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Archive for the ‘ITB’ Category

I learn every time I bleed

Thank you for the congratulatory messages, everyone! (My mom, being the uri ((roughly, a worrywart)) in this family, said that I shouldn’t be telling people just yet because I haven’t even signed anything. But I was too happy not to share the good news. And it was too late anyway, so I’m not telling her that I posted the good news online. Hehe.)

I bought four DVDs tonight, three of them thrillers. Turistas, Hostel 2, The Invisible, and Transformers. I’m going to watch them after sahur.

Then I’m going for a haircut and facial at 2PM tomorrow, if the salon is open. (The salon I’m talking about is the one I’ve gone to for over 8 years now.)

So looking forward to doing all these things before I start working. Hee.

Anyway! I’ve been tagged! (Usually it takes weeks before someone tags me with these memes. LOL.)

Name, age and occupation.
Tina, 22, and part-time radio DJ. Can I throw in ‘analyst’?

Which schools did you go to - since kindergarten up till your current/last educational institution?
Kindergarten 1: Nusa Laila Puteri school. Kindergarten 2 until primary school: PGGMB ((Persekutuan Guru-Guru Melayu Brunei)) School Telepok (moved to Sungai Akar in 1996, my final year.) Secondary school: STPRI ((Sekolah Tinggi Perempuan Raja Isteri)). Sixth form: Maktab Duli PMAMB ((Maktab Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah)). Tertiary school: ITB ((Institut Teknologi Brunei)).

Favourite subjects [throughout the span of your education, e.g. you can include what you enjoyed in high school, college, AND university]. Why?
I had a knack for:

• English Language, I don’t know why, but I do. I think it’s fun.
• Mathematics, because I thoroughly enjoy doing equations and solving problems. This passion, however, faded in upper and sixth form.
• Biology.. loved the lessons, hated the exams. Every time I come out of a Biology lesson, I literally feel like I know more about the world.
• Java programming, because my lecturer was perfect and I loved using my logic to figure things and problems out.
• Interface Design Principles, because I was doing something I enjoy, and consider a past time.

Favourite teachers? Why?
I have a LOT! Let me start chronologically. Teachers and lecturers, however, are in no particular order. (You might want to skip this question, I have a feeling it’ll get really long.)

Mrs. Marsh, English teacher, PGGMB. She is the best. I love her. My whole family loves her. When my dad was alive, and he was picking up my sister, Mrs. Marsh would ask about me, and how I was doing. She still remembers how I look like, and, she still calls me “Tina Turner”. And I don’t even mind.

Cikgu Roseliza, Mathematics teacher, STPRI. I hope I get her name right, because I have a feeling I’ve gotten it wrong. But I loved her. She doesn’t rely on textbooks, she makes her own and photocopies them for her students. Every chapter had different covers on them. She taught me up until form 3.

Miss Tan, Biology teacher. She is very witty, and she’s the one who realized that there’s a ‘rat’ in my name. (Full name, mind.)

In Maktab Duli PMAMB, all my teachers who taught all the four subjects I had taken up, Mr. Ian Franklin a.k.a. Md. Yusuf (Business Studies), Miss Salwa (General Paper), Cikgu Munah (Biology), and Cikgu Masni (Mathematics) were my favourites. Why? They treated me like I was their friend, and they didn’t talk down to me. I love that in a teacher.

Dr. Sophiana, Advanced Programming lecturer, ITB. She doesn’t stop until I understand how such a code works.. she is like a miracle worker. She interacts well with us, the students. She relates real-life situations with Java! I know right!

Sir Idham, Interface Design Principles lecturer, ITB. His lessons are always fun and interactive. It doesn’t get too static. He has a good sense of humour, and is a good sport.

Ms. Wida, Introduction to Computer Communications lecturer, ITB. She is fun to talk to, and I can talk to her about anything under the sun. Very friendly, and practices the open door concept. Plus, she’s Osh’s sister!

