back to Malaysia

I'm back to Malaysia! No where is as good as home. The warmth and the emotion.... they are simply priceless!

I have been having fun the last few days. I was in Brunei for 2 days 1 night before I reached Malaysia. As I mentioned in my previous post, I was there due to the transit of flight. It gave me an opportunity to visit Brunei. It's really a peaceful country. I think it's too quiet for me. Nothing much goes on there. Since I reached there at about 6pm, maybe it's a bit late, therefore I would have probably missed some interesting events during the day. I took some photos of the architectures there and I will upload them soon at my photo blog. To look at the photos, please visit http://pho-memory.blogspot.com

At the moment, I'm making my preparation for my internship. I'll be going to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow as I need to look for my accommodation for the next three months there. It's a pity in the sense that I'm back to Malaysia, yet I don't get to spend much time with my family.

Alright, I'll tell you more about what's going on soon. Cheers!

growing passion, growing hunger

I'm still busy packing my things as I'll be leaving on Sunday morning. As I mentioned in last post, I'm telling you why I'm going back to Malaysia this summer. I got an INTERNSHIP!!! Oh, I can tell you that I'm really excited about it. Very, very excited about it!

Why bother going for an internship when I have 4 months holiday? I should not be doing anything and have fun, that's what some people suggested to me. However, there are also people who congratulated me for getting an internship. I also notice that some of my classmates were really envy about it as apparently it is quite hard to get one. One of my friends sent 25 applications and unfortunately got 5 replies only, with rejections.

I have a friend working as one of a directors in a firm, 1 or 2 years ago, I met him while playing tennis back in Malaysia. We talked about architecture and he told me that if I'm interested in an internship in his firm, I could tell him and he can arrange that for me. I did. I emailed him in September. Unfortunately, I didn't even get a reply. Of course, I have no idea why. Nothing much to say anyway...

I never really work before in my life, as a result I have doubt when I was thinking about going for an internship. I believe that I'm not the only one having such experience. I fear that I might not be good enough. I was worry. I was down in confidence. However, all this took place before I sent an email to my friend asking for an internship, that's September. After not getting the reply, I was like "OK, maybe I'll do it next year". What a loser!

After seeing how desperate my fellow classmates are come to an internship, I realise maybe I should get one too. I talk to my seniors, I talked to those who have done an internship before, I realise how important it is. Meanwhile, I never really feel good about getting an internship with the help from my friend, that's a bit too easy. After all that happened, I decided to do what other students do. I want to apply for an internship on my own, I want to see where I stand, I want to see whether practitioners would recognise my works and offer me an internship. Understanding more about what I want, learning more about myself, make my confidence grows, make my passion grows...

Apparently in New Zealand, firms don't really offer internship. They offer part-time job, which means if you apply, you are offered a job which most likely as a draughtsman. I decided to try my luck with Malaysian firms. I applied to 5 firms and I got 3 replies. Percentage wise, that's not bad. Two offered an interview, one was a rejection, but that firm did recommended another firm to me. I wasn't that fancy about the idea of going back to Malaysia for an interview not knowing if I may get it eventually. It costs me RM 4000+ to go back, if I don't get an internship eventually, that's not worth the money.

I decided to apply to another 5 firms, I got 2 replies with emails interview. Fortunately, I got it! They think that I have a good grasp of architecture concept. I was pleased. With that, I'm heading home. This offer of internship makes me want to work even harder. I want to get better and better.

Being good enough is no more enough!

semester ends

I finished my test at 11.10am. That marks the end of my third year second semester. However, the semester would only be officially over when the result is out. Anyway, since marking and grading are not what I do. I don't have to think about it. What need to be done should have been done during the semester. Hehehe...

What' up next? Well, I would have to start packing as I will be leaving New Zealand on Sunday. I'm taking Royal Brunei Airlines, as a result I will transit in Brunei. What's cool about this is that I will get a free one night accommodation in Brunei before I leave for Kuala Lumpur the next day. Some people don't like this sort of arrangement as it could be tiring. However, that is fantastic for me as I will get a chance to be in Brunei. It's the experience that counts.

Some people question about how much I can do in Brunei with less than one day of stopover. Well, without disrespect let me say it this way , unfortunately Brunei is so small that I may not purposely pay to go anytime soon, thus this transit gives me the opportunity to look at this country for free. I googled through the internet, found that it is really a small country which makes my one night stay there enough to gain some interesting experience. If this is still not enough in your opinion, I will once again stop in Brunei on my way back to Auckland next year, this should be enough I assume. Of course, I must admit I wouldn't have too much time to go too far from the city in both of these visits. (I still don't think there will be much to miss anyway, haha!)

