Monday, May 30, 2011

下乡 - 漫漫长路

看了看时间,也是很久没有update blog了。没办法啦,之前没在家,又忙考试,考试完后去famine筹款,筹款了又筹备下乡,终于下乡完了,我也得到时间休息了。在假期里,就由下乡为我的假期blog掀开序幕吧!十个月了,好多下乡故事想说啊……

下乡团……一个好陌生的生字……一个从来没有听过的字……一个进了USM 过后才听过的字。想不到才过了一年的大学生涯,下乡团竟然可以从一个不起眼的字眼转化成我生活里既重要又不可少的一部分。看看了我这次要登的主题 漫漫长路,让我的脑袋打滚了很久,回想了许多东西,想起这十个月以来我对下乡的改变,和下乡对我的改变。这条路,很长很长,又直又曲折,充满荆棘,看不到尽头。

故事从一个风和日丽的七月下午开始。不知道是太有空还是心血来潮,听说 café USM团体的展览及介绍,就和一堆朋友去凑凑热闹。到了那儿,就到处去听师兄师姐介绍及为各团体招生。走着走着,就让我走到了下乡团的counter。看着一个马来西亚的地图,里面有很多个点,听说是下过乡的地方,再听听师兄师姐在努力解释下乡团,可是还是一知半解。其实我也好像是没有专心听,毕竟没有听过下乡团嘛。这就是我对下乡团的第一接触,想起来都有一点惭愧。

来到八月,终于迎来了第一个下乡团活动 下乡‘破蛹’传承营。我也不懂为什么那时我会去参,应该是因为一大群coursemate都有去吧。就这样一大班的人去到了Bagan Samak 新村参加senior 精心准备的传承营。嗯,感觉很不错,给我很大的新鲜感,活动让我有很多的突破。其实这个营并没有很多下乡活动,但是与senior 们的接触让我对下乡团的认识大大提高。原来下乡团就像一个社区服务团,到一个新村里去办一系列的活动,为社会贡献,而最主要的元素就是教育 - 提高新村人们对教育的醒觉。哦,感觉上是做善事这样,或许是这样吧,让我被下乡团吸引去了。

就这样,我下了决心参加未来下乡团的活动。上天就像了解我,在九月又有多一个下乡营了。这次是下乡团‘蛋包饭’培训营。 多谢有人推荐这个营给我,让我幸运成为18位有机会参营的其中一位。 这次我参营的想法和上一次大大不同了。这次我是充满期待盼望这个营的到来,而且还是和 main campus 一起办的营。果然不出我所料,这个营比上一个营来得好玩,更多活动,更刺激,当然也更加累。

才两个月就去了两个下乡营,还真的是像在忙里偷闲。是时候歇一歇了。过了两个营,终于是下乡团的常年大会。 当天我有两个活动,而我人生二选一,竟然选择了新春而不是常年大会,结果在常年大会时,我在上课。就这样,我错过了当下乡团高层的机会。其实我心中也不是说很想得到高层的位置,所以并没有留下任何遗憾。没有当高层,但只要是下乡团的一分子,就能献出我那一份力量。

在隔一次的例常活动时,我选择了加入下乡团小组- 教育组。阴差阳错下,我还当上了教育组的组长。组长,虽然听起来责任没有营长等高层大,但却是十分重要的一个职位。各小组的组长将会是下乡团活动的核心,就像一个充满能量的发动机。其实我个人也没什么领导和筹备活动的经验。这次让我当上了组长,可以说是给了我一个学习的机会。既然我当上了教育组的组长,我当然不可以辜负我的组员,让他们失望。扛起了这个责任,我想我在下乡团的出发点应该改变一些了。虽然我对教育组的认识是‘零’,但既然我是组长,那我应该挺身出来,勇敢带领我的组去闯出一片天空,踏入那无人知的境界。

当了组长以后,下乡团也没什么活动了,毕竟考试就快到了。我第一个sem的下乡生涯就这样过去了。两个营,几次的例常活动,根本没有很多和真正下乡有关的活动。但我从来没有想过我的下乡生涯在第二个sem 竟然会变得如此丰富。三个营,无数个小时的筹备,和各种人的接触和认识。三个营里,一个应付大学生,一个应付中学生,一个应付小学生。Pantai Kerachut 联系营,中学交流营,和好公民激励营。

