My First Job! - Amira career journey

Assalammualaikum

 3 months out of university and I landed my first professional job!

Alhamdulillah I couldn't be any happier and grateful. Honestly, this is the smoothest thing that ever happened to my life 😭. Actually, I started applying for jobs during my final weeks of university, inspired by my friend (Puteri) who managed to secure a job before graduating so SHOUT OUT TO YOU PUT! 💗

I know it is very hard to land a job nowadays, because of the COVID situation and all, that's why I started to apply for jobs as fast as possible. Honestly, I felt anxious thinking about whether I could secure a good job, a good job from my pov is working in the same field that I'm studying along with pay & benefits that are good! I really don't want to be unemployed for so long because I have goals that I want to achieve, and Alhamdulillah Allah listens to my prayers. 

I applied the job through LinkedIn and there were 3 stages of interviews; the 1st one was a chit-chat with the HR (which I did during my final exam week), 2nd interview was a video interview (I took about 2 hours to finish it 😣) and the last one was an interview with the Hiring Manager (which I were required to do a presentation on a project I did in university followed by the interview session)

On the day I received the news, I'm so elated!!! Not only because I secured the job but the compensation that I'll be getting was much more than what I expected *cries in happiness. God really is kind to me Alhamdulillah

I'm writing this on my 7th month with the company and Alhamdulillah I'm still content and it really made me want to do my best in this work!! So my work involves giving technical support to specialist Drs from before surgery up until the day of surgery. After that, I give support to the patients regarding anything related to the devices they're having. 

May Allah ease my journey for this work and may I become an expert in it Amin!

Kind regards,

Amira

I'm done with Uni! - Malaysian studying in Sydney Australia

 [I posted few posts on 2021 about my 2020 life! So here's a post about my 2021 life haha]

Hi to whoever still reads this!

Anywaysssss, LONG STORY SHORT I'M DONE WITH MY DEGREE!! hahaha

Basically 2021 is the year of me hustling for my final year = 4th year of degree! Sad part about it is I did it all online T_T I've been locked out and unable to enter Australia since they're not opening their borders to international students due to COVID. I mean eventhough we paid the same amount of uni fee (are you thinking what I'm thinking?) ugh so not fair. At least other countries allow their legal international student to enter right. 

Not going to rant more about that because at the end, I still completed my degree successfully. FIRST CLASS HONOUR YALL I'm so grateful, Alhamdulillah Praise to God for helping me throughout the journey, and of course to my parents who I owe a lot especially during my final year as I was being a free rider most of the time (read: clothes are washed for, food are always ready and aircond ON in the room all the way). 

The journey wasn't close to easy but I'm not going to focus on that since I also talked about it in a few posts in my blog already so here comes the happy photos! :>

Bachelor of Engineering Honours Biomedical Engineering (Mechanical Engineering)

First Class Honours

Done & Dusted,

Amira

COVID19 Pandemic: Quarantine in Malaysia's Hotel (Long-postponed post)

 Assalammualaikum and hellooo! 

[This post is meant to be posted on year end of 2020 haha!]

Okay sebab tengah rajin ni so nak sambung terus 2nd post about COVID in 2020! Haha alright as I said, it was not really bad while in Aussie but at that time, Australia has closed its borders from anyone outside. This means no travelers allowed, no one except Australian citizens can enter their country. The thing is, 2020 is my third year in USYD and usually, at the end of the year (during Australia's Summer), we are required to do practical training for about 200 hours. Long story short, I decided to do my internship in Malaysia because everyone knows how hard it is for international students to get an internship placement in Australia, plus that was also what our seniors usually did. Go back to Malaysia for an internship and then come back for the fourth year. It was really a hard decision to be made because we were afraid that once we go back to Malaysia, we are unable to enter Aussie in 2021 since they are strictly closing their borders due to the pandemic, but that's what we did anyway because we think it's best to complete our internship in Malaysia while hoping that the pandemic will end soon.

