Improving, now and always

Update!

2011-08-15T03:23:00.005+08:00

It has been more than half of a year since I last updated this blog before heading to India.

I'm currently enjoying a short semester break, a period of time where I can temporarily escape the hectic university life. Yes, it is hectic, considering the fact that we have to attend six days of classes per week. The Saturday is just another day of waking up early in the morning and dragging ourselves into the classroom for hours of lectures. How about Sunday? Having greatly deprived of adequate rest throughout the week, it is the only day that I'm allowed to sleep until whatever time I want. After that, I have to revise the topics taught by the lecturers for the rest of the day if I don't want myself to get embarrassed when bombarded by questions from lecturers in the next day. I would find myself guilty if I don't revise something on any day. Time management is the tricky part. It is hard to decide to work, play or sleep.

The diagram above explains everything.

Nevertheless, I never imagined how much I could have learnt during such a short semester. In short, as a first year undergraduate taking Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), I'm required to study three main subjects namely anatomy, physiology and biochemistry. Anatomy has been generally recognised as the most dreadful subject that everyone of us must face. It deals with every single detail of the human body structure, thus posing a large workload one has to strive very hard to gain an understanding. However, I can see it is of great importance to absorb as much knowledge as we can from the scale of a single cell to the gross structure of human body, as it is the basic of everything. Physiology is dealing with the function of human body, whereas biochemistry gives a macroscopic view at the happenings such as metabolism running in the human body.

I once heard a comment from a working doctor:

"One need not to be a genius to choose this career, what it takes is actually the diligence, perseverance and self-discipline."

I agree. Medicine is a field of wide knowledge. Unlike how we have been studying in the secondary school, there is no fixed syllabus or textbook in the medical school. Information is everywhere, and from the well-categorised source of medical knowledge, we need to put in great effort to integrate, store and apply the knowledge.

Yes, we study a lot. No matter how badly we are going to forget the details after several months, we are forced to cram everything into our mind, and expected to recall it during examinations, especially the oral test called "viva". I have been lack of confidence at speaking, moreover sometimes it is not easy to understand the English spoken in their accent, I'm always afraid of having any kind of interaction with the Indians in any session. Not to mention I'm always confused by the indication shown via shaking head. They shake their heads for saying yes and do the same for saying no.

India is a unique where we can observe a lot of extremities. We get to see how the poor blends with the rich, how the wealth mirage is accompanied by severe poverty, how the high-tech companies and skyscrapers mushrooming in the cities where man power is still the main workforce of everything. Men form a the line to carry and pass bricks, they build ladders using robes and woods to reach the great height without using machines.

If I'm asked "How's life in India?", I don't know how to provide an answer. I can't think of a positive thing to share with. I came across with a lot of negative incidents: Open defecating or urinating, reckless driving on the road, dirty streets where people spit and litter everywhere, unscrupulous auto rickshaw drivers who love to earn more via cheating, slow action by staff in public sectors, unstable electricity where at least ten blackouts happen everyday, beggars chasing after you, extreme weathers, not-so-tasty-food, terrible road condition, the over-obsessed students, the lack of courtesy, and more. Life has been depressing knowing I have to spend five and a half years in this land. By the time I'm back to Malaysia, I am a man of 26 years old, if everything goes as I wish.

Life is tough in India. I'm truly honest to point out this. We need to be mentally strong or else we are going to trap ourselves in the maze of troubles. It would be a different story if one goes to some other countries such as Australia or UK. Frankly speaking, I feel a little envious when I see friends of mine are currently going for their tertiary studies in those countries. Every photo taken there seems to be more scenic.

However I'm very grateful to have been granted the chance to pursue my dream in India. I believe the hardship and challenge could help to train and prepare myself to traverse into medical field in the future. I do not regret to have chosen this pathway. People often say it is good to enroll in medicine or dentistry in India. I'm not sure if this is plausible. From my point of view, I could just say the way we are educated in the college has been a great experience. We are able to gain great exposure towards some aspects where it is not possible in my own country. For example, we have relatively complete specimen and enough number of cadavers to study in the dissection halls. Professors are professional, they are highly experienced at teaching undergraduates. I'm impressed by each of them. I'm quite sure they are much better than the professors in my own country. I guess this is the only positive thing I'm able to talk about India.

There is a lot of stories to share, hopefully I can come out with another interesting article after this!

My new gear

2011-06-13T00:33:00.012+08:00

If someone asked me if I ever wished to own a DSLR camera a month ago, I would definitely give a firm "no". However I was quite surprised by how things have turned out to be too, and yes, I'm now shooting photos using a little more advanced camera - Canon EOS 1100D.

I used to have an incorrect perception towards some technical knowledge of the photo shooting world. I thought megapixel fully decides how a camera is worth its price and rating. I had never gone deep into how a camera really works. I was always wondering why people would have chosen a heavy and bulky camera ( I didn't know the referred camera is called DSLR ) rather than a convenient compact camera which has a higher megapixel value.

I was introduced to more photography terminologies and some insightful operating theories of cameras when I stayed with my previous college roommate for more than a year. He was holding a Canon EOS 500D equipped with a lot of accessories. Under his influence, I spent some time to read articles of introduction to photography and related guides from Internet as well as reviews of entry-level DSLR cameras. I managed to catch some ideas of several factors to be taken care of during photo shooting such as shutter speed, aperture, ISO etc.

Picking up photographing as a hobby isn't as easy as we might think because at the end of the day we are still bound to one of the most important considerations - money. If you have no idea of how much an amateur photographer would spend for basic DSLR camera sets, I shall give you an example here. While we are gradually improving our photographing skills, we need to upgrade our gadgets such as lens. My roommate spent more than RM2000 for normal camera set, another RM3000 for additional lens and digital flash. Sometimes a single lens would cost more than the total amount of money that my roommate spent for all of his photographing gadgets! It takes a considerable amount of money, time, passion, patience, skills building and experience to enter a semi-pro stage.

Why did I decide to own a DSLR camera out of a sudden? My family has been sharing and using a 10mp compact digital camera. I realised the quality of photos could have been better due to some limitations in compact digital camera. I wish to take great photos of each of my family members. Secondly, when I'm in India in the coming August, I wish to capture memorable moments and share it with friends and family. I was attracted by the advertisement of this latest product of Canon, the brown-coloured entry-level camera model which was released in March 2011. Thrust by great interest and urge, permission was gained from my parents, and I finally hold it in my hands.

Just a few weeks after the original set of camera bought, I further equipped myself with several important and handy camera lens and photography accessories as shown below.

Canon lens EF 50mm f/1.8 II

If I'm not mistaken this is the cheapest Canon lens available in the current market. It still costs about RM300. Almost every Canon DSLR user would go for this popular lens as their second lens because of its large aperture. What can a large aperture give? It enables photos taken at night or dark areas to be clearer and most importantly it gives great bokeh (out-of-focus area).

As you can see, the background is highly out of focused, leaving a soothing and blurred effect. A compact digital camera would hardly give us this kind of effect.

Canon zoom lens EF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 III

You might be surprised by the fact that this lens is as old as I'm. Surprisingly it can still fit into my camera body and function well after I found it out in the storeroom. However it doesn't come with image stabiliser (IS) technology. I'm wondering how much its virtual market price is about since no one is selling or purchasing this lens anymore. But I'm happily keeping it in my camera bag although I seldom shoot photos using it.

A tripod

For shutter speed slower than 1/30 seconds and above, the photos taken are prone to handshakes under normal zoom range without the aid of a tripod. Therefore to perform some photo shooting that requires a longer exposure time especially during night time, I bought this tripod with RM50. Moreover, by switching my camera to self-timer mode, I can include myself into the image! For more advanced photo shooting options such as high dynamic range imaging (HDRI), I need to combine three photos of same position but different exposures, therefore a tripod is needed.

I took a family photo with the aid of my tripod.

This is a sample of photoshopped HDR image.

Nissin Di622 Mark II digital flash

Nissin is a third party brand. It does not build cameras. I'm supposed to buy a Canon digital flash, however the market price for getting one having similar function and specification of the one shown above is around RM900. Accessories produced by third parties could be very cheap, and some of them could still guarantee a decent quality and performance. I had gone through the reviews of different third party digital flashes via Internet and asked for some advice around. Eventually I found out the one I bought as shown above has a great reputation. The price of RM470 is within my budget too. Controlling lights could be difficult for beginners. Despite shooting repeatedly to obtain the preferred result, I can see the potential of how the colour and tones of a photo could be greatly improved by applying a particular amount of flashlight at a certain angle properly. Direct flash using built-in camera flash often creates harsh image with annoying shines and shadows. Digital flash is capable of rotating and light filtering, thus it is a versatile device to add more artificial lights. It gives a vibrant colour tone too.

Photo of my grandmother without using a digital flash.

Photo colour enhanced with some removal of undesired shadows compared to the previous photo. Flashlight is bounced from the wall onto her left face.

There are still a lot to explore and learn about. I would appreciate any advice regarding photo shooting given. Hopefully I can share great photos with you guys!

Youtube

2011-02-11T00:00:00.005+08:00

As one of the most popular websites, Youtube has always been serving as the main Internet platform in video uploading and broadcasting in most countries. In other context, it is the website where most of the Internet users are searching for audio-visual information. The user community has been growing steadily after several implementations of introducing a dynamic, user friendly, interactive interface. At the same time, the users can easily stay connected with video producers via subscriptions. Although Youtube is not a social network like Facebook, it is still obliged to take care of this large community and control the privacy, harmony and benefits of the community.

I don't know if I'm an active user of Youtube. I watched a lot of videos. I have an account but I rarely subscribe to any channels or providing feedbacks via leaving comment. At the same time, I don't bother to like or dislike a video at all. However I do observe how the community has been abusing their right regarding their freedom of speech. It is fascinating yet surprising to notice how easily human beings can be so juvenile, ignorant and abusive when they are granted the anonymity. And here comes the main point of this post. I would like to leave my opinions here concerning the way Youtube has been changing its feedback-providing system from what I slightly observed.

Once upon a time, Youtube was practicing a rating system which people normally called "five-star rating system". For example, if there were two groups of similar number of users rated 3 stars and 4 stars each, an average rating of 3.5 stars would be shown below the video. After that, this rating system was changed to what I called "bar rating system". Users were allowed to like or dislike a video without being given a scale to rate a video. The numbers of likes and dislikes were accumulated and displayed by two bars of green and red to show the video viewers a comparison. Now, Youtube has altered the "bar rating system". Only numbers of likes and dislikes are shown instead.

Before continue elaborating on my point of views, I would really like to determine the actual purpose of implementing a rating system. Groups of users can be differentiated in term of their interest, video making experience and so on. Some users would like to know how good their videos are made from the ratings given, while some of them are not interested to know the rating because they just share videos to close friends or relatives without editing. I don't know if we can completely disable all the rating and feedback in a video. At the moment, I would like to link the rating system to another website, The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). The website is proving a wide information of filmed movies with great and active response from the audience community. Instead of "five stars rating system", they maintain a "ten stars rating system" to improve on the rating sensibility of how worthy a movie should be watched. A rating system like this would be very useful, beneficial and appreciated with some reviews available at the same time. Back to Youtube, not many videos are filmed or made to entertain people in the same way as those commercial movies. Sometimes I just do not feel the necessity to have a rating system on Youtube, when I have no idea which parameter I should follow to rate a video featuring some bad news. It is the team of Youtube to decide which interactive elements to be maintained or to get rid of.

The above picture illustrates a "troll face"

Have you heard of "troll"? You might have met with trolls but not knowing they are referred as trolls. In Internet slang, troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous or off-topic messages in an online community. These people are almost everywhere. The bigger the population of an online community, the bigger the population of such trolls in the community as well. Why do I mention a new term here? Well, let's conduct some trials. Try to surf on Youtube to find as many videos with a moderate number of view counts as you can. You would be able track the trace of such a trolling activity when a video has been uploaded for a period of time until a troll can actually reach the site. And here comes their favourite agenda - giving some ridiculously juvenile and irrelevant remarks and a dislike, or more than a dislike if the troll has multiple accounts. You can hardly find a video with no dislikes, even if it is featuring sheer artistic performance. Under the same analogy, they would rate for the lowest star if possible, when they do not feel comfortable with the growing view counts and relatively high rating stars of a video. Perhaps you don't even know "Baby" by Justin Bieber has set a new record by collecting the greatest number of dislikes - about twice the number of likes. Do people really hate him so much?

Let alone the trolls. We cannot eliminate them as they are abusing their rights legally. Any democratic platforms are bound to these trolls. But certain actions can be taken to curb their activity. I recommend Youtube to remove the dislike buttons. By the way, what is the point to have this function? If we dislike someone, we don't express ourselves by telling him "hey dude, I dislike you." Instead, a preferred action would be telling him which aspect we would hope him to reflect on or change. Dislike is way too negative. This function could potentially harbour a community accompanied with hatred, jealousy and discouraging environment. I would agree to preserve the dislike button if it can bring a constructive means even without the presence of trolls. If you are thinking that you want to preserve the dislike button because you can take a look at its number while deciding if you want to spend your time watching the video, why don't you take a look at the numbers of view counts and likes, since trolling might give you a false feedback, assuming trolling does not target its positive feedback? In my humble opinion, the percentage of people who liked a video is enough for us to decide if a video should be watched. Thus, my another recommendation for Youtube would be showing the percentage, for instance, 25 out of 1000 people who watched the video have liked the video, thus giving a percentage of 2.5%.

It would not be wise to disable all comments in all videos due to trolling as we still need some constructive responses. At least inappropriate comments can still be flagged, reported and hid from public. By the way, if a video is really featuring something we don't like, personally I don't think it is a must to express ourselves. We have to accept the fact that having the urge to express such a dislike or negative sentimental thoughts to something is actually lack of self-cultivation, and being angry is an emotional penalty to no one other than ourselves. We just need to be moderate to build a harmony community.

Poor customer service

2011-01-17T14:25:00.005+08:00

Since I am having holiday until early in March, I would really like to enjoy this precious period by doing something else besides communicating with the world via Internet. As an ASTRO user, I used to subscribe to some channels that I prefer to watch such as sports channels and documentary channels. However it would be wasteful to keep on subscribing to these channels considering the fact that I was staying in college for months while none of my family members is interested in sport or documentary. Now it is time to resubscribe to those channels.

On the last day of 2010, I browsed through the official website of ASTRO to gather some information and found out recently there is a newly introduced package called high definition (HD) package which includes some sport and documentary channels! I was so delighted. I made some calls to seek for customer service, and as expected, we will need to reinstall the hardwares. However the installation fee and the cost of new hardwares are waived as long as you are bound to an one-year-contract with extra RM20 added to current subscription fee per month, which is quite reasonable. I was promised that their technical team would reach within 10 days. What? 10 days?

"Maybe this HD package is in a high demand in Alor Star nowadays," I thought.

So the days passed by until it was the seventh day of waiting. I was wondering, if they do take care of customer satisfactory, they wouldn't choose to perform the installation procedure on the last day of promised period. I tried to reach the customer service again, and he confirmed with me the technical team will surely contact my father as the account holder in the next few days. So I kept on waiting. I hoped it wouldn't take long because there were some interesting football matches I would really like to catch up. Moreover, my holiday is going to end soon with everyday passing by so swiftly.

It was the tenth day, and I realised they had missed out the important phrase. The "ten days" was meant to be "ten working days". Thus I was again told to wait for a few days in frustration. However we didn't receive any phone call even though we had been waiting for their service for more than 10 working days!

I constructed an email to voice out my anger and disappointment. Having called ASTRO for more than 8 times, I wasted about RM10 as I needed to key in the numbers, listening to the repeated instructions for a considerably long time that charges during the calls. To my surprise, it was clearly stated my email would be read and replied within another 3 days. I recalled my customer service with Dell when I discovered my newly bought laptop was having some problems with a faulty hard disc inside. I sent an email on the first day, and got the hard disc exchanged on the second day. I was so shocked by their efficiency.

I couldn't wait anymore. I got the phone numbers of the technician in charge of my residential area and started calling him. However, the office number directed my call into irritating voice mails, whereas no one picked up my call when I dialed the cell phone number. This lasted for 3 days.

When I was about to cancel my subscription, they contacted us. Right at the time I was constructing this blog post, 17 days after my initial call to subscribe the HD package. Typical customer service in Malaysia, I would say. Don't ever think you can always dominate and monopoly the market when the fundamental support is actually from customer's trust.

And, customer's trust is earned, not given.

Relativity

2010-12-10T20:52:00.007+08:00

This post is just something I figure out and find it interesting to share with. It might make some sense to relate basic scientific facts to our life.

Imagine there is a container with gas particles moving inside it randomly but following the fundamental laws of motion. They are atoms and molecules, the building blocks of any other complexes. Not going into too much scientific details, we know any atom would consist of subatomic particles such as proton, electron and neutron. In higher academic level, scholars divide these particles into quarks and leptons, and so on whenever new discoveries are made, possibly to be smaller than any scale we could ever imagine. In a simple way to draw up a conclusion, no matter how small the particles are, still, they are masses that occupy space, and undergo motions or are relatively stationary at any split second under the fixed ways they behave as one part of this world.

By understanding mass-energy equivalency, we know that our universe is at a dynamic environment yet constantly conserving its potential as a mass or energy as motion. By understanding Newton's first law, we can say an object would travel in a straight line with constant velocity or would not move provided no external force is exerted. I'm not going to give more examples of laws as it has clearly shown that the masses follow the rule, and this is the law of nature, which wouldn't change. No matter how complex a system is, none of the small mass could choose to defy these laws. In fact, they don't have the "ability" to "choose", they just obey whatever laws that are fixed.

Imagine a simple electrical circuit is set up by using copper wires, batteries and a light bulb. It would be complex enough to just look at the part of copper wire when the circuit is completed. There are multitude number of electrons moving at different velocities at any instant because each single electron would be situated at a totally different situation which is a combination of forces pushing or pulling the electron by different factors, such as electric field, magnetic field, gravitational field and so on. People do not normally take care of such a complexity as it is unnecessary to do so because by convention, any measurement is made under an error and uncertainty that may be omitted. It is impossible to be done as no super computer can handle such an intense calculation too. Thus, an ammeter that reads at particular sensitivity and accuracy will get the job done easier.

And the examples shown above derive from non-living things. This post would be a solely low level, not-so-precise and physics related academic post in general terminologies if I stop writing here. So I would like to relate the above statements to our life.

Living organisms, undergo movement and locomotion under controlled. In the kingdom of Animalia, if I'm not mistaken, all organisms have a nervous system controlled by the neuronal activity integrated organ called brain. The influx of sodium ions into the axon as well as the attachment of neurotransmitters into the receptors happening at synaptic cleft, which is the small gap between two neurons illustrate the simple concept of how the messages are being transmitted in the form of electrical pulses in these animals especially in human. No one knows exactly how our brains work, although some achievements have been made in brain researches to successfully identify different regions of brain separated by its functionality. It is even more complicated when we try to figure out and analyse how human mind works based on what the human population has understood at the perspective of science and logic.

Each human motion is controlled by the brain, the extremely complicated network of synapses and neurons with electrical messages being transmitted all time long. If I relate the natural law of motions into every mass included in this nervous system, and if and only if it is true, we, the human beings, are a set of combined masses, which obey the fixed laws, and cannot be changed by itself! Thus, the human motion is itself a natural act, controlled by the mind, which is an abstract representative of a network of "masses" that act naturally. Thus I would say, with each act that we have done, and act that we will have it done in the future, our life has been indirectly fixed, just like the way the laws are fixed. You might argue that we could change our mind anytime and refute this theory. As I've mentioned, each act, including changing our mind, is still being "controlled" by the neuronal activity, that would not "change" by itself. It is included.

