Disclaimer: This post is written in my knowledge, my thoughts and my experience, and if religion is something you feel very strongly about, I suggest you skip this post, though this is not a rant about religion.

It’s no secret that dearest Loius and me are born and raised with different religions (He is a Roman Catholic, I am a Buddhist/Taoist mix- the typical Malaysian Chinese religion I’d say), though many would think otherwise for some reason :P For those who do know, it’s always the inevitable questions:

“How do you/you guys handle it?”

“Are you going to convert?/Will you convert?”

“What will your/his parents say?”

And so on and so forth.

Having been with dearest for about 2 years now, we’ve seemed to handle it pretty well, at least in my opinion. I attend mass with him in church whenever I can, and he accompanies me (And Mum) to temples whenever we do go. We remind each other of our obligations and encourage each other to fulfil them- for example I always remind dearest to go to church, to always remember and give praise to God and Jesus and to fulfil any other religious obligations he might have, such as reminding him of important religious days, e.g. Lent and Easter.

I’ve attended Sunday school when I was in kindergarten, went to a convent (S.M. St. Anne) when I was 13 to 15 years old and read the Bible, so I can say I do have some knowledge about dearest’s religion, though I am loyal to my own.

In regards to his religion I try to teach and guide him to the best that I can and understand, while he also guides and corrects me should I be wrong/misunderstand/do not understand something, and vice versa when it comes to my religion- I explain to him the history, the significance and so on. In other words, we are very tolerant with each other’s religion, and try our best to learn as much as we can about them.

My parents, especially Mum, has always taught me that there is only one God in the whole entire world- it’s just that His teachings are spread through different people/prophets, e.g. Buddha and Jesus, through different methods and come in multiple forms and deities (As in the case of Taoism), but in the end there is only one, and that we should always respect and try to know and understand other religions because although they may seem differ in their teachings and methods and the like, the end goal is ultimately the same- to live a good life.

My parents definitely do not mind dearest being from a different religion, and also allow him to attend church (And also encourage it), but I do think they draw the line at me converting, as liberal as they are.

It’s not a problem to dearest and me, because, well, we don’t exactly plan to have children. And even if we do, we both have agreed and plan to allow the children to choose whichever religion they eventually want when they are capable of doing so, while being exposed to both sides of our religions (The good and the bad) with explanations of what’s going on, the significance of whatever rituals both religions might have and the like. Just as long as they don’t become extremists :P

That all being said, dearest and me do not “leave everything to God“. I personally feel and think that it’s a bad habit, a very bad way of thinking. We may pray, ask for guidance and blessings and all, and seek comfort during desperate times, but in the end it’s up to us to work for it and to change ourselves- we don’t believe that God will magically drop food on your table or give you straight As or rain money down for you or make you, or even others change overnight. God may have plans for you and set a path for you, but it is ultimately up to you yourself to discover, with your own mental and physical strength, your own capabilities and the faculties bestowed onto you, what your true destiny is, because everything does happen for a reason. By “leaving everything to God“, I feel that you are surrendering and not trying your best to discover what He ultimately has in store for you, yes?

Prayers, piety and/or devotion alone won’t 100% help you. You have to help yourself.

I am very glad though, that despite our different religions, dearest and me have nothing but the utmost respect and tolerance for the difference :) I can say that we have never argued about religion- we may argue about everything else, but we’ve never disagreed on religion.

And here’s a little secret, while we’re on the topic of religions- my Mum is a medium, though she has only acquired it recently, for the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva Kuan Yin. A medium, in Taoism, has their body “taken over” by a deity for usually for the purpose of helping others, and this phenomenon is prevalent mainly amongst the Southeast Asian Chinese, especially in Malaysia and Singapore. Mum acquired this naturally- which means she has been “chosen”, compared to some mediums who actually learn the skill. One does not simply become a medium, even if one does want to.

Even so, she has respect for other religions- there have been Christians and Muslims who have consulted her and seek her help (On their own accord), and she does not push Taoist amulets on them as some mediums may do (Speaking from experience). In fact, she asks them to use their own religious paraphernalia- holy water and the rosary for Christians, for example, and does not ask them to go to temples or pray to anything else apart from who they themselves believe in. She deals mainly with illnesses/health (Healing) and businesses/career thus far, though once in a while she has been asked about ancestors and relationships, and even when she tells people about whatever they want to know and helps/tries to help them, she would also beseech them to make their own effort and not just rely on divine intervention/help.

Sadly, some people cannot accept such a phenomenon, thinking that it’s abnormal (And if I may say, some think that this crazy), but dearest knows of this and is supportive of it, even if he has never seen/experienced seeing it in his entire life before until recently, and I am thankful to him for it :) It was hard for me to accept it at first too, honestly, as although my Mum and I grew up around this culture, it’s pretty surreal. But then again it’s hard to be sceptical too. The younger generation tend to shun this and disparage it as superstition and “old-fashioned”, but I personally see really nothing wrong with it, especially if it can really help you, yes? Plus, such things, as I’ve said, happen for a reason.

I’ve been digressing.

