A Family Affair

Hi,

Well, hello there! It's been a minute. I know, I know, I've been a ghost. My writing mojo went on vacation, leaving me in a creative desert. I could say I was super busy, but let's be real, I was mostly just chilling. For four glorious days, I completely ditched my work machine, and my phone? That thing probably thought I broke up with it. The battery lasted two whole days, which for a modern phone, is basically an eternity.

So what's my excuse for this digital disappearing act? A big family reunion! You might remember me mentioning my awesome family, the Dollah Clan, or as we like to call ourselves, the DC. We just wrapped up DC 4.0, and it was epic.

The family is growing, both in numbers and in size. 😆

Our whole family gathering tradition started back in 2017. We rented a villa in Port Dickson for DC 1.0 just to make our grandmother happy. She was so thrilled to see everyone together and she told us to keep our family bond strong forever. Sadly, she passed away not long after, but her wish became our mission.

We kept the tradition alive with DC 2.0 in 2019, moving to a bigger villa in Rawang because, well, the family was getting bigger! We thought we'd do this every two years, but then COVID-19 showed up and decided to crash the party. For four loooong years, our grand gatherings were put on hold. We saw each other for big holidays and weddings, but it just wasn't the same. We were all missing that special family day vibe.

Once the world started getting back to normal, we kicked things back into gear with DC 3.0. Our family had grown even more, thanks to new marriages and babies, so a regular villa just wouldn't cut it. We needed a mansion! We found the perfect spot in Melaka and had an amazing time.

And that brings us to this past weekend and DC 4.0. Sticking to our biennial plan, 2025 was our year. This time, we needed a place big enough for 50 adults and 15 kids for three days of non-stop fun. After a massive search (shoutout to the amazing committee!😘), we found our home for the weekend: Santika in Hulu Langat. It's this beautiful place with a rustic, kampung feel and all the amenities we needed.

So there you have it, my four-day digital detox. I decided to trade in screens for sunshine, and honestly, it was the best decision. Now that I'm back in the real world, I feel refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes my way. I'll catch you on the flip side! Bye! 💕

My Dad, My First Bookstore Date

Hi,

Today is a special day! Happy 65th birthday to my wonderful dad! We had an early celebration this past weekend, and it was so much fun looking back on all the wild and wonderful memories we've made.

My dad is probably the most chill person on the planet. I’m pretty sure his secret superpower is being a human 'easy mode' button for life. My childhood was an absolute blast, all thanks to him. I remember being this tiny, four-year-old shadow, following him everywhere, even to his job. I'd sit in a corner, mesmerized, while he’d fix things. But it wasn't just that, he'd turn it into a game, teaching me to count. I think I learned to read so young because he probably got tired of me just pointing at things and asking, 'What's that?' so he taught me the alphabet instead! 😂

As I got older, our adventures evolved. Our monthly bookshop dates were a legendary event. We'd go out early, just the two of us, have breakfast and wait for the bookstore to open. Since I was a kid, I'd religiously save my pocket money, thinking I was a total financial whiz. Hahaha. During my primary school, I’d save RM1 a week, hoping my RM4 a month would magically turn into a RM5 comic book. Of course, it never did, but my dad, my personal book-buying fairy godfather, would always wave his magic wallet and make up the difference.

Who didn't love Doraemon? If you weren't reading it, you were definitely missing out on all the fun. 😄

Then came my teenage years, and my reading tastes got a little more expensive. I started saving RM2 a week, which gave me a grand total of RM8 a month. At that time, I was obsessed with the Francine Pascal book series, and each book cost a whopping RM11-12. Once again, my dad would swoop in, like a superhero, and top up the rest so I could go home with my precious new novel.

Exactly how my teenage years collection is. (Source)

Looking back, it's pretty clear he’s one of the many reasons I’m who I am today. He didn't just buy me books, he instilled a love for reading that's stuck with me my entire life. So, here's to the best dad in the world and to many more book chapters to come. 💕

A "Square" Day to Remember

Hi,

Get ready for some number magic! Do you know that we have a special date this month? It's called a Perfect Square Day!

Look at the date: 4/9/25.

• The day is 2² =4.

• The month is 3² =9.

• The year is 5²=25.

Wait, there's more! The year itself, 2025, is also a perfect square: 45². This makes 2025 a truly special year, as it's the only perfect square year in most of our lifetimes. (The last one was in 1936, and the next isn't until 2116!)

And for the final piece of numerical perfection: Did you know that the number 2025 is also the sum of the cubes of the first nine counting numbers?

