Goodbye 2008... Hello 2009!!

Wow, so I have survived to write my last ever post for the year 2008! =)

This year has been one heck of a year, truthfully told. I took the giant step by entering university, marking a whole new remarkable chapter in my life. Time flies and before I knew it, I am already entering my twenties... and that means I am no more a teenager! Somehow, I still feel like one though, and that's thanks to my wonderful T7 classmates, who are a bunch of lively friends (who I missed so much now, and I can't wait to see them come school reopens...), who made me feel young always... =)

Today may be the last day of the year, but it's still never too late to list down some new year resolutions, which I hope I can achieve before the end of next year. One of them definitely would be about my ability to speak, my conversation skills, my communication skills. I'm actually getting tired of being labeled as someone who doesn't speak much, a quiet person, a 'lone ranger'.... I'm not denying it, to a certain extent I really admit myself at being such a person... But I am still trying hard to shed myself from that characterization... I think that I have been trying to do so for as long as I existed... hmm.... Not much progress I have achieved eh?

If everything goes on as planned, I will be moving out in the beginning of next month. Surprised eh? Yeap, I suddenly realized that I didn't mention about it before, but if everything's going as planned, I will be moving out hopefully before the beginning of the new semester next year, and stay in Section 5. Why Section 5 you may ask? Why on Earth Section 5? Well, the simple answer is that there's the place where my grandparents are living right now, so moving with them will kinda like taking care of them in case of anything, as a company for them.... I wasn't been able to stay put there during my last semester because the house was undergoing renovation, but now it has been all completed, and hopefully I will be able to update this blog with some of the pictures which I have taken on the house.

Stepping into the new year means that it's been almost one year since I graduated together with my Form Six friends, and three years since I graduated with my 5S6 friends... (wait, I graduated twice! =) It's really nice to know that I am still able to keep in contact with some of my friends, but I felt like time has changed, and people move on in their lives... I haven't been contacting with them as often as I do last time.... Felt bad actually... really bad... Got to keep in touch with them much more often next year...

Hopefully the coming year ahead would be an exciting year ahead for me (and for everyone). I look forward to face each and every challenges which will be thrown at me, overcoming each and every hurdle which will be placed along my way during the course of my next year, and cherishing each and every moment of it.

I can't wait to start a new chapter in my life, and continue to fill my days with memorable moments, as in during the last twenty years and two months of my life.

I can't wait to continue my never-ending process of bettering myself, to become a better person, and be someone who I really can be proud of myself.

I can't wait to continue my journey, to achieve my dreams of being a respectable and professional actuary.

I can't wait to achieve the various goals which I have set for myself during the course of the next year, to score good grades in my university subjects, and hopefully get on the President's List!=)

I can't wait to achieve the many many things which I have dreamt of before, but have not been able to achive so far.

Hereby, I wish everyone:

Happy New Year 2009!!

Demopower: Aih... I give up la...

For those who didn't know, I actually went for the Demopower interview way back long time ago.... (click here for the post)

Okay.. okay.. so I didn't really go and follow up with them on the interview... mainly was because I was busy for the subsequent weekends, and that school later started again. But during the short semester I tried asking them again. The person at the headquarters gave me the phone number of the person whom I am supposed to contact, and told me to contact him/her myself to ask whether there's any projects available for me.

There's different supervisors for different locations... e.g. Mid Valley, Subang Jaya, Kelana Jaya and so on. I asked for different locations during the multiple times I called up the headquarters, just to increase my chances of getting 'employed' =) I called them up, and all of them told me to leave down my details, and that they will call me up when there's projects...

Somehow none of them really called me up. I understand that they have already a couple of promoters under their hands right now, and I fully understand why they couldn't take me in at the moment. But I really wanted to try my hands at this thing.. I mean, I have purposely walked around in Jusco in Sunway Pyramid, just to kind of look at myself and I have thought to myself... gosh, this is fun!! I got to try this! I can do this! =)

Well, maybe next time!

Photos: Work (Dec '08)

19-28/12/2008 - Job

The very next day after my last paper Pengajian Malaysia, I went to Sunway Pyramid and secured myself a job. After quite a walk I decided to apply for the 'Attendant' position in Sunway Mega Lanes. In fact, it actually stated there: "Part Time Attendant (preferably Chinese speaking)" So I thought I just walk in and ask. The pay was ok only... not that I expected much since I am not like marketing anything or what... The supervisor told me that they need someone to work for ten days from the 19th because there will be a tournament going on and people from the Far East will be coming to play too... so they want people who can speaking Mandarin to cater for this group of people...

Maybe I am the only one misinterpret words here but, look at this: "Part-time" doesn't mean temporary, isn't it? Part-time is like you are doing for only a few hours compared to the other full-timers, isn't it? In this case since I am working for ten days only, it should be temporary, not part-time attendant... isn't it?

Never mind, it's just a vacancy notice that's all, no big deal.

Again, the simple-minded me thought that an attendant's job is to attend to the spectators needs such as on standby for any queries or what... I didn't know that the supervisor was going to put me as a waiter... hmm... got a bit shocked at first, but then I thought... aih, just for ten days only ma... furthermore I have never tried my hands on waitering before, and since so many restaurants turned me down, why not grab this opportunity to do some waitering, even for just ten days?

Ten days is definitely not enough to improve my own skills, such as communicating skills, people skills, etc... it's more like only through this short-term thing I realized that I am so terrible in these areas... and by the time I wanted to improve in these areas, I have to leave my job already, and I have no chance to work on it anymore... =(

Well, tomorrow Sunday will be my last day of work, hopefully will be able to move on to another job before school reopens on the 12th. Just called up Demopower to see if there's any promoting projects for me... have not been able to do it... even though I went for interview long long time ago. Monday will be going to Genting with family... hopefully everyone will be enjoying themselves hard on that day because I doubt with my brother starting pre-u soon we can get another family gathering like this in the near future...

12/12/2008 - PC Fair

After my Pengajian Malaysia paper I waited and boarded the UTAR bus straight to the LRT station, then took the LRT down to KLCC... just to have a look at the PC Fair. Nope, nothing on my mind on what to buy before going there... just went to have a look at some things only =)

Short Sem Finals at a Glance

Tata... the finals were over! I'm not trying to make this thing as though as this is really a huge thing or what... Look: both the grades for the subjects which I applied for this sem i.e. Pendidikan Moral and Pengajian Malaysia, does not count towards our CGPA. So basically I did not really give a damn about what is the outcome of it, as long as I passed!

Unlike all the other papers, both these papers are closed paper (kertas tertutup) which means the papers are not supposed to be taken out from the exam hall. Don't ask what the questions were like... I can't remember them..

06/12/2008 - Wireless@KL e-Commerce Workshop by P1

Actually Dad was the one who told me about this workshop. Basically this workshop (or shall we say a talk) was about the power of eBay in selling and buying stuff, how to start selling, how to be successful via eBay, the people who got a big break just by doing sales via eBay and so on...

I have never been into an eBay website before.... and I do not feel ashamed about it... I think a lot of us have not been there also =) I told myself before going to the workshop that I will probably never do this kinda things... I just went there, followed my Dad with an open mind.

Anyway my father and I have been trying to commit ourselves to one of the dates of the seminar, but we couldn't make it until the very last workshop which was held on Saturday the 6th at this bar called the Apartment at KLCC. It started at 11am, and the atmosphere was quite casual actually. Just a projector, a screen, a laptop and about fifty chairs... and a couple of small booths could be seen set up at the area. Wanted to take a picture of the venue but was prohibited from doing so...

