Shopping day, fun day

wow wow wow

I was sooo happy yesterday. well, now only have some spare time to write it out =p

Early in the morning John came and brought us to the social security office and it was a long journey from Hiawassee to Toccoa, especially the mountain roads... really making me @.@ and feeling sick. After the torturing trip to Toccoa, we head down to Commerce for shopping in Tanger outlets. You can find LOTS of branded outlets like Nike, Guess, Adidas, Calvin Klein, GAP, Timberland... and they really giving good deals on the stuffs. Well, I didnt really shop because I think I still have time to slowly shop for all the souvenirs I need throughout the 4 months stay here. hehe...

Due to the time constrain, we had only 1.5 hour shopping time and it's seriously NOT enough!!! lol... well, at least I get to go see see and survey for the price. =p After that we went Cici's pizza and had pizza buffet! woot! Seriously I felt really really happy for paying only $6.99 and had all you can eat pizza, pasta, salad, drinks, soup and dessert... all are good!


After that we went to BEST BUY and shop for electronic stuffs because 3 of the brazilian wanted to get a laptop here. Well, I only bought a phone with the net10 SIM card because the portable hard disk that I planned to buy is way too much expensive than I thought. Jiliam bought a camera exactly like mine, for $109.99. haha...





On the way back home, it's super tiring, but we had fun! =) Really thanks John a lot for bringing these monkeys out and spent the whole day with us. He's really funny and he have great humor. You know what he asked us on the way to shopping? He asked, "why do american shake hand when you meet new people?"


The answer is, "to show that your right hand doesnt have any weapon!"

And then he continued, "but you can hide your knife in your left hand! hahahaha...."
The whole car laugh out loud and Ricky continued, "then next time we have to shake both hands." LOL......

It's really a fun day out for me. =)

By the time we reached back the blue house, it was already 6:30pm and the mcDonald's staffs working in Hiawassee supposed to have a small party in our house. Even though I dont know most of them, but I got to listen to what's going on there and enjoyed the food they brought over =p

After the party, it was about 830pm and before Jennifer (manager in Hiawassee) left, she asked all the girls whether we want to work later from 10pm-12am as there's some basketball thingy going on in the high school around and they might need more people to work. So in the end I went. I find it quite messy for the setting there and felt quite gradeful that my working place is so much more systematic and efficient even though our kitchen in Hayesville is smaller and narrower that always cause me to bump into other people. =p

Well, it's really a cruel fact that once you did something bad, people will always be aware of you no matter how you wanna or trying to change it. The brazilian friends are now seriously anti to go out with the colleague of mine that I mentioned in the previous post. Well, what they worry about seems true also as, we dont really know him, his past, and his intension. He's just so mysterious to us right now, that, we can't really trust him too much especially we heard of some of his past.... well, I feel quite sad for him, but at the same time, I think I should worship that these brazilian friends are around me. I think I'm just taking it too easy for making new friends...

Anyway, we will protect each other and I believe, time can reveal and proof everything. =)

Just some thought

There's a lot of things that I wanna write down long time ago.


Just that... you know... I'm lazy =p


Well, the last few days, I was hoping that I can work at the drive through window and not always on the grill. It's pretty tiring to cook and clean the grill all the time, restocking the hamburger meat and fries from the freezer and things like that. I always thought of being the one taking order and approaching different customers. However, I think I'm accepting my fate here slowly already. Haha... Star shield really helped me mentioned for a few times that I wanna work at the drive through and I really think she's a very nice person to talk to. =)


Rene, my manager is a funny lady. She likes to talk in cartoon voice and make lots of joke. I still remember the first day when I saw her, I was a little bit scared of her because she looked really serious on my first day. On the other hand, Rhonda, the assistant manager gave me a more friendly impression on my first day. However, if let me choose again, I think Rene is still more friendly to me. Haha... That's why people always say, time is the best thing to judge a person. =p


Yesterday I heard a shocking news about someone that I've just known, from Rene. It's a colleague of mine, I got to know him not long ago but we talked a lot as he seems very patient in listening to us (me and the brazilians) and very keen on learning everything. Well, talking about him, suddenly the brazilian asked me, do you think he's gay? I'm like... @@ I have no idea. So, yesterday I asked Rene about him. According to her, he has 2 kids, so she wouldnt think that he is, but he might change. She said he used to be a drug addict but he seems trying to change and restart a new life without being like tat. I was shocked and speechless for quite some time as I never thought that this person will have such a past like this. Do you understand how I feel? Well, it doesnt matter for now anyway. We shall see as time goes and all of us in the blue house will look after each other and protect each other =)


Nonetheless, sometimes I will wonder, is the american here really that friendly; or it's just a manner to be nice to people on the surface? I'm confused. Well, maybe I'll get to know more as time goes. So I shall put the conclusion later after the 4 months observation period. LOL...