Pantai Kerachut联系营就在第二个sem的第二个星期。这个营纯粹是为了玩而做的营,不过做得很不错,可以看到大家尽情地玩。这个营和下乡活动没有任何联系但是却安排了四个时段分别交由下乡团四个小组来办活动。这成了教育组的第一个任务,而且是考试期间才收到的任务。 这是一个小小的任务,而且又是迟来的任务,所以就没有和组员一起策划活动,只和负责教育组的高层进行策划。两个星期内,终于产生出了一个复杂又不太完整的八站station game。对不起啦,如果没有让大家满意到。

无论如何,这不是最重要的。在那个营里,的确迎来了很多个第一个经验。要抵达那边,可以登山或坐船,而我就成了那个进出都用船的四人之一。那一波又一波的大海浪,那强大的海风和那摇晃得很厉害的船,仍然在我的记忆中徘徊。一个有史以来最轻松的barbecue,可以看到大家坐在那儿,散风,谈天,又快乐又逍遥。而最令人念念不忘的是在那桥上躺着,仰望那美丽的夜晚,看着天上的星星,一大群人轻松唱着歌,简直就是把所有烦恼和忧愁抛到九霄云外。我已经好久好久没有那种感觉了,真想找一个时光机器,让我回到那个时候。==

经过了第一次的考验后,接下去的是第二个考验-中学交流营。这个营是我们下乡团和北海钟灵中学一起联办。中学营才是我身为组长的第一个严峻考验。从第一次在钟灵的presentation竟然变成了州级的营,看来野心可是不小。听到了州级的营,而且又当了活动组组长,我情不自禁地压力起来,毕竟活动是整个营的精华,更何况现在是一个州级的营。又是一个迟来的任务,在新年期间才来的任务,根本就是来错时间的任务,筹备工作竟然落在二月-我整年以来最忙的一个月。整个二月,忙了新春,又有chemnight表演练习,还要做famine 30的工,真的是忙不过来。

老天爷也对我太好了。我手头上有四个活动要筹备,竟然每一个都有关到分排,不是排人就是排东西,总之就是排,排,排。州级的营有着州级的活动。一排就要排超过一百个名字和六百样东西,谈何容易,真的是考验我的耐心到极点。有些东西排还排了三四次,每次都排到我眼花了。那六百样东西还真的让我难忘,在营开始前,只有我一个人点算,在旁有那么多人,全部都瞎了眼吗,可悲!不过都过去了,也就算了吧,我只在检讨会提出过。整体看来,整个营办得不错啦,和营员都能说话(年龄差距较小),活动也办得顺顺利利。整个营最让我印象深刻的有两样东西,第一个就是有一位很出色的女营员,让我佩服又欣赏;第二个是所有营委在营之前每天日夜不分地做出name tag和书刊。全部亲手做出将近200name tag和书刊,那种精神真的是不开玩笑的。答案很简单,‘我们是下乡人,拥有那种精神和热情’。

过了中学营,看一看日历,我的天,原来就要踏进四月了。正式下乡活动是在五月。一个这么大型的下乡活动,只有一个月的筹备时间?开什么玩笑?一个月都已经不够用了,还要拿来应付final exam。我的第一个想法是:完蛋了,我的四月肯定是无法想象了。事实果然如此,原来五月的下乡活动我们会做一个好公民激励营给居林Kelang Sago 新村觉民小学的小学生。这次教育组的工又来了,我看了看,哦,全部还好,常识比赛,电影分享会,科学展,讲座会,就是有一个特别有问题,那就是感恩夜。看到感恩夜,很压力啊, 一听就知道是营里的精华和高潮,根本没有这种经验,不知道感恩夜里应该有什么样的活动。事实不出我所料,感恩夜的筹备果然是最有问题的,也是最混乱,最慢settle 的活动。

到了筹备工作,考试前有几次会议,基本上解决了每一个活动的细节,就是感恩夜的流程给我的感觉是怪怪的。考试后,当然是回家啦,哪里可能会有筹备呢?终于在营的前六天,513号,我们下乡团成员在campus里重新集合,继续筹备活动。这六天里,看得出每个人都很尽心尽力为营付出。我们33人的心就像被联系了起来,每天早晚都集合在café,一起折康乃馨,一起开会,一起策划活动,一起进行彩排,一起跳手语,一起接受迟到的惩罚,一起出去吃,一起出去买礼物,就像一个温馨的大家庭。

