everything went well.
alhamdulillah..
the meeting with my promotor went well.
had a good discussion with him.
i think we both are happy. (well, i hope he is)
we discussed about a paper that i'm submitting to a conference in January. i need to do some changes so that i could add more information. we were talking about endnote (the reference manager that i'm using) and he said back then it was different and that he wasn't trained on the IT stuffs, so he still don't know how to use it. suddenly he went like "and do you know i have facebook now? and i have like 7 and a half friends. i don't know how to use facebook. i keep on getting friend request, but i don't want to accept them." LOL he's funny. and i don't know what it means by that 'half' bit. and he's not that old. he's only 44.
i think i closed the year (research-wise) pretty good.
still got a lot of things to figure out.
but, i will manage insyaallah..
after the meeting i stayed at the office for a while.
my workspace
only few people were in.
after zuhur i went to the centrum to look for books. suddenly i felt like reading Harry Potter. and i want to read the first book - Philosopher's Stone. Think i read it like almost 10 years ago. so, i was looking forward to reading it again. you know, that Harry Potter is married and everything. but that little Harry Potter is still my favorite. so, i wanted to get to know him all over again. i saw some of Harry Potter books at secondhand book shops at the centrum. but later i found out they don't have the title.
the store is called "Second Story". the owner was an english teacher. her pupils suggested that name. sweet!
i met the owner of this bookstore. she is sooooo nice! she gave up her job to open it after her husband passed away. she didn't knew anyone here before. but, she just took her chance. and she is so happy now. it was her dream to have 2nd hand bookstore. and my dream too! i was so tempted to work part-time there. the store is so pretty and very cosy. like a personal library with books from floor to ceiling. and it has this antique looking railing where you can put a ladder there to climb and look for a book. and she lives on the 2nd floor. how nice is that? she can always go downstairs at 10 at night, and choose any books she wants! totally my kind of dream. ha! i wish... but, one day i will have my own bookstore, insyaallah. so yes! what i'm going to do is read more. buy more books. and yes! sell it later. haha! anyway, before i went there, i was already planning to take pictures of its interior. but, i totally forgot about it after i talked to her. hence, the above picture. seriously, the bookstore is so nice. i want one like that. and she gave me discounts for my books :) anyway, i did take a picture when i went there last month.
i love this bookend!
after i spent some time at the bookstores and walked around the centrum, i went to Bagel & Beans for lunch. my favorite spot for bagel and hot chocolate. i had my usual - tuna melt.
reading my new book and eating super delicious bagel
i did a very stupid thing before i got to settle down with that book and that bagel. it was so funny (and embarrassing), i couldn't help not to laugh. i think i looked a bit weird. and a bit disoriented. ok, here's the story.
the cafe & the green door
you see that green (ok, blackish in the picture) door? i don't know why i got confused which door is the cafe's because i went there so often, i think i could find my way with my eyes closed. ok, i exaggerated there. but you got me, right? but i think you could guess it by now that, yes, i went straight to that green door and tried my hardest to open it, but it didn't budge even a bit. in my mind, i was already registering that the door won't open from outside without a key. and, that it was strange that i couldn't get the door to open today, before it was fine. and i was thinking, did they change the door or something. but, i kept on turning the doorknob (which won't turn of course because it's only a door handle) and at the same time peering into the cafe helplessly hoping that somebody would realize that i desperately need someone to open the door for me. when i was there, there were people sitting at the front window (no one was sitting outside because well, it's winter) so they definitely saw that weird looking girl trying to break the green door. but, i think they thought that i really wanted to go into that door. but, seriously i look so stupid. you couldn't imagine. and then, i thought that the people inside were having like a private bagel lunch party or something, so they locked the door. and i wasn't in the guess list, so i didn't know the cafe was not open for public during lunch hour. but, man! who would have a bagel lunch party? i won't. and then, revelation came upon me with sudden white-eye-piercing-light that the white stupid nice looking door was the one i should break for fooling me! but anyway, i have to be a fool once in awhile. i had a nice laugh at myself. so, everything is good..
and after that, i walked around the centrum. window shopped (at first). one of the shops i went into was Esprit. i really like their Make a Wish Campaign. it's on TV with random people showing their wishes. and they put some of the pictures in their stores too.
i really like this one.
and this one.
and i actually like the jacket and the cardigan too. a lot. i really love the campaign. we all could relate to their wishes. you should check the videos on youtube. they are really nice. especially the kids' videos. they are so cute!
