Us As One

Day 10: 1Malaysia

·         What do you think of 1Malaysia? Please explain your answer (likes, dislikes, emotions etc) in details. What is your vision of Malaysia in the next 5 years?

If you dont already know, 1Malaysia is an on-going campaign announced by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on September 16, 2008, calling for the cabinet, government agencies, and civil servants to more strongly emphasize ethnic harmony, national unity, and efficient governance. I think it's an amazing concept with a touch of grandness in its name. It is as if it has a great capability to call for its nation's attention and get them to stand with togetherness. Personally, I like this concept. It's going to evoke a great deal of changes, good ones. My vision for Malaysia in the next 5 years; As we all know, as of last week, it was announced that our economy has meliorated with so much advancement from rank 18 all the way up to 10. Tenth most influential country in the aspect of economy.. Joking or what? I think and believe Malaysia's only going to get better and better now on. Economy's improved, lifestyles will too, so will governmental improvisation and many others to come. The journey ahead is a good one! :D

·         What do you think about the various races in this country? Do you think about your race or country first? Why? Do you think there is a tension between the various races in this country or not?

I think the various races of this country are making Malaysia look more beautiful in a unique manner. We dont need the Louvre Museum or the Grand Canyon or The Great Barrier Reef to make our country beautiful. We only need us, the various races, to join hands and show the world how we contribute in diversified culture to make our country one to remember. I certainly think of my country first. Because I believe we're all one. We're not Indians or Chinese or Malays. We're Malaysians. To me, that's race too. Tensions are normal. But as long as we can keep our cool and deal with things diplomatically like we always we have, everything will be alright.

How do you think people from all over the world see Malaysia? Do you think there is a typical “Malaysian” stereotype? How would you want people to view “Malaysians” in the future?


People, globally, look at Malaysia as a country whereby there are social constraints, yes, lots of unity and colourful costumes, cheery musical instruments and flavourful food! Best of all worlds. People should view Malaysians as people who have worked really hard to get where we are now, because as a matter of fact, we did. People should think of us as the 'cream' of Asia. :)

Labels

·         Is branded products important to you? What does brand represent to you?

Yes, I think they pretty much are. Brand for one represents quality. The next best thing is its signature style. When has a pair of Nike shoes looked bad? ;)
List down your favourite brands and tell us why do you like them

I love Sara Lee for ice creams, Pepperidge Farm cookies, Loreal , Estee Lauder and Elizabeth Arden cosmetics, Dell, Olympus and Nokia for tech gadgets. I like them because they're simply the best of the rest! As for the camera and things alike, let's just say I had a budget to abide by.

·         Are there any brands or products that you would be embarrassed of using or being associated with?
I loveeeee Nike, really. But the one bit that disappoints me is the fact that Nike uses child labor.

·         Does religion influence your choice of brands? If ‘yes’ explain your answer.

No, religion doesnt affect my choice of brands at all.

·         What/where do you find new information about products that you like?

I use the internet as my source for anything I want to find out. If information's insufficient, I would go the store.

Favs

Recently, I watched a couple of movies which I would like to recommend. 

1: The Blind Side

This movie is based on a true story about a homeless Black teenager who was adopted by a caring White woman and her family who was responsible for his success an American football player. Starring Sandra Bullock.

2. Dear John

This one is about the romance between a soldier and a young girl and the difficulty of distance between their relationship which later on brings changes to their once promising love life. Starring Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. 

3. The Young Victoria

This movie depicts the ruling of the Queen Victoria and her romance with Prince Albert. If you like history and romance, you should watch it.

Here are some books that I loved reading:

1. Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

About the cultivation of money-making habits. Kiyosaki makes it seem as if being wealthy is easy.

2. How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be by Jack Canfield.

Jack Canfield shares some of his tried and true success principles and convinces us that it's possible for us to be successful at whatever we want.

3. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.

In The Secret, Byrne teaches us some of the methods of application of the law of attraction in materialising our wants and needs!

Songs I've been recently addicted to:

1. OMG by Usher

2. Hello by Beyonce

3. Rude Boy by Rihanna

Must everythings!

I must get excellent results in SPM!

I must learn to bake better!

I must go bungee jumping!

I must take a road trip!

I must watch a play!

I must earn some money!

I must finish reading The God Delusion!

I must get an iPhone!