The workshop... well, it was really good actually for someone who is a beginner in this eBay or online marketing thing. I would really recommend people who are really committed in becoming successful in this eBay thing (not really depending to it...) or even people who are curious to try out in this thing. Basically as I have mentioned... she taught us how to start, how to get this PayPal thing, how to buy, how to sell, even how to make good descriptions of the products, how to take good photos of them, how to set the right prices for our goods and so on...

Dad being the optimistic that he is start talking to my Mom, bro and sis about this eBay thing for next few days... haha! He seemed to be really drawn by the whole thing when he looked at how the people got so successful via eBay... I guessed he just got carried away...

It's really for beginners like myself... I think for those people who are self-confessed computer geeks probably already know about this kind of stuff for a long time already. I learnt alot anyway through this talk/workshop... but for poeple like me... the probabililty of me become an eBay frequent user is like... next to zero.. haha...

Short Sem Week 7

Finally... end of short sem!! This week's lectures were quite short actually... On Monday was the presentation... Finally our group (or shall I say, one of us...as the other three only did the background things =) has the chance to give our presentation...

Tuesday and Thursday was about giving back our papers and assignments, and also about tips on what to study for the final... and that was it... heck... the Peng Msia lecture period was only i think 1 hour plus only!

Okay, now it's study week and then the two papers on the 9th and 12th... Actually I myself call it a 6 week holiday... haha... 'coz the two LAN subjects are so lame... haha... Is it possible for me to work for such a short duration? Hmmm....

Short Sem Week 6

Ok, time for another update... Monday and Tuesday Pengajian Malaysia, then Thursday and Friday Pendidikan Moral, then Saturday (today) was the Pendidikan Moral test 2 in PG Block.

Oh, talking about the place where we had our test, I thought Mr. Muthu told the class to prepare ourselves for the cold atmosphere inside the room... coz he said that the class is very cold. It turned out, that the air-con wasn't working. Can't find people to fix the problem... reason? It's Saturday! =O

Reminds me about something... why the toilet water systems not working in the morning??! No water from the taps, no water from the drinking water dispenser... so terrible! The UTAR people... is this because this building will no longer in use in half a year's time?

Short Sem Week 5

Week 5 -- Passing up of the Pengajian Malaysia and the Pendidikan Moral projects. Phew.... a load off our shoulders... Now I can concentrate fully on my studies...

Just to make this thing 'alive'... the past few weeks has been... not too busy, not too stressful but not too easy either.... I know this sem compared to my first year first sem was much much less stressful, but this does not tell me about short sems.... I saw the Y2 short sem people... they seemed to have a lot to study and do.... like they say, all CRAMMED into just 7 weeks... imagine the pace... (but then again less subjects to study...)

Will blog as frequently as possible from now on... but I doubt it since there's tests and the final exams coming...

04/11/2008 - United States Presidential Elections

First of all, congratulations Barack Obama!

Jumping on to the bandwagon (obviously), I thought I should write something about the historical day, not only for the United States of America but also for people from all around the world.

I have to admit... I was really happy to see him winning the presidency. For all those good things which I have read from the Internet and the newspapers I could not agree with them more. I have watched three times already, in two days, the video in which US President-elect Barack Obama gave his winning speech in Chicago. How memorable and historical it must be for the American people...

I don't know how to write a appropriate conclusion for this post though... I will let you readers make your own!!

Geraldine - The Winner's Song

Since I have started posting some things which were out of the ordinary.. so I thought I should post some song lyrics to some nice songs....Check this out on youtube or whatever website... it's nice, and it fared quite well in the UK.. Check out the show in which this song was first performed... it is hilarious!!

Geraldine - The Winner's Song

I started with nothing
Now I have something
I proved them all they were wrong

So glad I kept fighting
And I never stopped trying
Been waiting to sing for so long
My winner's song

I couldn't carry on
I thought my chance had gone
I was ready to stop and give in
I thought I'd give it one last try
Look this moment in the eye
Then maybe who knows, I could win

I dreamed about this for a lifetime
But I could not imagine
What it feels like standing here right now

I started with nothing
Now I have something
I proved them all they were wrong
So glad I kept fighting
And I never stopped trying
Been waiting to sing for so long
My winner's song

This journey's been incredible
Now standing in the light
I hope this lasts for more than one night
One night

I started with nothing
Now I have something
I proved them all they were wrong
So glad I kept fighting
And I never stopped trying
Been waiting to sing for so long
My winner's song
Been waiting to sing for so long
My winner's song

Tagged

Tagged by Chin Ling...

(My first time doing tag...)

1. If your lover betrayed you, what will your reaction be?

Devastated.

2. If you can have a dream to come true, what will it be?

Wealthy... (kinda the reason behind me studying AS now...money money $$... =)

3. Whose butt would you like to kick?

No one. Not that kinda person.

4. What would you do with a billion dollars?

Travel around the world. Maybe start a new business and hopefully will get myself another billion dollars $$... Also will give them to charity la =)

5. Will you fall in love with your best friend?

I won't know.

6. Which is more blessed, loving someone or being loved by someone?

Being loved by someone.

7. How long do you intend to wait for someone you really love?

I'm that patient kinda guy... until I had enough I guess...

8. If the person you secretly like is already attached, what would you do?

Tell her about my feelings and later move on with life.

9. If you like to act with someone, who will it be? Your gf/bf or an actor/actress?

My gf. I think that would be really fun and chaotic at the same time.

10. Will you invite your ex bf/gf to your wedding dinner?

Why not? I'll accept my ex's invitation if she invites me...

11. What's your fear?

Left all alone... (read, same with others)

12. What kind of person do you think the person who tagged you is?

A loyal friend. She's also a friendly, cheerful and easy-going person.

13. How would you see yourself in 10 years' time?

Happily married... Enjoying every minute of my job... err... not good at this looking at the future thing... =) Embracing challenges that I will face?

14. Would you rather be single and rich or happily married but poor?

Happily married but poor.

15. What's the first thing you do when you wake up?

Shut my alarm and go back to sleep again.

16. Would you give all in a relationship?

100% yes.

17. If you fall in love with 2 people simultaneously, who would you pick?

I hope it won't happen to me. I don't know how to pick if like that...

18. Would you forgive and forget no matter how horrible a thing the someone has done?

I would. A number of people have done that to me, and I am thankful for them.

19. Would you prefer being in a relationship or being single?

I'm okay with both.

20. List 5 people to tag.

Not tagging anyone. =) Anyone who's interested in doing though, you are most welcomed to do so.=)

{Honestly, I have read some of these tags across other people's blogs... I always tell myself that I could not answer creatively to the questions... just as creative as those other people. =) }

24/10/2008 - MPH Warehouse Sale

It was a Friday, and I thought I could do some things before my class which started at 9am. I underestimated, and so entered the class late... At that time I just sat at the front row facing the lecturer... alone... Never do like that again..

Anyway, the main thing which I want to talk about today is the MPH Warehouse Sale which I visited after the three-hour lecture. The books were really VERY CHEAP... (and I mean it in terms of monetary terms, not quality terms.... =) Too bad for a person like me who does not complete a single novel which I have started.... I have not continued reading my Harry Potter novel for like almost one year... hmm...

Anyway, for book lovers, it is still a good place to visit. Just be sure to park your cars at a suitable place (away, far away), or go early before the lunch break... (today is Friday, so the lunch break was long for most people, and most decided to come here to have a look at the books during that time...)