 2025 = 1³ + 2³ + 3³ + 4³ + 5³ + 6³ + 7³ + 8³ + 9³

It's a rare day when the date and the year align so perfectly, and even rarer when the year has such a beautiful mathematical property. How's that for a cosmic coincidence? ✨

Happy belated Perfect Square Day, everyone! 

A Pause Button on Life

Hi,

Guess what? It’s another long weekend, and this is the second one in a row! We even have a longer one coming up next week. I'm absolutely loving all this time to relax and rest. These extra days feel like a gift, letting us hit the pause button on a busy week and just breathe.

Even though it’s way past midnight, my eyes are still wide awake, glued to a movie that has me totally captivated. 

A pretty Rosebud. 

As I was watching, I noticed the rain starting to fall. We've been getting a lot of rainy days lately, but it’s so peaceful to just sit and watch it from the glass wall. The cozy, content feeling it brings might just make me brew a cup of tea to enjoy the moment. 🍵

Just a quick check-in for tonight. It's amazing how a short post like this can make me feel better and more centered. I should probably head to bed after this. Have a lovely weekend, everyone! Bye!😊

A Different Kind of Beauty

Hi,

It's a rainy Wednesday, and the rain has been coming down hard all morning, even before I left for work. The day felt a little chaotic at first, a hectic race against the morning to make sure the kids didn't get drenched on their way to school. But now that I'm calmer, with a warm coffee, I can finally stop and just look out the window.

Watching the world is a completely different feeling from inside. I can see the rain hitting everything outside, the road, the trees, the cars, and the people passing by. Each raindrop seems to wash away the dust and dullness, making everything look so incredibly fresh and clear, like a beautiful painting. This is why I've always secretly loved the rain. It has a certain magic that turns a regular day into something special. 💫

And to make it even better, it forces me to slow down and appreciate a different kind of beauty, a quiet moment in an otherwise busy day. It reminds me that even when the world feels messy and chaotic, there's always a chance to find a little peace. It’s a good reminder to be grateful for the small things, even if they're just drops of water.

I'll continue appreciating the rain while it's here, knowing that when the sun finally peaks through the clouds, a beautiful rainbow might just appear. It's a sweet lesson that even after the most challenging moments, a new kind of beauty is always waiting to brighten our world. 💕

This view somehow reminds me of a place I've lived before. 

It brings back a quiet, comforting feeling, just like those days.

A Table for One

Hi,

It feels like this eventful month is finally winding down, and I'm using the closure to focus on something new; me. It's been a while since I've dedicated time to my own interests, what with juggling everyone else's research and work projects. I guess it's finally time for me to be the main character in my own story.

For the past few months, I've made my health a priority, dedicating at least 30 minutes a day to working out or hitting 10,000 steps. The consistency has paid off big time, bringing positive changes both mentally and physically. Now that I'm settled into this healthy rhythm, it's time to channel that same energy into my work and pursue what I truly love. They say consistency is key, and I've found that to be absolutely true.

And speaking of self-care, does anyone else find eating alone at a restaurant to be incredibly therapeutic? Two hands up over here! I'll purposefully set aside time for myself to go to a place I love and just be, like you're simply on a date with yourself. There's so much freedom in it, picking anything off the menu without a single opinion from anyone else, and eating at my own pace without feeling guilty for being too slow or too fast. It's the perfect time to get lost in a book or simply watch the world go by.

I don't really care if people think I'm friendless. To me, it's a completely normal sight. I think many people are just like me, sometimes wanting to enjoy a meal in peace without having to make conversation. That doesn't mean I don't love spending time with friends; I do! But there are moments when you just want to focus on yourself. So, if you see me sitting at a table for one, don't feel bad for me. I'm probably just enjoying a delicious meal with my favorite person. Me. 😉

So, the other day, I finally got to eat my favourite soup after craving it for weeks, and that feeling of getting exactly what you want is so good. It’s a simple, but truly meaningful moment.

My all-time favourite.

I'm a huge fan of fish. But nothing beats salmon.

Okay, that's about it. The long weekend is here. I don't have any big plans, just the usuals, but I'm looking forward to the extra downtime. Hope you all have a fantastic and restful break! Bye!

My Eventful Few Weeks

Hi,

The past few weeks have been a blur of exciting events at my workplace, and somehow, I'm involved in almost everything. It’s a huge relief to see everything wrap up smoothly, and I'm happy to be able to contribute from a small-time judging gig to coordinating a major workshop.

