my journey continued -- San Francisco -> Las Vegas

After the scary New York adventure, fortunately we got to relax and gain back some "energy" in San Francisco.



Very nice weather in San Francisco, but sometimes the wind was just too strong that I can't stand the coldness. The Chinatown in San Francisco was amazing. It felt like we were in HongKong when we first got there and everywhere (seriously I meant EVERYWHERE) you see chinese, speaking cantonese (obviously most of them are from Hong Kong) and lots of cheap vegetables, fruits, herbs... really feel the difference and as if we were backed home....


Anyways, after the busy, crazy life style in New York, we had a good time in San Francisco and even though there's nothing much to do (not much place of interest to go) there, we still like it and enjoyed our stay.

Our journey then continued in Las Vegas.

Somehow I felt depressed being in the middle of desert. LOL...
Basically we just walked around hotels along the strip and shopping in World of Coke, M&M world and outlet mall and then went to the Grand Canyon on the 3rd day.

The buildings and the free show provided by the hotels were amazing and you can really see that they put a lot of effort in attracting people to go and the business is very compatitive. The M&M world was just sooooo fantastic and there were even a free 3D movie for you when you get to the 3rd floor.

Grand canyon trip was ok and the skywalk... OMG, you cant go if you scare of height. haha... fortunately I'm not =p

Horrible first night in New York City

Our first night in New York... OMG... freaking scary and nearly gotta sleep on the street!!!

Our luck was not very good on the date of departure, we were stucked in the Orlando airport for 7 hours because the flight to NYC delayed 6 hours... We then got there late and 3 of us got our own things to suffer: Li Yiung's super heavy backpack on her back, Li Wei's broken luggage handle and me, 2 big luggages. We took airtran and subway and walked over 10 streets to the place we supposed to stay. The subway was so terrible and dark and scary. It looked just like those haunted train in the horror movie... Furthermore, it was freaking cold that night but we've walked soo much until we cant feel anything but tiredness.

When we reached the 60th street (where we supposed to stay), we couldnt find the Hostel! 3 of us took turns walked along the whole street trying to look for the sign but non of us saw it. Even my friend in New Jersey trying to locate the hostel for us but still, we failed to find it. In the end, we have no choice but to wait for my friend coming all the way from New Jersey and booked us a hotel in New Jersey for stay. He really did help us a lot and I'm really glad and feel blessed to have a friend in such a messy and scary city.

By the time we settled down in New Jersey, it was already 11:30pm and all of us hate New York City to the max. It was full of the blacks and a lot of rude people... Well, even though we have not have really explored NYC yet, I hope everything will get better when we return tomorrow. Here now in Washington, DC was much peaceful and nice compared to NYC. Although we are still surrounded by a lot of blacks (practically the whole bus were blacks everytime we go onboard and it's pretty scary too!) and there's nothing much to do other than the museums and zoo, the metro train and the buildings here are much much nicer and cleaner and we really do like DC =)

Miami and Walt Disney World in Florida

Time really flies... when you dont want it to pass so fast!

1 week+ has gone since I started the traveling part of this program. I'm now stucked at the Orlando International Airport, flight to New York City was delayed for 6 hours... what a boring moment but thank godness, free internet access and hence I've got time to update my blog finally despite of the very pack traveling schedule.

Throughout the whole trip in Florida, it was super fun but tiring. Everyday we went out early and got back home with exhausted body. haha... The hostel in Miami was pretty good too. Located at good location and I met a lot of people from German, Paris, Australia, Argentina and so and so... The beach was nice, weather was nice and we really enjoyed ourselves. It's very relaxing and I love beach!!!





In Orlando, the hotel we stayed was really super good. The room and service and all were good and we paid at a very reasonable price. 4 days continuously going to the 4 different parks of Walt Disney was so damn tiring. Day 1 we were very excited, day 2 started to feel exhausted, day 3 and day 4 became more and more lazy to take pictures and we going slower and slower. LOL... Really respect those parents bringing their kids walking around Disney under the hot sun and pushing the stroller everywhere for their kids... Pins in Disney were sooooo expensive and some of them can even have more pins on them than those Disney worker... OMG...



