One year is up.

After the day on tomorrow, it will be a complete year for my first job. As a lab officer (aka Assistant Laboratory Manager) in UTAR. Believe it or not? I felt it was like just a month, or two. Felt so short yet I've step this far.

A year of full service meant I gotta be confirmed. Yes, I'm a confirmed staff. And I'm not showing off here (for a certain readers who thinks I'm showing off. Sorry for the late disclaimer). As I was confirmed, my first impression is either happy or sad. Feels like in the middle but more to the down mood.

When comes to doing my job, everyone will say,

"Nigel, we depend on you."

I don't know whether it was a compliment or merely just sending me a smirk. Taking higher steps mean having heavy responsibilities, I feel that but I need to take it slowly and have the obligation to ignore them if I still have unsettle business. I hope people will know everyone has a limit before going overboard.

Sigh...

Anyway, I try to take it positively when my feelings tell me the opposite. Try to climb higher still but remember my limits. Hope all of you understands. :) Currently, I'm trying to get back my track with something I've planned along.

Yeah, master studies.

Now, I'm preparing myself with some early discussion with my supervisor before determine the route for the study. Before that, I would like to deliver my gratitude to my FYP supervisor, Dr. Chee who still have a keen interest on me to become my MSc supervisor. I hope that we will collaborate and make something out from the research. So, up up the way and hope my plan can be carried forward as I was imagined.

Will I survive for another year before I do it with my part-time studies on Master? Hope so because I will have thoughts on the next level after the study. For time being, let's stick back the plan which I had in mind during my third year of undergraduate.

Before I miss out, I would like to thank my previous life that prep me with plans even though I need to go through pains and bitter moments. Just let my passion kept burning as it is but not fading away.

And I stay...

*Berkhidmat untuk UTAR*
(English: Ready to serve for UTAR)

Foggy but still going...

(Photo credit by leenik/deviantart)

It has been a long time I type something due to my hectic workload and travelling period from Kampar to Ipoh. Wanna blurt some off my rants actually but hard to explain in the proper manner so I just make it short and simple.

For the past 7 months that I've been working as a lab officer (position known in my campus is 'Assistant Laboratory Manager'), I learnt lots of stuffs and have the high and low experience. From the wackiest scene made by my students and facing my bosses on jobs that I've never encounter with minimal guidance, I would say it was a hell of a ride. In fact, I like the most is my colleagues who share laughters and discuss matter around without having politics.

(I'm not advocating the book, I mean the 'title')

What I can hope to see in my future is producing a laboratory professional, but what I see in present is way off the road. Hurt or not, I want to say that the batch of student I had currently came from a generation called 'Spoon fed generation'.

Yeah, it's my quote of the year. 

Plus I've encounter several students who are not just only disobey your words, they even challenge me back. See the picture? Perhaps they thought that once they paid me to do the job, I have to be like a servant. Sorry, I was paid to teach you to become a professional in a society, not a dung. Even I was being paid with a decent salary, I know my purpose for being here as a teacher and lab coordinator. It's way too different compare to my batch as we do and learn things most from ourselves, not by just ask to do for it. So, suck it up. I won't change my way of doing my work...

Next things is about my working place management. Yes, I was being told and experiencing the hectic procedures with no guidance from the upper personnels. They even don't bother to guide me properly on doing things and ending up I was being scold for nothing. Plus, a letter that will compromise my confirmation interview. My (upper) boss said it wasn't a big deal on getting that letter but hell yeah, it matters to me. Mostly. So, as a good lesson, I won't start my engine doing things unless I'm in the right track and procedures. Enough saying on saving someone's ass and get my ass hot red.

Back to the main topic, my journey is kind of foggy but hey, I told myself that I accept challenges and learn how to face it. Nothing can beat me down, even I fall. It just a matter of time that I crawl up back, stand firmly and move on confidently.

P.S.: Sorry if my post contains quite a number of cursing words but it's my expression. Just strikethrough those disturbing words and arrange a better words in your mind, will ya? Thanks XOXO.

