Friday, 28 November 2008
France...
I have to admit, I was dreading this trip. As much as I like to fly around the world, spending one week in France is not enough for me. Plus, it`s the middle of the semester. I just have too much to do!!!! And I was really looking forward to spending some time with Lauren, and what better way to do that than to do what we do bestÉÉ some good ol`shopping in France, checking out some hot French `monsieurÉÉ ;P
But, the week is coming to an end. As I`m sitting in Oli`s apartment, looking out the window, I thought to myself, Am I missing out on thisÉ Whatever happened to my alone timeÉ some ME timeÉ I know once the plane touch down in Detroit, I`ll start it all over again, catching up on news, start planning IC news stories, getting the information for my UT Ten News story, homework!! Assignments and quizes to do... sigh...
Here`s a recap of my French Thanksgiving Week.
Sunday
Arrive in Paris at 8 a.m. Met up with my couchsurfing host, Arno, and his friends, Daniel from Melbourne, another Arno, a French and a Korean who does not speak Korean [he`s fluent in French]. I told them the only thing I missed out on from my last trip was going to the Louvre Museum. So, we braved the snow first, then the rain and headed to the Louv. My flight to Nice was at 8 p.m.
My host, Florian came to the airport. He has a small but cozy and really clean apartment.
Monday
I woke up at 7 a.m. and left with Florian, he had to leave for work at 8 a.m. and had to show me where the tram stop is. We had a typical French breakfast! with freshly baked baguettes with nutella and croissant.
I walked along the Promenade Des Anglais and the view was amazing. Everything was perfect until this creepy Italian dude came up to me and tried to talk. It was annoying. Anyways, after I lost him, I found some malls and you know I can`t resist it!
I had dinner with Florian at an authentic Nice restaurant and had some typical local dish and a bottle of white wine.
Tuesday
I said goodbye to Florian in the morning as he left for work, and I slept in, till 4 p.m.! It was greeatttt! I packed and headed out to a hostel near the trains station. I found a hostel for 21 euros a night. There were two French girls from Nimes, and a South Korean girl. It was a small but clean room.
I went out to Checkpoint bar and had three pints of beer and watched football! For some reason, being in Europe always makes me homesick...
Wednesday
I took the train to VilleFranche, a town about 15 minutes away... look out for the gorgeous pictures!!! It was a beautiful day too. I wished I could be there forever... and ever...
Then, I took the train to Monaco. Do you know it`s the smallest country after Vatican CityÉÉÉ I was just amazed at the yatchs... one day... one of those will be mine.....
I felt rich just walking around the Monte Carlo Casino. Stores like Prada, Dior, Louis Vutton, Celine, Burberry, at every corner, cars like Lamborghini, Lotus, Ferrari, Porche parked by the streets like they were JUST cars!!! Elegantly dressed, plastic-like middle-aged European women with their oh-so-precious dogs on leashes...
Thursday
I met up with Oli by the Fountain at Place Massena. Memories from D.C. came flowing back. It was like back in the day. We talked and talked and talked.... and talked... , wishing Jeremiah and Lauren are with us... and he cooked... of course! LOL.... at 4 p.m. we had good pasta and a bottle of wine...
For dinner, we had the amazing Foie Gras, which I had wanted to try forever! Well, since I knew it existed, the texture... it just melts away in your mouth....and the taste... words alone can`t describe them.. you just have to try it!! [just don`t order it at Citrus restaurant in Ipoh]
Then, we had fat duck breast... so good.... with another bottle of wine...
Later that night, we went to Wayne`s bar and met up with Eduardo, Oli`s Brazilian friend. We had a good time. It was ladies` night so with 3 euros, I get unlimited Champagne!!!!
We went to another bar and the three of us ordered the cheapest Vodka [I can still taste it at the back of my throat - ewww] and downed it with O.J.
Friday
It`s kinda windy and cloudy outside... do I want to brave the weather and do something with myselfÉ Or do I want to laze around, listen to some good tunes, and read Homage to Catalonia...ÉÉ
ps. É is actually a question mark. Damn Quebecan keyboards!!
But, the week is coming to an end. As I`m sitting in Oli`s apartment, looking out the window, I thought to myself, Am I missing out on thisÉ Whatever happened to my alone timeÉ some ME timeÉ I know once the plane touch down in Detroit, I`ll start it all over again, catching up on news, start planning IC news stories, getting the information for my UT Ten News story, homework!! Assignments and quizes to do... sigh...
Here`s a recap of my French Thanksgiving Week.
Sunday
Arrive in Paris at 8 a.m. Met up with my couchsurfing host, Arno, and his friends, Daniel from Melbourne, another Arno, a French and a Korean who does not speak Korean [he`s fluent in French]. I told them the only thing I missed out on from my last trip was going to the Louvre Museum. So, we braved the snow first, then the rain and headed to the Louv. My flight to Nice was at 8 p.m.
My host, Florian came to the airport. He has a small but cozy and really clean apartment.
Monday
I woke up at 7 a.m. and left with Florian, he had to leave for work at 8 a.m. and had to show me where the tram stop is. We had a typical French breakfast! with freshly baked baguettes with nutella and croissant.
