Raya at Work: A Glimpse of Celebration in the Office

Assalamualaikum guys!

Here I am again, trying to be consistent with posting. I was just relaxing after hurting my brain with all the calculations for the upcoming project I’ll be working on. It sure knows how to stress me out and make me feel like vomiting 😵‍💫. These days started off quietly, but later turned into a rain of celebration!

As the title says, we had a few Hari Raya celebrations. The first one was for our department — AIRC (Autoimmune Immunology Research Centre), involving five units in total. I can't remember all their names, but I know there's Allergy, Transplant Immunology, and of course, my unit — Autoimmune. It was so much fun and I really enjoyed it! I even got lucky and won a draw game — got myself a new ramen bowl, hehe 😋.

For this event, we actually had to pay for attendance and for food preparation from each unit, but thankfully, everything was fully sponsored by my supervisor. So grateful, Alhamdulillah 🙏. We also did a TikTok trend — Serumpun! You can’t imagine how panicked I was trying to figure it out just a few hours before the challenge, lol. But I managed to memorize the dance steps, hihi. The corn porridge our unit made won — and just thinking about it now is making me crave it again 🤤.

with kak ila <3

Lucky meee

The second celebration was yesterday. It was a mini potluck for our unit — everyone had to bring food to share with the team. I brought some dessert: Hamlet — a bun stuffed with egg and kaya. I really put my heart into making it, but I guess it didn’t turn out as expected. By the time we ate, the Hamlet was already cold and the egg had gone stiff 😔. So, there were quite a few leftovers… so sad, huhu. Next time, I hope I can bring something better and more unique. Nevertheless, all the food was delicious, and my stomach was full. My heart was full too, hihi — I was just so happy to enjoy good food. My favourite was the cocktail — so yummy and refreshing!

dessert haven

And finally, today was the last celebration! This one was the biggest of all — a celebration for the whole institute (NIH). There were so many food booths! We had laksa, satay, ice cream, apam balik, kambing golek, rice and dishes, cendol, mee soup, kuey teow... and so many more I didn’t even manage to list 😍. There were also draw games, a best-dressed competition, and performances. It was so big, fun, and just filled with happiness. The highlight, of course, was the rotating video shoot — you know, the trending “hot stuff” kind of video 😂. I felt like a celebrity, posing here and there lol. My favourite was apam balik! So yummy — I could honestly eat a dozen of them, not exaggerating!

my food 

photobooth

So that was it — my three-day Raya celebration. It was so meaningful and will definitely be a memorable memory for me. I wish I could’ve celebrated it with my loved ones — my family, friends, and of course, my partner. I’m sure we would’ve had even more fun together. Still, I’m really thankful for everything — for this experience, for having my stomach filled with food and joy, and for being able to laugh my heart out at jokes that weren’t even that funny (the more hambar, the funnier they get lol). Alhamdulillah for everything.

Love,
Yin

Pieces of Me in Every Line

Assalamualaikum, hi guys. We meet again :) 

I happen to have some free time today while working—enough to sneak in a little blog post. I've actually been thinking about writing here more consistently, maybe once a week. I’ll try my best, okay? Not a promise, though 😅. I know this post might not get many (or any) readers, and maybe it’s just me here. But that’s okay. I started this blog simply because I love writing and sharing random thoughts and things I care about—no pressure, just vibes hihi.

So, straight to today’s little agenda:
I want to talk about one of my coping mechanisms.

Some days can be tough—emotionally, physically, or sometimes both. And for me, it’s especially hard when it hits on the emotional side. It often feels like something’s stuck in my chest and every breath is heavier than the last.

I used to rely on people to let it out—talking to my friend, my sister, or unintentionally unloading everything onto my partner, which would usually leave him worried. While talking helps in the moment, it eventually made me feel worse. I'd end up feeling like a burden or a loser for complaining about things that maybe weren't that big of a deal. It felt unhealthy to keep doing that. And sometimes, I’d start to wonder: Do they feel overwhelmed listening to me? Have their thoughts about me changed because of what I’ve shared?

So, I decided to change my way of coping. Maybe it’ll be better?

(Haha, here I go again—overthinking. But well… that’s just part of me :) )

That’s when I started keeping things more private, letting myself feel things first and try to understand them—because sometimes it’s just heat-of-the-moment emotions. That’s when poetry became a safe space for me. I’ve actually been writing poems for a long time, but only recently has it become a consistent way for me to deal with these lingering feelings.

And now, the highlight of this post—my poems.

It honestly makes me so happy to share these with you, but also a little nervous and embarrassed 😳 LOL. These poems are deeply personal—sharing them feels like opening a window straight into my heart XD! But I hope you’ll just enjoy them for what they are. Maybe you’ll analyze them, maybe you’ll make some guesses here and there—but at the end of the day, they’re just emotions I’ve turned into words.

One thing about me: once I let it out, it’s no longer sitting in my chest.
All these chaotic feelings? They become a kind of emotional art.