Anyways, Walt Disney is a very very amazing place!!!! The system and everything was good, and thanks to the "fastpass", we got to ride on all the major attractions and rides and had fun throughout the 4 days in Disney.... A place where I never dare to dream of going, becoming true....

My going-away party in the blue house

It was my last night in Hiawassee and I had a party in the blue house. I invited everybody from McDonald's Hayesville and I'm so thankful that almost half of them came and most importantly, for those people I really really appreciate came and we had a great time together. Both my store managers made me cry the moment they came (and ofcoz they were crying too). I was glad to hear when Rhonda told me, she has never been to any of the party for the previous groups and she really appreciated me to be there.



That night really meant a lot to me. I'm really greatful for having Brooke, Matt, Rene, Rhonda, Princess, Katie, Amber, Nikki, Philip, Junazen and Mindy to came over for seeing me, and of course Janice who came see me the next morning before I left.

Well, for the past few posts, I might seen not really enjoying my working life in Hiawassee but in fact, there's a lot of happy moment as well just that maybe I'm just not "rajin" enough to write it out. =p I had a very fun trip to the Duke Creeks Waterfall with Rene, Brooke, Matt and the girls from Thailand on the last Sunday. My feeling status was "complicated" during my last few days at work...


The day before my last working day, I spent 3-4 hours writing 28 appreciation cards for all the coworkers and all the people that care for me and went to bed at 4am. On Friday night, I went to the dance club and hangout with Kim for the last time and then when I got back home, I talked with the girls from Thailand till 3:30am then only went to bed and then woke up at 7:45am the next morning to have breakfast with Bill, as he has to work the whole day. Brooke and Matt came and took me to Walmart for shopping for the ingredients I need for the steamboat dinner for the party and immediately after I got back, I started preparing and cooking and didnt even pack my luggage...




I really really appreciate Pla and Peggy for helping me preparing Tom Yam soup and Green Curry Rice, and even helping me slicing all the meats for the steamboat. Brooke and Matt, ofcourse, were the best and 2nd best people that I have ever met. They helped me and care for me unconditionally, and I am really blessed to have them around me most of the time throughout my stay in Georgia. They always clean out the mess for us, bring us out, help us up, and even came early in the morning helping me pack my luggage and see me right before I leave... I was crying so badly on that morning, hugging everybody (Brooke, Matt, the Thai girls, Janice and Rene). The Thai girls washed and cleaned up the dishes for me (as I started to feel stomach bloated and had diarrhea) and they even stayed up late after the party just to wait for me to get changed and took plenty of pictures with our McDonald's uniform.



Rene hugged me and kept telling me to come back next time and stay with her, and if I have not enough $, call her. LOL... (well, of course I wouldnt want that to happen =p but I really really appreciate for that)

So when I hopped onto John's truck, I was still crying and I think he tried to distract me by start talking about my trip and telling me where to go and where's nice place to eat and play and everything. We talked throughout the whole 2.5 hour trip to the airport even though I didnt have enough sleep. He brought me to the "Little Malaysia" in Doraville and gave me a treat. I ordered all three specialty from the Malay (Nasi Lemak), Malaysian Chinese (Char Kuey Teow) and Indian (Roti Canai) for him to try and he gave good comments on it. Hehe... felt so happy (because I got to eat Roti Canai =p). He was kind of worry when I told him to go eat Malaysian food because he had watched a TV show, showing even the most brave traveler dont dare to eat durian... =.=



But anyways, reached the airport and checked in 1 hour earlier and then waited with my extremely tired soul for another 1 hour due to flight delayed and reached Miami with super duper tired body, reached Miami Beach Traveler Hostel and waited for anohter 2 hours for Lee Yiung and Li Wei to get here and check in together. Very poor thing huh? LOL... But immediately I turned energetic and excited when I saw them, we checked in, went dinner and talked and talked and talked and had so much fun on our first night in Miami. =) Due to my tiredness, I had 2 Panadols and slept early for yesterday night and thank god I'm perfectly alright for today.

