Well guys,
I'm back from a trip to Adelaide and now I have to get serious about my future. I have so many things I want to do right now. It is A GIANT LIST.
But the "thing to do" at #1 is making me accomplish that list very difficult. It's my number 1 priority and for some reason, my mind is telling me that if I DON'T do that #1, I CANNOT progress to the other stuff below it!
And you know what that #1 thing to do is?
GET A JOB.
And I've been pretty lenient on this one. ANY job. It doesn't even have to be a science job!
But I've been picky. My plan was not to get a full-time job until April. So there are only so many part-time and casual jobs out there right?
Well, the fact that I've mostly been going for the medical receptionist jobs doesn't really help either. But my plan was to have a part-time/casual job so I could have room for volunteering!
But insha Allah I get a job. I make do'a every day. So that my dreams come true. insha Allah!
-Nurilen
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Monday, December 29, 2014
Tonton Piggy Bank ~Naruto~
Hey guys!
I felt like being super creative and found hidden in my hoard a piggy bank painting kit. It was a gift from a friend for my 20th bday! And only now do I decided to paint it.
I am a major Naruto fan and thought immediately of painting Tonton!
So here it is! 3h work and super kawaii.
Pre-painted
Starting to paint
The finished product
I am so excited for the Naruto movie that's coming out! I've already booked my tickets in the cinema. I am SO glad and grateful that Australia is actually screening the movie in cinemas, even if it is only being shown for one day. So glad its only about a month after it premiered in Japan.
I am an avid NaruHina fan. Many of you Naruto fans could probably understand the overwhelming joy I felt when finding out in the last manga chapter that Naruto ended up with Hinata! :D :D
I cannot believe there were NaruSaku fans that were butthurt and going all hater against Kishi. Sheesh. So immature. The immature type are the ones that shipped Naruto and Sakura in the first place =_=
I hope they reveal Kakashis face in the movie.
Anyways. I'm excited!
I felt like being super creative and found hidden in my hoard a piggy bank painting kit. It was a gift from a friend for my 20th bday! And only now do I decided to paint it.
I am a major Naruto fan and thought immediately of painting Tonton!
So here it is! 3h work and super kawaii.
Pre-painted
I am an avid NaruHina fan. Many of you Naruto fans could probably understand the overwhelming joy I felt when finding out in the last manga chapter that Naruto ended up with Hinata! :D :D
I cannot believe there were NaruSaku fans that were butthurt and going all hater against Kishi. Sheesh. So immature. The immature type are the ones that shipped Naruto and Sakura in the first place =_=
I hope they reveal Kakashis face in the movie.
Anyways. I'm excited!
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Medical School Rejection and Plans for the Summer and Next Year
Well folks.
I didn't get into medical school again. In case you were all wondering...
In the next year, I guess I'll be updating this blog a bit more often now hey? And time to set off into that list of things I wanted to do after Honours..
Thinking of starting an online novel. More like a series actually... It will be published on a separate blog and I'll send you guys the link once I get it up and running.
The plot has been in my head for a couple of years now. It's very teenage-girl drama-ish. Well.. I was a teenaged girl when the plot first came. So now I will translate those daydreams and those pre-sleep thoughts into writing! Hurray!
This is a little ambitious but would be totes awesome if people read it and enjoyed it! Like those light reads that are just for entertainment. hahah... trust me. It won't be like 50 shades of grey!
Will be back soon!
~Nurilen
I didn't get into medical school again. In case you were all wondering...
In the next year, I guess I'll be updating this blog a bit more often now hey? And time to set off into that list of things I wanted to do after Honours..
Thinking of starting an online novel. More like a series actually... It will be published on a separate blog and I'll send you guys the link once I get it up and running.
The plot has been in my head for a couple of years now. It's very teenage-girl drama-ish. Well.. I was a teenaged girl when the plot first came. So now I will translate those daydreams and those pre-sleep thoughts into writing! Hurray!
This is a little ambitious but would be totes awesome if people read it and enjoyed it! Like those light reads that are just for entertainment. hahah... trust me. It won't be like 50 shades of grey!
Will be back soon!
~Nurilen
Monday, October 20, 2014
Alhamdulillah
Alhamdulillah I got to redeem myself today. ALHAMDULILLAH!
I still gotta be well versed in the literature so I will get straight to that by doing my manuscript!
Insha Allah!
I still gotta be well versed in the literature so I will get straight to that by doing my manuscript!
Insha Allah!
Friday, October 17, 2014
Presentation downer
Hey everyone,
I just wanted to recount what happened the other day and how I went into a depression slump.
So I did a practice presentation in front of my lab group (and another lab group) today and one of the questions i got was during my 'question time' made me wish i had just disappeared. It was the SIMPLEST question ever. A question THAT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN after being in the group for 8 MONTHS. BUT I DID NOT KNOW.
