Too Months In AIMST

Ok readers, so I haven't been updating my blog for like, what? 2,3 months now? Well I'll start with some crappy stories about my AIMST lifestyle. It's gonna be long, don't fall asleep ya ;)

So, 3 days ago on July 11, it has been marked the date whereby I had spent 2 full months at AIMST University...all this while I had been separated from my old friends, my family, and...well, everyone that I had previously known. Needless to be said, I had been in touch and to be frank, I am seriously starting to think that the only thing everyone is concerned of is what I ate at AIMST and whether I slept or not. LOL...=.= As though you all don't know? My skills of adapting has always been great to say the least haha XD Well okay anyway just to satisfy your curiosity I am more than fine with the food and bed here. ;)

Well, so many things had pass since I came here. For instance, we celebrated our friend Nicholas's 18th birthday at a place called Eternal Zone. It's a restaurant with steamboat and BBQ buffet. Not bad (for a town as small as Sungai Petani), but I had been to much better ones. *evil laugh*

Aside from that, the July batch students are here! They came in on 6th of July. It was pretty exciting, and 35 of us May batch volunteered to be their facilitators. This batch is enormous, trust me. There is well over 370 students inclusive of all the JPA scholars, Foundation in Science, Foundation in Business and Foundation in Physical Science. We nearly got flatten with the sheer number of students that we had to handle then. These are a few pictures that my roommate Yi Son took with his DSLR camera. Enjoy :)

The big Guy Yi Son ^^v, along with two more 

committee

The welcome committee, Station 1

S.S pictures

S.S pictures

More S.S !!!

S.S again!!! Haha XD

Ok this one not S.S d ;)

The biggest guy- Edric, president of the committee and Batch Rep of May FiS

You have no idea how damn tired we were that day...Edric said he was so tired he went back to his room, just sat down on the bed and started sleeping...just imagine that. Still, we handled them pretty well haha XD 35 facilitator against 370 new students.

Well this was the 1st day only anyway, haha XD Registration day, no ragging was allowed at AIMST. But then, we are given an entire day to spend with them for the student-to-student orientation haha XD

On their 3rd day, this is what we did to them:

Check out how many people they were...omg O.O

One of the many games

The same game la :)

Okay here comes my station haha XD

Oops

Check this out!!! Haha din't think we will let them off that easily did you? ;)

In case you guys are wondering what the hell these juniors are doing, well they were holding a balloon each on top of their head previously, and then we prick the balloon (the balloons them self contain flour ^^V). Nice eh?

S.S pic, all those photos are from the girl beside me, Yi Huah :)

 And there was one station that involve chewing specially modified agar agar (agar agar with pepper, curry powder, wasabi, indian spice, salt, asam...well, you got the gist), which I am not going to go into detail here, for your sake you would not want to hear that haha XD

Anyway, moving on, we had a lot of fun...more fun than the July batch had to be honest haha XD 

After 2 weeks, our batch organized a BBQ party...quite active eh? haha XD check out these photos courtesy of Yi Huah and Lydia and a few other sources :)

On the way there :)

That a LOT of sausages haha XD

Some precook food as well

BBQ time!!!

Hi Patrick haha XD

The grills are sizzling

De Yi, one of my room mate :)

Sit on staircase to eat some more so happy haha XD

Soo Fong Ying, reminds me of my secondary friend, dear Siok

The punishment box game

My room mate Yi Son kena punish haha XD

Another game, involves balloon and flour (reminds you of the July batch?) haha XD

Some more got a bike to go for joy ride...thanks to our friend Hoo Seng haha XD

Well that's pretty much what I have had so far, all the activities and good times...so am I enjoying myself here? You bet I am haha XD

So Far From Home

It has been a long time since I updated my blog...a lot of things had come to happen and I think its about time it is shared...

