Graduation: The Day

I have officially graduated from my Bachelor Degree in Civil Engineering after four good years in university and that summed up to 20 years of formal education. Well, that was actually more than two months back (261111) :). I couldn’t exactly recall vividly what I did on the eve, except for church service in the evening and our customary supper whenever we are out at night apart from ironing and packing; to which I attributed as the cause where I have to axed off my plan to put on the eye mask and woke up rather late the following day. Thus, I have to pack all my necessities from hair brush to facial cream and whatnots into the car. Unfortunately I have to give my hair-dryer a miss and left the house with wet hair and towel draped around my shoulder.

I was still deep in slumber the moment the boss called me up when he was at the departure hall, informing that he missed the plane :P. I wasn’t too surprised although I have to admit that I was praying at the same time that it was not true :P Oh well, another typical banter from him :P I quickly jumped off from the comfy of my bed and apparently the house was all quiet that morning. My parents and brother were out, and my sister had left way earlier as she was among the violinist involved for the graduation ceremony’s orchestral team. I was literally left out and gotten myself ready in a jiffy. Not long after that, my parents and brother came back, with a dozen of beautiful bouquet of fresh pink roses.

We left the house nearing to 0900hr and headed to the airport to pick up the boss, who will be spending a good 3 days with us in conjunction of my day :) We were late by about half an hour as the plane had landed 15 minutes before we left the house. To my surprise, the boss flew over another bouquet of a dozen of nicely wrapped roses of different pink shades. We headed to one of our favorite breakfast spot in Inanam for their ngau chap thereafter. We were lucky this round as the owner of the stall was around, unlike our recent two trips in the same month where both gave us unpleasant experience when the stall were left out to be attended by his employees. Service was inefficient, not to mention slow and there was once our orders were totally forgotten despite only a few tables were occupied. This round, we had no complains :).

Then, we headed to the uni right after breakfast, and it was 11-ish the moment we reached. Along the way from the main entrance was heavily congested and every nook within the radius of the hall were swarmed with people. We can imagine how crowded and wet the washrooms would be inside the hall as well as school buildings within walking distance from the hall. Thus we decided to go a little further to get ourselves changed at the School of Arts. We had all the washrooms for ourselves and debuted with our outdoor photography by the murals done by the art students :)

Since there were still some time before a quarter past 1300hr, which was the time we were asked to gather in front of the main entrance of the hall. Thus, dad suggested that we go for more outdoor shooting which we had initially planned to do after the ceremony, lest causing us all wet and sweaty prior getting into the frigid hall. It was a brilliant suggestion indeed, as post-ceremony photography can be saved for my course mates and friends. We spent slightly more than an hour for some light photography around the lecture halls and it’s surrounding overlooking the sea.  

When it was almost 1300hr, we quickly get back into the car and off to the Chancellor Hall. Thanks to the VIP entrance pass mom was provided, we managed to get a so-called VIP parking, which were just a few feet away from the hall’s main entrance. This has definitely saved us a lot from walking for a far distance, very much everyone’s relief under the fantastic weather, clear sky and scorching sun :). The queue was rather long by the time I got there. Frantically searching high and low for my friends, I stumbled upon a registration counter meant for fellow lecturers. Out of curiosity, I took the opportunity to ask if students were required to register too. The guy standing by the security barrier rudely brushed me off in disdain stating that the counters were only meant for teachers (in his word referring to lecturers). Oh well.

Not long after, I caught up with some of my friends and thereafter asked my family and the boss to get in the hall to have their seat. We spent quite some time to adjust our hood before I realized that I have forgotten my mortar board! I called my mom, who was the one holding my bag and she didn’t pick up the phone. The same goes to my papa and my brother, my calls went unnoticed. Then, I resorted to call the boss. Phew, luckily the boss picked up the phone and informed my parents about it :P Not long after, my dad and brother came out and we met at the stretch of red carpet we have agreed upon earlier shall my sheer blur-ness strikes. Well, papa knows this syndrome of mine too well and before they get into the hall, we promised to meet up at our pre-definite meeting point shall the prawn head me forget or miss out anything. I was on the verge of getting shoo-ed away by the officer in charge :P.

While we were queuing outside the entrance, both Kuo and I were deeply touched when we see Pau, our senior who has been a great mentor made his appearance by the bushes. Lol. It was a coincidence as the compound was all guarded with securities and he was not allowed to interfere the graduatues. Thus, we literally met up with him discreetly. He quickly handed both of us a stalk of flower with a baby teddy on it. Upon thanking him, we were caught red-handed and reprimanded to leave the gift right away, lest we will not be allowed to enter the hall. Left with no choice, we returned it to Pau who was planning to leave right after but instead, we made him to come back after the ceremony.  