Sir Irwan, Systems Analysis & Design, ITB. He knows his stuff! He’s just like Dr. Sophiana, he doesn’t stop explaining until you get it right in your head.

Well, basically all my lecturers during my years in ITB were my favourites. They were cool in their own way. And some of them read my blog too.

What qualities do you feel should a good teacher have?
I believe that a good teacher should earn respect instead of demanding it, easy to talk to, patient, and never, ever talk down to their students.

What are/were the impacts teachers have/had on you?
Here are the bad ones: I remember when I was in lower form, a particular Commerce teacher had said to my face that I will never pass my Commerce paper in my PMB. A Chemistry teacher in upper form had called me a ‘loser’, and a ‘liar’ to my face, and in front of my other classmates. (These, by the way, are what good teachers should not do!) I ended up hating Commerce (and anything business-related) and Chemistry. I do not wholly blame my insecurity based on these experiences, but they are hugely a part of it.

Also, based on these experiences, I am determined not to become an educator because I am impatient and I might hurt my students the way one or two from my past did.

The good ones, however, was when I crawled out of my high school life, my lecturers took me under their wings and sing praises.. They are tiny ones, like when you tell others about it, they may seem like they don’t matter. But, as always, it is the littlest things. This made me more confident as a person, and they made me feel like I can do anything, as long as you have the will to do it.

I actually had a plan to become a lecturer, if everything else doesn’t work out for me. Yes, I am still scared I might not be a good teacher.

There was also this one time where Mr. Franklin, Business Studies tutor in MD, said that, “Why on earth do you want to have a job which you dread to wake up to in the morning?” He inspired me to do what I want after MD. Technically, he’s saying “follow your heart”, but in a cooler way.

Describe the most memorable moment/s you’ve shared with a teacher/teachers?
This. Enough said.

Have you ever thought of becoming a teacher? Yes or no? Elaborate on your answer.
Yes and no. Please refer to the previous question on impacts/effects teachers have on me.

If you’re working, are you still in contact with any of your teachers? Why/why not?
With some of them, yes. And these ’some’ are all lecturers from ITB. I told you they were cool. I might be seeing them for a sungkai gathering with the rest of the CIS20 gang, but we’ll see.

I would really love to read what these five have to say:

1. Shasha
2. F
3. Faz
4. Ani
5. War

Congratulations, graduates!

I know I haven’t exactly kept to my promises, saying I’ll be uploading pictures and whatnot, but at least I’ve uploaded them onto my Flickr account. That counts, right? Nyeh.

Yesterday, ITB’s 16th Convocation for intake 20 was held at the ICC in Berakas. It was supposed to be on the 19th, but it was postponed to the 21st. It bothered me a lot at first, because it’s my first time hearing the news of a convocation being postponed. Never heard of any other big events having such a thing. But never mind.

I ended up having loads of fun, forgetting about the whole fact that the event was supposed to be held on a Saturday. I took lots of pictures with my friends in the morning event — where our certificates were presented by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, but all of them were taken by my friends’ cameras because mine was with my mom. I will put up those pictures whenever I can get a hold of them, for now..

Here’s one I took with my parents.

I had somehow successfully hid the colossal sleeves in this picture and made myself look close to my normal size instead of a huge giant pumpkin, quoting my mom.

The day ended with a picture taking with HRH the Crown Prince outside the entrance of the ICC, and I was exhausted. There weren’t many activities happening, but I didn’t know why I was tired.

Contemplated on whether or not I want to attend my graduation night, for a little thanksgiving ceremony. I ended up going because my mom enlightened me on the fact that the event was paid for, and it was deducted from our allowances, meaning they’re not just throwing it for the sake of us graduating, we’re throwing it for ourselves! So I went, after an hour’s worth of Z’s. My mom said it was two, but I maintain with the one hour I had.