Well lets start with the first thing...I had decided to accept the offer from AIMST University to study foundation in science (May batch). So me and my family thought that it would be best to go and visit our relatives at Penang a few days before continuing our jurney to Sungai Petani, which is where the university is located. The original plan was to depart on saturday afternoon but would you believe it, our dear car choose this time to brake down at the North-South Highway near Subang...what a downer...but on the bright side, it is fortunate that we discovered the problem before we went really far from our home...its still quite near a bout 24 kilometres, but we still need to call the tow truck  to come and tow us back home...its a bit embarrassing actually but on the other hand it was a great experience. For those that are reading this right now I strongly suggest you save this number- 0193360834, in your handphone in case of emergency purpose :)

After settling everything we set out again on monday and after a torturing nearly 7 hours drive we arrived at AIMST University and it is a pretty sight...the campus is very spacious and airy...but there is one 

JPA Scholarship and Interview for year 2011

This year, according to the news more than 9000 student got 9As for their SPM exam...and this is only 9As, I have no idea how many more students who get 10, 11 or 12As...it really is scary, are the students getting smarter and smarter or is the education system getting downgraded? Nonetheless, as I was eligible to apply for the infamous JPA scholarship, I went ahead and gave it a try.

Students can start applying for the JPA scholarship via this link (http://esilav2.jpa.gov.my/), starting from the day they get their SPM results, and this will go on for 7 days, where the application will be closed. Applicants are required to create an account there before they can start applying.

After the 7 days are over, all the links will be closed, and applicants will not be able to sign in. However it is advised that applicants check the website regularly for extra information about the scholarship which they will post or update regularly. This year, the official release date for the list of successful applicants who are shortlisted for interview was on the 8th of April. For those who got the interview offer, they are one step closer to the scholarship :)

Now lets get to that interview procedure that everyone is so eager to know. I know I had held it off long enough *evil laugh*

Before the Interview

After logging in, applicants who are shortlisted for the interview will have to do a few things, print out that offer letter to get the information about the venue and time of your interview.

From the letter you would see that candidates are required to certify certain documents which I am going to list out here:

1. your identification card,
2. both of your parents's identification card,
3. your birth certificate,
4. both of your parents's birth certificate, and
5. a certain Borang Pengesahan Pendapatan Keluarga that every candidate is required to download from the web page.

I was getting quite paranoid about this whole interview thing and so I went and certify my school leaving cert and my result slip, both of which I am going to tell you now is absolutely unnecessary. (silly me) And also, it is advisable that you go and certify all these documents even BEFORE you know you are shortlisted for the interview...coz I din't, and when the list was announced on 8th, it was Friday, and the my interview was scheduled next Tuesday on 11th...it was kinda rush but you know, so many things can happen...for example, my school principal so very conveniently went for a course for one whole week, so though the Borang Pendapatan needs to be certify by the principle only, I have no choice but to settle for the Head of Student Affairs teacher. =.=.. and I got to know from talking to one of my fellow interviewees that HER school was off on Monday, coz Saturday was her school's sports day. So she had to rush to get the documents certified on Tuesday, and then rush to check in for the interview on the same day itself.

Besides preparing these certified copies, candidates need to bring the following original certificates as well:

1. your identification card,
2. your SPM result slip,
3. you and your parents's birth certificates,
4. your school leaving certificate,
5. a certain Sijil Kewarganegaraan that only applies to those whose parents are not a Malaysian by birth,
6. your parents's pension card OR pay slip,
7. your co-curricular certificates for form 4 and form 5,
8. the Borang Pengesahan Pendapatan Keluarga, and
9. any foreign language certificates that you have.