Life is not just about an individual matter. It is the world, the interactions between people, the abiotic factors and biotic factors, the history and so on. We think, perceive, learn, and develop our mindset, and this is even more complex than the description of previous paragraph. Thus, I would symbolise every person as a mass, the influencing power as its inertia, and the historical background and abiotic factors as different fields, and there ends up being a mixture of content under different motions, following the laws! You could say, in a pessimistic way, that we cannot change what would happen in the future. Our fate and destiny has been written. Of course we can say we would fail the test without study, and we would have chosen to do that if we wanted. But now we have passed the test, and it happened out of many possible outcomes, but what happened is only that happened. There is only one result. If we shift the timeline to before the test, and it wouldn't be wrong to propose "no matter how your result is, it is fixed." This is an act, a happening, symbolised by the vector and magnitude of motion of a mass after a "collision".

So hereby I suggest a new relativity, the relativity of natural relation between each aspect stated above, and no matter what it is. Of course this is not fully a professional proposal and I'm just an ordinary student of age 19 who has only completed his A-Level course. This is definitely a theory with loopholes and flaws. But I just couldn't help to share this as it is really interesting.

And at some point, I believe it is true =)

Reflection (Part 1)

2010-11-28T19:59:00.005+08:00

Having participated in Biro Tatanegara (BTN) course that lasted for five days, I'm going to share what was going on throughout the camp. I had the urge to share my point of views while I was having the course, however it is not easy to recall every single incident that happened and come out with an overall review based on what I had been thinking.

BTN, in case you have not come across with this term, and if I'm not mistaken, was introduced at the early age to mould the youngsters who were thought to raise disciplinary problems in school. Recently it was further modified to fulfill the need to instill patriotism in the government servants and those government-servant-to-be. I guess this is also one of those preventive measures in reducing brain drain.

We didn't have enough sleep during the course, but we did not need to worry about hunger. They provided six meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Teatime would fill in every empty slot of schedule. You would never feel hungry. There would be almost at least a piece of chicken and a fish for every participant in every meal, which is quite costly. The accommodation was the best part of the camp. We were provided a clean dorm with eight bunk beds and new furniture. The campsite is relatively isolated from the city and near to a beach, thus we would feel the calm and windy weather.

On the first day, I was so surprised to find out the campsite actually has a wifi source, and managed to steal some time and stay connected to Facebook for a while before our mobile phones were confiscated throughout the next four days. However most Maxis users received poor signals from the base stations of mobile phones in this remote area. Despite the fact that even if we took control of our own mobile phones, we cannot connect to the outside world with no signal coverage, still, I guess 107 of us were all having a hard time without mobile phone in our pockets.

The whole course was just mainly about presentations and group trainings that involves some aspects to build a civil minded and patriotic soul. Every morning we had to wake up at 5.30am, slightly late comparing to Muslims. We had to take part in so called moral lessons when the Muslims were attending for their morning prayers. After that there would be morning training session. I did not have any experience in marching or foot drill, and it is embarrassing and insulting when the commanders were no happy for he expected everyone of us must have joined a uniformed unit or national service before.

In my opinion, it is just a personal matter whether anyone of us chose to join a uniformed unit, and don't take that as a compulsory when it seems that joining a uniformed unit would greatly help one to obtain extra co-curriculum merit and secure your university seat. Just allow me to speak a little out of topic, I just find it ridiculous when people were so surprised to find out the fact that I, as a PSD scholarship holder, do not hold any certificate of a uniformed team at all. My point is simple, everyone has his or her own liking, interest and time management. When the government is practicing a moderate way of encouraging youngsters to take part in uniformed unit, we can make up our mind to give a full commitment in other kind of co-curriculum activities and the outcomes are beneficial as well.

Back to the marching part in every morning, I truly enjoyed the session as I learn something new instead of listening to cliche that has been aggressively reiterated during speeches given by trainers and facilitators. However when I further analyse the speech content as well as activities curriculum, I notice they had unevenly distributed what they want us to learn and understand in the course by national civic bureau. We were exposed to the content of constitution of Malaysia in different ways. However they just focused on some important clauses. According to the syllabus stated in the official website of national civic bureau, we are supposed to learn about the latest issues, patriotism, the nation history, the government system, social contract, constitution of Malaysia and others. However what had been greatly emphasised was the social contract and some particular facts included in the constitution. I'm glad to learn all of these, and eventually I catch the main point and agenda of the course, which is to indoctrinate participants to understand the social contract based on constitution. Not to say we learn only a little about others but honestly I was a little annoyed by the way it had been emphasised.

Nevertheless, at some point I'm still holding on to my ideology. I would reflect on it and figure out more to share with you next time.

BTN

2010-11-17T21:53:00.004+08:00

Finally the final examination is over and this definitely puts my A-Level course to an end. I have given my best shot in eight of the papers and hopefully I would be able to obtain the newly introduced and also the highest grade of the grading system, A* (A star, quite similar to the A+ in SPM). Before going home, all of us would need to attend BTN (National Civics Bureau), a course that is prepared by the government for those students heading oversea in the future and others. The aim of this course is mainly about instilling patriotism by exposing each of us to historical lessons. This should be interesting, however I'm a little worried as when I was digging some information regarding this course, I came across with a lot of negative feedback. One of my seniors who has already taken the course advised me not to take what would soon be exposed to myself personally. Some controversy arose, and issues were discussed as some news reported that BTN has been proven unfruitful to fulfill the aim, and including some sensitive and biased remarks. At that time, our Prime Minister had shown up and promised the syllabus of BTN would be further speculated and made vary to synchronise the aim when political parties were hotly debating about whether to abolish this controversial course or not. So it remains until now, and it is my turn to experience it. I'm sure I would have a lot of stories to share here after this. Hopefully it does change in a positive way after coming across with intense criticism.

p/s : I spent a number of money, just to buy the strictly designated costume, and everyone needs to do so.

Censored

2010-10-15T15:18:00.002+08:00

This is how the front cover page of TIME magazine gazetted in the first week of October should be.

I received it. But it has been censored by marker pen.

IELTS result

2010-09-01T19:00:00.002+08:00

Finally the IELTS result is released! Here is my result:

Listening: 8.5
Reading: 8.5
Writing: 7.5
Speaking: 6.0 =(

Total: 8.5 + 8.5 + 7.5 + 6.0 = 30.5
Overall band score = 30.5/4 = 7.625 ≈ 7.5

Here is the reference of band score:

9. Expert User - native speaker level of the language.

8. Very Good User - excellent command of the language, a few mistakes only

7. Good User - handles language well, some inaccuracies, communicates adequately

6. Competent User - reasonable control of the language, difficulties with unfamiliar

5. Modest User - adequate in own area, difficulties with complex structures

4. Limited User - adequate only in familiar areas, difficulty understanding expression

3. Very Limited User - problems communicating, limited communication abilities

2. Intermittent User - many difficulties, basic information only

1. Non User - understands a few isolated words only

I am quite satisfied with the overall performance despite the poor response rated for my speaking test. However I can't recall much regarding the experience during the tests.

I tried my best and stretched my ears to the max during listening test. However I couldn't catch up the fast conversation by some speakers with thick British accent in one of the parts. I have got some luck to score well in reading test.

Although 7.5 is lower than 8.5, it is still considered as a relatively high band in writing. I think I did pretty well in that paper as I applied a wide range of vocabulary and structures of sentences in appropriate ways. I wouldn't have achieved this band if I did not force myself to pick up the habit of blogging and intensive writing since I failed to score well in SPM.

The examiner who conducted my speaking test was very professional. She is a woman of more than 60 and has a perfect pronunciation. However, she looked very unfriendly, serious and strict. I tried my best to give my best answer for every question or task given, but I just couldn't escape from the fate of getting such an unacceptable band. In fact, if I obtained a band higher than 6.0 for speaking, even by only an addition of 0.5, the overall band score would be 8.0 or higher! =)

In conclusion, IELTS test is interesting and exciting. Every candidate needs to pay full attention to focus on every test after a certain period of training and preparation. Having boosted with confidence, a little luck is still desired.

Respect our name

2010-09-01T00:09:00.006+08:00

It has been a long time since I noticed quite a number of my friends have preferred people to address them by their own coined nickname. In my opinion it has nothing wrong to have a nickname for better recognition among newly met friends, as long as it is related to your abbreviation of your name, your character, your appearance and others. For example, my name is Jin Xiang. Some of my Malay friends find it hard to pronounce words starting with the alphabet "X", so I always recommend them to address me in the way they pronounce "Siang" in Malay language. Both of the words are homonym, moreover the word "Siang" brings the meaning of morning in their language. Some of my Indian friends have long names, so they abbreviate it.

Normally Chinese names would not appear to be too long nor too complicated. It usually consists of three words - rarely two or four, and the first word is the surname that enables you to track back your origins and the line of ancestors. For instance, my full name is Lui Jin Xiang, a typical Chinese name that does not fit into the first and last name system existing in Europe because people tend to relate first name to surname. In order to show my Chinese name as Lui Jin Xiang, it is a must to give my name by Lui as last name. We show respect to our ancestors, so we don't put it behind. So, for me it is a little annoying to categorise my surname as last name.

Perhaps you don't know, or even some of the Chinese don't even feel the importance and underlying obligation to be proud of your surname as well as your name given by your parents. It shows a good example of how influential it can be, when we come across with some historical facts of some heroes sharing the same surname with us did something great, we would feel glad and honored. How if that person had been notorious? We would really feel guilty and sorry for him. There lies an invisible link among Chinese of same surname. How about the name given by your parents? Do you think it does not carry any meaning? Or they had not been considerate enough to give you a unique name you desire?

And here comes the main point of updating this post. I do wonder what the motive of getting an unnecessary nickname is. I have no comment on people who changed their names because of some beliefs and religious needs. I guess every Christian would need to add an English name in front of their surnames for the reason I have not discovered. However sometime I sense that several of those who changed their names, either in a formal or informal way, have shown disrespect to their own identities and sheer western advocacy. Maybe you don't like to live with your current name because it is too common, fine, reflect on what you have omitted, feel obligated and rectify it. The reason is simple. It is your identity granted by your parents! Appreciate the only naming system that conserves you and your ancestors' identity relations.

Abolish examinations?

2010-06-22T14:48:00.005+08:00

I can still barely remember the title of continuous essay I chose to elaborate on while taking English paper during SPM examination in year 2008. It was asking for the advantages and disadvantages of examination. I thought I had given my best shot and expected to score a satisfying result, but I had to face the fact that my essay could only rank B4 in the 1119 paper (it is the English subject of GCE O-Level examination) when the result was released.

Based on what I read, examination was first introduced in ancient China when the emperors required a system to evaluate the nationwide scholars. Their knowledge of history, their personal virtue and capability in handling or solving problems such as military dilemma and economic crisis would be heavily tested within continuous days, restlessly. Passing the exam was a prerequisite before scholars are awarded the authority of managing a designated mission as "cabinet member" or what has been famously known as "guan", the court officer who was involved in judiciary decisions. During that particular period, serving the government under the emperor's name was the ultimate ambition of every man. They had no choice but sit for examinations.

After centuries, examination is seen to have assimilated into different nations. It eventually becomes one of the most common evaluative measure conducted to different groups of people in various ways, but with a similar objective. Examination has always been hotly debated for its disadvantages as what is happening recently in our society of Malaysia. Policy makers announced it is the time to reevaluate this measure as it seems to bring more harm to students. At the same time, people are suggesting the need to modify the flawed education system by reintroducing a relatively dynamic learning method under an atmosphere that appears to be more conducive and less stress. The most possible outcome is that one or more significant examinations would be abolished.

In my opinion, straight to the point, examination is a system that was well practised for a long term of time before people could really find out its harm. Further analysing would tell us the colossal and accumulative stress does affect the students adversely. However I believe moderate stress is the best motive force that keeps our pace in track when we own a target to achieve.

Another thing we concern is, how are we going to handle the problem of a large number of fresh graduated primary school student with "unknown potential" in their enrollment of secondary school? Apparently there must be a final exam such as UPSR to do this job.

PMR might seem less significant, thus it would most probably be abolished. However, when we reflect on the benefits of taking PMR, candidates can actually find out whether he should prepare himself to pick up subjects of art stream or science stream. Having prepared in PMR, students can be mentally prepared to sit for SPM too.

Examination in Malaysia has been mechanized and doing not-so-good in its quality control. It can be improved, but not easy though. I am wondering why the policy makers do not prefer to modify it before getting rid of it.

Whether there will be a real abolishment or not, this is the critical moment whereby people's concern has finally brought about some stirred movement in the cabinet. However, this is also the moment when a considerate attitude is needed to reach a compromise, or else the latest generation of students in Malaysia will get trapped in the uncertainties in their fate.

If the government does take care of this issue so much, do remember to reevaluate the recognition of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) of Chinese Independent High School and tune the huge injustice gap existing between the preuniversity programmes.

I remain positive to receive the next news.

The controversy

2010-05-23T16:28:00.006+08:00

Since it was announced that the grading system is slightly changed to introduce a higher distinction namely "super distinction" for SPM, I had been wondering how it would result in a different outcome regarding the proportion of candidates scoring the so called perfect result in a particular subject or all of the subjects taken, which have been limited to 10+2.

A grading system is like a measuring tool. It is designed to measure something. It should be moulded and calibrated considering the main aspects - is it too long or too short to measure the full size of the object? Is it sensitive enough such that smallest division used is helpful to give a reading including the significant figures needed? Can it be used to measure different objects, and give a comparison of them? A bad tool is not meant to be a bad tool as it might still be useful to measure other objects of different requirements. Applying the same analogy, I soon realised the new grading system is not competent enough to calibrate the candidates nationwide from the same batch in a credible and sensible method.

The SPM wouldn't be so important if it hasn't been included in the main consideration taken into account while the government department such as Public Service Department or other party such as National Bank is going to determine scholarship winners. Therefore SPM result is often related to these scholarships because they are closely linked. To maximise the chance to qualify oneself as the applicant and at the same time secure such scholarships, scoring a perfect result is necessary. It could be scoring all A1 based on the previous grading system or all A+ based on the current grading system. These are so called "perfect result" which would guarantee you, or at least it is very hard to deprive your chance to secure the scholarship provided by government. This is why candidates used to take more insignificant subjects, leading to improvement made to the examination system whereby maximum number of subjects taken has been limited. However, the flawed remains flawed until today due to the lack of transparency as some parties are still seeking for explanation for the unsolved yet prolonged problems, or even some conspiracy as mentioned by others.

How if there are too many perfect scorers? I didn't expect to know there is a large number of "perfect" scorers nor did I believe it if approximately 90% is the official threshold as reported. I'm not certain whether the number of candidates who managed to score A+ for any subjects is almost equal to the figure of the previous batch of candidates, however and still, there is something very obvious and provoking - the steep gradient between Chinese subject and any other subject. All of that is just playing with the normal distribution. Apparently it is not hard to set a threshold with the marks needed as the responding variable based on the proportion of the distribution required artificially. For example, if we want only 8% of those, let say 10000 of them who take a particular subject to get an A+, we can easily determine the threshold of the marks needed for the A+ by considering the lowest marks obtained by the candidates in the 8% of distribution. We might question how if the overall performance has greatly declined and what other changes should be made. In this case, a smaller proportion can be selected, for example, 5% or lower. Therefore, this flexible method is not applied blindly, but considering all the possible situations with a fair solution.

It has been a known fact that the "hardest" subject appears to be Chinese subject. In case you don't know how "hard" it is, you can ask any of your friends who were sitting for SPM in 2009 and could proudly tell you he or she had gotten an A+ in that subject. I don't have an official figure nor statistic for this, but it is fairly easy to spot the flaw when you heard there is only one hundred and more candidates scoring A+ nationwide, while a school could have equal number of candidates achieving the same result for any other subject. Why is the percentage of proportion scoring A+ for Chinese is less than 1% while other subjects can have relatively high percentage such as 8% or even more than 10%? All we need is an explanation.

Put the grading system of SPM aside, I would like to share some of my views towards the distribution of PSD scholarship. I used to think it is the best to give away the scholarship to the best brains. However when I further reflect on this issue, I think of wealth gradient among the people in our country and the way our government is trying to minimise gradient. We can't let the people in poverty to stand in the tight competition alone, that's why some policies such as free tax or extra subsidy are introduced so that they can have a better living condition, although it is still considerably terrible. This issue would be less controversial if everyone understands that. However it is not easy to protect everyone...

[To be continued...]

Change or not change?

2010-05-13T13:04:00.005+08:00

I'm currently operating Compaq Presario C700 notebook which is relatively old considering the fact that my father had been using it installed with Windows XP for years ago before passing it to me. Now it appears to be terminally ill. The fan is constantly giving out irritating noise as if it is overworking although the cooling effect is fairly dissatisfying. I suspect the easily accumulated heat is one of the factors contributing to the occasional system lagging. However there are credits I can still give. I particularly enjoy the sensation of typing on its keypad. As a gamer, despite the graphic limitations that allow its user to run only gaming applications with low graphic requirements, I love the widescreen too.

My Sony Ericsson K618i has been following me for more than three years, it is gradually exposing its glitches too. The main faulty aspect that annoys me is the "instant auto-shutdown" of my phone. Whenever I insert it into my pocket and walk for some distance, it would automatically shut down, causing inconvenience as people can't reach my phone to give me a call. The phone needs only a small knock from sideways to slump into unconsciousness. I guess it must be the battery being unable to hinge to the terminal in an appropriate and functional way. To type instant messages in Chinese has caused me a hardship too. It takes a long time to fully read the pinyin (the standard system of Roman spelling in Chinese). Therefore it is considerably slow and insensitive. Furthermore, the metal plates which are responsible for adapting the charger are severely corroded. Whenever I want to charge my phone, I have to give it a "comfortable position" so there is current passing through the loosely connected junction, not to mention it might break and cut the circuit if slightly disturbed.

Actually I don't mind using old products as long as they are still capable of performing routine tasks in a satisfying way to users. However if I'm given the chance, I would certainly change both of them, or at least one of them. My parents are generous enough to sponsor whatever I want without further consideration, but I don't really want to spend too much of their money on my needs without further consideration too. I thought of smartphones, especially iPhone that has dominated the recent market with its cool-looking features. I thought of laptops my roommate recommended to me by introducing a lot of terminology which is not layman-friendly such as those modeling codes of hardware. I'm clear that I have to be clear to my requirements before choosing any product from the vast available options I can simply grab.

I do hope to accept any suggestions you might be able to share with me.

Is it that hard to compromise?

2010-05-03T19:30:00.003+08:00

Having only healthy vegetarian food in my college hasn't been as convenient as what I think it could potentially be. There are only two cafeterias inside the college compound, one is Mamak cafeteria providing mainly Indian orientated food and one is Malay cafeteria which is just situated one floor below my apartment unit. There are two other ways to get your stomach filled - from the food stalls at the roadside opposite KTT, or from the food catering aunty whom we call her Aunty Mira.

Under normal circumstances I have no problem at getting nutritious vegetarian food at a reasonable price for every breakfast and lunch. Mamak cafeteria provides trays of mixed vegetables in buffet style. By paying only RM2.50, it is quite a considerable saving for a happy meal. It would be a little expensive to cater my lunch by filling up my own container at the stall prepared by an old woman who has her secret recipe attracting a great number of loyal customers every afternoon. To my personal liking, I would rather pay RM3.50 for delicious bean-based vegetables and potatoes.

After having my dinner just now, I had a conversation with the senior person in charge at the counter, and I felt a little offended when I was trying to compromise the flawed way in charging the food price. To order vegetarian food without frying, I have only limited options, that is to order foods separately. It is very unreasonable to get charged RM5.00 for a plate of white rice with an egg and a plate of mixed vegetable considering the fact I could have eaten a plate of fried rice with almost equal or even greater quantity of mixed vegetable and rice by paying only RM3.00. When I asked if it is possible to charge less since it is imbalanced in comparison with other options in the menu, I was fairly surprised that at first he replied which price I prefer in a harsh way, and grumbled something like you shouldn't order if you don't like to, instead of have considerations compromised whereby it is easy to set a fixed reasonable price to the combination above, at least for vegetarian food.

I can be a picky eater when it comes to healthy food, or choosy in catering food. I haven't been taking any fried chicken in KTT since months ago. Besides, I would really feel guilty whenever I use a polystyrene box or plastic bag. I don't mind washing extra containers by myself and I think it is time for everyone to show some concern towards the current main global issue especially those who are highly selective like me, but in a different way - rather to dine in his own apartment which would in turn result in a used polystyrene box for each meal taken. I couldn't say it is indifference shown, but it is another ironical scene to look at because well educated people would have reflected on what they should do before getting it done, however in this case, it is clearly seen that because of the long term habit practiced so they don't feel like holding any obligation.