And of course the group smirked at me when i said the wrong answer. I think my stupidity was revealed and now I can't face being back in there anymore.
Now that I've typed this, my way of trying to solve this problem of mine is really stupid.
I am now going to tell myself this:
DON'T LET THEIR OPINIONS OF YOU AFFECT YOU. Do your thing, make a lot of DUA and insha ALLAH when ALLAH SWT gives you the results you want, you can forget about this dilemma and laugh at yourself. INSHA ALLAH.
I guess because it was the first time that people's laughing at me.. actually affected me. Affected my pride? I'm generally a silly person and I think people laughing at you is a good thing. It means youre hilarious and fun to be around. But when they laugh at you because of something so OBVIOUSLY SHOWING HOW STUPID you are... that got me.
But I shall listen to my advice. Do my thing. Don't care what they think.
Just pray to ALLAH SWT. Amiin.
I just wanted to recount what happened the other day and how I went into a depression slump.
So I did a practice presentation in front of my lab group (and another lab group) today and one of the questions i got was during my 'question time' made me wish i had just disappeared. It was the SIMPLEST question ever. A question THAT I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN after being in the group for 8 MONTHS. BUT I DID NOT KNOW.
And of course the group smirked at me when i said the wrong answer. I think my stupidity was revealed and now I can't face being back in there anymore.
Now that I've typed this, my way of trying to solve this problem of mine is really stupid.
I am now going to tell myself this:
DON'T LET THEIR OPINIONS OF YOU AFFECT YOU. Do your thing, make a lot of DUA and insha ALLAH when ALLAH SWT gives you the results you want, you can forget about this dilemma and laugh at yourself. INSHA ALLAH.
I guess because it was the first time that people's laughing at me.. actually affected me. Affected my pride? I'm generally a silly person and I think people laughing at you is a good thing. It means youre hilarious and fun to be around. But when they laugh at you because of something so OBVIOUSLY SHOWING HOW STUPID you are... that got me.
But I shall listen to my advice. Do my thing. Don't care what they think.
Just pray to ALLAH SWT. Amiin.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
[Review] Kazbah Restaurant
My friends and I decided to utilise a $50 voucher and go out for dinner. We chose Kazbah because it was apparently the cheapest out of all the restaurants. AND.. it had my vote because it had a halal menu.
Note: despite the restaurant having a 'halal menu' there were still some items that were not halal.
Not going to go into details but what went down that night. I guess this post will take on a review style!
The atmosphere and setting 4/5
Was pleasant. It was a weeknight and most of the diners were sitting outside smoking argileh and drinking wine.
We came in around 6.30pm and there was only 2-3people in the actual indoor dining place.
The room was dark but we had a nice view of the harbourside. We were seated at wooden table and chairs. But there was also those booth chairs with extremely comfy-looking cushions on them too.
I also saw a private space in the corner with curtains. So if any of you guys come in as a group and would like some privacy during your meal, I guess the restaurant can cater for that :)
Not sure if you can book it though. Probably should call up to check, especially if you're thinking of going on a busy night.
The Bathroom 3/5
Yes! They have a bathroom. It was quite small. But the essentials were there.. the toilet was clean and they have a nice sink. The floors were a little wet but not slippery gross wet as if a monsoon had filled up the floor.
The service 4/5
The waitress serving us was real nice and kindly pointed out which meals were not halal. There were some desserts that had vodka in it, but she took note of our requirements and arranged for the dish to not have alcohol in it which is super nice.
We didn't have to wait too long for our meals either. However, the waitress did know that we were sharing our plates so it would've been nice if she divided the meals equally between the three of us.
And now.. for the important bit...
The Food
Mains
I loved it. The side dishes (to the right of the blue bowl) was interesting. The top was some chilli powder, the middle was I think some saffron spicy thing and the bottom was a salty and sour pickle thing. I love salty and sour things!
This dish was REAL good. The goat was tender. And it's not everyday that you eat goat. It was a nice blend of curry with the couscous. It was like the fused together in your mouth and gave you this warm feeling in your belly.
This was SO yummy! I love camel! This is the second time I've eaten camel this year (possibly my entire life) and I loved it! Only downside was that it didn't have enough side dish. I assume the rice surrounding it was the side dish. Well, it needed more of that! But the camel was tender, juicy and there's just something about the texture of camel meat that makes it special. Definitely one of those exotic dishes to try out in an exotic restaurant.
Drinks
I haven't been to many harbourside restaurants, but their drinks menu was packed with alcoholic drinks! But to fit in with the fancy setting, decided to go for the mocktails.
Mocktails
I ordered a lychee mocktail while my two friends ordered a mixed fruit.
The lychee mocktail was so good. No regrets. I was hesitant to pick it as my friends ordered the mixed fruit. But after tasting theirs, I LOVE the lychee more. It was sweet and very syrup-py but I highly recommend it. I can't remember what the other flavours were though..
