It's my third week here in Augie already! So many new and exciting stuff have happened, as evidenced in my Facebook postings and pictures I have uploaded. In fact, some people even questioned whether I'm a tourism attache paid by the US Department of State to enjoy life in the US. Mr. Pervert Yeo back home thinks that I'm "on a vacation or what?".
Therefore, I think its only right if I shed some light about the courses I'm taking here. I'm actually majoring in Government & International Relations with additional minors like Economics and Psychology. Heck, I didn't planned this out. The day I arrived, my eyes bulged as I saw weird courses such as; HIST 297 - Clash of Capital and Class and COMM 210 - Rhetorical Criticism. Thinking it was some quirky voodoo economicsmumbo jumbo, I ditched the former (something which I would regret later). Thinking I was quite a smartass debating mumbo jumbo law student back home, I ditched the latter. And then, with enormous confidence, I decided to take MDFL 180 - Introduction to Spanish. A week later, I dropped it like a whining sissy. Apparently, I wasn't that quite a smartass after all. (Feels ashamed....heck, why am I even telling you guys this?) ANYway, to cut the story short, I'm taking: GOVT 120 - Politics In A Diverse World (my favourite class and professor so far!) GOVT 190 - Humans In Conflict GOVT 200 - American Government ECON 120 - Principles of Economics 1 PSYC 115 - General Psychology From time to time, I will try to blog what I have learnt from the courses above.Now, I don't intend to treat this blog as a domain to reiterate my subject notes. I hope that the important topics which I am learning in America can be shared amongst my readers. Of course, for some kick, each post will be fused together with an analysis from Malaysia's standpoint with regards to that particular topic discussed. By: Lim Wei Jiet (UGRAD 2011-2012)
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Listen up, people!!! Calling undergraduates from all colleges/universities in Malaysia... THE APPLICATION FOR 2012-2013 GLOBAL UGRAD EXCHANGE PROGRAM IS NOW OPEN!!!!!! If you don't know what this exchange program is all about...start browsing our website and check out all the amazing journeys that our past & current UGRADers are experiencing! This is definitely an experience of a lifetime not to be missed! =) Don't miss out your chance this year! Deadline is 9 Dec 2011. There's still ample time to get all your documents ready! P.S. If you have a dream, give it a chance to happen!! Yo, I'm back! I'm so thrilled to blog about THE highlight of the month of September here at Augustana: an unforgettable 3 day trip to South Dakota's most famous landmarks - the sheer marvel of the carved faces of America's greatest Presidents at Mount Rushmore, an exotic journey down American Indian history at Crazy Horse Mountain, the creepy rock formations of the Badlands and a last stopover at good old "WallDrug". We departed for a 4 hour bus ride from Augustana to a motel near Rapid City. It brought a first glimpse of what was expected during the rest of the tour: lush green pine forests, amazingly clear rivers and everything of Mother Nature at its best. The tavern-style lodging brought a real "Western" atmosphere...not to mention the bellowing cowboy-cum-seargant owner! We had a campfire at the edge of the river, entertained by Jukka's guitar strumming, Rajab's singing and a unique dose of nature's soothing voice. First stop: the popular landmark of Mount Rushmore. It has became almost like a symbol of the state of South Dakota - coins, Tshirts, souveniers...you name it! On the mountains, the faces of four exalted American Presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln basked proudly under the sun. The great US general of the American Revolution, author of the Declaration of Independence, the cowboy-boxing 26th President and the famous abolisher of slavery...all honoured in such a stunning yet befitting way. Inside the museum, there were displays on the tools used to carve the figures, achievements of the US Presidents and video screenings. On the bottom right lies Gutzon Borglum, the key person in charge of this project. Crazy Horse Mountain characterized the zeal and proud culture of the American Indians. There were so many paraphernalia on display and it was a great time immersing into the story behind the natives. We often disregard this indigenous tribe from the textbooks, but it is essential to recognize that they once roamed the lands of this vast continent. Crazy Horse Mountain! As in, "Gunung Kuda Mengamuk"? "In 1948, Korczak Ziolkowski began carving a monument he thought reflected the glory and tragedy of Native Americans. But what he began five decades ago became a family affair, with three generations of one family helping to build what will be thelargest mountain sculpture in the entire world when it is finished." ~ ABC News It represents Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior, riding a horse and pointing into the distance. Up until now, only the face and 30% of the entire massive structure