Free stuff

Come tomorrow, it will be a week since I have been back from Glasgow. I sometimes still can't believe that my exam is over. Sure, I haven't got my results, but the pressure of taking the exam is off. Plus I feel rather good about it. =) *I will pass my exam. I will pass my exam. I will pass my exam. Repeat 30 times*

I received a parcel this morning actually afternoon. I was happy and surprised because I wasn't expecting anything and the box did not reveal whom it was from. Opened it and the stuff was bubble wrapped and wrapped again inside in purple tissue and rather heavy!!! So curious at that time. It was two 500 ml bottles of Aussie Miracle Moist shampoos!!! 1 for me and another for a friend I chose when I entered the competition. Her's was customized with a message from me on the bottle itself!!!

This is what I want to talk about today. Free stuff!!! If you know me personally, you would probably know that I love getting free samples and coupons and discounts. I mean, who doesn't? But I search them out. I sign up to websites that list freebies. My favourite freebie website is MagicFreebiesUK. However, some people turn their noses up at me when they discover this hobby of mine. They probably think I'm being cheap. Which is true, I'm not denying it. What I don't get is how is that wrong? You need something, and if you can try it out for free first, why not right? If you only need something once and only in a small amount, if you can get it free instead of having to buy the humongous bottle, why not?

I have not bought any tea (except for 1 box when I first came, and it's still more than half full) or coffee since I came here, and I have been here for 3 years. I don't drink much of these, which is why free samples are good. I can't finish like an entire bottle of coffee or a box of tea. I'd be wasting my money if I buy them when the craving strikes. So free samples help me save plus I get lots of variety! What's wrong with that? Even if you do drink a lot of it, what's not to love about getting 1 or 2 more tea bags for free?

Perfume. I love perfume but I don't have the habit of wearing it. I usually only use it for occasions or on holidays. So I have never bought any branded perfume (unless you count Body Shop). But I have perfume from Juicy Couture, Molton Brown, Britney Spears, Lancome, Ed Hardy, Burberry, and just recently Viktor & Rolf! They are all tiny bottles, yes, but I don't use them often and I have an array to choose from! Plus because they are small, they are good for traveling and storing in handbags!!! I love it when I'm able to bring four different perfumes along for a trip.

Some of my perfume

Free make up! Yes, that is a full sized Rimmel foundation.

Skincare products are really good when they come as samples too because you get to see if it works for you before you spend that 50 bucks on it. Or as traveling toiletries. Ok, I really love free samples a lot because they make awesome traveling toiletries. I'm not the kind that goes out to buy miniature moisturizers and stuff. I'm the kind that collects free samples and use them when needed. It saves me a lot! Do you know how much miniature things cost? They are usually more expensive per ml or gram than bigger ones. Plus it reduces wastage that occurs when transferring from big bottles to small bottles.


Furthermore, it's not like I go grabbing every single free thing there is. Only things that I might use or need. So there isn't a wastage.

So I don't get why people view it as a bad thing. It's fine if you don't participate in it. I'm not trying to force you. Heck, don't fight with me for free samples!!! Hahaha. I just don't like it when people turn their noses up at me for that. Get over yourself. 

Life is too short, get the most out of it!

It's over

OMG IT IS FINALLY OVER!!!

I CAN GO SHOPPING AND EATING AND SLEEP!!!

WOHOOO!!!

Panic attack

Ok so it's not that dramatic. I don't literally get panic attacks.  

BUT I AM GOING TO PANIC
 

My exam is in 16.5 hours. OMG. And in 19.5 hours I will be free. Free to go shopping and have Starbucks and sleep!!! I don't know if I should be happy or sad that the exam is tomorrow. I will be free soon, but what if I'm not ready? I don't particularly feel ready. I don't feel as nervous about it as the last time, but STILL. OMG OMG OMG. 

My bf's mum skyped me to wish me good luck. According to my bf, once you receive his mum's good luck wish, you won't fail. That's what he said. I will hold him to it! Haha. Lets hope it works.

OMG. Breathe Ash, breathe. 

I have to get this in my head. 

I WILL GRADUATE. Repeat x1000.

WISH ME LUCK PLEASEEEEE and TQ!!! =)

Non-applicable things

Hi. This is really unusual. I usually hardly update at all don't update so much. But I just felt like typing a post. About something. It's 6 in the morning. It's already bright. I don't know what I'm doing up so late. I was suppose to be studying, or rather doing a mock test on myself. Buutttt that didn't work out. I ended up watching YouTube videos. 

Let me just explain the paper I am going to sit for. You are given an article from a journal and are expected to answer 8-10 questions on it in 3 hours. It is typically a research comparing 2 drugs together, studying the effect of that drug, or just some form of intervention and if it benefits the patient. The questions are usually like, what is the background of this study, what are the aims of this study, what does Figure 1/Table 2/etc. say, are the conclusions justified, some questions about the drug and some research terms. So basically, it's to read the paper and regurgitate it in your own words. 