21/10/2008 - (Watching) Pengajian Malaysia Presentations

"Hanya sembilan kumpulan yang bertuah sahaja yang akan menyampaikan presentations pada hari Selasa minggu depan..." Ms Kavitha told the class on the second day of our Pengajian Malaysia lecture.

Bertuah?? Hmm...

Our group was not chosen/picked by the teacher for the session. Wonder what does that mean...

Basically the nine chosen groups need to do a presentation with the help of Microsoft Powerpoint about Kedatangan British di negeri-negeri di Tanah Melayu. Only one from each group will come out on that day to do the presentation (which means the others will do the behind-the-scene things...) Even though so, a few groups have more than one person who came out to present.

Also, the allocated time was 15 minutes. Some of the people finished their presentations halfway through the allocated time. (Actually later after the first few presentations I thought 15 minutes is too long....)

Surprisingly, some of the groups really did a good job in it... I know there's this girl who not only talked about what that was written on her group's slide, but also read some additional notes which were written on her palm. Their group really did a lot of preparation on this...

But that doesn't mean I like this presentation things... I wonder how many more do we need to do...

16/10/2008 - Pendidikan Moral Lecture

Helo once again... this time will be talking about the Pendidikan Moral lecture which I am currently studying for this semester (aside from Pengajian Malaysia)...

So went for my first Moral lecture today. The lecturer was okay... at least it was not those lecturers which will keep us asleep... Ah.. talk about it... I actually was caught yawning in front of him... how embarassing! (really it was unintentional... I kinda closed my mouth but then he noticed it and told the class that I wasn't... sorry... but I was paying attention though...)

It was funny how he called the students to stand up and answer questions..."Mari kita pilih mereka yang memakai baju kuning..."

"Budak yang memakai baju putih dan hijau tu..." referring to me.

So, the lecturer gave some overview of the subject, and later after the break he talked about the Moral project which we need to do as a group... Just like Pengajian Malaysia, the group leaders need to select a question in random for the group to do... The more he spoke about it, the more I trembled inside... so many things to do ah??

Anyway, the class dismissed very early... almost one hour earlier... (just like last Tuesday's PM class) That's good, especially when it's afternoon class and it was raining outside... traffic jam...

13/10/2008 - First Day of Short Sem

It was the first day of my short semester after almost 4 weeks of semester break. Before this I actually went to my faculty office on Thursday to get the timetable for my course and to register for it. I actually find it hard to plan my time when I don't know when are my classes going to be held. I was hoping that they can settle it all down in two days, but it turned out that we are going to have classes for everyday except Wednesday... hmm...

Aiyah... what am I going to do for the rest of the time when I am not having classes? I know that we are going to have some assignments for the two subjects... but I don't think it will take A LOT of time, would it? Some days I have classes in the morning, some in the afternoon (well, 1 only...) How to find a job that suits my time?

Parents suggested to me to study for my first CAS/SOA actuarial paper... and I know a lot of people are studying for it now... Probably I will too...

Anyway, arrived a bit late into the lecture hall, and within minutes the lecturer told us to form groups to do assignments... Wow, that's early (and I kinda couldn't believe that we need to do some assignments also for this...)! I couldn't get myself a group, the people sitting next to me formed their own gangs and so I texted message my former groupmate to see if there's room for a poor groupless person like me... hmm...

There are two three-hour Pengajian Malaysia classes per week... Mon 8-11am and Tue 8-11am. Before this I spent time reading my seniors' blogs about their experience on sitting through the Pengajian Malaysia periods, just to prepare myself for the class. And it was all negative. I expected it actually. What I read was people listening to music on their MP3s, reading, sleeping... those kind of things.

On Monday and Tuesday, there weren't many people doing those kind of stuff. I suspect that it's because those were the first two lectures of the semester. Maybe by the third week people will start to get bored... I don't know... The things that the lecturer taught were all those that we have learned before during the Sejarah periods we had last time in sec school... Heck, I even brought along my Form 5 Sejarah textbook to class on Tuesday!!

Anyway, today (Wednesday) there is no classes, so I got to kinda rest a bit.. =)

16th September 2008 - 12th October 2008 - Sem Break

(Writing this post on 13th Oct, 1st day of short sem...)

Aih, my semester break has come to an end. (gosh, to me and my family, we still call it school holidays -- obviously 'coz my siblings still in sec school only...)

What have I done during the short break? Honestly I have done a lot 'behind the scene' but when I look at it from the 'outside', it was like I have done almost nothing... =( Clean up here and there... and then arrange my docs on my computer... followed my family/accompanied my siblings out for 'hang-gais'...

Everyday woke up, and start to think to myself: Should I go for the short sem or not? What should I do if I were to not go for the short sem? Work where? As what?

Oh, everytime I go and surf the net on my computer, I always got hooked on the United States presidential elections. I found it funny... haha =) I mean, there's so many breaking news about the two candidates from the two major political parties... Those accusations and name-calling... I guessed that that was the case here in M'sia last March... but I just didn't notice about it that much?

Anything else?

Really, I know I did a lot but I couldn't write it down here... coz I forgotten what are the things that I have done already... =)

19th till 21st September - T7 Pangkor Trip

Wow... I didn't post this up soon enough... Okay, hopefully I still remember the 'millions and millions of things' which happened during our trip to Pangkor... let me see...

This trip to Pangkor have been talked about for a few weeks prior to it. But for me... you know la... not really in the mood at that time since there's this final exam thing going on...

The trip was a memorable one to be really REALLY honest, especially for me, whose last 'REAL trip' was with my classmates almost three years back with my Form Five classmates in Langkawi. No trip after STPM. Anyway...

Day 1

The 14 of us first gathered at the McD restaurant at Petaling Street before we made our way to Puduraya. By the way, this is the first time I have been to Puduraya... probably because it was at night, and so there weren't many people at the bus terminal... But my view of Puduraya all along has been that of a very crowded, dark one... Guess you really need to be there in order to experience it for yourself the environment...

Okay okay, should not be talking to much about this... Where am I?...

Oh yeah.. we took off from Puduraya almost exactly on time... 11.59pm. By the time we reached Lumut it was almost 3am in the morning. Some of us went to the restaurant which was still open to customers, while the rest of us just sat at some 'dataran' near the shore and played 'dai-dee'... for me I just watched them playing coz not clear how to play after not playing for so long... (but later I played at night and I won on my first game...haha=) )

We waited and boarded the first ship to Pangkor. Next we went to our hotel by two vans, which was located next to the beach at the other side of the island. It was still very early at that time, I think it was about eight or nine something... a few of us took a nap almost immediately after they settled down their things.

We settled our elective selection, surpisingly, here in Pangkor in our room 0.0 (I just followed what the others chose... obviously...)

We headed back to the Pekan Pulau Pangkor (PPP) for lunch. I had chicken rice btw. (Still UTAR's Chicken Rice is the best... afforable too...) Walked around PPP and I was wrong to think that it is some town exclusively for the nelayan community and the visitors... There ARE people who live there and stayed there for years... I wonder why they want to exclude themselves in this lonely little island out of nowhere... Don't know for others but for me I was surprised to see internet cafes and banks and stuff like that here... no traffic lights here though...

Later that day played a bit in the water. Dinner was at an open air restaurant. After the dinner the few of us who sit inside the van was taken for a 'memorable' ride up and down the hills of Pangkor... closing the car lights while driving... I for one was excited all the way... thankfully we had a skillful driver... haha... will try it the next time if I ever will go there again...