Went shopping in Ross and got lots of cheap stuffs back and then went to the beach for 2 hours, and then walked around in the most happening streets in Miami after dinner. Tomorrow will be our shopping day again and we planned to wake up early for the sunrise eventhough I'm still up at this time (2am) and writing up this post =.= kakakaka... but I do really wanna write this post and let u all know, I AM GOOD and I HAD A GREAT TIME and EXPERIENCE in the United State. =)




to be continue with my next stop - Walt Disney World, Orlando...

It's unfair

These few days my mood swing greatly. Plus with the unfairness I've been through in McD, it made the situation worst. I was really unhappy about the unfairness. All the toughest and hardest work are given to "foreigners".


I've been cooking for 2 months, everyday, before I got trained at the window. They told me after I'm good at cooking then will put me to table (assembly) and window and slowly "progress". And now? The new people came in, firstly was the mexican brothers, Lino and Alvero, they took over my cooking place so that I can move on to assembly. But instead, I've been the "fries person" during rush hour and well, I know that's because I did a good job on that and I really dont mind as long as I'm not being keep at the same spot - cooking, all the while.


Then a black girl, Tonia came in. She's been trained cooking for 2-3 days, then I think they thought she's not very good at it and thus trained her at front counter. Since then, she's been doing the front counter and ofcourse, I'm still categorized under the grill crews. It then comes the girls from Thailand. I know it's necessary to train some of them at the window and some at the grill. But somehow I just feel very unfair. Why I can only stay at the table or window after 2 months cooking and they can just do it right away, without even knowing how to assemble the sandwiches? I still remember how hard I've been trying to memorise and help at the table when I'm a cooker, hoping that I can be "upgraded" to another level and trying to prove I can do good at any site ( but well, I think I'm still a cooker for now). Why they can skip the cooking part and just learn how to do the table and window (which is much much easier job)? It's just not fair!


Moreover, some people (the american), they came in just being train for front counter and drive through taking order, and thus, they know nothing about the grill, not even knowing how to cook the fried products (which is just simply put the meat in and press the corresponding timer). So everyday they've been doing the same thing over, over and over again. I dont like it. To me, a crew person working in a fast food restaurant should be trained at all the different position and their job should be rotated instead of letting the same person doing the same thing over and over again. Firstly it's VERY boring to do the same thing the whole time for 8 hours or sometimes more. Secondly, some tasks are very easy while some require VERY hardwork. Isn't it unfair?...


Oh well... I'm leaving in 1 week time, I'm tired of these. Tired of being treated unfairly. But what can I do? ONLY Tolerate! The worst thing is, they bringing the Thai girls to the waterfall this coming Sunday after they arrived like... what? not even 2 weeks. And me? where they've been brought me to? No where. This feeling isnt nice. Although they always been telling me, oh Celeste is good, we like Celeste, Celeste cant go home, stay with us forever and ever.... Bla bla bla...


So here comes the second issue: I cant trust their words. It's really disappointing to say so but I really do not dare to put much hope on what they told. I've been trying to look at the bright side everytime when disappointment comes. When I was depressed, I find nobody that I really trust and I can depend on to talk to. I can only find back my Malaysian friends and chat with them online. I guess I can fully understand how Zoe feels in China right now...


It's definitely a great experience for me to be here, alone. I've learnt the different things that happened outside my world. I've seen so many different people, some are ok, some are just too crazy, some are just too fake and so and so... And I'm still learning, learning along the way...

Two more weeks in Hiawassee

It's been more than a week since the last post... oh well... I was too lazy to update sometimes and I was just too busy last week =p

I had Monday and Saturday off last week and I ended up working in Hiawassee on Monday. 8 girls from Thailand came on Wed and we had a good time on Thu night having dinner together and playing Twister. They look innocent and young although only 2 of them are under 21, the rest are about the same age as me.




