Yes, We Can!...奥巴玛

One of the human history but not just USA was achieved with our witnesses, a Black man become a President in a white dominated country, first ever in USA history so as in western history. Does Obama become a president bring any meaning to us? What will we affected or gained form his presidency? NO, I think i will get nothing form his career, but one thing very important is he giving us a hope, a dream and an encouragement: Yes, We Can!

Different people has his own different destination to go, but believe on Yes, You Can! is the first thing that we have to believe in. Obama realized the dream of millions of people who have been contributed their blood, tears, and courage on democracy, on justice and on the races war. 40 years ago Jr. Martin Luther King gave a speech say " I have a dream", and today we see the dream have realized by Americans, all Americans. I am lucky to witness this historical moment in my life, indeed this is just a beginning for us, for Malaysia's people who hold hand by hand, to create our Malaysia's Dream, a dream that no races barrier any more in our lovely land.

Busy week...生活紧凑

My model on presentation

Last week was considered the busiest week in the UK here, has presentation every 3 days, have to submit report every 2 days. During weekend I have to work part time as well, plus I have to do the Buddhist Society's preparation. Some more house work, buying food, social gathering, and eating......all this activities has already fill up my leisure time. 

However, I try to stay cool in my busy life. I train myself wake up at 530am in the morning and go to studio at 630am. Everyday, I will take an hour to have my lovely breakfast and reading news paper regularly. Normally, I will take an hours break for my lunch, and go back home to have my dinner at 7pm. At night I go to bed at 1130pm. And I won't do any studio work at home, but I will do other things like buddhist soc or sometime have a movie :p

Actually, I think 'busy' until no time is just a concept in our life. What we need is not an extra time but a proper time management. Fair to say, I keep changing my time to suit to different condition, so my sleeping time and wake up time might be very different during different period.

最近生活非常紧凑，每三天一个Presentation, 每两天要交一份report，加上又要打工，又要搞佛学会，减除生活作息，生活中并没有太多空余的时间。可能人长大了，我开始懂得如何面对生活的忙碌。记得以前师父说：人忙心不忙。现在我慢慢体会到，只要保持心中的安稳，再忙碌的生活也可以坦然面对，脚踏实地一步一步的走下去。不否认，有时的确会非常多东西要处理，但是当你仔细去想想，再安排一下时间，你会觉得‘很’多事情，其实算起来也不过是几样事情而已；再用心一点，你会觉得事情并不会像想象中复杂难搞；再专心一点，你会觉得事情不止是做‘完’，而且可以做的很‘好’。

当我审查我自己的时间，我发现其实我们还有很多时间是不知不觉化去了，这就是我们的惰性。我也是一个懒惰的人，但有时会想到人生短短，其实并没有许多时间让我们去浪费，心就会很自然地惭悔。当然，我说的浪费时间并不是指吃饭睡觉或看戏，而是不知自己在干什么，本来应该休息的不休息，应该做事的做不好，应该完成的事完不了，生活为了什么也不明了。。。

我很欣赏苹果电脑老板Steve Job的生活态度，每天起来告诉自己今天可能是生命的最后一天，所以要努力生活，不给生命留下遗憾，这才是佛教徒的生活态度。

Buddhist Society Today...今天的佛学会

进过一年后的改进和努力，今天的佛学会终于看到一些成绩。回想一年前的星期五晚上，来佛学会的都是四五个人，有时人少到犹如出来喝茶而已，完全感受不到一个学会的存在；眼看这学会要生存下去也真不容易，缺少许多因缘。但我抱着一个原则，无论今天来的只有一人，只要他想学佛，学会都有存它在的理由。只要脚踏实地地一步一步经营，总有它生存的空间。就这样，这一年我就承担了主席这个职位，一心一意只想不让佛学会倒下来。

每次周五聚会，我都会提前半小时去准备，每次都会望着门口看看是否有人来。我每次都不会抱着太大的希望，只想今天来的人都能够愉快的学佛就好了。这个新学期开始以来，来佛学会的一直都有增加着，来了许多不同国家的人（有些来之连我不知道的国家那儿），从英国到俄罗斯，从马来西亚到澳大利亚，从香港到日本，可说是真正的国际化佛学会了。

