Don't you hate it when .....

students sent in comments of excuses like this ! What happened to originality in giving excuses !

1st-no comment...
2nd-sorry...it diffclt 2 me 2 say...but..i'm 1 of ur studnt & sy belum hntr lg report...ia sepatutnya dihntar pd hari isnn,but sy tk dtng class coz demam. So,next day & 2,3 hari lps n tody, i'm lookni' 4 u, but tk jumpa..so...cant i submit the report next week...

They never fail to add the line ...' I look for you but you were not there..."  . Many others were able to contact me personally, through phone-calls, through sms and e-mails !

So if you are seriously sick enough not to be able to come to college to submit an important project paper, please produce a valid medical certificate to substantiate your claim together with your report  and put them on my table with a formal letter explaining why you did not submit on time ! Then, I might not penalise you so seriously. 

I wrote this response in this blog in view that you chose to explain your case here.

This, definitely, is NOT a flash in the pan !

Yes--- my posting 'Pleasant...for a change' is definitely NOT a flash in the pan ! Again, those guys in the HR department of Swinburne University certainly walk the walk and talk the talk !!

I was told that a letter would be sent at the end of the week - which could be Friday right up to Sunday ! But here's the development in chronological order.

8th, June .....I made the call to them
9th. June .....my student's sister called her to inform her of the coming offer letter
10th June.....my student received a call from the department informing her that the offer letter would be e-mailed to her
10th June ....Within minutes of that , my student informed me that she had received the offer letter

So, am I exaggerating when within two days, everything was settled !I just have to highlight this to show that it is possible !

All I can say is, kudos to the staff of this department. My encounter with them has been a breath of fresh air !!

Pleasant----for a change !

Yesterday I had to make a phone-call to the Human Resource Departmrnt of Swinburne University in Kuching as a reference to a student who will be doing her training at the marketing department of the University. It was a normal call and I was expecting it to be be another 'merry-go-round' call that often is the feature of local phone calls -- especially to a place you are unfamiliar with..

For one thing, I do not have a name that I could refer to , in that department. So it would be a case of explaining beyond the A to Z situation. To be honest ,I was expecting

• having to explain the whole situation about a few thousand times to somebody I do not know -- 
• and only to be told that I would have to speak to Mr/Ms Blah Blah Blah , 
• or listen to an 'engaged tone' for years. 
• or listen to a musical 'hold' tone foe ages, 
• or being told Mr Blah  'is at a meeting', 
• or being rudely told to call another time, 
• or being told that the system is 'off-line
• or a ringing tone for hours with nobody picking up the phone 
• and the torment goes on and on 

Now that would be the general treatment you would get when you make call to companies (big or small) or Government departments..

BUT WAS I SURPRISED ! I GOT NONE OF THE ABOVE TREATMENT.

Let me list  down my experience.

So yesterday, I was expecting any of the above or all of the above treatment .

• The ring tone sctually rang only three times before a polite voice answered with clear information
• she listened to my lengthy information of why I was making the call
• she politely referred me to two other persons who were handling such case AND GIVING ME THEIR DIRECT PHONE NUMBERS !
• she clearly explained to me me about the lunch time system of 12-1 and 1-2 and that she wasn't sure which lunch shift they were on
• gave me advict to call after 2.00pm.

The information given was clear and precise. The tone was patient and polite. So after 2.00 pm I called the first name given.

• it took only two ring tones before it was answered
• nice and friendly greetings from the other end
• I explained the situation
• she told me she didn't have the application form after checking the name
• she advised me to call the other person which was on my list.
• again a direst line was given which I already have anyway !

So I made another call to the next person.....and I realised I wasn't even emotionally charged as I normally would because the whole situation was politely and meaningfully handled and with my full understanding. There was nothing to make me hot under my collar ! Anyway ...

• again the phone was answered after 2 and a half ringtone.
• This time a cheerful gentleman's voice answered.
• I found out that he already knew half my purpose of calling so I did'nt really have to explain all again ( someone must have conveyed the info)
• he promised to look into the situation and  asked me to call him again after a few minutes.( after taking my contact number!)
• this I did and everything was cleared with a positive outcome without him trying to be so 'upperty' about the whole thing and with a promise that a letter would be sent to my student by end of the week----and I believe it will too.
• I found out from my student later that she received a call from them almost immediately after the call.

NOW - THAT IS SERVICE AND EFFICIENCY !

That was a pleasant job to do and I dare say MOST of the companies and Government departments in Kuala Lumpur could learn a thing or two from these HR staff of this University. Oh , and of course (it might be not THAT important) all my conversation was in good English too, and the people I spoke to are all Malaysians !

