I'm a malay girl. My religion is Islam. I come from Malaysia, one of the developing countries in Asia. I'm also a student at Washington State University, currently a senior in Computer Science major with option in Computer Graphics.  For some reasons, instead of taking Computer Graphics course, I studied Introduction to Database Systems in Fall 1999.  I love programming and mathematics subjects. Hmm.. but sometimes I get headaches because of them.

Wanna know me?  Well..I'm a shy person..*hihi*.. I was a very..very quiet person when I was a kid, but a hot tempered person too.  I really hate myself when I get angry.  When I get so mad at somebody and I can’t express it, one thing that I always do is whether I talk to myself, I write or draw something on a piece of paper, or I cry.  Weird? Well..I’m one of the Homo Sapiens.  I didn’t evolve from the ape..*hehe*.

When I was a kid, I got my preschool education at home.  I learned integers from 1 to 100 and alphabets from A to Z from my parents.  I still remember the first four sentences that I learned.  "Saya ada bola. Mata itu biru. Ali main batu. Jari Abu luka..".. *hehe..* When I went to the primary school in 1984, I felt lonely.  I can't forget that I cried on my way to class on the first day of school.  I think I was the dumbest girl in the class at that time.  I didn't understand what my teachers taught me, even I'd learned it at home.  I was very lucky because my father was working in the same school. After about two years, I began to love school very much.  At school, I always followed the rules..*kira minah skema laaa*.  That's why the teachers picked me as a prefect..*hehe..*    I didn't  involve actively in sports at that time.  I just took part in some activities like story telling competition, poem recitation competition, and music performance.  It was in 1988 *if I'm not mistaken* when I played netball for my school.  We always lost.  I wanted to play volleyball, but my parents didn't allow me to.  I couldn't get involve actively in sports or other inter-school competitions.  They were afraid if I did badly in class.  I had to obey.

In 1990, I went to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sungai Besar (SMKSB) and made my dream to stay in hostel came true.  Unfortunately, it was only for two months because my life was so miserable.  I believed it didn't work because my mother was not willing to let me stayed away from her.  My mother suggested me to go to another school and not to stay in hostel.  I transferred to SSB with a decision that I would not go to hostel anymore.  I was very frustrated because  my family didn't give me a chance to prove that I could be independent. 

After three years in SSB, I went to MJSC at Jasin, Malacca.  This time, it was my family's idea.  Again, I obeyed.  Two years in MJSC really taught me a lot about life.  Being apart from my family made me felt lonely and the love for my family was growing more and more.  Here I learned others' culture and life.  I made a lot of friends with different backgrounds, although most of them were malays.  One of my friends called me Rin Honey Kurma, a name after a popular Japanese drama at that time, "Rin Hane Koma"... :)

In 1995, after I got my  MCE result, I applied for MARA (Majlis Amanah Rakyat.. the government agency) education loan to continue my study abroad.  Actually, I had never dreamt of going overseas.  It was my sister's idea..  This time, I was really sure that I got my mother's permission...*serik beb..*  In MCC, for the first time, I learned how to program.  I thought computer science just about using the application program like Windows 95, but it was more than that.  I really love this major, and I thought I was making the right choice..*gudlak utk aku..keh keh..*

In MCC, I played netball and volleyball just for fun, and I took part in a programming competition although I was not a good programmer.. *hehe..just to name some activities that I took part in..*  However, the best thing that I had ever experienced was taking part in Foster Family Program in June, 1996.  It was held at Sungai Lembing, Kuantan.  The participants were introduced to the local people and we had some activities together.  It was really fun.  I still keep in touch with my foster family because I think they are my family too.

After two years in MCC, I continue my study at Washington State University, Pullman, until now.  I chose WSU because it is located in a small town and it has snow during the winter.. *hiihih..*   I learn a lot about being independent here.  The most important, I learn how to respect others' culture and lifestyle.  It is nice to be here, because Pullman is a safe place with kind community.  Although it is quite cold in winter, I like it very much when it is snowing.  *there's no snow in Malaysia*.. I think  I'm going to miss Pullman when I leave for Malaysia.

For me, life is great.  When we face obstacles in achieving our hopes and goals, we will become stronger than before.  Life is really great.  I hope I will always be a girl with courage like Rin Hane Koma... hehehe..



Rin
Pullman, WA.
Winter, 1999.