is completed. Perhaps I'll return one day when I'm old, grey and grouchy to witness the final completion! Hats off too for a family to have dedicated their entire lives and generations to complete this epic task. Yup, I was right up there! Minus the thick mist. Of course, things got more memorable when Minhazz, Baitullah and Hafsah got lost along the way. As to what dramas unfolded along those terrifying moments, it is a best kept secret...and a best bellow of laughter too! The last major destination was the (in)famous Badlands. Ohmaigod, when you see the contrast of colours of the rocky formations....it's as if God came down and made 3 layer Sarawak Milk Tea painted the Earth himself. "People are drawn to the rugged beauty of the Badlands. These geologic deposits contain one of the world's richest fossil beds. Ancient mammals such as the rhino, horse, and saber-toothed cat once roamed here. The park's 244,000 acres protect an expanse of mixed-grass prairie where bison, bighorn sheep, deer, pronghorn, prairie dogs, and black-footed ferrets live today." ~ National Park Service. gov A short stop at WallDrug on our way home. It was a souvenier heaven and got a tourist like me mad in excitement - from cowboy lashes, bison heads, arrows, leather boots and drugs (duh, why would you could it Wall-DRUG then?). I'm bringing an authentic cowboy hat back home to Malaysia! Those 3 days was the best way I could ever spent my money on. The unique places, people and animals we so luckily met will be the highlights of my stay here at the US. Now, I can officially say I've BEEN to South Dakota! From the land of vast landscapes, jackelops (Google this animal!) and the so-called "New World", The United States of America.
By: Lim Wei Jiet (UGRAD 2011-2012) After more than 28 hours of cramped jet cabins, incessant transitions at the most modern airports in the world and facing an amazingly friendly first point of entry at Denver, I finally got to set my feet on the USA. No, I did not lose my bags to United Airlines. Yes, I fumbled with something as simple as a cash transactions to buy a banana smoothie at Seattle. And yes, I did stupid stuff like crossing through the Singaporean immigration when I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO, causing myself to wander around the T2 Terminal like a zombie when I could be in slumber heaven at the T3 Transit Hotel. I expected to face such stuff but hey, making mistakes is part of this awesome journey too! Where was I? Oh, yeah, back to America. Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to be exact. It's a lovely city which, in my opinion, portrays the 'real' America: small cosy individual houses with big lawns, great church communities, friendly people walking their dogs and not a sight of towering infrastructures; accommodated by the beautiful parks, lush greenery, beautiful rivers and big blue skies. (I plan to have a separate blog post on this, just be patient! ^^) And here is my host institution, Augustana College! It's one of the best private colleges in the MidWest. And it employs a liberal arts education system, which is something I have deeply wished to experience myself all along. The best part is, this year, it had a record high number of international students enrolled! A tour along the Augie campus: The statue in the middle is Ole the Viking, our mascot. The first picture is the Center of Western Studies, which is uniquely shaped like a Native Indian teepee. The library has top-notch facilities. It is also supposedly guarded by Moses.(which really looks like Hellboy carved into a statue to me)One feature of this campus is that it is dotted by many pieces of art and architecture, reflecting the vibrant appreciation of aesthetic values by the community. The main area on the ground floor of the library is my favourite spot. It has an amazing collection of encyclopedias and magazines of just about anything: Lutheran, Time, Academe, etc. I witnessed my first ever live American football game! It was the Augustana Vikings against Minnesota-Duluth (which are the national champions) I find that football games are an important family affair: scores of kids throwing football around the field and hordes of old people seating below tents munching on free burgers. Everyone was proud to display their team jersey. It was a nerve-wrecking game! Especially when Augie performed well in the first two halves. I thought we were going to win! A few mistakes were costly and the opposing team successfully gained ground. It was an interesting event, with the occasional explanation by friends on the rules of the game. (Anyway, I still think soccer is a better sport to watch) The opening convocation at the Elmen Center where all professors came with their fancy academic robes. Me with college President Rob Oliver. One very poignant moment occurred to me last weekend. It was when all Americans stood up to sing their national anthem before the football match. Lead by a local singer, (who, interestingly, belted out the lyrics in her own style like an American Idol rendition) it was a truly fascinating moment.
