Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Back to Work

Yesterday was the first day we resumed work. I had my PR lecture from 8am to 10am. The air-conditioner was not functioning. A student made a remark in his Facebook that it was like a sauna for all of us during the lecture. I had to give them a break in between – to take fresh air outside the classroom.

I continued work in my room until 8pm and was caught by surprised. Zi Yi called my handphone and informed that my former students came to visit us. Shwu Fen, Yoke Sim and her boy friend are now working in KL. I showed them the acknowledgment in my thesis, "Not forgetting my three coders, Ms. Leong Shwu Fen, Ms. Lim Yoke Sim, and Ms. Luay Ciek Lek. I appreciate their hard work for collecting the data for days and nights uncomplainingly." I was told that Ciek Lek is currently in her home state – Johore.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

New Year Mood Continues

Today is Joon Ling’s turn. There are 19 former students of hers come to our home (Note: They are still here while writing this Blog). Some of them have been visiting us for many years. They like to have BBQ at night as we have ample space at our garden. However, they can’t organize the usual BBQ due to some personal reasons. Some will have to go home for prayer to the God of Heaven. It is the Hockien customs to pray on the ninth day of New Year.

Meanwhile, Joon Ling and I will have to get ourselves prepared for lectures/classes tomorrow morning.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

"Yu Sang" In Advance

Today is the seventh day of Lunar Year of Tiger. Happy birthday to everybody!

According to the Cantonese tradition, the seventh day of the New Year is the birthday of all humankind. The specialty for today is to have “Yu Sang” – “yu” means fish and “sang” means life or raw. In my childhood time, my mother used to prepare slices of raw fish on the day. My brothers and I would eat them with boiled porridge. It is a kind of delicious New Year food that I can’t forget.

Due to commercialization, the businessmen take the good meaning of “Yu Sang” and develop a kind of business product which is totally different from my childhood’s “Yu Sang.” It is sellable in almost all Chinese restaurants and the packed “Yu Sang” is available in supermarkets now.

In receiving the visit of my Deputy Dean Prof. Dr. Latiffah, we had the commercialized “Yu Sang” yesterday. We enjoyed the good meaning of “Lou Yu Sang” – getting prosperous!

We wish everyone a healthy and prosperous year!

P/S

I wish to make public one of Dr. Lat’s SMS, “My dear Dr. Chang or my otherwise good fellow Peng Kee. Thank you so much for your warmth and hospitality. I am so touched by your sincerity, openness and generosity. Truly appreciate the orchids, kuih bakul and oranges. You seem to have a lovely home for yourself and family… I am proud to have you as my colleague. Small advice from me. No matter how busy you are with work don’t forget to nurture your plants for they nourish our soul. Regards to your gracious wife. Thank you again and have a good weekend.”

My family enjoyed the delicious cheese cake from Dr. Lat this morning. Prior to that, it was Dr. Dah’s chocolate cake that added sweetness to our Chinese New Year celebration.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Chinese New Year Mood

Today is the fifth day of Lunar Year of Tiger. I have taken the opportunity to update my academic webpage (http://ukm.academia.edu/ChangPengKee) for the past few days. Meanwhile, we are very happy to receive the visits from our relatives and friends at our Putrajaya home.

Joon Ling’s eldest sister and her family came on the second day and stayed here for two nights. Subsequently, her second eldest sister came on the third day. It was a great reunion among three sisters with my mother-in-law.

Our neighbors and UKM colleagues came to our “open house” too. The records (in brief): Prof. Dr. Faridah and family, Dr. Normah and family, the HM of our kids' school Mr Chong and family, Mr Sit and family, Ms. Penny Seh and family, Capt. Surjo and family, Prof. Dr. Asiah, Dr. Wan Amizah, Yan, Tini, Azrina, Dafrizal, Melly, etc… We look forward to have more visits from friends this weekend, such as my former colleagues from Magnum Corp, Joon Ling’s ex-students, and perhaps my students too.

The mood may last until the fifteenth day… Understand that more UKM colleagues will come tomorrow...

Monday, February 15, 2010

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day

Yesterday was the first day of Chinese New Year as well as the Valentine’s Day. Many Chinese couples were in the dilemma of celebrating this East-meet-West occasion. Joon Ling and I had no such problem. We enjoyed our New Year celebration with kids and mother-in-law in day time and then had our candle-light dinner at night.

It was the eighth consecutive year we celebrated our Valentine’s Day at the Royal Selangor Club. We look forwards to have more in future…

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Happy Chinese New Year

My family members and I have just had reunion dinner at our Putrajaya home. We have not been back to Penang for the Chinese New Year eve after my mother passed away in 2006. We really miss her...

2010 is a special year for me. It was a big relief as I finally managed to submit the final script of my PhD dissertation on 10 February 2010 - just three days ago.

A big challenge ahead...

Happy Blogging

This is the first Blog I am creating. Hope to benefit from Blogging. cpk