These documents have to be arranged accordingly and in a clear folder...again I would like to add in something extra...many people thinks that they want to include in many certs inside (myself included), but I can tell you guys from my experience that they don't permit interviewees to bring in ANYTHING inside the interview room. Yes, not even those notebooks that I read are advised to bring in...so there is no point in putting in all those co-curricular certs...the interviewers din't even see us bring in the file...what a waste of my time ><

During the Interview

After getting yourself ready, its time for 'the day'.  Haha XD Yea, I started the day with rushing back to school to certify that stupid Borang Pengesahan Pendapatan Keluarga coz apparently, you need one original copy AND one certified copy...but here's the thing, the original copy was already copped, and in order to certify the document, you need to cop the document...so does this means the certified copy is supposed to have TWO cops? I am confused...anyway I printed another copy for (black and white but original nonetheless) the teacher to certify again, AND I photocopied the document I had certified earlier to be certified again (this means 2 cops)...what a mess...=.=

After that I head straight to the interview venue at INTEC UiTM. We went to the wrong place at first, it turns out that although it is stated UiTM but INTEC UiTM is not at the main campus, but rather someplace else that includes turning a roundabout and several left and right turnings...I got there just in time, about 11.30am, and to think that my interview was at 11.55am...><

Though the compound is quite large, the path is pretty straight forward...I just walk to the place where most of the parents have gathered and climb up to first floor, where the registration room was. Registration is actually nothing more than signing beside your name (which the person in charge will point out for you) and handing the clear folder containing your certs to them (make sure you clipped your certified copies with the original ones). After doing so, I went and have a seat, as well as get to know my fellow interviewees =).

We chatted a bit, and I got to know that among the 5 of us (each batch consists of 5 person), I was the only guy who chose pharmacy. Another two Malays, one boy and one girl, chose medicine; and another Chinese girl and boy chose dentistry. We chat a bit and I think we got on pretty well...if the interviewers were to ask us to discuss anything I think I wouldn't have any problem cooperating with them :)

A short while later, badges were handed out to us (I got number 4), which I pin on my shirt pocket (I would remind guys that formal wear is COMPULSORY, long sleeve shirt with tie, long pants {no jeans} and shoes {no sport shoes either; for girls, well...I don't know but it will be long sleeve shirt and pants as well. This is from what I observe bear in mind ya =)). When they call us, we form a single line according to the number on our badges and walk to the interview room.

As I step in to the room, the first thing that registers my mind is that the officers who are going to interview us, all three of them were Malays, rather than the one officer from each race that I read on other people's website...LOL...the interview is carried on like this- remember those number we were given? We will be interview in that order...the person who got number 1 is interviewed first. Though all 5 of us went in at the same time, the rest of us sit silently while each person is interviewed one at a time.

So you tell them your name, your family and the course you chose...if they want to know further they will ask, so don't worry about not knowing what to say. 

Lets jump to me. :)

I started off with telling them my name, school and the course I wanted to apply for...I added in myself the reason that motivated me in choosing this course (this is something you are required to tell, they will ask you if you don't tell them first anyway). Then the questions begin...they asked me where I stayed at. When I told them, they counter me back with asking me wasn't the place I lived a hot spot for dengue fever? And then they continued on by asking who do you think is to be blamed for this plague? Is it the government or the residents? I said it would be the resident's fault because they never did their part in keeping the area clean...they throw bits of paper, plastics bags, plastic bottles and what nots wherever they like...and then the officers counter me back with a question asking something like: which race do you think like to throw rubbish more? I was like, what the hell? How am I supposed to answer that?

After that, another officer pop out a question for me...you see, I got an A for every subject I took except for Chinese, which I got a C, and the interviewer ask me can I explain how is it that I can manage to get an A for Bahasa but not Chinese...omg =.= and then he said do you feel ashamed that as a chinese, you got a C for your mother language? I said er...not really coz the subject was really difficult to score and I mean, at least I know how to speak fluently, and I know how to read and write in Chinese (unlike you, hahaha take that).

