by Nicodidiary

My book launch Hi! You know, I've recently published and launched my book, and I'm really proud of it! Thank you to everyone who has bought/read a copy. The rest of the post speaks for itself! Now, I guess I should probably start with why I wrote the book. You might have read one of my posts about why I started blogging. I would like to add another reason : I don't like handwriting. I always found my  handwriting messy and hard to read, but I used to write a diary, like, with the pen and notebook sort of thing, but I really couldn't read some of the entries myself. And I definitely can't now. So when my mom introduced blogging to me, I was overjoyed because it meant that I could : a) Write down only the important stuff and not write about the days when nothing happened (Dear diary, today I woke up and got dressed, brushed my teeth and- *yawn, snore*). b) Type instead of write Anyways, I really enjoyed blogging, so a thought occurred to me : why not compile the posts...

  Subconscious messages Have you ever done or said something, only to realize immediately afterwards that it might have upset somebody? I have. So my most recent experience went like this : I was having external mandarin classes. So I joined the google meets, and then excused myself to use the toilet. My mom noticed that I had already joined into the google meets(I always opened the google meets page then clicked on ask to join and just wait for teacher) so she alerted me to the fact that I was already in the meeting. Since I had waited until the class started to ask teacher to excuse myself, I obviously knew this. I then called out "I know. I joined already." Pretty soon , my brain came up with the thought that my mom was just trying to help, and also that the tone I had used sounded more irritated than usual. I finally landed on a decision, and added "but thanks for the reminder!" This made me wonder : why would I suddenly get the signal to apologize/acknowledge m...

I have a dream “I have a dream. Would you like to support me?” You know, when I meet wonderful people like you, they always ask with curiosity, “What is your dream?” Well, I have always been a worldschooler from Hong Kong (you can read more about it in stories 4 and 5 in the Special Chapter if you are still curious). But when I joined an international school in Malaysia, it was like a breath of fresh air for me. Finally, I did not have to constantly wonder what to do or go here and there. The teachers took care of everything, and it felt so easy and comforting. Going to school became a simple way to learn and have a daily routine. And being the curious person I am, I started thinking about life after school. Where do people go? What lies ahead? So, I asked around, did some research, and discovered the exciting world of high school and universities. My family and I embarked on a journey, exploring different countries as we continued our worldschooling adventure. During one of our trips,...

  My 9th Birthday Oh yay, my 9th birthday is just around the corner! Hip, hip, hooray! To celebrate this special occasion, my mum had a surprise in store for me and my brother. She whisked us away to the Lexis Hibiscus hotel in Port-Dickson. Can you believe it? A birthday party at a beachfront hotel! I was beyond thrilled! On the 17th of October, we embarked on our adventure. You see, my actual birthday, or B-day for short, was on the 18th of October. The anticipation was building up as we checked into our room. And oh my, let me tell you, it was a room fit for a birthday girl for sure! The cherry on top? A private swimming pool! Now, here is the thing about pools. Most of the time, I still need a floaty to keep me afloat. But guess what? In this pool, my feet could actually touch the bottom! It was a magical feeling, being able to stand on my own two feet underwater. Let me roll back a little bit. We kicked off our adventure by buying some beach essentials during our drive to the ...

The Tioman Camp Not so long ago, my brother and I went on a thrilling adventure to a camp on Tioman Island in Malaysia. This camp was unlike anything we had ever experienced before, with its focus on ocean projects and a wide array of exciting activities by the ocean. To reach the island, we hopped aboard a ferry. Thankfully, we had taken seasickness pills beforehand, ensuring a very comfortable ride. The ferry journey fascinated me, but halfway through, I decided to catch some z’s and take a little nap. Once we reached the island, we hopped into a 4x4 truck that took us to the hotel where we would be staying during the nights because we were day campers. Meaning we would be spending the days at the campsite and returning to our hotel at nights. I had read so much about outdoor adventure camps, but seeing one in person was a whole new level of thrill. Our room at the resort was numbered 411, and I could not help but notice two peculiar decorations. One was an unframed picture on a canv...

  Baking Alone(almost) Have you ever taken a bus all by yourself, with no adult by your side? Do you remember how old you were when you had your very first unsupervised bus adventure? Oh shoot! It’s rare these days for children to experience public transport on their own. But let me tell you, I absolutely love it! Even if it’s just a short trip near my house, it feels like a grand adventure filled with endless possibilities and the chance to meet new people. For me, my thrilling bus adventure took place when I was a mere 6-year-old in a charming Swiss town. And you would not believe it, but I embarked on this daring journey with none other than my best friend, who was also just a 6-year-old like me. So, how did this incredible feat come to be? Well, it happened during one of my worldschooling trips to Switzerland. My brother, my mum, and I were staying with another worldschooling family who were our dear friends. One day, my best friend and I decided to learn to bake a cake togethe...

