...and another month, another semester and academic year in fact, has gone in a blip.
It's only Friday, 3pm in the evening but the usually packed DUP or the main examination hall and parking cum marching ground is already deserted even though it should've been the very last day of examination for USM students. There's no exam in the friday evening this semester like what I had a couple of years ago? Ahh the memory of sitting in freezing exam hall with a small table and a stiff chair, squeezing out every drop of remaining intelligence in brain while scribbling away against ticking time, flipping my dictionarIES from to time.
With fellow undergrads going home to enjoy their semester holiday for the next two months, this means those who stayed back (mostly postgraduate and anyone who can't afford of going back due to financial or other commitments) will have to endure roughly two months of minimal service for both cafeteria and bus. (Time to buckle up, fasten your shoe lace and ration all food intakes). On the flipside however, a quiet, serene campus that serves as an cocoon from outside world and (for me), true lightning speed internet connection. Time to ramp up the juice!
If there's any other saving grace about the end of exam time is that I won't need to see these two sneering DEAR LEADERS' faces whenever I am heading out for lunch or going off campus. Interesting enough though according my own observation is the absence of MPPs vanity banners this time. Probably they collectively realized that their extended term (due to change of academic calendar) is pretty much a sham and they overstayed their welcome.
What can truly be considered as a saving grace in time of scorching heat and lung clogging haze is obviously a substantial torrential downpour to bring life to the parched land. Finally a relief after weeks of bad sleep and nap due to excruciating heat.
One of the recurring theme that you should probably be able to sense at any instance I talk about the weather is how much I like the sky immediately after rain: clear blue sky with undulating fluffs of cloud. It has been weeks since the last time I can see the twin tower in the middle clearly without being shrouded in thick haze.
My final dinner for the month of June: Mikki's Western Food Queensbay branch Crispy Chicken Burger (RM9.00 not including tax). Only went there because they have grand opening 10% promotion and incidentally today's the last day of the promotion.
I am just in time for Jusco's Deli clearance time (after 8pm) so of course I have to snap up discounted gourmet deli food, like the German Wurst and Sushi!
Yet another month has finally drawn to a close and curtain rises for another month, the month of July. I wonder what will the month of July have in store for me. I wonder...
Epilogue: OK enough with the faux syrupy rosy slice of life chatter. (Some of your may also have notice how I snuck serious deeper personal thought into either prologue or epilogue. Some time you might missed it but don't think this one is inescapable considering how much space it occupies at the end) The expression of "everybody's left. Then there's me" resonates deafeningly loud in my thought recently and it's definitely not just about the lost time as curtain close for another academic year (even though it does have quite a significant effect on the presence of that thought.). As I brew my thought on writing this post, yet another mental soliloquy surfaced: Life, decision made and/or decision unmade? Decision done and/or decision undone? One of my defining character is definitely how I tend to dwell in thought and ruminate, occasionally cast aside the ruminating, brewing before picking it up again. (Go ahead that consider this as extended procrastinating if you really think so.) The time I ruminate is getting even more drawn out that ever and I afraid that I did missed out a couple of what could have been a key turning point. A minor example: my heart is itching madly of going down to KL to meet up with my SISTAHood (especially after they made up their extraordinary plan. *jelly*) but in the end I didn't make my move to Sungai Nibong Express Bus Station to buy a ticket, being bogged down by the thought of four hours bus journey and horrendous traffic in KL. (Another key reason of course is that I woke up late in the end.). And now I am feeling a little regret bubbling up inside me. Then there are more pressing and may even be life changing questions which I have or have not answered.
You just can't help to wonder: what else can I do now? Self-reflection scares me most of time...then I put the thought aside and call it another day.
Prologue: Consider this a prelude before wrapping up the month of June. It's good stuff anyway so just enjoy it while I think of something else.
Our main trio of talking animal shenanigan, Panda the good for nothing kid who prefer lazing around, Penguin the erratic hopeless romantic and Polar Bear the cool owner with penchant for occasional trolling and bad puns. IT'S GOING STRONG FOR ANOTHER SEASON! *confetti*
The opening single for Shirokuma Cafe/Polar Bear Cafe (しろくまカフェ), ボクにインビテーション Boku ni Invitation (My Invitation) by JP was released not too long ago and I finally get my hand on it today! My waiting for it has finally been answered after wondering for quite a while when is it any musical albums about Shirokuma Cafe going to be released. Apparently this single is the debut solo album of JP who is born in Hawaii which also explains the appearance of mahalo (welcome in Hawaiian) in the song itself. (Trivia: Hawaii has the highest proportion of population with Asian descent in United States especially Japanese Hawaiian.)
