Time to open our minds and spare a little change.

It moved me to tears.

Wow. Even though this is hardly uncharacteristic of me, as a human version of a bubbling pot of emotion, I was never really a big supporter of either presidential candidate (I wanted Hilary to win!) and even though Shaza told me the speech was so good that it made her cry just reading it, I never thought that a mere speech could send shiny globes of tears rolling down my cheeks.

For a little over five minutes, I felt like Barack Obama was more than just the U.S. President Elect - he was the President Elect of the World.

And I was - I am - a citizen of that world.




After CNN played the speech for what must have been the tenth time today, I finally sat down and listened to Obama give his now-legendary speech.

I wonder if I will ever feel that patriotic to my country, this tanah tumpah darahku, just by listening to a politician's speech.

I had 2 favourite parts of Obama's speech:

"... And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand ...."

And about 106-year-old Ann Nixon Cooper:

"... A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can. America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made? This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment..."




It's also funny (but not the ha-ha funny) how I'm starting to feel like my exams ended a week ago, when they really just ended yesterday. Instead of having all that glorious leisure time of infinite time-wasting and doing-nothing, I've somehow managed to pack my days with activites that I did not foresee.

Half an hour after the exam ended yesterday, I got a call from my new friend at ARROW (Asian Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women), who told me they want me in for an informal chat (aka internship interview) today (Wednesday afternoon).

It was literally easier to study for my international studies exam than figure out how to get to the ARROW office.

After begging all my best friends (none of whom were free to come with me) and then proceeding to ask my Monash friends - someone, bless her, finally said "sure, ok, I'll go with you". I cannot thank that person enough! :)

So... long story short, my internship with ARROW begins tomorrow. :)



You can check out their website (http://www.arrow.org.my) for more information. I really like what they do - championing women's rights, especially in areas of health (including contraception, abortion, etc).

Then on Friday, it'll be a day out with some of my favourite Monashians to Pyramid. :) I also collect my pixel art necklaces on that day, so I'll definitely post pictures up after! :D Can't wait!

And on Saturday, there's the Absolute Bazaar that all shopaholics have been looking forward to! :D Head to the 3K Inn Hotel in Subang Jaya from 11am-8pm on Saturday, 8th November for the best bargains from online blog shops! My friend Kye Li's also setting up her booth there (check out http://www.clothesbucket.blogspot.com), so be sure to check that out too! :)

I really hope to be able to kick back and relax at home on Sunday. Haha. But I'm still in the process of organising my post-exam mess.

Then... Psychology 1A classes start on December 9th. And I'm still hoping to get selected to be one of Chin Huat's research assistants!

Not only does it sound like a really interesting experience, it also pays RM10 per hour. I've never thought about payment before (eg: work with ARROW is unpaid and voluntary), but looking at how much it'll cost me to take the LRT to KL Central and back over a period of time (and how much I may possibly spend at the bazaar) - not to mention the petrol money I'm going to be guzzling up by going to Monash or going out with friends... I think earning a little money to subsidise the growing hole in my (parents') pocket can only be a good thing.

If my Research Assistant application is successful, then it'll start after my internship with ARROW ends. If it's unsuccessful, then, well, too bad. Haha.

What holiday is this?!

But Mummy says I've brought all this on myself. ;P