On Saturday morning, Bill took me and Jiliam to Atlanta for the Auto Show. We took Marta (same as the MRT) to the town instead of driving all the way. It's a very very long and hectic day for me and Jiliam as we gotta get up at 5am in the morning, had breakfast in the Huddle House before we departed. The cars in the auto show are all very shiny and nice. I think I get attracted to red sporty cars most of the time. Haha... The whole day just taking pictures with all the nice cars (as if I own them :S) and we had lunch in the Applebee's. The food there were really nice but the service was not as satisfying.




Throughout the whole way back, I didnt sleep at all in the car but talking with Bill. Oh well, I cant say he's weird or anything because he really takes a lot care for us who came from far far away and appreciates friends a lot. However, one thing I do really learn here was, most of the families in the united states are having different problems. A lot of youngsters like me starts working in very young age, had complicated relationships, had kids at very young age, had been in the jail because of some stupid reasons and etc... These facts are kind of unacceptable for me sometimes but, oh well, I dont know how to say, just feel sorry for them and feel truely appreciate of what I have, a warm and happiness family.


We got home around 6pm and rest till 10pm before we went to Mermaid again. This time, I really had fun and dancing like crazy in the club with everybody. I think the main reason was 3 thai girls were with me and I felt more comfortable to dance and have fun with someone I know and as crazy as I am. hahaha...



After the club, we went back home and I got shocked because there were other people in our house who want to have after party. I was not very happy about that because they had waken up those poor Thai girls who were actually in the middle of sleep. Fortunately, Travis and Jimmy managed to get everybody out from our house and leave us peace... I went to bed at 3:45am, woken up by phone call at 7am on Sunday morning and ended up, I went to work in Hiawassee from 8am to 11am and them 12:30pm to 7pm in Hayesville. Tired~


Frankly, I dont dare to trust anybody here. Espeacially the american guys. To me, I just cant figure out what they said is true or a lie. Therefore, everything they said, I will just listen and leave it aside. Ofcourse there are also really nice people here and I really do enjoy my time in McDonald's more than what it was 2 months ago. Everybody in Hayesville McD are friendly to me and I can see that they slowly accepted me as part of their life already. =) I'm really glad to hear them saying "we'll be missing u when u go back" and I know they meant it.


I've took videos and photos with some of them and gonna upload to facebook soon =)
The nearer to the date to leave this place, the more complicated my feeling is right now... :S
oh well... it's LIFE.... I know. Right now, I just hope we can fix a date to go Gatlinburg, Tennassee for snow tubing/skiing and maybe go walk around in Helen before I leave. I have only 2 weeks left and I would really like to do whatever I can when I'm still here. =)

non-stop partying was tiring

Oh well.... I'm sooooo tired after 3 nights continuously partying :p

On Wed night, we had a little party for Henrique and Camila before they leaving. I think I'm kind of lazy to write anything right now so... just let the pictures tell the story ok?





Then on thursday night, I went to the biggest club in atlanta called Wild Bills Club to have a look. Well, didnt dance much on that night, didnt drink as well, just to have a look. =p It's different from clubs in Malaysia, plenty of seats, lots of hot, crazy girls. It's real big but the rest is basically the same. haha...

On Friday night, it was Kimberly's birthday party, so I brought Jiliam along with me. We went to the Yacht Club, I had a Jager Bomb (first time ever, felt so scary before I drink because I had nothing for dinner) and a cup of long island. The taste of Jager Bomb was alright, basically I can taste the red bull more. LOL... The we went to 2 clubs in Helen (30 mins away) and ended up went back to the Mermaid in Hiawassee... swt... Just because there were not as fun. And I met a lot of my customers from Huddle House in Mermaid. It is a really small club though... (der~ in such a small town like Hiawassee, what do you expect??) and the whole place is just like this>>>






Birthday girl, Kimberly (I finally can treat her as a woman... LOL)



Basically I've forgotten what to write for this post... haha... so many things happened in this week, and right now I'm in lazy mood... so...

Anyway, Silvia just left this morning and right now, there's only me and Jiliam staying in this big blue house... =( I wonder how the Thai girls will be when they move in in about a week time... Hopefully everything will be ok. And seriously, I can't wait to home....

By the way, I had a nice chat with Zoe last night and this morning, as well as my dear... I miss him.