My adventure started two weeks ago when I was put in charge of a workshop for 50 secondary school teachers, co-organized with Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Pulau Pinang. The mission? To get them excited about teaching SPM Math and Add Math with GeoGebra. We showed them how to use this dynamic software to make equations and graphs jump off the screen, turning abstract concepts into hands-on fun. It's safe to say we armed them with some new tricks to make even the most math-phobic students crack a smile. 😊

The event was hosted at our lab, which comfortably accommodated 50 math and additional math teachers from across Penang.

I learned so much about handling students from the coaching session, especially from the experienced teachers.

And then, just last week, I faced a completely different kind of challenge, chairing a gathering of Complex Analysis mathematicians. This was so far out of my comfort zone, I might as well have been on another planet! 😂As an applied mathematician, my world is all about real-life problems and practical solutions. These brilliant pure mathematicians, on the other hand, are the trailblazers who work on mind-bending and abstract theories. I was so nervous about being the go-between for these academic titans, I'm surprised I didn't trip over my own words. But hey, I'm glad I managed to handle the sessions, and everything went off without a hitch. What a relief!

A small, intimate gathering of pure mathematicians focused on complex analysis.

Chairing that session was challenging since I didn't speak the pure mathematics language, but it was a fun way to learn.

And to cap it all off, I was in the judging team for the ever-popular Math Debate at our school's recent Math Carnival that brought in students from all over Penang and Kedah. I volunteered to be a judge for the debate, one of the many activities planned for the primary and secondary school kids. These kids were given just 30 minutes to prepare their arguments before convincing us to accept or reject a proposal. After a few rounds, the energy in the room was electric! It was a blast seeing these young minds in action. 

The first round of the debate with full view of the public. Very interesting.

Heading the judging team for the next few rounds.

It's been a busy but incredibly rewarding time, a perfect reminder that the best experiences often come from jumping into the deep end. Now that most events I am involved in are over, the next few weeks will be a bit more manageable, so I can finally concentrate on my own projects. Phew! 

A Saturday of Peace

Hi, 

Ah, a Saturday morning! Not just any Saturday, but a legitimately free Saturday. After what felt like two straight months of weekend work, errands, and general chaos, the calendar finally decided to cooperate.

My children are having the time of their lives with Atok, Nenek, aunts and uncles. Even though we live way up north and they're all the way in the south of Malaysia, we've figured out the perfect solution, meet in the middle! Traveling all the way to the south would eat up too much time, so our little KL-cation is the sweet spot.

Right now, they're busy splashing, screaming, and making memories in the pool. And me? I've been given a golden ticket to freedom. The moment their aunt looked at me with a knowing smile and said, "Now you enjoy your peaceful time, we will take care of the kids," it felt like I'd just found a hidden treasure chest. Seriously, I almost did a celebratory dance right there. 💃😂

My first thought was to leap into bed and hibernate for a few more hours, but instead, I'm doing what I do best, catching up on all the things I've missed. It’s like being a detective solving the mystery of my own life, one unread email and social media post at a time. This calm weekend is exactly what my soul needed, a chance for the kids to bond with family while I get to recharge and settling in with the new book I've been reading.

As an applied mathematician, this really grabbed my attention. It's fascinating how calculus emerged as one of the world's greatest ideas.

Alright, everyone, have a fantastic time. You never know where life will lead, so just enjoy every moment. Bye for now!

To My Little Champions

Hi,

Before the memories fade and get hazy, I need to write this down for my kids, Auni and Adam. I hope one day they stumble upon this space and know, without a doubt, how incredibly proud I am to be their mom. Every bit of exhaustion is worth it when I see them shine.

Last weekend, we had an adventure that I'll never forget. Auni dove into her first-ever swimming competition, and Adam faced his own challenge in a taekwondo tournament. And, of course, because nothing is ever simple in our lives, both events happened on back-to-back days. The chaos was real, but so was the excitement.

The past few months had been a mission. Auni spent countless hours splashing in the pool, her days and nights filled with dedicated practice. Adam gave up most of his weekends to train with his coach. They were preparing for their first big competitions, and their commitment was inspiring.

And then, the universe decided to throw one last test at us, just days before their events, we all got sick. But nothing could stop them. Even as they were still recovering, they insisted on competing. I let them, because I knew how much their hearts were set on this.

Auni fearlessly took on two events: the 25m Freestyle and the 50m Breaststroke. She competed against nearly 500 swimmers from all over the state, and while making it to the finals wasn't easy, she did something even more impressive, she beat her personal best. Watching her analyze her own performance and figure out where to improve next showed me the true spirit of a champion. She didn't just compete, but she learned.

In Lane 5, my girl waited nervously for the starting signal.

I'll make sure she can see me cheering for her, all the way from the other side of the pool.

