ABSURD LIFE

2 days before the returning for my 2 days break, I stayed in Tune hotel for one night before moving south in the next day. This hotel was the best hotel during all field works that I have been through. The facility of the hotel was like 5 stars hotel in 2 stars hotel, so everything was smaller in size. Like the bed, bathroom, even the room itself was smaller, but everything was perfect. There were a lot security cameras in each corridor for safety. I mean, I have never been to a 2 stars hotel with a lot of cameras. In previous hotels, I could only find at most were only 9, but this hotel has hundreds. So the security was very good here.

My supervisor booked a room with 2 single beds for me and I stayed with my co-worker. After we get to the room I rested for a while, took a shower and off for dinner. That day was the day when I got the food-poisoned thing. So after the dinner my co-worker and I went to a market to get some drinks. I bought a fresh milk cos I remembered what my mother said if I get food poisoned, I need to drink fresh milk. Then after that we went back to the hotel.

We reached the hotel around 10.30 p.m. and I didn't sleep immediately eventhough I was not feeling very well and feeling dizzy the whole day. I opened my laptop to go online for half an hour then updated the previous post while my co-worker was having a phone call with his GF. Then around 1 a.m. I went for bed.

This is where the interesting part.

The night was so peaceful and quite, the sky was dark covered with millions of pearls made from stars, the room temperature was warm and comfy. That night was so perfect to rest my body until a very loud 3000000 dB knock hit my door. I was still dreaming that time(not sure what dream) and I was not sure about the sound I heard. But time after time, the sound got louder and felt like a real sound. So then I finally woke up and realized that it was actually coming from the human world. I sat on my bed for maybe 2 minutes, trying to gather my soul and remembering who am I, where and why am I here. Suddenly, I heard a male voice said "assalamualaikum"(it is the Islamic way to greet people). Then I realised that it was coming from my door, so I got off the bed, my hand tried to reach the wall because it was so dark, tried to find the switch for the lamp but couldn't find it, so walked towards the door with guidance from the wall. I reached the door's knob, turned it clockwise, pulled the door in and a very bright light from heaven just stroke my eyes.

It was so bright that I turned into chinese for a moment. With these narrow eyelids I tried to observe the condition infront of me. My eyes turned into like iron man's eyes where I could locate any target and know its gender. Then after all the information is gathered, it concluded that there were 6 people standing infront of my door. 4 men 2 women. Then I was like "what is this? Am I famous now?"

Then a man around 160 cm tall stand infront of me and said

"Assalamualaikum, we have been called here, and received a report, that you brought a woman into your room"

I replied

"waalaikumsalam, yes" I wasn't really paying attention coz I just woke up.

Then he said

"yes? So this is true? you brought a women into this room?"

I tried to call back what I said and realised I just said something stupid and could actually brought me into trouble. Suddenly, as a normal person with limited amount of brain capacity and power, my brain stopped working, somehow I couldn't think of anything. After 5 seconds, my brain went back to normal and to calm my self down, with a quick flashback, I tried to remember everything since I got to this hotel. I remembered nothing about bringing a woman into my room, so then I replied

"what? me? no way!"

Then this man saw a movement in one of the beds, pointed his finger and he immediately said with enthusiasm.

"Then who's that sleeping on the bed?"

Then I was like "what? no, no, no, this isn't happening. There is now way I could have done that. I didn't even remember doing it. forgive me God" I was truly shocked and speechless, cos I didn't remember bringing any women into my room. But, would it be that I "unconsciously" called a prosti**** to come? because there was not any women in the group during this fieldwork. But, there is no way I would do that cos I didn't have the money guts to do it. Besides my pants and shirt were still on. I followed the direction of his finger and it was pointing at my co-worker's bed. Then I started thinking. What if, it was my co-worker who brought the girl in. But he already has a GF, so it is impossible. Then my co-worker woke up, didn't know what was happening so he just showed his face up to us, maybe wanting to know what was going on. The man saw my friend's face, looked at him carefully, probably identifying his gender just to make sure that nothing was suspicious. He nodded and said to me

"ohh. okay. But are you sure you did not bring any women into the room?

I just said "nope" and shake my head. He looked convinced, said sorry and then left. Without having much thought I closed the door and went back to bed and slept like a cow til the sun came arise.

Being in fieldwork for 2 weeks straight is not really good for human being even for geologist. We do the same thing everyday with no break. Isolated from the real world and need to deal with rocks everyday are just too much. We start the day at 8 a.m. and go back when there is no sun. We go back, have dinner, sleep and repeat the same thing on the next day. My friend even forgot about the day he was in a few days back. The whether is not so friendly. The sun is happily looking and sending heat as well as UV light to us. I have applied sun block with the maximum 110 SPF and formulated for sport. But it didn't really work. I think they should make a special sun block only for geologist, probably with 1000 SPF. If European people go for 3 weeks field work, they come back european. Because their skin colour don't really change. But if we Asian go for 3 weeks field work, we come back as new species. No body will know where we come from. The skin colour will totally change and don't really match with any human race in this world.