2 sentences strike my chord the most. The portrayal of USA as the "land of the free" and "home of the brave". I find it extremely true in this great country. True, we will inevitably say racism still exists and the economy is in bad shape... But through my very own eyes, I see how the Blacks, Latinos and Whites happily joke around while preparing our meals. Through the papers and news, I see from afar how brave American civilians and soldiers went through 9/11, as the 10th anniversary of that unfortunate day is arriving. It touched me to a certain extent. Why? Maybe because it reminds me of the things back in Malaysia. Can the Malays, Chinese and Indians genuinely embrace each other one day? No stereotypes, no awkwardness, without the ghost of racial policies haunting above? When can we truly accept one another as equal human beings with equal rights and with equal chance to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? Because that's what I learned when I had the chance to interact with so many international students all across the globe. There was only one race (like what my friend, Wilson mentioned): the human race. If only we treat each other as that, then world peace is very much attainable. Sorry for the idealistic talk. It's just me. I'm excited of many more encounters, experiences and people I will meet in shaping my opinion about America and the world. Until then, bye! And the best wishes to Malaysia come Malaysia Day on September 16. By: Lim Wei Jiet (UGRAD 2011-2012) Wei Jiet can't wait for the 3 day Black Hills trip next weekend! He's even more elated to know that Global UGrad will have a Fall Pre-Departure Orientation at Washington DC on November 16. Lots of travelling and exploring to do! “I hate having to use the first person. Nearly everything I’ve done in my life has been accomplished with other people. Yet when when you write a post like this, you’re forced to use the narrative “I” when it’s really the “we” that counts” – Jack Welch, CEO of GE 1981 – 2001. I bought Jack’s 2nd hand, well maintained hardcover biography at Unique Store at $1.5 (RM4.50) few hours ago. The above sentence is written at the prologue. I can’t agree more with Jack – who hailed as the greatest business leader in century by Fortune. I am very grateful to be able to come to US and experience a taste of different cultures under Global Undergraduate Exchange Program. But I can never make it without the support and help from seniors, lecturers, friends and family. I remember and thankful for that. Global Undergraduate Exchange Program is a program funded by US Department of States. More than 100 students across the globe were chosen to study for 1 or 2 semesters in different universities in US. This program has been running in Malaysia since 2008 and I’m the 4th batch of Global UGRADers Malaysia with another 7 bright student leaders. Global UGRAD Program is administered by World Learning – which works directly with the State Department. In Malaysia, MACEE (Malaysian American Commission on Educational Exchange) is fully responsible for the interview and selection process. So here I’m am – Arlington, Virginia state! Virginia is often nicknamed as “Mother of Presidents” after 8 US Presidents born here. Arlington where I live is a county with a population of 200,000. Arlington is ranked among the top counties with highest median household incomes and CNN Money ranked it 7th in US in its listing of “Best Places for the Riches and Single”. The smart urban growth concept has been proven successful in Arlington. Due to its close proximity to Washington DC, Arlington is headquarters to many departments and agencies including The Pentagon, the Department of Defence, Drug Enforcement Agency, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and etc. Arlington is like Petaling Jaya while Washington DC is Kuala Lumpur. Arlington is in Washington Metropolitan Area (the concept is like Klang Valley or Greater KL) which has a population of 5.6 millions together with Maryland and few other principle cities. Washington Metropolitan Area is the 7th largest metropolitan area in US. As a national’s capital, it is the most educated and by some measures the most affluent metropolitan area in US. I always have a passion in urban planning and cities. It is so great to be in the location where I can go anywhere in the area by subway. The Metro Subway started operating since 1976 so some of the stations are very old. It is the 2nd busiest subway after New York City. Due to its efficiency and good connection, I can easily go to DC core zone with a few stops. The university shuttle runs every 20 minute from main campus to Ballston MU Station the orange line. My host university is Marmount Univeristy – a private, catholic university with about 5,000 students. The campus is not big but it has almost everything. Basically you can explore the entire campus by not more than 20 minutes walk. Because it is small, everyone knows everyone in the campus – applies to senior year (final year) students! I’m the 1st Malaysian student to study here! In fact, I have not met any Malaysian after spending more than 2 weeks in DC areas. International