The Obligatory Background Information
I was born on the 16th of January, 1987 in Petaling Jaya and grew up in Subang Jaya.
My parents named me Jolene and my maternal grandma gave me my chinese name, Pei Shan. I don’t really like my chinese name because I find my chinese name Lai Pei Shan, kinda crude. Somehow L, P, S aren’t too cool as initials. I have a brother called Mervyn. HE, is the opposite of me. He loves his chinese name and loathes his English name.
I’m a 3rd year dental student at Asian Institute Of Medicine, Science and Technology(AIMST) up north of Malaysia, a place called Sungai Petani in Kedah. As pitiful as it sounds to be ‘furthering’ my studies in a place as ulu as kedah, it is actually a dream come true for me. Once during a parent-teacher conference during my A-Levels at Taylor’s College, I told my mum, “All the dental schools I know of are overseas and it is impossible to get into any of the public universities…. it would be a dream come true if a PRIVATE university with a dentistry course opens in Malaysia.”
So even though I’m stuck somewhere far away from the vices of city life(shopping, clubbing, movies, highways, traffic jams etc), I’m still grateful for the chance to obtain my degree locally. At Rm210k, it’s a steal from the usual RM800K required by some foreign universities.
If all goes well, I’ll be a fully qualified dentist by the time I’m 23. 
Let’s go back in time for abit..
In 1990, my mother enrolled my in nursery at St. Anne’s kindergarten. The earliest memory I have of that place is scribbling purple colour pencil on what was supposed to the boundaries despicting the shape of a rhinoceros. In 1992, I attended Ladybird Kindergarten USJ for a grand total of 2 years, relearning my ABCs and 123s over and over. I cried whenever there was a heavy rain, begginng to go home.
I attended SRSS19 Subang Jaya in 1993 and in my earlier years, I was always the teacher’s pet. It just came naturally. *shrugs*. I took the PTS examination in 1996 and skipped standard 4 and went straight on to std5 in 1997 and did not really enjoy my new role as a nerd cum social outcast(”Eeee..PTS..small kid!”) cum bookworm cum timid prefect cum pigtailed bespectacled nerd until I left my primary school in 1998.
I entered SMK Subang Utama in 1999 and what I’ve always liked to believe as the peak of my metamorphosis. I was no longer the girl who remained in the shadows that felt shy and timid.
It’s not that I bloomed into something pretty that people started paying attention to me. I suddenly became more open minded, more expressive, more crazy, friendlier, daring, outgoing and my confidence level was way better than before. It was also during my secondary years that I’ve received the worst of batterings to my self esteem.
It was in secondary school where I have made the best of friends, my sweetest memories, heartbreaks, crushes… a period of 5 years containing the clearest and dearest of my memories.
Here’s a run through of some posts I used to hold back in school:-
1) Librarian(1999) - which is also incidentally how I met my boyfriend. He was also a librarian. hahaha.
2) Volleyball Team(2000-2001) - reserve team. So sad right.
3) Interact Club’s Assistant Club Service Director(2001-2002). I was passionate with a capital P.
4) Interact Club’s Secretary (2002-2003)… the Interact Club is another storehouse of incredible memories. Installations, newspaper projects, IUs, juniors, seniors, friends from sister clubs, Valentine’s Day projects…
5) School magazine editorial committee(Photography Committee!) - one thing I SERIOUSLY regret is not taking my post as photography committee member seriously. I could have contributed so much IF I had the same enthusiasm then as I have now.
5) Misc posts like Class monitor, asst. monitor and maybe some posts in obscure clubs where the sole purpose of joining was to bag some posts. LOL.
Wow, seems that I’ve dedicated quite a bit of page space to my secondary school years.
After being so very bitter about missing out on BM SPM with a painful B3, I enrolled into Taylor’s College’s A-Levels programme and tasted the definition of freedom for the first time in my life. I had my driving license. I had friends. I had places to go. 2004-2005 was way too happening.
Just when I’ve been introduced to the wonders of clubbing and the likes, my dear friends took off to Australia/UK/US to further their studies, leaving me without what could’ve been my ‘clubbing kakis’ or however you kids call them these days. So yeah, I THINK I am underexposed to the ways of the city kids of my generation. My children will be SO disappointed in me.
