~~ Random Pictures~~

First of all, i would like to apologize to all of my friends who concerned about my blog. I feel really sorry about did not update my blog regularly. Please allow me to explain the reasons. I was busy for last semester and worked with a lot of my studies and projects. I just concluded my busy winter semester, and enjoyed my one week break, actually it was an uneventful week. I did nothing on that one week break....

Sometime, i feel like nothing special event to blog with, so i try to slow down a little bit... hehe... Recently, same as usual, busy with my studies and i'm taking two classes in this spring semester. Actually i do not have any special stuffs to blog in this post, so what i'm going to do is, i will try to put some random pictures which i took in last few months:

Here we go for some of my random pictures that i found in my pc:

Oh yeah, i found some cool pictures from my pc. Look!! it's a Toyota Trueno --AE86--. I'm sure you guys watched the movie Initial D before. Actually the Initial D movie is based on the Japanese Initial D mange and anime series. In this movie, the pop singer-- Jay Chou-- acts as Takumi Fujiwara. I think you guys are very impressed of the cars and the drifting skills in that movie, right? And last year, i watched the movie, The fast the furious -- Tokyo drift--. It was a cool movie. I was impressed on the drifting skill in the movie, Cool...

I never thought that i will picture with the Toyota Trueno AE86. But few months ago, I saw the car that people keep talking in that movie-- Initial D-- was in front of me. Oh my god, unbelievable!!! I even drive that car, it was awesome!! But i can't drift because i don't have that kind of skill. The reason why i can drive it, it's because the car is owned by one of my friends. He bought it from a HongKong guy, it costs USD4,000. Actually for me, i will never buy a car that more than 20 years. It's cool car, but you have to spend a lot of money to maintain it.

Here is what he got the license plate for his Car. Michigan also have one AE 86, not only in Japan. He customized his license plate as AE 86.
Is that looked familiar with you? Yeah, it's a sticker that exactly copy from the movie Initial D.
Oh yeah, Picture with Toyota Trueno -- AR E86--
Are those poses looked familiar? Haha... actually we tried to pose like Jay Chou in that movie. Pretty cool huh??
Does it looked familiar? Hehe...

Here are another group of pictures that found in my pc, i randomly post it because i do not have any particular stuffs to blog with.

This picture is from HooiSin, she took it at her sister's engagement day. Personally, i love this picture because it looked like picture it at studio. Oh yeah, i miss you so much, but i think we can meet pretty soon, so be more patient... I still have one month to go (i will be in Malaysia for vacation this coming summer)... Hurray!!
Oh my God!! who is this little cutie? Is she looked cute?? Who is she actually? Oh yeah, she is my niece -- Amanda Lee-- at Singapore. Time flies, before i came United States, she was still in her mom's tummy, but now she is already one year plus. My mom told me that she is now even can walk. Oh my God, unbelievable the time goes so fast. I think she doesn't she has one uncle in United States, because we haven't meet each other before. Haha.... we will meet next month, i cant wait to pinch her chubby face...

Look!!! Here are some pictures of Amanda Lee:

She is so cute...
Oh my god, she got her front teeth... hehe...
She is growing up...

Due to exchange rate and religion problem, the percentage of Malaysian visit United States become less and less. After September 11, it become harder for applying visa to visit United States, even the percentage of Malaysian students drop less than before. In the small percentage of Malaysian in Michigan, United States, I met two Malaysian girls -Linly & Elena- in Ann Arbor recently. I was surprised when they told me that they are from Malaysia. Actually we met each other at party, then we start to hang out sometime.

Actually i don't really know about this two girls, we only hang out some of the time. Both of them are exchange student from Malaysia, they participated a program and stay with American's family and work as a babysitter.

After hanging out with this two girls, i found that they are a really good friend to hang out with. Like Linly, she is a very talkative girls and when we start to chat, she can talks for non-stop. Maybe both of us have somethings in common, so we usually chat through MSN. Elena, a good friend to hang out too. I was so surprised when she told me her major, guess what, she is a law major, amazing!!! I can't believe i have a friend majoring in law.

Here are some of the words to my new Malaysian Friends:

I'm so glad meet both of you, as least we can share something in common.

Words to Elena: "You feel lost, because you are lack of confidence, i know you really want to back to your law major, but you're worrying that you'll fail the class. Elena, just go ahead, make up your mind and further your law major, once a day you'll success and find your professional career path."

Words to Linly: "I know you have plenty of dreams and planning, just to whatever you want to do or to be to achieve your final goal. You always tell me that you really don't what you are doing, actually from the day you participate in this program, you should know what is the path looks like, in this world, there always gain something and lost the other things, so just try to learn how to enjoy but no to complain."