But here are some funny facts(not all but mostly) about geologist. As far as I'm accompanying my friend during this fieldwork, I've realised that there are several differences between a normal person (not geologist) and a true geologist. This my friend is a real and true geologist, he sees a rock, he knows what the rock is and tells the rock's story for one day. He is an expert in his field. So these are some lists based on my observation and research studies of what happened during the last 18 days.


1. Questions when come to a foreign country

Normal people: What is the most interesting place here? What is the traditional food here?

True geologist: How old is the oldest rock in the country? what is the parent rock here?


2. Things they bring when travel

Normal people: Cloths, caps/hats, glasses, watches, money, pens, notebook, maps.

True geologist: Double what normal people bring (except watches), geological compass, hammer, hand lens.


3. Things they say when see an outcrop (exposed rocks) during travel (in a van)

Normal people: woah, very big rocks out there, better don't get too close, they may fall off (van drives away)

True geologist: Let me out of this van!! Let me out!! Let me out!! (van drives away)


4.Checking out the map

Normal people: Wow this place looks interesting, looks like there are lots of shops. We can buy souvenirs there.

True geologist: Wow this looks like a mine here. We can collect samples there.


5. See an outcrop in a restricted area

Normal people: We need to stay away from here. They probably plan some mining here with some explosions. It could be dangerous.

True geologist: Quick think fast, we need to get inside. No one is looking, get a sample quickly.


6. Discussion before sleep

Normal people: Today I've been to this place, it was good and bla bla bla. Very interesting and tiring day, what a day, love it.

True geologist: I saw some good outcrops along the way here, we should check them out tomorrow. 8 am sharp we leave.


Lesson of life can be acquired anywhere such us from family, friends or even from someone you just met. It does not really matter who tells you about it, how old the person is or where they come from. As long as they teach you to be a better person, then it's fine. All you need to do is only listen, open your heart and think. Don't let your ego controls you. I met this person few weeks back during this fieldwork and just got a very good lesson from him.

It was around 3 p.m. this guy and I were just going to look for another outcrop for his research purposes by car. Then when we about to make a turn in a junction, a car just suddenly cut our way and went on like nothing happen. We almost hit on another car because of this, but luckily my friend has a very quick response and did what he had to do. He then started saying something in his own language and I was just sitting in my seat, completely stunned after what just happened.

Once the condition was normal again he told me that people nowadays should not behave and do things like that. They have been thought in school, know good and bad, but why does this kind of attitude still around? It is not because they are ignorant but it's just because they are not well educated. Not many people are well educated eventhough they have a lot of knowledge. So knowledgeable does not mean well educated. Then I started thinking that what he was saying is actually true. People know that they have to throw their thrash into the thrash can, but instead they throw their thrash everywhere. As the result flood everywhere. People know smoking is bad, but they're still doing it(sorry smokers). This guy is an atheist, where he does not believe in God or things like that, but he has the sense of awareness(not sure what I'm saying) even more than some of the religious or educated people I know. Well I'm not sure his true attitude, but from the way he treats people and drives a car, I can say he is a "good person".

Funny sayings "There are many ways to achieve your dreams, one of them is sleep"

FOREVER A STUDENT

What an experience having a fieldwork with one of the world famous geologist with expertise in structure and metamorphism. First day of my field work was okay. It was nice and suck at the same time surrounded by geniuses from Utrech University. During the fieldwork I used my 1000% of my knowledge that I have learned in the past four years to interpret all types of geological aspects in every outcrop we visited. Well, from what I have interpreted and those geniuses have interpreted, I can clearly see that the knowledge that we have was actually so much different. I could only act like a fish in a tank, opened my mouth but nothing came out. Those people are used to fieldwork and all kind of geology practical but different from me. During the fieldwork they could apply their knowledge probably up to 90% whereas I could only at maximum 70%. When I asked them why, they said that they are used to it because every year they have 10 weeks of field work and need to make reports. So total of the whole fieldwork from their undergraduate study is 30 weeks (3 years) excluding the final year project. But me during my undergraduate, the total field work was only 4 weeks. It's like kindergarten against university level. So much different. They look so much confident on each interpretation they made.

