No title would suit this post because...

it's a mixed-up post. I realized that I've not written anything about us settling down in Malaysia. So, for record purposes (future reference in case I forget), let me jot them down although not in order because like I say, it's all mixed up... I think I'll work my way backwards.

1. Zareef has been potty-trained. Yeayyy!!! Now, I can use the money that is usually spent on his nappies on the Home instead.

2. I went for an interview at GSM for the post of an administrative officer in corporate communication. It was set at 8 am and I arrived nice and early albeit some butterflies performing a tornado in my tummy.

When I arrived, there were a number of interviewees already there. All of us (about 25 of us) were ushered into the lecture hall. We were given forms to fill and.... an essay to complete. Bloody hell!!! To write an essay on the spot at the wee hours of the morning is certainly not my cup of tea. Not when my brains refused to cooperate and come up with any ideas on "Why do you think GSM needs the services of an administrative officer (corporate communication)". I didn't remember what I wrote but I do remember bull-shitting all the way. Hah! I hope they won't ask me what I meant in my essay because I sure don't know what I even mean to write.

Waited for a long time for my turn. When it was, I was bombarded with way too many questions. I was grilled until I can be grilled no more. The main issue that struck them was me converting from an engineer to a corporate administrator. I tried my damnest to convince them which I think, they didn't really buy it. After an hour of interview, the panel had really squeezed and exhausted my brain up to the point where I could only smile and say nothing. Imagine being bombarded with questions upon questions from all corners of the board room with only a few seconds to spare. Damn! my brain was tired and my tongue was dry. Tak bagi chance langsung!

When I got out of the board room, I had the feeling that I would have to find another job. What is it about these people that they can't grasp that an engineer CAN switch to do mundane jobs! Called B and we had lunch where I poured and whined and whinged my heart out. Oh well, I've done me best, kalau ada rezeki adalah. Kalau takde, I'm off in search of other jobs then.

3. Last weekend, I met with two dear friends to discuss some business propositions. InsyaAllah, we're all set to go. It's hard work going into the business where we know there are many, many who are well rooted and established but we're diving into it anyway, all heads two hands and feet. When we've worked out everything, I'll let you know ya! Hell, I'll even lead you to the website and give out our business cards.

4. Chinese New Year holiday was well spent with my entire family at Janda Baik. My parents, three brothers (sans the eldest) and their family and mine made our way up the rambling hill and lush forest to my uncle's place. We spent a night there. We had an awesome time!

The kids including their mums and dads had a whale of a time splashing in the cool and pristine river. Then, we headed off to the deep forest to visit my cousin's goat farm. The goats and their kids are so adorable! The kids (anak2 kambing) were so tame that we could even pat them like they were cats and not forgetting very clean and gebu because my cousin made sure that their pens were cleaned everyday.

At night, we pigged out over a barbecue and literally ate under the stars. It was so beautiful! For pictures, please go here.

5. Raya Haji was a family gathering of sorts. Yours truly got to meet all her aunts and uncles and cousins that she has not met for almost 4 years. They too, got to meet Zareef and gaped and gawked at me for putting on so much weight. Yeah... what's new eh?!

6. It took a month for Zareef to really settle down in Malaysia. Prior to that, he wouldn't stay in the same room as his atok and nenek. He would act hysterically if ever left alone in a room with my parents or B's mom and brothers. He refuses to shake hands with or talk to anyone. He didn't want to take a shower using the tap water, saying that it's too cold. So, his daddy had to fork out some dosh to buy and install a hot shower (daddy dia pun mentel jugak, kata sejuk nak mandi pagi2 nak pegi keje... chehhhh blame it on the son konon!). He was jetlagged for a month (and so was his mummy... hehhehhe...). He misses his Merc soooo much that he cried and cried for it on the first day we got back home. He refuses to go to school, saying that it's far, far away. He kept on saying his best friends' name, Abg. Firul, Sarah, Yana, Danish and Haiqal. None of his cousins here are his friends.

Now, he has warmed up tremendously to his atok and nenek (my parents) because his atok would bring him to the playground on his bike. His nenek would play throw and catch with him. At night, Zareef would play hide and seek with them. His atok and nenek are going all out to make him feel comfortable and settle down quickly so that I can go out and find a job.

However, he still refuses to be left behind alone with any of his grandparents which left me wondering, how in the world am I going to find a job with a son who kept on saying "Mummy tak boleh work. Mummy stay home with Zareef la. Daddy je yang work". My dear son, if it were up to me, Mummy pun malas nak keje but I can't. I have to work as we have just bought a new house and I can't possibly let Daddy work to the ground to earn all the dosh alone. Plus, Mummy needs her own money to spend as not to have a public enquiry everytime she asks Daddy for money to buy things. Isn't that what husbands are for? To provide for his wife and children? So B darling, jangan lupa bagi nafkah zahir kat I ye... even when I start working, be a sweetie and do provide me with some stipend.

7. How about B? He has been featured on the front page of Utusan's Mega a while back (please refer to my previous post). He's been complaining about the daily commute from Klang to UPM (sampai demam2 you!) Well... what do you expect. Masa kat Loughborough, boleh la drive 5 minit dah sampai. 15 minutes if you walk. Kat sini, commuting an hour to and fro is a norm. It'll be a different story when we move, though. It'll take only 20 minutes drive from the Home to UPM. So, lets pray that our loan will be approved soon and we can move in asap as the house is about to obtain its' CF anytime soon.

8) Me? I'm still adjusting to the weather. Even when we were at Janda Baik, when everyone else was cold and all wrapped up, I was feeling hot and bothered. Panas punya pasal, Dad installed an air-con in my room a day before we got back.

I finally got to pig out on all the food that I've missed and craved for the entire 3.5 years which then resulted in B and I coming down with food poisoning. Hahahha... our tummy just couldn't take it anymore.

It took me two weeks before I would even dare to drive around. I was so horrified with the Malaysians' attitude towards driving. Sekor2 macam pelesit. F1 drivers wannabe konon! Chehhh... I wouldn't mind if they keep their horrendous driving to themselves but when it comes to the point of endangering my family, then that's crossing the line! And, don't they ever learn about the yellow box? It irritates the hell out of me when people cram into the yellow box when you're not suppose to. I've a good mind to call up the police and have them come down here and ask them to stand in the yellow box everytime the traffic light turns red. Bagi saman sket orang2 yg masuk yellow box nih! Buat my neighbors and I susah betul nak get in and out of our housing area.

I still miss Lboro tremendously but I'm learning to let go. I'm learning to acclimatize myself to Malaysia. Yes, it's hard but I'm trying. Sometimes I forget and act like I normally do when I'm in Lboro like giving way to pedestrians and I get honked from behind by irate drivers. Thanking the cashier lady at Tesco and seeing their look of surprise. Cleaning up after every meals at McD and throwing the rubbish into bins with everyone around staring at me like I'm an insane person or something. Pushing my son in the MacLaren in the malls although he is getting too big to fit in with others gawking at me thinking that this boy is too old to be sitting in the stroller. Having a heart attack everytime I pay for groceries as I was so use to spending only £10 for a basketful of goods and now I have to pay RM100 for the same amount. Goodness! The numerical value is indeed something that I need adjusting quickly.

So, yeah... it's hard but we're getting there, slowly but surely.