First time in my life in Paris - Day 246

I arrived back in London and was told that my luggage was STILL IN PARIS. My heart stopped. I have never experienced such cases before, and the first thing I thought was if I had any valuables in there and what was the total cost if I did not get my luggage back. Surprisingly though, I was calm, went to the airline desk and explained my situation and headed home. I have school the next day, can't be waiting at the airport till my bag arrives (if it did), plus they were just material things that I would not die without. Toothbrush, lenses, 3 days worth of clothes, phone chargers, etc. 

Over the weekend I decided to pack up for a short getaway to meet abang and Su in Paris. Paris is always nice when you have great company! :)

Can't pick any other better weekend than this one in fact. Coursework and assignments not in just yet and weather in paris was perfectly superb! Perfect company, perfect weather, what better way to spend the weekend :)

Haha, I know, I should stop doing this impromptu travelling. No doubt it's fun, but boy isn't it tiring! Well some said I should stay put since I've been travelling too much. Oooops :P

 

A girl's dream - Keep Calm and Move On

Sometimes, you just wished that there was that someone who would come by and take your worries and stress away instantly, anytime.

Chasing a dream is never easy, at least for me. Let alone to juggle between a couple of major things. Running a little low on motivation, oh dear me.

Everytime I get stressed out or I start whining, my very concern awesome classmates would go, "Eh go pray now" or those Malaysians wannabe would go "Go sam-bah-yang (sembahyang or pray) la". Haha...it's really cute how concern they get that they give me such perfect reminders, MasyaAllah :)

Step by step, InsyaAllah it will get easier by the day :)

A girl's dream - Step 2

"Can you pop in for a meeting tomorrow?"

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Still in Banking?"

"Which (Big boy Wall Street) Bank did you dream of trying out at before?"

"Where is your passion and what do you want to do?"

.

.

.

Finally

"I see you somewhere. Are you up for trading and sales?"

YES!

A girl's dream - Step 1

I remember that exact weekend when I started this

I spent my nights talking to my (current) bosses about my intentions and cleaning up my CV and exploring for opportunities. They thought I was pretty crazy not to like studying but preferred working, but they were of course very encouraging! I love working ok! haha!

Well, it was not just any opportunities though, but for opportunities that would want to take me as an intern. Reporting to what I used to think is any graduates'dream - a boss from on of the Big Banks on you see on Wall Street. A girl can dream can't she :)

It became quite a challenge halfway, because:

1. I wanted to get back into the working life earlier than scheduled (I did not mind being an intern)
2. Before I graduate and leave the UK, I wanted to make full use of my time here, having explored opportunities to work here before going back to KL. I mean I see my friends complaining having to work long hours but hey! At least you've given it a try, that's a happy (stressful) achievement, don't you agree :):):):)
3. Under the Business School regulations, I am still a student under the signed contract with Imperial, and I am also bounded by the regulations in my scholarship agreement. Hence I've got to play the cards right. Wouldn't want to be kicked out of Uni nor fired just because I was applying for jobs earlier than I graduate
4. As a student in the UK, my student Visa only allows for me to work a maximum of 20 hours a week (Whoa! Which financial institution would take me?!). Again, I'm restricted. Visa issues in the UK is very darn strict, so I had to be very very careful not to mis look the rules and regulations

Well basically, these things will only pop up when you start exploring. Not really big obstacles if you follow the rules I must say. I mean if at the end of the day the rules says No, it just means that you've got to find other alternatives :)

It was a very very exciting thing to be doing indeed! Or was it just because I was in the midst of my exams? During exams, anything and everything else is always more interesting anyway :P

Thankful

I don't deny that things don't get any easier for a LDR, in fact it gets a little confusing sometimes.

But one thing I find quite magical is how we do the same things, right at the same time. Really, simple things like this makes me smile so wide, almost making myself look silly if I was walking about outside smiling to myself.

Once, I called Aiman after work and I asked what he was doing. Guess what WAS he doing then? He JUST finished work too!! That was 4 pm my time, 11 pm his time. Haha! Now you guys are asking how come I finish at 4, I so know it. I'm just efficient like that and he happens to be a super duper hardworking boy :)

Today, again it happened. Only this time, both of us received similar good news at the office (with regards to work), Alhamdulillah! :):):) All at about the same time; after I came out from a meeting and just as he was about to go into a meeting to discuss about it.