Student Service officer Aline promised to connect me with Malaysia Embassy. According to her, Malaysia Embassy is very active in events. Only at here I can truly understand the meaning of being independent. Besides, this experience opens up my mind broadly – the world is so large so don’t keep yourself in just one circle. Our skin colors might be different, white black or yellow; but to me there is only one race in this world: The Human Race. I stayed on Global Thinker Residential Community at Gerard Hall. I share a room with my lovely roommate, Vincent who is from Pennsylvania. I can safely say that this floors houses some of the most interesting characters from all around the world; from US, South America, Africa, Middle East and also few from Asia. All are very friendly, helpful and nice! President of Marymount University, Dr. Matthew Shank is also a very friendly and down to earth leader. He just arrived to this campus few months and I believe MU can achieve greater heights under his leaderships. He welcomed Tran (Global UGRADer from Hanoi) and me to join this community! One thing I really like about this campus is its cafeteria. It’s just like a restaurant with nice music in the air! This dining hall is actually run by Sodexo, one of the largest food services in the world which based in France. It’s like hotel buffet style. You can take whatever you like if you have a full meal plan: from sushi, pizza, pasta, chicken, beef, salad, fruits, sandwiches to desserts! The main dish changes every day and so far I have not finished trying the foods! Coffee, chocolate or coke? Which C you want? This is Marymount Univeristy Business School at Ballston the city area. I have to take a shuttle which runs every 20 min to here. My Investment, International Finance and Financial Management classes are conducted here. Ballston area at Arlington, view outside from my business school. I have gone to 3 malls so far – Ballston Mall, Pentagon City Mall and Tysons Corner. The later is the best but the bad thing metro line doesn’t reach there. Stuffs in US are really cheap if you work and earn here. If you convert to Ringgit everything is still expensive unless during big sales! If you ask me how’s life in US? I will say it’s great. I love Washington DC this city so much – a young city yet so rich in history, cultures and politics. People here are very friendly and helpful. Ask if you don’t know and they will help. Classes here are really different as in USM. We might use the same textbooks but the teaching method here focuses more in critical thinking than memorizing. Lecturers distribute latest news from Yahoo Finance and encouraged us to discuss and analyze. And, there is no bureaucracy. My class registration was done in few minutes and no flaws. Student emails and online portal are utilized effectively. However, the more I find out the better sides of US, the more I think Malaysia very blessed. For example, we don't have Hurricane Irene. At the time I'm writing this, my Facebook wall is full with Indonesia's earthquake tremors in Penang - but we are still very safe. Malaysia has so much opportunities and if we can do it right, it can be one of the greatest nation too. Phases of cultural adaption – seriously I don’t know which phase I’m in – it’s like a mixture of honeymoon, cultural shock and adjustment. I do miss Malaysia a lot. But hey, people around me are warm, this city is so exciting and I only have 8 months plus here! This is a lifetime opportunity and I gonna learn the mot of it… with an open heart =)
Just like what Khai Shing the senior UGRADer said:” Hope you all can stay in the honeymoon period for all the days in US!” So I will try to stay in the honeymoon period like the new married couples! Haha! By: Wilson Beh (UGRAD 2011-2012) After months of anticipation, all 5 Malaysian UGRADers who are starting their UGRAD journey this Fall have arrived safely in the United States. They've attended orientation in their respective universities, made new friends, and started classes for the Fall semester. Seems like they have been adapting well to the new environment and handling culture shock very well. Here are some updates of their new beginnings and we hope to hear more from them soon! Stay tuned! P.S. Thanks to Amy, YuPing, Nasha, Wilson, and WeiJiet for sharing their updates on Facebook and their blogs! :) Amy Yu St. Cloud State Uni., Minnesota. Amy started her UGRAD journey in SCSU with fellow UGRADers from other countries who are also hosted in SCSU. Despite the cold summer, she is having a great time meeting new friends and experiencing new things. She has attended the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Renaissance Festival with other international students. "Everything is perfectly fine in SCSU!! Beautiful university with awesome facilities & great people. " Yu Ping Uni. of Missouri, Columbia. Yu Ping (Christine) arrived Columbia on Aug 14 and met fellow exchange students in her university. Classes have started and she is enjoying her campus life, especially the rec centre. :p "Got to roughly understand how American football works, had my all-time since young favorite activity - cycling. I