The event proper commenced at about 1345hr with the graduates marching in by school and course program order, followed by fellow lecturers, professors and subsequently the upper echelons, all smartly dressed in their robes and mortar boards.  This was followed by the national anthem, proclamation of the ceremony, other formalities and a brief speech by Vice-Chancellor cum our state’s Chief Minister respectively. Followed on was the most anticipated moment, where the Bachelor Degrees were conferred to each graduate (a padded certificate folder embedded with golden logo and wordings sans certificate). It was almost 1500hr when I received my 'scroll' and the conferral process itself took about 3 hours or so. Everyone were apparently restless and couldn't help but eyeing at the handphone's clock from time to time :P. 

This was followed then with a speech by the graduate representative. Graduates were basically advised to perform well to bring glory to the university and society generally and reminded to repay all the good deeds our parents had showered upon us. With the state anthem and uni’s song, the ceremony for the day has finally come to the end at around 1700hr. More photography session with friends and course mates after that and we finally decided to leave when it strikes 1800hr and advanced for a dinner fix at our favorite Chinese restaurant. Everyone was arduous by the end of the day but still hitting the sack past midnight. Besides, I was still able to make two trays of little darlings to be devoured the following night :).

Colors of India: Majestic Sunrise from Tiger Hill

Previously, all I knew about India ware about the famous Taj Mahal building and Indian culture which is associated to almost everything bright and colorful. My very limited exposure about how India looks like and what India has to offer has totally changed after the boss came back from his visit cum trekking in India, and of course after I made the boss to recap and share his experiences for long hours, which was definitely a rare sight for him who used to be an ardent good listener over a talker. Thus, I ought to jot this down before my memory slips away. Shall I be given an opportunity to visit this place one day, I would definitely jump into this idea at once :)

I was awed by many of the sceneries the boss brought back especially on the majestic sunrise occurrence from Tiger Hill, Darjeeling. At the very moment when I look through these photos, then only I realized that for many years of my life, sunrise and sunset went by me every day unnoticed. This post serves a reminder to myself that everything under the sky are meant to be treasured, to be appreciated :). How we have taken so many things for granted. A trip to India or more accurately Darjeeling is not going to be complete without the visit to Tiger Hill, which is located approximately 12km from Darjeeling town to witness the vibrant sunrise over the Himalayan mountains. Tiger Hill, the third highest mountain in the world standing at the height of about 8500 feet high over Kanchengjunga range and  the tip of Mount Everest, which is located 170km away (straight line distance)  is viewable from this point.

Visitors gathering by the observatory to witness the majestic occurrence.

Despite covered by thick lush forests on throughout the way up, this has not abstained the determination of visitors to experience the grand entrance of the fire ball as it peeps out through the thick mist and clouds. Visitors were recommended to get up in the wee hours during dawn, preferably around 0400hr to be able to get to the observatory in time to witness the gorgeous occurrence. Some even simile the occurrence as the world’s best scene, which I think can’t be more apt :). Here are few sequential panoramas of the sun rising occurrence from Tiger Hill.  

Sunrise on the way. The skies looked like it had caught fire.

The reddish yellow light of the sun has begun to emerge.

As the sun climbs up the horizon, the skies gradually turn into pulsating vibrant orange. 

What said to be specially unique and even some simile the occurrence as the world’s best scene was not merely on the sun rising phenomenon but watching the first ray of Sun shed light upon Kangchenjunga range, which was covered with thick snow , thereafter turns into red as the sun raises, followed by orange then into golden hue. The whole scenario took about 20 minutes before it turns into white again, when the Sun climbs up the horizon. 

Tiger Hill after the sunrise. 

Pre and Post Graduation

This is a backdated post, way back in November 2011 and  forewarned, this is going to be a longggg post ahead, the longest post I have ever churned out ever since I started blogging. It is going to work like charm to make you fall over sheer boredom :) Soon to graduate students were allocated a span of about one week to collect our robe, mortar board, hood and other apparel accessories as well as a car pass. Since two of my other friends requested for S size for the robe but was unable to take leave a week ahead the graduation ceremony, thus I was commissioned to take up the errand :). I reckoned that I must be among the early birds before the size ran out of stock so I have planned earlier to get there on the first day morning.

On that day itself, I touched down the collection hall sometime around 1000hr, and I was eternally grateful that I myself have done the pre-collection online formalities and have as well urged my friends to get the Tracer Study surveying form completed and to get the slip printed beforehand. Thus, I was eligible to skip the first counter but headed for the second one right away. The area in the collection hall was enormous, reclaimed after several number of lecture halls opened up into one. As in the photo, the size of a lecture hall is from the far end column to the nearer one. The line wasn’t too long, not short though (pictured). But, somehow it doesn’t seem to be moving at all, until 45 minutes later where I was able to move forward by one third from where I first queued.