Anyway, as I’ve mentioned, dearest is tolerant, supportive and understanding of my religion, and I am of his too. I’m glad we can talk about our religion freely and not impose it on each other, and discuss with an open-mind. I think that it’s important in the beginning of the relationship to lay this down- your religious views and expectations, if you have one and believe in it, so that no or very minimal religion-based clashes occur, as we have did, and it seemed to work :3

Update: My subsequent visit after this incident was on 13th January 2011, and I was attended to by the assistant salon manager (According to her name card), Stephy Tai. She was very good and professional, and I would say that it was the best experience I had- the facial was heavenly. I will definitely try to book her for my subsequent facials now. Also, I’m quite pleased to note that they seem to have a file on me right now, which is good.

In order to treat myself for the completion of my thesis (And the end of the semester bar final examinations) as well as to relieve stress, I booked myself to a facial treatment at my usual place- 128 Faubourg in 1 Utama yesterday.

128 Faubourg in Bangsar Village, taken from the Facebook fan page.

Now I’ve always had a relatively good experience at 128 Faubourg in 1 Utama- I’ve always had my facials done there since I started getting back into facials earlier this year for the general health and maintenance of my skin and yesterday would have been my third or fourth time (If I remember correctly) there. I really liked the results of the facial treatments and the overall ambience of the place, especially the treatment rooms, and the fact that they are less pushy than some places I’ve been to and/or heard about.

One of the treatment rooms in the 128 Faubourg in Bangsar Village, taken from the Facebook fan page.

Sorry for the long, ranty post ahead, especially if it doesn’t concern you :P

What baffled me every time I went there though is how during the first visit I’ve been asked to fill in a form about myself and all that (Standard procedure for first-timers for places like this), but they’ve subsequently lost my details during my second visit onwards, or so I’ve been told. Apparently they don’t think I’m important or loyal enough to key in my details? :( But since I’ve never had a problem making an appointment and most of the ladies there remember my usual treatment (The one I’ve had since I first went there- the Hydra Lift Synergy Treatment), I’ve not made a fuss about it.

Yesterday, I was assigned a therapist as is standard procedure every time I went there- they’d ask me to sit down and wait while they look for my details or whatever it is, though I’m not sure as they don’t seem to carry a clipboard with the form I’ve filled up and all other details of my previous visits when attending to me unlike the other customers who visit the place for treatments and as previously mentioned, I’ve been told they lost my form. She looked at my skin (Again, if they had my form/details, they should have an idea, right? Though my skin type/condition might change so again, I don’t blame them) and recommended a treatment apparently new to 128 Faubourg- the Brightening Resurfacing Treatment, which I agreed to since I’ve had a bad spate to under the sun recently (Kuala Kubu Baru waterfall trip with dearest Louis, my dog, friends and their dogs) and thus am willing to try it. I’m normally not a fan of such treatments to be honest :P

The horror began when the therapist asked me how long have I not had a facial, and when I answered her that it’s been almost 2 months or less, she grimaced. In the “eeeeww” kind of grimace. I was quite taken aback- I usually try to make a facial appointment once a month, unless I am busy with University or family, and I do exfoliate and mask twice a week at home myself… so what gives? On hindsight, perhaps I should have requested a new therapist right there and then =_=

I was lead into the treatment room- where my facial treatment would begin. I always seem to get Suite 5 without fail XD As per usual, my therapist tried to initiate conversation with me- looking at my skin condition and so on. She noted that I had been stressed, which I had been due to thesis XD I told her that I have been rushing my final year project, and she replied by saying that it’s always busy at offices during the year end. Errr, OK. She then told me that I should try to come in for regular facials, and I said sure, since my semester is ending and I’ll be more free to do so, and that I’ll be officially graduating in April 2011… and she talked on as though I am working when I mentioned the words “semester ending”, “graduating” =_= The kicker came when she asked if I were on my off-day and I told her bluntly that I am a student… and she didn’t try to make any conversation after that.

I mean, come on. Even if you’re trying to initiate conversation with your customer out of courtesy, at least make an effort to understand and/or listen to your customer instead. It really ticked me off how unprofessional this is.

As a result it made me nitpick on her choice of words too- “bring up your healthy cells”? I wouldn’t mind if she said “resurface” or “stimulates your healthy cells”. “Stinking”, when she meant to say “stinging”? Oh lord ._.

Not only that- the whole facial treatment was meh to be honest. Unlike other therapists I’ve experienced in 128 Faubourg, especially the one prior to this treatment (Which I enjoyed although she was a bit more chatty than I’d really like, but she was nice), she did not “introduce” the products she’d be using on me as she went. She was also rather slapdash in her attitude- like when she was applying mask on me with a brush, I felt that she didn’t go over some places more than once when she did on other parts of my face, and when she was applying other products on me with her fingers she kept applying it onto the sides of my lips, which was also annoying. Likewise, when she did my second mask, she entered, removed my first mask, painted on my second mask and rushed off. I could hear it. It certainly did not help me feel as relaxed as I’d like, although I understand that there’s no point in a therapist being in the room while I stew in my own juices during the mask, but her rushed attitude made me feel like I was being rushed too.