六天里,有喜有悲,而我中了‘马票’,在去新村的前一天,竟然失去了我的书包。不见一个书包,足以让我伤心了一个晚上,我的心情当天实在是糟透了。不见了书包,不见了laptop adaptor,不见了我中学以来用的file,不见了我不可少的活动记载簿,不见了我义弟义妹的礼物其实也不知道这是庆幸还是不幸,庆幸因为我在书包不见前把贵重的东西都拿出来了,不幸在我的书包就在那短短的5分钟里被偷了,而且我不见的东西不算贵重但足以让我心痛。所谓,‘不经一事,不长一智’。我想老天是要给我一个教训了,我以后绝对不会再把书包乱放了,绝对不会!在此也想向所有下乡团团员道歉,因为我的书包,让你们忙了一个晚上帮我找。其实我心里不尽感激,但我也深深了解,如果小偷真的要偷,肯定不会让大家再找到我的书包了,简单说,辛苦大家了,让你们前功尽弃,对不起还有多谢有人深夜了还关心我的处境,开解我,让我过得比较好受。

我是下乡人,我是组长,我感觉到责任所在,我不能就为了我的一个书包放弃了我手中的活动,不能就此放弃了我的下乡使命。在这艰难的情况下,我只能忍着心痛,装镇定,就像若无其事一样,到了新村去。我调理我的心理素质,继续我的活动筹备。整个下乡的第一个任务就是来自我的组-亲子讲座。要准备这个还不难,但我却开始紧张起来,因为我是大会主持。我从来都没有很多在大场面的说话经验,更别讲是主持。虽然我准备了稿,但我觉得肯定会有很多临时变动。果然不出我所料,真的有很多最后一分钟的改变。讲座前五分钟,才得到VIP的名字,才得知VIP要赠送纪念品给主讲师。劈里啪啦劈里啪啦不知我讲了什么东西,讲座就这样过了。结果,睡得安心,哈哈!

隔天是重要时刻。好公民激励营即将在在下午开始。天啊,又是教育组包头,天啊,又是一个讲座会,天啊,又是我当主持!!这次比较好啦,从昨天的经验学习嘛,结果呢,还是劈里啪啦劈里啪啦,讲座会又过了。终于,经过了那么多天的卖力准备,看到了我们即将有的义弟义妹。不知道是玩过火还是无辜,我和另一个营委交换nametag后,竟然被义弟义妹们认错人,还像囚犯一样被拖着跑全场。还好经过了一些混乱后,我终于找到了我自己的义弟义妹,可以坐下来和他们交谈了。不过和他们相处的时间也不长,因为营的活动还是要照走。晚上没什么大活动,就有开幕礼和组别命名及口号讨论。哦,第一天的营不知觉地过了。

第二天,压力啊,差不多一半是教育组的活动,不想出任何的差错。一大早罢了,早餐后就是科学展了。科学展的筹备很不顺利,之前测试实验一直失败,好不容易才决定了5个实验。老实说,科学展的实验不是很精彩,但勉强算过关啦,我还蛮喜欢自己的那个实验,玩大火,呵呵。过后有馨馨相印,每一位营员和营委都很认真折出了康乃馨花哦,看到了很开心,毕竟对晚上的感恩夜注了一只定心剂。其实,整天都是营里的重要活动,科学展,常识比赛,环保,读书会,station game,电影分享会等。而到了晚上,就是营的精华和高潮了-感恩夜。

感恩夜,像我之前所说,是最慢出flow的活动,而且flow又一直更换,简单一个字,‘乱’。Last minute的准备都有,就是在电影分享时把蜡烛贴到纸杯上。多谢每个营委打电话给营员的父母亲邀请他们出席,让感恩夜变得很成功。从第一次和校方接触的回复-家长反应很不热烈,到了当晚的感恩夜-将近百多位家长出席,是多么大的改变。看到了如实壮观的场面,我心里的压力自然松了许多,好的开始是成功的一半了。祈福会时,原本黑漆一片的场面慢慢被蜡烛的灯亮了起来,很美丽,很美丽,那光就像点亮了我心灵深处的一角,让我在那场面里有一种很舒服的感觉。

