Thank you #9

Today is the second sessions for the Graduate Women @MIT conference. The topic for this is "Claim Your Space: How to Feel Confident, Command any Room, and Effectively Get What You Want" by Jennifer Madden.

She shared tips and what not to do when presenting / speaking in front of an audience. The tips are really easy to follow and I didn't realize how every movement you do when speaking in public can distract people. When she mentioned it, then I realized how easy I am being distracted by a speaker who doing exactly what she say.

And finally I tried the famous sticky bun at Flour Bakery. The verdict: So delicious! The review is not exaggerating. Definitely will buy it again. I also tried their Boston Cream Pie. It was good but after a while, I found it a bit overwhelming. I'll stick with the sticky bun. Hehe.. Geddit :p

Alhamdulillah for knowledge and good food.
 

Thank you #8

My friend who is the organizing committee for the Graduate Women @MIT conference invited me to join the conference. So I signed up 2 sessions and the first one is today. The topic was "Confidence, Arrogance, Talk, and Teamwork: Communication by Women in the Workplace" by Jane Connor, a MIT professor.

It was an interesting discussion and I really enjoyed it. I learned that when we met people, and talked to them, there are other qualities that they are evaluating us that we don't notice. And also the difference between confident and arrogant.

Alhamdulillah for new knowledge.

Thank you #7

Today I have my morning shift at cat shelter. That was my happy pill for the whole day. This afternoon we got back our apartment deposit from our previous landlord. Now we can breathe again with additional money to live on.

And I cooked sup tulang today. Yummsss

Alhamdulillah.

Thank you #6

Went to Malaysian restaurant in Cambridge, MA called Royal East. Now they have partial halal menu! So we ordered chicken curry (halal!), ikan pari bakar (soooo yummmmy), kangkung belacan (where did they find the kangkung?), chicken satay (yes, halal too!) and roti canai (not frozen one). Finally we were able to satisfy the craving to eat at a Malaysian restaurant.

Btw, there are 2 Malaysian restaurant here. Penang is situated at Downtown Boston but as far as I know, they don't offer any halal menu. Royal East is at Cambridge, very near to MIT. Previously they don't have halal menu, now they have few dishes that halal.

Alhamdulillah for good food

Thank you #5

I went to library today. Felt a bit relaxed and I don't feel so claustrophobic in our tiny apartment. Thought I will be studying more, instead, I just read Ann Rule's book. Still, I felt more calm and at least I'm feeling better.

Alhamdulillah for that.

Thank you #4

I have been slacking from my gym routine a week and I'm not proud of it. Hubby wanted to go to gym and asked if I want to join. I almost didn't want to go but I fought the temptation to stay at home and being static. I went and forced myself 90 bicycle sit-ups (not sure if that the correct name. haha) besides the usual routine. I feel good about myself for achieving that. 1 year ago, I can't even do 10 sit-up without back pain.

Alhamdulillah for the health.

Thank you #3

I went to a marketing seminar hosted by Entrepreneur Magazine. The speaker was Randy Brandoff founder of Eleven James. Though the tips he gave was nothing new and out of ordinary, it was a good reminder and motivation that why we are doing what we are doing and how to persevere when the going gets tough. I love how he answered the questions from the MC and also from the audience. It doesn't sound like he knows everything and it felt authentic. I'm glad that I signed up for this and took time to attend this. Really made my day.

On the way home, I stopped by Boston Public Library at Copley Square and borrowed 2 books. I 'discovered' the true crime section and I know my life will never be the same again. Haha

Alhamdulillah for the seminar and public library.

Thank you #2

I started my volunteer work at Gifford Cat Shelter, a no cage no kill cat shelter. It was fun. I got to clean up the kitten area and as you know, kittens are playful and active. This one little guy kept following me and playing with me while I cleaned up the place. Oh such happiness.

Cats always can make your day better.

Alhamdulillah for cats.

Thank you #1

For some reason, I was craving for hot chocolate and Dunkin' Donuts glazed donut. Not sure why this sudden of craving for sweet stuff. With abundant of chocolate-related food in our house due to Halloween candy special that you can find everywhere right now, I have been imposed with strict order from my hubby to not buying any snacks. But today he let me bought the donut. And I finally can drink hot chocolate with milk using almond milk. Yeay. No more lactose intolerance problem.

Alhamdulillah for that.

Thank you #1

Again and again I need to re-count the number coz I always forgot to be thankful for what I have today.

It has been 19 days that I have started my new life in Uncle Sam's land. This time, it's in different state and different city. Honestly I thought it's going to be easy since I've been here before, but I was wrong. Now the roles have been reversed, and I'm not used to sit at home all day.

