For us Malaysians it is quite troublesome to buy stuff from US and have it shipped here. If you have tried shopping from Amazon then you’ll know how it feels. For me I feel like cursing because the shipping is always much more expensive than the item itself.

Plus almost all US online stores do not accept international customers. Some require US credit cards. Others have more stringent requirements. The delivery part is a big headache as most of us do not have  US mailing address.

VSHub will change all that. It is a service that lets you register for free and shop at over 300,000 USA online stores and have your purchased stuff shipped to you in Malaysia (and Singapore, I think). Of course they will charge you for the service, but I think it is a bit cheaper compared to other services. For e.g. a 2kg item will set you back RM128 for standard shipping.

If you have friends who like to shop online, this is a good way to pool together your purchases and consolidate your shipping. Not only will you receive your items securely, you get to save a lot too.

VSHub is a Malaysian company, operated by Malaysians for Malaysians (and Singaporeans lol). They even have a concierge service where you just tell them what you want and they will buy it for you using their US credit card. Of course the exchange rate is not favourable since it is pretty high at RM3.70=$1.00

Shop online at US stores with a peace of mind. Register now! And do make sure HM008084 is in place as the referral code.

A man is driving down a deserted stretch of highway when he notices a sign out of the corner of his eye….It reads:

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION 10 MILES

He thinks this is a figment of his imagination and drives on without second thought….

Soon he sees another sign which reads:

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION 5 MILES

Suddenly he begins to realize that these signs are for real and drives past a third sign saying:

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION NEXT RIGHT

His curiosity gets the best of him and he pulls into the drive. On the far side of the parking lot is a stone building with a small sign next to the door reading:

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS

He climbs the steps and rings the bell. The door is answered by a nun in a long black habit who asks, “What may we do for you my son?”

He answers, “I saw your signs along the highway and was interested in possibly doing business….”

“Very well my son. Please follow me.” He is led through many winding passages and is soon quite disoriented. The nun stops at a closed door and tells the man, “Please knock on this door.”

He does so and another nun in a long habit, holding a tin cup answers the door… This nun instructs, “Please place $100 in the cup then go through the large wooden door at the end of the hallway.”

He puts $100 in the cup, eagerly trots down the hall and slips through the door pulling it shut behind him.

The door locks, and he finds himself back in the parking lot facing another sign:

GO IN PEACE. YOU HAVE JUST BEEN SCREWED BY THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS. SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU SINNER

If that didn’t make you laugh, I don’t know what will.

I think one of the most important thing I have learned so far is not to be reactive. Does it ever occur to you that a lot of us resign to life’s tribulations, blaming this and that and refusing to take responsibility? Or rather, giving up and living the life as how the situation or circumstance dictates?

I learned that when people or situation hurts you, you can choose to say NO and say to yourself, “I can choose my own response”. Most of the time people respond by “If it weren’t that person..” or “The situation is hopeless..” or “I can’t do this, I’ve tried so many times..”

So instead of responding blithely, we should instead be proactive and not be reactive to life’s difficulties. One should look for ways to focus on what he or she can improve. The saying goes, “Keep moving forward” and I cannot agree more. Instead of blaming the situation, or blaming oneself, the person should take responsibility and be courageous to march forward.

To be responsible for your life means to be “response-able”. Being responsible means able to respond to life’s challenges. It means being able to choose after getting a stimulus, and not act in a predetermined scripted way and resulting in a much-anticipated consequence.

So the next time you are hurt, or you are frustrated or desperate or lost or down, remember:

You can CHOOSE your response.

I had that kind of feeling. When I became a Christian, that feeling was replaced with a sense of belonging, a sense of relief. Relief that you know even if the hardship is very difficult and you are up to your neck in problems, you know there is someone who is watching over you.

I really hold strong to the belief that God does not test us more than what we could bear. More often than not, my own faith comes through countless convictions that God indeed listens. The only thing I hope and pray for is for my faith to become more child-like. Instead of becoming more mature and older, I want to become ever more faithful and joyful of what and who God is. The faith that embodies trust in all situations, even in difficult ones, is the one I strive for.

The only way to let God into your heart is to confess that you are a mere mortal, and that you could not deal with everything on your own. And what gives greater joy than to know that God will always be there to help. It takes a lot to defeat pride, to relinquish the sense of control in our lives to some entity you cannot see.

I learned that I was not listening when I struggled within the first few months of me becoming a Christian. I shouted, “God, where are You?” I wanted to give up. Then a phrase from a movie struck me. I learned that it was not because God did not say anything, it was because I did not stay still enough to hear him.