As for Adam, he was the breakout star of the day. With his small size and still a junior white belt, he stepped onto the ring and commanded everyone's attention. He snatched two champion medals, one for Pattern and one for Sparring, making his opponents feel a little shaky just by his presence. He was absolutely incredible.

He radiated confidence, and his sharp, precise movements impressed the judges.

It only took him three fights to win the champion medal.

The look of pride on his face as he held his gold medal was priceless.

His performance was so powerful that he was invited to compete in the overall champion category against older, more experienced competitors with different belts. He didn't win that final match, but the experience of going head-to-head with adults was a prize in itself. What a lucky and brave boy.

He looked so small next to the other champions, but the experience of competing with them was a victory in itself.

I'm so relieved that both events were a success. The best part is that they're already looking forward to the next challenge, which tells me this experience has lit a fire in them. It looks like this mom will be rolling up her sleeves right alongside them. 💪

Rainy-Day Ramen Craving

Hi,

How's everything going? Things have been pretty good on my end, though a little dramatic tonight. It's pouring rain here, the kind of heavy downpour we haven't seen in a while. Since we've been needing some rain, I'm definitely not complaining. The air is cool and fresh, and this sudden chill has me thinking about one thing: my favourite comfort food.

Don't we all have that one dish that just makes everything better? I know I do, and maybe it's more than one. (Okay, fine, it's two!) The first is a ghee tosay with a pinch of sugar. When the sugar melts and gets all crispy and caramelized on the surface, it’s so good that I swear my problems just melt away in my mouth with every bite.

This is a perfect match: a ghee tosay with chutney and dhal gravy. 😋

But tonight, the rain has me craving my second comfort food: Gyuniku Ramen with Tori Paitan Soup. Specifically, the kind from Sushi-Ya. It's a bowl of thick, creamy, and ridiculously delicious broth topped with tender slices of beef and a perfectly cooked egg. There's nothing quite like slurping on that hot, rich soup when it's cold and rainy outside.

So, so good. I want it now!

Stop it, girl! It's already 11 p.m., and your bed is calling. No late-night ramen runs for you.

And just like that, I'm back to reality. As much as my mind is on comfort food tonight, it’s also on a different kind of satisfaction: the work I'm doing this semester break. Even though I have a few weeks with no classes, I'm not slowing down. Most people see this as a chance to relax, but I'm going full throttle. My main mission is to make sure all my PhD students are on track and ready to meet their deadlines.

Even though I get tons of requests to take on new students, I've been on a mission to limit the number I supervise. By having a smaller group, I can give each student my full attention. This way, they get the quality time and focus they need, and their work becomes even better. It’s all about quality over quantity, right? 

Alright, that's all for tonight. It feels good to finally sit down and get all of this out. There's so much more to tell, and I hope I'll have time to share it all soon. And with that, I'm off to bed. Bye for now!

The Blessing of a Good Student

Hi,

What a day! The kind of day that makes your head spin and your eyelids feel like they have tiny, invisible weights attached to them. I finally walked through my front door after a super hectic day. It's so hectic, in fact, that it deserves its own story for another time. I haven't been staying up late recently. Usually, my bedtime is respectable minutes after midnight. But tonight, sleep can wait. The comfy sofa and my trusty journal were calling my name, and I just had to answer.

There's something magical about finally settling in with a blank page, letting the day's chaos melt away. As I was getting ready to write, I found myself thinking about my PhD student, Tariq Azzam. I'd been doing a final check of his graduation requirements, making sure all his demands were in a row for his upcoming thesis defense. And boy, were they!

He's already submitted his manuscript to IPS, has four publications in the pipeline for Q1/Q2 journals, and has completed all his required courses. Basically, he's an academic rockstar. Or at least, mine. 😁

They're all on the road to graduation! One student is graduating, one is making final corrections, and two others are getting ready to defend their theses. Tariq is the one on my left.

We celebrated with a final feast, a special goodbye meal with the supervisors before they all left Malaysia.

Having a student like Tariq is such a blessing. He works remotely from his home country for most of the year, but every year, he flies to Malaysia for three months to really knuckle down and hash out the important stuff with me. It takes a lot of dedication, and he has it in spades. I'm really hoping he gets everything done smoothly and earns that coveted "Graduate on Time" title.

After you've mentored a few research students, you develop a sort of sixth sense about who's really ready to defend their thesis. The secret is simple: if they've done all the hard work themselves, they'll be able to answer any question thrown at them with confidence. It's a different story when they don't truly understand their own work, that's when things get tricky.

We were working around the clock during his final week to make sure he submitted the very best version of his work.