And that’s what’s so mesmerizing to me—how different I feel now, compared to when I first wrote these.

So… no hard feelings, okay guys? Just a little heart art from me to you. 
Enjoy ! :D

16/9/2024

Ignorant eyes that pass the flaws,

truth lingers still, unspoken laws,

There's much to cherish in what you hold,

countless blessings,stories untold

open your eyes-not just once, but again-

to see to feel to embrace the rain,

feel the warmth of contentment rise,

in the richest of now, find your skies

17/9/2024

An empty shell,

within the vast beach,

painted orange sky still,

hinting blue purple peach,

easily trouble kid,

wonder what's with her skit,

happy but sad bit,

and with void sit

What do you want lost soul,

nothing, im just an empty shell,

shed skin, no soul,

just an empty shell

7/4/2025

It's a wonder,

how quickly passion slips away,

I once held science like a cherised dream-

turning mysteries into meaning

finding magic in every answer.

I remember the way my heart would race,

the smile will lift, couldn't hide

like falling in love

for the very first time

sad along the way,

the colors fade,

was it silence after every effort,

the echo of being unseen?

or simply the emptiness,

of havein no family near to share it with

Love, Yana

Quarter of 2025

Hello semuanya, hai guys!

So now we’ve finally reached a quarter of the year. Baru ja semalam rasa macam 2025 baru masuk, tup tap tup tap—it's already April! There’s a lot, A LOT, that has happened since my last entry.

One of the highlights is that I went back home for Hari Raya Eidulfitri and stayed for almost 10 days. It was honestly so refreshing and recharging. Being able to go back and just be in the comfort of family is such a huge blessing. It gave me the energy—or should I say, the fighting spirit—I needed to survive and keep going here.

Our family held an open house on the fifth day of Eid, and oh my Allah... thinking about it now, my back already hurts! There were so many guests and so much to do that day. Thank goodness my cousins, uncles, and aunties were there to help. The open house was hosted at our home (well, technically our grandparents’ home—since we used to live with them. Now that they’ve passed away, it’s just us here).

We can say the open house was held on behalf of the whole extended family, not just ours (Iszay family). Can you imagine? Almost 700+ people came to our majlis raya! It's mind-blowing how our family managed to handle such a huge crowd. But honestly, it was a rewarding experience. It really strengthened our family bond. Being able to give and share—that’s the feeling that matters most. My mom looked so happy, and that alone made me feel satisfied.

This Raya also felt extra special because my bestie came to celebrate Raya at my home too this year. 🥹💗

Gambar family 

Juadah pagi Hari Raya Eid

Moving on to other things, I’m also really happy with my current romantic relationship. We just hit our two-year mark, and we're stronger than ever. Over the past two years, I’ve learned so much and really grown as a person—both for my family, for him, and for everyone around me. When I look back at the person I used to be, I can’t believe how much I’ve changed. It honestly feels surreal. I’m just so, so happy. I’ll always remember to stay grateful—as a human and as a servant of Allah. Alhamdulillah.

Lastly, I’d love to share some exciting news—my convocation day is coming up! It'll be held in May, and next week, I’ll be picking up my jubah robe! I've already paid for the convocation fees (expensive, yes, but worth it 😭). I’ll be back to update you guys on that special day—hihi! I seriously can’t wait. So excited!! 🎓💐

DNA EXTRACTION

DNA EXTRACTION (QIAFILTER Plasmid Midi Kits)

Hey everyone!

As you guys know, I'm currently working as a research assistant, helping my supervisor with her project. I can't share too much about it, but let's just say it's something related to vaccines. And trust me, the budget for this project is huge! 😏

Last week, I was tasked with performing DNA extraction from bacterial cultures. We used a commercial kit for this, and let me tell you, it’s expensive! So, I had to be extra careful to make sure everything went smoothly and avoid any costly mistakes. I'll be more than happy if this post can give you some insight into the process. 😉

Now, onto the procedure! I'll try to simplify it as much as I can, but if you're looking for a more detailed version,click here Oh, and fun fact—we didn’t have the specialized rack for this kit, so we had to get a little creative to make things work.

1. Preparing the materials and equiment needed,

Materials; 

• Bacterial cultures
• QIAfilter Plasmid Midi kits
• Waste tube (50 mL)
• Eppendorf tube x 4

Equiment; 

• Spectrophotometer
• centrifuge
• Serological pipette 5 mL x 8
• Serological pipette 10 mL x 2
• Handgun pipette

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DNA Extraction Procedure

1. Check the OD (Optical Density) of the overnight bacterial cultures. Ensure it’s not over 0.6. If it exceeds, dilute and incubate for another 30 minutes.

   • Why? OD measurement helps determine bacterial growth; too high means overgrowth, which can affect DNA yield and quality.

2. Harvest bacterial cells by centrifugation at 6000 x g for 15 minutes at 4°C.

   • Why? This step collects the bacterial cells by spinning down the culture, making it easier to extract DNA.