The mixed fruit had I think apple and pineapple amongst other things which I cannot recall at the moment. I thought those fruits were pretty everyday-ish. And the drink mostly tasted like pineapple.
Lychee mocktail 3.5/5
Mixed fruit mocktail 3/5
Desserts
Wow.. where do I begin with desserts. Let's start with the nice one - but not the best one of the night.
It's a dish I wouldn't really go for again though.
This dish was originally "flamed with Vodka". But we asked the waitress to omit the vodka bit.
This dessert is one of the tastiest things to ever enter my belly! I LOVED the Turkish Delight ice cream. I am not a big fan of Turkish delights.. but that ice cream was just LOVE. And it was coated in some crumb thing (like they do with fried ice cream), and covered in meringe which I think made the overly sweet ice cream taste even better! And to complete the flavouring, the blueberries added this acidic tinge to the dessert which makes this so perfect.
Cost
It's a harbourside restaurant in Sydney. Expect dishes to be on the pricey side. To be honest, $30 for a dish is just ridiculous. But well we had a voucher..
Yes. I THOUGHT we had a voucher until for some reason their eftpos machine couldn't read the voucher card! Well.. the night did not end well. Spent A LOT of money. We emailed the voucher company and apparently they got some new eftpos machine. Still waiting to hear the outcome.
Note: despite the restaurant having a 'halal menu' there were still some items that were not halal.
Not going to go into details but what went down that night. I guess this post will take on a review style!
The atmosphere and setting 4/5
Was pleasant. It was a weeknight and most of the diners were sitting outside smoking argileh and drinking wine.
We came in around 6.30pm and there was only 2-3people in the actual indoor dining place.
The room was dark but we had a nice view of the harbourside. We were seated at wooden table and chairs. But there was also those booth chairs with extremely comfy-looking cushions on them too.
I also saw a private space in the corner with curtains. So if any of you guys come in as a group and would like some privacy during your meal, I guess the restaurant can cater for that :)
Not sure if you can book it though. Probably should call up to check, especially if you're thinking of going on a busy night.
The Bathroom 3/5
Yes! They have a bathroom. It was quite small. But the essentials were there.. the toilet was clean and they have a nice sink. The floors were a little wet but not slippery gross wet as if a monsoon had filled up the floor.
The service 4/5
The waitress serving us was real nice and kindly pointed out which meals were not halal. There were some desserts that had vodka in it, but she took note of our requirements and arranged for the dish to not have alcohol in it which is super nice.
We didn't have to wait too long for our meals either. However, the waitress did know that we were sharing our plates so it would've been nice if she divided the meals equally between the three of us.
And now.. for the important bit...
The Food
Mains
- Kazbah's Mezze Plate - Goat, Black Olives, Pumpkin, Saffron Yoghurt Sauce, Pinenuts % Almond Burnt Butter (with couscous) 4/5
This dish was REAL good. The goat was tender. And it's not everyday that you eat goat. It was a nice blend of curry with the couscous. It was like the fused together in your mouth and gave you this warm feeling in your belly.
- Shish kebabs - Camel Kafta, Brown Lentil Moujadara, Tunisian Style Ratatouille, Date Sauce, Crispy Fried Onions 4.5/5
This was SO yummy! I love camel! This is the second time I've eaten camel this year (possibly my entire life) and I loved it! Only downside was that it didn't have enough side dish. I assume the rice surrounding it was the side dish. Well, it needed more of that! But the camel was tender, juicy and there's just something about the texture of camel meat that makes it special. Definitely one of those exotic dishes to try out in an exotic restaurant.
- Specialties - Roast Duck, Falafel, Honey Baked Quince, Sweet Potato Chips 3/5
Drinks
I haven't been to many harbourside restaurants, but their drinks menu was packed with alcoholic drinks! But to fit in with the fancy setting, decided to go for the mocktails.
Mocktails
I ordered a lychee mocktail while my two friends ordered a mixed fruit.
 |
| Left (yellow): Mixed Fruit mocktail Right (pink): Lychee mocktail |
The mixed fruit had I think apple and pineapple amongst other things which I cannot recall at the moment. I thought those fruits were pretty everyday-ish. And the drink mostly tasted like pineapple.
Lychee mocktail 3.5/5
Mixed fruit mocktail 3/5
Desserts
Wow.. where do I begin with desserts. Let's start with the nice one - but not the best one of the night.
- Fruit mince bisteeya, raspberry and custard sauce, pistachio coated halawa ice cream 3/5
It's a dish I wouldn't really go for again though.