Anyway, another prime mover behind this post is because the fan has did it again by coming up with translation of the lyric and I am more than happy to reproduce it over my little sharing jukebox. Go, sing along and move your body with this light electro-pop! Mocha, latte, au lait, chai!
Lucky boys and girls who have made it to this cafe
Be spoilt by our superior menu and warm reception oh just for you
By all means make your way to our cafe
I look forward to the day we meet. Mahalo
結局 南極 北極 でもなくテルミー
世界のどこかにきっと ある
話題のカフェがどこなのかをリサーチ
In the end, it wasn't the north or south pole,
tell me
this cafe is somewhere in this world
I'm going to research on this cafe that everyone is talking about
I shall continue to check the BBS net during tea-time
More more more those are all rumors
Liar liar liar if that's it then I give up
Looks like there is nothing I can do
そんな時 ポストに白いレター
中にはヒミツの 彼のレシピ
At that time, a white letter arrived in the post
It contained his secret recipe
（＊）キターーー（ ﾟ∀ﾟ）ーーー！！！！！ ボクにインビテーション
世界が期待 カンバせーション
(*)It's here ーーー（ ﾟ∀ﾟ）ーーー!!!!! An invitation for me
The conversation that the world has been waiting for
Lucky boys and girls who have made it to this cafe
Be spoilt by our superior menu and warm reception oh just for you
By all means soothe the tiredness you have racked up
with our warm smiles. Mahalo(*)
Let's drink mocha latte au lait chai
and add pancakes with ice-cream to that
Let's drink strawberry and mango shakes
and once in a while diet with just bamboo
Mahalo
やっぱり ロンドン おフランスでボンジュール
世界を寄り道しまグッデイ
青い空の下寝転んで
As I thought, you got to say "Bonjour" in London and France
Let's take a trip around the world "Good Day!"
and lie down under the blue sky
Checking the GPS map on my smartphone, take-off
Oh My God, the battery is dead
No no no I need to keep going with this
but looks like there is no way out
そんな時 ポケットの白いレター
よく見て アドレス発見！ いざカマクラ
At that time, I took out the white letter from my pocket
Taking a closer look, I found an address! The time to act is now!
キターーー（ ﾟ∀ﾟ）ーーー！！！！！ ボクにナビゲーション
世界が期待 モチベーション
It's hereーーー（ ﾟ∀ﾟ）ーーー!!!!! Time for some navigation
Motivation that the world has been waiting for
(**)Lucky boys and girls who became regular customers
Let me tell you about the secret menu. Surprise for you!
There is no right or wrong, why don't you just try it?
However, I will have to say "no" to the cream
Let's drink mocha latte au lait chai
and add pancakes with ice-cream to that
Let's drink strawberry and mango shakes
and once in a while diet with just bamboo
Mahalo(**)
Usually included within a single album itself are either other songs by the same artist or remixes of the same song. Most of the time I will just listen to what I want to listen instead of the extras but I will make an exception for this one. From relaxing Hawaiian ukelele-guitar ensemble to beating drum line then electro dance mix, experience different flavours and whole lots of fun now!
~Mahalo Remix~
~Black Jaxx Remix~
~DJ Hazime Remix (Still waiting for people to upload it over Youtube)~
Epilogue: Everybody comes and goes. Then there's me. This will set the mood for next post I will ever come up with one.
Prologue: June. Even though I do have plenty of other more interesting materials to blog about, my current state of mind can only churn out this hastily pasted post, a shy of my more prodigious writing (note: ridiculously lengthy, thought bordering rant) past.
There's nothing that could remind me more of fleeting time than a neatly folded sheet of rental invoice. There's nothing more nerve-wrecking to a destitute soul than a reminder of fleeting time.
The state of mind of a grad student as illustrated by the ever de-ja-vu-ish PHD Comics: Piled Higher and Deeper. Some of it recent entries actually ring way too close to current reality that it's freaky.
I think...I already passed that threshold point.
...except in my case, I can't seem to get even a bit of productivity out these days.
I do stare at my laptop for unhealthy amount of time but I am not entirely sure if there's anything pop up recently apart from Facebook notification.
...I can feel the pressure already even without meeting with my supervisors. Just by imagining my supervisors' existence would be good enough to sent my heart pounding mad.