I walked along the Promenade Des Anglais and the view was amazing. Everything was perfect until this creepy Italian dude came up to me and tried to talk. It was annoying. Anyways, after I lost him, I found some malls and you know I can`t resist it!
I had dinner with Florian at an authentic Nice restaurant and had some typical local dish and a bottle of white wine.
Tuesday
I said goodbye to Florian in the morning as he left for work, and I slept in, till 4 p.m.! It was greeatttt! I packed and headed out to a hostel near the trains station. I found a hostel for 21 euros a night. There were two French girls from Nimes, and a South Korean girl. It was a small but clean room.
I went out to Checkpoint bar and had three pints of beer and watched football! For some reason, being in Europe always makes me homesick...
Wednesday
I took the train to VilleFranche, a town about 15 minutes away... look out for the gorgeous pictures!!! It was a beautiful day too. I wished I could be there forever... and ever...
Then, I took the train to Monaco. Do you know it`s the smallest country after Vatican CityÉÉÉ I was just amazed at the yatchs... one day... one of those will be mine.....
I felt rich just walking around the Monte Carlo Casino. Stores like Prada, Dior, Louis Vutton, Celine, Burberry, at every corner, cars like Lamborghini, Lotus, Ferrari, Porche parked by the streets like they were JUST cars!!! Elegantly dressed, plastic-like middle-aged European women with their oh-so-precious dogs on leashes...
Thursday
I met up with Oli by the Fountain at Place Massena. Memories from D.C. came flowing back. It was like back in the day. We talked and talked and talked.... and talked... , wishing Jeremiah and Lauren are with us... and he cooked... of course! LOL.... at 4 p.m. we had good pasta and a bottle of wine...
For dinner, we had the amazing Foie Gras, which I had wanted to try forever! Well, since I knew it existed, the texture... it just melts away in your mouth....and the taste... words alone can`t describe them.. you just have to try it!! [just don`t order it at Citrus restaurant in Ipoh]
Then, we had fat duck breast... so good.... with another bottle of wine...
Later that night, we went to Wayne`s bar and met up with Eduardo, Oli`s Brazilian friend. We had a good time. It was ladies` night so with 3 euros, I get unlimited Champagne!!!!
We went to another bar and the three of us ordered the cheapest Vodka [I can still taste it at the back of my throat - ewww] and downed it with O.J.
Friday
It`s kinda windy and cloudy outside... do I want to brave the weather and do something with myselfÉ Or do I want to laze around, listen to some good tunes, and read Homage to Catalonia...ÉÉ
ps. É is actually a question mark. Damn Quebecan keyboards!!
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Friday, 21 November 2008
Paris, here I come... again!
So, I'll be taking off to France today. But before that, I have a million things I have to attend to.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Cross burnings, black figures hung from nooses, and schoolchildren chanting “Assassinate Obama”
Just when the world is starting to look up to America with fresh pairs of eyes, some Americans just had to prove that "Change" has not completely dawn on all Americans as we see acts of racism skyrocketed since Nov. 4.
Obama win prompts wave of hate crimes from Times Online
Obama win prompts wave of hate crimes from Times Online
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Saturday, 15 November 2008
Thursday, 13 November 2008
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Monday, 10 November 2008
A shirt in front of the White House states...
Rosa Parks sat in 1955.
Martin Luther King walked in 1963.
Barack Obama ran in 2008
Martin Luther King walked in 1963.
Barack Obama ran in 2008
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Not what Obama can do for us but what we can learn from him
The idea of having a young president as the leader of the so-called free world is truly revolutionary, even in countries where freedom and democracy remain dirty words.
Obama has been welcomed across Asia particularly by younger, educated people who identify with him and see in him the sort of leader they would like to see in their own countries, a leader who speaks their language, articulates their dreams and symbolises what young people believe they can achieve.
Obama has been welcomed across Asia particularly by younger, educated people who identify with him and see in him the sort of leader they would like to see in their own countries, a leader who speaks their language, articulates their dreams and symbolises what young people believe they can achieve.
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Friday, 7 November 2008
what a shame!
As you may already know, I was at the Obama Rally on Tuesday night. A sense of pride took over me, even if I'm not an American, even though I didn't directly contribute to this historical moment, I'm incredibly proud of people, every single one of you who voted for him, every single one of you who may be afraid of change, embraced this, allow this to take place in our lifetime, a change that would lead the country to a better place.
Everyone is watching this election. When I was in Europe over the summer, 8 out of 10 people I've met, be it the taxi drivers, that random dude at the bus stop, the lady next to me in the train, everyone wants to talk American politics. They were so excited and were pouring out every single bit of information they have, proud to be knowledgeable on the subject. People from Malaysia were bombarding me with questions.
A lot of Americans cannot even fathom the effect this will have on the whole world. The butterfly effect this will have on a global scale cannot be denied. Yes, he is no Messiah, he is no God, he is no prophet, he will need all the help he can get to realize his ideals. But, this is a stepping stone, an extremely significant one indeed.
I came across an article and to be honest, I've wondered this since I was a little girl. Can a non-Malay, non-Muslim be the Prime Minister of Malaysia?