Untitled (You may suggest one.)

2010-04-21T13:33:00.008+08:00

Perhaps I shouldn't have concerned too much. Perhaps I should respond to all unpleasant sight by just a smile, and stay happy because it actually favors us. No criticism, no so called "harsh comments" or "inappropriate action". Perhaps I shouldn't have placed my perspective of views in equal to those, which in turn would easily spark some misunderstandings. Perhaps I should be one of those saying: "Aiya, like that one la, why care so much?" Or perhaps I should just remain silent, be your obedient students and get focused in term of academic attention, score a string of As in examination, or try to secure the top in the world award to appease them before flying to India, then leave here and be happy ever after.

But I don't. To refrain myself from the urges to share something neglecting its fact as either positive or negative has been something more difficult than to keep my mouth shut. Some people don't understand the fascinating and intriguing part we could indulge ourselves in during arguing against a statement or topic by contributing constructive thoughts, and have a great assimilation of others' thoughts, so that things can eventually end up obtaining a valuable outcome. Curiosity and sense of accomplishment are playing a main role. People tend to lost the interest concerned in the sense that he doesn't prefer to share his very personal piece of two cents could be a result of flawed environment he was being brought up. For example, the repeating cliche during constructing an essay without really trying to inject some fresh ideas whenever possible, could curb his sharing ability.

When something has been done with a large margin of improvement, I speak. When I saw something flawed or wrong, I speak. Before I speak, I do something which most of the people don't, that is I reflect on whether I'm trying to contribute to, or encourage the flawed or to the wrong. At the same time, we can't dispute the fact if we don't stay in the flawed, we are the ones who face disadvantages. It can be a hard time to balance everything during this stage, but this is what prepares us to have equipped all of the traits needed in order to push ourselves to a further level of aptitude in the future.

We can choose to show indifference towards the flawed, because of "it is none of my business, as long as I happy, it doesn't matter." or "I can't do much to change that, don't let myself to get into trouble, so just let it be." Here is a question to think: Are we entitled to do so? And here comes a good lesson to learn - to be able to achieve the goal with minimum arousal of less significant circumstances which might in turn lead to a complication that may defeat the purpose of the initial intention. Expect the unexpected and accept the unacceptable. Which one do you choose?

What's wrong? Can't you sense it?

2010-04-03T12:08:00.007+08:00

Here is the previous post of the similar topic.

Forwarded emails urge me to voice out my opinion here again. Can we call the reaction of someone saying "Oh, that's cruel, we shouldn't do that!" while reading emails spreading news about killing of animals on the verge to extinct as human conscience? I have been trying to get involved in arguments such as humans have no right to deprive animals of their life regardless of their status or species. Whenever I read the typical comments cursing those inhumane sin done by either illegal butcher or hunter, especially on Facebook, I couldn't help myself to have my two cents pointed out in order to further scrutinize, review and try to bring an ironical sense into this issue.

For example, there was a documentary video showing seals' misfortune, suffering from the peeling of their skin by human in order to meet the high demand of raw material in leather industry. As expected, all the response towards this revealed sin could be generalised as rantings, condemnation and criticism accompanied by some cursing, or some of them might not even have the courage to continue watching because it was just too evil. For a greater understanding, I tried to make a simple comparison with the killing of poultry so that we could equate the cruelty of human act. Actually when we are taking meat from chicken and beef, we do contribute in this too.

Then, people started to refute my argument, stating that there is an obvious difference due to the reason torture and killing are not the same, and the sin of killing is definitely lower than the sin of torturing. They solidified their arguments Humans were created by god to be a "caliphate" on this earth and permitted to take advantage of all the natural resources there, but not to torture fellow creatures.

I have to admit the idea I advocate to is greatly influenced by teaching in Dharma talk. If you are not familiar with that, I would like to tell you that killing is prohibited, even killing an ant. And here comes the contact between religious views.

I do agree they are different above the surface, and I am trying to find an alternative perspective from the identity they share. I don't have the intention to defy any of the religious views but it is just intriguing for me to have a deeper insight towards this. Since both of them are sins and people don't wish to conduct any sinful practice, and logically and rationally people would say: "No, I don't want it to be like this." or "It is so wrong, we shouldn't do these." We would have criticized sinful people using different extent of phrases based on ascending "degree of sin". But for me, it brings contradiction when people would actually consider these as antonym, humane and inhumane.

If you read carefully, my point is very simple, that is "do not feel sorry or guilty for the animals when you are reading similar email or whatsoever, if you are dining in meat, such as KFC, perhaps?

There is another fascinating fact I would like to share. Whenever we flipped through the newspapers, bad news such as murdering and kidnapping would not fail to meet our eyes. Have you ever noticed that we have our own scale on judging the degree of sin conducted by those criminals? Sometime the scale would go imbalanced. For instance, when a little adorable girl was kidnapped, the newspapers would have some argh-she-is-so-cute photos gazetted to draw the attention of the public. Same analogy, people would look at the photo and say "where the hell do those kidnappers grow their conscience? How can you be so harsh to such a cute little girl?" How if miserably the victim doesn't have an attractive look? There is no an one hundred and eighty degree of change by public response, of course, but you can actually notice the great difference.

Things are artificial, and fake as well.

FESKOTT

2010-03-29T17:42:00.007+08:00

Finally the sports festival that lasted for a week in my college has ended. Here comes the time to review and analyze the event namely Festival Sukan Kolej Teknologi Timur (FESKOTT).

FESKOTT includes many games, for instance football, netball, volleyball, futsal and track events such as short distance sprinting. This festival didn't only confine its participants to A-Level students but also lecturers and students taking other diploma course. We were categorized into four main contingents having more than two hundreds of members each. Basketball match was introduced to meet our demand, but the organizer shouldn't have ignored some events, which could be carried out in a stadium, in this case, the stadium located 3km from my college. It was not a great deal to apply for the access of using those facilities in order to provide us the opportunity to take part in events other than sprinting. Personally I feel it was quite disappointing and a little unfair. Not all of us are sprinters, and those having strong arms and excellence hopping ability couldn't have their potentials utilized.

I took part in volleyball, the game that I have been deeply indulged in since my first exposure towards this teamwork requiring sport. With great skills we had made our way into the final but stumbled, and ended up getting my first silver trophy of volleyball competition. Apart from that, as one of those who urged the organizing of basketball competition, I grouped a team of five players and won the champion with perspiration and luck, and I was quite surprised to be awarded the best player.

During the closing ceremony.

Despite some unpleasant sight or inconvenience, FESKOTT can still be considered a memorable and joyful event. It greatly depends on how you treat it. Effort would normally and eventually pay off. It is also time to keep my pace on the "academic track" for that pre AS Level examination is just around the corner.

I'm officially 19 years old =)

2010-03-22T21:50:00.008+08:00

Notifications of Facebook and text messages started to pile up within my laptop and handphone to the extent that although my fingers were working frantically, I couldn't manage to reply the all birthday wishes on time, all of these happened when it was near 12am of 22nd March.

I remember whenever it was my birthday, my family wouldn't fail to celebrate it, either inviting my friends to my birthday party or having a special dinner together. But this time it is fairly different.

I felt so warm, mainly because of that I was greatly surprised by my family. I sensed something fishy at 9pm yesterday as my sister suddenly asked me the song I like the most. Out of my expectation, they made a four-minute-video including the compilation of photos since my childhood moment running in slide show mode, to wish me a happy birthday which had been previously done for 18 consecutive years in my own house. Thank you Papa Mama, Jin Sheng, Jin Yao, Mei Mei and Ngen Ngen =) It is the best present I have ever received!

Lovely written cards from my friends.

At the same time I received a handmade birthday card from her! =) It was agonizing to have the envelope in my hands but I had to wait for 4 days until I was valid to open the envelope. Those words in the card tug deeply at my heartstrings, but I would like to apologize for not revealing them for the-reason-you-should-know =)

A mixture of old friends, relatives as well as my teacher and even my favourite lecturer left their wishes on the wall of my Facebook profile. I appreciate that very much =)

Things turned crazier when my friends planned to trick me in a cafe outside my college.

Ouch >.<"

I finally know how a face bumps into a cake feels. I know whose idea this is!

Here is the second vanilla cake. I like vanilla so much!

Thank you for enlightening my birthday =)

Birthday, in another perspective which is often emphasized by saints, is actually exactly what we can call it as a "disastrous day" of our mother. So instead of just having a blast with friends, we should actually spend some time on that day to reflect on how those days passed by when we were being ignorance but gradually raised and educated by our parents with great care and love after giving birth to us. 19 years has just gone in just a glimpse, what is left is what has remained in my memory, and I shall cherish every moment I had, which I only had.

No, I don't prefer this one.

2010-03-18T20:32:00.003+08:00

This question can be interesting, how does your seat in your current college or university look like? Do you feel comfortable with the designated lecture hall or classroom you enter every weekday and spend hours of time dealing with the new syllabus or enduring the sleep-inducing tone by your lecturers? I guess everyone of you have no problem recognising the "tuition chair" ( I couldn't find any suitable word to name it. ) with the small flipping board. Yes, it is small, and brings a lot of unpleasant moment whenever I am to sit on it, which in turn urges me to voice out my personal opinion regarding this popular facility provided throughout the Malaysia.

Honestly, when I was a primary school kid, I was sick of sticking myself on the old wooden table with drawer and chair whole day long. At the same time, I used to have a funny thought that sitting on the tuition chair must be very comfortable, cool-looking or any adjective that describes something good.

Now I realise the chair doesn't bring as much joy as I expected. The main aspect that fails to withdraw my affinity towards the chair is the small flipping board, or perhaps I should call it the small pad. All of us bring our pencil box during lesson, and thanks to the small area that cannot even accommodate a normal textbook, our pencil box would always end up laying on the floor beneath the chair.

It drives me mad whenever I'm trying to solve any question with the aid of a calculator. There is no sufficient space to get calculator a good spot, but to place it above the paper. I come out with a good solution to avoid the calculator blocking the text in paper, that is to place it on my thighs. And at this time you can pay attention using your ears. Trust me, occasionally there will be sound of calculator hitting the ground as a result of falling down, and after that I know how strong our calculator is to withstand the impact and remain intact after collision, nice quality control, Casio.

Actually every invention would come in handful in particular aspect. The tuition chair can serve better, but not in KTT. I prefer sitting on an ordinary chair, having ample space to have my work done comfortably on an ordinary table. Hah, just a personal rambling, do tell me if you have the same feeling :p

Flawed?

2010-03-16T21:39:00.004+08:00

It has been more than 8 months since 6th July of year 2009 when I registered myself as one of the students in Kolej Teknologi Timur to enroll on Cambridge A-Level program under the scholarship awarded by JPA. Here is the schedule of the 18 months (1.5 years) I would like to share.

The A-Level program comprises two main examinations we have to go through. The syllabus is divided into half, which in short namely AS and A2. Both of them account for 50% of the total marks that would in turn determine the grade (A, B and so on) each. Theoretically I could have 9 months to deal with AS syllabus and another identical duration for A2. However I have to wait until the May and June to take AS papers, and there starts the A2 syllabus before the examination. When is the A2 examination? 4 months after AS examination.

So, I am wondering why the schedule is fixed in this way. I do not have any intention to bring about my own dissatisfaction towards the imbalanced schedule, as I would have decided to take STPM that includes all the syllabus in only one final examination, if my SPM result failed to attract any scholarship. Moreover, some friends of mine here are actually enduring a tough stage - they have no other choice but are forced to complete the same syllabus within one year, not to mention the entrance exam to pass as one of the prerequisites to grab a seat in any prestigious universities abroad. While some of them might be proud of that only Malaysia can provide the insanely shortened duration of A-Level program in this way, it seems that none of us are actually aware of the improper management to plan the foundation course provided to scholarship holders based on the dates of intakes stated by particular universities.

In my opinion, A-Level is not as tough as STPM in term of the academic coverage, but it does take time to fully prepare ourselves before stepping in the examination hall to apply what we have learned. This is just my little concern as a Malaysian blogger, who welcomes anyone to clarify anything I might have missed or pointed out wrongly, or justify the need to change, for a positive outcome.

The Chinese New Year Celebration

2010-02-26T17:34:00.008+08:00

It was two days ago when we had a blast in my college presenting the Chinese New Year celebration after weeks of preparation in hurry. The main aspects of this activity such as program, food and decorations were well done in the sense that we have got a very positive feedback from those VIPs as well as from our college mates. I was mainly in charge of decorative procedures and exhibition, that means I was no doubt one of the busiest men, so it is a kind of relief accompanied by satisfaction and joy to have this project done, not perfectly, but I'm certain that at least it has thrilled everyone in my college by which they could actually sense the Chinese New Year ambiance and explore more about our culture and tradition under such an exposure.

This backdrop is 100% handmade using "raw materials" such as mahjong papers, red papers black ink, glue etc. It is superb isn't it? =)

We invited a lion dance troupe to invite the VIPs and perform during the opening ceremony.

The spring couplet in the form of scroll rolling down after pulled by VIPs at the main entrance of the hall.
We normally read the couplet starting from the right one, from top to bottom. To translate, it simply brings the meaning of "Golden ox embarks on a new journey and there comes the tiger indicating the arrival of spring."

She is the head of our college, we call her "Datin". Her expression tells me that she might be wondering what those Chinese characters mean, perhaps?

Our very first show was traditional dance including eight of us dancing using Chinese fan and lanterns. I am the one holding the red lantern at a lower level.

This is another meaningful scene. They are taking part in "laosheng", using chopsticks to toss the raw fish salad high in the air. Fish is a homophone of "abundance" in Chinese, therefore it symbolises prosperity and auspiciousness.

The VIPs showing their calligraphy of a single word namely "tiger". This word is relatively complicated, so I guess they wouldn't have written such an readable masterpiece if I didn't use a pencil to provide a draft of the strokes on those pink papers :p

I did take part in the choir too. It was a wonderful experience to perform Chinese New Year song in full traditional attire with a group of friends!

The martial arts known as wushu in Chinese. Can you notice there is a Malay guy? :D

This lovely lady has a great voice! She sang folk song in the way opera singers sing, how wonderful!

'This guy is proficient in playing Chinese yo-yo.

Ribbon dance.

Mandarin oranges eating competition.

The middle guy is transformed into the God of Wealth and Fortune. The costume is handmade too!

The VIPs are trying to write 恭喜发财 (Gong Xi Fa Cai).

They are my favourite lecturers =)

VIPs visiting the displaying boards during exhibition.

You wouldn't have managed to come out with a correct estimation if you didn't know how much Chinese likes the number 8!

I particularly like these two photos.

I notice that although there are not many Chinese in my college, there are still a number of talented people interspersed in the nerd-looking scholarship holders. I have received some compliments regarding the decoration that worked under my mastermind, but I still need to declare that without the helping hands, I could not make it. I really enjoyed these hectic weeks which severely replaced my revision schedule, despite the fact that I am now slightly lagged behind in term of academic syllabus.

The hectic and memorable holidays

2010-02-18T17:21:00.006+08:00

I have been relatively busy throughout these weeks as well as holidays. Make it short, my friends and I in Kolej Teknologi Timur are having a hard time preparing the first activity under the name of newly formed Chinese Cultural Education Society (CCES), which is the Chinese New Year celebration. Even when I'm now approximately 700km away from my college, I still have to compete with fast-running time to have my "homework" done and bring it back to Sepang.

I am the one leading the work related to decoration. I couldn't help scratching my forehead while trying to figure out a full plan concerning how the main hall which doesn't look like a hall at all, should be decorated. Certain artworks cannot fit to the framework of my initial planning due to limitations such as those pillars obstructing the vision towards the stage (actually there is no stage) and the extremely low ceiling. As I mentioned, my college is actually further modified and equipped from shops on an incline plane, so you can imagine the main hall consists of four lots of different height interconnected by staircases of three to four levels. I can even knock my head on the ceiling if I jump forcefully, no kidding.

We are going to get ourselves a formal exhibition displaying Chinese culture as well as Chinese New Year tradition. I searched and gathered the information needed using days and it took me another week to complete thirty slides of PowerPoint and those A3 size papers would be printed in full colour. At the same time I had to complete more than 20 pairs of spring couplets. It was overwhelming tired.

When there is motion, there is also friction. Thing doesn't come as smooth as we wish. 24th is the day of CNY celebration, however those inconsiderate allocate some candidates to take their internal examination until one day before 24th, that means we don't really own enough time to put on our decorative stuff in the main hall. It is even saddening and disastrous to receive the order calling us to take off our red tassels which had been set on ceiling before holidays. I am fairly annoyed and irritated, but what can I do?

Besides, I need to spare some time to manage my another private blog written in Chinese. Not to mention it is now the time I have to cope with the A2 syllabus. Much effort should be invested. Nevertheless, I still enjoy keeping myself busy with this activity. It somehow brings reminiscence of days I was busy with willingly committed activities during my secondary school life.

Honestly, I am starting a new relationship, my first relationship. I guess my family wouldn't even know that until they reach this line in my blog. Yes, we had a great time despite the fact I could hardly choose a time to hang out with her as I needed to respond to some gathering invitations. People were intrigued as I changed my relationship status on my Facebook profile. I would have revealed her identity if I wished to and I just hope everything can behave and go naturally =)

After this I would upload certain photos of this, or perhaps photos of my girlfriend and I =)

The Beneficial Course

2010-02-01T11:52:00.010+08:00

In the last two days, I spent my time in Lu Jiang Cultural Centre located just a stone throw away from The Mines shopping Mall. It was a two days and a night course or camp held under the support of more than 20 college mates having an intention to explore more about Di Zi Gui (弟子规).

Di Zi Gui is an ancient Chinese teaching advocated by Confucius, where it has influenced a lot of learners to behave positively and wisely. It is not only a compilation of intelligence inherited from the Chinese ancestors, it also serves as a guidance to a happy life. Some people might have misconception such that Confucianism is religious and it could pose conflicts to their existing mindset about the way to live their life. In my opinion, unless you have not been exposed to those Chinese historical stories or anecdotes at all, you would at least have a sense of resonance with the Confucian teaching because Di Zi Gui is closely related to the analogy extracted from those allusions.

We reached the centre at about 8.30am on the last Saturday. A teacher welcomed us through a polite ninety degree bow. We were really surprised as a man with approximately three times our ages could show his respect to us in this way. He spoke softly, gracefully and gently. This is a trait we could seldom come across with especially in this modern era with everything should have done quickly and harshly. The place is clean and interspersed with traditional Chinese decorating. Lanterns, calligraphy couplets, wood carvings, the ambiance had really thrilled me as I have a great interest in these! The staff were dressing in samfu and cheongsam too!

The courses were fantastic and insightful! Because we had only two days and a night, the courses were tightly packed. I particularly salute Teacher Song, a kind woman whose great proficiency of linguistic skills were shown in her fluent speech conducted in many languages and even dialects!

We were introduced to Di Zi Gui, learned about practicing healthy vegetarian diet and sharing of allusions which I miss a lot since primary school. Di Zi Gui is based on eight-fold virtues: 孝(filial piety), 悌(brotherhood), 忠(loyalty), 信(trustworthiness), 礼(propriety), 义(righteousness), 廉(cleanliness), 耻(shame).

There was a session of movie sharing. I strongly recommend the Korean movie to you, namely "The Way Home" which tugged at my heartstrings to the extent that I phoned my grandma after that to express my love to her which I had never done before. However she didn't seem to have any response to my words. I expected, as I have written somewhere in my blog that my family is very conservative, we don't take much obvious action to express our love to each other. However, we do know how much we love each other.

Talk about love, I eventually realised that family love is the foundation of love, it is the fundamental relationship that everyone has the responsibility to carry. How could we expect ourselves to have a true friendship, or to have a long term and "high resistance" relationship with the one we have chosen, or in my case, to have the compassion needed in my future profession towards the patients, if we have failed to do so to our family?