  Makerspace Camping Let me tell you about the time my dad and I went camping on the roof of Makerbay, a makerspace nestled within an industrial building in Hong Kong. You see, I had expected us to go to a traditional campsite, but the idea of experiencing Makerbay at night intrigued me. Once we finished setting up, I settled down while my dad prepared supper in a pot he had brought along. After we enjoyed our meal, we entered the tent to sleep. However, we both found it difficult to fall asleep and soon realized it was because of the cold. Without hesitation, we decided to descend from the roof. We took down the tent and neatly packed away the sleeping bags. I helped gather the remaining items, and together we carried everything down to an empty office. Well, it was not entirely empty as there were shelves, a chair, a table, and a collection of other miscellaneous objects I cannot quite recall (besides a few plastic toys, I think there was a plastic yellow submarine in there). W...

  Mommy, are we homeless? Once upon a time (because it was just too long ago), my family had to spend the night at a forest school. You see, my parents were helping for the summer camp for this forest school in Hong Kong, and there was so much preparation to be done every day. While they were busy with their tasks, my brother also lent a hand, helping out with the teaching. As for me, I often found myself playing with the students during the day. It was a way to pass the time and keep myself entertained since my parents and brother were occupied with their responsibilities. I made friends with some of the students and together we played along the river and at the “Make and Ride” area. These little adventures helped me escape from the great boredom that threatened to engulf me. As evening fell and all the kids departed, my parents stayed back to prepare for the next day. My brother and I were left behind, sent off to sleep in the mostly empty forest school classroom. But here was ...

  The Tree I Got Stuck In I have a vivid memory of the time when my family and I went to the UK (I am a worldschooler, remember?). During our visit, my brother and I stumbled upon a moderately tall tree in the park. Without hesitation, we decided to climb it. It seemed like a piece of cake, as I simply followed my brother’s lead. Little did I know that descending from the tree would prove to be quite a challenge. You see, I assumed that going down would be just as easy as going up. After all, why would it be harder? In my mind, gravity should make it even simpler. So, I confidently followed my brother’s moves, unaware of the predicament that awaited us. As we tried different routes to climb down, none of them seemed to work. We were getting in each other’s way, growing increasingly frustrated. Part of me was thrilled by the unexpected adventure, as I had always imagined what it would be like to face such a situation (not that I had thought of how to get out of the tree since all ...

 I Collected Small Things You know, I have always had a liking for picking up small treasures from outside, like twigs, leaves, and little flowers. They may seem like ordinary things to others, but to me, they hold a special magic. I love finding new ways to play with them and discovering their hidden potential. However, it often happens that I wake up to find my mum or dad has thrown them away, considering them nothing more than garbage. It saddens me because to me, they are tiny treasures, full of wonder and possibility. I never really liked it when they threw away parts of my little collection, but I did not express my annoyance much. I did mention to them that I did not appreciate it, though. Thankfully, I always managed to find new treasures in the end, which brought a sense of joy and relief. Each one was unique in its own way, and although it made me a little sad that I could not keep the previous ones forever, it was also fascinating to witness the endless variety nature h...

  What Is It(To Me) To Be Perfect? What does it mean to be “perfect”? You might wonder. Well, to be honest with you, I am not really sure. I knew I was not perfect, and I did not know anyone who is. I mean, if they were, they would have definitely told me, right? Although I am not sure I would have believed them anyway. But you know what? It did not bother me that nobody was perfect. We all have our own flaws, even me. That is okay! My mum always told me that nobody needed to be perfect. She said it was not about making everyone happy all the time, but rather, it was about being considerate and avoiding hurting others, especially the feelings of our family. And you know what? I thought she was right! But what about us kids? What did perfection mean to us? Well, I used to believe that I had to follow every instruction from my parents and everyone else around me in order to keep everyone happy. It was so tough to do that all the time. It made me sad when I could not live up to tho...

  A look inside my mind You see, I am not just different from you in size, I am different in the way I act, speak, and most importantly, think. And I thought, hey, why not give you a little sneak peek into the mind of a kid like me? I have always had these mixed feelings about grown-ups. Sometimes I think they are a bit silly and just cannot understand me. But other times, having them around makes me really happy. It is a funny thing, you know? Every household has its own set of rules. And most households have kids, right? But sometimes, it is hard for adults to really remember what it is like to be a kid. They think it is all about protecting us and having lots of rules, even when it is just us kids in the house. I am not a big fan of rules, to be honest. It is like we do not know how to live in our own house. But we accept it because we love our parents so much. Yeah, we love them that much! Maybe, just maybe, in the name of love, grown-ups could loosen up a little and in...

  What Is Chinese New Year To Me? Chinese New Year is a fascinating time for me, although I must admit, it can be quite confusing too! You see, for 362 days of the year, garbage is just garbage. But when Chinese New Year comes around, it is like magic happens. Suddenly, what used to be trash turns into precious gold! We have to keep it all nice and tidy, and then, the very next day, we have to throw it away. It is like a puzzling game of garbage transformations! I do not understand how adults and other Chinese people are not as confused as I am! Another thing that baffles me is the loud sounds. Normally, everyone thinks loud noises are just noise. But during those three days of Chinese New Year, loud noises are believed to bring prosperity. It is like a switch flips, and suddenly, the louder the better! It can be quite fun though because during this time, you can talk loudly without getting scolded. That part is kind of cool, I guess. One of the things I absolutely love about Ch...