Played cards together in our room later that night. I think I was wrong during my first time as the 'MC'... got to remember so many things and I got messed up =( I think a few of you knew about that...

At night when everyone was about to sleep a few of us went out by van for 'yam-cha' at a shop... It was a very quiet and breezy area, nice place for 'yam-cha' but I didn't try to food though... I ate a lot before that during dinner. And then when we went back we all were so tired that we just fell asleep right away once we laid our heads on our bed..

Day 2

The fourteen of us went for a boat trip, discovering the various places and islands around Pangkor Island. Went for snockelling and banana boat (it wasn't fun at all when you don't have your glasses on... for me my glasses was like 4.50 for one side and 5.25 for another... that's really bad already...) Had lunch, and next was a trip to some temple...

I wasn't sure what did the others do after that, but I followed a few of them for a cycling trip all the way from one island to another... Walaoe... really tiring. Btw, it's RM2 for one hour, and RM6 for 24 hours (Strange eh? Can still get it back the day after.. also, they did not charge like 'wang pendahuluan'... don't they get scared that the bicycles will at the end of the day, be unreturned?)... I don't know about the others, but a guy like me who has not been on a bicycle for like almost centuries... I actually felt a bit of pain after the whole journey.. But I woke up the next day feeling ok...

Oh yeah... during the trip the captain of our boat recommended/suggested that we try one of the restaurants by the beach... which we later did that night. I am not really sure how the workers there felt when they saw us arriving at their restaurants to have a meal there... I mean, 14 of us young adults... arriving as such a big group at a place where only romantic couples and visitors from overseas have their meals... Everyone turned their heads and looked at us as we 'swarmed' the place... haha....=) And not just that... we were quite noisy, in fact, really noisy actually, at least for our table...

Later that night went out for 'yam cha' again at a food stall near our house... wonder whether these guys really do go out so often during normal uni days for yam cha... can't do this on a regular basis la...

Day 3

It was the last day already... felt weird coz I really don't wanna go back so early but then felt like we almost toured the whole island already? Maybe I was wrong... But anyway we had brunch (no breakfast or lunch)... and boarded the 12pm ferry back to mainland. Reached mainland half an hour later, and then boarded the bus back to Kotaraya.

All in all, I had a great and memorable trip. Sure can't wait for our next one during our next semester break...=)

(Wasn't in a lot of pics...)

Final Exam at a Glance

Err...It has been so long since I posted something up in my blog... Hopefully I can still get back to my blogging habit. Anyway...

Thought I should start by telling you about my exam week 'experience'...First time having my exam in such a large hall.. I remember the last time I had it was during my piano exams YEARS AGO.... (during primary school). During secondary school, my school exams and government exams (i.e. PMR, SPM and STPM) were also conducted in classrooms. Since I was so afraid that I will get nervous looking at people answering the questions, I decided to sit 'almost in front'...don't know whether it had worked or not...

Anyway, I have written a few notes about the individual exams on my myspace blog... go check it out.=)

Study Week at a Glance

The week from 2nd September till 5th September was the semester's study week. There's no classes... meaning to say that we actually don't need to come to school (why I still keep calling UTAR a school instead of a uni ah... but call it school is not wrong right?..) But I DID went back to school... to 'study' la of course!! (But I wonder did I really study anything while in the study room with people chit-chatting and stuff like that...hmmm...)

Anyway, I studied with a few people, who later on I identify them as my' 'study group partners'... (I didn't ask them to come, they just come as they wish...) I found it much more easier to study, instead of just studying on my own back in the days in secondary school. There are so many things that, if I study alone, I will not pay attention to. Also, when I have problems or questions, I got an answer straight away at the spot... I guess some/most people tends to study differently when they are in university as compared to during the school days.... guess I need to follow the flow too!!

But yeah... I like the way how study week turns out... They should kinda put more study weeks in between teaching weeks so that we can catch up with the syllabus much more faster and easier... So, that we can study more 'effectively'... A yes vote for more study weeks!!

Week 14 at a Glance

Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th: Finally again a huge burden was lift off my shoulder... the programming project. For this I got to thank my groupmate K.Hua a lot for doing so many things... I practically did nothing... haha... The whole weekend was about doing this thing as mentioned... But with no result... Monday after school they all went for karaoke... of course didn't join them... stayed at home studying the programming things... which at the end of the day was a waste of time since out tutor didn't look at our code, or even asked us to explain, or ask us to modify.... I wonder how many marks do I get...

Tuesday 26th: After our last BPW tutorial class we all went to Section 14 McD for some food... (for some it's lunch for some it's tea-time...) It was so surprising yet so great that Ms Wee, our BPW lecturer and tutor was able to take time to be with us at McD.

Wednesday 27th: After so long I have heard about this restaurant in Section 17, I finally got the chance to have a meal there (particularly at that particular economical rice stall)... RM3.80. Not bad... compared to the one in UTAR..

Thursday 28th: There supposed to be a basketball game but was cancelled because of bad weather... which means for three consecutive weeks in a row I didn't go for any basketball game... wonder when will we be able to play again..

Friday 29th: Last day of class... but the important thing was the Discrete Maths paper... terrible... Just one mistake and I lost a lot of marks... my mistake I admit... because Dr. Chin was right that I don't understand the working (I think there are ppl who just blindly write down what they have memorized in the notes...) That's like three marks off... half a grade gone.. =S

Saturday 30th: Went for an eye-check and my eye power increased. I attribute this to the previous week when I got to do so much on my laptop... Regrets... regrets... Later went for steamboat at Restaurant Telepon near LDP with T7 groupmates (and also some not from T7...)...Why nobody noticed my new pair of glasses ah? Anyway then later followed them to Ikano to celebrate Merdeka together...spent time just walking about Cineleisure... then after countdown all just went nuts spraying each other... haha....

Spent overnight not at home...

Sunday 31st: Study... study... study...

Week 13 at a Glance

Monday 18th: After weeks of awaiting, it was time for our Basic Professional Writing presentation. I, together with all my classmates wore handsome suits and nice dresses for the presentation. Wah... imagine everyday we are supposed to wear like that... Wait, I heard in the Sungai Long campus everyone are supposed to wear like that on Monday... Why aren't we, the Actuarial Science students? Actually why are we grouped together with the FICT? Hmm...

I'll post the photos that we took on that day later... probably after my final exams (Urgh... can't think of nothing else but that...) But I won't be in a lot of the photos... =( what was I doing ah during that time?

Anyway, after the whole thing, we had lunch at Wendy's at the Jaya One place... enjoying ourselves after a whole weekend of work...

Tuesday 19th: No sports in the morning as we have programming assessment. I fared terrible... the marks my tutor gave was quite enough already consider my output....

Wednesday 20th: For this day I forgot where did T7 go.... I didn't join in. (Why T7 also go out one ah?)

Thursday 21st: Basketball game. I was on my way there when the clouds are rolling in, the sky becomes dark, the wind blows wildly.... and later rain poured in. Basketball game was cancelled but I wasn't sure what they were up to after that... didn't join in coz busy studying for programming test later that day.

Friday 22nd: Discrete Maths retest. Somehow I got the feeling that it will be the same... since the beginning... but why didn't I 'memorize' it well? The exact same question came out... I didn't like how he ask... why not new questions?

Saturday and Sunday was spent doing my programming project... I think my eye sight has deteriorate because of that... I am really really regretting over it. Wanted to change my glasses but opted to wait first... coz I think that if I go for an eyecheck at that moment, the reading will not be accurate... I have just stopped doing my programming things barely half an hour ago...