From the start, I've always looked up to this guy. Not to mention the amount of respect I had for him since we started working for YCM together. From knowing what he wants, how to work for it to moving on to achieve it.

At his age, being where he is right now, it just amazes me every single time at how determined and amazing he is, MasyaAllah! Today,  never a day goes by when I don't feel very proud of him and really happy for him. He's as busy as a bee everyday, but it leaves me happy to hear him tell me he's learning something new every single day and doing what he likes, Alhamdulillah! What more can a happy, hardworking boy like him ask for :)

Grateful for everything everyday; for what I have, what I don't and what I'm going to have :)

I'm just thankful that we both will be doing what we like best in the next few months that's for sure, although we may start having way less time to speak to each other than we already do! It's definitely going to be a very exciting and challenging time ahead for the both of us, but hey, if it makes you a better person, InsyaAllah He has planned it out for you for a reason! :) If things are meant to work out it will, if it doesn't, it's probably because He is putting you through greater tests. Amin! :)

His last birthday, when we were just friends :)

Woke up to this - Simply humble and genuine :)

Mufti Ismail Menk

April via mobile

 "If wealth was the secret to happiness, then the rich would be dancing on the streets, but only poor kids do that.

 "If power ensured security, then officials and politicians would walk unguarded, but those who live simply are the     ones who have the soundest sleep.

 "If beauty and fame brought ideal relationships, then celebrities would have the best marriages.

  "Live simply, walk humbly, love genuinely and life will become easy & meaningful.

  Remember, all blessings are from the Almighty so recognise them and HIM!"

Forward Thinking Day 230

used to be our motivation in the firm!
Banking direction, where to eat for lunch, our potential target clients...semua forward thinking :)

Got me thinking about the tagline for a while. It has been a good Easter break, mostly because I learned a lot about myself. Sometimes when busy focusing on one thing, I tend to forget to manage other things. Alhamdulillah for amazing people around me who constantly looks out for me :)

One of the bigger things I experienced is working on something that keeps moving downwards. It's like the harder you work at it, the tougher it gets and the faster it moves downwards. When that happens, turn to Him, keep calm and carry on. Sometimes, things just get really hard before it gets easier, and I'm thankful that my Boss managed to plant that right in me.

Well, just another 2 days till the start of final term, 5 months to the end of Masters, 3 months till I get back to the corporate banking (5.30 am) life, may be more months than that before I go home fully and what the future has for me back in Malaysia can be very exciting and scary all at the same time. My future, the banking industry's future, the end of the world(? Lol!)...but heck, that's the main purpose of one's game-of-life. Uncertainty.

Just recently, a friend's husband passed away due to chest pain and no, he wasn't old. Imagine a young wife becomes a single mother after only a year and a little bit more of being husband and wife. life's indeed very short. So don't be neglecting what you already have now.

2 days to school! For starters, there seems to be a gazillion things I need to do!! Working weekend starts now :)

So Un-Glam

If there is one thing that I am never aware of is...making faces whilst doing work in the office. 

Back in the KL office, I used to be told off by my boss/supervisor whenever I make like 'mulut muncung' or just plain stick a little bit of my tongue out when I do calculations. You know, it's like it makes me think faster when I twitch my face or do something silly like that! I swear I never realized any of them!

This week, this was what my colleagues did, as evidence that I make faces and sometimes bite my lips when I do work. Geez.

So unglam. 

Especially when clients come around!

On a different note, it has been a really great week getting to know new colleagues at the office here!

In love!

:)

Soya bean alert at work!

It's now 11pm in London which means that it is wayyy past bedtime in Turkey! 

I just got back from an amazing break in Turkey and I must say, I was sad to leave :( 

Turkey was just breathtaking. Added with the 26-30 degrees of sun. So much love! :)

Nonetheless, I believe I've had enough of sun now, I'm happy to be back in cold cold London! Gotta spend some time with the cold to get all this tan away. Ish! Soya bean alert!

I.AM.SO.DARK.I.HAVE.SUNGLASSES.LINES!

My colleagues had better not make fun of me tomorrow when I go back to work.

*pulls hair*

At the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque), Istanbul

Back in London means, I'm off to work tomorrow!! Although I'm tired, I'm super duper duper excited! In the office for the day and will be attending a dinner at Oxford! 

I hope I won't oversleep... or sleep throughout my journey to Oxford!

Will blog more about my Turkey trip sooooon! For now, I've got to go look for those work clothes...and where are those high heels?!