alma mater

My father whom graduated from University of Bath, UK receives the university’s newsletter bimonthly. It s nothing much, the newsletter looks so boring, dull with dreary graphic layout. Still, it shows that by receiving the newsletter, it reminds you where you come from, and where you gain your education and more importantly, is where you receive your valuable experience in life.

My dad told me that in UK and US, the alma mater is being taken seriously. The old student makes an attempt to ‘give back to the university’. They have a lot of activities that gather the old students that can carry back from 1950s.

We have a lot of successful famous person who could in fact give back to their university. Not necessarily in terms of monetary but their experiences and knowledge as well. Why UIA can’t invites the old students who make it for a talk, sharing their skill and know-how in order to create a more talented students.

There are more than exams and endless assignments in university curriculum. Create an atmosphere whereby the product of UIA feel ready enough to face the world out there. The world is not just confine in text books provided to us, but the knowledge in how to survive in the cut throat working industry is hard to find.

the tea lady, a crucial position

i love tea more than coffee

Our new tea lady makes a bad tea. It’s damn sweet, u feel like to puke after only one cup. I wonder how they scrutinize the tea lady before hiring one. Definitely they have a resume telling that they’ve years of experience brewing coffee and tea for several companies so far. But what is the real mechanism to make sure that we’ve hired the right one.

I’ve several suggestions here. During the interview session, skip the whole normal process of getting to know her, her experience, bla bla bla straight to the main point, which is her skill.

The interviewer will then ask the tea lady to make a coffee or tea there and then. Next step is to invite several staff to taste the drink. There will be a form where the taster will then give their marks on the drink prepared by the candidate.

Marks given are strictly confidential, as it will invite brickbats in the office later as everyone has their own taste. Some like it sweet and some may like it medium sweet. Or perhaps one will vote for no sugar at all.

Not to forget, the candidate must be willing to make tea after tea endlessly. I once came across a tea lady who gave deaf ear on request for tea claiming that she had made tea more than twice in a day. I really disgust this kind of attitude, as like you have any other things to do besides gossiping and reading entertainment magazine in the surau.

In the end, everyone will be happy to have a perfect tea lady if everyone follows my idea, hehe. Perhaps I could relay my idea to the management. How will they react?

UIA's Dilemma

Atikah, my cousin cum neighbor is studying in UIA, so as usual we talk a lot about UIA as my blood still runs this UIAns epidemic. We can have several universities line up in our resume, but usually the first university that we’ve entered always is on the top of our heart.

So many changes happen in UIA. One thing for sure, the students are getting bolder and brash. Pardon me; I was the most indiscipline, rebellious student way back in UIA. I was once sent back to hostel to change my dress because apparently my dress is not according to the dress code of UIA.

But after visiting UIA yesterday for a business talk, the atmosphere has completely changed. The sisters (to refer to female students in UIA’s lingua) going to classes wearing short, tight tugging t-shirt which didn’t cover their bottom at all. I’m so perplexed with this scenario. Same goes to my best friend, Farah. Yes, we’ve change, we’re wearing the same outfit like theirs to work, but we have made an effort to wear long shirt before coming over to UIA. Why? Because we have the strong respect over the institution. We respect the values and morality imbedded in us from the first moment we enter the university.

I used to call this Maaruf Club students aka PAS supporters as overzealous zealot. Well, it’s kind of harsh but this committee has the tendency to become the social police in UIA. Stopping us in the middle of the road to comment on our dresses or giving cruel and cold stares if we’re seen talking to a brother (refer to male student in UIA’s lingua). Even though the conversation would be like:

“Wei, assignment tak siap lagilah, let me have yours so I can have a look and perhaps make a copy out of it”

“No problem, tapi next assignment bagi aku tiru ko punyer pulak”

Please note that the conversation did not have any sexual tension in between the lines. Still, it was so wrong to talk with guys even in public area in their eyes.

But based on my last visit, I was almost become just like one of this Maaruf Club. I’ve been trying hard not to tell this one girl out rightly that her short t-shirt has shown her panties at the back whenever she bows down. Not that I care much about this, I won’t go ballistic as this is a normal scene out side, but please not in UIA, ok!

friend+ship=friendship

Everyday, I say thanks to Allah for giving me great friends. This is something that I mostly treasure.

I can proudly tell the world that my closest friends aka alter ego, Sarah, Farah, Neli and Nor has been with me ups and downs for 10 years now. They’re friends’ way back from matriculation.

I can also shout it to anyone that my classmates from school are still with me, even though we have completely different lives now, we still catch up if time allows.

Not to forget, my newfound friends, Laila and Uli. We become fast friends on the very first day of my Master class. Since then, we’re inseparable. Some thought that we’ve known each other before and quite surprise when they know the real stories.

Laila and Uli is truly someone that I can count on during my trying time of juggling time between work and study. They never fail to keep in my notes if I fail to come to class, reminding me that not to forget to send in mostly-forgotten-assignments and giving me a pat at the back when I score high marks.

I’ve heard enough scary stories telling by others who had just completed their graduate studies. Everyone has problems in organizing time and to concentrate on the studies, but this is something that we’re expecting. Unfortunately, the real problem comes in the name of friendship. They’re facing hardship in maintaining group cohesion and solidity.

My cousin has decided to postpone her MBA for one semester as she told me that several of her classmates have the tendency to keep secret on examination date. What the ‘f’? I mean, come on, and does it make them more superior, scoring higher than the rest? This is truly something that I cannot comprehend till the end.

When I’m up there, receiving my scroll in the Great Hall, I will always remember Laila and Uli Febriyanti while gripping hard on my Master degree, insya Allah.

still in a raya mode

This raya, one thing for sure is that I’m wearing last years’ kebaya. As my tailor only can deliver my new baju raya on the second week of raya. I feel awkward at first; never in my life I’ve experiencing wearing old one instead a new, smells good baju raya. Even though I’ve only worn it twice and nobody notices the fact that it’s an old one. Still, it’s not new. Nelly paid a visit and we spend the night eating my mom’s nasi beriyani.

We went to Singapore for two straight days. Since that my mom’s cousin reside there, we hop from house to house and got to eat Singaporean Hari Raya delicacies, which is something that we’re looking forward. It’s been like more than 10 years since I’ve visited Singapore. The city is so squeaky clean, my aunt’s flat looks like an apartment resort complete with a beautiful garden and pathway. We’ve to think twice before tossing a tissue out of the car’s window.

Not to forget, the biggest wheel, the same one we have here, Eye of Malaysia, it just that it seems like it’s 10 times bigger. As we cruise along the road, we noticed a very big construction going on, planning to build the biggest casino in Asia. Nothing can compare my astonishment over the awesome Changi Airport. The ceiling of the airport amazes me and something innovative yet to be presented ever.

We spent the last day visiting Jurong Bird Park, it was so big, we end visited only half of the place and went straight to our Pulai Spring Resorts in Johor Bahru for a rest.