If not, why? Are the Chinese and Indians considered immigrants still? Are we not all "Malaysians?" After all these time, after all the contributions non-Malays have to this country, after all the bull shit that says "we are Malaysians, we live in harmony, unlike any other countries in the world, three different races under one roof, we are like no other nation in the world," blah blah blah...
Here's the article.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters late Wednesday that it was possible Malaysia could have a non-Malay leader, saying "it is up to the people to decide."
Everyone is watching this election. When I was in Europe over the summer, 8 out of 10 people I've met, be it the taxi drivers, that random dude at the bus stop, the lady next to me in the train, everyone wants to talk American politics. They were so excited and were pouring out every single bit of information they have, proud to be knowledgeable on the subject. People from Malaysia were bombarding me with questions.
A lot of Americans cannot even fathom the effect this will have on the whole world. The butterfly effect this will have on a global scale cannot be denied. Yes, he is no Messiah, he is no God, he is no prophet, he will need all the help he can get to realize his ideals. But, this is a stepping stone, an extremely significant one indeed.
I came across an article and to be honest, I've wondered this since I was a little girl. Can a non-Malay, non-Muslim be the Prime Minister of Malaysia?
If not, why? Are the Chinese and Indians considered immigrants still? Are we not all "Malaysians?" After all these time, after all the contributions non-Malays have to this country, after all the bull shit that says "we are Malaysians, we live in harmony, unlike any other countries in the world, three different races under one roof, we are like no other nation in the world," blah blah blah...
Here's the article.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters late Wednesday that it was possible Malaysia could have a non-Malay leader, saying "it is up to the people to decide."
Thursday, 6 November 2008
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
I can say I witnessed a historic event!
We drove to Chicago from 3 p.m. on Tuesday and got there are at 7:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. in Chicago.
We met up with April, a couchsurfer and headed to Grant Park. The crowd were massive and there was a huge line.
We waited and interviewed some people.
People were climbing trees just to get a good view of the screen where CNN is live and to get an idea of the number of people there. It's got to be way more than a million.
A woman in front of me has a portable TV. OBAMA WON!! she screams.
Everyone was hugging each other.
We interviewed a black woman and she told me a white person hugged her for the first time in her life, they didn't think she was going to harm them or anything like that.
She said it was a good feeling.
Right before Obama gave his acceptance speech, Signed, Sealed Delivered were playing. People were dancing, singing, and yelling.
It was an awesome moment.
As he gave his speech, people were teary-eyed, some grinned, some just listened intently.
After that, people headed out. It felt like New Years Eve at the Time Square in New York City.
Drivers were honking and people yelled "YEAHHH OBAMA"
It was 1:30 a.m. in Chicago. We drove home to Toledo.
We were back at the IC office at 6:15 a.m. and started working on the story.
Look out for our kick-ass story, pictures and videos!!!!
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
The most historic election of our lifetime
Tune in on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. I will be reporting from Chicago!!!!
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Muslims Ban Lesbians In Malaysia
11:54am UK, Friday October 24, 2008
Lesbianism has been banned under an edict issued by clerics in Malaysia who ruled that "tomboy" behaviour was against Islam.
The clerics believe lesbian behaviour goes against their religion
The National Fatwa Council also forbade the practice of girls behaving or dressing like boys.
Abdul Shukor Husin, chairman of the council, said many young women admire the way men dress and behave - and branded it a denial of their femininity and a violation of human nature.
He said: "It is unacceptable to see women who love the male lifestyle including dressing in the clothes men wear.
"It becomes clearer when they start to have sex with someone of the same gender, that is woman and woman.
"In view of this, the National Fatwa Council have decided and taken the stand that such acts are forbidden and banned."
They must respect God. God created them as boys, they must behave like boys. God created them as girls, they must act like girls.Harussani Idris Zakaria, member of Malaysia's National Fatwa Council
Under the edict, girls are forbidden to sport short hair and dress, walk and act like boys.
Male homosexuality - specifically sodomy - is illegal in Malaysia and punishable with up to 20 years in jail.
Accusations of sodomy have twice been levelled against the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in what he says are politically motivated attempts to destroy him.
But lawyers say there is no provision banning lesbian sex in Malaysia's civil code.
The latest fatwa appears to be an attempt to push lesbianism towards illegality.
Harussani Idris Zakaria, the mufti of northern Perak state, said the council's ruling was not legally binding because it has not been passed into law, but that tomboys should be banned because their actions are "immoral".
He said: "It doesn't matter if it's a law or not. When it's wrong, it's wrong. It is a sin."
Lesbianism has been banned under an edict issued by clerics in Malaysia who ruled that "tomboy" behaviour was against Islam.
The clerics believe lesbian behaviour goes against their religion
The National Fatwa Council also forbade the practice of girls behaving or dressing like boys.
Abdul Shukor Husin, chairman of the council, said many young women admire the way men dress and behave - and branded it a denial of their femininity and a violation of human nature.
He said: "It is unacceptable to see women who love the male lifestyle including dressing in the clothes men wear.
"It becomes clearer when they start to have sex with someone of the same gender, that is woman and woman.
"In view of this, the National Fatwa Council have decided and taken the stand that such acts are forbidden and banned."
They must respect God. God created them as boys, they must behave like boys. God created them as girls, they must act like girls.Harussani Idris Zakaria, member of Malaysia's National Fatwa Council
Under the edict, girls are forbidden to sport short hair and dress, walk and act like boys.