Week 12 at a Glance

A brief day-to-day update on what happened over the past week:

Monday- Had tea for the first time at the mamak stalls outside school with classmates.

Tuesday- Ping pong game... but of course I did not play... a noob.

Wednesday- Calculus test. Don't need to say much about this... I heard for dinner they all went to some restaurant together... didn't do la of course...

Thursday- Basketball game which I did not attend. Later they had lunch at some JayaOne restaurant...

Friday- Discrete Maths... die... luckily got retest but I don't feel good about it either... Must be as hard as the previous one. Then later the gang also went somewhere... couldn't join them also...

This is not my thought... this is like some diary... =S Hmm... no time to think how to write my entry in a very creative way =(

Week 11 at a Glance

Week 11. It was the week where things got easy for the first few days, but after a while things get heated up after the programming practical questions were uploaded... Group members were initially determined by half-ballot method... that is every group will be assigned at least one from foundation. On Thursday though, the next announcement was that we are only allowed maximum three person per group instead of four as previously mentioned by our lecturer. Things got shooked up abit after that... group has been rearranged again.

As discussed before, Tuesday was set as 'ping pong' day, while Thursday was Basketball day. Having a class that starts at 2pm only meant that we have time to 'spent'.... enjoying ourselves at KFC up till the last minute... It was raining and we were all running late for our programming lecture...

Friday was programming assessment... don't want to talk about it...

Update of Previous Class Outings

4th Outing - Mid Valley on 17th July

5th Outing - One Utama on 30th July

29th July - Tutorial Class Basketball Outing

9 out of 14 from our tutorial class... plus one more from T5... wah, quite good eh for a basketball game that I only heard people talked about during the last few minutes in class before we all left school on Monday... (even though I heard about the 'outing' as early as Tuesday the previous week...)

Anyway, it was a reminiscence of the good old days of my youth... not really about basketball... as the last time I really played basketball was during my Form One days in Sam Tet... But rather I am talking about the feeling of being a teenager again... with a bunch of young innocent teenagers (haha...) who want to enjoy themselves together with a group of friends, some of them whom they have never met each other before two months ago...

During Discrete Maths tutorial the tutor told us that about us being a 'more livelier' class (from what I heard)... compared to the other class that she teaches. She did mentioned that her other class has a very high percentage majority of Foundation students. Then someone mentioned about us being made up of people from different backgrounds... thus making it easier for us to 'click'....

Don't know la... all things mentioned above are just my opinions... I am just trying to enjoy myself at this moment as I REALLY REALLY DON'T KNOW what is going to happen when our new semester starts, and how our lives going to be at that time... I am still figuring that part out...

Photos - English Performance Groups (Week 8)

Just some photos taken during Basic Professional Writing tutorial class...

23rd July - First Accounting Test in almost 4 1/2 Years

Urgh... terrible...

Thought I could write something since I have never balanced an account before during exam... But no mood already..

Thousands Apologies to my 5S6 and U6F Classmates

I am very sorry to all my 5S6 and U6F classmates...

It seems that I have not been keeping in touch with you guys as frequently as I should...

And it is a problem, my problem, my fault.

Saying that you'll be all in my heart is just not enough...

But honestly, you guys will always have a special place in my heart,

I'll always treasure the times that we had back then.

Till we meet again... I wish you guys all the best on what's next to come....

20th July - 5S6/2005 Gathering

Ha... finally after almost one whole year in the waiting, we have finally one gathering.... Let's see... almost one gathering per year... 2006 was at Bangsar, 2007 was at Sunway... and this year was at Chee Hong's house....=)

Somehow it coincided with another gathering that I attended barely two days prior, but with a lot more people.. DEFINITELY a lot more... Basically the entire weekend was about gatherings, wasn't it? Haha... Didn't do anything... And still got Discrete Maths Mid-Term, Accounts Mid-Term and Programming Assessment... all within three days!! So 'qiao'...

Again, I'll let photos do all the talking. Here's the website: www.5science6.blogspot.com and it will lead you to the photos.

It was a potluck, and everyone was ''expected' to bring something to CH's house. Then we ate... we talked... we chat... we played games... some like Dom cracked lame jokes... (really really lame I tell you...) Take photos... and also played some games... One game I remembered was the 'One two dum' game... It was a bit funny to hear how they say the word 'dum'... And another game which I was really confused about until this day was the 'Mafia' game. I really forgotten how to play the game as I was typing this out.

"Everyone seems to be the same... didn't change at all..." That was what I heard in the car as KS drove us back. Yeah... That includes me... the same type of people who don't really speak much... wonder will I be able to change?

18th July - U6F Reunion

First of all, thanks a lot Kai Ming for planning the occasion.... We had another U6F class gathering just barely one month after our previous gathering at Wern Chiet's house. This time though, it was a small affair, as a lot of us have went to public universities from all around the country, some of them as far as Sarawak.

So, this time we had a small gathering at the Poh brothers' apartment. Our host, Kai Ming ordered pizzas and soft drinks for us. When I went there about 7.30pm, there's were just a few of us there. Asked Kai Ming on the people who are coming, not surprised to know a few who said will be coming... given that many of us are away.

From what I think, this would probably be the last time that we can gather together for a very long time. From experience, i.e. my Form Five class, after almost two years after we graduated from Form Five we only had like one gathering per year. 2006 was at Bangsar organized by Florence, 2007 was at Sunway organized by Wan Xin, and this year will be on this coming Sunday at Chee Hong's house, organized by Chee Hong, Dominic and Li Ee. (More on that on my coming post.)

But of course, post-Form Six get-together are more often since we are still not studying yet. Anyway, I for sure had a great time at the reunion PARTY.. I think everyone was in a jolly mood that night (was it because of the boozes?)... knowing that we are taking the next step into a new chapter in our lives--university. Felt like we were still young teenagers, who will never grow up to become adults... haha...

All night was about pizza eating, liquor drinking, cracking jokes, chit chatting... pushing people down the pool =)... not some serious stuff though... it was as though we were like meeting up each other every other day... which was really nice to me...

Didn't take a photo of all of us in a picture though.. Sayangnya...

Oh dear... is this the last time we will meet up? I heard someone mentioned something about 31st August... Looking forward to that if that is true..

Aftermath

Why do I feel like more and more people are leaving? Or am I just freaking out myself? I know people will start complaining that the course do not suit them... but I think the few must be feeling disappointed for not being able to go to Kampar.... Don't know la... But for now I still think I can still 'hang on'... I am actually taking it one week at a time...

14th July - Going to Kampar? Not going? Going? Not going?

The verdict: We are not going to Kampar next year, after all. We won't be going there in 2010, or even 2011...

Honestly, how do I feel? Urgh... At one second, I felt like my world has changed. But the next thing that I did was to close my eyes for a while, and then opened them up again. Life goes on, I said to myself. Everything seems to be like normal after that. And I know it has to be.

Maybe because tests and mid-terms are on the way. Maybe I am more worried about them...

7th July - Class 3rd Outing

Class' third outing was at Mid Valley again. Most of those who went stayed back for Hancock the movie. After buying the tickets, we had lunch in Kim Gary (a few of us went bowling though instead of having lunch with us... ) Didn't join them for the movie though... coz I had an appointment later that night. Anyway, will try to join in next time...