But with Tariq, there's no doubt in my mind. I've seen how hard he's worked, how many late nights he's put in. He's ready. And I know he'll ace that viva voce without a hitch. He's back in Jordan now, and we'll be preparing for his defense from afar. I'm really hoping everything goes smoothly and easily for him. 😇

Step into the Fun

Hi,

It's been a week since my last update, and while things have been a bit less chaotic, I've been busy playing catch-up on a few important life missions. But let's talk about the real excitement: my workplace turned into a giant, friendly competition of steps last week!

It's not every day that your job encourages you to get up and move. The goal was simple: everyone, from the academics to the admins, had to contribute to their team's step count. We were split into six teams of ten, and I knew we needed a little kickstart to get those feet moving. So, I did what any good team player would do: I became the official Step-Motivator-in-Chief! 😎

Half of our crew, getting ready for a 5-kilometer walking adventure!

First, I rallied the troops for a morning walk. While 10,000 steps might be a walk in the park for me, I know it can feel like climbing Mount Everest for others. So, we made it an adventure! We didn't just loop around the campus; we became explorers, venturing to hidden spots I'd never seen before. It was a blast!

We visited a place in USM that I never knew existed. 😅

Soaking up the morning sun for my daily dose of Vitamin D. I need the sun's benefits, but I'm trying to avoid a sunburn. How do I do that? 😂

But I didn't stop there. The next day, I turned our school into a personal gym and hosted a cardio session. What I do daily might seem like a piece of cake, but I wanted to make it accessible and fun for everyone. And guess what? We crushed it! In just one morning, we racked up nearly 10,000 steps each for our team.

After-workout glow and sweat!😁 I'm planning to start a weekly activity like this for everyone at the school.

The best part of this whole step-venture wasn't the numbers, though. It was getting to connect with people I rarely talk to at work. It turns out, the "rarest" people are some of the most accommodating, fun, and easy-going folks around. It just goes to show, you never know who you'll connect with when you're all working (or walking!) towards a common goal.

We submitted this with all the supporting evidence. It was a true team effort, with everyone contributing in their own unique way. 👏

But at the end of the day, it wasn't really about winning (though a little healthy competition never hurt anyone!). It was about making our workplace a little brighter, one step at a time. Whether we were sharing a laugh on our morning walk or coming up with new ideas, it just goes to show that a little movement can lead to big connections. Here's to making our office a better, more vibrant place for everyone! 

Understanding Your University Grades

Hi,

It's that time of the year again at USM, marking season! And let me tell you, I've wrapped up all my tasks, even the tricky analysis stuff in the OCADS system. It feels like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders for this semester. I'm so relieved, I could practically float! 😀

They are all done and will be put in the cupboard now. 

Being a university lecturer isn't just about standing in front of a class and sharing wisdom (though we do a fair bit of that!). It's a whole adventure, from conjuring up exam questions that'll make you think (or groan, depending on your caffeine levels 😉) to the secret life of exam invigilation, where we channel our inner detectives to ensure fair play as outlined HERE.

Once the pens are down and the final exams are collected, our real work begins, marking, analyzing results, and deciphering the mysteries of the grading system. And let me tell you, it's more than just adding numbers!

Think of your final grade as a delicious academic pizza, sliced into two main parts:

• Coursework (CW): This is your ongoing effort throughout the semester, like all those assignments, quizzes, tests and projects you tackle. It usually makes up  60% of your total mark. Most students find this slice pretty easy to chew on, as long as you actually complete the tasks! We lecturers diligently enter your CW marks into our magical OCADS system, which then whips up a preliminary grade for you.

• Exam Work (EW): Now for the other slice, the exam, which contributes the remaining 40% of your mark. After marking countless exam scripts (and maybe consuming a few too many coffees), we meticulously input these marks into OCADS. Poof! Another grade appears, specifically for your exam performance. As examiners, we take this super seriously. Personally, I'm like a hawk over those scripts, reviewing my marking a few extra times to make sure every single student gets the grade they truly deserve.

Next is generating your combined grade. Here's where it gets interesting, and perhaps a little mysterious for some students. You've got your CW grade and your EW grade, right? Well, the OCADS system then plays matchmaker, combining both to generate your final, official course grade.

Now, most of the time, the system is spot-on with our manual records. Sometimes, it might even give a student a slightly higher grade (and honestly, who am I to complain about that?). But, like any good superhero, even OCADS has its rare technical glitches that might, on occasion, result in a lower grade than what you earned. This is precisely why we lecturers play detective one last time, meticulously checking the final grades for each student. Our mission? To ensure no one gets treated unfairly by a rascal algorithm. 