An ideal place to live =)

Save the planet?

2010-01-22T14:18:00.000+08:00

With the life threatening catastrophes happening all around the Earth and global warming approaching, human beings have realized the statement regarding the end of their civilization on this planet might soon become a reality. The leaders of the leading countries are currently trying to compromise on their responsibilities in slowing the effect of global warming by holding a series of incessant international workshops and so called “the G8 summit”. The main and mutual target achieved is to reduce their massive carbon dioxide emission respectively, for example, China should attempt to reduce 50% of that by taking appropriate and urgent incentives by the year 2020 if I’m not mistaken. However this could undoubtedly bar the countries involved from achieving a new height in terms of economic development. When each of them is suspicious about the happening of possible circumstances that some of their “alliance” might be trying to opt for violating the agreement made to overtake the others economically, the compromise is at stake at this very moment where global warming time bomb is on the verge to have entirely exploded. It seems that all of us have been brainwashed that the green house gases emitted by burning fuels do all the matters. We are encouraged to carpool, use public transports and so on, we point our fingers to car and factory exhausts when we are asked about the factors contributing to global warming. Miserably, most of us have omitted a greatest approach we could practice to tackle this existing yet “hard-to-eradicate” problem, which is just very simple – become a vegetarian.

Although I always remain sceptical towards all kinds of statistics and researches made to draw a conclusion proving something the professionals intended to, there is one I would like to refer assuming it is credible – if we make use of all the crops as the source of human food, no one on this planet would starve, even if we don’t have those harvesting machines. To elaborate on it for those who never came across with this, I would like to tell you, our food is turned into meat in large ratio. Why? In general, crop such as wheat is used to feed poultry, across the trophic level, approximately 90% of the energy would be lost, therefore we have wasted 90% of the energy that could potentially be supplied to ourselves. However you might wonder how the lost in energy could make sense with solving global warming. Now there is another research showing the carbon dioxide exhaled by poultry is surprisingly greater than the emission by vehicles in the world. Personally I don’t like to justify something using results of research, put the deduction aside, the remaining possibilities are what we could reflect on. Being a vegetarian is not merely confined in religious practice, it is a potential way by which human can really save our environment. How if the government starts encouraging the residents by setting a day in every week to take vegetarian food?

Frankly, I’m not a vegetarian, but a vegetarian-to-be, not sure when to become full time vegetarian. I take vegetables whenever possible, and it gives a healthier lifestyle =)

Happy birthday mama!

2010-01-14T14:24:00.004+08:00

This is a delayed post, as it is meant to be posted on Thursday, 14-01-2010. Thanks to the half-day breakdown of electricity.

Today is my mother’s birthday!

So now you know this post is dedicated to her =)

Here is some introduction:

My mother, madam Ooi Kim Lee is more conservative than my father. We are less likely to share secret or feeling, but deep inside our heart, both of us know how much we care about each other. The best word to describe her is “moderate”, and, she has the best smile in my eyes =)

Being the first son to leave home in order to seek for a further study, I know how much she misses me, as whenever I occasionally went back to home during holidays, I noticed she would cook my favourite food in almost every meal!

The intriguing thing is that she seldom questioned nor rejected my demands, such as hanging around with friends at night which most of the parents disallow, participating in numberless co-curriculum activities, and asking for more money to spend, therefore normally my requests would be directed to my mother in order to be granted a quick and clear permission without my father’s notice :p

She has been working as a chemistry teacher of a secondary school for a long term of time, that’s why I could still be able to proudly announce chemistry as my “pet subject” despite the fact that I was fairly lazy during the period preparing for SPM examination. Under her experienced guiding, I have developed most of the fundamental and critical concepts that is still currently driving myself through A-Level syllabus in a relatively easy way. She is the best chemistry teacher I have ever had!

I enjoy the moderate freedom and continuous support given by my mother. Although she never voiced out her personal anticipation concerning my future, I do know that she puts so much of her hope on me such that someday she would be able to share the happiness of being excelled under her inculcation.

Maybe she hasn’t realized, I love her as much as she loves me =)

Happy birthday Mama! ;D

Randomly arranged? Designed?

2010-01-06T12:19:00.004+08:00

Note: I would like to apologize for not being able to convey my thoughts precisely due to my limited access towards the terminologies involved and scarce proficiency in the language used. Ignore the syntax errors, and try to broaden your mindset to walk with me. This article is not written under the intention of offending nor challenging any believers that hinge to the conviction that our world is created by the only entity namely God. I find it fairly intriguing when I recently discovered I do have some points to raise in response to religious topics which I never really concerned.

To which extent do you believe our world is perfectly designed? You would be indoctrinated by tonnes of preaches convincing you the “truth” since childhood if born in a family held tightly to Christianity. You might question what you had been perceiving, or you might not. Most of those converted clearly understand the conflict they experienced that you might not. To those holding fideism, which compartmentalizes reason and faith, and believes merely on faith, believe or not, the argument that seemed as solid as rock to you has been an object of ridicule in some others eyes, mostly allegedly you may guess, but you should also be careful it is possible that the one with blindfold might not necessarily be those defying your faith.

In this article I focus only on the aspect whether the premise “world is created and perfectly designed” could be a strong argument. In certain books, some experts including scientists pointed out that the discoveries of science are actually in the direction of proving the existence of an intelligent creator. Cosmology, biology, physics and many other fields related on the basis of science are actually contributing to the conviction of theism, according to them. For example, the human genes, the biological molecules are miraculously coordinated. The laws of physics are designed such that the integrative complexity could be resolved using mathematics and logics. No one could explain why the speed of light must be approximately 300000000 metre per second. In similar context, they infer all of these behave beyond the naturalistic explanation. It is unnatural, where there is no chance to have the same situation happening if random ways are to replace it.

They always amaze us by using probability to show us how impossible it could be if random way goes. Yes, random nature is the point I advocate. You tell me in order for the human DNA to function properly, it takes certain probability to account for the systematic and perfect matches by monomers namely nucleotides, and to be able to synthesis proteins using amino acids, so it takes another probability. It goes on until how these biological molecules interact with each other, how the blood clotting mechanism is, how systems in a human body work by calculating the probabilities, and deducing it is almost impossible that human stays alive! You could have told someone, look, the probability is one over ten to the power of integer with astronomical number of digits behind, it is approaching zero, so the world we are living is not randomly arranged! You got a point, I have come across with a lot of so called evidences such as “do you know that if the earth is orbiting slightly nearer or further to the sun, the earth would be either too hot or too cold to sustain life? How amazing!” or “if the universe is expanding at a rate that is a little faster or slower, we could not have a universe that would be capable of supporting life!” They are indeed amazing, but to me it makes no sense to support theism.

People often attribute the fine-tuned universe we are living to the mighty creation by the god simply because it provides a better explanation where science has failed to do so, especially to explain the origin of universe and life. Now try to reflect on the probability. Let say something will happen by the chance of 1/100000000. When it does happen, can we say “99999999 circumstances have failed, and the one happening is right beside us.”? The same logic goes on if you insist to use probability. You say “our universe is created by god because it is fine-tuned!”, why can’t I say “according to your probability 1/N to have such a fine-tuned universe, we can have equal number N-1 of not-fine-tuned universes besides the one we have!”? Isn’t that there are more chances to have something not happening than just happening? As you know universe is vast, who knows there are universes in other dimensions of realms with more physical elements other than just time, space and matter? It could just happen =)

Thank you for finishing my rambling, sorry if you felt offended or annoyed, but that is truly what atheists think, and they may have the same feeling when you say "yours is the wrong one."

Not to forget to thank SuSu my senior who borrowed me the book "The Case For A Creator", I learned a lot =)

Another religious piece

2009-12-29T10:49:00.007+08:00

Being a weak atheist, I always question myself, can human embrace to no religion? Without religion, can human still be able to generate and bring forth the civilisation assimilated with bloom, dignity and humanity? We shouldn't miss another point we must take into consideration: "Why is that religion there?"

Despite the different identities of each religion, I was so naive to categorise religions to an equal group of education based belief that has only been attempting to indoctrinate the followers without using justified theories in order to build a fine character. I have never been able to come so close to religious topics before stepping in a whole new environment which is totally different in comparison to Chinese Buddhist society I was bound and inclined to.

I was warmly invited to visit a church for my very first time in Subang. The to-and-fro trip took us two hours on the road. During that direct exposure, I learned a lot about perception of Christian towards the religion that has the greatest population of followers in the world. However the more I discover, the more I realise what I really need. Honestly, although I'm not a strong nor a devoted Buddhist, I felt embarrassed and challenged in the sense that I can't force myself to resonate with the talks given by those pastors. The reason is just simple, I don't believe in the existence of deities. Consequently, I felt so sorry whenever I rejected their invitations after that. I do appreciate their hospitality very much.

Besides, I constantly questioned my another housemate, a Bajau from Sabah who worships Allah. I asked something fairly sensitive, I consulted his opinion about why a Muslim can't convert, why Islam forbids pork etc. His told me he can't question or critic what has been stated in Al-Quran, he has no right and necessity to do so and it is possibly considered insulting the sacred ancient intellectual heritage.

On the other hand, I attended meetings held by newly formed Buddhist Society every week. Most of us had misunderstood Buddhism. Instead of religion, it should be called education by Dhama granted to mankind. There was a monk once told us: "If you are a free thinker, it is the best for you to attach to Buddhism."

We would always include this unique phenomenon whenever we were to write an essay concerning the mixture of compromised multiracial and multireligion background in our country, however those were the moments I felt I couldn't be more agree with that.

The Experiment

2009-12-19T13:58:00.003+08:00

About five years ago, I remember my brother once told me there was an experiment featuring the incredible effect of human thoughts or speech that could be directed to non-living things such as water droplets, discovered by Masaru Emoto who was the first man to begin this quest. He consolidated his controversial claims by gazetting his microscopic images of different water crystals resulted in his experiments to the public.

I didn't believe in it, until my scepticism ceased a little after I had come across with some positive results shared by people on YouTube and some related articles trying to explain the theories inside this mysterious response shown by non-living things. It happens to be totally out of logic to me. The behaviour of water droplets which is only explicable using non-scientific sense has thrilled me to try this out by myself, using rice which may show the similar response. I would soon gather a group of mates in my college to test the plausibility of this renowned Emoto test!

First you have to prepare two identical containers which are then filled with equal amount of cooked rice and sealed, preventing any other factors to intervene the only controlling variable. Then, write two contrasting phrases such as "I love you" and "I hate you" on pieces of papers and paste it, or directly on the container. Do notice in this experiment, your speech is vital as well, so prepare a few words to be spoken to each of them daily and repetitively. Make sure whenever you are showing love or hatred, you mean it. If things go smoothly, you will notice the rate of decomposition of the "poor" rice is much faster than the other one.

If this is your first time to know this, I'm pretty sure you are doubting it too. But isn't it fascinating? Hopefully I will not get a fruitless result :)

IELTS

2009-12-09T12:16:00.004+08:00

In case you don't know what IELTS stands for, it is actually the abbreviation of International English Testing Language Testing System.

First of all I would like to critic my previous IELTS lecturer once again.

Disclaimer: If you have been following my blog for a certain period you could notice how intensely I have been criticising many aspects of my current college, but that doesn't mean I was showing my sheer hatred towards KTT. In fact, I'm concerning the issues that annoyed me, and having an urge to share it with my nearest people. I could have ignored all the flawed, the preposterous one happening around me. But after all I felt it might be better to voice my dissatisfaction and disappointment in order to let myself out.

I had never seen such an irresponsible lecturer in the sense that she had cancelled 90% of her classes since I enrolled in A-Level program 6 months ago. Just imagine I was supposed to attend 2 lectures per week, but I ended up by having less than 5 lectures during the six months. If this doesn't sound shocking, listen to this one: she had fled away all in a sudden with some money that students paid to purchase IELTS reference books! Seriously it can be considered a crime. Consequently, a new IELTS lecturer is taking her place now, bringing both great news and bad news, where there is a resurgence of IELTS teachings but we have to pay for another IELTS reference book of a different version.

Back to the title, all of the scholars in preparation to travel aboard to India, Polland, Czech Republic etc. for tertiary study in medicine or dentistry have to pass certain cut-off points depending on the university we apply. IELTS includes four main tests - reading, listening, speaking and writing, with the achievement of each represented in band form ranging from band 1 to band 9.

I had a listening test in this afternoon and I find it challenging to recognise and read the British accent. I take IELTS more important than any other subjects I'm taking now.

Revealing unpleasent sight

2009-11-30T19:42:00.007+08:00

It was a lovely afternoon when my roommate was enjoying the breeze in the balcony. Suddenly he smelt something. To his surprise, he saw a guy holding a lighted cigarrete above him in another balcony.

"What are you looking at? Strange? I'm not going to die because of this lah!"

It is quite an unexpected as well as unpleasant sight to me, considering the fact he is a JPA scholar, the educated one who is going to traverse into medical field, and has the responsibility to advise people to stop smoking. However he is not the only person practising something ironic and contradicting to his prospect in my present college. They are a lot including seniors. Moreover, it has been stated smoking inside the college compound is prohibited and penalty of RM100 would be charged towards violator. Well, I haven't come across any news that any kind of penalty had been charged on them since I was here six months ago. The guards ignore that too, so do some lecturers and wardens. I can't tolerate indifference shown by the administrators. Honestly I have no prejudice towards smokers, but in my point of view, smokers are not qualified to contribute himself in health care related career seriously. Even if they are, don't you think that their patients would surely doubt their credibility in diagnosing ailments or prescribing medicine?

Put this aside, I would like to share another thing that was annoying. It happened for days continuously in the last month. When I was in my mood of revising and there came a deafening bang inside the hostel. Apparently someone was trying to get into our nerves by lighting firecrackers. My instinct told me that was another immatured scholar, but I could never identify the nuisance maker. In my previous secondary school, if you tried to challenge the school rules by having such explosives, you would be expelled without any tolerance or consideration.

Please return me the serenity of my lovely tiny college :(

Swooned

2009-11-15T15:08:00.002+08:00

I'm swooned by the actress. It has been years since I last sketched someone's portrait.

Stop!

2009-11-10T22:45:00.003+08:00

This is something I concern but hasn't been shared in my blog. As an average Internet user, I'm sure you would have come across all kinds of forwarded emails from your friends including love stories, friendship interactive pieces, news, something hilarious such as links of videos and photos, or chain letter the cynical hoax and others.

Yesterday there came an email titled "Stop the killing of seals!" with some bloody photos attached and condemnation in response to human's cruelty towards the innocent, defenseless animals. I did receive the email of the same theme several weeks ago, with title "Stop whaling!".

Even if you are not a biology student, you are having no problem to figure out the similarity that whales and seals share. Yes they are endangered, going to be categorised as extinct animals soon. Personally I support what some humanitarian organisations are currently in their endless attempt to eradicate barbarism, urging the leaders of the world to show concern and response.

But ironically most of us are consumers in term of feeding. Not all of us are vegetarians. I had just found out actually there are more chickens than human population in the world. We don't take the slaughtered chickens, fishes or whatever belong to livestock as example because they are numerous and hardly to go extinct. If you are patient enough to reach this sentence, I hope you have got the point I'm going to raise. What is the difference of human cruelty despite the fact above? What defines cruel? Does the image of whaling overlap your sight when you visited market places, watching how the fishes got their head off?

If possibly chicken is on the verge to extinct, email titled "Stop slaughtering chicken!" would probably be spreading throughout the world.

Another incident

2009-10-25T00:40:00.007+08:00

It was an afternoon when my housemate wondered what's happening to our newly bought washing machine. The water clogged inside the wash tub instead of draining out. The clothes were still soaked after procedures of washing, rinsing and spinning. He was soon able to check out something bizarre - which you won't expect to happen.

There was a blockage in the end of the drain hose.

Imagine how you would feel knowing someone had the intention to spoil your washing machine. They are peels, egg shells and candy wrappers which are classified as rubbish.

This is the compartment which has been occupied as the "secret base", or the workshop of some resident kids aged ranging from 8 to 12 years old. They are creative to modify their bikes to a scooter-like vehicle and have fun at the inclined road in front of my college. That's why I have to tolerate the hammer tapping sounds almost everyday. You might be wondering why they are residents in my college, well, it will be a long story which I'm not going to share at this instant.

They did it mostly because of the intruding discharged water. We had informed them about that, and they have spacious compartment regardless of that corner we need, so I have no idea about why it led to the revengeful and ignorant act.

So they thought we would never notice the blockage? Hah, they are kids.

For KTTians : Pak Cik Parang definitely didn't tell them about that.

My beloved father

2009-10-22T23:16:00.006+08:00

This post is dedicated to my father, and everyone who loves his or her mighty father.

It has almost been four months staying far apart from my hometown. I could only return there occasionally to meet my family.

I didn't know I would actually miss them so much - my siblings whom I always exchanged hot words with, my parents whom I still owe them a big hug and "I Love You!", my grandmother whom I put aside her conservative advice, or even took it as jokes. Not to forget my grandfather who had passed away on April Fool eight years ago, whom I had missed the golden time to fulfill filial piety.

I thought it wasn't a big deal to be here since I would have gotten used of the hectic lifestyle here but thing doesn't appear to be easy, especially when it was the day my father stepped into a new age, without his eldest son beside him during the celebration.

As you can see that's how powerful time has been leaving irreversible traces between the 15-year-interval.

Here is a short description about my father:

My father, Mr. Lui had been working as a teacher for decades before playing an significant role as the well honoured headmaster of one of the most prestigious local primary school. He had endured and at the same time surmounted the intense hardship all along the way. Having said that he is experienced in the educational career, he always had a lot of interesting, disheartening, and the stories which could tug at my heart strings. For instance, he shared the incident of how he persevered to travel more than two hours per day to a school located in rural area when he was a fresh teacher, and how his first salary was scammed by a senior teacher. I'm sure if he is to publish his memoirs, a great number of readers will be attracted, however he doesn't seem interested. He never failed to be the responsible head of household. He indoctrinated the importance to have a close-knit family, and to bear in mind that nothing stands more valuable than family. I have inherited almost all of his good traits - drawing, Chinese calligraphy, the rational way to think, and to be noble. It will always be a great time whenever he is beside us.

Here comes some photos of the celebration.

For those who can read Chinese, do kindly click on it to view the reflection by my father.

So, I'm here to wish my father a happy birthday, stay happy and healthy!

I love you papa! :)

Standing on the cross road

2009-10-20T14:56:00.006+08:00

When I was in standard one of primary school, my teacher gave us a task – to figure out what possible jobs we would like to strive for, and fill in a form by arranging them in sequence according to our preference. Besides writing essay titled “My Ambition”, it has always been a trend among the teachers conducting such a survey to their students, for the reasons you know why. As expected, doctor topped the list as every one of us was looking for the most prestigious title. Yes, we were proud of ourselves to have our own preliminary ambition.

During secondary study, we had to face the fact that finding a job in response merely to our own interest would not eventually pay off. Who don’t wish to get himself into something that he really likes? But there are just too much factors we hadn’t considered. I would like to point out the main considerations taken care while people are looking for a job again, other than just the affinity towards the job – social status and respect, monetary stability, job satisfaction, or more simply to be simple and secure and so on.

For instance, my college has always been nurturing the doctor-to-be and dentist-to-be. I did ask the scholars around me concerning the reason they decide their career prospect to work as a dentist in their future. So far the answers I got are what you could always have expected. I’m able to bring it to a small conclusion, as it is two-fold. They prefer to traverse into a health care related field but they don’t seem to have considerable interest in this. A simple question will do – do you like watching into people’s mouth? Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to expect an answer “yes”, I’m just wondering about what people tend to grow an interest in. Honestly I haven’t come across with anyone who can give me the powerful evidence that there would be no other job more suitable for him than a dentist. They have no idea about what else they should be. In fact, too many choices are available, which would trap them in the mist of puzzlement.

I used to be in the same circumstance. But we did have adequate time to make the right choice, didn’t we?

Consequence of exam-orientated culture.

