In between start and end: October 2018

Greetings from my work station.

I decided to fill-up my time with a part-time job to earn some extra money. Everyday I'd found myself either sleeping or wasting my time in my room watching videos/ kdramas. I don't even study guys. I still am struggling with the whole study part of life even as a 3rd Year student in uni fml.

This decision comes in pretty sudden to me. Well, I've been considering and mentally-telling myself I should get a part-time somewhere. But tbh, I didn't wanna do it in campus cos I'm scared I'll be meeting many of the people I know. I contemplated all this while thinking I could be free and do more things like take up more competitions to earn better money/prizes. Or upload contents on YouTube or work on my class more. In the end, I never did any of those things ever since the sem started. I've been much more productive while I was an intern to compare things with.

For one and a half semester now, my uni opened up this new business area which is currently only occupied by a few tenants. And one of them posted a job opening on FB. I decided to go for it. They pay me RM3/hour. Based on the other jobs in-campus, that is actually pretty decent. I mean I still have time typing this right now. That's how calm it can be.

Note: After this part, I had a few things to settle regarding the 'Talk Talk Korea 2018' prize shipped from Korea! (Will update about it soon.) Therefore, I ended up continue writing this post during the weekend instead.

Working in-campus does actually have its benefits. Everything is walking distance (only if your campus aren't that big). It probably takes me about 5 mins to reach the shop by feet. The only struggle is walking up and down the hill between my residential college and my workplace.

If you're asking me why am I working for such a small wage and when I don't really have to pay rent for staying in-campus, I'd say because I have big desires. I am always saving money but I always feel too scared to be spending them. It's such a huge guilt when I have a long list of the things I want to have and all of them cost me a bomb.

It's not like I'm broke, I do take up loan and I do still have them. But it's barely enough. Let me just tell you a bit of what I am trying to achieve within the next couple of months.

1) Exchange programme

As a diploma student, this wasn't an offer I could even consider. Exchange programme are only meant for degree students and they can cost a lot. However, after this sem I am planning to continue my degree in the same university. Therefore, I will be eligible for this programme but my only and biggest concern right now is obviously the money. I am still not financially ready. RM10k? RM15k? RM100k? I don't even know how to budget exactly.

2) Camera

For now, my phone is actually more than enough to capture videos and pictures. But I always wanted a dedicated camera that can easily point and shoot. I did bought myself one when I was Form 1, I think. I spent RM400 on it and I thought it was what I wanted. But it wasn't. After finish collecting the money, I had the budget ready but I didn't know what are the specs I'm supposed to look at, and so I randomly picked up a camera that the salesperson recommended. It wasn't the best brand nor was it the best model. It was a big mistake.

The camera couldn't even shoot 1080p videos (phone cameras do it better). By now, the lens is already broken so the quality became worse. It is already time to find another one. Listing down the specs I'm now looking at;

i. Not a DSLR (portability reasons)

ii. Flip-screen

iii. Near-field Communication (NFC) for device sharing (kinda like using bluetooth but you transfer it by tapping your phone that has NFC with a camera that has it too)

Actually I already have the exact model in mind hehe. The camera budget is already as big as the budget for the phone I recently bought. You see the onion in my wallet now?

3) Emergency Fund savings

So I've been advised by many of the financial gurus I binge on YouTube, who made it seems like everybody NEEDS to have an Emergency Fund. It's for times you are forced to live without any financial support.

Basically, it's a step towards financial freedom too. When you want to leave a certain situation but the only thing that is stopping you is your finance, then this fund lets you have that escape option because you could basically survive without an income for a few months. That's why it is recommended that your Emergency Fund sums up to at least 6-months worth of living cost so you don't have to worry about it while you try to reorganize your life.

My aim for now is RM1k. I'm already half way there. Hopefully will reach my short-term goal soon, so I can set a new one lol.

4) Gold for mum

Hahaha this is so cringy to say... but it's one of my ultimate dream. Something I promised my mum too.

One day I wanted to buy her something gold with the thought that if one day she needed some extra money, she could just gadai it. I mean it can be an asset and it would increase in value (hopefully). However, it's not as easy as I thought. Because gold stuff actually involves zakat and all of this might burden her instead. I am still figuring out and considering what could be the ultimate gift for my mum if gold was not gonna be it. What else could increase in value? House? Hahaha lagi berzaman kot if this were to be it.