But so far, this fieldwork has truly improved my knowledge to a whole new level. From beginner to amateur geologist. I've improved my confident level and know how to differentiate structural geology aspects. Last time when I see a rock I would say

"Okay, this is a rock, it is very hard, there are cracks all over it. It has shiny things, probably diamond" Noob mode

Now it will be

"Okay, the bedding of the rock is striking northeast and dipping west 010/28, it is probably quartz mica schist, the shiny thing is mica and the mafic mineral is well foliated, probably due to deformation. There are several faults and show striation and dipping northwest. The riedel shear indicates the movement of the fault and there are also sigmoidal clasts, most likely a synistral, top to southeast" Amateur mode

During the 4th day of my fieldwork. I received a very pleasant news regarding the fieldwork. There was a change of plan. The fieldwork that is supposedly going for 40 days, has been reduced to probably 33 days. This is because I need to accompany a french guy to travel the whole peninsular Malaysia for more or less 2 weeks. I'll be like a tour guide for this guy. FYI this fellow is 2 meters tall while I am only 1.68 meters. It will look awful for me. Because people will see him as being accompanied by some sort of a short ugly creature. Besides, during this fieldwork, my skin tone has turned from "normal" to "you can't see me". It gets darker as the day passes. I'm already as black as I can be. This is probably the blackest skin tone that I have ever experienced so far as a geologist. I probably have reached 100% of my demonic true form.

These two European people are the people I'm going to work with in the next 20 days. The guy in dark green t-shirt is the 2 meters french guy and the one in squared-shirt is from Netherland (1.94m) which will be working with my co-worker in brown t-shirt. Both of us will go separate ways on the 15th and probably will meet up again on the 21th. I don't usually upload my picture, when I do, I look like ****.

So I will have a break for 2 days from 16th-17th and after that the journey is begun. The other 5 days have not been confirmed yet, but most probably will happen on the first week of April before I'm finally off to Sarawak. After this field work is over, I have probably a month before the next field work again to Sarawak for probably one week. In the mean time I will try to get married driving license, since I need to use a car to travel from one place to another for my master's fieldwork. I can drive but I don't have a license, I hope I can get one within a month.

I just had one the most terrible experience in the history of geological fieldwork. This had happened to me once in my second year and never thought would be repeated today (13th march). Yup, I've been food-poisoned. It was truly awful. I stayed in the van for the whole day because of this. My stomach was twitching(not sure about the word) so bad I could not even turn my body. But luckily because of the excellent medical treatment(drinking 100 plus)I have survived this and can carry on my life. But now my body is very weak because I've been going back and forth to the toilet for 8 times, I've lost so much liquid and can't even walk properly. The photo was taken after I had this thingy. My co-worker and the french guy also got the same thing, but theirs were not as bad as mine.

A few days back I chatted with an old friend, which I thought I was never gonna see or even talk again. I didn't even know how this fellow got my number, suddenly just said "hey" in wasapp. Nothing was serious about the talk. Just a normal conversation with some reminiscence about the past and it was awesome. This fellow is in the final year and then asked me what I'm doing now. So I said that I'm going to further my study. Then this fellow started compliment me saying that I'm smart and I can do anything, my future is bright, my life is perfect and all that kind of things, unlike herself. Well, I just said that I'm lucky and I was serious about this, but this fellow kept denying what I said so I just replied with "hahaha"(that was the best thing I could do to stop her). I seriously do not know how to handle compliment. The best thing I can do is only smile. Last time there was a moment after I performed in one occasion, I got off the stage and out from the hall, suddenly there was a chinese girl appeared infront of me said (I remember this clearly)

"Wow, you were very good up there(1). You are very handsome, you know?(2)"

After that she smiled and stood still infront of me. The first statement I could still handle. But the moment I heard the second one, I just stood, thinking back of what I just heard and looked at the girl like I was retarded. I have never expected such a thing to happen. Then there was quite a moment of silent and it was kinda awkward. She seemed to be waiting for my reply. I did not know what to do so I just smiled back and moved away from her to my friends(true story). Not sure what will be my reaction if it happens now. I'll probably start laughing and pinching my self to death, hoping that I'm just dreaming. This happened when I was in my third year of my University and still handsome, not like now. I'm not saying I do not appreciate them, but if they really see me and know the actual me, I do not deserve such compliment.

I can say that my life is not perfect and I'm not smart. Compare to my friends, I probably have the lowest mark and that's why I consider myself lucky that I can stand until today. I'm not good in scoring for high marks, as long as I have done my best that's enough, the world will somehow repay me in some kind of ways. I see people including my friends are afraid to get low marks, so what they did was copied from someone who has gotten high marks or even cheating. They do not really care they understand or not as long as they get high marks it is fine for them. Well I'm scared to get low marks, but if I have to choose, I truy prefer to get low marks but do it my self than the other way around. At least I know about the mistake I've made and try to improve next time.