I just can't like this paper. I mean, I've heard about the law of attraction from The Secret. I've not read it, just heard about it from XiaXue and QiuQiu. So I just made up a theory that if I could like the paper, it would like me back, as in let me score. However, the problem is that I just CAN'T like this shit. Because that is what it is, shit. Like who the hell is going to come up to a pharmacist and say:

"Hi, I am a regular everyday internet savvy patient who just found this article online about some drug I am taking/a disease I am having and wondered if you could tell me what this article is about in 3 hours."

Nobody! No one is going to do that. I know there are people who might bring in articles and stuff, but they don't demand that you "critically analyze" it in 3 hours. Yes, you are expected to be able to come up with some clever professional jargon to reply to this patient. BUT, you will probably say something like this first:

"Yes, I can do that. No problem at all. I will take a look at this and will get back to you tomorrow."

Logic demands that this is the response you give simply because you won't have 3 hours to stand there and analyze the crap out of the paper. You have customers to serve! Prescriptions to label, dispense and check! People to counsel! You don't have the time!!!

Which is why this paper pisses me off! It's not applicable in real life! Why are we getting time tested on this?!?! I understand if its an assignment. That would make sense. But an exam? Seriously? Your patients are going to accept your opinion regardless of whether its right or wrong. Whatever comes out of the pharmacist's mouth must be right after all. They are not testing you. That is not to say I simply spew things to my patients. I do read the article and take it seriously if I get anything like that. But like, I don't think its serious enough for us to get tested on it. It's not going to change what medication the patient is taking. It's not going to like change the patient's lifestyle or anything like that. It's probably just some new herb supplement or cream, something along those lines. 

Gosh. I really hate doing things that are not applicable because I don't see the point. And the thing that really really pisses me off is that 2 marks from this paper is what has delayed me for a year. 2 freaking marks for A BLOODY YEAR!!! 

Ok. Got that off my chest. I might be able to study better now that I've gotten all the hate out. Ya right. I better go to sleep now. Actually it's waking up time. My body clock is screwed...

Huh?

Oh, I see you.

Hi! =)

Starstruck

Ok, I actually have no idea what to write. I just didn't want the first post that shows up on my blog to be so negative. (Came up with title after typing the whole post) I haven't been doing much lately. Just studying and browsing on eBay and the sort. I suppose I was a little starstruck this week. Not anything major, just minor things which made me happy.

I managed to get myself a dress from Chessie. In fact it was just this morning. =D She was having her Spring sales and I snagged a dress from Cheesie!!! Weee!!! I really do admire her. She's a fellow Malaysian that is determinedly fashionable. I don't agree 100% with what she wears. I mean I don't think anyone ever likes every single thing their fashion icon wears after all. But I like her style most of the time. The point is though, that she dares to dress differently in Malaysia. Not that anyone is going to shoot you down for dressing out of the norm, but its just that I know some people tend to stare or have preconceived notions. Like boots are for hookers, people with lightly dyed hair are "lala" and ridiculous things like that. I also really like the way she writes. It's nothing fanciful but its funny and nice to read! Unlike mine. Plus she's super awesome at make up and hair!!! Learned the cat ears hairstyle from her. It's really cute!!! So anyway, I emailed her about the dress I wanted to buy and she replied! Obviously. As I said, it's nothing major, it's just...Cheesie replied my email!!! =DDDDD


Next, I'm gonna talk about another pretty Malaysian girl, Careen Tan. You might know her as the girl who won Adidas Neo Ambassador competition, or the girl in the Only In Malaysia short by JinnyBoyTV that has gone viral. I don't really know her at all. I just randomly saw her pic while I was googling for PC Fair info and thought that she was really pretty even though she wasn't wearing those fancy costumes and was just in a normal bright green shirt. I can't remember how I stumbled upon her blog, but well I did and have been stalking reading it when I have the time. She's is soooooo pretty. She embodies everything I want in life. Of course she has her own set of problems and no one's life is perfect, but it does seem like it from the outside. So, I complimented her in reply to one of her tweet pics and she replied with a "Thanx babe!". I was literally grinning ear to ear. I think my bf has gotten bored of hearing about her from me. He actually has her as a friend on Fb because he took her pic once in PC Fair and so added her to tag her. Back then she didn't have her fan page so she added strangers into her personal account so that she could get tagged. Unfair!!! I'm only her fan on her fan page! Plus he has seen her at events a few times!!! Hmph!!!

Finally, it's a reply from a Dramione (Draco + Hermione) fanfiction author. If you don't know, I am in love with the idea of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger being together. If you don't know who they are, I think you should reconsider your social life. 

HAVE YOU NOT WATCHED HARRY POTTER?!?! 

*calms self down* I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan and so still read fanfiction, but only of the dramione kind. Their stories are so full of passion and angst. So there's this awesome awesome author called Bex-chan, and it was her birthday and so I wished her Happy Birthday and she replied in thanks! Ya ya, nothing major again. But I got a reply from her!!! She must have had thousands of wishes and she still replied me!!! Hehehe!!!