But I am dedicating my coins collection on this. I still don't know how much I have now, but both of my 50-cents coin box are more than half already and I hope it can at least be RM100 soon.

5) Masters

To just put it out there, I have the dream to continue my graduate studies oversea. So if for degree I could do exchange programme, I would have like a sneak peek before I fully include this in my consideration. However, degree would be the last stage of education where my parents are willing to support me for. So I have to start saving up for real if I want to continue Masters, especially if I want to do it somewhere oversea. Maybe start considering all the available scholarships too?

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That's about it for my wishes. Actually those are the ones that seemed "impossible" to me and more dream-like. Something that would come out of a bucket-list instead of a to-do list. But since I have a good amount of faith on myself, I will try my luck and pray for everything I wished for to come true. InsyaAllah.

Dropping by,

Melynn.

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I've always been different. And I've always known that.

People would tell me that I never seem to care about what others think. I've noticed that when puberty hits me... like having pimples all, what people say hardly comes at me. I've always been that person who takes things slow within my own pace. I don't do drastic changes. I have little to no care of the people around me (one of my concerns tbh). It's hard faking it when you really don't feel the slightest care for something. It's not that I didn't notice, it's that I don't care. I couldn't bring myself to care.

I don't care if you do things that won't concern me. And I don't wish everyone to be like me... but I kinda wish people weren't so busybody all the time.

I let people go fairly easily. I never find myself too attached on anything. Not people, not idols, not items... they come and go so I've always anticipated it to disappear from my life.

Actually penat tau when I don't want to care about smtg but people around me are constantly making me "worry" about it. Like if I wanna do smtg, I don't want to be asking permissions from friends. Telling them, yes. But getting approval is like a major friendship red light to me. Unless I ask you for it cos #indecisive.

I nak pergi concert, spend all my allowances on it... let me have my moments. I don't need a toxic person telling me I shouldn't. I don't force anyone to come with me. I don't menyusahkan orang by telling them at the last minute. I always plan early sbb I don't want people to think I am taking advantage on them.

I don't get people who kecam others on this. I mean diff people value diff things. Like me, I don't care bout games, books or makeup like many people do, so I most likely won't be considering spending money on them as to me it is "membazir". But I'd pay more on things that I love like concerts and stationery.

There was this one time, my younger brother bought a RM80 headphones. Before that, he would ask my dad to buy and he would use the RM10 ones from Gadget World. Then it would rosak not long after, and the cycle repeats lol. So when I saw him with his new expensive headphones, I questioned his decision. My elder brother did too. I told him that you can already get decent one if you only added RM10. Why would he spend so much when he can get a similar item that could be half times cheaper??

Then my mum said, "Biarlah dia nak beli headphone mahal pon. Duit dia. Dia tak persoalkan korg pon bila korg beli barang-barang mahal lain, kenapa korg nak persoalkan dia?".

That is all I needed to hear to drag me back to my senses. I didn't even ask him how long it took him to collect his money to afford that. It must've been hard bcos I was once I broke kid with lots of desire to buy unnecessary stuff too (still am!). But that's how we were taught to manage our own money.

I nak beli smtg that I like for someone else using my own money, let me be. I don't care if the person would like it or hate it. That's my least concern though kalau they suka, I would love them more lol. If I give someone a gift, most times I'll give you smtg I LOVE and that I wanna HAVE it for myself (stuff I don't usually have). So for someone to question my taste, what would you know.

Off-topic sikit.

Lately, I've been liking dusty pink. Don't get me wrong, my all time fav is still blue. But maybe bcos it has the slightly feminine feel to it and looks aesthetically pleasing. So I bought a new phone case... something I have been needing. My old case already had battlescars.

So the new one is the 'rose gold' kinda pink. Actually kan, I lowkey liked the colour (and the tough design) but since pink wouldn't suit me I've always stayed away from it. The reason I bought this was only bcos it was selling for RM20 and I needed a new one. So hard to find a phone cover for my phone's model haih.