Today all of us having our offday. We went out together for lunch in a mexicon restaurant and have a nice walk around downtown before coming back home. It's fun and I really feel happy that I no longer need to be walking on the Hayesville street alone during my offday and eating lunch in a restaurant alone. They are really nice people and will voice out anything, without talking at people's back. I've been staying with them for 1 week and it's fun sometimes listening to their culture and stuffs. They asked a lot of things too, like how is the party like in Malaysia and other things. The only problem that really pulling me down is... it's really hard to get what they trying to say because of their english... Well, at least they try hard, I'm trying hard to guess what they are talking too! LOL...

Christmas in the states, not white though

Well, I was too tired and no time to update during christmas and thus, now only have the time and mood to slowly type out how I spent my christmas in united states.

These few days passed very fast. I had brazilian style dinner almost every night and I realised, they like to put salt, even in the rice. Another thing that I find it interesting is, they only use spoon for drinking soup and eating dessert. They use fork and knife even eating rice. hahaha... interesting huh!? On christmas eve, the brazilian said wanna have a small party in the blue house and I was really looking forward for the party. However, it was a warm and nice dinner "party" instead of the "partying" style christmas party. hahahahaa.... We had Ricky's salmon dinner around 11:30pm... and surprisingly, two of our colleagues working in Hiawassee, Jimmy and Eddie came over with 1 carton of beer.





We had fun together chatting, laughing, chilling, learning Portuguese and knowing new things. What really amazed me was Jimmy, he is knowledgable, he was a chef in a restaurant before the economic went down and ended up as a manager in mcDonald's, he can talk almost everything with us and he is very patient in trying to communicate with us..... a very nice person to talk to.

On that night, they stayed till 4:30am only leave our house and I'm the last person who go sleep as all of them cannot tahan anymore and went sleep earlier before they left. I was really really sleepy especially after drinking some beer.... haha

The next morning, I woke up around 10:30am, after bath and everything, I went out for a walk alone as this is the only free day that I was able to walk out and check out what's around the blue house and the town ever since I moved in. Well, after a very long walk, finally I saw 1 shop that was opened during christmas day and then I went in for some food.

In that restaurant, I saw this cute little santa girl and after I got the courage, I went to the family and greet them "merry christmas", then only I asked for taking her photo. hehe...

After the brunch, I went back to the blue hosue and everyone was getting ready for going to Eden's house at 3pm. Well, I'm so happy to receive christmas gift from Silvia and Camille. Silvia brought a present from Brazil and Camille bought christmas hats for everyone in the house =)


It was about 5pm, and Eden didnt show up in the end. Thus, instead of waiting, we decided to have our own dinner at home and have fun ourselves during christmas day. Well, the christmas in united states are more homey, everyone will just spend time with family at home or go to relatives' house. Unlike the christmas in Malaysia, party party and party....



Tonight, I'm their chef. As always, I picked the easiest and fastest spaghetti as the main course as I worked till 7pm today and fortunately, the dinner was able to be served in 1 hour time =) Dont know is they too kind or they really like it that much, haha... they seemed enjoyed the dinner that I prepared and I feel so gladful that they finished all the spaghetti =p

New home, old house, haha...

Sunday, sunny, freezing cold

Finally I moved in to the blue house in Hiawassee today.

Well, everything is pretty nice, except that it is a little bit old. It's more homey, very big, and the 4 brazilian friends here are nice. =) On the way from Hayesville to Hiawassee, I saw lots of lake and river, the sky blue color is really really beautiful under the bright sunlight. Well, will take some photos for you guys when I got the chance.

The brazilians bought a christmas tree and it's to be decorated soon. =)

big room and that's my bed

this is the underground living room, I think it's already been used as a multipurpose room, hahahaha... well, I think I can dance in there when I got the mood. =p

There's much more shops at the downtown area of Hiawassee, I think I like this place more than Hayesville because of the lakes here, haha... they are just... so beautiful...