过了祈福会,到了敬茶和书信仪式。书信仪式没有多大的问题,我反而把心思放在敬茶礼多一些,毕竟要呈现最好的给到场的所有家长。Guess what,我又是大会主持 = = 这次更是在所有人,包括嘉宾和家长的面前当主持,而且又没有准备稿。叫营员出来敬茶并不难,难在怎样介绍这个环节。结果呢,我根本就是在语无伦次,乱乱介绍敬茶和康乃馨的意义。好不容易讲了一大堆像对又像错的废话,终于进了敬茶仪式,看到每位营员跪下敬茶给他们的父母亲,还和他们说我爱您,又献上亲手制成的康乃馨花,场面好温馨,再加上背景音乐,让我顿时被感触到眼眶有点湿,只是没被大家发现到。敬茶仪式完毕后,又是我语无伦次的时间了。Last minute 才想到应该感谢父母的出席,因为没有了他们,这个活动真的是完蛋了。结果又是一大堆废话,谢了又谢,连有些营委都傻眼看着我,对我傻笑。

过了感恩夜,听到校长和营长亲口称赞此活动,我那时的心情是无法形容的。而当时的我终于松下心中的那一口气,教育组的工作到此结束。我终于可以在最后一天和我的组好好相处了。最后一天也没什么大活动了。在‘人人火车’团康里,我就一直忙着帮自己的组staple报纸。在美化校园时,我又被欺负了。两组的营员一直拿草,杂草,花等往我整身塞,小孩子就是小孩子,哈哈,我不介意。我还以为我真的是很free了,哪里知道下午时,我竟然被叫去当才艺大会串的评审,还要被介绍入场,弄到好像是知名人物那样,sweat。小学生的表演果然是很特别,有时看不懂,有时很好笑,弄到自己都不知道要怎样去评每一组,但送给他们简单的一个字 -‘赞’。

过了才艺大会串,就是闭幕典礼了。美好的时光总是过得特别快,三天两夜的好公民激励营即将结束了。当时出现了一个很有趣的画面,就是当嘉宾在致词时,很多营员都坐着睡着了。也难怪啦,毕竟这个营的活动实在是太多,而时间实在是太短,就连营委都喘不过气来。闭幕后,就要目送营员回家了。到了此时此刻,终于看到了许多人的眼泪掉了下来。那种心情是有多么的舍不得,而`我本人那时的心情也是有多么的复杂。和营员短暂相处三天就要分离,和下乡成员在一起十多天了,又要各自回到自己的家假期。大家的心就像产生了bond,全都被联系起来了。‘下乡人,一家人’,相信每一位下乡团团员都会永远秉持着这个信念。

下乡营过了,是时候庆功了。当晚,陈博士就在居林一家餐馆为我们设了庆功宴。Surprise out of surprise,我竟然在餐馆里遇见了我义弟及一家人。难得遇见了,就和他们聊了几句。而那也是我最后一次在下乡活动里见到我的义弟。但我相信,这绝对不会是我最后一次见到他。而隔天我们下乡团就分散,各自回到自己的地方去享受四个月的假期了。想不到才过了那充实的十天,我就此完成了我的下乡使命。而在忙了下乡活动后,也是时候让我歇一歇了,享受那四个月的长假。

为了下乡,我付出了九个月,过着不像人的生活。为了下乡,为了教育组,我笑过,哭过,甜过,苦过,心酸过,累过,emo 过,难受过不过这一切已不重要了。下乡已在我心目中扎了一个稳不可动的地位。我身为组长,成功带领教育组去闯出一片天空,踏入那无人知的境界。我当组长就是凭着这一个出发点:我会为教育组付出我的全部,把教育组变得有声有色,让教育组成为最出色的组。我会保留教育组的骄傲和尊严。而我尽力了。我,尽力了!更重要的是我改变了下乡团,而下乡团也改变了我。我看回从第一次接触下乡直到今日完成下乡使命的路上,我成长了。十个月的时间,让我变得更踏实,更有领导能力,更有感情变化,更有办事能力。十个月的时间,让我看到了自己的才能,让我看到了我心灵脆弱的一面,让我学到了人世处理,让我看到了自己对下乡团的热忱。经过了开幕的宣誓后,我从此是下乡人。我永远是下乡人。我永远会是一个充满热心的下乡人。我爱下乡团!谢谢您,下乡团!