Many students mistakenly believe that their coursework marks are simply added to their exam marks to get the final grade. So, if you've aced your coursework and are practically floating on an "A," you might think you just need a tiny push on the exam to seal the deal. Sorry, my dear students, it doesn't quite work that way!

Both your coursework and exam components are evaluated independently to generate their own explicit grades. So, to truly snag that excellent final grade, you need to bring your A-game to both the continuous assessments throughout the semester and the final examination. Think of it as needing to ace both the appetizer and the main course to get a five-star review for your academic meal!

Hopefully, this sheds some light on the wonderful (and sometimes wonderfully complex) world behind your university grades. 😊

When the World Stays Awake with You

Hi,

It's the middle of the night, and sleep feels like a distant. Maybe that quick nap I had earlier messed things up, or maybe it's just my mind buzzing with too many thoughts. It's funny how, even when we know thinking too much isn't good for us, it's so hard to turn it off. It's like one thought leads to another, and suddenly your mind is just full. It's like a tangled ball of string, each piece pulling at another, making it impossible to find an end and untangle it.

That's exactly how my thoughts feel right now. A tangled mess, with no clear beginning or end.

It's been too long since I just wrote freely, letting my thoughts flow onto the page without a plan. I have so many unfinished pieces saved, waiting. But tonight, there's just something I need to get out. It's like a feeling building up insi de, a quiet voice that needs to be heard, even if it's just by me, here in the quiet of the night.

Life can be tricky, right? You see people smiling, looking like they have everything together, but you never know the heavy worries they might be carrying inside. They might be putting on a brave face, a careful mask to get through the day, while deep down, they're fighting silent battles. And sometimes, it's the other way around. The quiet ones, the ones who seem to blend in, might be the ones with incredible strength, facing their own challenges with hidden power. It's a reminder that we rarely see all of someone's story.

So, no matter what kind of person you think you are, keep moving through life with all your might. You never know when you'll find your happiest moments. Embrace whatever part of your journey you're in right now, because every step is leading you somewhere.

Okay, I'm going to try some reading. Hopefully, that'll make me sleepy enough to finally get some rest. Until then, bye for now! 😊

My July Win

Hi,

Guess what, everyone? Just like that, July packed its bags and zoomed off. We welcome August today, bringing us even closer to the end of 2025! Can you believe it? Time flies without us even realizing it as we go through our lives.

For me, July was pretty remarkable because it was my most active month yet this year! I finally got into a super consistent groove with my daily cardio sessions. Seriously, I managed to stick to them almost every single day! I'd usually carve out about 30-40 minutes for it. Sometimes, I'd even kick things off with a quick 10-15 minute run on the machine just to get those sweat glands working overtime. Then, it was full steam ahead with the rest of my cardio routine!

Tracking my daily cardio sessions

Here's the cool part, sticking to this routine was shockingly easy! All you really need is yourself and a random YouTube video from your fave fitness channel. I love these two instructors, Mizi and Eleni! Their routines and music are fantastic, perfectly pacing and motivating us through our HIIT cardio workouts.

@MIZILEE

She perfectly represents Asian figures, so her videos resonate more with me.

@EleniFit

I'm loving her routines and music. She choreographs everything so well.

See, all you really need is a reference video, some space, and your own motivation. As for me, my gym is my dry kitchen. Why? Because the walls are mirrored, giving me total dance studio vibes! The only difference is, instead of a water cooler, I'm surrounded by yummy snacks in the fridge. Talk about motivation!😂

Oh, and to make it even better, I can literally wear whatever I'm comfy in. How? I sometimes get a little influenced by what the instructors in the videos are rocking. Haha! Us women, we're always inspiring each other, right? Since this is a do-it-alone-at-home-in-front-of-the-mirror kind of exercise, feel free to show off those thighs and abs if it pumps you up to get that flatter tummy and toned legs! 😉

Now, about the results... they're not exactly screaming ta-da! just yet. But hey, I've definitely lost a few inches, which I'm super happy about! The weighing scale, though? Not quite as cooperative. I've only shed about 2kg compared to the fasting month when I could drop 5kg like it was nothing (because I was quite strict with my food back then!).