28th June - Visit to UPM

It was like any ordinary Saturday morning. I woke up really late... and virtually wasted the entire morning doing nothing... reading the newspaper while eating my breakfast at a speed that is almost ten times slower than ordinary university days. Suddenly, Mom called me on the phone.."Sheng Hung! Are you going for the public u thingy today??"

"Err... what public...oh!!! Today ah?" I suddenly realized that it was the day where new undergraduates of public higher education institutions (IPTA) register into their respective residential colleges today. (No... don't get me wrong my fellow Form Six classmates, I knew you guys were going to be entering public uni that weekend, but I mistook Sunday to be the date...)

It was the fourth Saturday of the week, and my father worked half day that day. So, after picking him up from the office, Mom, Dad and I drove ourselves down to Serdang where my campus is located. (One university but two campuses; the other one is in Sabah.) The first place that we went to was the residential college that I am supposed to register myself in ('unfortunately' I decided not to take up the offer). Yeah... yeah... there were the usual registration booths at the main section but we did went up and have a look inside the hostel. Each of the rooms in it was actually small... two person per room. Wanted to take a picture of it but couldn't. But we did went for a bite at the cafeteria... errr.... like dat lor... what can one expect?

Before we left, we drove around the campus and had a look at the various faculty campuses within the university grounds. Basically what we saw were buses and buses carrying people from all states into the various campuses... students who came with their families, with each of the family members helping him/her to carry things such as blankets, bags, clothes and stuff like that... students bersalam-salaman with their parents... What a sight. (Yeah, it will happen to me sooner or later...)

"SO.... UTAR or UPM??" Mom and Dad asked me as we left the university compound. I did not answer, but rather smiled at them. After 'a moment of silence', we burst out in laughter. The clock finally ticked at 5pm. The registration was now closed. There's no turning back now, I told myself. It's First Class Degree or nothing else.

Myself in front of Kolej Sepuluh, the college that I am supposed to stay in...=)

My name on the list... guess you can't see it...
Doorway
Room 246-- The room that I am 'supposed' to stay in for the next three years
Haha... err..
My parents and I in front of the old building(still being used).
Faculty of Engineering

Faculty of Engineering

26th June - Toastmaster of the Evening

Heard of Toastmasters before? Well, then check out this website then: www.toastmasters.org. Sorry, have thinking quite a while about how to start of this blog entry... but then I thought the websites and the relating ones would give you guys an idea about what actually is Toastmasters..

I actually have been in Institute of Engineers Malaysia's Toastmasters Club (IEM TMC) for about four months (previously just a guest, following my father to a few sessions before joining as a member in March). Presented my first speech in March, and then another one I think in April... Well, I really think that this Toastmasters thing really helped me a lot in my public speaking skills (not that I want you to start wonder if I really am a better speaker, or communicator... or something like that... coz I have know I have a long way to go... I am still that kind of quiet guy... haih...), and I believe it will continue to help me in the future.

Anyway, for this post I am going to talk about my experience being the 'TME': Toastmaster of the Evening. The duty of this person is to coordinate the meeting, handle the meeting so that everything that is on the agenda goes on smoothly. I am in charge of scheduling, confirming speakers, mastering the ceremony a.k.a. MCing the meeting... and stuff like that la... According to my Toastmasters manual, usually the TME would be a quite senior member of Toastmasters... but somehow they all asked me to do... so I just accepted it lor... ahha..

Being the TME I really got to be professional and handle things that way: I got to send out emails to correspond with the members, who are mostly professionals such as professional engineers (since it's being held in the IEM Building in PJ...), but there are professionals from other fields as well, who are like two to three times my age... Got to cooperate with them in order for the meeting to be able to run smoothly.

Being the person who stands out there and conduct the meeting wasn't really hard actually, but you need to be a bit creative and able to adapt to the latest changes and going-ons in the meeting. A script was passed to me beforehand, so I just read through it. The result? Really boring... As though what I have been saying the whole night was like... a program or computer like that just executing the commands that have been entered into the program...

Really wanted to elaborate more on this... but can't because I have so many things that I want to blog about, and so many things that I need to do i.e. assignments (oh yeah, still getting used to the term, we now use 'assignments' instead of 'homework'... guess it's more like... higher class homework? haha...)

For more info on the club that I am attending to, you can check out this IEM Toastmasters Club website: iemtm.blogspot.com.

I'll blog more about this topic in the near future... IEMTM holds their meetings every second and fourth Thursday of the month, and unless unavoidable circumstances, I will usually attend the meetings (which means finished Programming lecture --> Straight to home --> Shower --> Dinner-->IEM Building in PJ until around 10 or 11pm...) Phew...

27th June - Class 2nd Outing

Second class outing within a week!! Understandable... understandable... Somehow this day we do not have programming practical... I mean, how often do we get Friday afternoons off? So, it was only right that we use the free time to go somewhere to walk... and we did. Went to Mid Valley... and then we went straight to the bowling centre to bowl a few rounds. Had our 'really late' lunch at McD, after which we all went back home.

At the bowling centre in Mid Valley

Scores for the Game

25th June - Class Gathering & Wern Chiet's Birthday

I missed you guys so much!! Finally... a class gathering for U6F!!

First of all, thanks a lot Zijie for making sure everyone is notified about the gathering. Looking forward to it ever since I was informed about it. In fact, I was the first one to reach Wern Chiet's house that day! (well, kinda need to reach there early since there's transport only at that time when my siblings are attending tuition in PJ...) Anyway, it didn't take long before people started to arrive. A few of us played Wii while waiting... played tennis, football... stuff like that...

Wern Chiet later arrived and soon we had our dinner. I enjoyed the food very much, but it was the company of fellow Form Six classmates that got everyone in such a joyous mood that day. It was really like the old school days... we chat... we laughed... we gossiped... (without the booze) Made feel younger to be honest... at one time I was like thinking...'Would you guys want to go through this again... I would... maybe without the exams and STPM, haha...'

After the dinner some of us spend time on the computer, but the majority of us just hang out in the karaoke room and just sang our lungs out... haha... or chit chatting la of course... Talk about what leh? Public unis... Questions like 'What course did you get? Where are you going?...' fills the air... (Wah, my English...)

It will be WC's birthday the next day, but since a few of us can't stay back until so late, we sang WC a few birthday songs and ate the cake early. Of course, we did not forget to 'try to' smash the cake into his face... haha...

It was almost like two when a few of us left his house that early morning. Obviously, I won't be able to stay that long had I had morning classes the very next day; my class on the next day only starts at two. I was exhausted and went straight to bed upon reaching home. Felt really lucky to be able to be there... hope we can all keep in touch with each other in the near future!

Oh, and thanks a lot to Wern Chiet for the hospitality that night. Hope you had an unforgettable night!!

23rd June - First Tutorial Class Outing

23rd June was the first time that I have went out with my tutorial groupmates in uni. It wasn't just an ordinary outing... one of my groupmate is celebrating her birthday, and another classmate has decided not to continue his studies after being offered a course in a public university near his hometown, and thus was his last day with us. Someone suggested 1 Utama... and so after our last class ended at 2pm, we 'squeezed' ourselves into two cars (I think, correct me if I am wrong...). Somehow, we ended having one car with five person, and another one with seven!! (Unfortunately I ended up in that car!!)

Anyway, we didn't really immediately went for lunch after reaching there... kinda hesitated a bit on which restaurant to go to. Walked around... before we decided on Old Asia. I had a chicken chop set, which was the one which the majority of the people called.

