A Must-score Test

Diana and I had just registered for the GRE paper-based test which will be held at Penang MACEE, in February 2009. The test registration fee costs US$170, an equivalent of RM570. Some people might think we’re “crazy” for spending this much for just a test, but for us, that’s our stake that would determine our destiny – a passport to the US universities. So we just can’t afford bad or so-so performance in the test. Our ultimate aim is to score with flying colors. 

The GRE or Graduate Record Examination is a multiple-choice admission tests intended for applicants to graduate schools particularly in US. It consists of three sections: 

• One 75-minutes “Analytical Writing” (essay) section that contains 2 essay questions
• One 30-minutes “Verbal Reasoning” (vocabulary and reading) section that contains 30 questions
• One 45-minutes “Quantitative Reasoning” (math) section that contains 28 questions

The first 2 sections are pretty challenging for me because:

1. My english command is not strong; my vocabulary is very limited.
2. I have poor writing skill, especially in the analytical and critical sense (just like what my teacher always says, a lack of critical mind).

So I have two difficulties to overcome in order to meet my target. 

I talked to Diana about the GRE test preparation this afternoon and she suggested to memorize a number of vocabulary and their meanings for every week, then set a test in the weekend. Sounds like a brute-force and “artificial” (quoted from an article) approach but I believe it will help. After all, all we need for the verbal test is to know more words. In fact I myself have a more “organic” way of picking up new words, which is by reading more standard english writings (such as The New York Times) and take notes of the new vocabs I learned from the writings.

6 months to prepare, 1 goal to achieve, 0 failure allowed – that’s the only thing in our mind. I think we have made a good start by investing in some expensive reference books and started to read more. Hopefully the spirit will continue to burn, higher and higher. Wish us luck. Oh no, wish us determination.

Painkiller That Nearly Killed A Life

My friend Susan met a car accident two years ago. Although she survived the accident, the impact of the car crash had caused fractures in her lumbar vertebrae. Since then she had suffered from low back pain frequently. To ease her pain, her physician had prescribed some opiates.

After 6 months of therapy and rest, Susan had finally recovered from her injuries and back to work. However, another problem arose without her awareness. During her resting period, Susan had become pretty dependent on her pain medication. She took painkiller whenever she felt discomfort and eventually the painkiller was taken at an even higher dosage than the initial prescription.

She became addicted to the opiate (painkiller) effects that she could not help to withdraw the pain medication even though her initial back injury had healed. The excessive opiate intake had adversely affected her daily life that she became easily depressed and could hardly concentrate in her work. She also suffered from insomnia often and lost weight badly. Struggling with those unhealthy symptoms for about a year, Susan realized she needed to do something before her painkiller addiction could ruin her life thoroughly.

Susan sought treatment for her painkiller addiction at a drug treatment centre called Meditox after doing some online researches and went through a 6-week outpatient opiate rehab program. The drug withdrawal was a successful one. Now Susan is back to a cheerful person as she used to be and has somehow become more motivated and socially active than ever.

I chatted with her online some days ago and she told me about her future plans. Well, looks like she has got great influence from her treatment counselor that she is considering to enroll in counseling services program! Happy ending isn’t it? I wish her the best of luck.

滚滚红尘

我在一网站上读到一首诗，名为《滚滚红尘》，作者不详。诗句写得优美也很有意思，让我不禁联想到一个朋友。现在我把诗转载过来送给他，附加一首名为《滚滚红尘》的曲子。

《滚滚红尘》

荡漾青丝掩世仇，深眸寄路几春秋。
红尘滚滚沧桑锁，赤胆悠悠禁锢囚。
道路崎岖无应策，身心寂落不堪筹。
来人莫问归何处，此去天涯有浪收。

On A Rough Track

I love running. So long as my legs are functioning, I will not quit from running. That’s a lifetime passion.

I’m a little bit unlucky, my running track is pretty rough and rocky. Sometimes I stumbled over some stones and fell down on the track out of balance. I bled and I was upset. I sat there staring at my wound, the more I stared the more I felt painful and lousy. Whenever I looked up, my partner would stand far ahead me, waving to me. A simple act but gives great support and encouragement. Each time I stood up from the place I fell and moved on, I learned to bear the pain better and be able to avoid more obstacles. Those are what you can hardly learn when you’re on a smooth track, it’s easy but lack challenges.

Now, I’ve learned not to care about the ranking anymore, it’s just a title to acknowledge my achievement, nothing else. Which race I’m in is no longer important to me, to reach the finish line I still have to make my own effort. I just want to run, keep running…

I enjoy the moment I’m running. I listen to every step I make. I can feel my performance is progressing, slow and steady. I become stronger each time, physically and mentally. And I’m glad I’ve found an excellent partner, who guides me on the track and motivates me to achieve higher from time to time.

Those are what simply satisfy me on the track.

FRIENDS NO LONGER

Sorry I forgot to tell you
That as my friend you must be true.

As that I went to say,
No more were we at play.

I meant to tell you the future looked bright,
But all of a sudden we got in a fight.

I went to tell you we should be friends,
That I will be here untill the end.

But you would not listen to me,
So friends no longer shall we be.

quote by Sewra