I'm kind of tired at the moment, feel like going home to have a nap. In the next update, I'll tell you why I'm going back to Malaysia for this summer break.

i want justice

I finally presented my final presentation on Wednesday. Although it's 3 days ago, I'm still kind of exhausted. I'm tired and I can't be focus. However, I must pull myself together as I would be having a test next Wednesday. After that, my semester would be completed as I have no exams for this semester. I only have about 4 days to study, therefore I must start today.

How did my presentation go? I think it was alright. Not that fantatstic, at the same time not terrible. I'm not happy for the fact that they were rushing me throughout the presentation. I was one of the last few left, I suppose the critics and the tutor couldn't wait to go home soon. IT'S NOT FAIR! Students who presented at the beginning were given so much time, some went as much as 25 minutes. On the other hand, mine was easily less than 10 minutes.

I can confidently say that my work is within the 'A' quality range. But, the outcome from tutor may not. I happen to see how he graded me after my presentation, I can tell you, that was SHOCKING! I saw a 'B+' and a 'C+'. I'm SPEECHLESS. Well, since the grade is not a final one as there will still be moderation to be carried out; as well as I wasn't suppose to see it at this stage, I decided not to confront my tutor. But I can tell you, I was hurt. Could you believe that your tutor have been telling you throughout the semester that you have been doing great. Even during the final presentation, he said, "well, nothing much to comment on, the only comment would be the roof". Doesn't that sounded like I did pretty well? So, it's DISAPPOINTING!

If I were to be given a 'C+', that's going to be the worst score I was ever given. I feel like I'm changing from hoping to get an 'A' to hoping to not fail. Well, what can I do? After all grading is beyond my control, the only thing I can do now is to hope that things will eventually turn out my way. However, if I got a 'C', no doubt I will demand an explanation. I want justice, I want fairness...

Wish me luck, my friends!

in the process...

Yeah... still kicking! I have been working on my Design final presentation since my submission of my Design Procedures assignment. My physical modelling is almost completed, I'll say I have completed almost 80-85%. However, I have not started my drawings. In other words, if I don't start my drawing today, I'll be in deep trouble...

So, what's the plan? I'm going to stop my physical modelling first. I have to draw 4 plans (1:200), 2 sections (1:100), 4 perspectives, 2 elevations (1:200), site plan (1:200 or 1:500) and some detail drawings. I plan to finish all these in 3 days. I got to be kidding, but that's true. I have to...

Anyway, just watch...

battle against time

It's been so busy lately as the end of the semester arrives. I haven't been updating the blog the last four days as I was busy finishing my 3000 words writing for my Design Procedures assignment. I finally finished it last night and I had dropped it into the submission box. The moment when I dropped it in, it's like one big obstacle has just been destroyed. It feels GREAT!!!

And now... the big, big week has come! I have 9 days until my final presentation for my Design. I have to make a 1:100 physical model which is a 4 stories Innovative Material Centre, produce drawings of plans, sections, elevations, perspectives and structures as well as compiling a booklet of the whole semester Design work. I suppose I probably can sleep for only 4 hours a day.

I wish I can say more, but I don't really have time now... got to go back to make my model. By the way, recently, I just started a new blog... http://pho-memory.blogspot.com. Trust me, you'll love it!

Gambathe!!!!

can't stop working...

This is Week 10, in 2 weeks time I will be presenting my final presentation. And... I'm running out of time. I have to do modellings and drawings. arrgh... kind of a little stress, though I always feel like I will nail it eventually. Haha...

Lately, my bio-clock is running wrong, I can't sleep before 4am. This is not funny, it's driving me crazy. I tried to adjust it back by sleeping at around 12am. I ended up laying on bed for the next few hours. Worse still, since I end up sleeping at 4am, I couldn't get up at 7am as I would want to. I have to get up at around 10-11am to feel healthy. This is making my daily schedule a mess. Since I couldn't help it and I'm pissed of with how time being wasted on bed, I have decided I'm going to work throughout the night till 4am. I suppose my working hours now have been adjusted in a way I start my day at around 12pm and end at 4am. What a good boy! Haha...