Comparison with the dusty pink purse Ikha gave me

Dropping by,

Melynn.

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For the past few months I was having a love-hate relationship with my new Samsung phone. I bought it in May 2018 so technically, it hasn't even been that long. I upgraded from a mid-range Asus phone to a Note series Samsung phone - which supposedly be a more high-end range. The reason of me purchasing this expensive phone (to me, it is) is because I wanted it to be long lasting... damage-proof, if possible. I not only wanted a pretty camera or a big enough storage or the latest version of OS with the biggest RAM and powerful processor... I wanted them all PLUS a stress-free usage. My old phone was stressful enough cos 1) it had extremely little storage space and 2) the battery dies too fast.

So when I bought the Samsung Galaxy Note FE. I had pretty high expectations. For those of you who don't know, Note FE is the refurbished version of the explosive Note 7 which had been discontinued. They used the unused parts of the phone and sell it under a different name. Therefore, it is one of the best phones by Samsung spec-wise but they are reselling it under a different name - Fan Edition (FE) with a much lower price point.

Being from a good and well-known phone series, I didn't expect to face any issue within just few months of usage. Until one day, I found myself struggling to even reply my WhatsApp messages. The screen suddenly couldn't detect my taps like it used to. It kept on missing my touches and lead to inaccurate overall detection. I can't even slide my edge screen from the side - which I find to be one of the phone's handy feature!

I didn't have time (or the ability) to go to a Samsung store so soon. So I did like what most IT people are good at - troubleshoot. I searched up the problem and ways to solve them. I couldn't deny that there were solutions online but they still didn't do me justice. I only could think of it being a software issue since I didn't even drop my phone or caused any physical damage to it. The phone looked pretty unharmed. In the end, nothing succeeds. So onto the last resort!

Most websites mentioned at the end, if it still can't be fix even after all those formatting and app checking procedure... just send it for repair. I thought since it was still under warranty, I could get Samsung to fix it for free.

Initially, I went to the Samsung store but I was told to go to the Service Center instead. That was last week back at home. Then yesterday, I went to the only Authorised Service Center available in Melaka which is at Aeon Bandaraya Melaka. Nasib dekat la jugak and I am already familiar with that mall.

They told me they could fix and return it within 3 hours. Same day?!? I was expecting a week worth of wait though. I even had my friend prepare her backup phone in case they are keeping mine for repair. They didn't ask for any proofs or documents like warranty card or anything like that. They just needed my phone.

So when I came back to collect it, they replaced my LCD screen with a new one. Still wrapped in plastic. It felt new. They told me they'd formatted my phone, but I'm not sure if they did since all my apps like the placement and all are exactly how I left it. The only thing I needed to redo was the biometrics and passwords. The phone repair didn't cost me any money (bless warranty). But the financial damage of being in a mall was inevitable.

I was interested on extending my warranty since I've seen someone getting out of trouble because he purchased the extended warranty.

My phone being from the Note series would cost me RM140 for another year of warranty.

I am highly considering it, in case things like this happen again without warning. I'm only allowed to extend it while my current warranty is still valid so that makes the deadline be before May 2019. Just putting it out there for future Amelynn.

The lady behind the counter did mention that if you are sending in for repair, make sure the inside seal have not yet been broken by an unauthorised third party since doing that may void the whole warranty coverage. So, only go to Samsung's Authorised Service Center! The service was indeed very pleasant for me but I hope to never have this kind of problem with my device again huhu.

Dropping by,

Melynn.

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It has been a week since iKON and WINNER set foot in Malaysia and I have been missing them since. It is technically my third K-pop concert and the second group I've witnessed with my own pupils. Yet I still cannot tell if I was witnessing them live or just me jamming to them through the screens on my phone. I have a hard time differentiating that. Maybe because concert big screen exists hmm.

So I went to TWO concerts last weekend - iKON and WINNER's. I bought the best seating zone and got rockzone respectively. Honestly, I couldn't afford both concert tix and I was an iKONIC more than I am an INCLE so I just had to pay and secure my tix for iKON's #priority.