I went, donned in all black, not that I was mourning or anything, but I had planned on wearing the nice black national attire for the night. I took minimal amounts of pictures because most of my friends have already gone home, and I was left with less than five friends and two lecturers.

I promised them it’ll be in the blog, so here they are.

Dr. Sophiana and I. She’s one of my most favourite lecturers. She enlightened me with Java programming, in which I thought I could never understand, but did! I managed to thank her last night for one of the most fabulous years of my life.

Sir Rudy and I. Our final year SDP supervisor. He was my first year lecturer as well, but he went AWOL most of the time because he’s just like that. Haha, kidding. I told him this picture was going to be on my weblog, and he said he’ll check up on it, and I asked, “You know my blog?” I thought only Dr. Sophiana did, but apparently not. He said, “Who doesn’t?” Well, that’s sort of what he said, my memory doesn’t exactly trump that of a goldfish.

Which then makes me wonder, who on earth are my readers?!

And this.. is Ms. Izah, who is happily expecting in August. I am delighted for her, she doesn’t look it, since she has a very petite frame, but I now realize the bump. Teehee. She’s my first year lecturer, and she is the cutest and nicest lecturers I have ever had. Cute abis!

For more pictures, you can click here.

Before I go, here is a picture that I have to post up (simply because both of them read my blog.) This is of Superstar Shim and Dr. Sophiana. (Private joke on the superstar bit. )

Sigh

To all intake 20 who will be graduating on the 19th of May, 2007, I was just informed this afternoon that the convocation will be postponed to the 21st of May, that’s on Monday. Reasons unknown.

This is the second time I’m disappointed with ITB. First, the delay of the MRS. Now, it’s our graduation. Seriously? Seriously?! I know I was very much looking forward to it, and I know the rest of my classmates were too. Now we have to get over the weekend. Imagine graduation night will be on a working night. Woo, happy, happy, joy, joy. Sarcastic much?

But never mind. At least I’m going to be able to make it for one of my duties.

Today

I cannot get this song off my mind either. If I were to have a playlist of two songs, it’ll be this and Beyonce’s Listen. This one’s Joe’s If I Was Your Man, by the by. I have it as my message tone every time I get a text. I have it as a YouTube video on my Friendster profile. I put it on on repeat before I go take a shower so that when I’m done, I’ll be greeted by Joe’s voice, or the song’s beats.

[odeo=http://odeo.com/audio/11265693/view]

It is quite addictive. Or maybe just me.

Anyway. Just finished a show about less than an hour ago, and I had fun. Another one of my firsts in this line of work, and I have to say, it was a lot of fun and laughter. Especially the foot being the exact same measurement as the length between your wrist and elbow. Try it. You’re bound to be amazed. I was. Embarrassingly, I was, because I had this look on my face. Aaron said it was priceless, and I choose to believe him.

[Warning: American Idol 6 spoiler ahead. Just in the next paragraph. You can skip to the next one, it'll be free from spoilers. Hee.]

Looking further back before my graveyard shift, I watched American Idol tonight. Who would’ve thought, right? All this time I thought Maroon 5 is brilliant when performing live. I was wrong. Hahaha, okay, I’m kidding. I’m a bit surprised by the outcome, but from now on, I’m officially a Blaker girl. Like I mentioned to a friend, I wouldn’t mind a Jordin win.

Played netball with the girl friends in the afternoon, and I was a bit tired after that. I hadn’t played in ages. Three weeks, me thinks? Pictures soon, but not now.

Graduation rehearsals were yesterday and the day before, and I have pictures of those as well. But again, not now. I’m exhausted. Need. Rest.

Thanks for reading!

Untitled

Graduation rehearsals are in.. oh God. It’s tomorrow. I didn’t realize that. I was too busy fixing the kain to my National costume (baju kurong bah eh) to wear underneath my graduation robe. I’m so scared I’ll trip over it or something. Paranoia can get to me like nothing else does.