终于,来到了这个blog post的尾声。Walao,实在是很长很长。十个月的下乡update嘛,what do you expect?过后还有second semupdate。就此结束吧,不要再多废话了。ADIOS…Stay tuned…

TO BE CONTINUE~~

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

最后一天了

最后一天了......什么最后一天?最后一天在宿舍?又不是哦,12号晚上又要回到宿舍,那是什么呢?原来是最后一天呆在 J6325A......或许有些人是看不懂吧`,但那就是我在大学生涯里第一年的房间。想不到,呆了那么久,差不多十个月了,终于来到了这一刻,最后一次踏入此房间。几个小时前,我终于也最后一次踏出那房间。很奇怪,竟然会有一点不舍的感觉。


我想了又想,想了又想,到底为什么会有那不舍的感觉呢?或许有几个可能性把,就从我的室友讲起吧,十个月前,三个不相识的人,就这样有缘分地聚在一起,读同样的科系,住同样的房间,就这样过了一年......当中也当然少不了很多的回忆。


我的第一个室友,一个好好先生,还有一个大忙人。一开始不是和他很熟,但参他过后,发觉他,我的天啊,好像什么经验都有过,做camp等等,好像什么类型和行业的人都认识这样。忙归忙,但成绩可是不差哦。和他在一起,一起做活动,真的是学到不少东西。


另一个室友呢,嗯,有一点可爱,又有一点懒惰,呵呵,可是人真的是太好了。大我一岁,但看起来好像同岁。一个很豪爽的人,在他眼中,成绩并不代表一切,我赞同也很欣赏。在我遇到困难或是烦恼时,他都很肯帮我,真的是让我感动,不时让我想起那几个夜晚他听我的倾诉。


说回来我的房间,人们中所称的game centre,有时我在想,真的有这样像吗?这房间里,曾有好多人进出,玩游戏的,问功课的,讲废话的,来爽的等。我的房真的是很多功能啊,哈哈!那么多事情发生的地方,当然会舍不得啦,只是那感觉终于在今天我离开房间后涌上心来。虽然最近考试期间都时常没有在房间,但还是会舍不得,因为我应该都不会在踏进那房间了,我也不会在和其中一位室友同房了(他搬出去了)。


讲了那么多,好像有一点emo 这样,没有啦,还是那三个字,舍不得,因为过后东西不会在一样了,过后我将会有四个月的放假,过后我将会踏入第二年的生涯,无论如何不管事情变到怎样,希望大家都还能保持那美好的关系吧。还有就在这里祝大家假期快乐,享受大学的四个月假期吧!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

有话说不尽,有口难言

今天真的是心血来潮,突然决定开了 blog, 不只看看这几个星期在 blog 所发生的一切,还决定 update update 一下我的 blog。 Update blog 已经是够神奇了,更出奇不意的是我尽然决定用华语来写出我所想说的东西。

或许你们会很好奇吧我决定 update blog, 因为我是一个大忙人,根本是不可能有时间来做这一些东西的,但是我还是决定抽出了我那根本就不够用的时间,因为说真的,我有很多很多的话想讲,但又找不到适合的 platform 让我表达,收在心里也不太好,所以就跑来这里写写下。

其实看看标题就懂了,有话说不尽,但有口难言,也就是说其实我也不知道要说些什么好,不是没有东西说,而是多到不知应从哪一方面说起。学业,朋友,人际关系,活动,心情,很多东西一直在变化,就在那二十八个系友们之间都有很多事情在变着,发生着。

其实我也没有想长篇大论的说完全部东西,因为我知道如果做到来,明天都写不完。如果你们真的想懂详情,那或许你们期待着未来的 post 吧,这次纯粹想讲一下废话。Erm, 讲讲自己 course 里的事就好。一个我很久很久就想讲的东西。

从 second sem 讲起吧,不用讲大家都懂不只我是一个大忙人,几乎整个 course 的人都变成大忙人了。这是生活里的变化。再看看每一个人,真的是发觉到很多很多的人变了,性格上,人际关系上,果然都变了,想不到两个月的假期有那么大的影响。为什么变?很好的问题,有些根本就不了解为什么会变。怎么样的变化?Erm,这个问题有够难回答,我只能讲好坏参半。谁呢?我不可能讲,就让大家去发觉吧...

为什么我会把这个东西搬出来讲呢?因为我想说无论谁在变都好,那每一个人的一举一动都在影响着其他人的变化,而这些变化也慢慢的在二十八个人里散发着它的影响力,讲到影响力,又是好坏参半。怎么讲呢?又是由大家自己去评评理吧...我纯粹想让大家知道这些东西,因为我希望把最好的留在二十八个人里,而把不好的都抛到九霄云外...能不能做到就看看大家了。加油吧!!

