!@#$%^&*() PISSED!

Now before i came to Oran, i have packed my things and wanted to ship over but the Algeria government needed a lot of documents before i can do that. So the boxes have been laying in my house for more than 4 months now.

From the day we knew about the documents, we have rushed and pushed all the way to get them done. Finally KC got his working permit and resident documents in end last month after a 3 months constant fighting with the local authorities. And i was told that 3 months is actually considered fast because his colleague, who has been working here for the past 6 months, is still pending on both documents.

So finally my shipments are here in Algers International Airport and all it got to do now is to have them cleared and then send over to Oran and that will only takes 1 day! I am all hyped up until i had this conversation with the local forwarder:

------------ EARLY MORNING YESTERDAY----------------
Me: Hi! I am checking on my shipment. I trust you received the email from Crown to clear them?


F: Our internet is down. No we didnt received.


Me: That's ok. I will fax over now.


------------BY NOON-----------------------------
Me: So you got the fax? My shipment should be here by tomorrow?


F: Yes got the fax. No cannot send you the shipment.


Me: *surprise* Why?


F: We need you to come here to Algers to sign the original document before we can clear and we need the company stamp. Requested by airport.


Me: What if you fax over the documents and i get it sign and stamp then fax back to you? I am in Oran and i need to take a flight to go to Algers just to sign?


F: Cannot! Must be original.................I will call you back.


--------------1 HOUR LATER----------------------------
F: Ok no need signature, just original stamp. Toyota is just few blocks away from our office. I will get people to go there now to get the company stamp.


Me: Thank you so much! So i can get the shipment by tomorrow then?


F: No cannot.


Me: Why?


F: Because.... Just cannot. You will get it next week.


Me: *Totally too tired to argue and push anymore* Ok then


------------------------- END OF CONVERSATION------------------------------

I totally have no idea why i cant get the shipment by this week and i know it is useless to ask and further push them because this IS Algeria and somehow their actions are baseless.

It has been 4 months since i packed and 1 month since the shipments had landed here in Algeria. And i have been trying to cool myself by telling myself that what is 1 more week of waiting when i have waited 4 months? !@#$%^&*()_~!

Darn! I am pissed!

Domesticated by Myself

I was walking alone along the street to the market one afternoon.

Along the way, as usual, i was greeted with a lot of "Ni Hau" which i also returned my greetings.

Then along came 2 local young men on a bike. The passenger decided to greet me and i greeted him back. And he said "Hi" in English again which i also responded. It happened so fast that they were gone in minutes.

So i continued with my market shopping and as i was walking back, that 2 men and the bike came back again. This time, the bike stopped in front of me and the passenger asked "Can i have your phone number please?" At that very moment, instead of being flattered, a sense of panic hit me! I pretended not to understand anything he said. He begin to speak more English to me. "You understand English? You have a phone number?" My basic instinct taught me to just smiled at him and shook my head. I pretended hard not to understand him at all. Then he gave a disappointed look to his friend and then they rode away.

What a relief for me. Only after that when i walked home that i was a little happy, knowing that i am still attractive! Hahah but the side effect is that now i tend to prevent from going out to buy anything alone, even during the days.

I am now officially and literally domesticated by myself! Sigh!

Employment

Went to a newly opened supermarket today to shop for some tit bits. The moment we walked in, the cashier sitting at the cash registered greeted us with a great smile and beginning to speak to us in different languages until we finally responded when he said "Ni Hau".

As we were in the basement, i finally found the clock that was missing from the house all the time. When i picked up the clock, the same cashier came to me and took over the box and said something in French saying that he needed to write the code on the box for easy scanning later. And i let him. The funny thing is when he finished with the box and the code, instead of coming to me and handling over the box to me, he did an unbelievable action. He grabbed my hand instead and pull my hand over the box. I was a little stunned but then i took it as an action of welcoming.

