Last Week, This Week & Next Week : Extremely Busy

Really busy during last week, this week, next week & the following week..

1. Presentation
I had my presentation in front of three external evaluators on last Monday. Alhamdulillah, the presentation went really well. Three days before the presentation took place, I just noticed that overlooked something that was really important. I informed my lecturer about the mistakes I did and with a sour face she had to agree with my suggestion not to change anything due to the time constraint. I didn't blame her because it was all my mistakes for overlooking and not following her instruction. After the third evaluator said congratulation and she got no comment on my paper and my presentation I felt relief. At least that can cover my earlier mistake on that paper.

2. My brothers and YM
I always communicating with my brothers through YM. Sometimes what we did was chatting using "conference". Well lately since I'm very busy, everytime I saw my brothers were online I will put sign that I'm studying or will offline. Sorry bro, I'm really busy. He3x

3. Chess Tournament
I got an invitation to join the chess tournament on this coming 28/2 -1/3. I love to go but I really can't make it this time. To my excuse, I'm really busy, busy tahap Gaban as Is always said to me ( I wonder why Gaban got his name here). Besides that, I'm not really confident after 1 and 1/2 years didn't touch my chess set.

4. Assignment
I got 2 assignments to be submitted end of this week and another assignment next week. A few friends advised me to ignore my assignments first and concentrate on my prelims exam. Well.. I'm an obedient student who follows the date due.

5.Preliminary Exam
I will sit for prelims exam in two weeks time. With 3 assignments in row and a lot of chapters I still can't manage to cover, my stress level is high now. Sometimes feeling like serve me right for what I experience now. I try to speed up my phd programme by taking prelims exam while still doing my course work. Students usually take the prelims exam after they have finish all the coursework. It is not because of Kak B (read the previous entry) but I really want to finish it ASAP and start my writing. May be a bit ambitious on this matter.

6. Me & Caffeine
Early this year, I promised myself to cut my coffee intake. But then, I take it more than usual. In fact, at this moment I'm indulging myself with caffeine. Can't avoid it due to the extra energy needed now.

P/S I'm blogging just for a break in the middle of my busiest days

A Joke & A Motivation

I attended to the proposal presentation on Friday. It went smoothly. The presenter looked very confident and well prepared but there was a critical moment when the evaluators mentioned the objectives of the research seems like a master level. There was a long silence including the presenter. She didn’t say anything and her face was totally change. I was sincerely and silently praying the best for her. Alhamdulillah, she passed the proposal presentation with a minor amendment. So, I got the belanja makan part as a gratitude to be there attending her presentation. Well…what friends are for.

Before attending the presentation I talked to Kak B and other friends. Kak B who has been doing her research for two years is still preparing her proposal The conversation started when Kak B said this to me;

Kak B : Kalau si Zu ni boleh present proposal dulu dari aku, aku bakar U** ni. (Saya mengikut cara Kak B bercakap)

Kak B was jokingly said this to me since it is QUITE impossible for me to present my proposal this year. ( Remember; I haven’t finish taking my qualifying exam)

Me : Ha3x ( I was laughing). Kalau U** terbakar, there is no other person than Kak B who did it and obviously I’m the reason of it. Anyway, I’m glad because it also means by that time I have presented my proposal.

While we were laughing, a naughty thought came straight to my head, what if I really can do it, presenting my proposal this year. Is Kak B going to eat all her words?. Some sort of motivation comes to me to do my proposal presentation ASAP and see what is going to happen after that. Ha3x.

Nothing is impossible.

P/S: Someday, if you happen to read in the front page of the news paper about one of Malaysia’s universities is in arson, remember my entry and you know who did it and the reason why she did that. Ha3x

Another One...Proceed

My friend from MUST called me saying that he was doing sightseeing/ window shopping in Sogo. He had finished presenting his proposal yesterday. So, this was some sort of celebrating himself by going to Sogo after successfully overcome this hurdle. (Giving presentation for Phd proposal (defending the proposal) could be an "earthquake"!.) He sounded happy and I was told he didn’t have much problem in his proposal. Well, Alhamdulillah… another one proceeds to the next level. I’m happy for him for another notch up.

