Dear all,
Some are surprised of the switch of my departure date, some express joy, in any case, it was because of certain obligations rather than any changes in circumstances.
Actually, I was so into leaving on the 14th of February. Yes, the previous date does coincides with Valentines and I chose the date so no one sends me off as most of my friends would be busy with their other half or hoping that cupid would strike on that day :)
I even made a 10 hour round trip (5 hours Mlk-Singapore-Mlk and 5 hours hanging around) to Singapore to bade farewell to my brother and sister in Kiasu-land on 12th Feb!
But as fate has it, the trip was rescheduled and I will meet everyone in the family in Malacca before I leave.
In any case, I am still firm with my decision to leave for England, the ticket has been changed and April 2nd shall now be the revised departure date.
To all whom I promise to meet (you know who you are!) I shall do my best to meet all of you before I leave.
Last but not least, there might still be a final twist to this, something good I hope, stay tuned for hell of a ride!!!
Regards,
Ben Lai
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
The countdown begins...
Dear blog,
Today marks exactly 10 days from the day I would depart Malaysia.
Barring any 11th hour hiccups, I would be on board MH4 departing Malaysia at 1045 hours for Heathrow EAT 1415 hours (Local London time).
If you guys have calculated the days, 10 days from now would be Feb 14, and yes it is Valentine's.
I will be that lonely traveller, leaving everything he had throughout his 25 years of existence save for one single suitcase of clothes and some cash, in Malaysia and trying his luck in England.
The past week's news has been encouraging, at least I know there is still the real possibility that I might be greeted with snow when I step down from my flight, let's just hope it is not so bad that it diverts my flight to some other airport :) Even then, Paris might be a nice alternative as my first port of call ;)
Will be spending these few days with family and friends and also taking photographs of all things Malaccan and Malaysian which I would dearly miss. From the unethical drivers, the ever so warm and humid weather to the sinful but oh so delicious hawker food, sigh, it will all be 13 hours away soon.
I hate packing. Would love to rent a commercial container and just ship my whole room over. The comfy bed, my boxes of books, countless pairs of shoes and sneakers, 1/2 a wardrobe of clothes, but I guess with the limited space in my luggage, I just have to prioritise and just bring the essentials and purchase the others when the need arises.
One thing for sure, a packet or two of "bak kua" is in there, just in case I feel homesick :)
I guess this would be the penultimate if not the ultimate post before I leave.
Dear family and friends,
I will make it there, being Ben, he's stubborn, unwilling to listen and at times too positive, but he means well and see this as an opportunity to gain some experience overseas and return a better man.
Rest assured that the erratic behavior of yesteryear's would be left at the departure hall in KLIA and shall no longer be used to define Benjamin from that moment on.
It's crazy, leaving everything behind, for a foreign land 13 hours away, with no job offer in hand and living off goodwill of friends until I get a place of my own.
Let me go, make the mistakes, learn and grow. I believe this is for the better of all and it will work out fine.
Last but not least, there is no need for anyone to appear at the airport to send me off. It's Valentine's, spend it with your loved ones instead ;)
Regards,
Ben Lai
Today marks exactly 10 days from the day I would depart Malaysia.
Barring any 11th hour hiccups, I would be on board MH4 departing Malaysia at 1045 hours for Heathrow EAT 1415 hours (Local London time).
If you guys have calculated the days, 10 days from now would be Feb 14, and yes it is Valentine's.
I will be that lonely traveller, leaving everything he had throughout his 25 years of existence save for one single suitcase of clothes and some cash, in Malaysia and trying his luck in England.
The past week's news has been encouraging, at least I know there is still the real possibility that I might be greeted with snow when I step down from my flight, let's just hope it is not so bad that it diverts my flight to some other airport :) Even then, Paris might be a nice alternative as my first port of call ;)
Will be spending these few days with family and friends and also taking photographs of all things Malaccan and Malaysian which I would dearly miss. From the unethical drivers, the ever so warm and humid weather to the sinful but oh so delicious hawker food, sigh, it will all be 13 hours away soon.
I hate packing. Would love to rent a commercial container and just ship my whole room over. The comfy bed, my boxes of books, countless pairs of shoes and sneakers, 1/2 a wardrobe of clothes, but I guess with the limited space in my luggage, I just have to prioritise and just bring the essentials and purchase the others when the need arises.
One thing for sure, a packet or two of "bak kua" is in there, just in case I feel homesick :)
I guess this would be the penultimate if not the ultimate post before I leave.
Dear family and friends,
I will make it there, being Ben, he's stubborn, unwilling to listen and at times too positive, but he means well and see this as an opportunity to gain some experience overseas and return a better man.