Then when we proceed to the counter where all the toiletries are, normally, there will be someone behind the counter who will picked up the brand we want and hand it over to us. Instead this time when i asked for Garnier shampoo, the cashier now walking together with his boss, came to me and then he grab my arm again with one hand, and another one behind my back, and pushed me to walk over the counter to take whatever i want. I was rather uncomfortable. As i was looking through all the brands that are available, they begin to speak to KC on something.

Suddenly, KC gave out a loud laugh and told me that "I think you are employed! They want you to work here over this counter! They are willing to pay you 20,000 Dinars a month (which is about RM2,000). "

I was stunned! I told the boss "No, thank you" but he insisted and even handed over his hand for a handshake! I tried so hard to explain to him that i do no speak either French or Arabic. He was all smiley until he finally understood and then gave me a very very disappointing look. After that even though we declined his help to carry our shopping basket, nonetheless he did so and all the time when we queued to pay, he kept trying to make conversations with us and still testing if i knew French or Arabic.

What a weird experience. What a good way to boost my self esteem knowing that i am still demanded when it comes to job!

Weird Dream

Went to bed about 10pm yesterday and woke up after a mere 4 hours sleep. Having twisting and turning myself for 40 minutes without able to get back to sleep, i woke up and cooked myself a cup of nicely brewed coffee. Hence here i am sitting in front of my Mac with only the thought of the weird dream i had before i woke up.

I was in a bookstore of 2 stories. For some weird reason, i went around looking for books but didn't even stop at my favorite section where all the gossips magazines were. Instead i grab a Time magazine that featured nothing but only a solid black color covered. Once flipped inside reading the first page, the issue was featuring George Clooney. The weird thing is i am never a fan of his and i didn't watched any of his films lately as well.

And then i went around again trying to looking for some other books that i will find interesting. In the dream, it was colored by all the different colors of book covers and there were so many books as well of all titles. I remember seeing one that has something to do with anthropology but i wasnt interested. I was looking for something more in depth. And then i was awake. 

_______________________________________________________________________

So i googled the meaning of seeing books in my dreams and this is what i get. 

Book 
To see books in your dream, indicates calmness. You are moving toward your goals at a slow and steady pace.Books also symbolize knowledge, intellect, information and wisdom. Consider the type of book for additional clues. The dream may represent your calling into a specific field of work or an area that you need to devote more study to.

___________________________________________________________________________________

No Inspiration!

No inspiration to blog lately after knowing that i will be back in KL in less than a month. Every single day, i do nothing but just longing for the day of my departure to come.

Missed landing in KL finally....

Missed my beautiful and comfy house....

Missed having Cofi in my arms again....

Missed my slumbering nest....

Missed KL food and cha siew....

Missed home cooked ban mee with a lot of yummy ingredients..

Missed shopping and spending in RM again!

27 more days! 

Awaken

I have never had the usual girly dreams of having a perfect wedding, marrying a wonderful husband or even having beautiful kids. Sometimes i even wonder why so many ladies out there would want to dream of all these things because future is too unpredictable. Maybe is because the experiences i witnessed along my growth, maybe it is just simply because i am not girly enough.

But then i did what are expected of each person in this world. I got found someone i think i could spend my life together and got married.

Even getting married was like a by the way thing. All because my partner has to go abroad to work and i chose to go along with him. Getting married was like the right thing to do and it is the only way for me to get to the country with him and be together. Hence married life didnt really settled in me as much. Nothing seemed different between us. Even we have not had the normal Chinese custom and the reception, i didnt really seem to think these are really important to me. I never rush to have them and never even sit down to properly plan them. All i know is that we will be having them next year. Period.

The idea of being married has never really settled itself in me, until one day.

I am planning a trip with my family to Canada by end of this year and the process of getting a visa is just painful. There are numerous forms to fill up. I was just filling up these forms until i see came to the area about my marriage status. For the first time ever, i have to check on being married and i have to write down the details of my partner. It was like a tight slap to my face waking me up to realise that i am no longer single. I am no longer responsible to myself. I am someone else's wife. It was like a Oh My god situation!