今天就暂时揭晓到这里吧,未来还会有很多的机会接下去的,因为我不想再浪费太多的时间了。我手头上要解决的东西还真的是十根手指头都数不尽。下一次再见吧。希望大家有机会再看到我用华语来表达我想说的一切。

P/S : 为什么我会用华语?就让大家猜猜吧!我用华语和英文表达东西是绝对有一定上的差别的...

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Chemical Night

Months ago, we are still left in the dark. Chemical Night, 什么来的...大家都像白痴一样, 听 senior 讲, 听到傻傻...What kind of events? Summer romance is the theme? What kind of attire is needed? All sorts of weird questions are in line from us for the seniors. And now, February 28th, the chemical night is officially over. Time just flies and how amazing what a chemical night can do to everyone of us.

Thinking back to first semester, the time we tried to pair up everyone coursemates in the couples. A simple luck is in our hand and the partner was chosen randomly. Since then, our journey to the 26th of February never takes a step back anymore. From the pairing up to the discussion for performance, we did not know how much time we actually spent together just to patch up a perfect performance. And nobody would have noticed that how different the 3 final performances are from our first original discussion.

Everybody would have hoped for a perfect chemical night. And a chemical night would never be perfect without the best attire. So we the crazy bunch of people all went so far just in search for the chemical night attire. From Gurney to Prangin, from First Avenue to Queensbay, From Sunway to even the East Malaysia. The attire is simply from all sorts of places and is simply nice and amazing.

Back to performance, from the original plan of musical drama become 3 groups of performances. What a big change. A dance that shows the enthusiasm of chemical first year, a drama that shows the unsung talent of the chemical first year and a musical performance thats seals the spirit of the chemical first year. An excellent job by everyone and credit to everyone of us for bringing out the very best of our inner heart into each performance to cap an excellent night, especially given the time we had in our hand for the practice.

Chemical night, what kind of night shall i say? I can say that it's a photo session more than a chemical night seriously. With the attire we had, leaving without photos would be the last thing ever coming to the mind of everyone. Photos after photos, people after people, a never ending stream of people taking photos everywhere.

Photos, performances, jokes, games, food, drinks and all the chit-chatting summed up the chemical night of year 2011. The first experience for chemical first year students, the farewell for the 4th year chemical students. The annual event just stopped there and left there of course are lots of memories and none other than piles of photos, erm, inside facebook.

By next year, we would be the organiser already, and nobody can tell what kind of fireworks may be displayed next year. With the chemical spirit within all the 28 members, I simply believe that the chemical night next year would never be an obstacle for us. So everyone gambateh!!! Till then...

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Year Transition

Hello everyone... I am back once again...This time I did not vanish for a long time and this time I will not make a very long post like I used to be. It is just that I have the sudden feel of writing something after a long long year had passed and another year arrives with so many unknown elements and excitements.

Year 2010 certainly contains much glittering moments and some glitches in life. Happy, sad, angry, moody, nervous, etc. All the emotions just flow through my vein of blood. And the passion simply flows which in the end leaving me the person who I am now. What is the changes in me? That would be a free opinion for you guys to think through...

The highs - HOLIDAY!!! erm, getting good results, being offered chemical engineering programme in university, various gatherings with friends, etc. (Helping all sorts of friends in every possible way) Haha!!!
The lows - separating with friends by the end of KMK life, getting hurt by people we do certainly trust, all the unfortunate stuffs, etc.

Having such an eventful year would be indeed most welcoming...all happy stuffs, no sad stuffs is impossible...all sad stuffs, no happy stuffs means imbalance...so I shall thanks everyone that has made up my year 2010...You all are simply wonderful no matter what kind of roles you are playing for my year 2010. Even you are hurting me, I would salute your courage that twisted my life.

Yesterday was history but tomorrow will be a mystery. Entering year 2011 means more unforeseen life to handle. However, it is still feeling good that the new year has finally arrived. Nothing much I could say but to wish everyone HAPPY NEW YEAR. Have a blast, have a blessed year, may god bless you all, good luck, all the best and I sign myself off here.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

First Semester - Full Compilation

A few months ago, some time around June, I received an offering letter from Universiti Sains Malaysia after months of nervous waiting. And what a relief when the programme being offered is Chemical Engineering, what I had hoped for since Form 4. And so I packed my things and got ready to enter the unknown territory. University life, here I come!!!