And from what I heard of the working environment there, I know my student will get a good, effective and professional training there. I'm happy and glad for her !

• 
  

A Tuesday like no other Tuesdays !

Me and my Car-keys !

Went to work as usual this morning, with the usual rush and the the usual jam ! But my ususl day stopped there ! On reaching the car park, I had plenty of time as I was early. So the idle mind started working. I decided to have a look at the fuses of my car electronic system as the door auto-lock was not working.

Took my phone from the passenger's seat , pulled the bonnet release catch, held my car-keys but decided against taking it out its ignition position. Got out of the car, gave the door a good push and opened the bonnet. 

I opened the fuse lid cover and studied  the fuses one at a time. I decided to pullout one of the fuses and ....wallah ! I heard a familiar 'click' sound . Rushed to my car door - and true enough... all the doors locked itself --- with my car keys inside !!!!!!! 

There was really nothing to think about. I simply had to go home to get the spare key!  ...and this I did.

Walked out to the main road to stop a taxi........

Life and The World Cup 

Stopped a taxi , told the driver where I was going and sat back - just being calm about the whole incident. What happened next, I swear is the truth , the whole truth and nothing but the truth ! 

The taxi driver was an elderly Chinese gentleman. He started talking  to me, inspite of my temper-controlled mode I was in .  Let me put this in a dialogue form.

Driver : So the World Cup is here again ha. So fast .

Me: (not exactly a die-hard fan of soccer) Yeah---very soon.

Driver : Wah---soon many people will come to work late har !

Me: Yeah lah. What to  do! The games are all in the early morning.

Driver : You know ah ! 4 years ago when I watched the World Cup , after the finals ah, I said to myself......wah , another 4 years then got another World Cup. Don't know know whether still alive to watch or not ! But now ahhh, the World Cup is here again and I am still alive to watch it.

Now ah, I am thinking --- another 4 years more ...will I be alive  to watch the enxt World Cup !

Me : ( quite shocked and amused )..aiyahhh... don't think like that lah ! There are other people so much younger than you at the last World Cup --- but they may be dead now and cannot watch this WC.

 Driver: ( sounded more cheerful - I swear) Yeah ah...that is true ....

Me: How old are you by the way ?

Driver : I am 66 years old !

Me : (in a loud voice )..Haiyah ! you are still young lah !!! ( because I'm only a few years younger than him -- heheheh)

Thus all the way we talked about life, health, sports , (I was an all-rounder sports-man), games ( he was a regular basket-ball player ), health, life, health, life ...........................

Now this man....interestingly, measured everything in life (especially his ) on the World Cup.............. To me , he is the number one WC fan ! Wished I took a photo of him, or at least noted his taxi number.

When I reached home, before leaving him, I told him to take care of himself for the next two or even three World Cups sessions......................... 

My Sunday Morning Walk !

Just got back from my morning photo-walk at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa.  It was a beautiful morning ! Driving up the Ampang Elevated Highway, The clear day , free of any haze and the perfect visibility over Kuala Lumpur skyline left me no choice but to stop the car by the highway, took out my camera and snapped that rare sight !

Reaching the garden, there was the usual crowd but this time there were two locations where they putting up tents for wedding receptions. Apparently this place is becoming a popular place for such receptions. The aerobis sessions were on as usual.

Then it happened ! I saw a jet-trail in the sky. I went to a bench and had to lie down in order to snapped the scene. But what surprised me was that I was able to reproduce the image of the plane (ph...eat your heart out ! the ones at Changi Beach was nothing compared to these.) ,,,,I mean for a jet to produce that long trail. it must be at a certain height. Yes I was really pleased.

 tonight 'another one will bite the dust' !

Odds and ends...

Photographer got photographed !

Got myself ambushed by AsH without so much as a hint until these came in thru the mail.....

How can you not love them !

I was having my ENG511 presentation when my phone signalled an incoming mms. In between the changing of the presenters , I took a look at the mms ---- and that made my day ! Thanks Yani !

Bukit Belachan Revisited !

So, came back to this place for a second shot and I was more prepared with my stool and tripod stand. But the haze was still there - unfortunately. Here's the results....

What a disappointment !

Supposed to go to Bukit Belachan for a second shoot of the sunset with AsH. But it was raining like crazy ! Oh well....better luck tomorrow !

To Christian

This posting is for Christian who commented in my blog for the first time. Thank you for your kind comments, however after approving it, I could not trace your comments. And thank you for being a follower of this blog for sometime . If you are reading this, I would appreciate if you could give a link to your blog.