Well, my mood today is just ... so-so because I feel kind of left out for the small christmas party held in McDonald Hayesville. I called them around 3pm, asking if anyone can come and pick me up for the party. Then at 430pm I went to cook fried rice as everyone is supposed to bring 1 side dish to the party. Then I went bath and make up and everything until 6pm. To be safe, I called them again at 6pm and they said will call be back. Well, it's 645pm already, no choice, I called Princess and she said she'll ask around and call me back. When it was 7pm, I called my final resource, Philip. Immediately he said he'll come get me but in the end, he reached at about 730pm and finally I got a ride to Hayesville for the last 30 minutes party.

Anyway, I know it's kind of troublesome for them to come all the way here and pick me up. But I did call early in the afternoon and there's no arrangement... Well, I have to say that I'm not feeling sad. Really, I feel I kind of used to the fact already. Well, one thing I feel good is some of them really like my fried rice, hehe, I brought 3 tupperwares of fried rice there. First was Rene, then was another couple. They just try 1 spoon and then asked "can I bring the whole tupperware back?" hahaha... I'm really glad for that though.

This christmas party follows chinese christmas rules and as a chinese, now only I know how is a "chinese christmas" like, what a shame =.= I bet most of you also dont know there's so called chinese christmas right? hahhaha... well, it goes like this: everyone bring a gift to the party, and get a chance to draw lot and if you are number 1, you are lucky because you get to choose your present 1st. They open the present right away and if you like the gift, you can steal the gift away from the previous person and the poor guy/girl gotta pick a new gift. Interesting? hahhaa... well, I got myself a mini torch light, which I think it's pretty practical for me. haha

Last night I finally went to pay Princess and her boys a visit because I wont be staying in Hayesville anymore. I cut apples and brought over and I'm glad that the boys love the apples. They are really hiper and very energetic kids. Well, their house is really messy because of these three naughty boys who are just 5, 6 and 7-year-old. I like the youngest one the most though, so adorable and he loves taking pictures.

Good news, good news!

My boss, John, is a really nice boss.

Today he's taking Silvia to Hiawassee and start her training and everything there. And me, probably will be moving to Hiawassee this coming Sunday if everything goes smooth. =)

I'll still be working in Hayesville and maybe sometimes in Hiawassee, according to my boss. And he said he'll arrange transport for me as I have to come Hayesville to work and luckily there's some of my colleagues also staying in Hiawassee and thus, it shouldnt be a big problem =) I'll really glad that he could make such arrangement for me. I wont need to live all by myself, while I still can come to Hayesville and work with my current colleagues, and at the same time, I might be able to know colleagues in Hiawassee as well! woohoo!!

Anyway, according to them, Hayesville to Hiawassee is about 10-15 minutes drive away, and it is slightly bigger than Hayesville and probably more stuffs to shop in downtown I guess?.. haha... I dont know. But I'm looking forward to go to another new place and explore. =p The housing in Hiawassee, according to Silvia, is very very big. 9 rooms, 3 bathrooms, no double decker but is two single bed in 1 room and it's very big. There's a computer for sharing but, well, I wont be using anyway. Hahahaha...

Last night when John came, I told him about my Orlando trip plan. Woah, he not only help me to check the schedule, and also found a great deal of bus ticket price!!! The last time I searched for the ticket, round trip from atlanta to orlando, cheapest $125 which is 7-day advanced purchase. He searched for me the one, $39.50, 10-day advanced purchase and is from Gainesville to Orlando. wuhoo!!! helped me save $$$ somemore. And then he said if need to use credit card purchase, he can help me too!!! wah... he's sooooooo nice man!!!!

One thing that make me feel very touch is what he said yesterday, "your parents sent you all here, so I'll make sure that you all are safe..." Oh ya, he also said that he will bring us to Atlanta after Christmas for shopping and visiting coca-cola museum!!! sounds fun and I'm really looking forward to go =p Don't know how will I get along with the other Brazilian students ne???... heheh......

I wont be alone for chinese new year le, YEAH!!!!

Weeee!!!!!......

I'm happy happy happy happy =)

hahhahahaha..... Happy till a bit sot sot liao :S

Well, just checked the calendar today and found out that chinese new year 2009 fall on 26th Jan, so I decided to go Orlando and find Haozhi, Mun Hou and Michael during 24th-27th Jan and finally, HOHOHO... no need to be so lonely for the big day le. YEAH

My plan is work on 23th Noon, then at night take 11:40pm bus to Orlando, reaching there on 24th 8am. 27th night time will take 1030pm bus, reach Atlanta at 28th 7:30am, ask my boss fetch me and work at noon time. hehe...