My Needs & Loves

I love my bookshelf, without doubt because I just love looking at my books!
The Barney, was a birthday present from my younger cousins two years back..
I love my make up set.. Lip glosses and eyeliners are musts!
That's my DSLR to capture true moments.
That's the swing in my room.
And I love that dress because it makes me feel confident in it. :)

Amusement

Day 7: Entertainment

·         Which are your favorite TV shows and how do you watch them (TV, Youtube, download, friend, stream)?

Via TV and downloads: House M.D., Samantha Who, Lipstick Jungle, Ugly Betty, Desperate Housewives, Til' Death, Chuck, One Tree Hill, The Apprentice, The Oprah Winfrey Show, How I Met Your Mother, Gary Unmarried, Private Practice, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Mythbusters

·         Do you like music and fashion? Where do you learn about new trends in music and fashion (from friends, celebrities, magazine)?

Yes to music, not that devoted to fashion, though. 

Music - Billboard Chart

Fashion - Magazines

·         Please tell us about  singers and bands you are into, and why do you like them? Where do you get most of your music? (download, buy CD, take from friend, etc.)

I mostly download my music. I love Beyonce, Eminem, Usher, Alicia Keys and Rihanna. I admire Eminem for the kind of person he is. I just love Beyonce's music because she's the one with real talent is despite all the fame and fortune, she's a very humble person. I think Usher does good RnB music, A Keys' songs just touch my heart every time... Rihanna brings the wild side of me out ;)

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·         Do you enjoy reading books? What are the last three books you have read?

I love reading books, especially non-fiction ones pertaining politics and self-motivation. Last three were The Last Lecture, How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be and The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari.

·         What/where do you find new information about entertainment that you like?

Through Google, whichever website that provides me with the information that I'm looking for. :)
www.klue.com.my
www.billboard.com

Social Mesh

Day 6: Social Networking

·         What communication medium (SMS, Instant Messenger, Phone, Twitter, Facebook), do you and your friends use the most to communicate through and why? What are the positives and negatives of each?

SMS, MSN, Phone, Facebook, Skype. These are my commonly used communication media. SMS is quick and cheap but I don't like texting. MSN is quick and free but it may lag online downloads. Phone calls are expensive but is the best way of communicating in my opinion, because the message is conveyed really fast and I get my answers right-away. I use Facebook to send messages when I'm not expecting for an immediate reply. This is especially better since I know that my friends hang out at Facebook more frequently than they are online in MSN. I use Skype to communicate with contacts who are further in distance because since I have good connection, it's just like speaking on the phone and for free! :) I do use Twitter but rarely.

·         Is social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter making your life better or worse?

Better I would say. Because people who read my blog use Facebook as a medium to reach me.

·         Please list the number of online social networking sites (Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, blog) which ones you are a member of and why you chose to have a profile/account on each of them? What activities do you usually do when you are social networking sites?

Facebook - my favourite! I send and receive messages here besides keeping in touch with acquaintances, Friendster - rarely used these days, Twitter - I use Twitter once in a while to keep in touch with my blogger friends, Blogspot - but it's my blog manager! Basically, on social networking sites, I send and receive messages, upload my pictures, share links and post notes.

·         How many Facebook/Friendster/MySpace/Twitter friends do you have? Who are these people? How many of these do you consider ‘close friends’? How many of them have you not meet before?

I have about 500 friends in both Friendster and Facebook. Half of them are people I know, mostly from school. A quarter are close friends. A quarter are people I've met online and not met before. 

·         Do you prefer to meet people for the first time online or face-to-face? Why?

Online. Because if there is no flow in conversation when we're online, it would not matter. It would get awkward if it's face-to-face.

·         Do you have Twitter? If yes, how many followers do you currently have? Who do you follow?

22 followers and following 11. These 11 are comedians and bloggers.

Having Access To The Internet

Day 5 : Going Online

·         How many hours do you go online everyday? What do you usually do in the online world? 
Approximately 5 to 6 hours. I read articles, news, solve crossword puzzles, download movies and songs, watch videos, send e-mails and write in my blog.

·         When you go online and interact with other users, do you use any nickname/alias profiles online? Tell us why you use it or don’t use it.

I use my real name to avoid identity confusions.

·         Have you become good friends with people you first met online? Tell us stories of how you make friends in the online world. How do you know whether to trust them or not?