- Kazbah bomb for Two, Turkish Delight Ice cream, Blueberries 4.5/5
This dessert is one of the tastiest things to ever enter my belly! I LOVED the Turkish Delight ice cream. I am not a big fan of Turkish delights.. but that ice cream was just LOVE. And it was coated in some crumb thing (like they do with fried ice cream), and covered in meringe which I think made the overly sweet ice cream taste even better! And to complete the flavouring, the blueberries added this acidic tinge to the dessert which makes this so perfect.
Cost
It's a harbourside restaurant in Sydney. Expect dishes to be on the pricey side. To be honest, $30 for a dish is just ridiculous. But well we had a voucher..
 |
| oh damn that triple digit bill! |
Sunday, August 10, 2014
When trying to impress your supervisors for the sake of impressing
Okay, funny and depressing story I have for you lot today!
So since my research project is basically centred on this chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, I practically have NO DATA for my thesis yet. And there is ONLY ONE AND A HALF months left!
*panic mode*
So anyways. If I start ChIP assays on Monday, my data isn't usually ready before the Friday meeting I have with my program head (who is also my cosupervisor). But what I did have were some cyto assays I was working on. And I wanted to compare them to the sequencing paper that I am basing a part of my project on. But the IC50 of my results were different to that obtained in the paper.
When I brought this issue up, my cosupervisor looked at my graphs and the title and just said: how long was the treatment period in the paper.
And then I thought: OH CRAP. I didn't check that out.
After looking at the paper: "72 hours".
Cosupervisor: "And how long was yours?"
Me: "24 hours..."
And then I got asked why I chose "24 hours".
Tbh, I really don't know why. I thought that was the general treatment time for all drugs. But I didn't want my cyto assay trainer to get in trouble, so I told him:
"because it was convenient".
...
Um yeah. Not exactly the best thing I could have said. And then I got told off about how I didn't have any intellectual control over my project. Especially at this point in the year. I was also reminded of how I didn't have any data for my thesis yet.
So I basically felt like crap. And that conversation just kept echoing in my head throughout my entire weekend.
My cosupervisor asked if I knew how my drug worked. And I responded: "I don't know.."
He then asked if I had read the group's 2005 paper, which I couldn't tell which one..
So yeah. I am basically not that well versed in the literature. I don't have intellectual control over my project and I ask stupid questions and can't "arm myself" when I do because I don't know about the literature and am just blindly diving into doing things. :(
I am so angry at myself. What my cosupervisor said is all true. It was a giant slap in the face. But a slap I really needed.
I need to read more literature. But I just gotta find the time!
Well, after my cosupervisor expressed his disappointments about me not reading the literature...
I am still feeling a little down. I don't know if I will be able to face him tomorrow. I just... I haven't cried once. But I feel like it. But no tears will come out.
It is such a long journey. But considering the time I have left.. I wish the journey was longer. Im running out of time for my thesis.
wassalam,
Nurilen
So since my research project is basically centred on this chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, I practically have NO DATA for my thesis yet. And there is ONLY ONE AND A HALF months left!
*panic mode*
So anyways. If I start ChIP assays on Monday, my data isn't usually ready before the Friday meeting I have with my program head (who is also my cosupervisor). But what I did have were some cyto assays I was working on. And I wanted to compare them to the sequencing paper that I am basing a part of my project on. But the IC50 of my results were different to that obtained in the paper.
When I brought this issue up, my cosupervisor looked at my graphs and the title and just said: how long was the treatment period in the paper.
And then I thought: OH CRAP. I didn't check that out.
After looking at the paper: "72 hours".
Cosupervisor: "And how long was yours?"
Me: "24 hours..."
And then I got asked why I chose "24 hours".
Tbh, I really don't know why. I thought that was the general treatment time for all drugs. But I didn't want my cyto assay trainer to get in trouble, so I told him:
"because it was convenient".
...
Um yeah. Not exactly the best thing I could have said. And then I got told off about how I didn't have any intellectual control over my project. Especially at this point in the year. I was also reminded of how I didn't have any data for my thesis yet.
So I basically felt like crap. And that conversation just kept echoing in my head throughout my entire weekend.
My cosupervisor asked if I knew how my drug worked. And I responded: "I don't know.."
He then asked if I had read the group's 2005 paper, which I couldn't tell which one..
So yeah. I am basically not that well versed in the literature. I don't have intellectual control over my project and I ask stupid questions and can't "arm myself" when I do because I don't know about the literature and am just blindly diving into doing things. :(
I am so angry at myself. What my cosupervisor said is all true. It was a giant slap in the face. But a slap I really needed.
I need to read more literature. But I just gotta find the time!
Well, after my cosupervisor expressed his disappointments about me not reading the literature...
I am still feeling a little down. I don't know if I will be able to face him tomorrow. I just... I haven't cried once. But I feel like it. But no tears will come out.
It is such a long journey. But considering the time I have left.. I wish the journey was longer. Im running out of time for my thesis.
wassalam,
Nurilen
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