2009-10-09T00:02:00.003+08:00

I'm currently tackling Cambridge International A-Level program. So far the syllabus of text books doesn't really pose much trouble to me but I had soon found out what I have to surmount - laboratory sessions. I'm utterly clueless in handling the apparatus in appropriate way. I'm puzzled to select the suitable one before proceeding to the next procedure if the list of apparatus required isn't provided. Well, I attribute it as a part of consequence of practising an exam-orientated culture in my previous school life.

Honestly I've forgotten how many experiments I had conducted during my high-school period, but I can tell you experiment wasn't something significant to us at that time, just because there wouldn't be any practical test in SPM. We could memorise everything written in black and white in order to tackle the question concerning experiment planning, without having the urge to grasp more. Every class of my secondary school comprised of more than 45 students which in turns results in an insufficient capacity of science laboratory. We had been going through almost every experiment by our imagination, or sometime we were lucky enough to observe the demonstration by our teachers in front of us only.

I have to accept the fact that regurgitating the particular reference books would in turn ensure us to score well in papers but it seemingly doesn't benefit us in the same way whenever it is the time to put it into practice. To traverse into medical field, we should have acquired the proficiency in this part. So I come to here, my new college, equipped with merely the scarce experience in this part, hoping that I would be able to polish my practical skill other than struggling for an improvement in linguistic skill during the short period I'm going to stay here :)

Buddhism, my religion.

2009-09-19T01:59:00.008+08:00

Having mixed with peers who are mostly comprised of Buddhist along the period I was raised in my hometown, I was surprised by the fact that majority of the Chinese in my college, especially those eastern friends embrace Christian values. Well, I'm a Buddhist, but not the devoted one. Religion is something profoundly abstract to me. I didn't visit temple as regularly as Muslim to mosque, or Christian to church. The incident that motivated me to touch something religious at this time is that there is now a freshly formed association namely Buddhist Society in my college. Although I don't own a great depth of knowledge regarding Buddhism, it doesn't simply mean I'm not interested to explore more about it.

For now I advocate the saying “多个香炉多个鬼，没有香炉没有鬼” which means "to have more censers will result in attracting more ghosts" in direct translation. (Sorry for the not-very-precise-translation as it could be done better) I would like to stress on how sceptic I'm towards some aspects of the religion despite of the actual underlying message of the proverb. Normally Buddhist worships Buddha statues to attain spiritual comfort, hoping he will get rid of disasters or ailments. Some of the believers would make wishes to bring themselves about wealth, and this is the group of people that is prone to superstition.

I'm now going to review several religious acts here, whether it is significant or not. Is burning joss sticks, paper money and incense significant? In my humble opinion it creates pollution rather than achieving what the believers intended. It consumes multitude amount of one of the most essential elements on our planet - paper and it would end up turning into greenhouse gases as well as other harmful byproducts. I'm not going to comment more about the disadvantage of "open burning", yet I often found it ridiculous to see the people burning some high-tech oblations to their ancestors. If they are to burn a paper handphone, I would recommend them to burn an extra Digi simcard too, since it provides the widest coverage :)

I'm not sure if ancestor worship is related to Buddhism since religion would have undergone diverse variation before spreading to every corner of the world. Buddhism I've been following may not share the same aspects with that from the place it originates. It could only come into contact with me when it was festive season such as Wesak Day or it came the traditional funeral. So I might have digressed in some points I've raised here to the extent where it sounds ignorant for me to be a Buddhist.

*This post did occupy a long time of mine, thanks for reading it and it is always welcoming for you to share your two cents about this :)

The day I had forgotten

2009-09-18T00:58:00.003+08:00

"Hi Jin Xiang, are you free now?" she phoned me, "Can I have a chat with you?"

"Hi, sure, no problem." I was rather shocked about what brought her to make this sudden call.

"Do you know what day is today?" she asked, smiling. I knew that from her intonation.

"Err..." What a typical question, but it took me about ten seconds before I could only barely break the silence.

"Oh no! Please don't tell me you have forgotten it!" she uttered in dismay.

"Sorry, give me more time to think about that," I replied.

"Okay, now you try to recall, what had you done on the same day of today in last year?"

"Wait a minute, SPM trial examination?"

"No."

"We met each other in the tuition centre?"

"No! I'm kind of disappointed eh, I don't expect you to forget this important day. But obviously you do." She reiterated, "That day eh, you called me in the canteen after school. Then?"

I know she would be glad if I could complete the part she left for me. However I had a short-term memory loss. I kept contemplating.

"You gave me something..."

"Oh!" I cried, "Happy birthday!"

"Yup... how can you forget it?"

*The conversation above ended up with apologies and wishes*

Actually I did consider about her birthday since she asked the first question. But I thought it would be silly if it was not. Honestly, I'm very sensitive to numbers, however it is contradicting to say - I don't surprise to have myself forgetting about that, considering the fact that I don't always give every friend of mine a sincere wish whenever it is the moment they have grown older, not even to my closest friends.

Perhaps I should start writing them down.

When I was not at home

2009-08-26T19:43:00.015+08:00

My homesickness ceased after staying for a week "in the middle of nowhere" (that's how people locate my college) but not when it came to a couple of days before departure to home. Thanks to my first examination week that has been postponed to a week after this holiday, I would have to reschedule my activities during this holiday. However I have squandered half of it before realizing I have only 5 more days to deal with the books (more than 15 kg) I brought back, but not now. I'm going to use this moment to share something I haven't updated right at here :)

This is how my college looks like.

As you can see the smart-looking guys are my housemates. The first person starting from left is Alee from Sabah, the diligent Malay. The guy in white is John from Sarawak. His greatest interest is Internet business, the field where most of us are not familiar with. The guy standing on my left hand side is called Maegyvear, a Kadazan hailed from Sabah also. Being active in Christian Fellowship and crowned to be "The Prince" during the orientation week, he is undoubtedly the most renowned person in the college.

Thanks to the seniors from the same secondary school of mine :)

I bought a new table for comfort after getting frustrated by the books jumbled up on my small desk, yet the books still jumble up easily. You guys know why.

"Learning is like sailing against the current, you would lag behind if stop moving."

These words are creative indeed.

This is one of the myriad types of bugs I have to confront every night. Somehow the mosquito here appears to be more furious. There was a spider hiding in my sport shoe too, luckily it escaped by the time I grabbed the shoe.

Time to get home :)

My little sister collected these while I was not at home!

First Blood

2009-08-03T15:16:00.004+08:00

The title above flashed spontaneously in my mind when I'm going to share my fresh experience in my college. I had my very first blood donation two hours ago.

Before being able to summon my courage to allow my precious blood to be isolated and the needle to penetrate my tender skin *exaggerating* , I didn't know which type my blood belongs to.

It is type O ( I don't know if it is RhD-positive ). How good would it be if donating blood would return monetary reward to us since type O is the "bestseller" :p

I was pretty worried actually, considering the fact that I saw some of the donors turned pale after donating blood. Moreover my Biology lecturer shared his first blood donation to everyone of us - he suffered hyper ventilation and collapsed after that for not taking breakfast.

It was fast - it took only 5 minutes to fill up the packet (450ml) and the needle didn't really induce much pain. I have made a promise to join the second donation.

Try to involve yourselves if there is any blood donation campaign near your area, help the people in need :)

The lecturer

2009-07-13T15:23:00.005+08:00

Having the top scorers among the international Cambridge A-Level candidates in the world, I thought one of the best colleges in my country, yet maybe also the smallest in size, Kolej Teknologi Timur to have experienced and excellence lecturers but I soon doubted about their credibility to give lecture to the students who will soon pursue advance study in different critical fields at oversea.

Yes, according to the seniors this doesn't appear to be the fundamental problem, and you might find me grumbling against trifles, because the students here could have been depending on themselves to pass the AS and A2 examinations with flying colours. It doesn't matter to have "good" or "bad" lecturers. However in my point of view this has contributed to an intensely unhealthy learning style. Students and lectures should be interactive to enhance understanding. What's the point of repeating the texts in the text book word by word to us? Let alone the sleep-inducing tone, grammatical errors and the way she was speaking English, especially when pronouncing the terminologies. Try to listen to the pronunciation of "mas" in BM and at the same time understand that she was actually trying to say "mass". I'm not going to pinpoint which lecturer I'm complaining about, and I don't mean to degrade the lecturers here, but it is saddening to know that the better lecturers are in charge of bringing the students undergoing 1 year programme up.

I will be going to my first Biology lecture later. I hope it won't end up disappointing myself again. I promise myself not to disappoint my college too :)

I'm here, far away from my hometown

2009-07-09T20:30:00.008+08:00

For the very first day I came to Sepang whereby its roads vary so much from the map given by the JPA, taking more than an hour finding the location of the smallest college in the world in the remote town. I guess everyone who had been coming for Kolej Teknologi Timur would be in surprise once he saw the location and the size of the college which is far beyond his expectation as if he had gone to the wrong place. This college appears to be a single-blog-building comprising of our hostels above the lecture halls. It is very long, about the length of 13 shops in a row.

First day ( 06/07/09 )

I discovered that there are so many scholarship holders coming all the way from Sabah and Sarawak, maybe 40% out of the 112 of us who will be going to India for medicine.
The lecture hall which I registered as KTT student here is smaller than my previous tuition classroom.
Tranquil, this is the best word if I'm to describe this place by using only a word.
I had established the wi-fi connection provided by the college as a trial user, which means that I will have to subscribe to the "KTT HOTSPOT" for RM40 per semester starting from next week. However I didn't have adequate time to stay online.
The hostel is old, but it is spacious. It consists of two small sleeping rooms and a wide living room ( 10 feet x 26 feet ) . My roommate is a Chinese from Sarawak and a Kadazan from Sabah as a housemate. There were only three people occupying this room.
The advertisement board was fully pasted, there were all the second hand items to be sold by the seniors. I saw a “special combo”- a fridge and a washing machine which costs RM600 for the total.
I bought a set of original Chemistry and Biology text books for RM300, I got two free gifts - a disc with questions of pass year papers inside and a Chemistry reference book under the package. This is the first time I spend so much in purchasing books.
I met my seniors from the same secondary school here. There are five currently but two of them ( Indonesia-bound ) will be leaving the college by this week after their 1-year-programme.
During this orientation week, we would be divided into 10 groups. When it was the time to introduce ourselves to the other group members, we found a girl who is not willing to do what she will be doing soon, dentistry. She told us she was forced by her parents to do so.
After voting, our group was named “Aramaiti”. It simply means the sharing of joyfulness among the people.
We heard something scary and mysterious. It has something to do with the “Tangga 11” while my hostel is just located at tangga 10. The facilitators didn’t want to tell us more about the story. We instinctively thought ghost incidents happened there.

Second day ( 07/07/09 )

I was facing a difficulty in remembering my group members’ names, especially the Malays’ during the ice breaking session in the morning.
All of us have to prepare something for the group performance in the coming closing ceremony, and my group got the title “ Dikir Barat ” ( a kind of Malay cultural performance whereby there are rows of performers sitting on the stage clapping their hands and singing accompanied with the music of Malay traditional musical instruments. ) I knew what it is but the other Chinese in my group seemed never heard of it.
We had to create cheers for our team, however I didn’t have any idea. ( I was experienced in creating cheers, but in Chinese )
We were made clearer about how to use the transport system in this college. There are three vans and a bus which charge different payments for different places we want to go, such as LCCT, KTM, Giant ( the nearest fast food restaurants are available there ) etc. We have to purchase a ticket in the library before using the service.
I paid another RM260 for the old books and pass year papers to my senior. They are all in photocopies.
There are two cafeterias in my college, Indian style (Mamak) and Malay style. The roti canai is my favourite :D
I washed and ironed my clothes for my very first time, by using hands. I know what you are thinking, I never helped in household works before.

Third day ( 08/07/09 )

The lecturers were emphasizing “cut-off points” for A-Level repeatedly. We have to gain 12 points taking from the best three subjects. For an A, 5 points will be given, 4 points for B, 3 points for C and so on. That means, in order to clear the cut-off points, we have to at least get three Bs in the examination. However getting only 3 Bs is below my target.
We had a lot of briefings about the rules applied to us in term of our behavior. The penalty for all the violation towards the rules is money-related.
I felt very sleepy throughout that particular day. I was suffering from sleep deprivation. The mosquito last night was furious.
A telematch was held. We played four games. I felt they still have a huge margin to improve in designing games for us.
The group members started to call me “Leng Zai” which means “smart or handsome guy” in Chinese (-__-lll)
The seniors started to knock our hostel doors to promote their items for sale.
We took the whole night to collect the ideas for our performance. We created a poem talking about KTT. We found it tough to create the claps and the melodies.
There came another housemate, a Muslim from Sabah. He is friendly but a little bit shy.
I had booked the plane tickets from AirAsia company for two to-and-fro trips for the coming semester break in August ( 22-08-09 to 31-08-09 ) and Hari Raya break in September ( 17-09-09 to 27-08-09 ).
My roommate, John is experienced in Internet business, the field that most of the same people at the same age with us don’t traverse in.

Forth day ( 09/07/09 )

Our schedule from the morning until the afternoon was fully arranged with subject briefings. The heads of subjects were giving some words regarding the subjects we are going to taking once the lesson starts in the next week. I will have to take Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and also IELTS which I worry the most.
They college did an aerobic exercise for us. It is as similar as the previous telematch.
I went to the top of the small hill located behind our college. I could see that the small town was slightly covered in haze. However there was windy. It is an ideal place for everyone to release tension and enjoy the refreshing air.
We spent the whole night practicing “Dikir Barat”. All of us did a good job in giving cooperation and the complicated performance was soon settled in fast progression.
The girl who is miserably choosing the wrong course remained silent and looked saddening. The facilitators had counseled her.

Fifth day ( 10/07/09 )

A female Indian sitting in front of me showed me her hand phone that remained intact although it was accidentally flung out from the balcony on the third floor while she was waving to the seniors passing by.
I have registered the subjects I will be going to take - Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology.
My housemate, Ali told me that Chinese is diligent in his point of view. He salutes us very much. However in my perspective it is academically obssessed, not really diligent.
I was dressed in Malay costume for the first time.
We turned out to be the champion of the group performance competition :)
My housemates watched Madagascar until midnight.
I found that the Malays are totally different with me. We don't even share a sense of humour. Most of the time I can't understand their slang.

That's all for the first five days. I enjoyed very much during the orientation week. Although sometimes I would find it hard to resist the sleep-inducing-tone of the lecturers while briefings ( I didn't fall asleep ) , we do know more about the college lifestyle, the average learning hours for each subject, the operating system of the library etc. Starting from next Sunday, 13-07-09, I will be sitting in a lecture hall listening to the teachings by the lecturers respectively. I will post some of the photos in the next time. Keep in touch!

Good bye and good luck!

2009-07-04T23:40:00.003+08:00

Today is my last day staying here before I embark on my new journey after rotting for about half of a year. Soon, I will surely be missing everything, my friend, my family, my hometown, my blog and even my annoying Internet connection :p

Good bye everyone around me, my next post might be sharing my college life in Kolej Teknologi Timur, Sepang. In this afternoon, I had just known that there are three India-bound seniors from my secondary school, SMJK Keat Hwa are still taking the Cambridge A-Level in the small college whereas the other two Indonesia-bound seniors have already graduated after finishing their 1 year programme and currently applying their university respectively. I feel rather relieved that some one had promised to take care of me :D

Thanks for supporting my small blog no matter you have just read any single article and got what I'm trying to convey, correcting my mistakes made during blogging, or giving appreciative comments to show concern towards my thoughts. Special thanks my cousin as well as my role model, who had granted me enormous inspiration to start blogging, and also the Recomers, Melzie and Henry for often leaving your footprints here and sharing your piece of mind. Thanks my friends :)

I would like to say sorry if you find that you could have been spending your precious time to read something more meaningful in the other websites rather than reading my posts. Sorry if my redundant English had contributed eye sore to you. I'm struggling in the stage of improving, now and always.

A good luck to everyone and myself, in the future undertakings. Good night :)

Rambling around again

2009-07-03T23:48:00.002+08:00

I have never visited a barber shop, not even once. I had my hair cut a couple of hours ago, it was my father who did the job since I was small. He insisted to tidy up my hair so that I can give them a good image on the coming registration day of Kolej Teknologi Timur. I will soon embark on my new journey in a remote but learning-conducive-environment, for a long term of time, rather excited but saddening.

Frankly, I'm a procrastinator and have failed to resist my laziness at most of the time but I'm glad to announce that this will be my 42rd post, on the 42rd day after I started blogging in such an unusual way to me. It has nothing impressive though. I had failed my numerous promises made to myself since I was still a kid, but at least not this time. Can I be true to my word in the next time? Has my English improved? Well, I don't really have a answer. There is still a huge margin for me to improve, not only in this language, it's also my learning method and many other aspects that I had forsaken during the school time chasing for academic excellence blindly.

In this morning when I was driving home, I saw something that annoyed me so much - there was another not civil-minded citizen who opened the car window and simply flung a paper cup outside as if there was a rubbish dump right at the center of the road :(

A shocking incident

2009-07-02T20:55:00.006+08:00

It was about 3am when we had stopped playing poker card inside my room located on the 3rd floor of a hotel during a class trip to Kuala Lumpur three years ago. Feeling thirsty but having the water bottles empty, my friend Yu Wei and I decided to get some 1.5 litre mineral water from the nearby 7-eleven. We grabbed our wallets and went downstairs.

The street lights weren't functioning well, causing the street in front of the hotel to be enveloped in darkness. I walked slowly behind Yu Wei along the deserted street fully parked by branded cars. Suddenly Yu Wei stopped. Just when I tried to figure out why, I got my answer in the next second. To our surprise, a lady was approaching us without our notice. We stood motionless, exchanging glances but didn't say any words. She was about 28 years old with brown curly long hair. Although it was lacking of brightness, I could see the heavy makeup on her face and sense the strong perfume smell. The lady in mini skirt holding a handbag gazed at us and started speaking in Chinese.

"Can you come nearer to me?" she requested.

Yu Wei and I remained silent. We were puzzled - Who is she? What's her intention? Why is she still wandering around the dark street at midnight?

"Come here please," she reiterated it while moving nearer to us and stopped three feet in front of us, "I've something to show you."

Being alive to the situation that it was no longer safe to stay there, Yu Wei shouted, "Run!" and both of us fled immediately to 7-eleven, leaving the lady in darkness.

We gasped for breath inside the convenience store. The cashier must be wondering what was happening to us. We dared not to go back to the hotel as the street was the only way getting into it. We hid for ten minutes to discuss the possible circumstances we might meet again. We had reached a consensus - not to say anything and see anything, just run back. After purchasing our mineral water, we summoned our courage and sprinted to the hotel. The lady was still waiting there, but she was not alone - there came another lady in white standing beside, they sent chills up my spine but I didn't care, I kept running until one of my slippers was accidentally dropped on the road! You might not be able to imagine my fear in such an eerie situation. The lady giggled at me and I heard it was a male's sound! Gosh! I quickly grabbed my slipper by hand and hastened back to the hotel, trembling in fear.

It was dangerous to go out at night in such a urban area. We would have lost our property or even life if they were not prostitutes but thugs holding a knife but not a handbag. It was also our first time to have such a close distance with a prostitute.

Note : I want to title it as "Seduced by prostitute" but "A shocking incident" sounds better :p

My favourite teacher

2009-07-01T22:16:00.004+08:00

Every average student would have been taught by at least forty different teachers before entering university. We might have different views towards different teachers respectively, whether it was hatred because he had caned us, or loving because she did take good care of us. If we are to point out our favourite teacher, there won't be any absolute answer since everyone has his own perspective towards the teacher's characteristics that favor them. Well, I pay my tribute to my tuition teacher, Mr. Peter Lim.

Mr. Peter had been teaching me since I was in form two. He is indeed the most hardworking tuition teacher I've ever seen. Unlike other teachers who photostat the grammar exercises from some reference books, Mr. Peter used his own hands to type all the exercises, not by using computer but the classic typing machine. He would intersperse several small pictures within the notes given to make it looked interesting. Another great example is that he would examine every word and the sentence of essays written by his students carefully. He would spend his time telling us our mistakes one by one when he was giving back our essay books. My school teacher was totally different - she marked our essays by underlining the sentences without correcting it, leaving puzzlement among us.