love my campus. Blessed!" Nasha Lee Florida Gulf Coast University. Nasha arrived Fort Myers on Aug 17. She's adapting well to the new life in FGCU and has made friends with people from all over the world. Being in the state that is known for its beautiful beaches, Nasha also had the opportunity to visit Fort Myers beach! "I love the fact that I can say good night to the people I love and they reply in a few seconds from halfway across the globe. Technology is pretty amazing. :)" Wilson Beh Marymount Uni. at Arlington, Virginia. Wilson arrived Virginia on Aug 24 right after the earthquake that struck the East Coast. His arrival was also welcomed by Hurricane Irene, indeed an interesting start. Being located in close proximity to Washington DC, he had visited several attractions in DC. Melissa, Jodie, and Jessica from World Learning also made a visit to the UGRADers in MU. He has been sharing his latest updates actively via the use of social media. "I come with an open heart & open mind to accept differences, learn & share from everyone and make good use of it." "Washington DC is a beautiful place. US is a great country. People there are very friendly and helpful. But Malaysia is not ad too - though there are some problems but every country has their own. We are blessed and can be a great nation too by working hard and coming together as one." "My International Finance Professor has been to Penang and said that it's a lovely place, and told the class we can find Made in Malaysia in most electronic gadgets. He also wrote & explained chinese character "危机- crisis" on the white board, but want us to focus on "机- opportunities". I think this is pretty cool!! Wei Jiet
Augustana College, South Dakota. Wei Jiet arrived Sioux Falls on Aug 31 and was welcomed by the beautiful weather and landscapes. "Is constantly amazed at the hospitality and friendliness of the staff here at Augustana. It's really unique to experience college life as an international student." I’ve been MIA for a while in the bloggersphere – busying settling down and classes are starting. Finally, now I got some spare time to blog! Coming to USA is my childhood dream. I feel grateful as at the age of 21, I have a chance to realize it. Thank you US Department of States, World Learning and MACEE. A lot of things had to be done before the departure. I went to USM many times to settle on Credit Transfer, PTPTN, Hostel issues; US Embassy for VISA interview and several trips to KL for orientation and briefing. And also Thank You to everyone who wished me through phone call, sms and facebook message. I received your warm regards. Flying alone made the journey even more exciting. It’s my 1st time to fly across the Pacific Ocean. Taiwan was the farthest place I went. Penang -> Singapore (Stayed one night) -> Tokyo (Transit) -> Washington Dulles I took MAS from Penang and transited at Changi Airport, Singapore. It’s my 3rd time to this airport and it never fail to amaze me. Undeniably the best airport in the world – yes Asia has a number of the best airports. Terminal 3 @ Changi Airport. It is just like a city in a city. You can find almost anything here, from Butterfly Farm, Swimming Pool, Massage, Cinema, Cafe and etc. Free wifi is everywhere. You can ask for the wireless password for your laptop too. I reached Singapore at 6pm, but my next flight was at 710am the next morning. What’s better staying at Transit Hotel at $58 per night? The travel agent booked me a Single Occupancy Room but the hotel staff checked me into this room. Changi Airport Terminal 3 was my most pleasant experience throughout the entire flight journey. It took 6.5 hours to reach Narita Airport, Tokyo from Singapore. The flight was smooth and I got to know a US Navy who sat next to me. He used to work at The Pentagon but now posting at Singapore. The transit at Narita Airport was fast. I spent less than 40 minutes in the airport. All the passengers passed through scanning again and boarded the same flight to Washington DC. This time it was a 12 hours flight. I was very alert and couldn’t sleep at all throughout the journey. I completed reading 2 books, 2 movies and had a nice chat with a Hong Kong middle age woman, who graduated from London School of Economics but settling down at Houston, Texas now. United Airline is not bad. But it will be perfect if they can have more young flight stewardesses! Haha!
I touched down on the land of America at 255pm while my biological clock was at 255am! Yeah the time difference is exactly 12 hours. Malaysia is 12 hours ahead of Washington DC. As a student and with all the documents well prepared, I passed the US Customs in a few minutes. It was just hours after the century earthquake at central Virginia. I was struck in the heavy traffic while going to Marymount University on the cute Super Shuttle from airport. On a land I knew no one, here started my U.S. 9 months life… By: Wilson Beh (UGRAD 2011-2012) Happy Independence Day, Malaysia. A place with so much to offer. A melting pot of cultures , races and religion. A place with so much natural beauty and resources that will never be fully appreciated. Where the food is just irreplaceable.