I was invited by the faculty to attend a proposal presentation on this coming Friday. This time, the presenter is somebody I knew and she has done her Phd for the last four years on part time basis. She is studying on competency of pawnshop if I’m not mistaken. Hopefully she will do well in her presentation, and there will be another candidate will proceed to the next level in our faculty and hence, I will get more motivation to proceed what I’m doing now.

To see one by one of your friends passing this stage is a mixed feeling, happy for them but at the same time wondering when will be my time? When will I be in this stage, half of the journey of doing Phd?. Will I present what I’m working on smoothly? Do I have enough shields to protect myself from those eyes and words?. Those eyes belong to Professors and the so called experts in the related field. I can imagine that all eyes are focusing on me and on what I’m going to say. Do I have enough bullet proof in my heart, my words and mind to protect me from the "bullets" waiting for me at the end of my presentation? Am I will be well prepared?. Are the panels going to be harsh to me? I remembered my sister told me that she felt very pity and wanted to help a student who was ‘shot’ by the panels when he couldn’t answer the question during the proposal presentation. Despite all the horror story I heard, I’m still anxiously waiting and praying for this stage.

Argh!!! Dream on Azuriy. You haven’t sat for your qualifying exam yet. Bear in mind you have to sit for my qualifying exam in early March and you are still not really well prepared. Another two papers for qualifying exams will be held in September. Still longg way to go. Sigh!.

My Car vs Your Car

I went to the grocery store and parked my car nearby. On the way back to my car, my phone ringing, so I went into my car put my sit belt on and answering the call. Then, a Savvy parked next to me although there were lot of parking spaces there. The car was parked really close to my car and I glance to the driver. I thought she wouldn't go out from her car but I was totally wrong. She opened her car not in a gentle manner and of course as expected the door knocked to my car. Then, what she did was ran away without feeling guilty or even look at my car. I wondered whether she noticed me in my car. As usual, I was stunned and what I did was only opened my window screen to say excuse me but she ran away too quickly. Since I was still talking on the phone, I told about the incident to my friend and she said this "why don't you open your car's door and knock back on her car"(siapalah kawanku itu that gave me an evil thought. Ha3x)

Moral of the Story;

1. Make sure that you don't park your car too close to other cars
2. Make sure that you know your body size very well so that you know how wide you can open your car's door so that it will not knock on other people's car
3. If this incident happens to you and you are on the phone, never listen to any advices from your friend who is in the line (especially when you are in the middle of totally not a serious conversation) because you may not get a really good advice from her/him.

I'm A Student

I got a call from this XXX bank asking me to invest in their new investment programme which the bank can deduct my money through the bank account for investment. This was not the first time I got the call from this bank promoting its investment, credit cards and etc.

The person who claimed from the XXX bank persuaded me to join in the investment which she said was proved will get the highest return of all investment (?). She talked about the economic down turn and the need to invest our money to profitable channel. Since I was driving and not really interested in this kind of investment in a polite way I told her, Sorry, I"M A STUDENT. Full stop. I don't know how she interprets me as a student but seems like I'm a poor pathetic student when she replied OK , if you are interested just call me. Full Stop.

Btw, about the investment, I'm really a risk averse person. As a layman who don't have a complete/much information about investment I will think many times doing so especially in this kind of economic down turn which was used by the bank's person. Why should I risk my money which you know that most of the investment will get affected by the economic variables (inflation, GDP and etc). If you get the higher return during the high inflation, are you gaining something from your money?. No. Your money value will depreciate. I used to ask the investment agent who came to my office room promoting his bank's investment, he agreed when I said the return of investment will depends on economic situation. So what happen if there is economic down turn? You will not get much return from your investment, right? Why should I deduct my money which has promised me certain return to another investment which depending more to current economic situation? Correct me if I'm wrong. Another point, even though, it was claimed bank's person it will get high return, I should be skeptical because this a new investment not much achievement record in return can be seen. I rather put my money in somewhere more establish such as Tabung Haji and Takaful even though they didn't promise high dividend as this investment but at least so far they are more stable and safe.

Now, if anybody promoting me any investment/ trust fund or asking me to buy something they promote, I know what will be the best answer to decline their offer. Sorry, I'M A STUDENT. It may sound poor and pathetic (depends on how the person define my student status) but I'm not lying and the most important thing it WORKS.