It is a cold day in Summer today. Just like a winter day. I was having my lunch at a cafe downstairs and it was bloody cold.. brrrr... not even the cup of cappucino that I ordered was enough to make me warm. For a moment there I regretted coming out for lunch, should have just stayed in the office..hehe... And the reason for the climate change? Cyclone Isobel.It is worse down south - massive storm, anticipation of flood everywhere.

In the other world, school started today after a long leave. I've always loved the first day of school and I kinda miss it today. Students everywhere, there is excitement in the air as well as dust and noise. New students coming in, fresh young look, some are still mommy's boy. New bag, new shoes, new uniform.. orientation for a week for them to get to know the school and its rules and regulations. Older students would hang out, trying to look older and wiser..but only we know that they are still the same naughty boys and girls .. hehe.. Teachers are also busy, class teachers busy collecting school fees, arranging their students, their classroom etc etc.. Others would be helping with registration of new students.. busy busy all day long. The canteen would be full too, with teachers catching up with each other's news... the men talking about their holiday adventures while the women talking about their sons/daughters plus a little gossip here and there. When the day is over, everyone would breathe a sigh of relief. Tomorrow, ahh another day :-) Looking back, I do miss teaching. I miss the excitement, the stress, the frustrations, the look on the students' face when they learn something new. But then again, I enjoy doing what I am doing now - no homework, no marking, no frustrations.. well, none yet so far :-)

Life is too short to be frustrated all the time. Life is too short to be stressed out all the time. I made a choice to leave that life, to start anew. So far, it has been all good and I am keeping my fingers crossed..

Stranger land-this is what I call this place, for I am a stranger in this beautiful land. And it is beautiful, you just have to come and see it, or just take my word for it..hehe.. not that Sabah is not beautiful, it is just a different kind of beauty. But seriously speaking, the air is much cleaner and fresher, and not only that, public places as well. Which makes me wonder, where did we (the educators) go wrong in teaching our young ones about the importance of cleanliness????? Just remembering the dirty public toilets makes me cringe...eeeeeuuuuuu...ahh but that is another story..another blog :-)

I have been here since July and never a dull moment.. except the time when I first arrived and didn't know what to do or where to go. 2 months or so without direction, applied for jobs and got rejected over and over and over. In my mind I kept seeing myself going home and back to my old job and old life... yikeessss... scary... I was beginning to lose hope. Despite all my qualification and experience, I just couldn't get an interview offer - no interview, no job!! It is as simple as that.. Pray!!! Hard!! everyday and everynight, asking the big fella above to hear my plea....and I think He did, for he brought me here and led me to where I am now.. and I am very thankful everyday. I met good, helpful people who are my new friends in this stranger land and it feels GOOD!!!

I have a good job, a place of my own and friends and relatives - who could ask for more?? Ahhh.. but then I do miss my family, my friends, my car (here I rely on public transport, which is reliable can't complain) ... I miss my sweet Yan Yan and Ally, and the way Yan yan calls me 'Tu Tu' ... and the family breakfast on Sundays when we would gather at Chicken Hut or KFC for breakfast after church.. hehe.. I miss that.. or friends whom I hang out with..share gossips with..etc etc..

Life in stranger land is not so strange anymore. Yesterday my cousin asked me, 'Do you like it here? You don't miss home?' Naaa... as much as I miss home, I do enjoy being here and being apart of the working society. Above all I like my new life, it makes me feel like a new person.. :-)