look at that. what's not to love? check out his wish. he's so clever. and funny! :)
and later, i met Mariam and her daughter, Hanna. Hanna is one clever and talkative girl! i absolutely adore her. we met for coffee. and Hanna had this colouring sheet Mariam bought at the cafe with small colouring pencils, so we both helped Hanna colour it. i forgot to take a picture! ha! i should take one. after coffee, we went to look for stuffs. bought presents for Safiyah's birthday next week. she loves Hot Wheels. so we both bought HW sets for her and got 5 HW cars for free! how's that? she will be over the moon! and then, we went to another store. and while Mariam was looking for a curtain for her new house, Hanna and i took pictures!
Mariam had to wait for her husband to join them at the centrum. so, waited for him at another store. Mariam shopped a little. but, Hanna and I thought that Dora the Explorer was nicer. so, we stayed at the kid's section.
it was in Dutch. so i didn't understand a thing. Hanna was wearing a Hello Kitty earmuff i gave her. she loves Hello Kitty.
Hanna & Mariam
oh yes! while i was looking for Safiyah's present. I found this.
VW Beetle. so cute, i have to have it.
i wrote a lot! and put a lot of pictures too! maybe I'm too happy today, that's why..
but, all in all i'm so grateful for everything i have in life. i have some difficulties. but we all are. life is not perfect. but there's beauty in all of the imperfections. we learn, we grow. we cope. we fall. but, we all get up again. and start over. alhamdulillah.. thank you Allah for everything you've given to me.
today, i went to school on foot. it wasn't that busy on the streets because most people are already on holiday. so, while walking i did reflect a little on how i've been doing this year. i won't wish for it to be different. ok, that's a lie. of course i wish things were easier. but they were not. so, i learned my lessons. and i went around centrum on foot too. while walking, suddenly i realized that i love Delft a lot! i really am. delft is my kind of town. small. cosy. peaceful. i will miss it a lot when i have to leave. so, i've decided to have a great time here. do great things. just live. and have fun. i walked a lot today. but, i'm used to walking now since my bike was stolen early november. got a new bike now. and it's pink and gray. with pictures of flower on it. and has white little basket. i think it is a little too cute for me. so, since i got the bike few weeks ago, it spent more time in the basement than in the daylight. it's a 2nd hand bike. but, was only used for 2 months. so, the bike looks as if it is new. and i got it for just 100 euro. and that was a huge bargain. so, i can't complain. i just don't get around the idea of riding a pink bike. that's all. but, i will in time.
since it is almost end of the year. i want to make my wish too. so, I would like to wish for:
- Allah to bless my loved ones, friends, teachers, and everyone with love, happiness, good health, patience and iman.. for Him to bring us closer to Him and lead us to his right path, amin..
- me to have a successful year in my studies.
- the ability to handle pressure better.
- more smiles.
- my papers to be accepted in top journals.
- presenting my papers in at least 3 conferences (in beautiful places, please) :P
- lots and lots of love. (ya Allah, send my PhD boyfriend already, please! we need to be
miserablehappy doing research together) - more fun, less stress.
- a white mini cooper s countryman, please.. ok, fine! i can settle for a mini(ature) version. i won't complain.
- ok, less pollution! if a kid wished for it, a perfectly grown up me should have a sense of wishing for it too. afterall, my research is about sustainability. so, yeah! i wish for less pollution. for people to use less plastic bags. to recycle. use energy efficiently. use public transport more. or carpool. care for less fortunate people. don't let mother nature get angry. plant your own tree. or flower. or herbs. or serai? don't waste water. because you know what? if each one of us do our part of being more responsible for our actions/inaction, the world will definitely will change for the better. if the system won't change, we should. eventually, the system will have to follow us! so, go green! live long and prosper! ok, i started to preach. and this is going awfully long. it's time to stop.
- ok last one! i wish for peace around the world especially in Palestine and all countries which are in conflict.. for people to be more tolerant and responsible.. and love each other regardless of our differences.
- and for honest people to be in power!
- ok, the last one, really. for only national/state flags to be raised! bendera merah and bendera putih.. or black and white checkered flag je boleh. ok, whatver.
so, yeah! again..
peace, y'all! don't be too serious. u'll get wrinkles.
it's ok for Spock to be serious. but not us.
he looks cool. we don't.
he looks cool. we don't.
nice weekend everyone!
i will, insyaallah :)
Labels: delft, friends, life, ramblings, school, work