The other thing is how KC's friend will refer me as - Your wife! It really didnt hit me as much until now.  For me it is still strange to refer him as my husband. Somehow i am still rejecting that idea. Maybe is because i am just too selfish to loose my own identity. Hence i still refer him as my partner or his name directly. Of course i know loosing one's identity is not just because of marriage, it is of how me handle situation and how much dependency one is towards the partner. And i know being me i will never loose my identity. Am just a person too independent and stubborn to loose myself.

How Fast She Grows

Since the born of my baby sister, she has becomes the centre of attention, simply because she is just so adorable.

Well i know parents will also look at their newly born as the most beautiful thing ever in the entire world. Nothing can beats a smile or a chucker from their baby. I am not a mother yet but having a cute little one in the house really did add a lot of laughters and love in the house.

When children grew up, what they mostly bring home are not longer the naiveness that used to accompany them when they were younger. Instead grown up children often forgot what the parents have done or are still doing for them. Instead of showing they loves towards the parents, they (including me) often bring upon sorrows, angers and frustrations to the parents, even though deep in their heart they knew how much scarifies their parents have made for them and the only way to say thank you is just the simple way of saying I Love You or just showing some concerns towards their parents. Perhaps the only way to change these behaviors will only be when the children themselves assumed the role of parenthood in the future. Only then they will understand how tough it is to be a parent.

Looking at my baby sister, how fast she grows. Love should not be limited by blood ties. Love should be unlimited. Love should be universal. 

Before long, she will turn into one of those rebellious kids that might throw tantrum in the house, shoot us with angry words and turning into one unappreciative kid just like how we had been through. But for now, i am grateful that she is bringing more love and joy to the family. Muaks!

Makan Makan in Oran

Had the opportunity to try out some different food besides the normal home cooked ones last weekend.

First stop for lunch was to try out the Lebanese food in Oran.

The weather was excellent when we went for lunch. The wind was blowing gently and the sun was shining warmly, making it a perfect day to pick an outdoor seat. Though it was already almost 230pm when we went for lunch, there was still quite a crowd in the restaurant.

We picked a table where we could look into the restaurant and started exploring the menu for good food since we were already starving. I was in Beirut before i came to Oran and since KC told me that the food here is good, i was having quite high expectations. Well it seems that i was wrong because the so call Lebanese food are not so original after all. After much deliberations, i have opted for the turkey cooked with white sauce while KC went for the beef.

Although i was starving but i didnt even finished my food. So you could tell that the food was really so so. Since there are just limited restaurants in Oran, i guess i will still be going back again whenever i feel like having some other than Chinese. There is a Chinese restaurant here though, just next to this Lebanese Restaurant. It is owned and operated by Chinese from China. I have not try it yet but i am rather skeptical about it because the last time i went China, it seems that not all Chinese food is good. Plus, having experienced Chinese food in other European countries, i am pretty sure that the so called Chinese food are already altered to suit the local taste.

So after the very disappointed lunch we had, we decided to venture for Indian food for dinner. I was told that the food is good again. This time around, i have decided to keep my expectation low and we came to the one and only Indian restaurant in Oran, the Maharaja restaurant.

Somehow a bunch of Indians decided to come Oran to set up a restaurant and stayed on. Though there are some locals working in the restaurant as waiters, the cooks are Indians. So we looked into the menu and decided to order:

Chicken Beriyi

Capati

Mixed vege, curry mutton and curry mushroom.

Since the spiciness of the food has already been tailored for the locals, it was not even spicy at all and we both felt that something is a missed. And we asked the waiter to bring us some chilies so that we can mixed into the food. But the taste was still rather disappointing and i really missed the taste of chili padi at that very moment.

Overall it was not a bad meal. It was ok and i am sure i will be visiting the restaurant again. It is after all the one and only Indian restaurant in town. Maybe i should bring in some Malaysian food and start a restaurant here. Maggie goreng and mata kerbau anyone??

Revelations

This entry is inspired by a chatting session i had with my friend today.

N: Did you blog about me?