It was also in 2004 where I finally got together with my boyfriend, Chee Kiang, after many games of tug-of-war and hide-and-seeks throughout 2001-2004. Silly years, they were. It’s been two official years and counting.
In Person
I’ve never exactly liked the fact that I am tall for a girl. Standing at 169cm, I am not the tallest girl but it still sucks to be the opposite of the definition of what makes your average Malaysian man go crazy. The Lai genes dictate big bones, and so big bones it is. The Lai genes also say “chunky”, so chunky it is too. Yeah, I get my chunky days, don’t argue with me. I’m not one of those girls who go around complaining that they are fat because I need sympathy. No, I don’t. I just want to think out loud. You guys can just listen and smile. Don’t nod, because only I am allowed to insult myself. I did tell you that I’m a girl right?
I find it very hard to be satisfied with myself. Physically, academically and at times, socially. However, if I might say so myself, *modest smile*, I do like to consider that I’m quite fair and I quite like my legs. And on some days, the boobs look okay too. Sometimes I like my lips. I like the shape of my nails too.
If I complained about what I DON’T like about myself, I’d cause the scroll bar on the side to minimize to a mere 0.5cm.
I do take pride in the fact that I’m very friendly in nature and have no problems making small talk. However, if I respect a person far too much, I’ll get all tongue tied and end up sounding like a total idiot. So don’t take it to heart if I what I say to you is not comprehensible, it just means that I respect you ALOT. Or feel intimidated by you.
stumbled upon your blog quite by accident…. what a pleasent surprise… an enjoyable read.
keep up the good work jolene … you and your coursemates(let them know) are all invited to my surgery in kl anytime
I am proud to welcome you into our noble profession
i will be in touch… dental students like you will be an asset to any practice.
enjoy the next few years of your well chosen course
jo: WOW! I’m honoured that a real dentist dropped by.. and actually enjoyed reading my blog:D thank you Dr. Foo!
Thank you for the invitation!! Can I come and collect teeth from you next time?:D haha, my supply is running out. 
Thank you, I’m very grateful that I’ve been given the opportunity to study dentistry. Not everyone gets to do a course that they want to do. !! Will you get in touch with us in 6 years? Haha. that’s when I am free from the 3 years government service and will be looking for a private practice to work at.
hehe, but i should focus on my studies first rather than what’s going to happen 6 years ahead. thank you for dropping by, it means alot to me:)
-
hey.. i was searching the net for having a career on dentistry and came upon your blog.. and i thought i might as well ask you for some advice.. i just finished my SPM.. got 9A’s and a stupid B for BM too.. anyway, i’ve heard about AIMS and i’m wondering what are the requirements needed to get into AIMS. right now i really need advice on what college to go to and which programme would be most suitable.. Alevels seems like the best right now but it is also the most expensive one! what about taking diploma in medical studies. have you heard about that? i hope you can drop me a reply on my mail which is tangyangc@hotmail.com
i’m pretty desperate for help now.. lol.. thanks!
hiya… just curious… how is AIMST??? from your point of view issit good?? in the aspect of college life, lecturers and so on… kinda lost now coz oversea is hell so expensive > Pls and Tq again!
ermm….. reply to yeexinle@hotmail.com thanx
hi, i’m gonna sit for my SPM this year, n i’m also interested in dentistry. May i hav some feedback n stuff bout the dentistry course at AIMST? Such as the requirements to be accepted etc. N r there any dentistry twinning programes there?? So far my impression of dentistry is it’s a really tough course to get into, so i’m seriously worried if i’m good enough… My e-mail add.’s whitebell4@hotmail.com. I would really appreciate ur help =) THX!!!!!!
Hey!
Stumbled on your blog when I was looking for Hannari plushies… they’re so cute ne!? I love themmmm so much. And how interesting, we have the same birthday! =D
wow…didint know u were 1987 baby.,same year as me
bt ure now in 3rd year, im only 1st year..
So I look forward for my new Dentist eh??
Don’t become like me..a RETIRED Doctor… trying to make ends meet
best regards
azrin @ http://www.azrin.net
hmmm…. very surprised that douglas’ name is not here… thought it would be at the number 1 spot under “passions” HAHAHAHAH!