So every time I fret, worry, or despair, I remember this. And I stay still.

Child-like faith means to let yourself become like a rock, leaping through the air and falling down, letting yourself spiral out of control. You are a rock, what can you possibly do to prevent your impending doom? Nothing. But you can pray and take heart in the knowledge that God is down there waiting to catch you with a gigantic trampoline.

When life gets tough, it is one thing to say “have faith” and another to actually do it. But for me, I say “have faith” then I jump.

Like a rock.

Then I pray, like a child, that there is a gigantic trampoline down there, sewn by God’s hand waiting for me.

This post is dedicated to you, my friend. I know you know I mean you. Yes you. =)

Call it art, but I find it rather disturbing. Imagine standing stark naked in chilly 15 degrees and doing poses in the name of art.

Now that is some “whoa” moment.

But I call it the Attack of the Nude People.

I really salute these people for having the courage to take off their clothes and doing whatever the artist/photographer is asking them to do. But judging from the works, I gotta say they look amazing. I mean the photos. Not the masses of flesh.

Lol.

Anyway, did some tempering and changed the logo using GIMP. With some patience and free time, one could easily produce graphic or art comparable to Photoshop. Heck, you would not even figure out I did the logo with GIMP had I not told you, eh?

Suddenly ran out of ideas of what to say.

…

A lot of my close friends have left for university. So it gets worse in the afternoons when I am alone at home. The Internet is my only lifeline. I would go restless when the Internet speed suddenly drops and becomes almost non-existent. Speaking of which, after almost 1 year of surfing speeds in excess of 8Mbps, coming back here feels like Malaysia is some Stone Age country in terms of Internet availability and speed. TM should really buck up. =.=” then again my home is still on the 512Kbps plan.

512Kbps = omg. 8Bps = OMG on the other end of the spectrum.

Anyway, going to KL soon. Cannot wait to see my siblings, and I really miss PJ. I like the place, and I have no idea why. Maybe it is because of the fond memories of my sister driving me around and trying all the kopitiam there. *drool*

And really excited to see how our new condo apartment looks like. =D

Just like that, a month has flew past and it felt like only a week. Why does time go by at an exponential rate ==”

First year of medicine completed. Feels really amazing, because God has been with me all these while. Through troubled times and joyful times, His strength and comfort was all I needed. My sustainer, my water of life, my shield..

Going back soon. Hmm haven’t started packing my bags though.

Today I woke up early and dragged myself around the house to start the mammoth task of cleaning it. Vacuum, mop, sweep, wipe, wash.. First the kitchen, then the toilet, then the bathroom, then my room, then the hallway.. I think my house is quite habitable now. Especially pleased with the entrance area. It used to be a netherworld of shoes and stockings and boxes. I bought shoe racks and arranged everything properly. Hope it stays that way.

Then cooked lunch and had some friends over. Ate, talked, hung out.

Now that I think of it, really wondered how I could manage to do all that in 1 morning. Really tired now though.

Hmm.. few more days left in Prague. What to do, what to do..

Closing with this song.. Really nice.

“You are very good. You can consider becoming a tutor next year. You can find the information on the website and apply with Doctor Becke.”

=D thank you, Lord.

I hope I can do better in Anatomy. So far, my progress is really slow and I am kinda screwed if I continue at this pace. Lots of questions to cover. 10 more days to cover 180 questions. Oh God.

But I just want to glorify Him and let my parents be proud, so I will try my best.

I want to be able to go home, hug my parents and let them know that their son has finished 1st year of medicine successfully.

God, lend me Your strength. =)

Stumbled across this song when I was blog-surfing. Should be revising now but somehow my thoughts drifted off.

Thought about Kuching, and how I miss Malaysian food. Kolo mee, Sarawak laksa, teh C peng..

How I would  go to the kopitiam every morning with my mum and have breakfast while reading newspaper (sound so apek, I know).

All the more reason to study harder now, eh? I do not relish the idea of not being able to pass the exams. By God’s grace, I pray I can. Really, seriously praying that I can pass and go home. 1 year of being abroad definitely makes the heart grow fonder of home.

Ah, home.

Still, I am shaking like a leaf, figuratively. Less than 10 days to my first major exam, and I am still struggling to finish my revision. Just have to try my best. I really wanna shine for His glory and not let Him, my family and my friends down.

Just have to try.

Go, Ian.