Male homosexuality - specifically sodomy - is illegal in Malaysia and punishable with up to 20 years in jail.
Accusations of sodomy have twice been levelled against the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in what he says are politically motivated attempts to destroy him.
But lawyers say there is no provision banning lesbian sex in Malaysia's civil code.
The latest fatwa appears to be an attempt to push lesbianism towards illegality.
Harussani Idris Zakaria, the mufti of northern Perak state, said the council's ruling was not legally binding because it has not been passed into law, but that tomboys should be banned because their actions are "immoral".
He said: "It doesn't matter if it's a law or not. When it's wrong, it's wrong. It is a sin."
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
Hitchhiking is the way to go...
An IC Arts & Life writer, Nathan Elias hitchhiked from Pennsylvania to New Jersey with the bare minimum, and survived. Hitchhiking is definitely I'll have to consider long and hard before doing. Elias did a good job at painting the picture of what it's like... forget the horror movies....
I love the way he ended the article.
Click on the quote to read more about his journey.
Monday, 13 October 2008
Death penalty over Mary Jane
Death Penalty: Malaysia to Hang Three for Marijuana Trafficking, Executions Continue in Middle East
from Drug War Chronicle, Issue #555, 10/10/08
Twice in the past two weeks, courts in Malaysia have condemned people to death for marijuana trafficking offenses. Meanwhile, both Iran and Yemen have executed drug offenders in the past three weeks. Except where otherwise linked, information in this article comes from the global anti-death penalty group Hands Off Cain.
In Malaysia, the High Court Wednesday handed down death sentences to two men, Kairil Anuar Abdul Rahman, 34, and Afendi Adam, 28, for trafficking a little under two pounds of pot six years ago. The pair, a restaurant worker and a painter, respectively, were arrested in March 2002 for selling 971 grams of marijuana. Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim said the court had no choice but to impose the death sentences after the men were found guilty. Attorneys for the pair are expected to appeal both the convictions and the sentences.
Two weeks earlier, the Shah Alam Higher Court imposed the death sentence on an Indonesian immigrant, Junaidi Nurdin, 32, for selling 979 grams of pot. Junaidi was arrested in April 2004 after he sold the stuff to an undercover policeman at a restaurant in Shah Alam. He, too, is expected to appeal.
Meanwhile, the execution of drug offenders continued apace in the Middle East. In Yemen, convicted Pakistani drug trafficker Birkhan Afridibar Hussein, 50, was executed at the Central Prison in Sanaa on September 17 after his death sentence was approved by the president of the republic. And in Iran, a man known only as Taher H. was hanged Tuesday in the northern city of Hamedan. Taher H. had been imprisoned on drug charges there, but escaped, only to be caught again with 530 pounds of heroin.
The executions of nonviolent drug offenders, almost exclusively in Southeast Asia and the Middle East has added momentum to calls for a global moratorium on the death penalty and particularly against using the death penalty for drug offenses.
from Drug War Chronicle, Issue #555, 10/10/08
Twice in the past two weeks, courts in Malaysia have condemned people to death for marijuana trafficking offenses. Meanwhile, both Iran and Yemen have executed drug offenders in the past three weeks. Except where otherwise linked, information in this article comes from the global anti-death penalty group Hands Off Cain.
In Malaysia, the High Court Wednesday handed down death sentences to two men, Kairil Anuar Abdul Rahman, 34, and Afendi Adam, 28, for trafficking a little under two pounds of pot six years ago. The pair, a restaurant worker and a painter, respectively, were arrested in March 2002 for selling 971 grams of marijuana. Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim said the court had no choice but to impose the death sentences after the men were found guilty. Attorneys for the pair are expected to appeal both the convictions and the sentences.
Two weeks earlier, the Shah Alam Higher Court imposed the death sentence on an Indonesian immigrant, Junaidi Nurdin, 32, for selling 979 grams of pot. Junaidi was arrested in April 2004 after he sold the stuff to an undercover policeman at a restaurant in Shah Alam. He, too, is expected to appeal.
Meanwhile, the execution of drug offenders continued apace in the Middle East. In Yemen, convicted Pakistani drug trafficker Birkhan Afridibar Hussein, 50, was executed at the Central Prison in Sanaa on September 17 after his death sentence was approved by the president of the republic. And in Iran, a man known only as Taher H. was hanged Tuesday in the northern city of Hamedan. Taher H. had been imprisoned on drug charges there, but escaped, only to be caught again with 530 pounds of heroin.
The executions of nonviolent drug offenders, almost exclusively in Southeast Asia and the Middle East has added momentum to calls for a global moratorium on the death penalty and particularly against using the death penalty for drug offenses.
Saturday, 11 October 2008
Saturday, 4 October 2008
Tuesday, 30 September 2008
Palestra.net
Click on the link to check out my videos from the University of Toledo!
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Thursday, 18 September 2008
Second blogger arrested
An opposition blogger has been arrested for allegedly displaying a national flag upside down on his website, as the government comes under more pressure.
They say about 63 people are being held under the ISA.
