I should have done this last year.

The longer I stay in Manchester, the more I feel like I belong here. Working in Malaysia or Asia especially in the city can be suffocating for me now. Just thinking about it makes me so afraid to go back. Asians are so materialistic. Even if you're not, I believe sooner or later you'll just be sucked into that world because the atmosphere and people that surround you everyday just doesn't allow you to think further and grow. Well, you grow to want money and luxury items I guessed. I am a little bit materialistic but slowly I've come to my senses and moving away from that thought and desire. Most EUs don't even care whether you're wearing a luxury bag/apparel or not and because most of them don't bother, you tend to not bother. And the atmosphere here is so healthy for me. It really makes you focus on much important matters in life and build healthy characteristics rather than working your ass of day and night just for luxury. The meaning of comfortable life is so distorted from where I come from. Being in overseas has made me embrace my Malaysian side and Chinese culture. I do miss my Malaysian culture. =( Thus, still proud being an exotic Asian (Hehe..=D) but I just don't want to be sucked into the poor working ethics. I've been there. My previous company was, well in urban terms, "an ass". The crazy hours + meager earnings + lousy management, still leaves a bitter taste in my tongue when I think about my past experiences. Add peer pressure to that equation, "mampus la". It's the cognitive environment/culture which made you and everyone else think it's a NORMAL situation but now as I move further from the picture, it was so abnormal and an unhealthy concept of living. But who knows, maybe I might not be able to stay here and have to move back to Malaysia. It's not entirely negative but I know what I will be missing out in future. I just have to resort to our good food for comfort.

I should have done volunteer work a long time ago. I considered myself lazy last year for not trying hard enough to get involve in voluntary work.

"Seperti melepaskan batuk di tangga".

I want to keep this spirit even if I'm back in Malaysia. Each time I come back from the centre, I feel so uplifted! Every week I meet so many colourful people and gain different experiences from working in the centre (similar to event management but not the same class of people of course). I have to admit I am shocked at times and it's difficult to keep a straight face or not be emotional when I hear about their rough stories because I really don't know how rough can the streets be like. I cannot even picture being in a ghetto neighbourhood or circle (watching movies doesn't count). So I'm not 'feeling' it, yo.

Gosh this job is really overwhelming but in a positive way!

Okay, time to get back in doing my CAD plans. Final project deadline is so close!! Yikes!