BBA (Hons) Operations Management...is in my hand. Alhamdulillah.

May 19, 2013- I've just graduated from Universiti Teknologi MARA Terengganu (Dungun campus) with a Bachelor of Business Administration (hons) Operations Management qualification, and I must say it was a wonderful roller-coaster ride. Despite going through tough times as a student e.g dealing with; deadlines, numerous assignments, to perform well individually and in group projects, facing impromptu quizzes and scary periodical tests, to conform to lecturer's requirements in assignments, projects and tests accordingly, to stay competitive with peers, to participate in extra-curricular activities, to discharge our responsibilities in clubs and associations rightfully, as well as setting a clean record as a student. Although 2 years may seem a like a long journey, it seemed to have passed so quickly for me. 

To recall back, the reason I opted for this Bachelor program was because I wanted to. I became fond of the subject during my Diploma studies. However, I also knew that that there were only two UiTM campuses that provided the course in Malaysia; Shah Alam and Dungun. I wasn't picky, but if I had the chance to choose, I would choose Shah Alam. Mainly cuz its so much nearer to home and KL on the whole. Not that I'm easily home-sick, but it enables me to visit my relatives easily after many years being an expatriate. Ehem. But at the same time, I didn't put high hopes on anything. Even if I did get Dungun, my advantage would be to live and explore a new piece of land. There goes. Turns out, I was placed in Dungun. And to strengthen the reason why I was placed in Dungun, I heard it was due to Shah Alam closing any intakes of Business Students temporarily. Heck, I was happy either way.

I didn't get a hostel placement. So I had to find my own house to rent. Good thing my friend, Atikah, had earlier found a home to rent. So I just checked-in the house. My next concern now that I live far from campus, is transportation. Somehow, God conveyed my needs to my parents (who was still living in Sabah at the time), and by the next few weeks, I got a car. (God, thank you). Life was easy. Only thing hard was in the view of entertainment. I grew up living in cities; Kuala Lumpur, Taipei and Kota Kinabalu. Dungun was a total different. I tend to get bored easily on weekends. There was a mall 40-mins drive from Dungun, and that's where we usually hang out to watch the cinemas. Other times, we'd normally just hang out with friends at warungs' and eat keropok lekor, AB Jagung, Laksa Terengganu, and satar. 

Being a student here was a fun experience. A synopsis of what I went through in Dungun:

• getting a warning notice to cut the electricity supplies (everyone was suddenly broke that month)
• my car broke down in the middle of the road at a junction where there was a food stall filled with people (utter embarrassment),
• having cows, goats and chickens coming in and out our house compound as they please (cow broke our water pipes causing leakage, many times)
• snake in our drainage (i called 999)
• cooking together (everyone had their specialized roles i.e. cook rice, main dish, vege, eggs, drinks, and wash dishes)
• feeling hungry at midnight and hit to 2 restaurants to please noisy tummy (ate noodles in first, roti canai in second)
• late night study at McDonald's (especially during exam weeks)
• dealing with deadlines (procrastination always results negatively)
• not meeting to assignment expectation (always a question what?)
• presentations were always fun (it's the projector problem that spoils the fun)
• classrooms were always freezing cold (jackets are essential. Unless you have kulit buaya)
• got parking summon and had to plead for discounts (fined RM30)

Well, all these are a parcel of life, and I'm happy to experience them at this point of my life. In fact, I'll always laugh recalling some of our stupid acts and worries over stupid stuffs. After all, we are all friends. We share the same thoughts (most of the time), and we laughed at each other (all the time). LOL.

Well, it surely paid-off well after 2 years. I gotta admit, I'm no first-class graduate. Although I tried to every semester. I guess I didn't try hard enough. Sigh. There's just no way I can turn back time now. The only hope I have now, is to keep trying harder for my career development.

Enjoy the pictures of the convocation.

My backbone, my pillars of strengths

with the Kelantan ladies

OPEMS junior, Ulul and Ijam (junior lah sgt!)

My foster family in Dungun

These words I'm never to forget. So Ganu!

Goodbye UiTM Terengganu!

Goodbye Dungun!

Bouquet from my family and Ulul

Fancy cookies and Stitch plush doll from Aimi

Greatest gratitude to my parents, brother, sister, grandma and relatives for the ongoing support and prayers. My special thanks are extended to all lecturers and staffs of UiTM Terengganu that has directly or indirectly devoted their time and toils in developing their students to a better future. Last but not least, many many thanks to all my friends particularly Tika, Cyla and Ellie (all-year group buddies), the I.P.O.D-ers, OPEMS-ers, former housemates and friends. Thank you for the memories, thank you for being there during my ups and downs, thank you for giving me the memories that I will one day be proud to tell my kids, or even my grandchildren, and something to smile and laugh at all the time. 