Halfway through, I have just realized that I should have requested for three copies of the so called borrowing-and-lending-agreement, instead of the one I was given at the entrance. Looking at the long queue behind me, I was so reluctant to detour and to queue up all over again. Thick-skinnedly I asked for the permission from the girl behind me if I can return to the same spot after getting the forms, she smiled and nodded agreeably :).  

By 1215hr, my turn has finally arrived. Before the in-charge personnel was able to attend to my aid, he was busy printing receipts for about 7-8 other people prior me and requested one after another of his other colleagues to distribute them to the recepients by signaling his colleague to the respective students one by one, thus the dormant long queue. I can visualize the impatient glare from those lining up behind me, having the thought I being the cause for the delay. I supposed majority if not all of them, were queuing and paying for themselves.

When I have finally gotten all three receipts, I was then directed to the open fitting section. I did not try on any, instead I ask the guy what was the smallest size as I heard about XS size while lining up earlier. I was told that there were XS earlier, and but only S size onwards were available. I quicken my pace to the appropriate counter and was directed to the other side complete some formalities before receiving our robe set. My heart skipped a beat of relief the moment my turn has arrived and handing the receipts and documents to the in-charge officer and I got my bag of robe set all hassle-free. But, little did I know that all the drama had just begun! *shake head*

After I have received my robe set, I was intercepted from getting them for both of my friends without a permission letter, which was not mentioned in the terms and conditions on the website and phone call earlier (despite being asked). Besides, I was told by my friend that permission letter was not required last year when she gotten the robe set on behalf for her senior. I supposed that the administrative assistant who attended to my aid was a newbie, almost all the information he gave me was inconsistent and contradictory. After some reasoning, I was given me the permission to hand in hand-written letter (upon my request) on my friends’ behalf by his other colleague, probably a senior if not superior. This new guy didn’t give me any good impression to begin with when he was making fun of my queries to other officers. He was interrupting and it pissed me off when he further added that I can only initial by-hand on behalf but the hand-written letter must be provided by the respective nominee involved. How does it make sense when someone is able to write the letter but needed an on-behalf to initial for them?

He really made me sizzled with full of gas and got me blown up. Obviously, he spoke faster before he actually deciphers my point to the other officer. Not wanting to encounter any post-letter-handing dispute, I decided to have the formal letters typed. I then made my way to the uni’s library. But, having the thought of the library’s computer with very limited access, the fact that I don’t have a pendrive with me and where to print out were scaring me. So, I was sorta trying my luck. All I planned to do was to get the letter prepared, then e-mail them to my account before making my way to the printing kiosk on the upper floor in the library. But, provided only if their computer is connected to the internet, to which I wasn’t sure despite going to the library religiously for the past four years for their food at the canteen. LOL :P

I was praying at the same time that I could make it to settle everything the same day so that I would be able to secure a S size for the three of us. I dashed to my assigned computer and start typing away, at the same time waiting for the reply from my friends for their address and IC number. After I saved the documents, I attempted to send it to my e-mail account. But to my dismay, I failed after several attempts. The document were saved on the desktop but was unable to be attached. I went to the counter and seek for assistance. I soon found out that the uni’s computer has blacklisted hotmail and gmail (I am not too sure about the latter though)! According to the technician, only yahoo account can be supported. Agony for me as I only have the earlier two (then). I knew very well that all the computers are installed with very high security features, restrictions placed on accessing websites deemed to be a threat to the uni’s network and leave alone installing free software into the computer, and Microsoft Office can only be accessed upon  request upon registration at the counter but I have never expected that it was that strict to such extent. Ahh, the bane of modern technology.

The technician at the counter then offered me his personal pendrive with the condition that I must get my documents printed at his office without taking away his pendrive from the computer lab and even asked if I would return it to him right after I am done. LOL. Of course I do and I am more than grateful that he is willing to lend it to me and I am more than happy to save the hassle looking for printing services. Happily returning to my seat feeling relieved, but my happy thoughts were short lived when I failed to transfer the documents into the pendrive :(. Once again, I headed to the counter and looked up for the same officer. He came over to my seat and checked things out and later found out that documents saved with dot-docx (our typical Microsoft Words document extension) cannot be transferred. I was left with no choice but to retype the entire document all over again so that they could be saved under XML extension, with the officer by my side. Bless his helpful soul.  When all the typing and saving were done, off we headed to the counter and he printed me two copies of A4 sheets that cost 60 cents per copy. I regard this as a very low-priced saving grace :).