This time around, I'm taking a more chill approach with my meals. I'm eating pretty much as usual, but of course, I'm keeping an eye on what I munch on daily, especially my sugar intake. You know me, sweet-tooth Amirah! I'm obsessed with desserts. Someone please physically drag me away from the kuih stall, because the temptation is real! Seri muka and cekodok pisang. How can I eat them every day without getting fat? Yeah, yeah, I can. Only in my dream. 😂

I often get asked what I eat to stay in shape? Ahh, a question as old as time. The quest for the mythical eat-all-you-want-and-still-look-amazing lifestyle. That's not realistic at all. I'd love to tell you there's a simple hack, like drinking green tea all day everyday. But to be honest, those days are long gone. At my age, the only way to eat what I want every day and keep my body in a shape I'm happy with is through hard work, hard work, and more hard work. 

My body is officially a democracy, and every calorie now requires a vote before it's burned. So, when people complimenting, I just smile and know that the real credit goes to my alarm clock that goes off at 5 AM and the sweat-drenched sessions I commit to daily. Failure to do so will result in my clothes developing a sudden, mysterious aversion to fitting, and gravity doing its worst. 😅

However, what truly matters is your happiness and satisfaction with your body. If you're content with your current physique, then absolutely, embrace it! Just be sure to schedule regular health check-ups. Beyond that, simply enjoy life! 💕

A House Full of Play

Hi,

It's another calm weekend, which for some reason, always means it's time to sort through another mountain of stuff. This time, the kids' multipurpose room is calling my name. It's a treasure trove of books, toys, and enough stationery to open a small office supply store. Seriously, why do I find myself on these sorting adventures? It's like my superpower is finding chaos to organize. 🦸‍♀️

Our living room? Well, let's just say it's more of a playground than a living room. We've got a foosball table, a large trampoline, a slide, and even the occasional Beyblade tournament. We're talking a full-on play area! My kids have basically turned the living room into their personal stadium, playing soccer and badminton right in the middle of it all. It's a good thing we only have a sofa, a dining table, and a TV hanging on the wall. Aesthetics? What aesthetics? My style is let the kids run wild and free. 😂

It's all worth it, though. I'd rather have a chaotic, playful home now than a spotless, museum-like space. This way, we can all hang out together, even if that means a stray shuttlecock landing on my head or a remote-controlled car ploughing through my perfectly folded laundry. 😅 It's the little joys of being a mom, right?

On a side note, the kids know the golden rule, one toy out at a time. And when they're done, everything has to go back to its designated home. It's a system that keeps the chaos from turning into an impossible-to-walk-through mess, most of the time. This way, our living room can transform from a soccer field to a quiet reading corner in minutes. Well, maybe not minutes, but eventually.

I know this phase won't last forever. One day, the trampoline will be retired, the foosball table will gather dust, and the living room will be quiet. The kids will be big, with their own interests and their own rooms to hide in. That's when I'll finally get to redecorate and create that Pinterest-perfect living room I've always dreamed of.

I dream of a small, cozy living room with a giant glass wall, perfect for stargazing. ✨️ 

But for now, I'm happy to embrace the chaos. I’ll keep navigating the obstacle course of toys and dodging stray shuttlecocks. This is our home, and right now, it's a home full of life, laughter, and a whole lot of play. 😊

From Equations to Everyday Life: Student Research

Hi,

Today, I want to talk about the four projects my students presented a couple of days ago. Alhamdulillah, everything went perfectly for all of them! They presented their work confidently and handled every question calmly. Most importantly, they truly showcased the diverse applications of mathematics in real life, something I always strive to instil in them.

Such happy faces! They were incredibly nervous before their presentations, but all smiles once they'd crushed it.

Aina kicked off the presentations with her insightful topic: Modelling Public Opinion Propagation in Technological Disasters

Imagine trying to figure out how people react when a disaster happen, like the Petronas underground gas pipeline. She explored a math model, kinda like tracking a cold's spread, but this model is to see how public opinion shifts upon receiving the news. It breaks everyone into four groups: the unaware, the lurkers (quietly watching), the spreaders (sharing info), and the stiflers (who stop caring). She factored in things like disaster severity, government actions, who's to blame, and media vibes to see how these groups are influenced. She dug deep into the math to understand how things settle, how fast info spreads, and if the system stays stable. She even proved theoretically that small changes can totally flip public sentiment, and her model actually works to show how public opinion moves during real crises.

Next up was Afifah, who delved into the Mathematical Relation between Collision Risk and Speed.

Everyone knows how dangerous speeding is right? Have you ever wonder how things work, mathematically? So, she dives into that, using two main mathematical ideas, the Power Model and the Exponential Model, to show how different speeds impact both crash frequency and severity, based on some real data. She crunched the numbers, fitting these models to actual accident data, and then checked how good they were at predicting injuries and fatal crashes. She found that while the Power Model is easy to understand, the Exponential Model actually does a better job of matching what really happens on the road, especially when cars are going really fast. Essentially, picking the right way to analyze speed and using good data is crucial for making our roads safer and managing traffic effectively.