With a bachelor degree in hand, it doesn't mean I can secure my job instantly. It's the development that counts. Plus, with such a big number of competitors, all graduating on or before me, it is up to me to determine my own future. As for me, I don't mind starting low and slow. As long as I improve blast and fast.

In case you're wondering whether or not I'll be pursuing my education to a higher level; Master degree. No. Not now. I'm striving to stabilize my career first. After all, we have so many privileges living in Malaysia provided with so many assistance to further study. Master degree can wait. 

Out.

PTD Exam Result!!! *faints*

Well, well, well...the nightmare is here. It's FINALLY HERE!!!

The PTD 2013 Exam Results!!!

It's even a greater nightmare when I...*inhale, exhale*...got this:

"Regret to inform, you have FAILED the exam held on 13/4/13."

Tough luck. I'm a bit sad, but not at a hypertension level. Imagine 20,385 people (probably more) sitting for the same exam, and only a few thousand (or is hundreds?) will go on to the next stage. Plus, I have earlier prepared myself for the worse, which is this (picture above). So I'm quite neutral now. I believe I need to expose myself more to the world. Gain more knowledge and experience, and to never give up on my dreams. 

Besides, this is my first time sitting for the exam. I'm not giving up. God has written down my fate, and I've no idea what. All I know, God is saving me the best for last. *heartening*

To those who have passed the exam, greatest CONGRATULATIONS I bid. All the best in the next stage test, and DON'T YOU DARE pull-out now! You deserve the pass, why quit now?

To those who have failed the exam, worry less. You're not the only one. We are in a pack of thousands. Understand, that there is a limited quota. It's hard enough for us to be studying and sitting for the exam. It's even harder for the examiners to mark our papers and to choose few among many candidates.

P/S: Here goes my counting. PTD Exam Intake #1.

Neng in Memory

As I am writing this, I am shivering a little bit. I can no longer hold my tears. And my nose is runny. And I'm sorry if I am disgusting you.

Last Sunday, while watching TV, my cat, Neng was playing with its favourite toy, Gloria. Gloria had a voice. Each time it was touched, it would say, "Hello. I know that's right". Thats what made Neng so passionate to throw Gloria around and chasing after it. That noon, she slept the whole day. At night, she sleeps with me.

The next day, when I woke up to go to work, she too woke up. I fed her, and left for work. Hours passed. When I got home at 7pm, I saw her at the gate breathing hard. Suffocating. I brought her inside to check on her. She could walk, but after a few steps, she laid down. Her legs seemed weak. I noticed her lower torso was sunken. I  automatically suspected her to be hit by a motorbike, or maybe a car. She started pooping a lot. However, she was not bleeding, nor had any physical injuries. My sister told me that Neng had just woken up from her sleep, still healthy, and that 5 minutes later, I came in the house bringing Neng in an unhealthy condition.

On Tuesday, Neng's condition got worse. She had salivas dripping under her chin. So my dad took her to the vet for surveillance.

On Wednesday after work, I rushed to the vet to visit Neng. She seemed stable. She was still puffing for air, but stable. Even the doctor said she looks better than the day before. The doctor then brought me to show Neng's x-ray result. He first showed and explained me an x-ray of a fit cat. I nodded understandingly. The moment he put Neng's x-ray on the light beam, my tears ran down unknowingly. Here's the theory: Neng was rolled over on the tummy. All her internal organs within her lower torso was pushed to her upper torso. Squishing her lungs and heart, making it difficult for Neng to breathe normal. Neng was scheduled for surgery the next day. The doctor explained to me what will actually happen during the surgery. Which is, to try to bring down a few organs so that the upper torso would have air and space for the heart and lungs to function. He also reminded me that it was a high-risk procedure. I accepted the fact. The doctor was an experienced veterinarian. Unfortunately, it cracked me when he said that Neng was one of the most severe cases he has ever handled. 

An x-ray of a normal cat. 