Yes I have with many people. I made friends from Friendster, Tagged, Facebook and readers of my blog. I'm still in touch with these people. Trust comes with time. As more conversations took place, we got to know each other better. And if I notice anything suspicious about a particular person, I delete all connections. 

·         Tell us if your parents monitor what you access online? Is it effective, or do you know ways around the controls? What do your parents think about you going online all the time?

My parents do not monitor what I access online. Because I have my own laptop, controlling becomes a little difficult for them. So I basically have access to anything. I have been using the internet since I was eight. So they're pretty much used to my going online. They're just not very happy that I spend more time on my PC than with my books. I think that happens almost everywhere right.. ;)

·         Do you think the online world has made you to become more disconnected with your friends?

No, the online world hasn't deleted connections with my friends. It's just given me an opportunity to meet more people, people outside my horizon, who are really good friends of mine now. :)

$$$

Day 4 : Work and Money

·         How important is money to you? Tell us what do you think about money.

T     I think money is pretty important. Unlike the old sayings that money doesn't sum up to happiness and all that, money IS  important. Everything is only getting expensive. Prices are increasing. Education fees are increasing. Fuel prices will rise. When everything except for our income increases, how can it not be important? That pretty much means money is important to me.

·         Where do you get your money? Do you have a part-time job or do you receive an allowance from your parents, or both? Have you done any part time jobs before to earn your allowance?
I get my money as an allowance from my father. I call it my salary. No, I've not done any fixed part time jobs to earn my allowance. But once in a while, I write for advertisers in blog and I get paid.

        

·         If you want to buy something, do you usually save up or will you get it straightaway compare?

I will save up before hand. When I'm buying something that's expensive, I always make sure that when I buy the item, I would still have the same amount or more money than I spent on it. That's so that my money doesn't get finished,

·         How important to your generation is having a strong work ethic and be hardworking in work?

Having a strong work ethic and being hardworking in work is indeed crucial. Strong work ethics include being on time, having proper communication skills, problem-solving skills. A mixture of these strong work ethics and hard work would reap great benefits. You automatically become a very important asset in your company. And when you slowly climb the ladder of success, you will be noticed and rewarded.  :)

·         What do you think about the current economic climate? Did it affect you, your family and your outlook on the future?

The current economic climate.. Not too bad for us Malaysians.. As of yesterday, Malaysia has become more competitive according to analysis, from rank 18 all the way to 10. That's a good way to start the second half of 2010. Things will get better. But before this, during the inflation period, the earning power wasnt too good. Although at the time the inflation didn't really show any conspicuous effect on my life, we didn't change our outlook on the future. Because that's how inflation works. Bad inflation. After a couple of years, back to normal or economy gets even better.

·         What do you think are the three coolest jobs in the world and why? What are the three jobs least coolest job in the world, and why?

Doctor. Doctors are always needed. They have become comparable to God sometimes that they are really really important in saving lives. People are going to always fall sick. Thus, doctors will always be in demand.
Engineers. In this era of modern globalisation, we're constantly trying to control the environment in newer ways and produce machines that make work'll faster and easier. This is where engineers play a role.
Lawyers. They're going to always find a way to put you into trouble. And you have to get another one to get yourself out of it. It's a cycle of its own.

I think these three jobs are cool because it is only difficult for them to deteriorate at times of crises. 

Aspiration

Day 3: Ambition & Success

·         Share with us any success or achievement stories you have got so far, whether it is big or small

 Hmm..  stories of success and achievement.. I don't think of any as grand or significant.. but I'll have a lot to talk about in the years to come.. If you're taking UPSR and PMR, yeah I nailed them both with awesomeness.. I obtained my driver's license last month. And just last week, I drove all the way from my place in Kepong to KL town, successfully without any problem. And to me, that was a big deal! And I have been blogging on my site for about 4 years now, I think that of an achievement too. I successfully baked my own Peach Pavlova! I was asked to help write for the Yale Law Review but I didn't and am not too proud. I was also asked to be a contributing writer for an information-based website and I'm working on that. I also worked with WWF Malaysia and Planet of the Monyets as a blogger to save tigers and I'm so darn proud of that! These are the little random ones. :)

·         How do you define a ‘successful person’, what are the elements that make someone successful? Tell us why.

To me, a successful person is someone who is good at something he does for a living. Elements that make someone successful is professionalism, confidence, charisma, willingness to take risk, high emotional intelligence, affability, inspiration and determination.

·         What inspires you? Do you have any role models?