The moment I stepped out from the computer lab, it was already a quarter to 4pm. I quicken my steps as the collection hall will be closed by 5pm. The moment I stepped out, I was greeted by two of my coursemates, who were apparently settling some overdue loaned library books formalities at the main counter. They would be heading to the academic office right after, thus offered me a ride :). The process at the office was a breeze after I have brought the letters along. Once again, the new guy I mentioned earlier was giving me very contradictory info. The borrowing-lending agreement has to be halved, one for the office and another part for our keepsake to be signed on. This guy did not return the upper half to me earlier, but returned my friends’ when I got their robes. So, I casually asked whether the letter should be brought along during the returning of the robes, despite they don’t look as important. He said “of course, else you’ll not have a smooth return” in Malay. So, upon hearing that as, naturally I asked for half piece of the agreement I earlier signed on, to which he did not returned me earlier. He then hesitated and said “Nope, you don’t really need that lah”. How contradictory in a split seconds, huh? *roll eyes*

I was able to collect all three robes within a span of about 8 hours and most of the time was spent at the collection hall. I was only ravenous by that time and I missed my lunch earlier, thanks to the heavy kolok mee breakfast with my sister. Recommended by her friend, and was my first time to patronize the coffeeshop. The portion was huge and it costs only RM3.50, which is the cheapest meal I ever had for so many years now. We opted for mee without soy sauce for gravy (there were two options; either with or without soy-sauce), thus we were given soy sauce soup instead. I guess so!  Opps, I digress :)

But, I wasn’t able to be able to subscribe for the stage photos which was set up at the same venue because I did not have sufficient cash amount for a total of three person with a short of RM10 and it was almost 6pm when my dad came and pick me up. The booth was only put up when I returned to the collection hall, else I would have withdrew some money while I was on my way to the library earlier on. One more thing, we were not informed earlier to bring extra cash for miscellaneous subscriptions (i.e stage photos, studio portraits, flowers and gifts if desired etc) apart from the RM150 convocation fees per person. The first-time graduating me has never thought of these too. By the end of the day, I noticed my index toe nail on the right almost chipped off after the long hours of standing and causes me so much pain. No thanks to the flats I wore, I should have gone with a slipper :)

Fast forward to the following day (161111), I returned to the hall I went the day before, merely to subscribe for the stage photos from the uni’s sole appointed photographer with my mom. That took me only several minutes :) Upon getting home, I have been checking not once, not twice but for umpteenth of times of the three bags I brought home to make sure that nothing is missing before I pass them over to Kuo on Friday the same week when is coming over for the ceremony. One thing I might have mislook was the teeny details on the robe itself (phew, luckily nothing goes wrong with their robes). I noticed that the fabric covering the puffed-up button and the nylon rope looping around the button on the sleeve went amiss only by the night before the graduation day, while I was steam ironing the robe. It wasn’t too obvious, but still noticeable as a uncapped white button instead of a navy fabric covered one (photo 4 from top), which can’t be more apt to the robe’s color. Left with no choice in the midnight, I decided to sacrifice one of my hat (picture 5). The outcome was satisfactory but not noticeable (picture 6) :). But on the following morning (for the ceremony in afternoon) when I have just touched down the uni and was about to don on the robe, I found that the fabric cover for the button at the other side of the sleeve had taken off too! Who has ever thought of bringing my hat along with sewing kits for just-in-case incidents? Mom rummaged into her handbag and passed over to me a whiteboard marker to streak around the naked button :).

Besides, there were a couple of unsightly food stain spots on the gown’s panel but was easily cleaned with a used toothbrush and water the night before. Somehow, it gave me an impression of dirtiness whenever I don on the robe despite the overpowering softener scent on the gown.

Apart from that, a colleague of my mom who will be graduating the same batch as me were asking my mom if she can borrow my S-size robe. The petite-sized her gotten a M-size a day after I have gotten mine. That was how soon all S-sizes were gone by the second day of collection. I agreed and promised to lend it to her 1.5 day before her graduation was scheduled, so that I can save the following morning after my graduation which was scheduled in an afternoon for photography session. When she returned the robe to me, the interior part was full of synthetic fibers in red, which I supposed resulted from new clothing. I have tried my best to clean it up but they were too stubborn and to not much of avail but returning the robe as it was. Despite all the grouses, I am savoring every bits and pieces and the moment spent and sorry for the boredom, this is my only vault for me to spill memories and craps besides broadcasting them to the boss. Ooops :). How are those 'sleeping pills' treating you? :P