A place I call home. I think it's when you go away from home that you realize how much that place really means to you. Being in the US has made me realize that the while the US is indeed very developed, Malaysia has so many things to be proud of too. One thing for sure is that it is a safe country . With hardly any terrorist attacks, natural disasters and political instability, one can live with the peace of mind knowing that for the most part, you'll be safe. Sure we might have disagreements once in awhile and bad weather occasionally (HOT ! ) , but compare it with the devastating 9/11 attack and the losses that Hurricane Katrina and now, hurricane Irene caused ,as well as all the earthquakes, tsunamis and cyclones that strike all over the world, we are indeed blessed. Malaysians always talk about studying or working outside Malaysia because they think that it's not as developed as they would like it to be. They think that the education in Malaysia is bad, that the health care is not as good as it is in Australia or Singapore, that the job prospects in Malaysia are limited and you get paid much less than if you were to work overseas. These may be true, but I always feel like if you have the potential to be someone, if you think that you have the knowledge and expertise to contribute towards a good cause, you should always at least consider the country in which you were born and raised. Don't go criticizing when you haven't done your bit to help. Change starts from you, not from waiting for someone to step up and make it. My wish for this Merdeka day is for all Malaysians to start appreciating what we have , because truly , we have so much that other countries can only dream of having. Be proud to be a Malaysian and hold up high that imaginary Jalur Gemilang in your hearts. I know that a lot of what I am today, my values and morals, is what Malaysia has made of me. Hoping that one day I might serve you fully, Malaysia. Selamat Hari Merdeka, with love. By: Nasha Lee (UGRAD 2011-2012) Like Wilson said, this is gonna be my last weekend in Malaysia before I depart to the States.
Packing is not exactly a favourite activity of mine. But with such a long hiatus and being an 'ambassador' of Malaysia, I guess the urge to NOT drag extra gargantuan suitcases along to the airport is a luxury I cannot enjoy. Camera? Check. Immigration documents? Check. Souveniers and baju melayu? (siap dengan samping lagi!) Check. Instantly realising that I would miss out on Hari Raya....bummer. == The flight route to there is going to be a complicated one. From KLIA to a night's stay at Terminal 3 in Singapore, then an exhausting 7 hour flight to Tokyo, another extra exhausting 11 hour flight to Denver...and just when you thought you have escaped the clutches of the daunting airplane cabin, another hour's flight to Sioux Falls, where my college is located. The Ugrad guide book advised us to bring along 'reading materials' throughout the journey. Therefore, I plan to bring together with me... The World if Flat by Thomas L. Friedman. I know, I'm THAT nerdy. But after reading the super-awesome super-funny SUPERFREAKONOMICS, I'm so freakisly into these globalisation-statistics-bamm!!! stuff. A few mini resolutions during my stay at the US: 1) Immerse myself as much as I can into American culture, lifestyle and interests. This means shaking off my long-time addiction towards The Malaysian Insider, Malaysiakini and other news portals. Honestly, I do get tired of the endless politicking ala Malaysian "don't question my rights - Anwar is a sex maniac - stupid ministerial statements" scenario. I think right now, it is better for me to focus more on the international arena and US administration, for once. Of course, this doesn't mean I have lost faith towards Malaysia. (Shhh...I will peek on Loyarburok, once in a while) 2) I know it's contradicting with my first point, but still....pay attention to the 13th General Election Election is going to be held very soon. Best to be updated. We may never know if another political tsunami will sweep the dirty Malaysian political scene. Hey, I'm not 21 yet, so I won't exactly escape my 'civic duty' of voting, right? 3) Learn another language I desperately want to learn Spanish. Or French, if I can't choose Spanish. Hell, I would even learn Elementary Greek! 4) Visit a UM lecturer at Duke University It's a long time since I've met the swashbuckling UM academic, Miss Dian "Justin Bieber" Shah who is currently doing her PhD (actually, a SJD) at Duke. Promised you would take me around North Carolina, and you WILL hold your word! Muahahaha.... 5) Travel to Washington, DC! It's my ultimate dream destination in the US. The center of American government, it is brimming with my favourite hotspots such as the Smithsonian Museums, The Capitol, US Supreme Courts, Washington Monument, Lincoln's Memorial and so many more bustling destinations! Gonna do back-to-back visits if I have to! There are so many more stuffs I wanna do, but I'm just gonna state down this 5 here. Who knows, maybe the foster family have some other plans for me. It's gonna be a bash, and I can't wait for it! By: Lim Wei Jiet (UGRAD 2011-2012) Wei Jiet realises that when everyone is cheering "Merdeka!" back home on 31st August, he will be at a foreign land half the globe away. (Or worse, still on a plane when the clock strikes midnight!) He's not really a nostalgic person, but he will miss the rendang, char keuy teow and mamak roti canai back home. |