I was pleased by Mr. Peter's unique teaching style, his class would never get bored because he always raised his volume to maximum accompanied by various facial expressions while teaching. Sometime he would share his anecdotes to delight the class. Being a retired school teacher, he was experienced in educating his students as well as handling disciplinary cases. At the same time, he was a indulged reader showing concern towards the general global issues besides having different hobbies such as mountain climbing, jungle trekking, fishing, cooking etc. He had developed certain philosophies about life and always reminded us to be noble, moderate and accept anything that had happened in order to stay happy.

He never raised the monthly tuition fee, it was cheap, only RM25 per month in comparison to the average monthly fee needed to pay for other similar tuition lessons which were normally in the range of RM30 to RM50. He told us having teaching as his satisfying job, it doesn't matter to think over how much he could earn :)

I cherish the moment he was still teaching me. I should have made full use of the time to absorb his teachings and attain proficiency in English to meet his expectation. By the time we left him to take SPM, he had decided to stop teaching temporarily for a year to rest after teaching diligently for decades.

Factors contributing to academic success

2009-06-30T17:20:00.008+08:00

What are factors which are related to academic success in high-school students?

Undoubtedly there are plenteous high-school students who have excelled in academic success in our country, occupying the headlines of the newspapers whenever the results of local public examination such as SPM is released, holding their result papers with of a sting of A1s. They would be then awarded scholarships whether by our government, the private agencies or even the foreign companies and colleges. However such glamour is not given but earned. It is even amazing when some of the students with unwavering determination have achieved their academic success despite facing poverty or disability after struggling against the stumbling stones for a long term of time. Back to the title, to some people, academic success could be defined as being able to do well in the examinations. However in my humble two cents the narrow scope should be widened to being able to analyse, synthesize and evaluate the information as well as applying them in the daily life.

The main factor contributing to their academic success is surely family support especially from the parents. To most of the parents in my country, academic success is the only aspect their children need to take care in order to secure their bright future. They have realised the significance of securing a certificate in a university is far more better than the other way such as finding a job after leaving the high-school, which had been done by some parents. Knowing that their children may be discriminated by the tight competition among the students of whole nation, they rather to send them to tuition classes repeatedly for years. They also try to cultivate the children's hidden talent via enrollment into various lessons ranging from piano lessons, dance lessons to art lessons. Normally if there comes the family problems such as divorce or relation break off, the student might find himself difficult to focus on his study. There are so many cases where students having family problems were psychologically affected and eventually surrounded by discipline problems, let alone academic excellence.

Apart from that, self-discipline and will power play a decisive role to every student who wishes to succeed academically. Self-discipline is the ability to get yourself to take action regardless of your emotional state. Therefore students with no self-discipline would often get distracted from their study. Getting engrossed in playing online games is one of the most popular examples among the high-school students in recent years. They don't know using time wisely in order to strike a balance between work and play. Under self-discipline one would regularly revise what he has learned to maintain a tenacious memory. By doing so he needs not to burn the midnight oil during the examination weeks. Procrastination is the thief of time, therefore smart students would not procrastinate their homework without necessity too. Someone that has a strong will would have a greater endurance towards the hardships faced along his school life. He would have planned his future and strive hard by persevering obstinately and indomitably. Having set in mind about the key to success, high-school academic success appears to be just a part of the undertakings.

Conducive environment remains crucial to mould a student towards academic success. There are many students who don't own a conducive studying environment had unfortunately forsaken their study. Maybe they are raised in rural area which is always lacking of teachers and books. Maybe they have to work while attending high-school to ease the financial burden of their family. It is clearly shown the importance of the factor in a Chinese ancient story where a single mother had migrated for so three times, just to get his small son a better place to study. Actually having adequate money to purchase text books, pencil box with simple stationery, a chair to sit, a table to lay your arms on it and responsible teachers, is considered conducive. A number of high-school students benefits themselves by using Internet to obtain extra information associated with what they have been learning for a better understanding. At the same time, some students don't even own a dictionary and have to rely on limited source of information.

In a nut shell, high-school students are teenagers who serve to be the pillar of our country in the next decade as well as the new workforce. Our country should not neglect anyone of the new generation. Their demands and problems should be taken care and solved after proper consideration. Besides excel academically, high-school students should also pay much attention towards the general issues happening every now and then. Most of them don't really bother about the global issues just because it has nothing to do with their study. By the way, one should not follow what has been taught in the text books blindly but applying suitable suspiciousness whenever coming across new information and being able to relate his own thoughts.

Speaking

2009-06-30T00:35:00.006+08:00

I seldom speak English. There is no one around me that I can speak with, except myself. I have got used to the broken style while speaking since I was small, therefore I believe I will probably tend to say something foolish like "Yesterday I eat", "He do the job" or "They are my friend" while conversing with the other native speakers. Writing and speaking are definitely two different aspects. You don't have the margin of time to think what's going wrong, especially the grammatical errors, in what you're saying. One of my friends once told me : "Think in English, speak in English, you might see the difference." However learning languages often comes harder to me in comparison with the other subjects. I have spent a lot of time to jot down the definition of the new vocabulary but my memory strength is just disappointing. Maybe I do remember it but it doesn't come to my mind when I'm going to use it. I'm having a low understanding in phrasal verbs too, causing my English to be unnature and immature. My speed of improvement is not capable to begin my life in college. I have to overcome this fatal stumbling stone.

Rambling

2009-06-29T01:43:00.002+08:00

Well, Transformer appears to be a hot topic recently, soon after the movie had been released. I'm not a fanatic fan of Transformer, however I was really amazed by the advanced animating technology by which the animation of the conversion from a vehicle to a robot and vice versa was just awesome!

While I was watching it, there were people around me coughing all the time, I felt rather uncomfortable as the H1N1 epidemic had reached my town area :( However I couldn't find any table or statistics showing the number of the infected victims and also the area of my country via google, maybe my searching skill is terrible.

By the way, I wonder if the aliens or the UFO's would land on the other countries except USA. Yet, it is always the USA military fighting the aliens :D

Nah, just rambling around here, couldn't think about a better topic to be shared with.

Does it really matter?

2009-06-28T01:23:00.005+08:00

Race barrier could be seen everywhere in my country.

When I was in my secondary school which comprised of Chinese in majority, the Malays were badly discriminated by the others. The school had always been grouping the Malays to particular classes, perhaps it was just promoting racism as there were two totally different societies which seldom mix nor communicate. Quarrels or fights often sparked off between them due to lack of respect and tolerance. Some of them even dared to challenge each other by insulting their religions respectively.

I faced the problem when I was taking part in a poster designing competitions held under anti-drug campaign. I was the only Chinese. ( It is normal when there are no or less Chinese attending a campaign. In fact, they don't even know there is a campaign ) I could feel it, the racist and unwelcoming expression from their eyes. I was rather peeved when I came across the biased judgement which had deprived my winning seat for so many times. I did tear my certificate into small pieces in anger after that, irrational and impulsive, I know.

Religion continues to be a sensitive issue in our multiracial nation. Until today, the invisible stumbling block is still remained unsolved. The Chinese society has never been satisfied by the commitment of the government on solving the problems or meeting the demands such as funding for Chinese-language elementary schools. The Malay society feels offended, thinking that their privilege presents in different quota systems are getting eroded when the other races question and comment on it. Moreover there will be a big change according to the "One Malaysia" plan. The Indian society was provoked when some of their temple was going to be demolished and it had precipitated resentment which was then fueled by other artificial and racial coloured issues. The situation had gone worse when they started protesting in an aggressive manner via Hindraf which was then declared illegal.

The former Prime Ministers had failed to break the barrier among the races. What will be the next suitable strategy proposed? How about the outcome? No one can presume it.

But I'm sure, we can make the difference if we don't see the difference.

Note: I didn't do much research while mentioning some of the topics. I'm sorry if there are inappropriate or wrong statements. Feel free to correct it :)

The King of Pop

2009-06-27T01:47:00.008+08:00

This is a song released in 1991 ( when I was born ) which has deeply tugged on myriad people's heartstrings including myself. It was the first time for me to know about this song when all of the kindergarten kids had to sing it on our graduation day. I could still remember the melody and rhythm for so many years until I eventually found out its title and artist in the last year. Actually I didn't quite have a good impression towards MJ when he was surrounded by the child sexual abuse case which sounded contradictory to his charitable organisation which was designed to improve the lives of children. However his sins would gradually be effaced soon after his death in his fans' heart. It is indeed a tragedy that shocks the world. Rest in peace, MJ.

Movie

2009-06-25T23:17:00.002+08:00

Animated movie is my favourite. I don't really know when was the time I started growing an intense loving towards it. I patronise Ice Age, Madagascar, Bolt, Monsters vs Aliens, Corpse Bride, Wall-E, Kung Fu Panda, Cars etc. Somehow movies like Star War and Terminator are just not my cup of tea.

Some of my friends feel that watching movie is a kind of monetary waste but I think it worths. Watching movie can train our listening skills and logical thinking. However some of the scenes showed were beyond my comprehension :(

Movie is an art, which needs to be appreciated by every audience. Some of the directors would like to satirize hot global issues such as pollution or teenage problems. Some of the directors have a good sense of humour and his masterpiece would fill the cinemas up with laughter. Well, since there are more and more movies being showed in vast themes so it is getting harder for them to exploit their creativity in order to inject something new into their films.

Ice Age 3 is about to be released soon :D

Matriculation

2009-06-25T00:22:00.006+08:00

When my friends had enrolled in the matriculation course, I thought they could start adapting themselves in the new learning environment without having any extra problems. However the luck was not at their side.

Some of my friends were not allowed majoring in Biology. The authority insisted them to take Physics by depriving their right to choose what they needed for. However, the bumiputras were granted the same right. The uproars lasted for two weeks before it could be settled down. I wondered if they did consider the possible consequences by doing so. One of them had already left the unfavorable college to enrol in form six before the positive respond came upon their appeals.

Besides that, puzzlement arose when those who were awarded JPA scholarships to pursue their tertiary study in one of the local public universities, had to take matriculation. However there were lack of instructions by which college to stay whereas there were scholars who were already accepted by their matriculation college respectively. They sought for help from the seniors in forum or any other similar ways. My friend also told me that he was then accepted a list of local public universities he could apply for but the top universities such as UM or USM were not in the list. He wondered if it would be better to reject the JPA scholarships.

It was just a mess.

The Padang Besar Trip

2009-06-23T21:56:00.012+08:00

It was a joyful morning when my friends and I took a memorable visit to a rural area, Padang Besar in last year. It is located near Thailand and comprises of the wide sugar cane farms. It was the place where we got ourselves closer to the nature and it was also the first time we took so many snapshots.

Most of the students who were not much less than our age at that time didn't go for such an outing. They would rather prefer staying at home or wandering inside a hypermarket. It is really a must for the urban children to expose themselves towards the natural environment instead of the concrete walls and the tarred roads, listen to the chirping melodies instead of the irksome drilling sounds.

Let the photos do the talking :)

There were six of us, the sun was rising and the air was refreshing.

Darwin's theory of human evolution?

I couldn't do that.

It's Kung Fu time :D

I love this photo :)

The emperors had conquered this bare land after spilling a river of blood :D

Somehow my friend had a precise timing.

We found two abnormal hills, try to figure out what they were :p

There are ups and downs in our life.

Have fun! :D

Blogging

2009-06-22T23:03:00.004+08:00

I've made it, posting an article in English, sharing mostly about the current issues ranging from education to social life on every single day for a month, which means that I'm now going for my 31st post.

The basic motive of blogging at the early stage is intrinsically based on my promise made, feeling that it is a must to write more. Although sometimes I found it is hard to keep the promise, somehow I started enjoying blogging soon after that. I've realised that to keep a blog interesting and attractive, you don't need fancy stuffs like popular rock musics or chaotic skins, it just needs to be reader-friendly by conveying your ideas or opinions clearly and directly. Suitable images of photos that pertain to the article would be eye nourishing too :)

How is the improvement? Well, I don't think I've improved much. However it is not fruitless, not at all. Since I started blogging I had to access different websites that I had never been visited, searching reading materials in order to get inspired to share some of my two cents in my blog. It had always amazed me when some hidden statistics were revealed. Frankly, it has indirectly widened my vision towards the informative sources in Internet.

I'm not sure if I will be maintaining one day one post in the coming days. However after blogging in such way I've gained my confidence in writing and maybe, speaking :D

Thanks for always supporting my small blog :)

Hazardous cigarettes

2009-06-21T21:16:00.008+08:00

On May 31, 2008, our Health Ministry had announced that the cigarette packs would be displaying the above pictorial warnings. Six required images were gazetted. I think this plan should be implemented earlier as Singapore had already passed the law so that the smokers could be warned the consequences of the bad habit in the year 2004. However, how far have these gory images actually worked theoretically to decrease the population of smokers in our country?

I heard that some of the aged smokers do not really care about the warnings by thinking "what's the difference I can make if I quit smoking now as I've been smoking for more than twenty years? I could have died earlier if it is fatal!" Okay every properly educated individual does know about the serious consequences of this bad habit and I'm not going to repeat the cliche, therefore I would rather reveal some statistics:

Study proposes that on average a habitual smoker's lifespan will be shortened for about 5.5 minutes for each cigarette smoked, which is not much less than the time he spends smoking it.
For every 8 - 10 seconds, there will be a person who has died from smoking related illness.
There are 15 billion cigarettes are sold daily - or 10 million every minute.
Smoking is on the rise in the developing world but falling in developed nations. It is estimated that among the 3 million of people died from smoking in the last year, the developing countries occupy 2 million whereas the developed countries got 1 million. ( Current world population is estimated to be more than 6 billion, therefore )
There are between 80,000 and 100,000 children worldwide start smoking every day - roughly half of whom live in Asia.

Look at the unscrupulous retailers who have covered the scary images by using the price tags intentionally :(

The Rubik's cube

2009-06-20T16:33:00.003+08:00

Here comes the Rubik's cube fanaticism again. I can see many of my juniors holding or playing with the cube in my previous school ( although toys are inhibited in school ) . Well I had almost stopped playing it since last year because it would be boring once you had understood the way to solve it and couldn't beat your fastest record after solving it repeatedly for about hundreds time in using the same method. However learning it is fun and challenging as it is not as hard as what people expect.

The video above is my fastest record after addicted to it for three months :)

Opportunity vs. effort

2009-06-20T01:12:00.004+08:00

Some people propose that opportunity is prerequisite to be successful while some people claim that it should be effort. If we review the history and quote the incident where Isaac Newton had discovered the presence of gravity soon after getting inspired by an apple which was accidentally fallen on his head, we could notice that it is the opportunity leading Newton to excel in researching his laws of Physics, yet at the same time we may also conclude that without his effort made to be proficient in his profession as a Mathematician as well as Physician, he couldn't have revealed the hidden natural laws.

Let's take another example, an unknown singer had her talent buried although she had the potential to be as popular as the singing stars at that particular decade, just because there was no music company willing to cultivate her. She was dedicated, however there were just lack of opportunities.

So, prerequisite belongs to? Okay it depends on how we define the word success. Success means different things to different people. Some people would like to explain success in term of prosperity or fame. There is a saying such that even if you cannot achieve something planned, desired or attempted in certain aspects such as scoring a string of A1s in SPM, passing the highest grade for piano examination, earning money to own a house and cars, it doesn't matter as long as you have put in your efforts to maximum and strive for your best. The setbacks play a more important role in your life just because they can be crucial to your success than "smooth sailing" because you might know yourself, your target and the relationship better.

For me, I put more weight on efforts.

SPM

2009-06-18T22:20:00.003+08:00

“We want to streamline this as it will also be an easier way to determine the awarding of scholarships.”

Some 450,000 students sat for the SPM exam last year.

Muhyiddin said teachers would also be able to focus better if students were only allowed to take up to 10 subjects because they would not be burdened with teaching other subjects.

“Parents also will not have to rush their children for too many tuition classes.”

On the grading system, Muhyid-din said instead of giving students 1A, B or C, their grades would include A+, A and A- from next year to make it more effective in deciding who was most qualified for a scholarship.

(quote from The Star)

I have put the quoted phrases in bold as I found they are arguable. I wonder if the government did pinpoint the real flaws existed in the previous SPM exam system, analyse deeply and then make the decision wisely.

Easier way? Even if the subjects are limited, the problems remain unsolved if there are still a bunch of candidates with a string of A1s under the artificial low threshold to score an A1 for each subject ( except BC ) . The JPA will be in hot soup again, just imagine that there are possibly more than two thousands 10 A1s scorers waiting for their deserved oversea scholarships, yet not to mention the bumiputras and the poors to be taken care.
Focus better? If they really mean it, why do we ( non-Malays ) need to study Pendidikan Moral ? It is utterly useless!
Tuition classes? Normally students who attend insane number of tuition classes just don't know how to manage their own schedule. They follow the tuition teachers blindly, but it has nothing to do with taking more subjects which don't really need tuition. It is subjective and depends on the students. Some students don't need tuition at all.
Grading system? Well, what is the difference between getting 10 A1s and getting 10 A+s? I thought the term CGPA will be recommended when I saw grading system. To really make it more effective in deciding who is qualified for a scholarship, improve the grading inflation is the only way and once it is really tough to secure the A+, I believe no more candidates will consider taking so many subjects.

There will be another change soon, which is now debated hotly. Perhaps the controversy arose when the JPA scholarship had not been distributed evenly is the main reason to push the government to make the decision of limiting SPM subjects from the year 2011, but what is the motive of changing English to a must-pass-subject which is as same as Bahasa Melayu, to secure the SPM certificate? This is a stepping stone to bring the deteriorating command in English back from the edge but I don't hope to see that another artificial threshold is created again after finding that there are just too many who can't make it.

Subscribe or not?

2009-06-17T14:43:00.004+08:00

I'm still wondering if it is necessary for me to subscribe to a broadband service in order to access the Internet while taking my A-Level for 18 months later. It is for sure that I will bring my laptop along.

Unnecessary because :

Unlike AUSMAT or SAM, we don't really need a vast searching via Internet for more information to complete the assignments for A-Level.
I asked myself about what I would be doing all the time while using the Internet since I started using it. Entertainment occupied 70% of the time. I need entertainment but I don't hope to get myself distracted towards it.
Newspapers are available there, therefore I don't need to check for the daily updated news via Internet. I prefer reading newspaper too.

Necessary because :

The college does provide Wi-Fi service which we have to pay RM25 per month for it. However, according to the users' feedbacks which are mostly negative, it only works roughly 10% all the time.
I would like keep in touch with my friends and family via messenger or web cam.
I guess I will have enough time to update my blog in order to share my college life. Uploading photos does need a stable line. It will be terrible if the saying about "the connection provided can't even get into google homepage" is true.
I believe I will rely so much on the google translator, the dictionary websites, the encyclopedia websites ( Wikipedia will do ) and the google searching engine for convenience. I'm sluggish when flipping a thick dictionary manually. Moreover, Google and Wikipedia favor me in term of ample information.

Feel free to share your humble opinion in this piece :)

Malaysia style

2009-06-16T18:31:00.004+08:00

Note : I write this for fun :p

DotA a.k.a Defence of the Ancient is a renowned custom scenario which involves 10 players or less per round. The objective of each team ( 5 players ) is to destroy the opponent's Ancient, heavily guarded structures at the opposing corners of the map.

However, it is familiar to every online player that most of the Malaysia players are now somehow showing disrespect towards this game.

They play self-centered and arrogantly. They quit the game whenever they want, leaving the other teammates in misery. They often wrangle for whole game long just because someone has insulted : " u r noob " ( Ya I could hardly find anyone who does use proper English while communicating in the game, they tend to use "me" rather than "I" ) . They coin their own rude words to drag the opponent's parents of even ancestors into their quarrels.

I have been accustomed to the lack of courtesy among the less-educated players in the infested Malaysia room. I would just prefer to type "msia style" or remain silent whenever I encounter this :p

Rubella

2009-06-15T19:06:00.009+08:00

I have miserably decided to countermand my intention to attend my best friend's birthday party at tonight after my doctor had diagnosed that I'm infected with rubella, a highly contagious disease.