Long story short, I and Zaki boarded a flight back to Malaysia on 27 September 2020. We boarded MAS because that was the only airline that is able to enter Australia (due to the pandemic, many airlines cease their operations and flights available are also very limited). It was a really nice flight, andd that's actually the first time me and Zaki board a flight together and sat beside each other. Well not really beside each other, because there needs to be a seat in the middle to be left empty as social distancing is important these days. Hashtag halal gap haha! Then once we touched down, we went through a strict process in the airport. This includes filling up different kinds of forms, first time using the MySejahtera app (an app that was exclusively developed for everyone in Malaysia during this pandemic), doing COVID19 swab test and queing to get into a bus that will bring us to our quarantine hotel! A little bit about the swab test, they swabbed my troat and nose, the nose one is a bit painful to me hehe. 

Now we were not being told what quarantine hotel we will be placed at, at that time I don't mind any except this one hotel in Shah Alam because I read bad reviews about it haha! Well our bus ride was not that long, in fact it just took about 10 minutes haha >.< We were brought to the hotel that is just beside KLIA2 which is the Tune Hotel. After zaki and I settled the process for check in, we went to our rooms and luckily our rooms are just beside each other hehe. Overall, my stay there for 14 days (28 Sept 2020 to 10 Oct 2020) was really nice, the room is nice and the food (we got 3x a day) is especially really good!! Alhamdulillah

I'm not talking any further but here are some photos I took for my memory :))

Here are some of the lunch food they served at the hotel!! As someone who love eating heavy lunch, I really enjoy it!!

Kind regards,

Amira

Early Times of COVID-19 Pandemic

 Assalammualaikum

Hi blog! 

Can't believe after such a long time of me wanting to write in this blog, I finally do it now haha! Anyways I'm going to start posting about what has happened throughout last year! So let's just imagine it's still 2020 now alright. By the way, I realised that I have posted 2 posts in 2020 but none of them mention COVID haha funny

So for the sake of my future self to remember, know that starting end of February 2020, Malaysia dilanda COVID-19 pandemic! So COVID-19 is the virus spreading around since then (actually even until NOW - the time I'm writing this, I haven't go out of the house for about 2 months). This virus is just so deadly because it can be easily transmitted through the air. So the measures to prevent this include not staying too close with other people, avoid going out and meet relatives, friends more so strangers, we need to wear face masks when important situations requiring us to go outside, all types of face to face work now is being done through an online platform like students having to study online, workers are working remotely at their homes instead of the office, no dine-in is allowed, almost 80% of the economy sector are closed. 

So what is a Pandemic?

According to the Oxford dictionary, it's when a disease outbreak spreads across the whole world. Yeah, this is a global disease and almost all countries in the world right now are suffering from it. This disease came to Malaysia around end of Feb 2020 but it started earlier in some countries like China which first detected this unusual virus around the end of 2019. 

I hope that introduction makes sense. Anyway, when COVID first starting to spread around, I was already in Australia for my third-year undergraduate studies. At that time, Australia did not suffer much and they only did not allow anyone from China to come to their country. I pretty much study like normal for 2, 3 months in Aussie where we can go out, did not have to wear masks and doing other things normally. I remember at that time there were not so many cases in Malaysia as well, but of course cases are much lower in Aussie but Malaysia did have stricter rules, everyone needs to wear masks and all and our country is doing really well to contain the virus. Australia on the other hand was a bit lenient in handling this virus, where it was not compulsory for us to wear masks and everything is almost normal. I remember that there were few lockdowns but all that was just really for about a week. So 2020 is not entirely cancelled for me when I was in Australia as I did manage to have fun and hang out with Zaki! Below here are the photos of me living the best life I could until October 2020. 

A photo with the famous building in University of Sydney!

Sneak peak Zaki hehe 

Picnic at Barangaroo Reserve

Eid with Malaysians in University of Sydney!