Hi there… May you be well and happy 2u and family. I wonder i can get into your blogs as am finding Happy wesak ( Penang ) in google web - Picture. Anyway, i have read your day to day till age 21 memories. 21 already? hope yes….emmm, sometimes we life in this world we feel that there is something that we can’t get to achive oar we can manage to mencapai sesuatu ( Cita-cita ) yang diidamkan. I tell you something, last time when i was in form 6, i dream to be a businessman, police, army and a person who take care a large roses garden. Somehow, i end up as a writer at Akademi seni Budaya dan warisan kebangsaan. A place to grow up as a Orang seni. From there, i build up things that never get into my mind at all. I build my world or creation, my love of books, my life of imagination, new friend that apears in my dream. Of cus the friend apear in my dream is friend i created in my first Novel. From there, i started to wrote things that i cant achive in my life. I build my watak in my laptop for almost a year, lastly i print it out in a book of 290 pages. I feel happy and just cant belive that i can do it. So, that’s how humans feel stress or sad if they cant get what there want. For me, everything i wlii put down into a paper day by day. So, for you….i wish that you will still happy with your life and keep enjoy of work that you do. But, just give a try if anything you cant get…just write in a paper. One day, you will see your own book; in fact you will get some extra income in your life. What i read in your jayalleenelial.com, i manage to imagine a flim script and a novel about a girl born in a humans life. she see the world breath upon her life and touches from the day she grew to become someone to her Mama and family. He…he…Ok la, i need to do my revision d. 2 mlo got exam. Maybe am the person that write much here for you ya…! ok la…..May you and family be well and happy always. Just give a look or send some reply to me ya. Hope to hear from you soon. R u buddhist? May godness of mercy be upon your life protect you and family. Take care my invisible friend…..
Am impressed that dental student actually has time to blog!
Hehehehe.
Me occupational therapy student from UKM, ex-blogger. Now no time time to write for money, let alone write for free. As far as blogs are concerned I read them very rarely occasionally so yeah - pleased to read you.
Will tell my dental friend who blogs about your blog later if I see him. 
hi there!
i’m currently a student at Inti College Subang Jaya, A levels.. and I was doing some research on dentistry courses when I stumbled upon your blog
really nice work! will keep on reading your blog… and btw do you know Aimee Lee? she’s currently studying dentistry at AIMST too… her blog add:
http://www.xanga.com/chelseaorange
and you’re 169cm??? i’m only 150 *sobs*
anyway stop by my blog sometime ya!
Just a random asian stranger from the American side of the internet!
(I found your blog accidentally by typing in “asian double eyelid glue” or something to that effect in Google… and I ended up at an old blog post of yours detailing your attempts with that. XD )
But after skimming through your blog, I’ve decided that I rather like you as a writer and person and that maybe I’ll stick around~
I truly do admire your confidence and sociability, which is clearly evident in all of your posts. I think we’re quite alike, in that there’s a lot of things I don’t like about myself and I often insult myself, but it seems that YOU have turned your trait around by being outgoing, whereas I am shy and reserved.
But you inspire me! I will aim for your zest for life, your outward friendliness and sociability! It is clear to me that you a good person with a lot of inner AND outer beauty, so never change! I hope to be more like you someday. <333
hi
seaching internet and see your blog.i impossible to you please send email to hp_parsa56@yahoo.com then i send you my detail
best regard
hamed
Hi Jolene, I stumbled upon your blog while looking for my old kindergarten St Anne’s in PJ. I was there till 1966, believe it or not! Hahahahahaha … yes, it’s not a typo … 1966! So it was nice to know that someone was there as recently as 1990. Is it still around, do you know? In my time, the uniform was a orange checkered dress with a square neck line trimmed with white piping. We also had to wear a straw hat with a ribbon (but I can’t remember what colour). I hated that hat cos mine always fell off whenever I ran around, which is pretty much all the time, so I was always being hauled up to see the principal, Mrs McWilliams for losing my hat!
I left Malaysia for Singapore in 1969 after the riots and just recently made my first visit back to PJ in 40 years. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see St Anne’s as I couldn’t remember where it was. Would appreciate if you could send me some photos of the place, if you have them. My email is siucheng@gmail.com. Terima kasih! 