But I couldn't ignore how much I love WINNER's music too. Though I didn't really watch much of their variety shows or music videos, I listened to their EVERYD4Y album A LOT. Sampai tak tengok lyric pon dah hafal and that's when I know I wanna see them live too. I had faith I'm gonna go for it.

Prior to the concert, Ka Mun and I have been trying our lucks for WINNER concert tix by joining most, if not all, giveaway contests organized by their sponsors. One thing I thanked the organiser - Macpiepro for is the courtesy for them to list down the sponsors for each concert for us. That made our contest search much more easier. TIPS: Follow the sponsors' social medias like FB and Instagram. They will usually post contests there few weeks before the concert!

All the contests that we joined are usually sharing posts but some do asked us to buy something. Like for OXY, they wanted us to purchase their product (no min value) and upload our receipts. Another one by epop Malay, they wanted us to get the entry form from their magazine. So those are basically the only ones I paid for. Others are like dining at Manhattan Fish Market a minimum of RM60 in a single receipt. Well, you get the idea.

Ka Mun won the OXY but she won only ONE blue zone tickets. FYI, blue zone is the cheapest zone. But since that was one of the contests which announced the winners early, we still had chance to try other latest contests. In the end we both won a pair from the media partner - Oh Hangat. There were like 20 winners listed and so Ka Mun and I expected either blue zone or green zone but to our surprise, they gave us TWO Inner Circle Zone (a.k.a the rockzone a.k.a the most expensive zone a.k.a the least expected one) each! We knew then... our lucks were the best for that week. They made the announcement on the day Ka Mun and I were at the event with BTOB's Sungjae pulak tu maigod.

About the event, let's just say we got lucky too. Tapi bad news for me, I accidentally deleted all of the pics and recordings that I took that day. Sob sob.

I ain't gonna say how the concert went, it was self-explanatory by looking at my posts on IG. But for the unpopular opinion, this concert is actually pretty well-organized. The security was okay. Quite fussy on the bag check procedure but it wasn't a major bummer. They almost took away my dad's binoculars that I brought with me, but thank God the chief security guy let me go. Almost had a verbal fight with one of them lol.

It didn't rain for both days when it's during the rainy seasons. Miracle or what?

I could enjoy the concert more because the place was small. They performed at Stadium Malawati, Shah Alam. I love small venues tbh. I could see the idols closer in real life. I got a lot of freebies for iKON since we came early. But for WINNER, we were late.

Red Zone view

Inner Circle view

The concert tickets had 50% off for Mcalls users so it was the only reason we could afford the best seating zone (after reselling our green zone tix). Glad we weren't tamak at first and get the more expensive zones because if not we would've had a harder time selling them off and getting our money worth.

One of my concerns when going to a K-pop concert is the fact that we will have communication barrier during the ments, but little did I know iKON and WINNER didn't even need to use a translator! They spoke English so fluently with each other and even made jokes in a language I COULD ACTUALLY UNDERSTAND. Love that!

iKON didn't talk much about Malaysian food or culture but they made it special by performing their latest songs! WINNER, on the other hand, talked about Malaysian food that they ordered on room service and both of them completes everything that I needed to hear.

I made an LED banner for "Chanbin" and pretty sure the boys saw it. I saw Chanwoo waving at my way and I had it recorded (the quality was bad though).

Last but not least, this all happened during my birthday weekend and everything became 100X more memorable. My close friends gave me presents and I got to celebrate it with my family after not being home for more than a month and had dinner at Seoul Garden. Ikha gave me a new purse and belanja me Big Bowl Ice (my first time!), Arep and Yumi gave me a drawing of me lol (#ilookedfat), Ka Mun gave me the official keychain merch of B.I (#merchareexpensive) and bought another B.I banner, Zarep gave me a Spongebob cap, Bad gave me a blue-striped socks and BTOB Sungjae gave me a BTOB album signed by him ON THE BIRTHDAY itself. Oh and Idris sang me a happy birthday song using Zarep's phone like they did for me last year... tak sempat rakam lagi sekali huhu.

Anyhow,

BEST. BIRTHDAY. CELEBRATION. EVER!!!

P.S. All concert fancams (including me singing) is up on my IGTV (@amelynnhisham)... too embarassing to be posting on Youtube lol.

Dropping by,

Melynn.

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