Guess what, once I entered university, there is no turning back. Of co
urse there is no need for turning back when I have such nice friends, coursemates and even roommates now. There would be no regret as only 1 word can describe the life of my first semester in university - COLOURFUL.






DOWN THE MEMORY LANE

1. ORIENTATION

3rd of July was the day. 8am was
the time. The destination was USM Engineering Campus. A registration was followed by checking into the hostel. A room smaller than my matriks but yet need to contain 4 persons with the not so big table. By the way, I am not grumbling as I have such nice roommates. 1 of them did not turn up and so my room was left with persons though now I had 4 roommates, the last one being a 2nd year chemical engineering student also.

Orientation took place for 1 week. And lots of activities durin
g the whole week, the most memorable one being singing USM anthem over and over again at least 20 times just to make sure that everything is perfect. Then there was the formal registration, and the formal majlis where the swearing of students took place in the dewan utama. The Timbalan Naib Canselor also visited us and we had a sports session as well as a formal dinner with him. We also had the interaction day within my own school, which we met all our lecturers and staffs. The one thing I liked was I won a free text book from a lecturer, in fact he was the deputy Dean of my school. Thank you so much!!

Hostel seen from far away


The free text book, no idea though what unit operation is


My table during the formal dinner with Tim
balan Naib Canselor


2. KEM PIMPIN SISWA

About 2 weeks after the class started, all my coursemates, including me, went for a compulsory 3 days 2 nights camp called Kem Pimpin Siswa, something similar to the Himpun camp for other universities students. I was selected to Cinta Alam Kelimat camp in Sungai Siput, Perak, where we were joined by students from other schools, including those students studying pharmacy, pure chemistry, pure biology, pure mathematics etc.

The camp was a relatively new experience for me as I had never b
een involved in camping activities during my secondary school times. Setting up the tent, withstanding the extreme hot weather and also the pouring rain, a jungle trekking trip in the twilight, presentations within limited time, group games and challenges, cooking own food, sleeping in tents, guarding the tents at night. A really really mesmerising experience but since no handphones or cameras were allowed during the camp, I had only limited photos of the camp, here being one of it.

Leaving the camp before back


3. MEETINGS WITH SENIORS

Just as in every university, there exists a system, something like family line or buddy line, which relates the seniors and juniors together. USM adopts the family line and so I have my own small family in USM. My family consists of 2 abangs from second year and third year and also a 4th year kakak and of course me, excluding the post graduates as I have no idea about it. I had no family dinner this semester and so I did not get to learn about my family well.

I had 3 meetings with the seniors of all different years. The first meeting was with the 3rd year. A surprise for me as my abang was in fact same secondary school with me and my sister even knows him as they are from the same year. The second meeting was with the 4th year at Rumah Persatuan. I knew I had a kakak though I had no chance to meet her as she was busy preparing for Chem-e-car competition in which she was representing USM. The last meeting was with the 2nd year, at Mengkuang Dam, a place I used to go when I was small. A whole day of activites, including games and others was nice and indeed was only spoilt by the irritating flies.

My group at Mengkuang Dam


4. 华协之夜

华协, being the legal and also the only chinese society in USM engineering campus, are always heavily involved in chinese affairs and also chinese activities. One of it is none other than 华协之夜, an event meant to bring all first year chinese students, regardless of the schools, together for 联宜. This annual activity always gets the attention of the first year students and the choosing of 'flower' and 'grass' among the first year is the highlight every year.

4th of August was the date. 华协之夜 started with a blast. After the speech by VIPs and also the introduction of 华协 and also its 'kids', the smaller society under it, such as Buddhism society, Litlegras Music Club, Golden Key, etc. next up was the choosing of 'flower' and 'grass'. Each school would send in one representative and the voting was done between the first year students. Well, even though my school did not win any of the 2 awards but still credit to them for putting in a gallant performance. Chemical school is proud of you 2.