Thursday. The day of surgery. The doctor performed the surgery in the morning. He wanted to inform my dad the result right after surgery via phone, but my dad insisted to wait til evening. After everyone's gone back from work. For everyone to visit Neng and to know her condition together. That evening, my dad rushed from Putrajaya, my mom from Taman Maluri, my brother from Pandan Indah, my sister from Cheras Baru, and I from Jalan Duta, all for the sake to visit Neng. The doctor brought us to his room to explain Neng's condition. He told us the surgery was a success; shifting few organs downward her lower torso. However, the lungs were still not functioning. In fact, worse. We were told, if Neng's lung had function by at least 30%, she may have had hope to survive. But in her condition, her lungs were only functioning by less than 5%. It is here that I can no longer hold my tears. I tried distracting myself by looking at posters, reading the advertisements and trying to praise the cute cat figurine on the doctor's shelf. But all that I did was useless. My ears were still focused to every word the doctor was saying. Later, the doctor led us to the surgery room. I insisted to stay in the doctor's room. Hearing Neng's condition from the doctor's mouth was enough for me to imagine Neng's sufferings. I wouldn't want to have the last picture of Neng in my head with her having tubes down her throat. I'm happy enough to have the last picture of her yesterday being stable. 

This is my last picture with Neng

Now we'll never get to see Neng watch football, nor trying to catch the ball with her cute paws anymore.

Neng was also my dad's favourite cat in the house. Every time my dad called out her name, she'd run to him. My sister and I loved playing with her. It's a shocking loss for us. One day she was climbing and scratching her nails on the sofa, playing with her toy Gloria, playing with my grandma's potpourris, and wrestling with her mother. And the next day, she's gone forever. 

Well, all living things will eventually die. Neng was destined to go to the afterlife today. We also had to bury Neng together with her toy, Gloria. It's hard enough to accept her loss, and we just could not stand seeing things that remind us of her. At least not now. Anyways, I'm just glad God has given me the chance to get to know Neng, even for a sweet 7 months. To recall, it was me who celebrated the delivery of Neng and her siblings on Oct.26 last year. She may be gone forever in our eyes. But never in our hearts. 

P/S: One of our cats, Mandy has just delivered her kittens. Did Neng sent me her replacement for our loss to her? I don't think so. Neng shall always be Neng. 

Farewell Amir & Pn. Sijah, and Happy Birthday Pn.Leany, Fizi & Nabila

He's tall, good-looking, sleek, fair skin, great in English, has a lawyer girlfriend, comes from Sg Petani, Kedah, and a good porter colleague. (He's the guy we look to when it comes to being a runner for passing documents to other floor levels in the building).

Okay, enough with the laudations and praises. He's the guy whom every morning will hide behind the walls of my cubicle room and scare "Bahhh!!". Sometimes surprised, but most of the time not. (Actions predictable). He's the guy whom always come into Aimi and I's cubicle room to help himself to free foods. We have a jar of sweets, 2 bottles of Vitamin C Chewies, a container of kuih, and a container of dates. Of course, we intentionally put foods on our table for people anyway. It's just that he loves throwing the food up in the air, and catching it by mouth. (Failed occasionally). LOL. 

It's his last day today. No more morning-surprises. No more shortage of foods. No more flying foods in action. He'll be missed by everybody here. 

The party we had was also a pre-farewell for our Manager, Pn. Sijah. She's retiring soon. I'll miss her. Also, the party was to celebrate 3 people's birthday; May babies. Pn. Leany, Fizi and me! I didn't know there was a birthday celebration. I was too busy handling the camera, when suddenly they called out that May babies were to gather around and cut the cake. 

Here are some of the photos. Enjoy.

Farewell speeches

Farewell gifts ceremony

Cake-cutting session

May babies. So colourful lahh.

He lost his phone. Now he's suspecting everyone for hiding it. Poor him. *ROTFL*

Looking everywhere for his phone.

Sengal

Istiadat Konvokesyen UiTM ke-78...adalah sekitar sudut!!!

Oooiii..ooiii...ooiii..tak lama lagi saya konvo!

Oooiii..ooiii...ooiii..dah lama saya tak tulis blog dalam "Inilah...bahasa kebangsaan kita!" *nyanyi*

Kali ni, saya konvo kat UiTM Terengganu kat Dungun. Tak konvo kat Shah Alam dah. Happy, and at the same time keciwa. Eh typo! Maksud saya, kecewa. Haaa..baru betul.

Berikut adalah huraian bagi perasaan saya ketika ini:

Gumbira Gembira: Saya dah pernah konvo kat Shah Alam. Malahan merupakan batch pertama yang merasmikan Dewan Agung Tunku Canselor (DATC). So, adalah berkobar-kobar perasaan ini untuk menyambutnya di Dungun. Di kampus di mana saya telah berjuang bermati-matian selama 1 tahun setengah, demi menggenggam segulung ijazah. Lagipun, kampus Dungun kecik je klau nak dibandingkan kat Shah Alam tu. So benefitnya..takde la kitorang nak kena tunggu turn sampai angka ribu-ribu. Saya orang ke-69 naik pentas. Bila dah cepat naik pentas, dan cepat habis majlis...maka banyaklah masa nk lompat-lompat, baling-baling mortarboard tinggi-tinggi dan berposing-posing kat Padang Astaka nak tangkap gambar!