I also had to trudge up to ITB this afternoon to change the initial (rented) robe I had taken home for another smaller one. Apparently, I looked like a pumpkin. I have a feeling the said initial robe belonged to this guy, but I might be wrong. Heehee. My defense is that Ms. Wida and I didn’t have a big enough mirror to properly look at myself. LOL.

I didn’t know graduating was a lot of work. And I’ve got to wake up early tomorrow for the first rehearsal.

You see, I haven’t got really good stuff to post about. Not even pictures. I’m just a blogger who’s suffering from mild insomnia. No, it’s no longer 28 Weeks Later, I’ve finally gotten that out of my mind after just one sleepless night. It’s just.. me, acting up. I really need sleep.

Oh. There were some interestingly controversial things happening this morning, afternoon and early evening, which finally ended (for good?) tonight. Some things were definitely uncalled for, but that’s just me.

xx.

‘Cos y’know.. I’m like that.

Before I go on as usual on my abandoned-for-four-days blog, let me just wish a good friend of mine, Amalina;

HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY!!

I know I texted you already at midnight, Brunei time, but you’re just one of my greatest people I know. Hope you have only the good things, the great things, and the best of things. May all the happiest things happen to you, especially the first class degree, and come home soon, we miss you! 22! I’ll join the club in.. 11 days! (Oh, and may you have many more birthdays!)

Oh, also to Miss Saleha, whom I haven’t talked to in yonks, HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY, SWEETY!!

All right, shifting back the attention to this blog, there’s a new feature that brings you to random posts by clicking here! (Or you can look over the left sidebar, that enables you to become one of the adventurous! Exciting! Not.

So how have I been? (Thanks for asking. Harumph!) To those who have either met up with me, or called me up, they’d know I’ve been under the weather for around a week now. I can walk and talk fine, but I’m a little manja to those who I’m very, very close to. Coughing a little uncontrollably, which is irritating, especially when I’m on air. There was this one time when I was entertaining a call off the air, I coughed like mad and had forgotten to put the call on hold, and let the caller listen to the hacking. Hahaha.

One other thing that happened at work while I was at work, was when I was having one of my dizzy bouts, and I announced completely different things. It was weird, but I think people would understand. Right?

Other than that, my birthday is coming up soon, and so are my closest friends’ birthdays. A chunk of my closest friends’ birthdays are on April and May, and it started with Saleha’s. Hamizah’s is up next, turning 22 as well, on the 1st of May! Mine is after that, of course, ahem ahem. Then Zawanah on the 11th, then Salwana on the 12th! Yippee! We’re all turning 22!

That’s not all, though. I have family members who turn a year older in May. And I can tell you, there are more than two handfuls! (Meriah jua May ani ah? May babies rock! )

My mom ran out of ideas on what to get me for my birthday this year, and she asked if I wanted B$500 cash. I said I’ll think about it. Then I told her I’ve always wanted the Sony DSC-T50 digital camera. So that’s what I’m getting! My dad? Well, we already made a deal that I won’t be getting any birthday gifts for five years because I got a laptop three years ago when I first started ITB. I’ll be getting another gift when I turn 24, inshaAllah.

So I’m happy I’m finally getting something that I really want. I’m going to have to cross that off my list of birthday things that I have never received. Hehe. I have this one other nagging birthday thing that I’ve always wanted, but feel too pathetic to actually tell someone about it. Hahaha. I’ll have to have thick skin to actually tell anyone about it, so no, I won’t be opening my mouth any time soon.

The month of May is also a month of new things (besides getting brand new age numbers.) I’ll be doing Nite Tune shows every Saturdays, with Pilihan’s own Aaron. I’ll only be co-presenter, so it’s really no biggie, but I like the idea of doing Nite Tune. It’s the only one show that I haven’t done in my two years of service. (Aiseh, service konon.)