        The stories of successful people inspire me. People who have become successful now because of their misfortune in their past. People who have had to struggle. People who had to stop the running tears, wipe them away, and fight their emotions! People who have tried and successfully made an impact. People like Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, John F Kennedy and Mahatma Gandhi. Also entrepreneurs like Lakshmi Mittal, Carlos Slim Helu and our very own Tony Fernandez and Ananda Krishnan! =) My dad could also be referred to as a role model. He's more of a motivator. I'm driven to succeed because of him. Because of his struggles, because of the dreams he wasn't able to achieve. :)

·         Do you have any ambitions? What three ambitions/goals have you set yourself for the next year, the next five years and your life?

Ye    Yes I do have lots of ambitions/goals. By next year, I must have achieved excellent results in SPM, enrolled myself for A Levels and read at least five biographies of political or economical figures. By the next five years, I must have completed my law degree, continued with my Bar Vocational Course, gotten a job, got a part-time job and get as much working experience possible from various fields of work. For life, I'd like to get a place I could call my own, my own car to get me to places, objects of investments like stocks, bonds and properties, get involved in philanthropy, travel around the world, start a family, be a better cook, write for newspaper or magazine columns, be a better photographer and so much more! =)

F & F

Day 2: Family & Friends

·         Tell us about your family structure and members. Tell us stories about your time spent with family. Bring us to become part of your family! (you may include pictures)

Dad and I

My family.. There are four of us. Mom, dad and brother. My dad is self-employed, mum is a homemaker and brother is currently pursuing Diploma in Physiotherapy. Because of similar personality traits, my dad and I get along very well. Mum and I, not too well. My mother is a no-nonsense person and has very little to say to me since I'm not the type who obeys. My father is the best father a daughter like me can get. We're like a team. We both prefer political and historical matters and things of that sort. My brother is a computer geek and is fond of photography. We're almost always busy with our own stuff unless of course there is a need for a family togetherness. I would also like to add my aunt, also my godmother, to my list of immediate family members since she is like one anyway. She makes no difference from a mother in her ways with me.  :) 

·         Tell us who are your best friends and why do you like to hang out with them and the activities you all frequently do together.  (you may include pictures)

I have a couple of close friends. And they're all very different people; my dad, my cousins, a couple of childhood friends, friends who are and were schoolmates and friends I've met online. They're not one bunch of teenagers like me. Some of them are, some of them aren't. So it's easier to say they come from varied walks of life. I do hang out with some and when I do, I go for ice skating, have a hearty meal or go for a movie. For those I'm not used to hanging out with, we usually keep in touch constantly over the internet or on the phone on a regular basis.

Friends from school

·         When you are meeting new people how do you describe yourself?

iiiii   This is how: I'm Kanmani and I'm 17. I hate butterflies and I love reading non-fictional books. I try to sing Beyonce and I admire Obama. I like Eminem for his past. I love John F Kennedy's speech on the American Dreams.

gg

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·         Is identity important to you and your friends? How important is standing out / being different to you and your friends?

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   i    Identity is important to me. I want to be known for my expertise, whatever they may be. I'm not talking about purple hair and piercings everywhere. I'm talking about moving speeches for instance. Being known for trying to make a difference. As for my friends, I can't really say because I don't discuss these things with them really. 

·         Does religion affect your choice of friends? Explain your answer

         No, religion DOES NOT affect my choice of friends. I have friends from varying religions, many aren't from my religion of birth. I think it's one's surrounding and interests that makes a person, not his religion on race.

·         How do you and your friends like to categorize people of your age group . i.e EMO, Skater, JPop, KPop fanatic, Hip Hop, Goth, freak, geek, shutterbug, others? What are the three most popular groups/looks amongst you and your friends?

        Well, my friends and I are pretty normal I would say. There aren't people of their own 'society' or such around us. We do have shutterbugs, geeks and well, political enthusiasts?? ;)

All About Me

First off, here's a brief introduction about myself. I am Kanmani Gobal, a teenager with the usual ups and downs.  My interests revolve around economics, politics, photography, writing, food and reading but no name a few. You'll learn more as I proceed. :)

Day 1 : Youth Today (About Youth and You)

·         What’s the best thing about being youth today? Do you think the future is bright, for your generation or do you think the future is something to worry about?

