Language Learning: The Art of Perseverance

Hello again!

You know, I learned something today. (Yes, one of my current pastimes)

It's not easy to get rid of a bad habit. In this post I shall talk about this one: giving up too quickly. This is a topic that is close to my heart. Let me just say, in all honesty, that I'm not one to speak when it comes to this. There, I've said it.

It's always easier to talk about how you want to improve. Talk is cheap.

There are still times when I experience a sudden loss of motivation/interest in a particular language (I'm looking at you, Chinese). You can say my interest sort of fluctuates if it's not strong.

This is why I can be prone to stopping after learning a few basic phrases.

 

Chinese New Year 2013

Happy Chinese New Year to those who celebrate it! :D

Twas a wonderful night and day, with a most wonderful night's sleep and dream slipped in between. I couldn't have asked for more. Teehee xD

So what's all the hype about Chinese New Year? We love hongbaos/angpaos, no lies there, LOL. Many people feel extra generous during CNY, whee! But another thing to look forward to during Chinese New Year gatherings? FOOD FOOD FOOD.

 

Chinese New Year Eve's Dinner Potluck xD 

Homestyle Corn Fritters

A family favourite :) We usually make this as a side dish, but it can also pass as a main dish. Preparation is simple and pretty quick (unless you're cooking for a large group of people, that is).

What you'll need:

- Flour
- Rice flour
- Egg
- Corn, already removed from cob
- Garlic and shallots (bawang merah), mixed and either blended/finely diced
- Baking soda, just a pinch
- Seasoning: Salt, pepper, sugar, etc.
- Water, as required

This one made more than ten (around 14?) medium-sized fritters.

1. Mix all the ingredients well, and season to taste. The dominating taste should be sweet, but not too much.

 

Corn kernels and an unblended mix of garlic and shallots

 

 Ingredients (clockwise from blue-topped jar): Flour, rice flour, white pepper powder (on top of green jar), baking soda (on top of green jar), corn and blended mix of garlic and shallots, salt, egg and sugar

Think Before You Act

Hello!

Downpour has been haunting our capital for the past few weeks. The cause? Very likely the worst flooding that has hit the city in years. Homes and treasures submerged, faces drenched in tears and sweat, while the rain keeps mercilessly coming down. Words cannot describe how grateful I am that my neighbourhood is unaffected by the floods.

Moderately frequent rainfall is expected annually around these months. However the unusually heavier and more frequent downpour, coupled drainage sewers and waterways that are far from their prime conditions, have always been the main reason for the floods that this city isn't particularly unfamiliar with.

I made this comic strip two days ago, one rainy afternoon. Enjoy!

Complying with a New Year's Resolution

Well, hello there!

I've done it again. Been absent from this blog for a while, even though I never forgot my duty to update :P

I sincerely apologise m(._.)m

How's everyone coping with 2013? Is it so far on its way to becoming a carbon copy of 2012? Well, I hope not :) Every year should bring something different, but still equally as memorable.

I am trying to make changes in 2013. My O-So-Ahmazing New Year's Resolution is messed up. I've never made like, concrete lists of resolutions. I usually make mental ones, hence they are more vulnerable to being forgotten :-/

Okay, so I know it's a tad late to post this here. But I'm still doing it. Some of them are as follows:

1. Spend more wisely. Easier said than done, obviously.
2. Love more, hate less. Really...hatred leads to anger, and anger makes my aging more prominent.
3. Smile more in pictures. Euphoria FTW B-)
4. Lose weight. Still trying to be friends with a hand-me-down elliptical trainer, but what is a mere 20 minutes in real life feels like two hours while riding this tool.
5. Increase self-discipline. Writing regularly, updating this blog regularly, cleaning my room regularly and whatnot.
6. Finish my first book. It's more than 2/3 done! However I'll still have to proofread it again later on D:
7. Successfully learn to drive. I don't think this skill, if gained, would be of any use to me in the near future though.

And some more things :)

I am coping quite well with 2013. I'm still a sedentary soul who spends her days wandering the Internet and pouring her dreams out on her laptop. Don't get me wrong though - I don't stick myself to my computer all day long. But I know I am trying to accomplish something.

That is how you too, can comply with your resolution for the new year. Set goals, or pursue previous ones - those that you desire enough that the thought of it gives you the drive needed.

 

Yeah, you! (I have no idea why I drew a boy even though I most certainly am not one)

The Rookie Tries: Baking for Christmas

Ho ho ho!