M: What do you think?

N: I shy la.

M: Haha... but you should know because i used your famous sign!

N: Ohhh....okok.....

How much in depth should i blog when i write my entries? This is a debate i constantly have with myself.

Sometimes, there are things that are very dear to my heart that i want to reveal as much, just so that i could release them from my heart and let myself feel better. But most of the times, these things are just too complicated that might stir up unnecessary commotions between myself and others.

There are also times when i would like the person to know i am writing about him or her. But then the debate comes again. Will they like the idea of being known? They might like the idea of being anonymous better. If so what should i do? So i chose the most common way of using acronyms and hoping that by so the person will know how much i appreciate him / her in my life.

Just like when i posted using M or N, or using cute symbols like XD, or just by writing the stories from the view of an outsider.  There was a time when i was feeling really depressed and wanted to express myself badly and i chose to reveal them bit by bit, in different entries by adding to some other scenarios.

It might sound like a jigsaw puzzles to those who read them but to me, these revelations are screaming in my face every time i read the entries again and again. But it works. My heart will feel lighter each time i unload them and they becomes memories. Even though when some are really heart wrecking at that time, eventually they became beautiful ones to me. For each experience is a path in life that we have to go through in order for us to get to a better place today.

For those who knows that i was blogging about them, thank you for being in my life and have given me the chance to go through all the ups and downs and helped me grow to a better person. For those who suspected i blogged about them, maybe i did. For those who do not know, let those entries just be another entry by me.

Le Corsaire

Just came back from Oran for a wonderful seafood dinner. Since Oran is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, the seafood here are really fresh. So at about 7pm, we drove our way from Eye Turk to Oran. After about 30 minutes drive, we came to the most famous seafood restaurant in Oran - Restaurant Le Corsaire.

Le Corsaire is famous for its sailor like costume which is very similar to those in restaurant The Ship. The restaurant is decorated with any ship related items such as

Giant lobster on a fish tank..

Light bulbs mounted on a ship wheel..

We were lucky to be served by an English speaking waiter. Hence under his recommendation, we went to choose our fishes and also they way to cook them.

Just when i was busy snapping pictures in the restaurant, one of the waiter came and requested to snap a picture with KC. He was very happy and even asked us to translate the meaning of "Ni Hao" for him. After telling him the meaning, immediately he went to his peers and began teaching them instead. What a fun guy.

Initially we wanted to order the famous fish soup, calamari, prawns and also fishes. Somehow along the way, there was some communication problem and we ended without the fish. But lucky for that because even without having the fish we were already stuffed.

We started off with the recommended fish soup. The waiter gave me a smile when i snapped the picture. Excellent customer service!

Bread with sauce made from mustard, fish paste and mayonnaise. Yummy!

Shrimps cooked in tomato sauce.

Grilled shrimps! I personally preferred this because this can really taste the sweetness of the shrimps.

Grilled calamas. Classic and good!

During the course of the dinner, we noticed there was a little kid maybe around 1 or 2 years old sitting next to our table. He (i assumed) is really a smart kid because we were watching him using spoon to scope out the soup and also rice from the cheese baked clams. What amazed us is he seems to be a very well mannered kid because he will changed to use a fork when he realised the spoon is not working and even learnt to wipe his mouth clean after every 2 or 3 scoop of food. I was so amazed that i secretly snapped a picture of him. Then he realised and he gave me a shy smile and continued with his dinner but glancing at me shyly occasionally during his meal. So cute!

So after our main course, we decide to have a the dessert with mint tea to end our dinner. The total bill came about RM150. Though it was a little expensive but it was a great to have something else for dinner instead of our normal home cooked food. Why? Because no washing plates for a night la! Haha

Two Less Lonely People In The World

Was feeling rather bored yesterday and was just sitting in front of my Mac surfing the Internet without a purpose. At the same time, i was on my headphone and listening to all the songs from the Mac when suddenly i was really touched by a song.

Two less lonely people in the world, sung by the ever famous Air Supplies.

