I'm not sure about the rest of you out there, but I always feel that when you're asked to write out a simple article.... its not as simple as it seems!
Take for instance my current assignment which is due on the upcoming Tuesday. We're supposed to write out a 'newspaper' article on anything that we want so long as it's along the lines of Physical Activity and Health. So great - news article, meaning that it should not be too heavy to read or understand, yet you still have to get your message across within the 750 word limit! (I hate word limits!)
I kinda have a bad habit of being rather long-winded whenever I write. I dunno why. Sometimes I just get a tad too carried away and blabber on and on about irrelevant stuff! Oh wells. So yea, I always find such 'simple' articles harder to write coz you need to stay simple - no scientific jargons, bombastic words or 'doctor/professor talk'.
I've no quams about writing scientific lab reports and stuff.... but ask to me write and keep it simple - I struggle! The irony of life!
Just decided to do some random 'Did You Know' thingy that I got from my housemate's blog. 1. I'm a super coffee addict -I like em' strong and black!
2. I hate eating rice.
3. But I simply love all kinds of bread- I can eat bread for breakie, lunch & dinner a few days in a row.
4. I sleep on a single bed, but with 4 pillows and a bolster.
5. I'm Chinese, but I'm a sucker at the language; speaking and writing.
6. People always think I'm of every other race and nationality except my own!
7. I'm not afraid of heights.
8. But I'm afraid of free-falling.
9. I hate wearing high heels.
10. I'm currently suffering a lower back injury - joint inflammation & Facet Joint Dysfunction.
11. I have an infectious and contagious laughter.
12. I love playing sports - especially sprint kayaking, swimming and touch rugby.
13. I don't drink coke.
14. The one thing that people always tell me : they love my SMILE! :)
15. I have lazy eyes. (one side of my eye has a much higher degree than the other)
16. My 15 year old sister and 20 year old brother are both taller than me! *yikes*
17. My favourite subject at uni is Human Anatomy.
18. I'm sort of a perfectionist by nature.
19. I think I get along better with guys than girls.
20. I work part-time as a lifeguard at the university swimming pool.
Everyone knows of the terrorist attacks that occurred on 9/11 when 3,000 innocent American civilians were killed in one of the most audacious terrorist attacks in modern history. But how many people know that September is also the month when 3, 500 civilians, mainly Palestinian refugees, were slaughtered in Chatila refugee camp in Beirut in 1982?
Of course, many will associate "Black September'' with the Palestinian paramilitary organization founded in 1970 whose name originates from the battle that raged between Palestinian paramilitary units and the Jordanian army in Amman in September 1970 - when Arabs fought one another instead of fighting the Israelis. Two years later on September 5, 1972, the paramilitary group "Black September killed two Israeli atheletes and took nine hostage. After a failed rescue attempt by the German police all of the Israeli atheletes were murdered.
Anyway.... I'll say it's really living up to its name literally. So many things are just happening around the world NOW! It's not just the middle east or the US... even our neighbouring SE-Asian counties like Thailand have already declared a state of emergency! Scary! Sighz, why does it always have to resort to violence and war? Not only that, Sept has been the month that Aust has lost 2 great legends - Steve Irwin (Croc Hunter) and Peter Brock (motor racer and nine-time winner of the Bathurst 1000). Well, it's truly sad indeed.
It's SPRING TIME again! The weather is still a little crazy at the moment, but the sun has certainly made its presence more felt. It's getting warmer on the hold. Time to bring out those sunnies once again! I love spring. Prolly my favourite season of the year. For one, it's neither too hot nor too chilly. Apart from the many more people coming down with hay fever... the weather is simply lovely. Pretty colourful flower are blooming and the trees are getting back their greens! It's like the best season to be outdoors getting into sports and all, especially since the huge, persistent and pesky huge aussie houseflies have not arrived yet!
Anyway, got back not too long ago from Min's and Aaron's convocation, followed by a nice chill out session over coffee at The Moon Cafe. Was great catching up with Min. Really gonna miss her - all the random snacks she'll bring along to lecture to share, her blurness, the way she get teased at so easily.... She's a great chick!
Can't wait to watch the 5th episode of Prison Break.... it's getting more and more exciting! Love the suspense that it keeps u hanging by.
Ok, i'm heading to bed to knock out now. Goodnite folks!
With the mid-autumn festival just around the corner, my friend (MJ) and I attempted to make snow skin mooncakes from scratch!
Last night was the experiment night. Coz it's a first attempt for both parties, we reckoned that we should to a 'test trial' to see how it turns out before we start making a lot for our friends to eat.
To our pleasant surprise....
mission - snow skin mooncakes was a SUCCESS!
Of coz its not as pretty as those sold in the shops,
no fancy pattern on the skin whatsoever; but close enough.
The most important thing is the TASTE...
and I must admit it kinda matches up!
*pat on the back for MJ and Me!*
We know mooncakes are supposed to be round and all.
But since we're here in Aust, kinda decided to add some 'ang mo' flava to it-
and started making star shaped mooncakes as well!