After our lunch, we went to the bowling centre where we bowled a few games. Wah... it has been like years since I last played bowling... A bowling 'noob' already... I have to agree that bowling is a perfect game when you want to hang out and chit chat with friends... but at the same time knowing that you are not lepaking... yeah rite? You are just waiting for your turn, and not 'doing nothing'...

I left One Utama after the bowling game. I think a few people were still walking around when I left. Anyway, it was a very nice 'first gathering'... haha... I really enjoyed it... Will always remember this one...=) Was thinking: now it's not the question whether we can have another outing... it's a matter of when is our gathering... haha...(I think there's such a saying rite? Don't know la...)

'Why not yesterday... or the day before... why TODAY??!!'

Us at Old Asia Restaurant

Outside of the restaurant

Our bowling scores. Mine is 'S'. (Just for archive...haha...)

Why (on Earth) Actuarial Science?

Why Actuarial Science? I am also not really sure myself. But after a lot of researching on the subject, what I can explain to others about the field of actuarial science is: the application of mathematics especially statistics and probability in the insurance and banking fields to make predictions and forecasts... or something like that...

I don't blame anyone if you guys don't know what the **** am I studying.... e.g. "what kind of science is that? Physical science?" Haha...

Why not engineering? Yeah... that's the thing... had a long long chat until the wee hours of the morning with my parents the other day... and one important point is that I don't really have that inquisitive and technical and hands-on thing... even though I still love physics...

See la... I heard a lot of ppl changed course after one semester... failing rate really high... I am here just to try my luck... Kind of digging my own grave... (no la... can't be that 'cham'...)

18th June - Public University Application Outcome

Just in case you would like to know what did I get for my local university application...

I got:

University Putra Malaysia - PK02 Electical and Electronics Engineering

I have thought about it for a very long time after getting the news.... my verdict?

Not accepting the offer.

Anyway, I hope that my other classmates got what they want. Wish you guys all the best... (just in case I forgot to wish y'all later....)

18th June - In the Examination Hall for the First Time

Oh dear... just because we are having two sessions of people attending the same lecture at different times, we can't have our test during normal lecture hours? Or is it that quizzes and tests must not be held during normal lecture hours? Anyway, I think that the former is true though...

The test at 4pm Wednesday was held at the main hall, and the arrangement of the tables and chairs were exactly like the ones that I encountered when I was sitting for the music theory exams long time ago... Luckily it was just a 10-marks test.. not those STPM coz I will definitely faint.

I chose to sit in front so that I don't have to be feeling nervous looking at the blank seats in front of me... But not really at the first row though... On second thought... I should sit at the area where most of my tutorial group friends sit...

Oh dear... this will be a usual scenerio for the few years to come??!! =S

My University Class Schedule

I have to say something about my uni class schedule (with respect to my tutorial group 7)... Actually I think all pre-university courses are like that... the times for the classes can range from 8am till 5pm... and there will be tutorials, lectures, practicals.... stuffs like that...

It was a MESS! Sometimes we got around four hours of non-stop lectures, tutorials... and stuffs like that... and sometimes we only got one hour in the morning... and I have to wake up early just for that class... sometimes we have up to two hours in between classes... (even longer if the class is rescheduled...)

Aih... I know it won't happen but I really missed my classes back in secondary school. No need to worry if it's tutorial or lecture... no need to have unnecessary breaks in between classes... The time scheduled is fixed:

7.30am start class 1.10pm finish class

My afternoons back then were packed with things but at least I don't have to be 'bothered' about my classes... worry if this will clash with that... that will clash with this... I have the whole afternoon and night for me to plan myself...

At least now I started to get used to it... haha...

Father's Day

It's Father's Day!!

First of all, somehow this year, I feel so determined to give my Dad a special day, since, you know, probably I won't be able to be around next year to celebrate the special occasion with him. So, what did I do on that day?

This may sound a bit childish, but every year since I was in primary school I have been writing a card for my father for Father's Day. Nope, I definitely know it is not from Standard One onwards, but it started when my Arts teacher from don't know which year asked us to do a Father's Day card as an assignment during the Arts period. We were asked to use colourful paper, with some decorations on it using other colour papers and so on... And I really did put an effort to make my card look beautiful (and not because of wanting to get high marks...).

But nope, I am not here to describe my first Father's Day card making experience, but just to tell you all about how the 'tradition' came along. And although I am turning 20 this year, for as long as I can remember, there isn't a single year which I have not written my father a father's day card, and give it to him personally on that day. Yeah.... that's why I say I may sound really childish.

Maybe I should kinda like bring my father (and my family of course) out for a dinner (of course, bill on me) but still have not done it. What a teenage son.... (oh no, I am turning into an adult soon, and it doesn't sound nice especially when everyone keeps telling me so...)

Anyway, I followed him to play table tennis with his friends (I suck in table tennis...). Then, I helped out to prepare a special dinner for our family. Yeap, I agree with you if you think this is not something special... Didn't turn out the way I planned (wait, what was the plan?)

Anyway, I am just glad to have such a loving and caring father and mother...=)

UTAR Talent Night 2008

The Talent Night Organizing Committee calls it "the most happening event this year in PJ Campus!" Yeap. It was UTAR Talent Night 2008, and as a fellow UTAR-ian, I told myself that I should not miss out on this 'special' event. And how glad I was when I got to witness some very interesting memorable performances by the students from UTAR, who came from three different campuses, namely Bandar Sungai Long campus, KL campus as well as our PJ campus.

A brief description of the event: The decoration of the venue (Block D Hall) was fantastically done. It was stated on the flyers that it will begin at six, but it only started one hour later (not that I was surprised, Malaysian time mar...). The stage was averagely sized, but was well decorated. Now on to the performances: First was the introduction by the contestants followed by a short thirty something second glimpse of their upcoming performances later on the night (there are 13 performances, some solo and some are group performances).

Next was their impromptu acting, where contestants need to perform a 30-second play from the keywords that they chose randomly. Lastly, they will get to give their full-length prepared performances to the crowd. Thought I would just mentioned the most talked about performance of the night, which was also kinda controversial and 'sexy' and.... wonder how the audition panel was able to include him in the line up.... hmm...

Anyway, my thought of the evening? It was definitely a successful one for the organizers. But who cares about what organizers... I indeed had a lot of fun watching the performances. And oh yeah, T5-T7 Course Rep G-Han performance was amazing (yeah, it was...)

On an interesting note, why did we need to register to enter the hall when the event was free? Isn't it the more the merrier? Furthermore I think there's still places in the hall...

20th till 22nd May 2008 - UTAR PJ Campus Orientation Week

Orientation. That's more like the reason that I am looking forward for when it comes to entering university. Being the person that I am (for those who knows me well) people especially seniors will highly recommend that I attend all the programmes that are being held during the week, especially the Ice Breaking and Telematch session on the second day. Anyway, more about the event later.

I have not paid up my fees when I went to UTAR the first day. Didn't get anything from the registration counter. Was asked to go into the Hall, and was ushered a seat by one of the ushers. I arrived there quite early, but since I was stuck in the middle of the row, I couldn't really walk around. Had a small chat with the person on the right, who seems to be alone. Found out later that he is just like me, sat for STPM last year. He is going for Actuarial Science. I asked him why does he want to take Actuarial Science. His answer was: "Because I love maths." No kidding. I can remember it clearly; his answer was only four words. No further elaboration. That was it. I felt uneasy by the way he answered my question... I thought these people should at least explain to me to convince me that they really do have a passion for mathematics, not just a liking for mathematics.