Awaits

For the pass few blog post made, I think I was depressed by a few things.

Quite a month where I find jobs, deal with family matters and got some unexpected events around me.

Read more...

It's my decision

I hope people among me respect on my personal decisions. It's not your call to make me explain things while you don't accept it and think that my explanation are unacceptable. If you don't understand what I'm going through, please, stop making assumptions and make up things with your brain.

Read more...

Insomnia again.

Yesterday, I hardly sleep not because of my freaking aircond.

My aircond works fine since monday.

It's because  I was hungry at night...

I'm having a jobless and boring life and lastly...

I downloaded some movies yesterday.

Can't hold my urge to watch it but anyway, I slept afterwards while the movie kept running but without voice. I watch and read the subs.

Now, I'm awake when I heard my mother talk to someone. Jump from my bed and have 2 chugs of water.

I'm like a cat who has wake up in sudden by a very, very bad dream....

Like the above.

Period.

Where are you "job"?

JobStreet.com has been second favourite place after Facebook. I've been going to that site everyday like my homepage. Darn, it's not easy to find a job and hope that you got selected. Currently, I'm waiting being called or mailed for job interview. So far, no news from my two submissions.

Pfft. It's very boring to stay at home, just doing house chores everyday and become my mother's chauffeur whenever she goes. Recently, I just feel that I don't want to touch my car and go outside. I don't know and it weirds because I hardly use my car for the past three years as I wasn't driving in university vicinity. Perhaps the long travels shifting my stuffs back from Kampar has sickening me since then.

Yeah. Finally, I have shifted back all my stuffs to my house. I miss my room and it has served me very well for the pass two years. Hopefully, the next occupant will treat you nice and sound. I also miss my room back when I stayed in Westlake. I heard that until today it has not being occupied. In short, I gonna miss Kampar (if I'm not going to work there).

Okay, back to my job scavenging matter. It's hard to find one especially when you want (or asked to) stick in your hometown. I found two which are quite near to my house and need not much time for travels. Both are coincidently my favourite which deals with polymer and environmental science. The environmental company are seeking for radiation analyst but it's compatible with my qualifications.

If still no one hires me in Perak, I'm gonna think moving out either Penang or KL. My first choice is Penang as the living cost there is not as high as KL.

If not, I go to Fukushima to become radiation analyst there.

He he.

Anyway, Jobstreet has a feature where job applicant can get priority by getting attention by fellow employers. It's called 'Priority Application'. I don't know how effective that this feature can capture the attention of people who wants to hire you. Is it like this?

Hire me or else... *evil*

So, should or shouldn't I get this feature? I need to spend either RM 25 or 50 to get it.

Ciao!

2 Weeks Left

Front of UTAR Library (Block G)

Just passed by the second week and now I'm in the third week in Kampar. Now, just stealing some time to blog a bit on my experience lately. I had passed the two tests:- Entrepreneurship and The Industrial Organic & Natural Products Chemistry paper which on last Friday and Tuesday (this week). I had a rough ride in the revision and seems all are in the last minutes.

For entrepreneurship paper, I hope I can score since the paper is not that bad. I like the case study because it's understandable and easy to find the points that I want to write for the questions. Comparing to the previous case study I had in OHR paper, I hate it. The case study is about soccer team management. Why I hate it? First, I'm not a fan of soccer and second, I don't understand even a single things in soccer sports team. All I know is there is a goalkeeper and other ball chasing dudes (players). But somehow, I did go on that paper.

On the second paper (Organic chemistry), I had a hard feeling during the revision because there are tonnes of things to practice and memorise. No, according to my lecturer, it's not memorising but it's recognising it. Duh, it means the same but sound better because the word 'memorise' is the hard way to study. So, in the end, the paper is quite tough. Manage to savage those questions I know plus those who I shoot randomly with my M-16 in my mind. In the end, I found that I wrote quite a lot of serendipity answers. The answers that make sense to me.