I googled for the symptoms of rubella, they are mild fever, headache, loss of appetite, mild conjunctivitis ( no wonder I feel pain whenever I twist my eyeballs ) , a stuffy nose ( this is torturing ) , swollen lymph nodes ( yes I have one behind my left ear ) , rashes appeared on the face spreading downwards ( my mother did worry if I got dengue fever ) etc.

I was wrong when I related my illness to the extreme hot temperature, instead it is more likely that I was infected during the medical check up in the hospital. Hospital is indeed a dangerous place.

It would be considered as selfish if I'm still being stubborn to spread the virus among my friends in the party, who knows one of them is now pregnant? :p

Note: Rubella may cause miscarriage or the baby can be born with severe disorders.

Chain letter abuse

2009-06-14T23:39:00.005+08:00

Don't be fooled by this cynical hoax by forwarding it on. Somehow it irritates me in the sense that the killing job could seemingly be done in such an easy way, ridiculous. I would consider it as a kind of ignorant spam created by those kid who didn't know how to fill up their boredom in a better way. The basic premise of the hoax - " Organisation X will donate Y cent to victim Z every time this messege is forwarded " is just a phycological trick to the recipients, which just doesn't come true. If you are really ardent towards the poor maybe you shall visit here rather than forwarding the hoax blindly.

Untitled

2009-06-13T23:59:00.002+08:00

I'm feeling sick for the whole day and I guess the main reason is exposing myself towards the extreme heat during the treasure hunt in yesterday. Besides, I didn't get enough rest nowadays, causing my immune system to be more vulnerable. I would like to sleep now rather than searching stuffs to be shared in my blog. Good night.

Treasure Hunt

2009-06-13T00:30:00.003+08:00

Feeling exhausted and resisting my heavy eyelids from closing, I'm trying to create my 21th post.

I participated in a treasure hunt contest held by YMM ( Young Malaysian Movement ) in this morning. There were twenty groups which consisted of two persons each, riding bicycles and solving the tricky and mind-boggling questions all along the 50km roads. We scoped out every details in banners, shop signs and even the small torn advertisements of illegal money lending which were pasted everywhere especially for the questions which required us to find the small codes, serial number or something like that. Some of the other questions didn't deal with luck so much, instead, the logical thinking and analysing ability would do. We violated the rules by grouping six contestants as one of our strategies. It worked so well. We deceived the other contestants by distracting their attention to the wrong spot intentionally ( it was funny ) rather than staring at the object that supposed to be the answer. This was our strategy too. We were requested to collect the aluminium cans we found anywhere while protecting a small egg given by the authority. We ended up by winning RM30 each after dividing the cash we had won equally :p

It is a creative activity in promoting green environment, no cars, no pollution.

Medical check up

2009-06-11T21:44:00.006+08:00

It was the fourth time I went to the Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah for medical check up in this morning. My friends and I had made a wrong decision to choose this "old hospital" instead of Kedah Medical Centre which could have completed our check up within two days.

We were ordered to fill in the forms beside the counter in the first visit which could be frustrating as we needed to repeat writing our names, IC numbers, home addresses which were the longest and all of us got fed up and started blaming about what we could think of. We peed into two urine containers and got our blood extracted on the same day. I could feel the pain when one of my friend was torturing by a nurse who could hardly find his vein and poked the needle in and out for about 6 times. When we were going for our Mantoux test ( test if we acquire tuberculosis ) , the nurse appointed us to visit the TB department on the next day, therefore I thought the whole process must be complicated and time consuming, but I found myself wrong in the second visit.

The whole Mantoux test ended up within 5 minutes by injecting a small amount of tuberculin beneath our skin that would be swelling for a while after that. I wondered why the nurse ( or medical officer ) wasn't willing to do the same easy-looking task during our first visit. I was shocked when I accidentally saw that there was a bruise at the part where my blood was extracted. My friend told me it was normal.

It was our third visit to Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah to examine whether we did have the possibility to acquire TB by measuring the diameter of induration which was explained that it was due to our natural immune respond towards the bacterial protein. My induration showed 6mm. According to the medical officer ( or nurse ) , those whose induration size exceeds 10mm are in high-risk category. We were then joking with another friend who had his size greater than 10mm by not socialising with him anymore. My bruise was getting more serious.

Today we got our reports for the urinalysis and blood test. However the report for the blood test was not completed. We have to take our next visit, which is the fifth visit, which I didn't expect, to another hospital in order to complete it. Everyone had measured his or her height, weight, blood pressure and sight ability. After that, we headed to the clinics and consulted another medical officer respectively. Actually this was the last step to certify our medical check up forms. Ahah! My bruise can still be seen clearly.

I wonder if there will be the sixth time.

Reading

2009-06-10T20:56:00.002+08:00

Except those needed to score in "literature part" in English papers when I was in secondary school, I didn't read any English novel since I was small. I didn't like to write essays in English until I had realised that my poor command in this language was worse than any average standard three students in Singapore when I was form four. I started my efforts to pull my level back by writing more often but it was already too late. Luckily I managed to score an A1 in the English paper for SPM due to the low threshold in getting that so called excellent grade (almost half of the candidates in my school got grade A) , but miserably I got B4 in the GCE O-Level. I'm the particular person if I'm going to put the blame on someone.

Reading in English was just too far away from me by then. But I think it is still the best way to acquire the literacy by ourselves and reduce the redundancy made while writing, therefore I bought an English novel in this afternoon. I guess I will spend the following time in reading my first-buy-English-novel :p

Hot weather

2009-06-09T21:27:00.006+08:00

I guess everyone around me has sensed the extreme hot weather nowadays and been wondering if it has something to do with the global climate change. The sun is still blazing, emitting scorching heat. The wind is playing hide-and-seek with us and there are no more kites in the sky. I suspect the highest weather temperature recorded during these days could be rising to more than 35 degree Celsius. I'm sweating although I've set my fan speed to the maximum. I googled the weather forecast for my area, Alor Star for the next 4 days and glad to see it will be raining continuously. If the prediction is true, it will be a welcome sight indeed.

The hot melting weather is one of the symptoms indicating the adverse effect towards the environment disturbance. I've come across with plenteous notices in TV channels and brochures which promoting a pasture green environment. There is now a particular theme in this issue on Discovery channel and a series of documentaries concerning our environment is already available. There have been researches, studies and calculations about the emission of greenhouse gases which contribute the most towards the rising average global temperature. I could roughly remember there were statistics splitting our daily routines into every single action which is causing CO2 emission and taking it into account to calculate the quantity of the CO2 emission. I googled again. The results are shocking.

Here I reveal the statistic about your CO2 footprint when using Internet:

For each google search, the CO2 emission is 6.8 grams ( same emission as 56 meters of Toyota Prius or running 170 meters )
For each EBAY auction, the CO2 emission is 55 grams ( same emission as 420 meters of Toyota Prius or running 1275 meters )
For each blog posted, the CO2 emission is 850 grams ( same emission as 7.6 kilometers of Toyota Prius or running half a marathon )

If you wonder why the amount appears to be so great, I can clarify this to you that the computer terminal is using electricity whereas the data centre operated by Google around the world is consuming power exceedingly. Research suggested that information technology now causes 2% of the global CO2 emission.

Gosh! I'm contaminating the environment while improving English through blogging :p

Sorry

2009-06-08T21:59:00.002+08:00

45 minutes, I have been staring at the computer screen for that long. It is getting tougher for me to post every single article now. I'm running out of ideas and feeling desperate that I didn't improve at all. I'm sorry for those who put high hope on me.

I'm depressed now for some reasons which I don't really clear about and start thinking melancholically. I can't control my emotion well, maybe it has something to do with my fluctuating hormone level, the unhappy scenes keep echoed in my mind. I don't like this feeling. It invokes sorrow, disappointment, sorriness , anxiety, anger, dissatisfaction etc.

It is horrible and unpleasant when I spent my time to recall my ugly dark side. I hurt the people around me whether intentionally or not. I took so many things for granted without realising it. I care only my own benefits, while depriving others. I said too much that I shouldn't be saying. I didn't really help when I was helping. I brought more troubles than happiness. I was ignorant and childish when I didn't know how to criticise something in proper manners. I was so persistent in some circumstances, eventually messing the things up. I lied and tried to cover my lies by lying more. I said sorry but I didn't mean it. I gave empty promises. I was too wrong.

I'm truly sorry, so sorry. Please forgive me if I did any offense to you, my family, my friends or who I don't even know your name.

Tonight is not my night.

The way

2009-06-07T23:02:00.004+08:00

I tried to type from A to Z without looking at the keyboard, slowly and carefully. It was not slow, but I typed two alphabets wrongly.

When I was just a kid, I used to see someone that could turn his head aside to answer something or watch television while typing in extreme speed, chatting with his friend via yahoo messenger. It happened to be an impossible task for me to type by using both of my hands. I never learned the correct way about keyboard fingering so sometimes I have to glimpse through the keyboard to avoid such typographical errors. I can type faster now, at least 10 alphabets in 2 seconds, or even faster, but up to certain extents, it is the correct fingering which does the job better.

We don't learn everything in the same way. We developed our own measurement towards everything new to us. When learning Mathematics, some new learners preferred to count apples in solving addition or subtraction in the sense that it would come easier while some were not. When writing, some learners tended to write the alphabet "d" by completing the "l" first while there were others who would like to complete the "o" first.

When it comes to a larger scale, for instance, the way of learning, maybe the difference is much more apparent too. Student A doesn't like to waste so much of his efforts in order to understand a concept and rather to memorise the facts one by one. Student B is different. Rather than understanding deeply, he touches everything, however he can't catch the details. Can you say which one is better?

The starting point and the practising method could bring irreversible effects. The equilibrium point is not hard to explore if we can balance ourselves in all aspects and judge everything wisely.

Anticipation

2009-06-06T21:50:00.003+08:00

I have been rotting ( not using rusting because "rotting" is more organic ) for about seven months at home while almost all of my friends are already getting into the higher education institutions for their diploma programmes respectively. I hope to start my tertiary study as fast as possible after realising that I'm gradually forgetting what I had learned during the secondary school life. I've started anticipating it and even imagining about the moment I walk into the lecture hall in formal attire, mixing with those English-educated people and practising hectic lifestyle.

Once I've registered in Kolej Teknologi Timur, Sepang, many things need to be changed. I need to be more independent, catering my own food, washing my own shirts etc. I'm already 18 years old, yet I don't know how to control a washing machine. I don't really help much in the household duties because my mother and maid worry I will mess the things up. I never cooked also, even a bowl of maggi mee. It is shameful right?

I need to be more hardworking as the Cambridge A-Level Programme wouldn't be as easy as expected. Before securing my seat in one of the universities in India, I need to pass the cutoff point, that is at least 3 B's if I'm not mistaken. Physics, Chemistry and Biology are compulsory whereas Mathematics is optional. However I won't take the risk by only acquiring the three science subjects. Besides, Mathematics is my favourite subject. The duration for this programme is only 18 months, which is compact for me ( I guess for everyone too ) to tackle the examinations.

I need to keep myself away from the entertainments that might distract my concentration towards study. I shall bring my favourite game, DotA to a halt. I may not hang out with my friends that often, by strong will.

I need to adapt myself to the English-speaking environment. Perhaps communicating by speaking English will improve my broken English by bounces and leaps. I want to speak English loudly, naturally and confidently.

Fun or agony, it depends on how you manage the situation and make use of the time. I believe I can enjoy my future life. All the best to everyone in your future undertakings too :)

Malaysia, my country (part 2)

2009-06-05T15:13:00.003+08:00

If you are a streamyx user, I suppose you at least called TMnet Streamyx customer service once before. Yes, I'm one of the Internet users who are always displeased by the snail speed service provided by streamyx. Feeling frustrated, my family had changed the so called "money-saving-package" from RM88 per month to RM66 after finding it promised more than it provided. We have been calling for customer service but it couldn't really help a lot. They insisted us to perform the similar procedure every time, that is restarting our router which we had done it by ourselves about more than a thousand times. Apart from that, I'm afraid I couldn't find anyone of my friends who is satisfied in his or her broadband service too. However, according to my friend who has been studying in Singapore for a while, the speedy broadband which enables the users to establish its connection to stream smoothly even in a car, is now available there at a much cheaper cost. It is saddening when our ministries are planning whatever plans in conjunction with vision 2020 which has something to do with multimedia advancement while we are still troubleshooting the basic and minor line problems.

Some of the constructions in our country are fragile enough no matter how much money derived from the tax payers our government has invested in. It was clearly shown when the roof of the RM300 million 50,000 capacity Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Gong Badak collapsed within one year of completion. Fortunately no human life was taken, but we can't ensure for the next time if we are lucky, can we? I'm not going to push all the responsibilities to the contractors but I wonder why the government would give full trust to the bumiputra contractors who know only appointing sub contractors who in turn appoint "sub-sub contractors" and then "sub-sub-sub contractors". These companies don't have the intention to build them and what they know is just securing the government projects to earn big money by providing "cheap materials". Certainly there are bribery and corruption in between the government and the cronies. I know, you know, without having to spell it out. It is interesting to wait for their explanation as there was an engineer who often jogged in the area of the stadium had officially informed and warned government agencies about the bending frame which held the roof. It just went to the deaf ears.

*Luckily I had saved this post in Word Pad before publishing or else I might have to write it again, it showed "page not found" after I clicked PUBLISH, frustrating huh?

Examination (part 2)

2009-06-04T20:33:00.004+08:00

Most of the people find themselves tiring of having the annoying school examinations. It infiltrates the students' life by exerting enormous pressure towards them. The parents are practising kiasusism which is meant by " refrain from losing especially in term of academic ", they send their children to the tuition centres all the way without concerning much about their favor and freedom. Some of my friends even needed to attend more than ten tuition classes per week while preparing for SPM. How stuffy could their life be? This is an unhealthy phenomenon indeed. They had been allocating too much weightage on the examination grades. There had been many cases where the candidates suddenly burst into hysterical screaming while having their exams, which could be attributed to the invisible burden they ought to face all along the time.

Honestly, I enjoy examinations instead of terrifying myself about it. You are given a period of time to prepare yourself and you shall make full use of the time in order to give your best shot in the coming examination. You have the golden chance to test how much you've absorbed, how deeply you've understood and to which extent you've achieved. I love the free essay parts, all the ideas can have their own ways traversing the sentences. I don't like the teacher to deduct my marks for accusing that my points are slightly digressed. I would like to condemn the teachers who won't consider the answers that are not appearing in their marking scheme. In fact they are just lazy to check for the acceptable answer one by one.

I would never try to force myself to burn midnight old, flipping those reference books at the last minute. If it did work, perhaps I shouldn't "waste" so much time in doing daily revision. Despite of doing the same thing just before a few minutes examination started, normally I would only take a deep breath to relax myself. Somehow I feel that it is better for a candidate to sit down and pray silently at that moment.

Basketball and I

2009-06-03T20:34:00.004+08:00

" Basketball? Nah, boring sport. What's the point of tossing the orange ball here and there like a mad guy? I prefer badminton. " If you asked me for my favourite sport in ten years ago, I would presumably give you such an answer. But it is utterly different now.

I love basketball much more than any other sports. My perspective towards basketball was twisted soon after my father brought me to watch a final basketball match. The indoor atmosphere was tense. Everyone held their breath when the scores of both the teams were chasing each other while the time left was not plenteous. Unfortunately a key player sprained his ankle and was forced to be substituted. Despite enduring his excruciating pain, he was back on the court just after about five minutes when seeing his team was going to lose the final match. He made a fabulous half-court-shoot just before the opponent team could declare their victory in hand by 10 points lead. All the players were spurred, incredibly forcing the game to an extra time. However, they was defeated after all. They won the applause, the respect, the glory and the honour.

My father bought me a small basketball then. The old basketball court behind my previous house had become my childhood heaven. I could still remember the high and loose basketball rings without net, the slippery ground surface and the lines that could hardly be seen. Although all of the kids there were ignorant towards the basketball rules, we enjoyed ourselves by tossing the ball once we got the ball and normally it ended up as an air-ball ( not hitting the ring ) However there was another threat all the small kids had to face, not the hidden snakes in the two-feet-long bushes, not the bees from the huge bee hive, but they were the local teenage residents who forcibly occupied the basketball and changed it to a football field. Everyone must take his own risk to step into the court once they started kicking their football because the ball might slam at his face at anytime and anywhere. You might be still wondering how they could play football there since there were only two standing basketball posts. Ya right, the posts were their targets. The loud banging sound heard indicated there was a goal and soon the scorer would be showing his insaneness by taking off his shirt and screaming like a mad guy.

Sometime we were lucky, they were willing to play with us, but the kids (included me) could just watch the ball flying above our heads without touching the ball once although all of us did chase the ball hard. It would be considered lucky when you had a chance to snatch the bouncing ball, but unfortunately the ball would be gone just after a couple of seconds. They showed no mercy towards the small kids. There were also some moments when I managed to score and I would be very glad thinking the picture for the whole day. I was just innocent.

JPA scholarship (part 2)

2009-06-02T12:10:00.004+08:00

It was another agonizing brief period between the date JPA announced its scholarship recipient and the moment for those who failed to check if their appeals result in positive response. However I couldn't describe the second disappointment for those who are no doubt qualified to secure the scholarship. They are seemingly left aside, tasting the grievance. Uproar continues. Some of my friends are still blaming the scholarship distributing system by attribute its injustice to the hidden conspiracy. They are still struggling for their well deserved scholarship via political organisation while the others are utterly given up after rubbing their tears and concentrate on their pre-university course.

Some of the changing policies of JPA sound ridiculous to me, for instance, there is a recommer who applied for biotech or pharmacy ( I'm not sure ) but it all ended up by getting medicine course. He accepted it anyway. Another case that might convince you about their unpredictable respond is happening to a guy who initially secured a place in IPTS for the pharmacy course and did not appeal, was then given the oversea program to New Zealand. It reminds me about the technical problem occurred in the announcement of the list of candidates selected to study in University Sains Malaysia (USM) which irks the parents of the 4574 candidates who never expected such an absurd error to be happened. The above incidents could be a kind of disgrace towards our country.

However, there are also a group of lucky people who would never satisfy with what they had gained. They request to change their country despite being grateful and appreciate the coveted "shark fin". There comes a recommer who got Canada and she is not satisfied with the reason "I'm not fond of that country". Her thread was bashed heavily later. It has no wrong with feeling disappointed when you didn't get the country you prefer, but being not to appreciate it would be a kind of greediness indeed. This morning an auntie had called me to consult my opinion about her nephew, who is selected by JPA to pursue his dentistry course in India. She told me that his friend is selected to Australia so she would like to appeal again. She is ignorant indeed to degrade the dentistry of India.

Achilles' heel

2009-06-01T21:25:00.004+08:00

When I was reading the book titled " A Dictionary Of English Idioms ", I had come across this phrase, Achilles' heel. Apparently Achilles is an ancient Greek name. It must have something to do with the Greek mythology or something that was really happened, and then constitute to some historical facts. The dictionary defines the phrase as " fatal weakness or the only weakness "( I translate completely from the Chinese definition). I googled this phrase after finding myself interested to know more. According to Wikipedia, the meaning is almost the same but it provides extra articles to explain more about Achilles.

Classical myth attributes Achilles' invulnerability to a treatment of Ambrosia and burning away of his mortality in the house fire except on the heel, where he was held by his mother Thetis. There is another rising myth stating that it is actually his mother dipped the infant Achilles the river Styx which could confer immortality, holding onto him by his heel. However both the myths end up by relating Achilles' death to his heel wound caused by a poisonous arrow which couldn't hurt him in the other body parts. I was then satisfied by the definition given "An Achilles' heel is a fatal weakness in spite of overall strength, actually or potentially leading to downfall ".

