SPOT THE ERROR 57

ERRORS: 2 OUT OF 3 :)

GETTING MY PASSPORT RENEWED

"If you can wait

and not be tired by waiting"

"If"

~ Rudyard Kipling ~

10:30 a.m. - I was back at KDN Complex at Setia Tropika again and this time to get my passport renewed at the Immigration Department. I was told by the officers at the counter on the ground floor they had run out of numbers so I had to come back at 2:00 p.m. I decided to go Tesco first to buy some things and get back later. Some people came as early as 7:00 a.m. to queue and I thought I could still stand a chance to get in as today should be a working day (except for some teachers) but I was wrong.

12:45 p.m. - It was a smart decision to actually come much earlier. When I went to the counter, a small piece of yellow note was given. As it was still early, I went to the "surau" (praying room) located on the 7th floor.

1:10 p.m. - When I left the counter, the place was clear but after prayer, there was already a very long line forming. Where did all these people come from? Not long after that, the RELA officer came and told everybody that only those who were given the yellow slip would be given the tickets with the number of your turn to be served. They could only entertain 200 customers for the afternoon session and the line started to move (thank God!) when some disappointed people had to leave.

1:55 p.m. - The counter was opened after lunch break. I got number 38 which was not that bad. And I had my book with me to keep me company. People were rushing to the lifts, something typical of Malaysians these days, to get to the third floor right after that.

2:20 p.m. - My number was called and everything was done in less than 5 minutes. I was instructed to wait to go to the next counter to get the payment receipt and my identity card.

2:40 p.m. ~ My number was called again. After getting the receipt, I was told to hand in the piece of paper at 3:45 p.m. at the other counter. I had about 1 hour to kill and I needed to get away from the crowd for oxygen so I chose just to sit under one of the gazebos outside the building.

3:45 p.m. ~ After putting in the receipt in the plastic box at the counter, I had to wait again. And not long after that, my brand new passport was handed over to me. I left the building by 4:00 p.m. and that was quite a relief to get everything done within 2 hours.

cut vs. uncut

Without a doubt, PATIENCE is very important when you go for counter service like this. Your turn will come and you just have to wait. Other than that, from my observation, there would not be a big crowd at the department if people do not bring along the whole family members who are not involved. I felt like slapping some kids who were running around the place and pressing the lift buttons and the parents were nowhere to be seen. Get yourself a book/magazine/newspaper to read. Many people have smartphones but they will be busy playing candy crush or updating their status on Facebook.

So goodbye to my old passport. It has been five wonderful years together (almost) and thank you for taking me to some places that I have never dreamed of going.

MOVIE REVIEW: GRAVITY

When I watched this movie, I felt I was in a planetarium or a science centre. Science fiction at its best, I got nothing but pure science. The whole movie took place in outer space and only in the end I could feel the hard ground underneath.

There were only two characters in the movie: Ryan (Sandra Bullock) and Matt (George Clooney) so the producer sure did not have to spend a lot to get people to star in the movie. At one point, Matt had to disconnect himself, literally, from Ryan and was lost in outer space. From that moment onwards, it was a one man, or woman, show - Sandra Bullock and her monologues (except when Matt came back in her dream or hallucination for a very brief moment).

I am now a star

This is the movie young people should watch. Not only it will take you to a beautiful place that you will never have the opportunity to be, but is also free of any elements of sex, horror and violence. For the best effect, you should go and watch this in 3-D. Not for me though, 3-D movie makes my eyes tired and my head spinning which is not good.

GETTING MY NEW IDENTITY CARD

I made my way to Kompleks Kementerian Dalam Negeri (Ministry of Local Affairs Complex) at Setia Tropika this morning to get my identity card renewed. Arrived at the building as early as at 8:30 a.m. but there was a long queue forming at the main entrance. The door of Jabatan Pendaftaran Negara (Registration Department)would only be opened at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Although there were many people, the whole process went very smoothly. I only had to wait for about an hour and finished reading the book I brought along while waiting. My turn was number 83 but I made my way home by 10:15 a.m. I would have to go back there again to get my brand new identity card tomorrow.

ANOTHER YEAR OLDER, AND WISER HOPEFULLY

10th October ~ There was no surprise birthday party in the staff room and people singing birthday song and cut-the-cake session and to tell you the truth, THAT WAS ACTUALLY A BIG RELIEF! However, there were still kind people who went the extra miles to get me cakes on my the real age will not be revealed here... HA HA HA) birthday.

the excited office staff

Thanks a lot to all the well-wishers (friends, colleagues, ex-trainees, students, ex-students and parents) on Facebook, sms and e-mail senders as well as people who come and wish me personally. And also to people who have brought the cakes to school. Another year older for me to cherish, and wiser hopefully.

VISITING THE JUNIORS WANNABE AT SK TAMAN UNIVERSITI 2

This time I was invited to SK Taman Universiti 2 for the post UPSR (primary level examination) activities. The crowd was smaller but to make them sit still and listen was still a big challenge. Hopefully whatever information imparted would be helpful to prepare them for secondary school environment next year.

'TIS THE SEASON TO DO BAKING - PART TWO

7th October ~ the second group consisting of 4 girls and 14 boys came at 10:00 to bake more cupcakes. The boys looked excited nonetheless. With the guidance given by Puan Suzana and their determination to learn new things, the session was a great success.

Thanks again to Puan Suzana Sidek for her time and energy in conducting the baking session again. This has been our fourth year and she had never said "no" to my request. Hopefully we can bake again next year.

As for the Set A1 students, please do not forget to hand in your essay when we meet in our next English class.


ARCHIVE:
Baking session 2010
Baking session 2011
Baking session 2012