如果你有看以前我的部落格，可以想象一路走来的不简单。所以我不会去想明天会有多少人来，但愿能一步一脚印地走下去，以一份小小的力量来完成弘法的使命。

New MacBook...新苹果

等待已久的‘新’苹果终于在昨天登场了。不知不觉我成了一年的忠心苹果迷，每逢苹果的Presentation我都会上网看；在马来西亚很多人认为买苹果的是有钱人而已，这是因为苹果一般的价位都比其他品牌高。可是对于我来说，苹果它并不是单纯的电脑，而是一件艺术品；苹果的设计并不是商业的产品，而是一种理念和哲学。

看着苹果简单不奢华的设计，你能够体会到原来美丽是那么的简约，不必装饰。看看苹果机提供的那几个connector hubs，你可以看到其实有时候生活并不需要太多的东西和执取，只要最基本的就可行了。苹果的设计理念是简单和简约，尽量减少不必要的东西，以达到本身功能的最高峰点。说起功能来，Window绝对不能和苹果比较，它的先进和创意绝对是科技界里的领导者。

嘿嘿。。。Apple可没有给我任何的广告费唷，我纯粹是站在欣赏这产品的角度去和大家分享。因为有时商业品牌也有它能够给我们一些学习的地方。有关苹果的哲学实在是无法在这里一一讲完，如果你有兴趣，不妨查查看它的历史背景，因为它的成功的路也是跌跌撞撞而来的。

p/s: 按此更多详细的报告

Configurations

	2.0GHz MacBook (MB466*/A)	2.4GHz MacBook (MB467*/A)
Enclosure	Precision aluminium unibody
Processor	2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo	2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
L2 cache	3MB shared
System bus	1066MHz
Memory	2GB (two 1GB) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500); supports up to 4GB
Hard drive4	160GB Serial ATA; 5400-rpm	250GB Serial ATA; 5400-rpm
Slot-loading optical drive	8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory3
Video	Built-in iSight camera; Mini DisplayPort output port with support for DVI, VGA, and Dual-Link DVI (requires adapters, sold separately)
Display	13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen display, 1280-by-800 resolution
USB	Two USB 2.0 ports (up to 480 Mbps)
Audio	Built-in stereo speakers, built-in omnidirectional microphone, combined optical digital audio input/audio line in, combined optical digital audio output/audio line out
Networking	Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) Ethernet

Last year today...去年今天

Last year today, I was still struggling with the new UK's life. I just reviewed back my life last year today and it how the results are:-

Last year: Don't know how to cook, everyday just ate awful foods, or eat eggs everyday. Some more I have had the same menu everyday.

Todays: I am considered as good cooker, know how to cook rice, noodles, and vegetables. Indeed the big change is I eat outside more frequently now :p  Anyway, I have more good foods todays.

Last year: Life was boring, especially during weekend, do nothing and just stayed in the room looking on four walls, can sleep as long as I like.

Todays: Busy everyday, got studio works, president of Buddhist Society, part time jobs, meeting with friends, house works......cannot sleep long even I like to =.=

Last year: Save money, don't dare to spend any single penny if not necessary, will convert the pond (x 6 times ) in Ringgit Malaysia. I can remember all the prices in super market and spending time in shopping market just to get a cheaper foods.

Todays: Hihi.....I forgotten every single price in TESCO already, just buy whatever thing I like (no time to think too much)

Last year: Most of the times, I dun understand what the people here talking about, and similarly Amo dunno what I taking about, I always looked silly.

Todays: Hihi....can make joke with amo, some more I using English to teach Amo buddhism and do public speaking when represent society in certain meeting.

Emmm.....still got a lot of others changes, but no time to describe one by one lah. Ops!!! another biggest change today is more lazy to write blog: 

Last year: every 2/3 days a post

Today: 5 to 2 weeks per post =.=

Sorry, sorry....if you want some more about my changing you can click on my older post in 2007, cheers!