I guess I’m thankful that at the end of the treatment she did not push any products on me, just asked if I usually came for individual treatments to which I replied yes, because I do and I preferred it that way. She just left me with the catalogue about their package promotion for the treatment I just had- the Brightening Resurfacing Treatment should I be interested, took my credit card for payment to be processed and disappeared. The receptionist was the one who brought me my receipt and credit card slip to sign instead. So, if I had coincidentally changed my mind to get the package, she wouldn’t be able to have gotten the credit for making me sign up, so yay :D

So dear 128 Faubourg, I would return as I really like your treatments and ambience, and I am satisfied with the results of my treatment yesterday so far, but I would request that I not get the therapist I had. I hope you at least have details of who attended to me (As I know most places would have records of the treatment and the therapist, but since you lost my details apparently), because I didn’t bother about her name due to her attitude. I just hope that my next visit would be better :\

As per title, to answer why I haven’t been updating much ._. The short semester that started on 17th May was so in-your-face, I almost died of suffocation from it. What’s worse, the 2 weeks break before it didn’t give me enough time to recuperate, so yeah @_@

Apart from starting on my thesis this semester (With a frustratingly blur and unhelpful supervisor, nonetheless) to be completed by December 2010, there’s also this huge painful group project for PSY302 Introduction To Industrial/Organisational Psychology. 12 random people in a group, and approximately about only 4 weeks to come up with a few hundred paged proposal assignment. Massive increase of blood pressure and stress levels, the former contributed also by certain group members. Thankfully I chose to stay out of leading this time, as managing 12 people would cause a coronary. Leading my own sub-group of 4 (Me included, though) was already giving me some popped veins here and there.

Let’s see… presentation tomorrow, thesis defence and PSY307 Substance Abuse assignment due on Monday. At least it has become more manageable *Sigh of relief* And I’m also learning to relax and manage my stress levels :\ One of my ways is by going for monthly facials :P Expensive, yes, sadly, but at least it keeps some semblance of balance in my life (And not to mention, skin)!

My last final paper will be on the 16th July, and after that I would be free until 31st August… not a very long holiday unfortunately, but I would be glad to have a break at least D:

And I want to attend Slash’s concert in Malaysia!

Oh, I almost forgot. It’s the Dumpling Festival today T_T Parents are in Labuan. Thank goodness dearest Louis bought dumplings… or I wouldn’t even have dumplings today!

I think I’ve pretty much decided that I do not want to go overseas to pursue my Master’s postgraduate degree.

1. It’s only a year- two at most, but even then, there are no long breaks unlike a Bachelor’s undergraduate degree. Part of the reason for going overseas is to explore and experience the place, but with the time constraints and the short period of time I would be there, it would be near impossible to do so and won’t be as enjoyable.
2. Stricter visa restrictions are imposed now. No thanks to the people who take advantage of visas for the wrong reasons- going overseas, especially for studies is not as easy as it used to be anymore. Even if you are guaranteed a place in the university and have made all the necessary preparations and have all the necessary paperwork, there is still no guarantee that your visa would be approved.
3. I would have to fly back and forth at least once (If I’m lucky), maybe twice, just for the application process, including interviews and all, which is time consuming. Instead of starting, say, next year after I graduate, I might start in another 2 years instead once everything is settled.
4. I would rather my parents save the money for me to go overseas to study and I use it for going for an overseas holiday instead, where I can really enjoy it. Or I could save up the money.

However, my dreams are not that all dashed :D I intend to apply to either a university in Singapore- maybe Nanyang Technological University, or to The University Of Nottingham- Malaysia Campus, where they’re nearer (Thus eliminating the problems I’ve listed), and have the courses I intend to pursue. A plus is that The University Of Nottingham- Malaysia Campus is a branch of The University Of Nottingham in the UK- not an affiliation but the actual university itself.

Possibly considering New Zealand, but definitely not Australia- it’s overrated and the standards are pretty horrible, at least for my course and from what I heard from those who have transferred over and/or are studying the course there.

I would also like to state, for once and for all, that my decision to pursue my Master’s postgraduate degree nearer to home and/or locally is not influenced by anyone. I don’t understand why everyone (Read: Family, mainly) seems to think I am so easily influenced =_= Plus, I am not easily swayed, and consider a lot of factors before I actually make a decision. Also, the reason why it seems like I’m so indecisive about my Master’s postgraduate degree course is because there are a variety of choices I can choose and actually want to study- but I need to factor in things such as job market availability and the like. I can’t just take a course that although I like, won’t be able to give me a job, right? :\ It’s just not feasible. So yeah.

My mid term results for this semester impresses even myself- 16.86/20 for PSY303 Counselling Theories And Techniques, 23/30 for PSY305 Ethics In Psychology (I even scored 14/15 for the subjective part… which I honestly don’t remember what I wrote XD Pure BS!) and 21/30 respectively for PSY310 Cross-Cultural Psychology and PSY315 Human Motivation :D