The government minister responsible for legal affairs, Zaid Ibrahim, resigned earlier this week in protest at the government's resort to the harsh law.Sunday, 14 September 2008
Wednesday, 3 September 2008
How the Malaysian government is bullying bloggers...
With site block, Malaysia seems to break promise
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission earlier this week ordered all 19 of the country's Internet service providers to block the controversial political portal Malaysia Today.The MCMC's move is expected to send shockwaves across the IT sector as it appears that the Malaysian government has broken its promise not to censor the Internet--a commitment it first made when the nation launched its Multimedia Super Corridor strategy in 1996. Under the MSC Malaysia 10 Point Bill of Guarantees, the government pledges to "ensure no Internet censorship."
Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said the block was justified, as Malaysia Today was publishing offensive content. He told reporters Thursday: "We do not intend to curtail people's freedom or right to express themselves. But when they publish things that are libelous, slanderous, or defamatory, it is natural for the MCMC to act."
Malaysia Today's founder and editor, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, called the move a breach of the MSC charter. "The Government has clearly broken its own promise," Raja Petra said in a Thursday report by news daily The Star.
Disclaimer: The above are excerpts from an article found in a Web site below http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10030325-38.html
Tuesday, 2 September 2008
I'll never forget...
Summer is coming to an end. Everyone I know is excited for the new school year to begin. I was too, until Saturday.
I got an e-mail from my mum, letting me know that one of the dearest person to me, passed away.
How kind of her. AN E-MAIL???? REALLY? I think my family can do better than that.
My grandmother's sister was in her 90s. Even though she was not in the best condition, health wise, she still tells me stories and jokes about everything you can imagine, every time I see her.
I can honestly say I've never met anyone in my life who gets so excited and sincerely happy to see me, every single time.
She saw me grew up and taught me almost everything I know, about life. Whenever I'm back in Malaysia, I know she's the one person I can see, knowing that she wouldn't judge, like the rest of my family do, and that she cared, sincerely.
My best girlfriends wouldn't judge, but they know nothing, compared to what she knew, she had after all, lived almost a century, before we even existed.
I've always thought to myself that even though I'm far away from people who mean the most to me, my family and 3 of my best girls, I would fly home, or wherever they are, in a heartbeat... and leave everything behind.
I would always dismiss my grandmothers' worries that if anything happened to them, I wouldn't be back in time.
Now that the time has come, I hesitated.
I hate myself for being so attached. To my work, to school and to the friends I've made in this country.
I wish I would have the guts to just buy the next ticket and fly back. But what good will it do though? I got another e-mail from my mum telling me that she'll be cremated today.
Now that I know it'll be too late for me to go halfway across the world,
I wish I could take at least a week off, just to reflect and try my best to reminisce the times I had with her.
But do I really wanna be of those people who would make this an excuse? I'm not that weak, am I? I know I'm stronger than that. Much stronger.
I anticipated that this will be a crazy semester, I just didn't expect it to start like this.
A co-worker once joked that every time we had new writers/copy editors, they would have to resign because one of their family member would pass away.
I laughed.
I got an e-mail from my mum, letting me know that one of the dearest person to me, passed away.
How kind of her. AN E-MAIL???? REALLY? I think my family can do better than that.
My grandmother's sister was in her 90s. Even though she was not in the best condition, health wise, she still tells me stories and jokes about everything you can imagine, every time I see her.
I can honestly say I've never met anyone in my life who gets so excited and sincerely happy to see me, every single time.
She saw me grew up and taught me almost everything I know, about life. Whenever I'm back in Malaysia, I know she's the one person I can see, knowing that she wouldn't judge, like the rest of my family do, and that she cared, sincerely.
My best girlfriends wouldn't judge, but they know nothing, compared to what she knew, she had after all, lived almost a century, before we even existed.
I've always thought to myself that even though I'm far away from people who mean the most to me, my family and 3 of my best girls, I would fly home, or wherever they are, in a heartbeat... and leave everything behind.
I would always dismiss my grandmothers' worries that if anything happened to them, I wouldn't be back in time.
Now that the time has come, I hesitated.
I hate myself for being so attached. To my work, to school and to the friends I've made in this country.
I wish I would have the guts to just buy the next ticket and fly back. But what good will it do though? I got another e-mail from my mum telling me that she'll be cremated today.
Now that I know it'll be too late for me to go halfway across the world,
I wish I could take at least a week off, just to reflect and try my best to reminisce the times I had with her.
But do I really wanna be of those people who would make this an excuse? I'm not that weak, am I? I know I'm stronger than that. Much stronger.
I anticipated that this will be a crazy semester, I just didn't expect it to start like this.
A co-worker once joked that every time we had new writers/copy editors, they would have to resign because one of their family member would pass away.
I laughed.
Thursday, 28 August 2008
Monday, 18 August 2008
"With the ongoing court cases with blogger and online news portal editor, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, as well as the detention of Malay language blogger, Abdul Bakar aka ‘Penarik Beca’, it is with little surprise that it has been reported that Malaysian foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, called for the creation of a council or other form of mechanism to monitor bloggers."
"In 2007, the Sedition Act 1948 was used notably against Raja Petra Kamaruddin, for a blog post on his Malaysia Today website, and Wee Ming Chee, a student who used the national anthem, “Negaraku”, as the chorus of a rap he wrote, posted on his blog."