Then we get to the oversea part. They said JPA has sponsored many student to overseas for studies and many of them don't want to come back after finishing their course. They asked me would I do the same? I said well, I just want to go overseas for studies but ultimately I would want to settle back in Malaysia so no I wouldn't be like them. Then they fired me back a question. They said, well you couldn't see it now, but next time, assuming an Australian company offered you 15k job, and if you come back, you can only get 3k for the same job, would you still come back? My first thought was, when are they going to stop using every reply and answer I gave them and counter it back at me? And how am I supposed to answer this question? I couldn't blatantly say yes, I would reject a 15k offer and come back to work at Malaysia which only offers me 3k without sounding like an idiot. Coz nobody would do that. Unless they are idiots. It was a nightmare all right. ><

After they were finished with me, they turn to the final candidate who were with us...and upon finishing dealing with him, the interviewers asked each of us a question on 1Malaysia. Everyone got a different question, for example, they asked me among the Chinese and Indians, do you think they are willing to accept the 1Malaysia concept? We were not given time to discuss or think, these questions were asked in a manner that requires a spontaneous answer. I just answer whatever I could think of at that time.

A soon as the last candidate answered the 1Malaysia question, we were released from the interview that had lasted, unknowingly, for a whole hour. We shook hands with the interviewers and after retrieving our folders and bags, we bid goodbye to each other and wish each other all the best in getting the scholarship.

Ok so this is my version of the JPA interview.  I heard from some other friends that their experiences have minor differences from mine. However, I do notice some pattern in their questions, I would recommend that candidates focus on these few questions:

why you do want to go to that particular country to study,

why do you want that course, and

what makes you different from other people.

Candidates should also go and do some research regarding the desired course. Oh, and also, they will ask you what is the hardest thing you ever faced, and how did you overcome it.

These are the few main questions that I noticed they ask all of us, the rest of the questions varies, it depends on how you introduced yourself, the country that you wanted to go to, and the course itself of course.

This is based on my experience. I hope you got something useful out of it. You can click here to view the statistics of  total JPA applicants, shortlisted candidates and final recipients of this scholarship. Good luck :D

JPJ Test, Pass At Last XD

Today I waited in front of my house as usual, 8.30am. And, as usual, my instructor was late. As this was the 3rd time I am taking the JPJ test, I was quite nervous naturally. I seem to have developed a phobia for it.

When I reached there, the place was packed with people waiting for their turn...I went and register myself, taking card that says I will be tested in the second session...its going to be a long wait ><

The whole procedure is basically very simple. There are 3 sessions (as far as I know) and in each session there will be a group that is taking the test for the first time and another group that is retaking their test. On that day, each candidates will be tested in two ways, the first test is called Bahagian II, whereby candidates have to drive through three obstacles:

1. The hill
2. Side parking
3. Three pointer

For the first obstacle, the time allocated is 3 minutes, side parking 5 minutes, and the three pointer another 3 minutes. The obstacles are quite easy to pass but the problem arises when you are assigned to a car that is...well, lets just say not so good...This is exactly what happened to me in my previous test. I couldn't get use to the car's different settings, so in the end I failed my test. 

After completing the Bahagian II test, either you fail or pass you will be required to continue on with the next test - Bahagain III, or what we say the road test. Personally, I would say that the road test is far more easier to pass compared to the Bahagian II test. The tracks differ with each driving school...however they are quite straight forward...the whole test consists of a maximum of 20 marks, each candidate need to get at least 16 marks to acquire a pass. An important thing to take note is that you should remember to do a few things as soon as you get in the car.

• wish the officer in the car (some good manners won't go amiss here ;))
• adjust your car seat, make sure your left leg can step on the clutch pedal completely
• adjust you rear view mirror and side mirror (don't forget to adjust the left side mirror too!)
• after you are done adjusting, put on your seat belt
• check the signal lights, left, right, switch off
• check the vipers, squirt some water, turn on and then switch off
• after this, *REMEMBER*, check your gear, make sure its in neutral position (pretend to check, coz the car is most probably running anyway)

These few procedures actually take up nearly 10 marks from the total 20...so its crucial that you remember to do these few things...it will really help you get a pass :)

BKT Gathering + The Shining Hill

Anyone who reads the title will most probably be wondering what the hell this blog is about...well I'll make things clear later, just continue reading ;)

This gathering has been kinda rush, seeing as it was planned only about two days before...however, most of my class's gathering has always been last minute attempts with many responds from classmates that made us feel like giving up...I mean, whats the point of creating a gathering that nobody wants to go? It'll just be a utter waste of time.

sorry, leg pain, will explain next time, to be continue as usual :)

Jom Masuk U!!!