Oh! Also in May, I’ll be graduating with my mates from ITB. Very, very excited about this, especially. I collected my rented robe from Ms. Wida earlier this morning, and also my leaving certificate. It’s all very exhilirating!! Eek!

Enough about the month of May, and this post too, because it’s getting a bit too long for my liking. I will update again soon, inshaAllah. Maybe it’ll be less than four days this time, yea?

P.S.: Aunty, I know how to cook. A bit.

Pictures from MRS

I’ve only got ten to share, and most of them are stolen from Eff. Haha. He knows I usually do this, and it saves him the time to actually send them through e-mail.

Picture #1: This is Sel and I, before the whole event started. We were waiting for the others. Apparently, they all met up at the lobby. Nyeh.

Picture #2: This was taken during the drama. We were bored, so Sel took their picture. This has to be my favourite because Muliadi is just embarrassing himself. (And it’s all thanks to me, hahahaha.)

Picture #3: Also taken during the drama, our lecturer went to the table nearest to ours, and was talking to my other classmates before deciding to take a picture. (Our lecturer, Sir Sharul, is the one in stripes.)

Picture #4: I got bored, so I fiddled around with the macro function! Haha. (My purse and someone else’s phone.)

Picture #5: This was taken when everything ended. Spotted: Dr. Sophiana Chua.

Picture #6: One of my favourite lecturers and I. This is Dr. Sophiana, whom I call Ms. Sophiana because the former doesn’t roll off my tongue nicely.

Picture #7: Another mini group picture. From left, Asdanny, Ka Hjh. Ainun, Amalina, Dr. Sophiana, and myself.

Picture #8: The SDP group A. Haha. From left, Muliadi, Sir Rudy, Eff, Sel, and me.

Picture #9: I was trying to give As some horns, to no avail. Look at me, acting all stupid. LOL.

Picture #10: The food. Minus the sliced watermelon. You can even spot plain water in this picture.

The MRS stank

I have to apologize to my fellow juniors, intake 21 and 22, because the MRS I experienced was the most boring function I have ever attended. Mostly the things that made it suck might not be their fault, but it sucked. The first and last MRS I’ll ever attend, and it was a night to forget. It was horrible. And I’m not alone in this, I have to add.

One of the things that made it unbearable was the sound system.

We couldn’t make out what the MCs were saying, so we didn’t know what was happening most of the time. Although, we did know when certain speeches end because they start to walk off the stage. The sound system in the hall was that bad. Like I said, the fact that the night bombed might not be our juniors’ fault.

Performances by every department this time around was performing with a live band. Which didn’t need much attention and people just went on eating with the every now and then cheer that was audible from a few tables. And the boys who thought it was ridiculous how the instruments seemed as if they didn’t go through sound check. Well, I, for one, don’t know what that means, but by the tone they were talking about it, I bet it was bad.

After the performances were over and done with, which was actually judged, because they were competing for the annual title.. There was this drama that was produced by the student body. The props made me feel like I was still in my secondary school, STPRI. It felt very immature. Again, I have to apologize to my juniors who have probably worked through sweat and tears for the night. It was just very bad.

Once again, the sound system might have had a hand in it. We couldn’t hear their dialogue at all! They were just doing a lot of actions that no one could interpret, and in the end.. everyone was minding their own business. My table and my friends’ table were sharing videos of the singing cadet. Another table, the business department, started singing a birthday song which deviated everyone’s attention to the back of the hall, which, if that didn’t give the student body a clue, I don’t know what will. A few other tables started taking group pictures.

The only time people paid great attention was the lucky draw.

After that, everyone just did their own thing.  My highlights of the night were:

1. Seeing my classmates again, sharing a lot of laughs, and taking pictures.
2. One of my lecturers came up to our table, and said she knew of my blog. She said, “If I knew there was this side of you, we would have long conversations.” That just made my day. Hehe.
3. Getting all dolled up.

That was just probably it. I don’t want to start on the food yet. Because I need to get ready for work.