I have failed so many times but I just keep going and do my best, even until today. I don't really consider my failures as points of where I should stop doing. It is the failure that can actually teach me the most important thing. It really drives me crazy everytime I fail on things that I have worked so hard. But then I tell myself that everything does not always go according to the plan so need to be patient and move forward. From 100 of my plans, there are probably less than 10 that truly came true. The rest just failed or simply haven't shown up any results. Simply do your best in everything and let the world decides the best for you. I have never thought I could travel now and meet great people, because my plan of traveling is supposed to be after I get a job, get a wife and settle my life. But now I'm already traveling, although not so far and not for traveling purposes, But still I am able to travel and see things I have never seen before and get paid eventhough not so much, but the experience that matters. Be flexible, don't stick in only one thing. Don't try to be someone, coz it wont always work. I might be not as lucky as those people who have traveled the world, participated in big events or have become superstars. But everything that has happened to me is actually more than enough, knowing that there are a lot of people who's having more problems and difficulties in life.

I've been taught to be fair in life, don't only focus on what you are doing, look around and see what can you do for others. Don't focus only on your friends, but focus more on your family. Coz it is actually the perfect turning back place for every problem you have. So no one has a perfect life but you can still perfect the life you have now. Don't forget to say Alhamdulillah.

Funny saying "Your dreams are like dandelion, beautiful, but gone as the wind blows them away"

IT HAS BEGUN

Life has never been easy for all human kind. If it is easy that means you are doing it wrong same like maths, you must have had sacrificed something that should not be sacrificed such us family, friends and other people's life that are not supposed to be sacrificed/bothered. Because the only thing that needs to be sacrificed is everything in you (including time and energy). Help from family or friends do really make things easier but still your part needs to be the hardest.

I've got things settled for my RA recently and I'm officially employed. So a couple of days back I talked to my RA supervisor. I asked about things that I shall do for my first day of being employed here. But then he said that I should ask my Postgraduate/master supervisor. FYI, my master supervisor and RA supervisor are different person. But normally they should be the same person. I mean People usually do master under supervision of either Dr. or Professor and employed as RA under the same person as the master supervisor. But my case is I'm doing master and RA under 2 different persons. Technically, it will be a very difficult task for me since I need to handle two things at the same time. But according to what my RA supervisor said, I should follow what my master supervisor commands me to do.

My mind exploded after I heard what my RA supervisor said. I made him to explain twice for me just to get everything clear coz I thought he could probably said something that he thought was right, and yes he was right, nothing was tricky and I have normal hearing. It was just my imagination that thought my RA supervisor said something confusing. So for me it's like being employed by one company but I need to work for another company. I asked my master supervisor a week ago he said that we'll be going for field work on the first week of April and in the mean time we just need to study the previous studies regarding the area. So here I assume that I don't have to do anything(work).

But a few days back I've been contacted by the HRD saying that there was problem regarding my visa. The visa I'm using now prohibits me from being employed by any kind of employments. That means I need to cancel my old visa and change it to the employment visa. But for it to happen, it will take around one and a half months and in the mean time I wont receive my salary and depend solely on my savings. Moreover I have a field work to Sarawak on the first week of April. So with all these limited time, money, friends, energy and internet connection to get done with everything, it is so perfect for me to become famous. You know I will probably just get on an aeroplane and jump off and on the next day you'll find me in newspaper, but life must go on as what Celine Dion said "my heart life will go on and on".

I have thought of several solutions with several alternatives, and each one has pros and cons. So now it is only a matter of time for me to decide which one is the best.

Today I got probably one of the most horrifying news regarding my RA that I have ever received in this year. Ofcourse I just started the RA a few weeks ago. So once I got to my department my co-worker told me that we will have fieldwork for 40 days from 5th of March to 15 or April.

"40 DAYS OF FIELDWORK"

The moment I received this news I was like

"NO!NO!NO! This isn't true? What is this? is this a joke? seriously? I must be dreaming"

Then I asked him again and he said positive 100% yes. I don't know I should be happy or sad. I love field work but 40 days, it is like I don't know how to put it in words. I mean I just started my RA a month ago and then suddenly "poof" 40 days field work. This is madness. Besides I haven't even received my salary yet. So I need to use my own money then. How am I going to survive after the fieldwork? How am I going to live and carry on my own life? What about my family and children?(nope I don't have them yet).

Moreover my friend told me that I should read about micro-structural geology. Because last time he got brutally questioned by the lecturer and he could not answer properly. This is why my RA is going to be a double-edged sword for me. My master is sedimentology and RA now is structural geology. The last time I touched my structural geology notes was when the time I was still a nuisance student around 2 years back. Plus this field work has professor, Dr. and several master students from Utrech university. I guess I'll be mentally abused by them in the next 40 days. I don't even know why/how did I write on this blog now where I am supposed to study.

I'll be busy in the next 40 days but the writing must go on.

Funny sayings "Many species are in danger and getting extinct, including 'human being'"