All the' grasses' and 'flowers'


The selected 'grass'


5. 下乡传承营

The first camp I went after
I join 下乡团, 下乡传承营, 27th-28th August. Bagan Samak was the place. A 2 days 1 night camp started with a short bus journey to Bagan Samak, followed by a praying ceremony for safety. We stayed in the primary school here. The camp was full of fun activities, such as ice breaking, station games, presentations, and also the most interesting one, 2 role playings. I was the main character in one of the role playing. The another role playing was even tougher, combining 2 different videos into 1 drama. The first time I let myself to breath nicely after hectic weeks of study was this camp. ^^

The national structure winner


6. SUNWAY CARNIVAL GATHERING

The first serious gathering with coursemates outside USM since the semester started. The planning was difficult as we got to rent cars for the gathering. In the end we got 3 cars and went to Sunway Carnival Mall, which was about 40 minutes journey. Due to the unlucky timing, we had time neither for movie nor for cheong-k. So we ended up with lunch and also window shopping as well as the desserts. A short one but a nice one the gathering.

The girls


The guys


7. LANGKAWI TRIP

A last minute decision for me. I and 3 of my coursemates, Jin Wei, Toh Ping and Ming Ming went to Langkawi for a 2 days, 1 night trip. We departed at Kuala Kedah port and after about 1 and a half hour journey, arrived at Langkawi. Fei Yan, a friend of Jin Wei and also a resident in Langkawi was there to fetch us. Without him, we would never get to travel around the whole Langkawi. Credit to him, who brought us well throughout the whole journey.

We stayed in Malibest resort, which I had also introduced it to my another friend. We went for the Galeria Perdana, a boat journey, the cable car, Pantai Cenang and also the underwater world. We also went for a bit of non excessive alcoholic drinks, just Guinness Stout Beer and a bottle of vodka. We played card games too. I ended up as the losers and so given a task to gift a T-shirt to a girl, erm, one of my coursemate.

The extremely steep cable car


The vodka


8. MOONCAKE FESTIVAL

After almost a month of preparation, finally the mooncake festival celebration is here. 22th of September corresponds with the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar. What a nice date but not a nice day as a heavy pouring rain poured cold water to the event. Nevertheless the event went relatively well. The show was still on, the food stalls still getting their business. At least the hard work was not wasted, especially from my group, the Venue Group during the preparation. My group did the hardest jobs, including the backdrop. We endangered our life and cycled to a far place just to settle the backdrop.

七彩明月寄相思


嫦娥


9. 下乡蛋包饭培训营

Yet another 下乡 camp, 3 days 2 nights. This time was a grander one as we were joined force by the main campus and the location was at 中山小学, just beside the Penang International Airport.
It did really look like a training camp as we had lessons throughout the camp with the restaurant theme. As usual, we had presentations, individual talks, games, including a life game, as well as a self made meal .The life game was the interesting one, taking place throughout the whole night. I even managed to get myself a 'wife'. Hahaha...

Before going back


10. KIKEK

I guess nobody knows what KIKEK represents. KIKEK - karnival interaksi kejuruteraan kimia. A week specially organised by my school. Various activities are carried out, including senamrobik, sports events and chemical night dinner. I took part in badminton and also volleyball. Really unlucky that we came up against the superior staffs and so lost both of those. Never mind, there is always next year.

The nice part of the week of course was the chemical night dinner. All the fi
rst year students ended up wearing baju Melayu and baju kurung for the sake of the choir performance. I was even chosen as the conductor. Well, since I had never been a conductor before, my performance was so-so only. The song was Satu Malaysia. I had a nice dinner that day even though I did not win any prize for the lucky draw.

My table at the dinner


11. TAO AUTOCITY GATHERING

The funniest and craziest outing ever with coursemates no doubt. Planned for so long but never manage to get it done. Well, no more waiting, finally at 29th of October, the plan was on. 3 cars, 14 persons, headed for Autocity for the so called 'The Last Meal' as we wanted to enjoy to the fullest before engaging ourselves in the study week and the exams especially a few papers that nobody was looking forward to.

In as a person, out not as a person anymore, lol. Guess what, eaten too much... Perhaps we were all too high already and within 2 hours, we ordered more than 50 plates of stuffs, including 7 plates of scallops. Just the last call of the buffet alone we ordered more than 20 plates of food. I had never eaten so much within 1 meal in my life. Being so full was no good, so we went for a stroll in the
park in Autocity and another short journey to Mcd for some refreshments before going back. Well, 14 persons, RM50 each, flew away...

Just outside TAO


HAPPY CHEMICAL SCHOOL








This brings an end to a very very long post. It is the first ever long post in my blog. Like I say, too many experience just within one semester. Looking forward towards the second semester to continue the never ending memory lane. Chemical school, HOU!!!

ONE HEART
ONE SCHOOL
ONE SOUL
ONE SPIRIT
ONE CHEMICAL