Now, I'm still preparing myself of the next paper which is gonna happen in the next few hours. Another tough ones but I hope I can deal it. The last paper is Polymer Chemistry which is my strongest Science course I had for these last semester. It is because I prep myself earlier for this course as it helps my final year project on thesis writing. Thanks to my senior, Elaine who borrowed me with her notes plus minor guidances on the side notes.

Okay. I think I blurt quite long in such a short time. Till then, wait for my next post on my final week.

P.S.: I'm a bit homesick now and it has struck me since last week. So, I miss my daddy and mommy. Hope that my staying in Kampar is worthful for the sake of the damn finals.

Ciao.

Beware.

Another short post I fillin' in.

Yeah. Take caution, trust no one except yourself.

Just kidding but we must take care ourselves among people we know. Backstabbers are around and it's undeniable.

More precise word, inevitable.

So, the backstabber I know can emo everyday. I recommended XXX to get a job as stars. XXX can do it very well. I'm not sure whether I can put my trust on XXX but it's a no no. End of story.

Okay, I'm gonna hit my lecture class later. Perhaps, I can see XXX emo thingy again. Pfft.

Ciao.

4 Weeks Left

Side building of Block E

Sharing something here for a while.

I've just finished my Viva presentation of my final year project. It went well and smooth and kinda thank god for giving such a lucky day for me. So, still my thesis writing is on the move and realising that there are another 2 months for me to end my degree life.

Yeah, that's 3 years in UTAR but I might be extending my stay for little longer. Perhaps another 2 or 3 years. Suprise? I planned to work in UTAR and I hope to the the job being lab officer in my own faculty. People asked me why I should stay? Emm, that's will be a longer story I need to say but I will tell you about it after I ended my degree.

For the pass few months, I face quite a lot of problems. Relationship problems on my family and friends sidea. From what I can see now, the problems will keep bothering me but I try to keep myself away from this issue and focus on what I need to focus now.

So, wish me luck ahead and see when I have short, tiny time like now to post.

Sorry for not updating my stories here and hope you, my beloved blog readers will understand.

Ciao.

Current Status?

You heard me.

Damn bloody busy. (Dr. Khoo's tagline)

Before CNY, lots of activities and replacement classes to attend.

During CNY, home will be filled up with lots of people. I will do the heavy duty things such as cleaning. Not to mention, one customer sending me his laptop for reformat. Pfft.

After CNY, I need to go for trip, courtesy of Chemistry Society. Plus, with some talks and things to do to wrap up before my graduation.

And so on. Emm, I forgot about thesis writing and its presentation. Yes. Another thing to be frustrated.

Did I mention I'm almost broke now?

Erm, never mind. Pretend you didn't see me wrote it.

You're so fake.

Yeah. That's life.

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Happy Winter Solstice & Merry Christmas

I know it's quite late to say the "Tong Yuan" season but it's never too late to wish here.

I got this shot on my own during making tong yuan with my uni buddies. If you want to see what did we do, click here on my Facebook album. I'm quite lazy to upload them into Flickr as I'm pumping a lot of photo into it. So, it's essentially for my blog entry only.

Not forgetting the upcoming event on this Saturday...

It seems that next week is the starting of another semester break. For your information, I'm not having any of it because my final year project is still active. Better version, I'm getting busy to finish off my experiments and start writing thesis.

Yesterday, after the Tong Yuan event, I cycled around my housing area and found out most of Kamparians (particularly UTAR students) has gone back to their hometown. Neither Christian nor non-Christian, they take the event as a holiday as what I've said, semester break. So, early of yesterday I got a call from my mum asking me that I want to go home for the Tong Yuan celebration or not. Because currently, I've some experiments ongoing, I can't leave yet. Kinda sad that I have to absent myself for the event.

And last Tuesday, it was my mother's birthday. At least, I've celebrated her big day earlier. Anyhow, yesterday my mood was going down and I felt homesick. I was thinking how am I gonna balance myself later on if I work outside of my hometown. I will be devastated with such feelings. It is bad. Very bad ones. I can go mad for a week if I kept myself in that state.

Sigh. Eventually, I still can hold my stress and keep strong to face the coming days.

By the way, there's something new here.

