let's see how far we've come?

So many things to do, so little time! That’s exactly the best description of our Penang trip. But of course, we were there for a meeting, not a holiday. Too bad time wasn’t on our side and transportation was a real bummer too. We came by bus, so we didn’t have a car to drive down from Ferringhi to experience the best of what Penang has to offer. On the day that we arrived, my aunt came over to give me fresh orchids and my favourite chocolate cake in the whole wide world – freshly baked by my other aunt. (Both aunts live in Penang). It is so rare that people go all out to do special things for me and I was deeply touched! It was so very kind and thoughtful of them. Little things like that can make me happy for days ok. See, I’m easy to please. :) Later on, we had dinner at the beautiful al fresco-style dining area in the hotel. We ate at the hotel all the time even though the food was just so-so. Seriously, sakit hati knowing that all the good and wayyyy better food are out there just waiting for us. But there was nothing we could do. :( After dinner, we went shopping at Penang’s famous night market. It was just right outside our hotel anyway.

For the next two days, we had meetings from morning ‘til evening. But I didn’t attend most parts of the meeting as I was the liaison officer for SG II. Arranged and coordinated activities around her flight schedule and all that. However, the best part of being the L.O was the opportunity to dine out of the hotel, even though it was only for one particular lunch hour but it was at one of my favourite restaurants in Penang. Where else but Hainan Town! I think I wrote about the place in one of my previous entries. Being a Penangite myself, I think it was a smart move for them to pick me as the L.O as I was the one who recommended the restaurant. The food was superbly yummy, as usual. Ahh, best!

Hmm, what else did we do in Penang? After meetings, we hung out by the beach – as decently and innocently as possible as our big bosses were also there with their families. Some of them played water sports yada yada. After dinner, we packed our snacks and lepak at the lounge chairs underneath some tall coconut trees overlooking the beach. That was reallyyyy nice. On our last night there, we were determined to DO something so we searched high and low for a karaoke spot but surprisingly there was none anywhere near the hotel. We walked for quite a bit sampai macam reach a ‘ghost town’ when we saw one karaoke shop called Sinar. But it was not only super dodgy, we weren’t even sure whether it was closed or open for business. We gave up, bought ice-creams and went to bed.

On Sunday, before we headed back home, the bus made a stop at Chowrasta Market as some of them wanted to buy buah pala. Of course I didn’t buy any. Like they said, malu lah if orang Penang pun beli souvenirs to bring back home. Hehe. But anyway, just as a pointless info, I used to buy my school bags there, at the shops along Jalan Chowrasta. I think some of the shops are still there. I remember how my grandparents used to bring me there to choose my school bag and how I loved changing my school bag and getting a new one. I guess my love for bags is not that new after all. :)

After a journey that felt like forever, (despite the fact that the bus ride was so much fun with all their corny jokes and I wasn’t the slightest bit dizzy) we reached Putrajaya and everyone cheered. Haha, I guess there really is no place like home. I was extra lucky that day because si dia picked me up. Another light in my life, so yes, I’m very grateful.

Monday was my second convocation. I call it second convo because I give up trying to explain to some people why I have two convocation ceremonies. I know that LL.B Hons is THE one that matters but somehow, I felt like my BLS convo was a lot merrier and well-earned. Maybe because for BLS I had to go through 4 years of law school (including pre-law) and betul-betul puas...whereas for LL.B Hons, it was only 2 semesters (even though the 2 semesters weren’t easy). But yes, emo tetap emo especially when we sang the UiTM song. Because that was probably the last time we’d ever sing that song. When would we get to sing it again? Perhaps never. So it was very sentimental. And I’m thankful to God for the sweet success. I also received two other awards - the faculty’s best student and best student for the Hons. programme and the awards came with a cheque. But I don’t think I’m going to spend it (yet). I’ll put it in my savings. Yes, I’m wiser now. :) Anyway, now that I have officially graduated, I’ve got to say this. First class degrees are not enough. It doesn’t make you any superior than the rest, just maybe better in terms of the results. It is not the yardstick to determine your future. Those with third class degrees may some day earn more than you do but it wouldn’t matter if you know what you’re doing and most importantly, love what you’re doing. I know that I will continue learning, through experience or from others especially now that I’m in Drafting. It is nothing like what we’ve learned in law school, and I’m learning. Either from the seniors, colleagues (regardless of who scored higher in law school) including the legal assistants. There are a lot of brilliant people out there. I can learn a lot from them. I’m still clueless on a lot of things, I don’t have the answer to everything despite the A’s. I may be a lot of things but I’m not one who would look down upon others. We could all learn from each other kan? :)

Anywayssss, now I’m back in the office. Ready to get back to work. Yeah right. I think my mind is still in Penang and my break on Monday. Haha.