End-of-semester examinations began Thursday, and I had to invigilate the first paper in the morning. They even made me chief invigilator, though at one of the smaller venues with just twenty-four students. I cannot imagine a more boring assignment than invigilating exams, but it is part of the job.
There were a bottle of distilled water and a plastic bag with two pieces of bread on the invigilator’s table at the front of the room; “Nanti kalau invigilator pengsan susah lah”. It would be difficult if the invigilator were to pass out. I already had my breakfast, and don’t think that it is proper to eat in the examination room in front of the students. Although none of the students, concentrating on answering the exam, may see me eat, the smell would definitely travel all the way to the back of the room. I know I would be pissed if the situation were reversed. There were also two examination assistants in the room with me, who really did most of the job, but not also provided with food and water. So, as tempting as they were, I just looked at the food.
Two and a half hours was a long time to be staring at a bunch of people who couldn’t care less that you were there. I’ll be invigilating again next Saturday and the following Monday. The only consolation is that I won’t be marking any of the exams. That will wait till next semester.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
The Reason
We have an unusual number of students applying to do practical training this year, so the boss generously volunteered me to be the department's practical training coordinator. Unlike in accounting and business, there is no practical training requirement in the economics program. In other words, practical training for economics undergraduates is totally voluntary and earns the students no credit. Should we introduce it as a requirement? I never even thought of doing practical training as an undergraduate. Students are nevertheless encouraged to undertake practical training, and we are working to have it mentioned in their transcript.
It all seemed really encouraging at first; the students may have decided to undertake practical training to give them a bit of an extra edge when hunting for jobs later. Seeing the surge in interest, we wrote to a number of government and research agencies we thought might be interested in hosting them. But then, one by one the students began to withdraw their application.
They gave various excuses from family and financial problems, having to take classes instead, and transport difficulties to reach places like Putrajaya. But one glaring observation is that the withdrawals mostly came after they found out that they would not receive any allowances from the host agencies.
Apparently many of them wanted to do practical training for the wrong reason – money. As soon as they realize that there is no money waiting for them they lost all interest. Perhaps our students aren’t that pragmatic after all.
It all seemed really encouraging at first; the students may have decided to undertake practical training to give them a bit of an extra edge when hunting for jobs later. Seeing the surge in interest, we wrote to a number of government and research agencies we thought might be interested in hosting them. But then, one by one the students began to withdraw their application.
They gave various excuses from family and financial problems, having to take classes instead, and transport difficulties to reach places like Putrajaya. But one glaring observation is that the withdrawals mostly came after they found out that they would not receive any allowances from the host agencies.
Apparently many of them wanted to do practical training for the wrong reason – money. As soon as they realize that there is no money waiting for them they lost all interest. Perhaps our students aren’t that pragmatic after all.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Promises and Lies
The last few weeks taught me some new lessons on service.
How long does it take to deliver a package from the United States to Malaysia? The answer obviously depends largely on how much you are willing to pay. You can have it delivered in one or two days, considering the time difference, if you have the money. Generally we have two options in delivering mails or packages: by air or surface shipping. Air shipping promises a quicker delivery, at a higher price of course, compared to surface shipping. After all, an airplane flying ten kilometers up in the sky travels much quicker than a truck, train, or sea ship. That promise of a faster delivery also justifies the higher rates charged on air shipping than surface shipping.
But promises aren’t always delivered.
Kam sent me two boxes of my personal effects in early February. The first larger one was sent by economy surface shipping, while the second smaller one was sent by air. They were both sent on the same day at the same post office. Since I am writing this, you should be able to guess which one actually arrived first.
The first box arrived three weeks later, which was quite a pleasant surprise as I was told to expect about a month for it to arrive. Even more surprising, at the same time disappointing and worrying as well, was that it arrived before the second box. I was beginning to resign to possibility that it was already lost, but Kam reminded me that a package he sent to his brother previously, also by air, took more than a month to arrive.
The second box did arrive, more than a week later. The Pos Malaysia delivery man said that post-9-11 air deliveries from the United States now typically take about one month. Still, that does not explain how a box delivered by air shipping arrived more than a week after another shipped on economy surface! Perhaps air shipping is subject to much stringent security measures than surface shipping.
It is interesting to note, later on, that a shipment of DVDs I ordered from Amazon.com was sent from Germany instead of the United States. It arrived in just two weeks.