3. Resuspend the bacterial pellet in 4 mL Buffer P1 (containing RNase A and LyseBlue).

• Why? RNase A degrades unwanted RNA, and LyseBlue acts as a visual indicator to monitor cell lysis.

                                                         
Picture : Buffer P1 that has been added with RNase A and lyseblue

1. Add 4 mL Buffer P2, mix by inverting 4-6 times, and incubate at room temperature for 5 minutes.

   • Why? Buffer P2 contains alkaline agents that lyse the bacterial cells and release DNA.

2. Add chilled 4 mL Buffer P3, mix immediately by inverting 4-6 times, and proceed to the next step.

   • Why? Buffer P3 neutralizes the solution, precipitating unwanted cell debris and proteins.

3. Pour the lysate into the QIAfilter cartridge barrel and incubate for 10 minutes at room temperature.

   • Tip: Do not agitate; let the precipitate float to the top naturally.

4. Equilibrate the QIAGEN-tip 100 by applying 4 mL Buffer QBT and allowing it to empty by gravity flow.

   • Why? This step prepares the column for optimal DNA binding.

                                                      

Picture 2 : Buffer QBT flow through QIAGEN-tip 100

1. Filter the lysate into the equilibrated QIAGEN-tip by gently inserting the plunger.

   • Tip: Be gentle to avoid disrupting the filtration process.

2. Let the cleared lysate enter the resin by gravity flow.

                                         

Picture 3 : cleared filter lysate enter resin through gravity flow

1. Wash the QIAGEN-tip with 2 x 10 mL Buffer QC.

   • Why? Washing removes any impurities while retaining the DNA on the resin.

2. Elute DNA with 5 mL Buffer QF and collect it in a 50 mL tube.

3. Precipitate DNA by adding 3.5 mL isopropanol, mix well, and centrifuge immediately at >15,000 x g for 30 minutes at 4°C.

   • Why? Isopropanol helps in concentrating the DNA by making it insoluble in solution.

4. Wash the DNA pellet with 2-3 mL of 70% ethanol, then centrifuge at >15,000 x g for 10 minutes.

   • Tip: Be careful not to disturb the pellet when decanting the supernatant.

5. Air-dry the pellet for 5-10 minutes and resuspend in 50 µL of nuclease-free water.

   • Why? Air-drying prevents ethanol contamination, ensuring better downstream applications.

6. Determine DNA concentration using a Denovix spectrophotometer.

   • Tip: Ensure the sample is well-mixed before taking readings for accurate results.

                                               

Picture 4 : DNA concentration reading using Denovix 

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And there you have it! 🎉

It might seem a little complicated at first, but trust me, once you get the hang of it, it’s actually pretty fun. Hope this breakdown helps, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!. 

Revising Life: ↣ ˘ˋˋ 2025 ྈེ

Hey everyone! :) It’s finally the new year, but weirdly enough, it doesn’t feel as new as I thought it would. Maybe it’s because I’m so far from my family, and there's no one to celebrate with. You know, all the fun and excitement. My family usually has our annual New Year's barbecue, eating together with the whole extended family. Not everyone can make it, usually just 2-3 families, but it's always fun. I miss those moments so much.

Speaking of family time, my mom once told me that I’ve missed so many family gatherings. It made me sad, of course, but I’m working far from home with good intentions—to help my family financially.

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1. Early Weeks of January 2025

Honestly, the early weeks of January felt like time was moving so slowly. It felt like I was stuck in January for months. Ever wonder why that happens? Some months fly by, and others feel like they last forever. That’s just life, I guess :). I didn't do much in early January, just some experiment work here and there. Next week and the week after, I won’t be in the lab as much because of the upcoming Chinese New Year holiday.

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2. Chinese New Year Celebrations

Chinese New Year is happening on January 29th and 30th, and I think it’s an exciting celebration for all Malaysians. For the Chinese community, it’s time to celebrate their traditions, and for the rest of us, it’s a much-needed holiday! Who doesn’t love a break, right?

I was supposed to go back home, but as someone living far from home (a proud Borneon!), I’ve decided to save money instead. The ticket prices are crazy, usually around RM250+ one way, and going back just for a week doesn’t seem worth it. But sometimes, I wonder if money should really be the reason that holds me back from going home. My mom always says, "Money can be earned, just come home," and hearing that makes my heart ache.

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3. Someone Special's Birthday

January 31st is also the birthday of someone really special to me! I’ve already prepared the gift and planned how we’ll celebrate it together. It’s a little nerve-wracking, but I’m super excited! I did spend quite a lot, but I don’t mind. He always spends more on me, and I believe money should never stop us from doing something nice for each other. If he can spoil me, I’m grateful. If not, that’s totally fine too, as long as we understand each other.

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Okay, I think I’ve rambled enough here. I guess it’s because I don’t have anyone to talk to these days. I do feel lonely sometimes, but honestly, I kind of like it. It helps me heal and gives me peace. Of course, there are moments when I crave something different.

But hey, life is still good nonetheless!