一年的时间，生活究竟可以有什么改变呢？而自己在这个异国也一年了，现在又开始向另外一年迈进。看回以前刚来到的时候，生活的糟糕真的惨不忍睹：不会煮只会吃，不会赚钱只会花，不会讲话只会听，没有朋友只有MSN和facebook, 没有事情做只有睡觉。。。还好，一步一步地熬了过来，慢慢地建立起自己丰富的生活。有人说看到自己的成长是最愉快的，但是过程不一定美好的；一年的阅历让自己成长不少，见识过许多的人事物，也面对过不少的困难，当然也拥有许多美好的回忆。一年的价值原来是那么神奇，只要你踏出第一步去创造生活。凡走过必留下痕迹，不管生活过程是那么的困难单调，或是精彩连连，都有值得我们回味的地方。

Don't Work too hard...加油

在马来西亚，如果我们要与同学或朋友们说一些对他们学业或工作鼓励的话，我们肯定会说：“加油！！”。 但是如果你跟Amo说一些鼓励的话，你应该说：“Don't Work too hard!” 这是东西方文化的不同，我们比较喜欢做，他们比较喜欢轻松；当你说Dont Work too hard, 意思就是说你已经很努力了，非常了不起（要知道，老外常常会说反话，这是他们的幽默）。不明白的话，还以为他们妒忌我们努力，要我们‘别太努力’呢！

这方面我们可以多参考一下，许多工作的环境一味地要求员工做，做，做！而导致我们失去生活的平衡，要想想，若连生活都失调的人如何能够在工作上有好的表现？如何有热诚去完成手上的任务？虽然有人说老外很多都很懒，倒不如说他们很多都很会享受生活；而东方的文化就缺少了教人享受生活，很多时候工作和生活都分不清楚，忙忙碌碌是许多上班族的写照。老外喜欢‘Work hard(smart), play hard' 一当下班时间到了，他们才不管什么工作不工作的，放下手头上的事情回家去。

其实，我们应该从工作和生活之间取一个平衡点，最好的情况是我们实现东方的努力的精神，西方享受生活的原则，所以除了告诉你同伴：加油！，有时也要提醒他一下：Don't Work Too Hard!!

My Beautiful Friends...美丽的朋友

Today is Potluck (welcome party) of Buddhist Society. I am very glad that a lot of my friends have given their hand and support to the event, very very thankful! Thank you all the guests form other society such as Vidic Society, Islamic Society, Humanist Society, Tibet Society, and Baha'i Society, you guys are so supportive and we are always the best friends. Beside that, thank you to all of my course mates and dearly friends who given their time and effort to contribute to the Potluck even their are not a member or committee, you are very kind!  And don't forget thank to all the Buddhist Committees who have made the event work well; and for sure I have to thank to all the freshers and new members who joined us. Thank you, thank you.......My beautiful friends!

对我而言，今在爱丁堡绝对是一个难忘的一晚。佛学会迎新会得到各路‘英雄’的支持和协助而成功的举办，非常感恩! 虽然有些朋友并不是佛学会里的会员或理事，但各人都尽个人的能力来协助或帮忙或出席，真的非常感动。由于佛学会规模不大，历年的迎新会出席人数是一个问题，资源也有限，所以今年的迎新我特地的请求所以我认识的朋友帮忙，希望他们能够提供食物和出席。

有些朋友因为有课不能出席，但还特地搭巴士拿一些食物给我们；印度协会的会长既然帮我们煮主要的食物，虽然他们并不会在这里得到这么；我的同学虽然之前都没参与佛学会，但是他们都义务地帮忙摆椅子，整理食物；有些其他宗教学会的团体都各自派代表来参加盛会，会后还帮忙做清理；看到一个一个朋友们的鼎力帮忙，义务的协助和支持，真的除了感动就是感动。我发现人若付出做一些事情而不问回报是一件那么感人的行为。大家活在外面的社会，最大的财富并不是钱财，而是真挚的友情。区区的一个迎新会，因为人的真诚和无私而变得意义非凡，感谢您，美丽的朋友。。。

Student Societies...学生团体名单

In Malaysia we always hear about the students controlled or watch over by 'High rank' officers. Some more we have the AUKU (Act of University and Colleges), it make students cannot do this cannot do that, treat student like children in kindergarden. The act limited student to join any other organizations without approval form University. AUKU just like another kind of ISA in University!