Having closed my bank account before leaving Boston in December, I was surprised to find letters from Bank of America among the stuff Kam sent me. Two of the letters were in fact an overdraft notice and a reminder. Apparently I owed the bank about $60. I really hate the idea of owing money to anyone. It was just as irritating too, to find that I still have unfinished business halfway around the world.
Since I no longer have access to the bank’s online banking service, I had no other choice than calling them on the phone. So I picked up the phone, and dialed the number.
I couldn’t get through. At first I thought that there were too many people calling the United States at 2 a.m. on Saturday, so I hanged up and tried again on Monday. The same thing happened. Kam gave me two alternative numbers to call but still I could not complete the call. Thinking that perhaps for some reason I cannot make the call directly, I dialed for operator assistance. The call was promptly picked up by a machine, which after directing me to choose the language of instruction and service required told me to hold for a customer service associate. I waited, and nobody picked up the phone! I hanged up and tried a second time, and then a third time, but no one was there to assist me. WHAT THE #@$%!
So I picked up my mobile, dialed the number, and prayed that I have enough balance on my prepaid account. “Welcome to Bank of America…” Hail Maxis and screw TM! Well, would should I expect from a monopoly anyway?
The Bank of America phone banking service was simply excellent. The associate understood my situation quickly and gave me the advice I needed. I asked Kam to deposit the overdrawn amount into the account. After that I called the bank again to close the account, and it took me no more than two minutes.
How long does it take to deliver a package from the United States to Malaysia? The answer obviously depends largely on how much you are willing to pay. You can have it delivered in one or two days, considering the time difference, if you have the money. Generally we have two options in delivering mails or packages: by air or surface shipping. Air shipping promises a quicker delivery, at a higher price of course, compared to surface shipping. After all, an airplane flying ten kilometers up in the sky travels much quicker than a truck, train, or sea ship. That promise of a faster delivery also justifies the higher rates charged on air shipping than surface shipping.
But promises aren’t always delivered.
Kam sent me two boxes of my personal effects in early February. The first larger one was sent by economy surface shipping, while the second smaller one was sent by air. They were both sent on the same day at the same post office. Since I am writing this, you should be able to guess which one actually arrived first.
The first box arrived three weeks later, which was quite a pleasant surprise as I was told to expect about a month for it to arrive. Even more surprising, at the same time disappointing and worrying as well, was that it arrived before the second box. I was beginning to resign to possibility that it was already lost, but Kam reminded me that a package he sent to his brother previously, also by air, took more than a month to arrive.
The second box did arrive, more than a week later. The Pos Malaysia delivery man said that post-9-11 air deliveries from the United States now typically take about one month. Still, that does not explain how a box delivered by air shipping arrived more than a week after another shipped on economy surface! Perhaps air shipping is subject to much stringent security measures than surface shipping.
It is interesting to note, later on, that a shipment of DVDs I ordered from Amazon.com was sent from Germany instead of the United States. It arrived in just two weeks.
Having closed my bank account before leaving Boston in December, I was surprised to find letters from Bank of America among the stuff Kam sent me. Two of the letters were in fact an overdraft notice and a reminder. Apparently I owed the bank about $60. I really hate the idea of owing money to anyone. It was just as irritating too, to find that I still have unfinished business halfway around the world.
Since I no longer have access to the bank’s online banking service, I had no other choice than calling them on the phone. So I picked up the phone, and dialed the number.
I couldn’t get through. At first I thought that there were too many people calling the United States at 2 a.m. on Saturday, so I hanged up and tried again on Monday. The same thing happened. Kam gave me two alternative numbers to call but still I could not complete the call. Thinking that perhaps for some reason I cannot make the call directly, I dialed for operator assistance. The call was promptly picked up by a machine, which after directing me to choose the language of instruction and service required told me to hold for a customer service associate. I waited, and nobody picked up the phone! I hanged up and tried a second time, and then a third time, but no one was there to assist me. WHAT THE #@$%!
So I picked up my mobile, dialed the number, and prayed that I have enough balance on my prepaid account. “Welcome to Bank of America…” Hail Maxis and screw TM! Well, would should I expect from a monopoly anyway?
The Bank of America phone banking service was simply excellent. The associate understood my situation quickly and gave me the advice I needed. I asked Kam to deposit the overdrawn amount into the account. After that I called the bank again to close the account, and it took me no more than two minutes.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Finding Neverland
What does adulthood mean? There is definitely more to it than just reaching a certain age and physical, mental and psychological development. I wonder if the whole adult mindset just sort of got downloaded into your brain automatically when you reach certain triggering life events like reaching a certain age, gaining employment etc, or if it requires a conscious decision on one’s part to start ‘acting like an adult’. But then again, what does the whole adulthood thing mean?