Plus, mama dan papa saya juga bangga bukan sahaja kerana anak sulung mereka dapat ijazah, malahan kerana beban mereka bagi menyara saya belajar juga telah tamat di sini. At the same time, mereka nak sangat datang konvo saya sebab nak ambik peluang bercuti kat Pantai Timur. Antara yang dinanti-nantikan tak lain tak bukan..keropok losong yang sentiasa mendapat tempat di hati mereka.

Keciwa Kecewa: Saya tak dapat nak jumpa kawan-kawan saya dari Sabah yang akan konvo kat Shah Alam. Dah la tarikh konvo lain-lain. Padahal kitorang sama je fakulti. Diorang dah start datang Semenanjung minggu ni. Saya plak kerja. So nak lepak pun kena tunggu hujung minggu. Plak tu, aktiviti hujung minggu saya untuk beberapa minggu yang lepas adalah mengemas rumah. Al-maklumlah, baru pindah dari Sabah. Rumah tengah renovate sebab penyewa dulu dah jahanamkan rumah tu. Nak-nak plak anai-anai dah mula menyerang rumah tu. Tu yang kena 'overhaul' balik rumah tu. Pastu bila barang-barang kargo dari Sabah sampai, dah satu hal plak nak sumbat barang-barang tu masuk rumah yang masih tengah renovate. Sampai skang, rumah tu tak siap-siap lagi. Kotak-kotak blom unpack lagi. Anyways, I hope I can take the weekend off untuk jumpa kawan-kawan Sabah saya. Rindu diorang ketat-ketat! Rindu bah mo cakap Sabah!!!

Ok la..gembira, gembira jugak. Sedih..sedih jugak...meh tengok checklist apa yang perlu semak sebelum pergi konvo. Kang tak pasal-pasal ada jugak yang tak dapat konvo sebab terlupa itulah..inilah..

Ni buku manual istiadat konvo. Penting ni! Sebab ada detail pasal bila konvo kita.

Tarikh, waktu dan tempat.

Senarai semak. Wajib print!! Sebab, nama pun senarai semak. Klau kurang satu item ni, maka tak dapat la korang nak ambik jubah. Bila dah takde jubah, takde la korang naik pentas.

Borang jubah. Borang ni penting bila masa nak ambik jubah. Sebab ni bukti yang kita merupakan pelajar kat situ. 

Sapa-sape ingat berkonvo itu percuma, sah-sah la korang bukan pelajar. Zaman skang, nk 'sheeshee' pun bayar tau! Silalah bawak resit ni masa ambik jubah nanti. Selagi tak bayar, selagi tu pengawal jubah-jubah will say "In your dreams lah pakai jubah!" sambil cekak pinggang dan menggerakkan jari telunjuk kanan ke kiri dan ke kanan berulang-ulang kali (Well maybe not literally, but something like that lah. I know. I just know).

Make sure saman dan denda korang dah disetelkan. Hatta 20 sen sekali pun. Jangan kerana 20 sen, korang takde gambar kenangan naik pentas terima skrol. Otherwise, aku naihatkan, jadilah pengarah filem ataupun penulis novel and letak tajuk karya korang: "Kerana 20 sen..." 

Haa..ni yang selalu student lupa nak buat. Kajian Pengesanan Graduan KPT. Basically, it's about kajian on students. Pasal pelajaran diorang, environment kat universiti, prospek kerja bla..bla..bla.. 

Maka bila semua perkara di atas telah disemak, maka anda telah pun bersedia untuk ke langkah seterusnya, iaitu... Menunggu hari konvokesyen!!!. *tepuk tangan* dan *joget lambak*

Bagi seluruh warga pelajar UiTM yang akan konvo dalam waktu terdekat ni, TAHNIAH atas kejayaan korang semua! *tepuk bahu sendiri* Bagi yang akan terus menyambung pelajaran ke peringkat lebih tinggi, SEMOGA BERJAYA! *applause* Bagi yang memilih untuk bekerja, berkahwin mahupun berehat (seketika) di rumah, SEMOGA BERJAYA juga hendaknya. Amin. *applause*

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Konvokesyen saya jatuh pada hari Ahad 19 Mei 2013, sesi pagi. Sesiapa yang konvo pada hari yang sama, dan tempat yang sama, SEE YOU THERE!! *lambai tangan*. Dan, janganlah segan-segan kalau nak hadiahkan saya sejambak bunga ke (tak kisah bunga apa) ataupun teddy bear ke (tak kisah saiz apa), saya terima je!! Dan semestinya hadiah-hadiah tersebut akan masuk dalam blog ni. Muahahaha *serious face*. 