I think not all Malaysians like to use this social networking called Myspace. So, tadaa! I got mine so look out at it from here or clicking the link on the top bar of this blog. It's kinda different than Facebook but I will try out the site.

It will be simple.

Why I make myself a Myspace account?

Two reasons. One, I'm going to remove my Friendster account once when I save out all my stuffs from there. Two, my "brilliant" Malaysia government proposed to banned Facebook from Malaysia because they scared Malaysians condemned the government with so-called racist and threatening post. Shit on the person who propose such idiotic idea. They are worse than people who are thinking in the box. I think they are not using their brains at all.

So, you can banned it anytime but I will confirm that I will start condemning the government in whatever internet post out that I can find. Blog, twitter, myspace and whatever. I'm serious so don't provoke me making such moves. You don't want create another Namewee version people. So, back off.

*I sounds like shouting at you because I use the word "you". I'm referring to the Malaysia government, not you my dear, lovely readers. Muacks :)

A bientot!

Friends?

Disclaimer: I'm gonna post something you might don't like or disagree. Any how, it's my voice that I have buried for long time whenever I met new bunch of friends. If you are offended, please discontinue reading and leave.

You have been warned.

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An UTARian's Faith

Faith: Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing.

Everyone has faith in themselves but it just the matter it is strong or weak. Yesterday, my friend showed me a video clip talking about UTAR and I'm not sure whether he has the faith on UTAR. Check this video...

Somehow, I find myself in the middle of the problem. Agree and at the same time, not agree on what he had said.

Okay. This is going to be long comment about his video. First, actually I hate to have early morning classes at 8 a.m.. I don't know how the management arrange our timetable until even the lecturers complained about it.
So, this guys takes a ride with UTAR bus everyday and he need to be early birds to catch up a sit in the bus. From what I can see, Westlake area has more than 2 waiting points for us to get the bus. Hence, I advice him that be at the first point where the bus arrived at the first place before getting on the second or third point. In short, wake up early and plan your time properly. If you have troubles to wake up early, the best alternatives are hitching friends' cars or cycle to UTAR. It's not a bad idea to have some exercise everyday by cycling but I know that cycling from Westlake to UTAR campus is quite tiring due to the ascending roads.

I'm not condemned this poor guy here as I've mentioned, some of the things he said are true. Actually, what I can see is the bus schedule is not properly arranged and the rounds are not enough. At my area (Taman Kampar Perdana, nearby Tesco), there are only three rounds of UTAR bus. Luckily, our housing area is nearer to the campus and cycling is not a problem.

As a conclusion, in the transportation part, both scored evenly.
For those who had transportation to UTAR, I think the parking space is inadequate. So, it's troublesome even for those who successfully got their places on sticker balloting. Sometimes, if you park your car at wrong place, you might meet some good security guard to allow you to do so. If you meet a bad, angry and keep-blowing-whistle guard, better leave before he/she bites you with sarcastic words.
What I can advice is get a few friends to pay on behalf of your hefty RM 100 sticker and pay a little sum of money for the petrol to UTAR. By using this method, you can minimize the amount of car, motorbikes and even bicycle in the campus area. Plus, you are saving the environment in Kampar by reducing the emission from cars. So, for just a sedan car it can fit maximum four person. You guys just need to plan your time properly to adjust the transportation schedule in right way.

So, same even score for UTAR and students. 1/1.
Now, let's talk about the UTAR facilities. About the sport complex, I think the plan is not a problem because most of the users utilize the complex after 5 pm instead of morning and afternoon session. Who wants to have sports in the slot between lecture and tutorial classes? Even if you really want to spend some time, please go to the gym instead kicking and slamming some balls under hot sun.
About the cafeteria, I've mentioned in my past blog that we have four cafeterias located at Block C, between Block D and E, Block G (Library) and Block H. So, since you can't have your meal at Block C, why don't you go to other blocks or just pack up and have meal in empty lecture classes instead of squatting on the side of the cafeteria?
In the end of the video, he said we must have faith on UTAR improvements. I agree on that because it's impossible that UTAR make the leaps in one year since Kampar campus is considered as new. So, in the mean time, enjoy the university life to the fullest. Find alternative ways to solve problems rather than complains.