Let see how the UK's university work: Here we do not have any act to limit students freedom to join any society, to create any society or to do any activities. Secondly, they allow any kind of society register under student union as long as it is legal, some of the societies may be strange to us like Campaigning Societies (Solidarity Iran, Student Against War Society and.....) and Political Societies ( Labour Club, Socialist Club and.....). 

Can you imagine that University Malaya got something like "DAP society" or "Anti ISA" Society? But you can have such thing in the UK's school.

在英国大学，学生团体可以说是百花齐放，自由度非常高。比较起马来西亚甚至许多亚洲国家，这里的学生团体有更多的自由和自主空间。不像马来西亚有一些压制大学生言论自由或‘行动’自由的畸形法令，当大学生是长不大的孩子。慢慢的，我国的大学生就被培养成全世界最‘守规矩’的但没有思想的未来国家栋梁。更槽糕的是大学生以慢慢地对社会冷漠，更不用说有任何的关怀世界的心怀了。

亚洲家长式的教育制度是阻碍大学生思想发展的绊脚石，是使学术落后的黑手。可惜的是家长式制度就如我们的文化之一，要打破这个格局是一件不容易的事情；只有允许大学生思想自由的环境下，才能培养素质高的人才，无论是在文科或理科方面。

上面是爱丁堡大学学生团的体名单，我们可以看看这里的实际情况是如何，可以看看这些所谓世界级排名的大学是如何对待大学生的活动；就凭学生团体这一环，我们就可以明白为什么马大的排名一年不如一年，唉！

Moon cake...中秋节

This is my second time 'cerebrate' moon cake festival outside my family, meanwhile it just remind me I have been aboard nearly a year now. Here we do not have moon cake, tanglung or any kind of lovely foods as in Malaysia, but I do believe there will be has the moon here! 

However, my kind restaurant boss has treated  me a piece of moon cake, this is the moon cake that I'm having this year:

别看‘小’上面的月饼，这就是我一年来所吃的第一块月饼。这是我的好老板请我吃的，在这里这一块是珍品，‘一般’的人也不容易吃的到，所以我今年有机会吃到那么的一‘小’块真的是要感恩嫦娥姐姐了。在这样老外的地方能够吃到如此乡下的味道，感觉真的非常亲切，它的味道竟然比起我以前在家的《锦X泰》月饼还要好吃！身在千里之外的我不知道现在马来西亚的月饼又有搞什么新花样，还有什么肥婆的‘万紫千红’吗？或者是什么‘健康月饼’？但我觉得一旦你在国外，最好的月饼就是最简单最原始的月饼，哪怕只是那么的一口。祝愿大家但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。一起抬头望同一个月亮吧！

Summer Holidays Ended...假期结束

Long 4 months holidays finally to be ended next week. Reviewing back my first long holidays in the UK was seem like very adventure and exciting. I've encountered a lo t of unexpected things during the long vocation, from job to jobless, from white color collar to blue collar, or from an architect to a waiter; Beside the job the vocation also amazing, even though I have not go outside the UK but I have been traveled around the UK, from Nottingham to Lake District, from London to Loch Ness. However, I have to keep all the lovely memory now and start my hard studio life, NO MORE REST!

四个月的长假要结束了，我也即将开始我人生最后一年大学生涯。回头看我的第一次在英国的长假，就如一本书里其中一个精彩chapter；我在假期中遇到不少的新鲜事情，做过几个不同的工作，也玩过不少的地方，实现了我多年边做工边玩的梦想。这个假期真的充实了我不少，更增长了我的人生经验。有一种第一次踏入如此多姿多彩的社会中，虽然假期中也曾面对一些困难和挫折，但一切都是磨练了我阅历。在碰碰撞撞的路程下，庆幸的一切都顺利解决。

要知道在外国并不会像在马来西亚那么的舒服，发生什么问题后真的难以找亲人或朋友来帮忙。像这样的环境，我们的的确确要自己去面对问题和处理。以前在马来西亚我还算能够独立处理问题，但在这里比较下，这里显的更无助；但可能是如此，要在这样的环境生活，自己不知不觉会更加坚强和独立。就如强壮的树，无不经过风雨的洗礼而成长的，四个月的洗礼虽然不长，但绝对没有白过。