I think the best thing about being youth today is the lifestyle we are living. It is definitely much different from that of 50 years ago. We’re more fortunate and gifted. We now have education aid, health insurance aid and so on. Speaking of our future, I’d say it is pretty bright for us, because in the aspect of employment for example, more and more job fields are being introduced. This ensures a continuous source of employment opportunities.

·         Do you think “youth” (people like you) are rebellious in nature? Do you think youth today rebel like they used to before? Explain. Do you/have you rebelled against anything or anyone in the past? Explain.

Yes, I think youth are rebellious in nature, ESPECIALLY I. However, I do not think rebels of my time and ones before are similar. I’ll take my parents as an example. There were things they weren’t allowed to do when they were young. For instance, going out with friends, going to the cinema and plainly walking around a park. However, things are different these days. When we are not allowed to do something we want today, we shout, fight, and argue until we get what we want. Of course there are teenagers who are obedient too. Yes, personally, I have rebelled against my parents so many times. My parents wouldn’t allow me to take my driver’s license when I was 17 because they were worried it may interfere with my studies but I fought my way through and got that done. :) (That’s the most recent encounter)

·         Do you think youth today have an easier or harder life than our parents’ generation? Please explain your answer.

Youth today most certainly have an easier life than our parents. We get everything we want and need. If we don’t, we demand till we do anyway. What more is easier? However, I do not think this is right, taking our parents vulnerability as an advantage just to get what we want. My father has this philosophy stuck in his head; which is to give his children (us) everything he never had and that we want. And that sums up to almost everything we ask for. So you have the answer on this one. ;)

·         What is your biggest fear in the world…other than death?

My biggest fear is losing; losing someone close to me, either by death or separation. I find this the hardest dilemma to cope with. To have to remove someone from a visual picture in my head of all my loved ones is a lot to get used to. It takes a lot of time for me. However, it wouldn’t’t seem that way on the outside.

·         What makes you happy?

Several random things make me happy.

1. the morning sun. It makes me feel so energized.

2.Trying out food at different places.

3. singing!

4. baking something successfully!

5. having long, meaningful conversations..

6. winning (who doesn’t right?)

·         What has been the most difficult hurdle you have overcome so far in your life? What did this experience teach you?

I have had close friends parting from me since I was really young. They either left for another school, state or country. Although it didn’t affect my life professionally, I did seem a little empty after each one left. But sooner or later, I moved on. I learnt that we will meet a lot of people. Today and tomorrow. Some will stay and some will leave. We just have to get used to it,

·         Which has more importance today in your life - family or friends? Why? In your experience, did you ever have to make a choice between your friends and family? If ‘yes’ please explain your answer and why did you do so?

Family.. I grew up amongst my cousins and extended family. My family’s big and we’re close-knit. They are encouraging, although sometimes not very fond of the way I act or talk, and have been my source of moral support. Friends on the other hand, are equally important. It is with my friends that I go crazy and bring the inner child out (that’s very rare, though since most of the time I take things too seriously, or so I have been told). There is no reason for me to choose either one, and I never have before.

·         Tell us more about yourself!

I am basically 17 and will be graduating from high school in no time! Like I mentioned earlier, my interests revolve around politics, economics, cooking, photography, writing, reading and so on. I put my thoughts in writing in my blog and at other times, I shut them away in my head. I like trying out new stuff so long as there is some unique experience to get out of it. I love listening to Eminem and Beyonce’s music. Sometimes, I sing and I feel like half my problems have flown away. I aspire to pursue my career in the legal field. I’m not very affectionate of sports but I play badminton and indoor games (like Scrabble which is not a sport In Senegal =)). I like staying indoors and reading a book than being out there. I like the morning sun and hate the rain. Because I have always thought of the rain as an object of coldness and loneliness, or at least, that’s how I feel when the rain’s down. Some random facts; I like colours black, white, red and gray. I don’t quite like butterflies because they sometimes flutter all over my face and that can be annoying. I like huge animals like elephants. I used to play the guitar but I don’t anymore. I love playing computer games likes Sims, Grand Theft Auto and NFS. J I like watching movies of genre romance, comedy and horror, though I have no expectations of it. J I have a couple of people who are really close to me and that include my dad. He is the only one by far who has put up with all my nonsense, tantrums, demands and non-stop talking. I tend to repeat things because I feel that my statement gets reaffirmed everytime I do. I say a lot of things to convince myself sometimes, at tough times. I have lots of dreams up in my head and one day I’ll get there. :)

 Yes, that's me =)