Even we complain, most likely UTAR has reasons to reject or ignore us. So how?

Change your adaptation to UTAR instead the other way round :)

A bientot!

Not that I can't do it

I'm officially clueless and helpless on my life right now. I'm going to lose the control since the workloads are pouring in non-stop. A bit depressed...

Read more...

Multi-tasking

I hope I had another "Nigel Foong" in my life. My brain can't support too many jobs at the same time.

Read more...

Current Status?

"Busy"

Do you know how many things in my job list? Let me list them all...

Read more...

Whom do you trust?

As the title said so, which is your ideal ISP?
The old, legacy Streamyx...
or the new, wireless P1 Wimax?For Internet users from Malaysia, we are having dilemma on choosing decent Internet Service Provider (ISP) but let me tell you the truth, NONE of them are good ones...
I can included Maxis broadband
and Celcom (Vodaphone inclusive) broadband.
It's true and a FACT.
Can't argue and making sigh sounds about this problem. I don't want to insert words which assault my country but I'm speaking the voice among of the Internet user in Malaysia. Malaysia internet is really terrible. Bad line and bad customer support. I've rectify my ISP, Streamyx for many times about my unstable internet connection.
I'm waving my phone instead of a white flag. Calling '100' of TM customer service is not troublesome but the thing is I need to call them several time due to the same, damn problem. I wrote a strong warning to them before due to their stupid '100'.

"Loser"

Sigh...

I can't change my fate as a Malaysian internet user. Having broken downloads, slow and unstable internet connection and broken internet transactions (especially which deals in money and shopping). Can't describe my feeling right now...

See?
Another broken line...
Hopefully, I can publish this post soon... :X

Miss Kampar...

Indeed, I'm missing Kampar now...
Although I'm having long holiday back at my hometown, my heart is thinking about Kampar.
First, the environment is just like my home with mountains and its breeze.
The sunlight is very inviting everyday......despite the global warming, the sunlight is rather scorching! :X
See the sun rays? Nice but very hot!!!
Talking about the heat, I miss my daily exercise:- Cycling. It's the only way that I can going to school and other places such as Tesco. I hope I can drive my car Year 3 because of semester project. Actually, I'm desperate to have a motorcycle or car with me at Kampar. The main purpose to have a vehicle is that I can go back to my home, Ipoh easily every Friday without waiting night buses which is quite creepy... :S
She's trying to drift... He he he!
That's my block of apartment. Quite new. For those who want to study at UTAR Kampar, there are a few apartments which are vacant. The rental fee should be around RM 300 - 500 per unit depends who are you dealing with such as house owner and housing agentThis is the kind of weather which I don't like. Probably occuring this few days.Thirdly, I missed my lecture class, tutorial class, lab sessions UTAR campus... I miss my lecturers too and maybe I might not gonna see them because some of them won't teach me anymore. Sigh, really miss them...
Buzzing around the blocks like ants...
Not forgetting my friends from different regions...
This is a small lecture class. The front guy is my previous Functional Biology subject, Mr. Chin. He's still around but he's very cool. Sometimes, he dress formal but very casual like teenager occationally. Don't look down on him because his jean has steel chains... Cool man ;)
He he he... Miss Jensen with his funny acts!

Group of friends like Ke Xin, Chea Lin, Siok San, Chow Yiing, Jiun Yong, Wei Soon (clockwise; they are having presentation by the way) and other close and far friends back in UTAR Kampar.

Just sharing random shots in my Kampar life...
Many people said Kampar is very boring. Yep, it's boring but with friends, you won't feel boredom, instead Kampar have a lot of place to visit.

Taking an opportunity, I would like to give condolences to three unlucky UTAR students who are drowned at Batu Berangkai waterfall at Kampar:- Yew Ghim Chnieh, James Wan Kai Khor and Yew Shy Gin. Although I don't know them, I wish they can rest in peace.
A bientot!