So today I walked to a hardware store to buy an adjustable wrench. And that was highlight of the day for me. Coz I managed to have a normal interaction with humans instead talking to my depressed soul.

Alhamdulillah for that.

Thank you #3

Found a food court which has at least 10 stalls at the basement of Malakoff building in KL Sentral. Since it is near to my office, it might be my new lunch spot. And one of the stall actually sell asam pedas only, a delicious one thankfully.

At least 1 good thing happened despite that angry feeling that I have since morning.

Alhamdulillah for food.

posted from Bloggeroid

Thank you #2

Today I met my colleague-who-turned-to-friend which I haven't met almost a year. It was a nice short chat & updating each other of the people we knew.

In another note, today is the second day i'm taking Komuter to and fro work. I make sure I rode the ladies' coach. Best idea ever! Thank you for ladies coach. And boo to guys who think they have vagina to ride this coach.

Alhamdulillah for today!

posted from Bloggeroid

Thank you recounting #1

A random stranger in the KTM komuter gave up his seat for me. No words can describe who grateful I am for his gesture. I was so tired walking & standing around in my new office. And my bag weight a tonnes with laptop and charger. My leg, let's not go there. That's why I really need this seat.

Alhamdulillah for goodness in this world.

posted from Bloggeroid

Thank you #51

Past few days I was feeling quite down due to the fact that I don't have a lunch buddy yet. So I made a conclusion that maybe this is the sign that I should start fasting to replace all my fast during Ramadhan. Even though I already make a pact with a friend to be her lunch buddy, but I already set my mind to fast today. So I managed to wake up for sahur and fast.

Alhamdulillah, I have -1 day of days to replace my fast :)

Thank you #50

Today my friend decided to follow me back to hotel to see my room. Then we decided to have dinner and we ended up talking about our experience in Miri. She is also from Cyberjaya office moving to Miri, so we can compare what we had and what we face right now. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who has this uneasy feeling in Miri and we shared the same issue.

So we made a pact: to become default lunch buddies. We will include another of our friend that also in the same position with us to be the buddies. At least for now I don't have to ask around everyday who can I join for lunch.

Alhamdulillah for friends :)

Thank you #49

So today my dad send me to office. I love it when I don't have to drive. I love it when I have someone to send and pick me up. Then both of them when Bintang Shopping Mall (the one shopping mall that decent enough here). When they picked me up in the evening, mak bought me a new top, a peplum! So pretty, yet looked professional to wear at office. Thank you mak!

 But they are going home tonight..

Well, Alhamdulillah for mak & abah coming to visit me :)

Thank you #48

Finally we are eating seafood today. Been waiting since the day I arrived in Miri to eat one but because of Chinese New Year, a lot of restaurant closed. So today we went to Dragon Seafood, one of the seafood place that halal. We forgot to tell them the portion is for 3 people, so we ended up eating butter prawn for I dunno 10 people maybe. So much, we ended up eating it for dinner and still couldn't finish it. Haha

Alhamdulillah for good food :)

Thank you #47

When mak and abah is here, what else should we do then going to Brunei... Again. Haha. Had funny incident coming back and managed to convince mak to eat sushi at Excapade Sushi.

Alhamdulillah for healthy mak and abah :)

Thank you #46

Last week, my sweetheart was here, this weekend, my parents are here. They arrived this morning and I asked them to ask for my room in the hotel. Brought them for lunch and after work, I brought them around Miri town, starting at my new found apartment. Abah already excited that my house facing golf course. Haha. Had our lunch at that famous lalapan restaurant, Muara. This is the 4th time I'm in this restaurant eating lalapan within 2 weeks I'm in Miri. I should take a picture and pasted it here for memory. Hihi.

Alhamdulillah for parents :)

Thank you #45

Last night I called a property agent to find a house/apartment to rent. Renting in Miri is not a nice experience. The house is expensive to rent, the ones within my budget has safety issue. The ones that in safe neighborhood is more than my budget. Deja vu, like Durham circa 2009. Promised to see one house with the agent on Friday, not my first choice but I need to start somewhere. Husband prefers I stay in an apartment in Kampung Pulau Melayu but it is above my budget. Afraid of my safety, he said, he will add the additional amount. Thank you sayang :)

Just my rezeki, after husband said that to me last night, today I asked the agent and she said there's an empty house in that apartment and I can see it today. Went to see it and fell in love with it. The owner was there and I negotiated with him as the price he offered is way above what I thought the price will be for that area. Alhamdulillah he agreed to that price and I immediately said yes. Hand still shaking coz I think my decision was quite haste. But I think this is the best as I have prayed to Allah few times before to give me the best place to stay here. I'm sure Allah helped me making this decision.

Tonight I felt better. I think I made a right decision.

Alhamdulillah I found a house already :)