Saturday, 16 August 2008
Desperate and tainted: Malaysia's leadership crisis
Desperate and tainted: Malaysia's leadership crisis, a well-written article.
"Until the resignation in 2003 of prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, politics were entirely predictable. Now they are becoming highly unpredictable."
"The Government has only itself to blame. The media is closely controlled and widely disbelieved. The vacuum of information and opinion has been filled by two websites - malaysiakini.com and malaysiatoday.com - which have become highly influential, outspoken and merciless towards the Government."
"Corruption is rife in UMNO, which has become a vehicle for personal enrichment."
"Undoubtedly the system of positive discrimination in favour of Malays has outlived its usefulness, but any reforms will be difficult and potentially fraught. Hopefully the kind of change that Malaysia now requires can, in time, be achieved without losing its most precious achievement. "
--Martin Jacques
"Until the resignation in 2003 of prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, politics were entirely predictable. Now they are becoming highly unpredictable."
"The Government has only itself to blame. The media is closely controlled and widely disbelieved. The vacuum of information and opinion has been filled by two websites - malaysiakini.com and malaysiatoday.com - which have become highly influential, outspoken and merciless towards the Government."
"Corruption is rife in UMNO, which has become a vehicle for personal enrichment."
"Undoubtedly the system of positive discrimination in favour of Malays has outlived its usefulness, but any reforms will be difficult and potentially fraught. Hopefully the kind of change that Malaysia now requires can, in time, be achieved without losing its most precious achievement. "
--Martin Jacques
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Should we talk about it or should we pretend it's not there?
Malaysia spat erupts over curbing religious debate
"Government leaders insisted that Malaysia was not ready for freewheeling dialogues about religion that could undermine multicultural tolerance and social peace."
"Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein urged Malaysians 'not to think that openness is an absolute right.'"
"Tony Pua, an opposition member of Parliament, said that if lawyers were 'not allowed to hold open discussions in relation to our constitution and its laws, then it makes a complete mockery of our legal system.'"
"Complete mockery of our legal system"? I've always wondered if our laws are there to protect the people and the country or just to show that Malaysia is not lawless... and there were countless times... I was convinced of the former...
"Government leaders insisted that Malaysia was not ready for freewheeling dialogues about religion that could undermine multicultural tolerance and social peace."
"Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein urged Malaysians 'not to think that openness is an absolute right.'"
"Tony Pua, an opposition member of Parliament, said that if lawyers were 'not allowed to hold open discussions in relation to our constitution and its laws, then it makes a complete mockery of our legal system.'"
"Complete mockery of our legal system"? I've always wondered if our laws are there to protect the people and the country or just to show that Malaysia is not lawless... and there were countless times... I was convinced of the former...
Thursday, 7 August 2008
Apparently Avril is bad for you... (what B.S.)
Malaysia's hardline Islamists want ban of Avril Lavigne concert
come on Malaysians... we're not seriously gonna let these people say anything as preposterous as this anymore... or worse... let them rule the country... are we? *gasps*
Is someone gonna shut them up or what?
come on Malaysians... we're not seriously gonna let these people say anything as preposterous as this anymore... or worse... let them rule the country... are we? *gasps*
Is someone gonna shut them up or what?
Monday, 4 August 2008
Political Sex Scandals Rock Modest Malaysia
Political Sex Scandals Rock Modest Malaysia
This article written by Thomas Fuller for the NYTimes draws a gloomy picture of the current state of Malaysia, but I think it is the most objective article that describes everything Malaysia is facing right now.
This article written by Thomas Fuller for the NYTimes draws a gloomy picture of the current state of Malaysia, but I think it is the most objective article that describes everything Malaysia is facing right now.
Monday, 28 July 2008
Yet again, journalists' objectivity questioned.
"Barack Obama is the Jackie Robinson of our era," said Pitts, the columnist. "There's no getting around that, there's no asking people not to respond to that. ... Journalists are recruited from the human race. And as long as they're recruited from the human race they're going to have emotions, and they're going to have feelings."
"People don't view (attending Obama's speech) as work," said Connie Llanos, a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News and member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. "We're not going to write about it, so you're allowed to voice your emotion or feeling."
Still, "people shouldn't be throwing underwear," said Veronica Garcia, a NAHJ board member and copy editor who spent 17 years at the Los Angeles Times. "We're journalists. We should strive to be a little objective."
"People don't view (attending Obama's speech) as work," said Connie Llanos, a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News and member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. "We're not going to write about it, so you're allowed to voice your emotion or feeling."
Still, "people shouldn't be throwing underwear," said Veronica Garcia, a NAHJ board member and copy editor who spent 17 years at the Los Angeles Times. "We're journalists. We should strive to be a little objective."
Saturday, 26 July 2008
Chapman stands up for journalists!!
So McCain has been complaining that there's a "love affair" going on between the media and Obama. That brought attention to the mass and many had accused journalist for not being objective.
Here's a really good piece written by Steve Chapman.
A media crush on Obama?