Thanks again Christian !

ps.  OK- your comments just appeared in the  'Recent Comments' in the side bar .

WOW !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GE2V1qyYFE

and you MUST watch this !


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGq1641reC8&feature=channel

Babe Dindin

Here's another post from a new student .  She's the first to start a blog ( well, she actually started hers before joining the college ) and I  reproduce her follow-up after my comments in hers !

l0vely c0mment❤
sunnysideup 提到...
Hi ! I finally found the comment slot. Nice writing. I'm not sure if you are whom I think you are in my class.

I noticed you have put my blog in your blog list. Thanks.

Anyway glad to know your blog and will be following you. Keep it up !

teehe3=D
guess that wh0 dr0pped d l0vely c0mment f0r me?
h0h0h0
is my l0vely lecturer!
=D=D=D
I'm s0 s0 s0 s0 surprised that t0 get his c0mment here n found my bl0g=D
w0nder h0w him find it 0ut den><
get sh0cked f0r the m0ment
hahaha=D
h0wever..
thanks ya sir
I'm 0ne 0f the student 0f yr class in group 3 den=D
a chinese gal as well with a black frame spec=D
remember it?
hope y0u will recognize me when in class den=D
teehe3..
cia0 f0r back t0 klang n0w..
mummy I'm back s00n=D

Her blog is  http://dinbabe.blogspot.com/

Mr Jigsaw

I would like to reproduce what Mr Jigsaw, ( http://darkandlonelytranquility.blogspot.com/2010/05/u-made-my-day.html)  one of the presenters yeaterday wrote in his blog. The sequence sounds like taken from a suspense movie...

U Made My Day..???!!!

in the end..we have finally thru with the presentation..

Hemma is the 1st to be tested..it was like 7 to 8 mins after that and she's done..(that was quick and smooth , i said to myself and at the same time i was thinkin to myself "IM DOOMED")

after a few questioning by Mr. Mus , Wira stepped up..(he looked a bit shacky at first..)

but Wira did it..it was slow and steady..

then came along Wan with his "dope" version of presentation style..(by that moment im kinda rattled a bit and looking at Wan..LOL) then after a few mins , i couldn't stop laughing coz Wan

actually said "rumah urut" during the presentation..we all had a laugh..

then it was my time..and i did it...ehehhe

then suddenly "the 4 of u have made my day"...

that was like the most perfect phrase for the 4 of us knowing that we couldnt speak that well and fluent in english except for hemma eheh (sorry Hemma...)

it was worth it...(smiling)

4th. SESSION - ENG 511 PRESENTATION.

Today - 27th May 2010, 8.00am.
So, today's presentation is a fairly good one. I noticed that this semester, I get better preparation level from the kids. Maybe the horror story of what I did to those who didn't got the better of them, or they are just plain more hard working. Whatever it is, my temper didn't seem to surface as it would usually !

The topic today covered, Piracy, Reading habits, Sleep, Massage by the Blind and Dieting Patterns of Malaysians.

Highlight of the day was when one of the presenters who was talking about 'Sleep', defined 'sleep' and 'coma' as :-
Coma---you are unconscious physically and mentally.
Sleep --- you are physically unconscious but mentally you can have WET DREAMS !!!! ( I swear this is true !)

I leave it to your imaginations ! Here are photos but the photo of the first presenter is so bad that I can't produce it here.

on Piracy

on Massage by the Blind

..some of the audience ( the girl in the foreground presented 'Dieting Patterns "

..the 'Sleep' presenter..

Third session of ENG 511 presentation !

Today, 25th. May 2010, 10.00 am.Thank you for an enjoyable session of presentations kids. You made my day ! I appreciate the level of preparation that you all have put in. It showed so well.

The plus ?

You all were spontaneous using the slides not as a reading material but as a cue card. You all knew your facts ! You answered my rather critical questions convincingly. You all were cool, calm and collected, showing a level of English which was a surprise and unexpected. Even Miss Yani was rather surprised and I believed , impressed .

Not only that, I was 20 minute early and the first presenter cam in just after me and the presentation started at 10.00 am sharp. The transition between presenters was short , quick and smooth !

The topics were interesting , that is, Animal Experimentation. Should it be stopped ? , Pot-smoking. Black Metal, Botox and so on.

Well done . This would be a tough act to follow !

on Animal Experimentation

on The prospects of new artists in Malaysia

Pot-smoking....

on Black Metal 

on Botox