Then Ain captivated the room with her work, resonating with everyone as she discussed on Modelling the Impact of Peer Pressure on Obesity Dynamics.

Now, ever notice how your friends' food habits can totally rub off on you? Like, suddenly everyone's craving that new burger joint? Sounds familiar? 😂Well, her work explored clever math to see how peer pressure can actually make obesity spread like wildfire! She categorized people into normal weight, at-risk, obese, and quitters, finding that even a little nudge from your buddies, especially with fast food, makes a huge difference. In fact, her finding showed that if peer pressure for unhealthy habits hits a certain point, obesity can actually become the norm, uh oh! This just goes to show how powerful your social circle is, highlighting why tackling unhealthy social behaviors early on is super important if we want to keep everyone healthy.

Finally, Nazifa wrapped up the session by presenting her fascinating work on Analyzing the Dynamics of Social Media Addiction: A Mathematical Modelling Approach.

She talked about how your phone always calling you back for just one more scroll that represents social media addiction and how it spreads very perfectly. Her model basically sorted folks into five groups: those susceptible to the digital buzz, the exposed (who've just peeked at a cat video), the fully addicted (send help!), those who've recovered (the lucky ones!), and the quitters (the true heroes who deleted TikTok. Though, let's be real, actually belonging to quitters group in real life feels almost impossible these days!). She proved that even tiny nudges, like a new notification sound or a perfectly timed meme can seriously affect how many people get hooked. She made everyone in the room understands why we can't resist checking our phones, offering clues on how to  tackle the digital shackles and get back to, you know, real life. Err, okay girl, okay. I'm busted. 😅

These were the projects! As I mentioned before, while they didn't quite revolutionize any theories, hey, they only had three months! The team successfully applied their math skills to real-world problems. Now they have something tangible to discuss when they leave the nest. You know, even my own family still sometimes wonders what I actually do as a mathematician, so these kinds of projects really help demystify our work. 😂

Total celebration time! We completely ditched talking about work and just chatted about life. I even told them to enjoy single life and not rush into getting hitched, LOL! 😜

That's all for now! Not sure when I'll be back. Constantly adjusting to life seems to leave me speechless these days. See you again soon, hopefully! Bye! 

Celebrating My Pandemic Children

Hi,

What a busy week it's been in the School of Math! It's all about final year presentations, and let me tell you, the math-a-thon is in full swing. Tomorrow, I have four students I've been advising presenting their projects. Wish them luck!

I'm also on the panel for six other projects this week. Four wrapped up today (phew!), with one more on Wednesday and the final one on Thursday. Reading these Final Year Projects (FYP) is always a blast. It's like a mathematical treasure hunt! The topics are so varied and genuinely fun. While they might not be ground-breaking theories, it's fascinating to see how these bright minds explore so many real-world applications of math. Who knew numbers could be so adventurous? 😉

With Intan Nuraini. She may be small, but this girl is absolutely bursting with energy!

Ain Suraya and Hasliza. I've witnessed first-hand their incredible resilience, watching them bounce back even after facing tough times.

This batch of students is about to graduate with their Bachelor's Degrees, and a wave of happy tears is definitely coming. Why, you ask? Because my very first group of students I advised are among them! I affectionately call them my COVID-19 children because our first "meeting" was virtually, during the pandemic. Our communication mainly happened through the wonderful world of online platforms. Can you imagine starting your university life without even stepping foot on campus? It was a wild ride, but I tried my best to make sure they still felt connected and enjoyed their first year, even if it was through a screen.

Once the pandemic decided to pack its bags and they finally arrived at USM for physical classes, we started a beautiful tradition, pizza parties at the end of every semester! Being an academic advisor isn't just about handing out advice, it's about making sure these young minds get the right guidance to not only graduate on time but also choose courses that truly spark their interest and align with their strengths.

I'm really going to miss our lively gazebo parties! Academic advising sessions were always so much fun with the never-ending flow of pizza and boba tea.

I've watched them grow from being a little naïve and unsure of themselves, making a few 'oopsie' decisions (some even hitting the P1 and P2 stages, don't worry, those are just academic pit stops, not permanent parking spots!). But they didn't give up! They buckled down, caught up, and are now ready to graduate with their friends. It's truly inspiring. 

No matter the hurdles they faced, I truly hope they gained something valuable from me, the school, and their time at USM. My biggest wish is that these past four years have felt like a second home to them, and they know they're always welcome back, pizza parties or not! 🍕🎉