"If there are some journalists who are taken with Obama, it's not surprising. One of the unfortunate things about the American press corps is that it is made up of people. Many people in other walks of life have been attracted to Obama, moved to vote for Obama, even enthralled by Obama. So you would expect some people wearing press badges to be susceptible to the same kind of reactions. "
"I'm probably not the only journalist in America who shed tears when Ronald Reagan spoke at Omaha Beach on the 40th anniversary of D-Day. I felt a few chills when New York Gov. Mario Cuomo delivered the keynote address at the 1984 Democratic national convention—which didn't stop me from blasting his message. "
"Is that plausible? Not really. In 2004, journalists voted overwhelmingly for John Kerry over George W. Bush. Kerry got plenty of unflattering news coverage anyway. I'd bet that in 2000, most media people voted for Al Gore, who thought he got a raw deal from the press. "
"But those attributes will grow stale. Obama will make mistakes. His flaws will become more noticeable. Presidential campaigns are like baseball seasons: Today's hero is tomorrow's goat. With 100 days to go, there will be plenty of chances for McCain to shine and Obama to stumble—and the news coverage will shift accordingly. By Election Day, Obama may feel like he's been worked over by the Hells Angels. "
Here's a really good piece written by Steve Chapman.
A media crush on Obama?
"If there are some journalists who are taken with Obama, it's not surprising. One of the unfortunate things about the American press corps is that it is made up of people. Many people in other walks of life have been attracted to Obama, moved to vote for Obama, even enthralled by Obama. So you would expect some people wearing press badges to be susceptible to the same kind of reactions. "
"I'm probably not the only journalist in America who shed tears when Ronald Reagan spoke at Omaha Beach on the 40th anniversary of D-Day. I felt a few chills when New York Gov. Mario Cuomo delivered the keynote address at the 1984 Democratic national convention—which didn't stop me from blasting his message. "
"Is that plausible? Not really. In 2004, journalists voted overwhelmingly for John Kerry over George W. Bush. Kerry got plenty of unflattering news coverage anyway. I'd bet that in 2000, most media people voted for Al Gore, who thought he got a raw deal from the press. "
"But those attributes will grow stale. Obama will make mistakes. His flaws will become more noticeable. Presidential campaigns are like baseball seasons: Today's hero is tomorrow's goat. With 100 days to go, there will be plenty of chances for McCain to shine and Obama to stumble—and the news coverage will shift accordingly. By Election Day, Obama may feel like he's been worked over by the Hells Angels. "
Friday, 25 July 2008
Colombia admits rescuers posed as journalists
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two people who helped rescue 15 hostages from Colombian rebels posed as journalists from a real Venezuela-based television news organization, Colombia's defense minister said Wednesday.
I can't believe the rescuers actually posed as journalist, and now, tells the world. Can you imagine what this will do to journalists' credibility especially in an armed-conflict country/region???
How irresponsible!!!
Jean-Francois Julliard, deputy director of the press advocacy organization Reporters Without Borders, said authorities can endanger journalists when they pose as members of the news media.
"We think it is a dangerous practice because it puts in danger real journalists," he said.
The next time a reporter approaches FARC rebels, he said, the FARC members "will be very suspicious and maybe they will take some physical measures against these journalists because they will think that they are not real journalists."
I can't believe the rescuers actually posed as journalist, and now, tells the world. Can you imagine what this will do to journalists' credibility especially in an armed-conflict country/region???
How irresponsible!!!
Jean-Francois Julliard, deputy director of the press advocacy organization Reporters Without Borders, said authorities can endanger journalists when they pose as members of the news media.
"We think it is a dangerous practice because it puts in danger real journalists," he said.
The next time a reporter approaches FARC rebels, he said, the FARC members "will be very suspicious and maybe they will take some physical measures against these journalists because they will think that they are not real journalists."
Thursday, 24 July 2008
"Rice told to stay out of Malaysian affairs"
"Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim has accused Ms Rice of meddling in Malaysia’s domestic affairs after she urged Malaysia to follow the rule of law in dealing with the sodomy accusation against Anwar."
- Haiti News.NetThursday 24th July, 2008
I can't believe the foreign minister actually said that!? Does he or the government really think they can resolve whatever Malaysia is facing politically? Do they not see what kind of shame they have brought the country with the way they handled the "scandal"??
Click in the except above to read the entire story.
I think Rice is right. What Malaysia needs right now, in fact a long time ago, is transparency in our government!!!
- Haiti News.NetThursday 24th July, 2008
I can't believe the foreign minister actually said that!? Does he or the government really think they can resolve whatever Malaysia is facing politically? Do they not see what kind of shame they have brought the country with the way they handled the "scandal"??
Click in the except above to read the entire story.
I think Rice is right. What Malaysia needs right now, in fact a long time ago, is transparency in our government!!!
Sunday, 20 July 2008
And again...
"...Barack Obama, a phenomenon of politics not just in America but across the English-speaking world and beyond. Plainly, he is an exceptional candidate, although, like the prophets, he is even more exceptional outside his own land."
"When it comes to celebrity endorsements in politics, Obama is Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela rolled into one. With a cherry on top."
The quotes below are interesting but not something I would necessarily agree with.
"I think McCain is right about Iraq – that the surge has been a success, and that eventual troop withdrawal should depend on that success continuing. But I think it is more important, for America and the world, that Obama should be the one who learns the truth of this the hard way.