After getting our results, it finally became clear that many of us have absolutely no idea as to how to answer these few questions:

1. being undergraduates, what type of pre-university should we choose that suit us best?
2. which subject should we part ways with?
3. which college or university should we go?
4. what are we going to do in our future?

These are only a few questions, but when combined, these questions determine who we will be in our future! Thus said, I have been tormented into choosing which branch of science I wanna take in furthering my studies...I have been torn apart by my parents, especially my dad, who wants me to go for engineering...but unfortunately, I am more of a biology person. 

It has been a hard week...making up such difficult decisions...to give me a clearer view, my dad brought me to The Mines where a education fair of sort is being held there.

to be continued

Stepping Stones From A Paper

23rd March 2011, a day to remember and reminisce, it has been nearly 4 months since I bade farewell to secondary life and my old school, and yesterday, I went back.

The school is still the same, and yet, it seems that so many things had changed. I wonder why? Is it because as I walk up the lane at my school, I realize I came back as an ex student? Or is it just simply because I know that the answer to my future is finally here? The school assembly hall was filled with students, or ex students as I should say...and I saw familiar faces everywhere, my friends, whom many I had sorely missed these past few months.

Pn Chia comes along and we rushed to her as though she was a top celeb, haha XD A peek at the name list, and yes! I made it! No, Jia Hong, Jiun Kai, Chan Kit and I, we made it!!! Haha =D Ting Yuen did even better, scoring 10As, he exceed us 9As scorers :)

so many people, as you can see...

Pn Chia, finally took a picture with you ;)

Really couldn't believe it, I mean yeah I am happy, but this result exceeded my expectations...I had only dared hope for 7As, with my chinese so damn lousy, dreams of scoring a straight As is sure to be gone...but what surprised me were my Moral and History subjects...lets admit it, these two are- two me at least- the most lousy damn useless subjects ever created, and I hate every bit of it. I never bothered to give these two subjects my attention until it was clear to me SPM is at my front door...so it came to me as a pleasant surprise when I find myself getting As for both subject (A- actually but who gives a shit right?). I guess I really have to thank my dad for pushing me on, and of course, my dear sis, I couldn't have make it without you...giving me a copy of your tuition notes and all...thank you all =)

Celebration mood was in the air, but it was also a bitter sweet moment as we see some of our friends score results that didn't live up to their expectations...guys, I feel your disappointment...I really do, as I see you all went back home in sadness. I wan t you all to know that no matter what results you guys get, no matter what results we get, this is not going to affect our friendship.

This is going to be a long day, since we don't intend to go home until we have the fun we deserved haha XD...we begun to form plans to go AEON to celebrate :) Seeing as we lack transport, we split into a few groups, and I went with my bunch of girl friends. Mandy (6As) went with Siok  Hui (11As!!!) on Siok's aunty's car, Eve (6As) couldn't make it with us, and I went with Kai Foong (7As) and Grace (6As) on Kai Foong's dad's car (what a mouthful haha XD). We reach AEON, regroup, and went to TGV cinemas to book ticket for a 8.30pm show haha XD...

everyone was so busy with their phone at that time

           

Of course, all that excitement was starting to make us hungry, so we decided to have lunch. McD, here we come!

what's so interesting? well facebook on mandy's mobile of course haha XD You'll be surprise how many emotional posts are up in facebook

After filling our stomachs, it is singing (screaming for Jia Wei and Kheng Meng) time! To greenbox we went, this time reunited with my guy friends, amounting to the total of 13 people :)

dunno why kai foong always like to shy away from the camera ><

We had a swell time singing...of course, Jia Wei just couldn't resist coming into our room and sing foul lyrics of his own composition. But otherwise, there is not much problem haha XD And to tell the truth, this is the first time I saw the girls sing, usually, when they are with other guys, they just sat there silently. This time, everyone had their moment on the mike, and this is how it should have been (I strongly believe this is due to our decision to give Kheng Meng a room separate from ours ;)).