Okay where's my Achilles' heel? Which one of my characteristics is referring to it? I guess it would be my lack of perseverance, being a procrastinator, low general knowledge, speaking louder in words than in actions, afraid of my own's shadow, absence of mind due to the distractions around me and the most fatal one towards a doctor-to-be, that is communication skill. I write more than I speak. I can write using rhetoric in Chinese but speak in an opposite way. People think I'm a dull guy who is non-sociable when they speak to me. In fact, I don't think it is necessary to speak much. I'm emotionally rich in the written words. Therefore I'm worried when it comes to speaking which is all-in-English later. I'm packing myself up, reloading the language bullets and polishing my tongue now. I hope it works :)

Home

2009-06-01T01:01:00.005+08:00

Home is the place you want to go when you're frustrated and tired. Home is the place for you to forget those unpleasant incidents happening everyday. Home is the place where you rely on. Once you've got home, you are safe.

Every creature ranging from tiny hummingbirds to huge whales has its own sweet home. Going home is everyone's privilege, no one shall deprive it. Children should not sling the bee hive by using stones. Rivers and the sea should not be contaminated by spilling the poisonous wastes towards it which could irritate the innocent aquatic lives. Monkeys shouldn't be incapacitated, imprisoned and humiliated by the visitors in zoo for the rest of their life. The wildlife their own home, the sacred jungle which shouldn't be intruded by the hunters.

If you think a tranquil and harmonious home is more valuable than enjoying materialism ; If you think a well-being and united family is denser than owning wealth, countless property and being powerful to give command in the family ; If you are the prestigious one ; Even if you have some imperfections, you are the lucky one, when your family is still smiling, waiting and welcoming you to go home.

A few bricks and mortar of the wall structure, together with the roof and doors, windows with curtains, carpets that are on the ground, are not enough to constitute a family. It must be combined with friendship, family unity, warm-hearted partners, and therefore it is considered home.

Medicine (part 2)

2009-05-30T23:26:00.007+08:00

I was rudely awakened by my parents who seemed to be more excited than me to tell me that they had received the late coming letter sent by JPA in this morning. They asked me to guess which country I will be heading to. I hoped for the word " Australia " to come out between their lips. However JPA denies my chance for me to be my cousin's junior. I got India.

Well, although Australia tops the list but I'm glad to get India. India has always been the well-renowned country in training the professionals to excel and contribute in certain critical fields especially in health care. Some people even stated that there are so many corpses in India, which means to be a kind of convenience or advantage to the medical students there ( try to figure out why :p )

Every one around me feels proud of me, they keep on complimenting me as if I already got my medicine degree. They asked me to give discount if they seek for my help in the future. They even started calling me Dr. Lui. It is still a long way to go, to be what they expected ( specialist, general practitioner, blah blah ) What I have to do now is just preparing myself to endure the hardship. I don't think too much. It is still not the time for me to decide which specialist I want to be. I have not even started my foundation course, to be specific, Cambridge A-level which I will be taking at Kolej Teknologi Timur.

I did feel abandoned when all of my friends ( JPA scholars ) are registered in one of the college known as INTEC. However how will it be if I compare the five-year of homesickness to the 18 months of not having old friends? From another perspective, maybe it is better for me to not relying too much to my old friends. As time elapses, I might be more independent and confident to communicate with every one there in English.

I'm still having worries about the interview I have to pass in order to secure a place for me in the universities in India, or maybe I think too much. Here I come, India :)

Games

2009-05-30T00:20:00.002+08:00

I enjoy playing games. The games I used to play are just numerous.

When I was 5, I enjoyed playing hide-and-seek. Despite of suffering by hiding myself inside a hot and stuffy narrow cupboard for a maximum of 30 minutes, I would ridicule my brother for a whole day long after he had forsaken his attempt in seeking me. It was very proud for every child to win such a game. I will still be laughing at my stupidity whenever I recall it. I played shoes-hiding too. My mum did warn me that she would not buy me a pair of new shoes if I lost my shoe ( we hid only one shoe each ) again.

When I was 7, I was a Mario fanatic. It seemed not to be a boring task for me to save the princess from the giant monstrous king everyday, countlessly, in the same way. Pac-Man happened to be one of my favourite arcade games too. I screamed loudly when the four ghosts eventually sieged my Pac-man while there were only a few pac-dots left.

When I was 9, I started learning chess. I participated my first chess competition and it ended up brutally. I was checkmated within a few steps by a national level opponent showing no mercy towards me. Anyway, it didn't change my passion towards chess. I love the game.

When I was 10, everyone around me was absolutely engrossed in playing Pokemon. The most popular topic of the conversation among my friends and I at that time was the way we train a Pikachu.

I wonder how dull my life will be if there were no such games. I love gaming =)

My Grandpa

2009-05-28T14:48:00.003+08:00

It has been one of my hobby to glance through the photos taken when I was small. In some of the photos there are the eight smilings of my family which consisted of my kind grandparents, my mighty mama and papa, three innocent siblings and I. Everything seemed to be very blessed until the God decided to be facetious when it was the April Fool's Day in year 2002. It was the day when I could never hear his sound again. Perhaps my grandfather's unforeseen death is the most shocking incident I've ever encountered.

The sepia photos seem to recall the past of the person I respect the most, nostalgic yet memorable. I would usually take more than 1 minute staring at my grandpa's weather-beaten face while letting those past moments we shared together to keep echoed in my mind. He used to cane me because I had spoilt his carpenter tools which seemed to be his precious. He used to smile happily which he normally didn't while celebrating his 80-year-old birthday with all the children and grandchildren. He used to grip my hand teaching me how I should write properly, after that I appeared to be the first kid who knew how to write his Chinese name while studying in the kindergarden school. Normally I would end up in tears. It is a saddening moment indeed. My grandpa seldom talk. He kept all his secrets, his hardship and even his borderless love towards the family all the time. According to what my father had told me, my grandpa never complained about his difficult life, never once. He worked as a construction worker who required to move those heavy bricks and breathe in those dirty dusts under the scorching sun which gave out steaming heat in order to seek a means of living. His dark hue colour of skin and the well-developed muscles could explain a lot. He instantly quitted smoking when my father had reached adolescence just to refrain his son from getting this bad habit. In case my grandpa had been smoking for decades. My father told me my grandpa was a pro gambler, I did imagine my grandpa to be the "God of Gamble", rolling the dice stunningly like most of the main actors do in the gambling-related movie. However, he decisively quitted too. He is mighty isn't it? He is always the most important man in my family. All of us feel proud to be granted him as our family guardian. Without him, we wouldn't have the chance to own a comfortable house and secure lifestyle currently.

Grandpa, don't worry about me *rubbing tears*
I'm more sensible and thoughtful now, I've grown up, I've achieved a new milestone in my academic field. I manage to secure a scholarship to pursue my tertiary study. I'm sure you'll be joyful if you can hear that.

Grandma always feels lonely. I'm so sorry to her, I wonder how many time I can ever see her again once I continue my study...

Grandpa, here I pay you my highest respect! I love you grandpa.

Examination

2009-05-27T22:17:00.006+08:00

It has been three days since I started my blog. As the promise goes on, I will be squeezing my brain once again at tonight. Normally I'll find something that inspires me in recom but the topics left are seemingly too tough for me to express my point of view in English. Suddenly I think about examination, it will be interesting for me to write indeed.

Many people did ask me for the secret to score a string of A1s in this examination. Well, I'm not trying to reiterate the cliche or general statements such as 99% of perspiration and 1% of inspiration, unwavering determination, full commitment etc. However I may share some of the less abstract ways to improve your performance during the examination.

First and foremost, do not burn midnight oil during the examination weeks. Well, as we know, lack of sleep and tired mind will affect your performance adversely. It is definitely not worth to cover just a few more topics but you are emotionally distracted when answering the questions. Secondly, try to make short notes that could be able to recall you the complicated mathematics concepts or the chronology of the history stories. Read it before you enter the examination hall, it can act as a kind of confidence-booster too. This way comes handy when there is really a bunch of points or facts you need to memorise. In fact you can even draw something inside your short notes, it works! In addition, I would advise you not to discuss the questions immediately after you have submitted your paper. It is because you might lose your confidence once you have spotted some of your answers are wrong. ( Actually I didn't obey this during the SPM weeks, I wonder if I could still handle the next paper IF I knew my points of essays were really digressed :p ) Apart from that, utilize the time allocated for each paper by checking the answers. I would like to mention the subjective part where there will always be cases about losing the marks for the entire question just due to a tiny error in using terminologies. Besides, do study the format used in the particular subject rather than spotting which question will stand a higher chance to be asked. Last but not least, stay relax and refrain from getting nervous to tackle the exam questions =)

For the examination such as SPM, you will have to prepare yourselves for about two years therefore you definitely want to answer the questions at your best performance. I hope the advice above will help. All the best to the dedicated candidates of the coming SPM! Keep in mind that SPM appears only once in your lifetime! ( You don't hope to take it twice, do you? :p )

Medicine

2009-05-27T02:08:00.002+08:00

Fortunately, I'm chosen by the Public Service Department (JPA) to pursue my tertiary study under its scholarship in medicine. People told me that I'm as lucky as winning lottery as the total amount spent on me could be nearly a million ringgits. However it is not the time for me to enjoy the savor of victory, I know I shall start preparing myself mentally in order to push myself through the hardship that I might face soon.

Pursuing medicine means I will works as a doctor a.k.a medical officer in the future. I've read many of the blogs written by the medical students as well as doctors. They share their two cents to those who are going to join the medical profession. As most of the people will say, being a doctor is glamorous and can earn big money. It is a misconception indeed. If we count the salary of a doctor hour by hour and then compare its ratio to the other job, we can conclude that the medical job can only bring you monetary stability but not wealth. A doctor cannot be a millionaire.

What propels me? First, I had grown an intense loving towards science and mathematics since I was small. I expect I will be doing science-related job after I've grown up. It doesn't make sense right? Okay actually I'm finding job satisfaction at the same time. I can imagine when I manage to bring the patient's health back to an acceptable level, all things worth. Secondly, I'm inspired by my cousin, Chang Yang who is currently undergoing his fifth year medical education as a medical student. Apart from that, his siblings are also working as doctors in different hospitals now. This spurs me a lot. My parents were encouraging me to follow my cousin's step since I was in primary school. They even started imagining the time when my cousins and I are working together in a private hospital. In fact, they didn't force me to become a doctor but slowly analysed the benefits of being a doctor to me. Actually there are more threats than benefits for being a doctor but I quite agree with some of the points. A doctor will know more about health and hence he can be the health consultant of the whole family which will then practise healthy lifestyle together. A doctor might develop more philosophies about life due to the challenging life saving tasks.

Good grades in examination is needed to get you into a medical school but grades alone will not keep you afloat for long. You need a stubborn determination to progress in medical field that requires a decade of training. I've heard that a number of medical students were giving up in the first year studying medicine, it is a waste of time and resources indeed.

I've ready to endure the five years of intense study and a full lifetime of dedication to humanity.
I'm one step closer to my dream.

Malaysia, my country.

2009-05-26T03:03:00.001+08:00

After being inspired by the "what you don't like about Malaysia" thread in recom, I would like to point out my two cents too.

I love Malaysia, it is a lovely country for everyone to live in, but there are some imperfections in certain aspects which can be a kind of disgrace among the Malaysians.

There are plenteous citizens who are lack of courtesy and not civil-minded. Just take a look at our public toilet and the streets. I can't withstand the terrible stench of the "blue box" after jogging in a park when it was the time for me to answer the nature's call. Gosh! It might just take ten more seconds to put me into nauseous state after I peed and of course, flushed it which most of the people didn't. ( I think I'm over-exaggerating it :p ) If you are a rubbish collector, in Malaysia, thanks god! You will have a lot more of work to do. Those people, might have a thought that everywhere can be a rubbish dump as long as it is not in their houses. I recommend the city administrators to be very strict in applying the rules to apprehend those law offenders like how the Singapore government is doing now.

Secondly, I feel irritated by the politicians who advocate Ketuanan Melayu. Ketuanan Melayu is not a right. In fact it is a negative sentiment created with political intentions. During the early states of Malaysia the Malays were discriminated in term of economy, therefore the federal constitution had awarded them this specific privilege in order to recover their involvement in economic activities. At that time, the Chinese and Indians were still having strong ties with their countries respectively. They just fought for own benefits instead of to be united and cooperate with other races. They felt that they were second class citizen. Now all things are changing except the "granted privilege". The PM proposes the idea of One Malaysia. What? Are there any fragments in our country like Korea? Actually our majesty is just trying to clear the race barrier once again and encouraging us to do all good for our country without considering more about racial benefits. However, the Malays felt challenged when our PM decided to alter the Malaysian New Economic Policy (DEB) in conjuction with the idea of reducing the reliance of the bumiputras towards the government as well as enhancing self improvement in them. They argue that it opposes the Ketuanan Melayu. Actually I try not to offend anyone but now everyone is born here, grown here, and educated here. Malaysia is our home, we love our home. Yet we ( non-bumi ) have to face a lot of hardships. It is like not allowing a criminal's child to redeem himself because of his parent!

I would like to condemn the corruptions happening every now and then too. Blatant Corruptions! I would not know how to explain if a foreigner is asking me about this. I can still barely remember there was an international corruption level report "awarding" our country with quite a top rank. Furthermore, our money has been sucked through tax paying while the problems of poverty, infrastructure advancement and degrading local universities are seemingly left aside. These could be seen as one of the consequences of corruption. The judiciary system, err, I don't dare to criticise much but if it really happens to be like what the people are saying at the coffee shop, political motivated and biased, I'm not sure if Wawasan Malaysia will once again be delayed, maybe 3030? 4040?

The election, my first impression is : The parties promised almost everything they could just to gain more votes as if they will be the best administrators if the city, but did they actually fulfill the promises once they won the election? Have the people's voices ever heard? Look at the Perak's politic nonsense which occupied the headlines of the newspaper for several days. Democracy is the people's decision, means it should be the people who decide which party to represent them to voice out their demands in the parliamentary level. Is the judgement of the courts democratic enough? Every side has its own sayings. But I wonder why they don't hold one more election for the people.

Frankly, our country has a huge space for improvement. We have no qualms to sacrifice for our country. It's our only home, the lovely home.

JPA scholarship

2009-05-24T17:47:00.001+08:00

Nowadays the system JPA giving out the oversea scholarships has been criticised either in positive or negative responses. People accuse JPA for its lack of transparency, unfair treatment towards the candidates who did extremely well in the 2008 SPM, the uneven distribution which doesn't follow the quota at all etc. When I flipped the newspapers to get myself into the news of this issue, there are only unsolved endless cases of students claiming that they have more A's for their previous SPM results therefore they should have awarded the coveted JPA scholarship. Yes, this problem had been existing since a few years ago when it was believed that the SPM level started deteriorating in term of syllabus. Check this out, there were only 60 candidates who managed to achieve straight A1s in the SPM more than 10 years ago but there were nearly 2000 candidates who did the same thing in the last year! Here raises some new thoughts - are these new generations getting wiser? Or the level for the candidates to score A1 in each subject is decreased? I would absolutely agree with the declining level and for the former one, I guess not at all as I am the one who has come through such a "easy-to-score-A1-era". Okay,if it doesn't sound convincing, I'm just showing some examples here, for the less shocking example I would like to mention my friend A who had abandoned the whole form 4 syllabus of history subject in SPM 2008 without fear but yet he managed to score an A2 for it. OK FOR THE SHOCKING EXAMPLE ( actually I'm not very sure if it is true but it will sound ridiculous if it is true ), my friend B who did only a question in his additional math ( index number, section C, which was taught by his friend one week before the SPM ) could unbelievable pass that subject! I would call that miracle. So please judge the whole case with another perspective and stop being very proud of our "more-and-more-brilliant-students". No offense. I know some are great indeed.

However, there is also a welcome sight for us (2008 SPM candidates). The hard-to-score-A1-subject which is generally believed among the Chinese that it is just a type of conspiracy played by the politicians to reduce the number of Chinese candidates with straight A1s IS NOW slightly ( or greatly for some people ) "improved" by setting the threshold to obtain A1 lower than the previous year,that is from 1~2% to 5~6%. Will the percentage keep rising or drop back in the next year? Who knows?

Okay here comes the well-known trend among the young candidates. Sadly most of them have a misconception that "the more the merrier" in term of A1s under the effect of A1 glorification after the most A1 record had been broken,again and again. Can u determine a person with 16A1s is definitely smarter than another with only 10A1s? Yup I agree with the statement that the former has a great ability to cope with more subjects, but do consider there are boarding schools which just allow the students to take not more than the compulsory subjects. Perhaps the students will be the innocent victims in this scenario by being rejected in applying JPA scholarship. Does the SPM result slip ( tuition-boosted ) with more than 15 or even 20 As smell better? Is it a necessity for a student to take more subjects which he doesn't like at all rather than to concentrate on the subjects he chosen for his interests just to prove that "ohya I can do what u did, I am more deserved to pursue my tertiary studies under JPA scholarship"? It is unhealthy. Some people might say that if we can exploit and benefit ourselves from the flawed system ( scholarship awarding system ), so why don't? Yes the system is flawed, therefore we should improve it but not exploiting it. To address this problem, we should not blindly follow the unhealthy trend by choosing 20 subjects in SPM. The quality should be emphasized but not the quantity. ( Perhaps, in the future, there are 1000 branched subjects, each subject consists of a couple of questions and a student must end up with 300A1s to secure the JPA scholarship )

I think it is a must to discuss and improve the procedure of choosing JPA scholars. There was an example that a candidate who had taken 10 subjects but ended up with 9A1s and an unlucky A2 in moral education. He was excellence in co-curricular activities, yet he was rejected by the JPA scholarship givers with the reason : not having A1 in moral. Oh my goodness, doesn't it sound illogical for him to get rejected just because he cant follow the dead format ( nilai + elaboration1 + elaboration2 + blah blah ) of that useless subject? ( to prove that it is useless, get knowing with one of my friends who did score A1 but lack of virtue and be proud of using rude words in his communication way ) I will be the first one to agree if this subject is been asked to be abolished :p

Today there is a saying that the government will limit the total number of subject to be taken in SPM for each candidate to 10 by the coming 2011. It is believed that in the coming years there will be no students appealing for the same case. But, seriously, is that the best solution? I would like to know if JPA will have a lot more of fun in choosing JPA scholars among the straight 10A1s candidates if they really enforce this. For me and perhaps everyone that has a better perception in this issue, increasing the difficulty of the syllabus and setting the new threshold in getting A1 to a higher level is indeed the most rational solution. Don't forget the JPA scholarship derives from all the money of tax payers. Do appreciate it if you get it ^^

troublesome ENGLISH

2009-05-24T17:09:00.003+08:00

Well,this is my first post in English since I had just been blogging in Chinese via friendster. What triggers me in doing so? Hmm, the main reason is to improve my English. I am always fascinated by the way people express their ideas or concepts by using such a good command of English AND the most important one is, they can convey whatever they think precisely and spontaneously which I can't. I'm NOW having big troubles even in constructing a sentence in English, I mean, the words,the phrases can't come out naturally and of course, when it comes to speaking, it will be even worse. I think many of my friends as well as those who have been undergoing a long term of Chinese-speaking-environment will have to face this problem also. My teachers always tell simple English will do, but I believe that when it comes to certain extents it will appear to be not appropriate enough. My cousin did advise me to take a look at some people's blog, for instance, Lim Kit Siang's blog. I find it useful though. Apart from that, I spend most of my time in visiting recom,the worldwide Malaysian students network. By going through the threads, to be specific, the debates on the latest issues like the unfair treatment towards the applicants of JPA scholarships, the contradictory posts that raise controversies, the ironic facts that reflect the truth of our national society, I can merely scratch my head and think: Oh my gOsH! my level of this international language is extremely low. Okay,whenever I take a seat in a cinema from now on, I will try not to rely on the subtitles shown to catch the words spoken by the native-speaker-actors with the "lightning speed" (yeap, for me it is) and soon I will surely be very lost in the mist of stories -___-lll Anyway, it is a type of better training for me,better indeed. I'm one of the typical Chinese-educated students which means, my sentences will sound weird to those who are English-educated. Problems exist to be solved! I hope that I can overcome what I always fear - speak, write, and think, IN ENGLISH =)

*For those who are encountering the same problem, let's give our best shot in improving it!