The hot water machine The story(ok, I also don't know why I chose that) So, recently, I told my mom that was scared of fire, but generally, wanted to help make breakfast, so my mom bought it. More on it I was pretty happy, and it also explained to me why my grandmother always liked to buy "kitchen appliances", I also used it a lot, and actually really liked it, it also really helped, because sometimes I would want a drink, but there wouldn't be anyone around, so I could just use the hot water machine. With the joy of discovery ~ Nicodidiary

  The call with grandma(on my mum's side) At first it was okay, my mom and grandma were talking about what the news said yesterday(it always played at 8:00) and my mom was saying something when the call was ended, at first me, my mom, and my brother thought something had happened to them or there was something wrong with their internet, but after we called all their contacts, we knew that grandma was angry, but we didn't know angry about what, or why she was angry, finally my grandpa picked up the phone, we found out it was what my mom had said, but my mom was just concerned for them and , not to mention, my grandma didn't even give my mom to say sorry, plus she had apparently been doing this to my mom since she was small even until she went to college, it seems never stop even until now my mom became a mother herself. and this time she also did it in front of me and my brother, too. I hope this doesn't happen to you or your relatives or friends much, and best, never at...

Young Entrepreneur "X" Factor (YEX) The YEX is generally a pitching(on the presentation side, not exactly throwing ) session, to present a business idea. There are prizes for first, second, and third places, plus runners up, including scholarships and for certain ones of them prize money. I joined because of three reasons, firstly, my brother joined last year, and I was eager to participate, but was too young. secondly, I had decided on an idea and also really liked it, since it was related to a problem in my country and some other countries, too. and thirdly, I wanted to use the prize money to make my idea real(though it may just be enough for seed money). As for my idea, I've deciding to keep that a secret within some of my family members for now because if anyone else knows it may not have as much of the "wow effect" on/for the judges . With determination and a sprinkle of stubbornness ~ Nicodidiary

My Brother's 3D Modelling Workshop!   Today marked a special day — the launch of my brother’s  very first 3D modelling workshop. He was the instructor, and it  was an event filled with excitement and anticipation. The first  batch of classes filled up instantly, showcasing the enthusiasm of  the participants. But my brother did not stop there; he decided to  open a second batch to accommodate more eager learners, and  it quickly filled up too! Finally, my brother opened up another slot  and he was running three workshops accommodating students  from Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Australia. To celebrate this fantastic start, my family and I gathered  together for a delightful treat of pizza and a movie. It was a  moment of togetherness and joy. I felt a sense of importance  and value because my brother included me during the  workshop introduction. Not only that, but I was also his very first  student when...

My Parents' ~ Teachers' Day  Let me tell you all about my Parent-Teacher’s Day and how  it unfolded. It was a mix of what I expected and some delightful  surprises. First of all, there were a few good comments that surpassed  my expectations. It made me feel really proud of my efforts. On  the other hand, there were also areas where improvement was  needed, just as I had predicted. I knew I had some areas of improvement needed but I  did not take action on it. One thing you should know about me  is that I like to have a good reason for doing things. So when  my teacher asked me to work on certain aspects, it was a good  enough reason for me. It was also the first time my dad joined the Parent-Teacher’s  Day, which made it extra special. Even though it was only my  second Parent-Teacher’s Day, having my dad there made it even  more memorable. I was overjoyed to receive positive comments and recognition  for my hard wor...

M y Greatest Fear What is my greatest fear? You know, I have quite a few fears, and they can be pretty scary (well, most of them). It is hard for me to pick just one as my greatest fear because they all feel important in their own way. But if I had to choose, I guess it would be the fear of being left out, especially by my family and friends. Sometimes, I get this feeling that my mum and my brother are teaming up against me (just a little bit), and it makes me feel like I am all alone in this whole universe. To overcome this fear, I have my own secret weapon — positive thinking! I remind myself that even if it seems like they are not including me, we are still in this together. It works like magic almost all the time, maybe 99.9% of the time. So, I would say it is pretty reliable. Now, let me share with you a list of some other things that make me a bit scared. Here are a few things that give me the shivers: • Stage fright (sometimes) • The dark (it can be a little silly, but it is oka...

  My hydroponics set During the MCO, that is the  Movement Control Order when we could not travel much  because of COVID-19. But since we could not go out, we turned  our balcony into a mini hydroponic farm! We planted tiny seeds  in some cube-shaped sponges with H-shaped holes, neatly  arranged in a metal frame with water inside to grow the plants. We watched happily everyday as the seeds sprouted  and grew into delicious greens. Not to mention, the first batch  flourished! They tasted so yummy, and it felt great to know that  we made it happen (in sponges!). Unfortunately, the stormy  weather in Malaysia made it hard to continue, as the wind and  rain would blow the sponges out of their metal frame and uproot  the plants every time. But hey, at least we had the experience of  that first batch! With a touch of nature ~ Nicodidiary