It's actually been ages since we put up a Christmas tree. So to make up for it, I baked a cake! A chocolate chiffon cake, to be exact. I iced it so, so that it may somehow look like those Christmassy door wreaths that people hang during Christmas.

It was fun and hard at the same time decorating the cake. Well what did I expect...I am a rookie at these kinds of things, after all. Or was. Haha! Just kidding. I made a lot of mistakes. Good thing I was able to cover them up pretty well ;)

I wanted the pink buttercream to be red, but the supermarket that we went to only had what they called 'rose red' and orange. Turns out that rose red was pink, but oh well. The green icing was bought from my Singapore trip, and when it sort of dried up, suprisingly went so well against the softness cake and the pink buttercream :9

Not-so-Christmas-themed cupcakes made from spare batter :9

(Clockwise from top left: little roses, heart, daisy-ish flower, star)

My Christmas Eve

Hello world!

It's a bit late, but MERRY CHRISTMAS!

May good tidings come to you and all your kin!

May there be joy and peace on Earth!

I wish this was my Christmas tree, but no.

We went ice-skating on Christmas Eve <3 

We don't have snow here, but we do have ice. Everyone wanted to get in the mood though, so it was really crowded. If you plan on visiting Sky Rink at Mall Taman Anggrek, you may want to come on a weekday, not on a big holiday or on weekends. The rink is always crowded, but chances are there will be less kids falling over, and less reckless people zooming in and out. We didn't have too much trouble with the crowd though. So if you're a pro (I'm not saying that we are in any way ;P), you'll have no trouble finding your path around the ice. There's always people-free spots on the ice. Teehee!

In the morning, we went to a local beauty parlor and got manicures together. This was my first time getting a manicure. We all picked our designs from my friend's iPod. I went for tribal designs partly because I'm fangirling over a tribal video game character these days I think tribal designs are cool.



 

The End of the World?

Hi!

It is widely known that December 21st, 2012 is the end of the Mayan calendar. Therefore people have been saying that in 2012, this wonderful world of ours will end (no sarcasm there; the world itself is really a wonderful place <3).

Of course, I felt scared. Petrified, actually. The first time I heard this, time froze for a few moments.

A million of thoughts floated around inside my mind. It was to be the end. Not just any end. It was the end of the world. When all life on Earth was to cease to exist. Including us humans. All the exotic floras and faunas that roam the face of our darling Earth. All coming to an end just like that. The world was to be forgotten (unless the Martians are willing to be witnesses of our existence later).

But witness to who else?

I was also wondering about HOW the world was going to end. Was I supposed to...I don't know...go poof? Perish while sitting on my desk? Fade away like a ghost? Disappear into thin air like a ninja? That would be cool though. I've always wanted to have ninja-like skills. So badass >;D

Why would it end in 2012? Why so soon? Because the Mayans said so, you say? That's okay, I won't argue against your beliefs. I would love to talk to King Pacal himself for his views on this topic. If only he's still alive...sigh.

But it's now December 21st, 2012. And I am still alive.

Singapore Getaway

Hello!

I haven't updated this blog in more than two weeks. Yes, I know that's bad, but I've a perfectly legitimate excuse. I went to Singapore for a week ;D This was my first trip to Singapore in the last two years.
 
Singapore is a really modern and attractive place. It's also widely known here as a shopper's paradise, especially its famous Orchard Road, which boasts a wide array of shops catering to many tastes. My friend declared the Gardens by the Bay a must-see, and surely it was.

Supertree :)

Language Learning - Listening by Ear

Hello again!

With this post, I begin my series of articles focusing on language learning tips. If you're in the process of learning or studying a language, whichever stage/level you may be in, I hope these tips may be of help!

This is my most effective method of picking up new vocabulary, sentence structures, common phrases said by the native speakers, and a few inside jokes - listening by ear.

What I mean is specifically the use of televised media (dramas, reality/variety shows and movies) and songs. I would never have gotten to my current levels (Japanese and Korean, especially) without them.

I would recommend learning the basics and pronunciation ways of the language first, so that the listening process may go more swimmingly. This way, when you listen and try to write the new word you picked up down, there will be less chances of misspelling it. Choose those with subs, because you will want to learn first, then test yourself with the raw (unsubbed) ones if you like.

Then at a certain point, cover the subs or simply don't look at them. Try to guess the topic of the conversation and then the point of each dialogue, even if the subs tempt you. Of course you don't have to do this for every dialogue you hear.

 

Drama: Seigi no Mikata (Episode 1)