Oldies are always great. These songs are simple on the tunes as well as the lyrics. I have heard this song a million times and of course they are great songs. If not these songs will not be still as popular even after so many decades.

Two less lonely people in the world is just another familiar song to me since my younger days, thanks to my father who loves to listens to English oldies. Only this time, maybe is because the headphone, maybe is because i have grown, that this song managed to finds a secret way to touch my heart. For a moment, i stopped what i was reading and doing, and just indulged myself with the song. The lyrics suddenly feel so strong to me, and so real, as if the composer has written the song for me. And i knew that i have found another gem in my life.

My heart feel warmth and contended. Two less lonely people in the world. Not just because i met my partner. It's more of all the friends that are dear to me. When i was down and when i was happy, these dear friends of mine are always there for me, sharing these joys and sorrows with me, and wanting nothing back from me.

Two less people in the world, and it's gonna be fine. I know because i am in a great stage now.

I was down my dreams were wearing thin
When youre lost where do you begin
My heart always seemed to drift from day to day
Looking for the love that never came my way

Then you smiled and I reached out to you
I could tell you were lonely too
One look then it all began for you and me
The moment that we touched I knew that there would be

(chorus) two less lonely people in the world
And its gonna be fine
Out of all the people in the world
I just cant believe youre mine
In my life where everything was wrong
Something finally went right
Now theres two less lonely people
In the world tonight

Just to think what I might have missed
Looking back how did I exist
I dreamed, still I never thought Id come this far
But miracles come true, I know cause here we are

Tonight I fell in love with you
And all the things I never knew
Seemed to come to me somehow
Baby, love is here and now theres

Bob Dylan

Had been waking up the whole night browsing through my Mac wanting to delete some songs passed down from my dad and i came across Bob Dylon.

Initially i thought i would have deleted all his songs but surprisingly they are really good! Very country and relaxing. He has a scratchy voice that is also comes in a very lazy manner which makes listening to his singing very relaxing and enjoyable. Who would have thought a face like above would have such a rugged voice? Definitely a must keep. Maybe you should try find some of his songs and listen to it. It's a wonder to the ears! One of the best i came across so far is titled "Gotta Serve Somebody".

It's 7am now and i am going to bed after preparing breakfast for my Master. After that will be waking up with anticipation to explore more wonderful songs from the oldies. Can't wait!

Dream A Little Dream...

Have been watching some singing competitions from Hong Kong and Taiwan. The program from Hong Kong is titled "The Voice" whereas the one from Taiwan is titled "A Million Stars, Season 5".

From both programs, there are so many singers wan-to-be. Some are really good whereas some are more entertaining instead. And the best thing from both programs is having the chance to listen to really good voices. Some were so good when they performed that their singings melted my heart. And both programs also have really good singers sitting in as judges to give comments and teaching the contestants singing techniques, so in away the judges are like teaching the viewers as well. And viewers like me, who knows nothing about singing, feel like finally we are learning something and then the itchiness of wanting to go for a karaoke session will ARISE!

The last time i had my "concert" session was before i left for Oran. That was so fun! Together with my 2 friends, we sang until wee hours in the morning. What was suppose to be a 2 hours session ended up into a 5 hours session! In the "concert" room, we sang as if there was no tomorrow. We were shouting until our throats burned, we stood up to dance but of course we cant dance, we were trying to act emotional when we sang love songs (which we cant) but overall it was so fun! At the end of the evening, we were all exhausted from the shouting (not singing!) and left happily, thinking that we were the lost gems that the singing producers have not found. If only they saw our singing we were so sure that we will be the next best singer in the entire world!

Karaoke is a great place! Simply because it is in this "concert" room that we have all the fun, the chance to dream of being a star, the hopes in us and the laughters we shared. But best of all, is the short 2 minutes of having the mic in our hand and imaging that for that short 2 minutes, we are the star and all eyes are on us. Hee.. for all the fun, hopes, dreams and imaginations, the cost? Less that Rm100 each. Worth every single penny!