Last dinner with my housemates

2020 indeed was not a bad year for me. That's it for now! See you in the next post :)

Sincerely,

Amira

University of Sydney: After 3 years studying overseas

 Assalammuaaikum

Hi to whoever that still reads my blog. Well I hope there are not so many of you since this blog usually is the place for me to pour my heart out. Currently writing this in Abercombie Business School (more known as ABS by Usyd students) and now is 7 pm. 

As what the title says, I would like to pour out about what I currently feel after 3 years studying overseas. I am now already in my 6th semester, oh how time flies! Back to the main topic, we know in this life we won't get everything so perfectly laid out for us. No way in the world that this life would only be just rainbows. So my take is studying overseas is fun but also very challenging. 

Sydney is lovely, I realized that I love this city and I would probably won't choose any other city in Australia besides this one (in comparison to Queensland, Victoria and Canberra).  Besides the gorgeous landmark of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, this place is actually very lovely since the city is located near the sea. Can you imagine the calmness u get when u look at the sea or ocean? Yeah it's just amazing right. That's what I can experience when going to the parks around the city. There are just so so many lovely parks that serve you mesmerizing sea views. In addition to that, the weather here is just so fine. I love all of its weather but this does not applicable for Summer! (because I have not yet experience Summer here). When it's winter, it's not too cold whereas Spring and Fall are just perfect for me. Nice weather and nice view = instantly can elevate my mood, making me feel happy and content. Alhamdulillah for this. Not to forget that I feel really blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to travel around the country.

A photo of me in February 2018 without imagining what would come

What about the people here? Well most of the people I met in cafes or restaurants are rather very friendly. However in university, I found it hard to minggle with locals here. There are actually an obvious seggregation between locals and international students. Okay try to imagine in a class when our tutor ask us to form a group, the locals will quickly form a group with each other, leaving all the (especially) asian international students by themselves. Like come on, wouldn't it be fun if you guys are more open to cultural differences? Ops before u want to say that maybe I'm the one who did not try hard enough, note that all of my friends here agreed with that too. I remember telling my mom about this and she told me "oh didn't I tell you before about the daughter of my friend said the locals in Aussie can be quite a snob...." well that is quite true... Maybe some of you didn't know that I'm the only Malaysian studying in my course, and a number of times already I was treated like I'm an invisible person. Sigh.

But oh well here I am in my 3rd year, still going strong. I am actually very proud of myself for making it this far. I am so proud of my other friends who are studying overseas as well for doing their best in their studies while having to go through a lot of challenges. Challenges -which our friend in Malaysia won't understand because the only thing that will come out from their mouth is "kenapa korang duduk dalam kelompok korang je" You know what, u don't even deserve to say that until you're in our shoe. BUT okay things are not that bad, to even things out and to not demotivated those who want to come and experience studying in Australia hehe, I must say that there were times when my colleagues are absolutely wonderful and made me feel very important-I will remember their faces forever, especially to the handsome guy David cewahh haha. I do have really nice local-asian friends too but we don't really meet up outside. 

To Puteri if you're reading my blog, I miss you and our Melbourne trip!

When other people look at our Instagram stories and posts seeing us travelling here and there, know that there are always the other part of the picture - the challenges. Nevertheless, studying overseas has been rewarding and I am super grateful for this opportunity. Okay so that's it for today's post. It turns out quite longg haha. See you later!

Sincerely

Amira 

18 Aug 2020

 Cried again during the night.

"You're just someone who is too sensitive and needy"

The least thing I want to hear from someone so dear to me is saying that I'm needy.

Why do people often invalidate someone's sadness? You hurt me, why do you keep on hurting me?

Surprise birthday untuk dia

Assalammualaikum

Hi to my first post in 2020! Today I feel like sharing about a small celebration I did for my bestfriend Zaki *. 