I'm saying all this because i want to let you guys know my philosophy -- "Nothing is impossible, keep your hard work persistence and constantly, for sure you will success in one day"--. So Linly, i hope you can fulfill your travel dream in United States very soon, and Elena, i also hope you can start your professional career path in the near future. Good luck to my new friends -- Linly and Elena-- :) Stay Cool and Funcky:)

Here are some pictures that were taken with Elena and Linly at downtown Ann Arbor -- Sweetwatercafe--

Darren and Linly.
Darren and Elena...
Group picture...
Summer is coming and the weather here is so "Hot", it almost same as Malaysia. After one more month, i will be in Malaysia for vacation, i really can't wait that day coming. I really need a break to "recharge" myself after one year struggle.

Also, Simon and Maggie will officially move to New York City, so they will be missing in Michigan. Lee's family will not come with us to Malaysia, and they will visit Greece in this coming August.

~Uniquely March~

After procrastinating for few weeks, eventually i have time to update my blog. Here are my latest update in March. In March, there were so many events, Birthday, Toronto Trip, Mid-term exam, and Honor Banquet, etc. Sounds like i have a lot of activities in March, but indeed i was suffering for my mid-term exam last few weeks. This semester is almost coming to close so everyone will soon start getting really busy. As it's a "law" or something that the professor will assign a lot of projects, presentations and assignments during the end of each semester. It really drives me crazy!!

Few announcements, please give it to your attention :>

Announcement 1 : On March 3rd, Darren was officially turned into 24 year old :( We celebrated it at Lee's home and blue Karaoke.

Announcement 2: Miracle happened on March 10th, as Darren received his offer of the Recognition of Excellence scholarship @ Eastern Michigan University. He was so so excited when he got the offer letter from EMU. He had never ever received any scholarship in his whole life, so you can tell how excited he was. Indeed this is his first time to apply, and he applied for two different scholarships and he received one of them. Thanks God!!

Announcement 3: On March 23rd, Darren had been invited to the Honor Banquet @ Ypsilanti Marriott at Eagle Crest. EMU's College of Business grants him a "Outstanding Academic Achievement" certificate.

Announcement 4: On March 20th, My niece --Amanda Lee-- was officially turned into 1 year old. We haven't meet each other since i came to United States.
Start from Left to Right -- HeeLing, LeeTing, My Mom, Amanda & Linda.
Announcement 5: On March 25th, Janice (Hooi Sin's sis) and Daven engagement. Congratulation to Janice & Daven, wish them happy always and Forever love.

Announcement 6: Start from June 27th until August 28th, i will be out of country to Malaysia for vacation until August 28th. So i will not be United States until August 28th. You can reach me by sending e-mail to me :0)


On March 23rd, i had been invited to the Eastern Michigan University 58th Honor banquet, which was held at Ypsilanti Marriott at Eagle Crest. Every year EMU's College of Business will hold a Honor Banquet to award those students who GPA are 3.5 or above. I'm so pleasure that i got invited to attend to the Honor Banquet. For others, they might think it's common, but for me, I was so proud of myself for the outstanding achievement. I had never ever felt so proud of myself, but this time is much different, at least i got pay back after i put so much efforts in my studies, it's worth!! I think this is my best birthday present that i had in 2007!!!

The day before the Honor banquet, i went to JCPenny and shell out USD180 to buy my first suit in my life. I never ever wear suit before, it's also my first time. All my first time happened in this March, that's why i titled this as "Uniquely March" :)

If now you ask me how was my feeling that night. My answer is" Nervous + Excited + Proud + ??, etc" I was nervous at the moment when my name was announced as a Honor Student. I felt excited and proud because of my achievement. So, my feeling at that night was assorted:)
As this Honor banquet was sponsored by many companies, such as Comerica Bank, Deloitte, etc. You might meet your future employers, so you have to dressed up like a professional or business look, that's the reason why i shell out USD180 for the suit.

Here are some pictures from Honor Banquet:

I was so uncomfortable with the suit. But i think it's look nice for me, what do you think? :) Once you dressed up, you have to behave yourself, and you got to act like professional. Especially during the dinner time, every motion will screw you up. That's why i felt uncomfortable with the suit. Since i will stick with business field in the future, so now at least i earned some experiences.
Suit + Tie + Outstanding Academic Achievement = Darren LeePicture with my banquet partner-Lydia-, she is from Taiwan. I met her through our restaurant manager. She is a student of Wayne State University. She has an excellent result too. It's my pleasure to meet her, She is really friendly, funny and nice. :0)
We took this picture before we attended the banquet:

Picture with my friend- Lianna-. She is one of the Honor students in Accounting major. We met when we took accounting class in fall semester. Both of us have a same goal, that is- - sit and pass the CPA exam-- :0) I'm glad to meet her at the Honor Banquet, we all had a nice time!Lianna & his boyfriend, Mike.
Lianna invited her family members from Canada, Windsor to the Honor Banquet. I'm glad to meet up with her family members. Lianna's boyfriend - mike-, and her dad (Stand). Her dad's girlfriend (which in the stripe suit), who came from Romania. We all were in the same table. The dinner was not that bad, it started with the salad as appetizer, and Roasted Pork Loin as main course, and after meal dessert.
After dinner, there was a program that every students have to grab one rose and give to the professor that who impact you the most. But i was no idea who am i going to give to? So, i kept my rose, eventually i gave it to my partner--Lydia--. Here i wanna thanks Lydia to be my banquet partner that night.
Crazy snapshoot @ Ypsilanti Marriott @ Eagle Crest:
Here is the pictures of my certificate:
Personally, i love to drink coffee and do my studies at cafe. Here are some pictures from sweetwatercafe:

It were taken when i was bored on my studies @ sweetwatercafe @ downtown Ann Arbor...
Crazy snapshoot....

Pictures with Lydia at Szechuan West restaurant-- Our working place --

funny snapshoot....

Happy Chinese New Year... There are a lot of "angpao"...
Funny snapshoot :
Crazy Darren...
On March 3rd, 2007, Darren was officially turned into 24 years old. This year i was so lucky because i have two birthday cakes. :0) One is from my cousin and the another is from my friends. Compared to last year i was so lonely. We celebrated it with my friends @ Blue Karaoke at downtown Ann Arbor. Here are the pictures that were taken at Blue karaoke:

My 2nd birthday cake from my friends:
Blue Karaoke is located at downtown Ann Arbor, it's own by Korean. We were there to have a birthday celebration. The owner is friendly and she allows us to bring our own DVD's player and DVD to play whatever songs we like. That's why we got Cantonese songs and Chinese songs, and the price is reasonable too. We all had a nice time.
They tried to fool me around on my birthday celebration. We taped the video but i'm unable to upload it at this moment, but i will try to do it next time.

cakefaced Darren.Here are a few pictures at home during my Birthday:

Personally, i love this cake very much. This cake-- Tiramisu-- is from my cousin. It's looked nice and tasted good.
Picture with Sophia at home during my Birthday. She dressed up and looked nice!!
Picture at home with my family:
I just concluded my 24 years old birthday, and i made a few wishes during my birthday.

Birthday Wish 1 : I wish i could graduated with a higher GPA and get a job in United States. In addition, I'm planning to sit and pass the CPA exam. To become a licensed CPA.

Birthday Wish 2: I'm still working with my communication skill, so i wish i could make a huge improvement in my English--a fluency English--.

Birthday Wish 3: The 3rd birthday wish i have to keep it as secret, otherwise it will screw up and not gonna come true. But here i can give you some hints, it's related to my future partner. I guess if you are my friends, you should know who is she.

Anyway, i hope all my wishes will come true. Work hard to hit your goals, Darren!!!


We had one week break on the end of the February. We visited again to Toronto, Canada. This is my 3rd time i visited to Toronto. The reason that i like to visit it again and again, it's because i crazy about the food at Toronto. There really got a lot of delicious foods, Japanese & Korean, Cantonese--Yum Cha--, etc. Another reason is we usually do our haircut at Toronto.

Unfortunately, this time i got a speeding ticket when we backed to United States. It's cost me USD$270. But i tried to appeal for lesser offense. It's a lesson for those who try to speeding. Please do not speeding, the fine of speeding is heavy.

In the Toronto trip, we went to the Sushi Buffet. I can't remember what is the name of that Sushi Buffet, i will try to check it out if i visit it again. I do not know start from when, i'm crazy about Japanese food. The food was really nice, especially the Sashimi was really fresh. All you need is to pay about USD20, then you can enjoy all those sushi in the menu. The price is reasonable. I love the Sashimi, Yummy!!

Pictures from the Sushi Buffet:

I was really full, i wish i could eat more at that moment! but i can't !! Because those Sushi are really good! My friend--Tat-- finished the whole Sashimi in few minutes. I think he was crazy when he saw those Sashimi. :)
Take a break!! We were waiting for another round Sashimi ;0)
Funny!! We tried to make some funny pics:
After we done for the Sashimi and Sushi, we all were enjoying the ice-cream dessert. Look!! yummy!! My Mango flavor Ice-cream... Yummmyyyyyyyyyyy..........

Last week we had a few spring days but its now back to cold again. The weather is getting warmer and spring should be coming soon!!

Simon and Maggie had decided to move to New York City with Ernst & Young. So they will be missed in Michigan.