Ya, so that's why I'm starstruck this week. The one thing that could make my entire year starstruck would be to meet Tom Felton (actor of Draco Malfoy). In fact, I don't need to meet him. Just a reply tweet from him would have me on cloud nine for weeks! *fingers crossed!*

Ramblings

I don't know if it is appropriate to wallow in self-pity and worthlessness here. I'm not looking for sympathy, merely to vomit out what I feel onto some platform, in the hopes of alleviating this feeling.


Sometimes, I feel so under-accomplished. I am turning 24 this year. Omg, so old. Two dozen years on this planet, and what have I done? Nothing worth noting, that's for sure. I haven't secured a degree under my belt, have not earned a single dime, and have not achieved any of my dreams (shallow as they may be). My bf psychoanalyzed me the other day, and told me that I am easily influenced by my surroundings and I try too hard to fit into the norm. All around me, I see my friends reaching the end point in their training, while I have yet to begin. Some have set up blogshops and whatnot, generating income even before they graduate. Some have part-time jobs and are really great at it. Some are engaged/married and set to face the future together.

I dream. I dream a lot. I wanted to have an eBay store, to sell my second hand clothes. But that's not really a practical dream, is it? I'm not exactly the most fashionable person, plus I rarely shop at high street stores. I wanted to become a model. Again, not realistic. I don't have a clear complexion, can't put on foundation properly, not tall enough, plus I don't have the exact body for it (even if I like to think so sometimes). I wanted to be a singer, but I can't sing to save my life. I wanted to have a famous blog, but am not nearly interesting enough nor do I update often enough. I wanted to be an air stewardess, but well my parents and bf were kind of against it, since I will be away for too long. See how unrealistic I am?


I acknowledge that my dreams are shallow. You might think, what about being a successful pharmacist? Isn't that supposed to be your main goal in life? You are soon to be achieving that after all. The practical and boring goal, yes. Not that I don't enjoy working as one, because I do. But it's not what I really REALLY like. You know what I mean? It's the job that gets money in, not the job you've always dreamed of having since you were a kid. Sure, every job has their perks and disadvantages, but I still yearn for it. I'm jealous, oh so jealous of people working as what I've always wanted to be. Of people who have the freedom and ability to do what they like.


I've always wanted to be known. Maybe it stems from how insignificant I felt back in the early days of high school. I hated my first year in high school. I hardly knew anyone in class, and the popular kids made fun of me. So perhaps that formed the thought that popular people wield the power. Or maybe I'm just naturally an attention seeker. But anyway, the point is that I want to be known, in a good way. That is my ultimate shallow goal. But who's going to know me by being a pharmacist? You don't go around telling people:

"OMG!!! Do you know this pharmacist? She is THE BEST!!! You just have to get your medication from her because she is (lists good pharmacist's qualities)!!!"

You don't, do you? No one cares about pharmacists. It's not like doctors, where patients will tell their friends/family about this awesome doctor who was so patient and understanding and accurate and other excellent doctor qualities. I can't even be known in my professional field. Wtf.

Some people have told me that I am unerringly positive. Well, here you go. I'm not positive all the time. I have bouts of self-pity and whatnot.


I don't know what is the point of this blogpost. I'm sorry if you wasted 5 minutes of your life reading this. Not really. Bye!

*p.s. On a brighter note, I'm getting my eyebrows done at Benefit after my exam!!! I've never actually specifically been to do my brows before. It was only when I did make overs for proms. So yay! Excited!!!

Truth

It's been ages since I've typed a blog post. I know. Almost 9 months ago. But to my friends who just wanted to be kept updated with my life, well, I've been tweeting and pushing it to Facebook as well as placed it on top of my blog. So I guess you can't complain? Haha. However, if you really want to know what's happening in my life (and not what I had for dinner), I'll tell you now.

The most significant thing is that I have not graduated. Yes, you read it correctly. The truth is out. I'm still a student. If I have told you that I am working, well, I'm not lying either. I'm working for experience. I have not started my pre-registration placement, but am working at the pharmacy that is going to sponsor me. My final exam is on the 4th of May. Just one final paper separating me from my pharmacy degree certificate. I'll not bore you with the story of why and how I'm still a student. All you have to know is that I'll graduate this June. Yes, I WILL. No more screw ups. Not in terms of this anyway.

Why did I only decide to tell it now? Well, let's just say that I have finally come to terms with the situation. I'm not exactly ashamed of failing. I didn't mind telling people about it, even right at the start. I didn't have a problem accepting this failure. I just didn't fancy the things people would say behind my back, or the pitying looks they might give me. So I kept the truth to a select bunch of people. Don't take it personally if I didn't tell you. It might have just been because it was easier to say "Yes, I am working" than to say "Yes, I am working, but I haven't graduated because...", especially if you don't know anything about registering as a pharmacist. After explaining over and over again, I'm bound to get tired of explaining. So please don't hold me to it. I have finally decided that I don't particularly care what others think about me. As long as those that are close to my heart supports me, I'll be fine.

That's all I really have to say at this moment. I'll leave you with my latest cam whore pic. =)