Ops! Before we go into that, I just wanted to update a bit about me. Currently I'm still in Malaysia menghabiskan sisa-sisa baki cuti semester. I'm going back to Aussie in less than a month. Cuti ni, I do not work at any place, dedicating this 2 month and a half holiday fully enjoying my free time at home doing nothing, and of course spending my time with my family and friends. Actually, I was thinking on how I won't have anymore FULLY FREE HOLIDAY like this when I'm working in the near future as I'm going to do internship next year inshaaAllah, and after that I'll have to work. That's why I decided to not do any serious thing this holiday since I'm heading to another stage of life soon!

Okay enough about me.

Few days ago, well specifically on 21st January 2020, I met Zaki again after a month and a half not meeting him! He decided to come home a bit later because he wanted to generate some income in Aussie. Okay btw, I made a little surprise for him sempena his birthday on 15th January (he came back to Malaysia on this date) and we basically were unable to meet each other until 21st. I was actually very excited to celebrate his birthday, a bit nervous too because I did not do anything special for him last year (Sebab waktu tu baru lagi bercinta so I taknak waste my effort for someone I tak tahu worth it or not haha *).

I did a lot of research finding the right presents to give him. Plus I wanted to do something a bit different on his birthday this time. I don't want it to be just meeting and giving him presents - you know basic things like that so by using my creativity cewahh I made a little game for him to find his presents!

So on 21st, I wanted to be the person who drives Zaki around. We met at mrt btho and to my surprise he brought a bouquet of baby breath and a perfume for me! 

Back to his story, (btw I decided to make this little game while we park at the pick-up area of mrt btho) I then gave him a paper bag containing his gifts! So in the paper bag, there is an envelope which contains 2 gift cards. I made these two gift cards by myself using whatever I have in my room haha I kinda like the outcome! So they look like this

And on top of the envelope, I placed a lot of crumpled colour papers - maybe just to make his gift more pleasing to the eyes?

The crumpled colour papers on top of the envelope

So in the first place, Zaki thought that the two gift cards were his only presents HAHAH * But even though he only got the gift cards, his smiling face really touched me! He looks really happy and keep on saying thankyou to me hahaha cute lah dia ni. Then *drumrollls* (this is when the fun starts!) I gave him a birthday card. So in that birthday card I wrote few sweet sentences for him but in the end:

" NOW LET'S PLAY A LITTLE GAME"

"Hint: All your birthday presents are in the paper bag!"

At first he was a bit clueless so I had to tell him that I'm giving him more than just gift cards so he need to search for them. That was when he thought of opening the crumpled colour papers I put in the bag. Note that some of the colour papers were written with the clue of where I placed his other presents and some of them are just plain papers. He then started to open the colour papers one by one. So on only three of the colour papers, I wrote the clue of which part of the car his presents are placed. They're basically just easy guessing game but it was fun seeing him thinking a bit more before getting the presents!

Answer: at the pocket of the passengers' seat

Answer: At under the seats of the passengers

Answer: Dashboard (the name of the hotel I stayed was Dashbox xD)

 He had difficulties answering the last one haha cuz it's something about me that he needs to recall *  Padahal I pergi hotel tu 2 weeks before je pun tak ingat haha luckily after a lot of wrong hotel names, the last one is correct! So yay he managed to find all other three of his presents. After taking some photos, we head to MyTown because Zaki decided to redeem his gift cards there. So I treated him Mohd Chan Dim Sum and Tiger milk tea as he requested. We then spent a bit more time there and do the gifts unwrapping in that mall. I super like MyTown because they provide a lot of chairs for visitors to seat around the mall hehe so we had no problem finding a nice spot to do the unwrapping. 

So the other three presents for Zaki are a watch, a 6 slots watchbox and a shirt of this favourite football club - Tottenham hotspur.

So glad we had a fun time together and he like his gifts! Hopefully this friendship last long, doakan yang baik2 :) Btw another reason I posted about this is to give some ideas to people who read my blog about what you can do to celebrate your friends hehe till then!

Sincerely by Amira Aina :)