Rest assured that the erratic behavior of yesteryear's would be left at the departure hall in KLIA and shall no longer be used to define Benjamin from that moment on.
It's crazy, leaving everything behind, for a foreign land 13 hours away, with no job offer in hand and living off goodwill of friends until I get a place of my own.
Let me go, make the mistakes, learn and grow. I believe this is for the better of all and it will work out fine.
Last but not least, there is no need for anyone to appear at the airport to send me off. It's Valentine's, spend it with your loved ones instead ;)
Regards,
Ben Lai
Thursday, January 22, 2009
One step closer
Dear blog,
I finally obtained my Right of Abode, and I can hereby trully declare myself as a British-Malaysian-Chinese. As complicated as it might sound, to cut the story short, my Mom is British Chinese, I made the application to the British High Comm and it was approved :)
Other than THE British status, what else is in store for me?? Below are a few (or what I might assume):
1. Home student fees for higher education in the UK - Ever notice the distinction made between Home Students and Foreign in your UK Varisity fees brochures?? Yes, the difference is between the bracket of 10 - 25% depending on the courses and varsities which offer it :) So, I am now considered a Home Student and I would enjoy that discount :)
2. Unrestricted access to UK and beyond!: My application coincides with the move by the Her Royal Majesty's Government to tighten entry requirements for 11 non-EU countries and Malaysia is one of those included in the revised procedure list. For one, entry is now based on a merit basis, with XX amount of points given if you are professionally qualified and further pointers if you are etc etc... I bypassed the requirement as I am now considered a British subject! Hooray!!! No hassle to prove that I am qualified (not that I am not!!!) :)
3. Discrimination: Here I assume, I am not too sure whether it is true but according to relayed experience from friends in the UK, employers would prefer not to hire a foreigner who requires a working visa. I would understand their position as you would need to process the visa, get all the documentation sorted out and always be reminded at the back of their heads that the bugger might not see through his contract after all the troubles you went through to secure his visa in the first place. Sounds familliar?? It happens in the EPL all the time!!! :)
4. Doing what I like and not be discriminated: I have a dream, to work for a certain company. It is quite well know, the working environment is nice, the wages acceptable, but there is no glamour in it when you announce it to your uncle and aunties :) Which company is it? What job? I would make an announcement when I secure it. I know, I might still not get the oooohhs and ahhhhs when I let them know, maybe even a little bit of ticking off, but at least I could proudly say I am buying my own place in KL after only 1 year of working in England. Now that's an achievement isn't it? Eventhough I am holding an unglamourous job :)
I think I said enough. This is my first post, plenty more to come :)
Regards,
Ben Lai
I finally obtained my Right of Abode, and I can hereby trully declare myself as a British-Malaysian-Chinese. As complicated as it might sound, to cut the story short, my Mom is British Chinese, I made the application to the British High Comm and it was approved :)
Other than THE British status, what else is in store for me?? Below are a few (or what I might assume):
1. Home student fees for higher education in the UK - Ever notice the distinction made between Home Students and Foreign in your UK Varisity fees brochures?? Yes, the difference is between the bracket of 10 - 25% depending on the courses and varsities which offer it :) So, I am now considered a Home Student and I would enjoy that discount :)
2. Unrestricted access to UK and beyond!: My application coincides with the move by the Her Royal Majesty's Government to tighten entry requirements for 11 non-EU countries and Malaysia is one of those included in the revised procedure list. For one, entry is now based on a merit basis, with XX amount of points given if you are professionally qualified and further pointers if you are etc etc... I bypassed the requirement as I am now considered a British subject! Hooray!!! No hassle to prove that I am qualified (not that I am not!!!) :)
3. Discrimination: Here I assume, I am not too sure whether it is true but according to relayed experience from friends in the UK, employers would prefer not to hire a foreigner who requires a working visa. I would understand their position as you would need to process the visa, get all the documentation sorted out and always be reminded at the back of their heads that the bugger might not see through his contract after all the troubles you went through to secure his visa in the first place. Sounds familliar?? It happens in the EPL all the time!!! :)
4. Doing what I like and not be discriminated: I have a dream, to work for a certain company. It is quite well know, the working environment is nice, the wages acceptable, but there is no glamour in it when you announce it to your uncle and aunties :) Which company is it? What job? I would make an announcement when I secure it. I know, I might still not get the oooohhs and ahhhhs when I let them know, maybe even a little bit of ticking off, but at least I could proudly say I am buying my own place in KL after only 1 year of working in England. Now that's an achievement isn't it? Eventhough I am holding an unglamourous job :)
I think I said enough. This is my first post, plenty more to come :)
Regards,
Ben Lai
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