The person on my left seemed to be with his friends. Looks younger (and dressed and looked less mature also)... and it did not shock me when I found out from themselves that they are taking foundation in arts. (Students from Foundation in Arts and the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FICT) attends the same orientation programme, while the Foundation in Science and Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) students altogether attends another orientation programme of their own.) Talking about foundation programmes: I can understand why people want to take foundation programmes right after SPM in January. But I don't see why people want to take it in the May intake, when they could just go to STPM (It only costs half a year more and it is more cheap too in terms of tuition fees.). Maybe they have their own reasons I guess.

Anyway, there was some introduction of the university, the faculties, the library, the ICTC, the Student Representative Committee and others as well. We were also ushered into separate rooms to meet with our respective Head of Departments and Course Coordinators. I do not really know if this is weird, but everyone seems to be really quiet. No one asked any questions. Anyway, after the thing ended, I went up to the Head of Department and Course Coordinator to ask some 'prepared questions' about the course (reminder: I have not paid my fees yet). I think the both of them must have felt shocked to hear me asking questions about these things when they think: Hmm... this student already applied for this course and now he is asking us these questions that have been asked long time ago...

The second part of the day was the Mass Call Ceremony. Yalah... yalah... the things that you expect to happen. The national anthem, UTAR pledge, introduction of the UTAR officials, a few speeches and then the thing ended. After presentations have been made by the organizing committees of Talent Night, Ice Breaking and Tele-Match, KL Trip and lots more, the day ended.

The second day was the Ice Breaking and Tele-Match. More on that later.

The third day was the PTPTN loan briefing by the Department of Students Affairs (DSA). Have to say something about the presenters of this briefing: The male officer who gave the briefing at the KL Campus while I was there back in January did such a remarkable job in explaining compared to the female officer here who just read out the notes that was shown on the Power Point Presentation. It was at this briefing that I felt such a difference between the people at Setapak during the January intake compared to the students here for this intake... The students over there in Setapak really asked questions that sometimes the DSA officer couldn't give a good answer, and there was a lot of questions which was about how the fees are distributed. The briefing was extended overtime, with many students still crowded around him almost fifteen to twenty minutes after the briefing was over. But here in PJ... the briefing was cut short, the questions asked by the students weren't that many, and from what I heard, the officers just gave simple straight forward answers, mainly to question regarding documentation. Wait, what message that I was trying to convey here??

Anyway, the three-day orientation week ended like that. Culture shock that was indeed. Suddenly realized that I have been such a 'good boy' for all these years... no la, just joking. But I wonder if I am going to be like those kids out of 'college'... punky hairstyle, earings, fancy clothes... hmm...That, for now, will never be me. I wonder if anyone can actually influence me to change drastically. It was an eye-opener really. Oh, I don't think I have encountered this before while I was in Setapak... Explained this to my parents one day during dinner, and what they said were true also... Usually those who came out of STPM are much more wiser in terms of thinking. The people that I met at Setapak were mostly STPM students, those who were denied a course of their choice, in a university of their choice. They waited for another half a year, and they now have to start their bachelor degree's journey almost one year later that those from foundation. No doubt that the people from STPM whom I have met at the two campuses were really mature... and I am glad to be able to know them.

So that was the Orientation. As many would say, it's time to get settled down and concentrate on studies, as the new semester begins for the students... (I am still locked in my house...figuring out my next chapter in my life=(

Fun (working) is over... Now down to business (Studies)...

Worked in Sunway Lagoon for a few weeks around April and May... since I don't have anything to do... getting a few bucks per hour is much more better than just lazying around in the house doing practically nothing... haha...

I am typing this post out after the Orientation Week in UTAR PJ Campus (more on that later... if I am able to find time to blog about it...). To be really honest, I felt very out of place. Yeah... the same thing all over again... the speeches, the mass call, the meetings with heads of departments and so on.... It was the exact same thing that I have encountered before while I was attending the Orientation Week back in January in Setapak. New place, new surroundings.... but why do I felt like I am suddenly awake in a different world? Okay, yeah, this is SUPPOSED to happen after months of enjoying myself, living in a different world as most other students... But the difference was so big... I kinda felt a sense of regret for not really anticipating such a scenario coming at me... I thought I was supposed to be excited... I was hoping that I can fit in but I did not for the first week... I wonder how I managed to get so many phone numbers of the acquaintances on the THREE days alone there in Setapak... I just wonder...

Walked around Sunway Pyramid alone after the PTPTN loan briefing on Thursday. It was a normal school day, a normal working day. Nothing has changed... the mall working people are still checking their stocks, assisting customers, serving them... nothing has changed. It was STILL the same. For them, there is nothing to worry about... except those relating to their work... but still they do not have to worry about exams, assignments, homework... As the new batch of ex-students go back to study in various education institutions at all places, a new batch of students, those who have finished their A-levels, or diploma, or foundation studies, or degree students will come out to 'fill in their shoes'... People come, people go... But life goes on. The show must go on.

Weird as it may seem, I have been excited to enter university in March. But now, I felt the feeling that I missed so much about my 'mall' life (yes, missed my Form Six school life too!)... the place where students hang out after school expecially on Fridays, making me feel so young... During weekends, families came to hang around with children, reminding me of the early months last year (without my mind worrying about STPM) where I usually am 'forced' to go 'hang gai' with my family, upon the request of my younger siblings who just want to escape from their studies in school. There's no need to worry about anything. It is a whole new environment for us young fellas to experience a whole new life apart from just being students. There's so much to learn, yet knowing that we can never stay long here.

Unfortunately I found out that I have taken for granted the freedom that I have been given for the past half a year... always thinking why these people force us to work eight to nine hours per day, leaving us no time to do our favourite things. I also regret not trying out other challenging jobs out there in the city centre, or in other cities trying to survive myself. Yeah, found out that I was really pampered a lot by my family (especially my parents)... eat dinner prepared by Mom, watch TV the whole time, spend time on the computer for so long everyday, sleep until so late everyday (work don't start until 10.30am on a weekday)... Especially the sleep thing... SO don't want to wake up early for college... Now after meeting new people from other places from as far as Alor Setar and Kuching, who is staying in various accommodations around UTAR... living independently... I was so scared that I will not be able to survive if I were to be one of them, or if I were to go to Kampar for this course right now (FYI, I heard that I am going to continue my bachelor's degree in Kampar in January next year.) I got to toughen up now... Of course, I felt blessed and lucky to be able to live in current conditions, where I got to see my family EVERY SINGLE DAY (and it IS a good thing).

There's this saying: All good things will come to an end. Guessed this is it. Partying is over, it is time to get down to business... time to start my journey in university... time for a whole new chapter of my life which I expect to be filled with ups and downs... But I can't wait to see what's in store for me in the future!

Why (on Earth) Actuarial Science?

Why Actuarial Science? I am also not really sure myself. But after a lot of researching on the subject, what I can explain to others about the field of actuarial science is: the application of mathematics especially statistics and probability in the insurance and banking fields to make predictions and forecasts... or something like that...

I don't blame anyone if you guys don't know what the **** am I studying.... e.g. "what kind of science is that? Physical science?" Haha...

Why not engineering? Yeah... that's the thing... had a long long chat until the wee hours of the morning with my parents the other day... and one important point is that I don't really have that inquisitive and technical and hands-on thing... even though I still love physics...

See la... I heard a lot of ppl changed course after one semester... failing rate really high... I am here just to try my luck... Kind of digging my own grave... (no la... can't be that 'cham'...)