In office, he would be forced to use his eloquence and his global popularity to make the case for what is left of the coalition to see its responsibilities to the Iraqis through. Many of his supporters, especially outside the US, would see it as a betrayal. I think it would be a necessary one, by which he could at last heal the suspicion of American power that provides so many around the world with easy excuses."
These quotes are taken from John Rentoul: Obama, the most dominant force in British politics
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Barack Obama = Rockstar???
"(There is) always the other side to the ambivalence of the world's thoughts about America. The rise of Senator Obama is a reminder of what the rest of the world still admires -- sometimes very grudgingly -- about America: a constant capacity to renew itself."
In the article MR. OBAMA VISITS THE WORLD by Richard Reeves, he compares Obama with John F. Kennedy, the Beatles, even POTUS ...
"You have to go back to the Beatles' first U.S. tour to find a trans-Atlantic trip freighted with the same sort of pregnant excitement that attends the one Barack Obama is about to make ...
** Click on the link above. Reeves' article is worth your time!
"It's kind of creepy that the network anchors are tagging along after Barack Obama on his great overseas adventure.
When John McCain went to Iraq after he cinched the GOP nomination, the media was so infatuated with the Democratic primary that little attention was paid to McCain's trip..."
-quoted from an article by Ann McFeatters
Thursday, 10 July 2008
This is taken from http://uwire.typepad.com/iraqinfocus
BAGHDAD — Following the deaths of three Marines in the city of Garma, the Department of Defense (DOD) published a standard killed in action press release.
The release, assigned reference number 545-08, provided the rank, name, age and home of record of the three dead soldiers. The announcement also stated the Marines died June 26 while supporting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.
Multi National Force Iraq (MNF-I) posted the DOD press release on their official Web site 24 hours after the Marines were killed.
The DOD press release made no mention of the suicide attacker who walked into a building filled with members of the Awakening Council and U.S.-led coalition forces. The Awakening Council is a pro-American tribal organization that is frequently targeted by al Qaeda in Iraq.
So why wasn't that published, I wonder? Also, embedded photographer and blogger, Zoriah Miller took pictures of the three dead Marines. He claimed that he was told to delete the pictures. He refused - and posted them on the blog at http://zoriah.net/
Zoriah, you've got my respect and admiration for standing up to people who think they can control people like you (real journalists) to publish only what they want... I think it's really important to tell the world the truth... don't hide the ugly nor the beautiful... show them as it is.. People will appreciate it... and it's really unfortunate that there are so many haters out there... especially those who direct their anger to journalists who are actually just the messenger... To those who don't agree with Zoriah - was it because you don't want to see the ugliness of reality? or are you too afraid to actually be angry towards those who fuel the war?? Fight for what is right.
ps. without people like Zoriah, those in power have the freedom to do whatever the hell they want - without the world even realizing... can you imagine living in that world????? You've got the responsibility to not see that happen. Yes, every single one of you out there.
This actually reminds me of Kevin Sites and the reaction he got from publishing the Fallujah videos. (Google Kevin Sites Fallujah to get more information)
I remembered it vividly. I was still in high school and those pictures from the video was published by a local newspaper in Malaysia made me realize, for the first time that that war was real. It's not just something happening on the other side of the world that does not affect me. It mattered to me, for the first time.
What these people did, inspired me to strive to be a skilled journalist and be a messenger to the world like Kevin and Zoriah.
Ambitious, I know.
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Traveling - a dangerous passion
"Is it possible to feel rich and hollow at the same time?"
-Anthony Bourdain
That was how it was during my 7-week European backpack trip, more often than not.
Other times, I just stressed over the cheapest/most convenient way to get to my next destination.
ps. Oh except for when I was in Berlin. For all the 5 days I was there, all I was thinking was beer - ice-cream - beer - ice-cream - beer - ice-cream - beer - ice-cream - beer - ice-cream
Pretty bizarre, I must say.
Coming back to Toledo, all I have on my mind was work, and plans for my next trip (I know I really shouldn't - but I'm addicted!!)
I spent my Sunday at the office. I went in at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning and left at 6 a.m. on Monday.
I know, crazy.
The fact that my work may affect some people (i.s. putting their words in print, revealing {private} information about certain people) made me feel extra pressured to do my job well, responsibly and put my thinking cap on - no matter what time of the night/morning it is.
I spent all day today napping, watching Anthony Bourdain, Gossip Girl, House and checking my e-mail and Facebook almost every 2 minutes.
But mostly, reading "Ahead of Time" by Ruth Gruber - An American girl who tells her story when she was a foreign correspondent almost right after Hitler rose to power (she was the first reporter to fly over remote outposts to report on the painful efforts, dreams and accomplishments of Soviet scientists and pioneers) She was also the world's youngest Ph.D at the time, at the age 20, from University of Cologne in German and English.
I could relate to some of them things she mentioned. (For example Kolshe (beer) from Cologne introduced by my couchsurfing host, Julia, who's from Cologne and some historical sites I've visited) --- makes me dream of my future apartment in Berlin!!
The fact that her story opens up a world of journalism, strength and determination of a young girl, Europe (of course!!!) and an era where my 11 years of education in Malaysia had deprived me of, makes me want to live in that world that she was in.
The thrills, excitement, the danger...
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