I always get a polite smile whenever I tell people that I feel and think the same way I did ten years ago. I still listen to the same kind of music, watch the same kind of TV shows and movies, eat the same kind of food, and read the same kind of books and magazines. I also think about doing the same kind of activities, except that I have neither the time nor the necessary accomplices. There is no reason for any of these to change just because I am twenty-seven instead of seventeen.
My age is one of only two things that always remind me of my legal adult status. The other is when I look in the mirror. Even then, I always have to calculate in my head every time someone asks how old I am. Perhaps the fact that I still live with my parents, have no girlfriend, and have a Gundam figurine sitting on my office desk all have to do with the whole situation. Just to be clear though, I see nothing wrong in any of them.
My sister, who is planning to get married, asked my mother why I ‘have no friends’. She was really asking why I do not have a girlfriend. As if my mother, aunts , and colleagues are not enough, now my sister too? Is it my fault that I like my quiet time alone doing my own stuff and hate the awkwardness of meeting strange people and large crowds? I think I fully understand the whole love, relationship and marriage thing pretty well. I am open to the possibility; I am just not looking.
Suapi in his last entry touched on the subject of personal economics and finances. I suppose it is the adult thing to do, to think and worry about buying property, supporting family, retirement etc. I guess it is the responsible thing to do. Perhaps it is more than a bit naively idealistic of me to say that I refuse to have my life determined by material concerns. But honestly I do believe that we can always find means of supporting ourselves, well not filthy rich, but comfortable. Besides, God has provided all that we could ever need in this vast, infinite universe. We just have to work for it.
Alma thinks that the jokes they tell on radio are juvenile. Rini finds it difficult to stay up late in the evening. I guess we are all growing old. Listening to the music teenagers now are listening, I can understand how my parents call the music I listen to as noise. Ten years ago I had the idea that as people grow into adulthood, they let go of their options, often unnecessarily. Just because you grow into an adult with multiple responsibilities does not mean you have to abandon all the things that got you through childhood. All the sense of adventure, curiosity and wonder really have no expiration date.
Now, if only I can stop the students from calling me “sir”.
I always get a polite smile whenever I tell people that I feel and think the same way I did ten years ago. I still listen to the same kind of music, watch the same kind of TV shows and movies, eat the same kind of food, and read the same kind of books and magazines. I also think about doing the same kind of activities, except that I have neither the time nor the necessary accomplices. There is no reason for any of these to change just because I am twenty-seven instead of seventeen.
My age is one of only two things that always remind me of my legal adult status. The other is when I look in the mirror. Even then, I always have to calculate in my head every time someone asks how old I am. Perhaps the fact that I still live with my parents, have no girlfriend, and have a Gundam figurine sitting on my office desk all have to do with the whole situation. Just to be clear though, I see nothing wrong in any of them.
My sister, who is planning to get married, asked my mother why I ‘have no friends’. She was really asking why I do not have a girlfriend. As if my mother, aunts , and colleagues are not enough, now my sister too? Is it my fault that I like my quiet time alone doing my own stuff and hate the awkwardness of meeting strange people and large crowds? I think I fully understand the whole love, relationship and marriage thing pretty well. I am open to the possibility; I am just not looking.Suapi in his last entry touched on the subject of personal economics and finances. I suppose it is the adult thing to do, to think and worry about buying property, supporting family, retirement etc. I guess it is the responsible thing to do. Perhaps it is more than a bit naively idealistic of me to say that I refuse to have my life determined by material concerns. But honestly I do believe that we can always find means of supporting ourselves, well not filthy rich, but comfortable. Besides, God has provided all that we could ever need in this vast, infinite universe. We just have to work for it.
Alma thinks that the jokes they tell on radio are juvenile. Rini finds it difficult to stay up late in the evening. I guess we are all growing old. Listening to the music teenagers now are listening, I can understand how my parents call the music I listen to as noise. Ten years ago I had the idea that as people grow into adulthood, they let go of their options, often unnecessarily. Just because you grow into an adult with multiple responsibilities does not mean you have to abandon all the things that got you through childhood. All the sense of adventure, curiosity and wonder really have no expiration date.
Now, if only I can stop the students from calling me “sir”.
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