We did our sample lot in pink... but when we do the actual one sometime later this week, we're gonna have blue skinned ones, green tea flavoured skins, pandan flavoured ones and maybe coffee flavoured skins as well! Oh yummy... now i can't wait! Seriously it's not bad for a first attempt!
No pics of it at the moment. I'll try to get some soon!
Hmmm... together we'll definitely make a good team!
You know what???
One of the many things on my 'Things I need to do in Ja's Lifetime' list is to take part in a biathlon/triathlon with my lil' sis - Jessica! Either entering as a relay team or as individuals, but together!
This particular one I keep telling myself I must fulfill at some stage in my lifetime... at least the sooner the better - before I get too old and frail to even run 100m. However, just a few days ago, after talking to my sister over the phone, the sudden urge to accomplish this mission with her certainly grew stronger.
She took part in the New Balance Biathlon held at East Coast Park and came in 1st for her category! I'm so proud of her! She's only 15years old but already has more experience in biathlons than me! Damn! If I'm not mistaken, she has taken part in about 3 biathlons along with other random running races... *envy* She really puts my as a big sister to shame. As much as I do advice her on race stuff and encourage her to particiapte in such events, I have never taken part in one myself!
Many of my friends have encouraged me to try out in triathlons coz they reckon I can do it, but I just don't feel that I'm ready for it! Well, physically I may last, but I think the one thing that's stopping me is my mental endurance. I think its way more important than fitness alone. Coz u may be the fittest person in the race, but once u lose that mental focus ...its all ove mate!
It's weird, I mean its not like I've never taken part in sporting competitions before? I have done adventure races in groups, cross country races and sprint kayaking competitions...and all of these have also required strong mental endurance as well. Guess it's just not the same for biathlons/triathlons.
Well Jess, I'll keep my promise. I'll continue to train and you do the same as well. We'll do a race together soon! I promise! Love ya babe. Hope u'll get chosen for ur netball team during the upcoming selections! All the best! I'm sure u'll get in easily!
Let's see....what have I done this week? * Ponder, ponder, ponder.... *scratches head* * * Well, not exactly nothing, but I sure haven't done anything productive like getting down to study proper! I'm so pissed and frustrated at myself for not being more focused and disciplined like I was before. I'm even more frustrated at the fact that I don't know what in the world is frustrating and bothering me inside! I need to stop procrastinating so much! I hate this feeling...
*
*
NOTHING!
Tomorrow... my lil' brother is finally entering the army! Time surely does fly.... he's truly grown into a fine young man I must say. Wish I could be back home now to give him a big hug and see him off tmr. Oh well, I kinda feel worried for him, the sisterly protectiveness is setting in. I wanna wish him all the best. Love ya Nick!
It's been hell windy and chilly in Perth the past couple of days. Brrr... It's beautiful Spring time now, the sun is finally out and shining, the pretty flowers are starting to bloom... but the freaking wind is stll blowing and howling like nobody's business! I'm half frozen just by walking to uni in the morning! Now that Winter has gone by and Spring is here.... I'm waiting for Summer to come! I shall then call the beach my second home! *can't wait*
It's been a hectic week for me.
I'm just glad that Health Awareness Week project is finally over....i thought it was such a crappy and usless assignment! Sucha waste of precious time!
I'm glad its Friday again. Had a pretty long morning today. Started on my practicum attachment with this private cardiac rehabilitation company. I must say I'm really enjoying this pract experience even though it takes up quite a it of my time. We went round to 2 gyms today where we had to help patients with their rehab program. It was cool. My pract supervisor is real nice and knowledgable, on top of that, the patients are so friendly too! It just makes work and doing the pract so much more interesting.
I was basically going round the gym checking on all my supervior's patients and making sure that they were feeling alrite and were doing their prescribed exercises and workouts correctly. (most of these patients either had recent heart attacks or had operations to un-block their arteries or blood vessles to their heart) So it was interesting coz some of the patients were sharing with me their personal experience. It's really amazing how much just a little exercise makes a whole lot of difference to ur risk levels of a relaps. Most of them were really old...70 years and above, but they sure are looking damn fine post-op!
You can read up all the various medical textooks on cardio-vascular diseases, but nothing beats real life accounts striaght from the mouths of victims themselves.
One of the guys, who's abt 78 years of age was just sharing with me how one nite at the stroke of midnite he just had this sudden massive heart attack. He didn't experience any prior sympotms and was fairly fit and healthly. Aparently, the doctors told him that as he was rushed to the hospital, he actually 'died' 3 times in the ambulance and 1 time on the operating table! Holy cow! U have a heart attack, died 4 times within the hour and still live to tell the tale! He's sure one heck of a lucky dude! He was also just sharing how this entire thing has led him to view life in a whole new and different perspective.
With the number of patients coming in and out, it just goes to show how widespread heart-related diseases are worldwide! What's worst is that as it used to be an 'old-age' disease.... it's now even affecting the younger generation (there were a couple of really young patients in their early 30's!)... think abt it - it's really scary!
So guys.... treat ur heart nicely ok! Exercise, eat well, don't smoke...
Had another follow up session with my physiotherapist. I managed to extend my back 20degress... which is up 10degrees from my previous session. Ya, i know, pathetic right! But at least its getting its range of motion back!