Needless to say, after coming out from Greenbox, many of us were hungry from singing our hearts out...however, many of the guys part ways to go home and soon, all thats is left from the original 13 is Jia Hong, Sim, Mandy, Siok Hui, Grace, Kai Foong and me. We went on to Kim Gary's to have our dinner. Jia Wei and Jia Hong joined us but Sim went back shortly later.

Grace claims to have become a sandwich by the time I finished taking this picture...haha XD

ahh...dear Gok pig ;)

see, Siok was so impatient as she waited for her dinner, so I took a snap of her face...hehe

she founds out and pretends to smile haha XD

then she tries to force feed Grace, claiming that she is feeding her baby =.=

While we were eating, we discuss a bit on what our future options are since the result is out...Jia Hong wants to be an engineer though he still rather unsure whether to take up electrical or civil...Grace, Siok and Kai Foong, of course, show us blank faces...since we were in secondary school until now, they dtill don't have any idea as to what their interest are...especially Kai Foong, who is so care free. Really am worried bout them...your results are out and its time to move to the next level, be it a diploma course, Form 6 or foundation program...you cannot put of decision making forever you know, and its important that you are the one that makes the decision, not other people. Anyway I stick with my decision of taking up any course that is biology related and steer away from physics...so I think I might consider optometry or dietetics. Mandy however, has a dream of becoming a vet ( which is my ultimate dream, just that I don't have the chance ). There is going to be some tough decision making for me for the next few days, as well as scholarship fishing haha XD

Mandy meow =)

we nicknamed Mandy Mee and look and that! Mee is eating mee!!

I drink soup...

...suddenly everyone also want a picture of that pose =.=

kill Jia Hong rrrawrr! haha XD

she not scared at all haha not like Jia Hong ;)

Siok's leftover, look at her corn, even a rat eats it cleaner than her haha XD

these three corn are from three same sets, they are taken after all of us finished our meal. Look at the one untouched, that's Grace's corn, she decided she couldn't eat any more and decided to leave it...what a waste! At least Siok makes an effort to finish hers ( the one with bits of left on it )...and I of course, never waste my food...wanna guess which one is mine?

After dinner, I tag along with the girls as they went to shop for shoes ( by this time Jia Hong had went back ).

What they wanted was to buy the same set of shoes so that next time they went out they can wear it together...but there is a catch, all four of them have different opinions what type of shoes looks best. So...well, we went through some shops.

my dear Gok pig again :)

see? Kai Foong become ghost again...haiz

Grace interested to become shoe promoter?

Siok also want to join? Wonder what is Mandy pondering on at the back, looks like she is trying to figure out some Add Maths problems

Of course, like I said all four of them had different opinions on shoes, and when they finally agreed on one, that particular shoe cost RM100+ per pair...tough luck girls, lets go watch Big Momma kay? Haha XD

The movie was great fun, but I given a choice I would had chosen another movie that is more erm...how would I put it, worth my money? Haha XD...anyway, its the time I spend with my friends that matter, not what type of movie we watch...

When we came out from the cinema, I swear my body has been frozen...it was that cold, and I don't have any sweater or blubber to keep me warm...10.25pm, our day has finally, it seems, come to an end. Mandy and Siok ask for one last picture before we split ways.

And there you go...result day outing comes to an end...I was the first to leave as my parents were already waiting for me ( and they are always impatient )...as usual, every outing with my friends always leave me lasting memories, memories that I will forever treasure...thank you my friends, for celebrating with me...though I know some of you don't feel that you got good enough result to celebrate, you came anyway...and that is what is the most important thing. :)