Okay, enough merapu. Lunch break dah pun abis. Masa untuk kembali bekerja! Takleh curi-curi tulang tau waktu kerja! Boss marah nanti! (gaya cakap seperti Tomok kepada anaknya)

Babai!!! *lambai tangan*

Hello, Hai, Ni Hao, Bonjour...

Yes, Ya, Shi, Oui.

Languages have always been an interesting topic for me in life. It has always been my dream to learn as many  languages as possible. (Or is it not possible? Especially for a woman who learns the basic and assumes she can start a conversation already? Like me? Hmphh.)

I was born a Malay. My mum's a Malay. My dad's a Malay. And so is my brother, sister, Atuk, Wan, Paklong, Maklong, Pakngah, Makngah..bla..bla..bla.. So naturally, I am a Malay-spoken person. 

I started my educational background going to a Chinese kindergarten. We learnt to speak and write basic Mandarins. And as far as I remember, I never quite applied the lessons among friends. I preferred using the Malay language (a.k.a Bahasa). After 2 years in kindergarten, our family flew to Taiwan.

I was enrolled in Taipei British School, an international school in Taipei. It was really tough at first. My English was really poor. I couldn't join in conversations. But I thanked God for giving me 2 Malay friends in class; Nana and Nadiah. We'd usually sneaked to speak Malay in class. Cuz if we got caught speaking foreign language other than English, we'd be given a warning. I guess since there were so many cases like this, they provided a subject, specialized only for new foreign students called English as a Second Language (ESL). Being around foreign students and teachers from various countries, and having gone to ESL classes, my English improved drastically. I no longer speak Malay with my friends. And at one point, it felt more embarrassing than proud to speak Malay among ourselves. 

I'm not saying this because I'm glorifying other languages than my own mother-tongue language. I was surrounded by foreign environment. I was young, and I knew I had to adapt to such environment well and quick. 

English was not the only subject learnt at school. We also learnt Mandarin and French, and it was part of the syllabus at school. Both languages were fun to learn. There were many activities involved in learning the languages i.e. writing essays, role-playing, sing songs, and even cooking!

For extra-curricular activities and clubs, and apart from joining Brownies and Arts & Crafts club, I also joined Cantonese class. All for the sake of love in learning new languages. (And because they were a lot of Hong Kong movies playing on TV).


At home from school, apart from watching Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, MTV, HBO and Cinemax, I also liked watching Chinese movies. I couldnt speak, write nor understand a thing they said!!! I guess I just liked the way it was, and because the movie was good.

Devastatingly, all the foreign languages learnt seem to be of no use. I later enrolled in a school with a Malay majority population. I was placed in a class with everyone a Malay. No Indians. No Chinese. So I started speaking Malay at all times. During exam, the only subject I got an A was for English. I failed in all the other subjects including Bahasa. Rest assured, I speak good Bahasa. It's just that  I'm still in the process of writing good Bahasa.

To recall the Most-Regretting-Feeling moments of my life, it is the loss of my notebooks to each language learnt. It must've gotten lost or misplaced or thrown away without noticing when we got back to Malaysia. *sigh*

In university, there was a Third Language class. I was given the choice of Mandarin or Arabic. I wanted to take up Arabic cuz I've never learned it. But then again, my aim in life is to be able to communicate well in foreign languages. So I chose Mandarin instead, mainly cuz I already have the basics.

Now my only problem is... to make use if these languages. I tried watching Chinese movies and hiding the subtitles. But I'm still far off to really understand every word they say. But one thing I can assure you and myself, I'll never stop learning.

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Hello, my name is Nabila. I am 23 years old. I live in Kuala Lumpur. I love you!

Hai, nama saya Nabila. Saya berumur 23 tahun. Saya tinggal di Kuala Lumpur. Saya cintakan awak!

Ni hao, wo jiao Nabila. Wo shi 23 sui le. Wo zhu zai Jilongpo. Wo ai ni!

Bonjour, mon nom est Nabila. Je suis 23 ans. Je taime!


Goodbye. Selamat tinggal. Zaijian. Au revoir.