Right now I'm getting excited!... lol... Can't wait for that day to come =)


Oh ya, now I know why my boss will say my english is good le... haha...
Well, tonight, there's a girl name Silvia from Brazil staying in my apartment. She's sweet and pretty, and finally I got a companion here... for only 1 night... zzz... well better than nothing =p
She speaks portuguese at home so while I'm talking to her, it is a bit "chicken and duck talking"... LOL...

Well, my boss John had just known that Zoe is not coming anymore, so he was saying, rather than letting me staying on my own here, he was thinking to transfer me to Hiawassee and join the other Brazilian students... =( well, I was stund for a moment. It's been a hard time for me these 2 weeks and I finally got it over, starting to get familiar to this place and now, I might be going to another town and start all over again! @@...
And I'm sure I'll miss my colleagues here in Hayesville, like Princess, Rene, Nikki, Tammy, Billy, Rhonda, Dane and ...

Well, if think on the bright side, maybe Hiawassee will be a better place for me. At least it is bigger? I don't know. Haih... What should I do now???.... I need some suggestion.

Lot's of things to write...

Friday, 12th Dec, cold night, with full moon

Well, it's been few days le, everyday have different things that I wanna write it down but.... I'm just too lazy. Haha...

so now, could only write whatever I can remember, and might be a little bit here and there la, so... bear with it k?

Now, my second working week is gonna end soon le. If you ask me how's it? I'd say so far so good la. Haha... Ever since I start working, bruises and scratches everywhere on my legs and hands. Well, maybe I'm just too clumsy, or maybe the boxes are really too heavy. haha... Everyday I have to cook the hamburger meat and fry nuggets and stuffs, stand till legs also tired, hands also tired (because need to scratch and clean the grill pan every round after cooking). But today, I finally got to be at the assembly table, and wow, it's really very busy and kan jiong when suddenly there's a lot of orders coming in! Not a bad experience though. Haha...

Yesterday and the day before I finally feel that, yeah, I can cook! LOL... here's my dinner for the 2 days, well, even though I'm really chin chai chin chai cook, I feel at least this time I'm satisfied with what I've done. =p

Fried cabbage + minced chicken + egg
vege soup from can...

I love pork chop!!! hehe... only 1 slice because... I'm just testing only, dont want to waste food. =p

But end up quite good, I like. hehe...

Most of the people here are really nice and friendly. Yesterday before work I walked to a bank and then to a dollar shop in the rain for some enquiries of open checking account as well as a sim card for cell phone. Well, on my way back to work from the dollar shop (which is just opposite my working place), a lady drove by and asked whether I need a ride. Haha... ofcoz I rejected because it's really near.

Another good news is, I can go Orlando to find my friends over there next month le!!! This really thrilled me up because in the begining I was still worrying about my transport from Hayesville to Atlanta and take the bus down to Orlando because, as I mentioned before, there's no public transportation here, and I need a ride from here to the bus station which is about 2.5 hours drive! Well, thanks to my manager Rene who gave me this thrilling news that, she will help me arrange my work schedule when I want to go, and will inform my boss to fetch me as long as I let them know the date and time. weee..... suddenly feel so relieve and happy. Well, at least I'm not all alone throughout the 4 months anymore! =)


Today is my first time walking back home at night after work. It was a cold night. 2 degree celcius, while I'm just wearing a normal long sleeve, a mcD uniform, a normal jacket and a pair of gloves... walking in the dark street. It's crazy right? haha.. I felt so too!... And I actually took the longer way to go back home because I'm scared of the short cut which cuts through some bushes and I feel anytime I might get snake attack or dog attack! LOL... so along the way back, in order to make myself feel better, I used my hands (with gloves) to cover my ears and neck, all the way throughout the 21 minutes walk. hahahahahaha...... By the time I reached home, I can feel my face is defroozing... (because of my house heater). hahhahah....

Well, I think I'm slowly getting used to here already. Not as lonely as I felt at the begining, not as scary as I've been through for the first few days. So it's a good thing! I'm looking forward to the christmas party in the coming wednesday night! =p Although it's gonna be only 2 hours in a restaurant that I went last week, I believe it's gonna be FUN! hehe...