Why Do I Start Blogging

Strange Question Eh!

Today, Miss Fong was in my house trying out the new 3D Cad software called Sketch Up with my computer and at the same time trying out video conferencing with my son who was in Petaling Jaya. My wife managed to talk to her sister over the net with the webcam.I started to show Miss Fong my blog and she asked me why I started blogging. I read through all the posted items and found that none of them explained the main reason for my blogging.
Well, in the first blog, Mr Mah, an architect , attached with my technical department was teaching me how to start off.
Most of the time whenever I sat down with my staff, I would start to tell a story related to an experience that I have gone through. To my surprise some of the listeners, audiences would say that I am telling lies or making up stories.
In one incident at University Place,a project by Ivory Group ,I was telling some friends about how in Iran, our team of Senior Mechanical and Electrical supervisors would help the mechanic in creating a tool to remove the piston lining out from the Generator Set because this Generator set has never been stripped. The Gen Set broke down during winter time and in order to repair it immediately all of us gave the fullest help. The only help that I could do was to collect woods and started the fire to warm up the room and at the same time cleaning the external body of the engine with diesel. I have no choice for under the Project Organisation chart I was put in charge of this mechanic section.
After narrating the story, my friend left and not knowing that I was following behind them, one of them happened to tell the other friend that I have learned a lot of things and to my surprise the other person replied with these words, Do Not listen To Him Bullshitting. All of a sudden, he realised that I was behind them and I could see the colour of his face changed.
From that day onwards, I started to realise that all the truth happenings that I have spoken might not be believe by some people. Well, after narrating the incident to Mr Mah and Miss Siow Yen ( Both Architects), they suggested to me on the blogging idea for I could scan the pictures and together with the stories I could get it posted, it would help me to prove what I have spoken.

Going back to my house, I started to search all the photographs in the albums and on most of the free nights, I started to scan the pictures after my dinner. I started to get new idea to improve my blog. Special help was also given by a Mechanical Engineer, Mr Wong, from another company. For Multimedia, Eng Keng and Sharon gave me further advice on how to use Photoshop software for editing my photos . Special thank to everybody who in one way or another helps to improve my blog as a better web site to visit.
It was at this moment in time that I started to read books on how to write and also to collect ideas from authors.

Tsunami In Penang (26th Dec 2004)

The Beach I used to jog in my younger day

Chooi Im in Tanjong Bungah, Penang
( "Chooi im " in hokkien dialect means flooded)

On this day, my family would be enjoying snorkeling in one of the beaches in Krabi, Thailand. We normally go there for in Malaysia it is a long stretch of holiday. Well, we did not take this trip for one of my niece will be getting marriage on 31st of December 2004 and we decided to change our trip to Kuala Lumpur. Anyway, we still have our holiday today for it is Sunday and one day after Christmas
My younger son and us decided to go to Town after our breakfast and as we reached Fettes Park, mid way to town we decide to drop by a stall that sell pork roll ( Lok bak). Half way eating this delicious food, we heard ambulance with the siren on passing through. Oh, that must be another accident again. All of a sudden, another passed again, and thinking to myself, that accident must be bad!. After finishing our food, we went to a shopping complex, One Stop, in Pulau Tikus. As we were entering the complex, my cousin called and asked me to help them to clean her house which was beside the beach. I told her not a problem but by that urgent. She told me over the phone that the sea water has reached the main road of Tanjong Bungah. ( Koh Koh, High Chooi Im Cow Law Liao) I got a shock and asked her to repeat what she has spoken and the same words were heard over my Siemen ME45 ,mobile phone clearly.

Turning to my wife and son, I told them of the incident and we decided to go straight to my cousin house. On the way there, I told my son that we should change into our swim trunk since the house was flooded. My wife asked me whether the sea water has reached that high during my younger day and I answer her NO, never happen before. Well, during my younger day, my dad,mum and all of us have stayed beside my cousin house before we shifted over to my present house which was on higher ground.

We parked our car at the new , Maybank Office, just diagonally across the road and walked over to her house. Upon reaching her house, I asked her where was the water? She asked me to trust her and took me to the sea front and look at the beach. Wah! no water and surprising no mud at all on the sea bed and strange I could see that the sea water has retreated to abnormal far distance and this has never happen before in my life along this beach. She pulled me by my hand and we went straight into her house. Mud every where and hopping through to avoid my feet getting soil we reached the front door of her house. She pointed to me the mark that was left over by the sea water and true enough the sea water has reached a height of approximately 2.1 meter., the top of the door jam.

Suddenly, I heard a cried that we have to get out of the house for the sea water has returned. I quickly left the house and headed straight to the sea front. Standing beside my wife and son, I saw for the first time of my life the water was returning from horizon very fast.(I found out that water was traveling at the speed of 160km/hour the following day on the Local Newspaper). This was the (2nd) Aftershock. I turned around and pulled my wife and son and headed for the road which was on higher ground. Upon reaching the road I turned around and saw that the sea water has hit the low wallreached an approximately height of 1 meter as indicated by the height of the low wall. The reason why this house was still standing there was due to the perimeter constructed low wall. It could have been gone.
All of us stood there and was amazed by the sea water for within a few minutes it started to retreat back to the sea. My son who was standing beside me mentioned a simple statement: Daddy why are you afraid of the sea water? You are wearing the swimming trunk for what.
I did not answer my son but this has never happen before in this place where I was born, Tanjong Bungah, Penang.
All of a sudden, everybody was concentrating on a new issue that was an old lady who was leaving next door was still in the house and not coming out. I asked my wife whether she was there to collect her jewelry or money. and she uttered she was not sure. I quickly went into the house and immediately ask on the guy of this house to turn the main power for it could be dangerous as all the electrical appliances were flooded. due to the speed of the water retreating, everybody was able to get the old lady out of the house and asked her to lock the door as an assurance for her that nobody can go inside and steal her thing!

My mind rushed through the discussion of my colleague, Ooi Say Chin, with his friend of going out into the sea for fishing today. I picked up my phone and called him. He answered my call and asked why and I told him of the sea water flooding along the coast of Tanjong Bungah to Gurney drive. He told me that he was already back home sleeping at this moment. Very Very glad to hear this. He told me a few day later that the captain of their boat was very uncomfortable with the sea condition and decided to head back for home early that day.
After helping to clean up the house, we left and during the walk back to our car we could still hear the public announcement coming from the public services patrol asking everybody to leave the sea front and be on higher ground for there will be an aftershock again. After our dinner, my wife and I decided to drive up to Batu Ferringhi and checked for more news. All along the sea front, there were ambulance, and army personnel ensuring that the public were given help. Sad to say there were those searching for dead corpse with their torchlight. No to forget, my Eldest brother called me on my mobile to check that all of us including his in law were okay in Penang.

He has just landed in Taipei after their trip to Phuket,Thailand. As usual worry for the family in Penang.

Thailand (Krabi)

Went to Krabi for a short holiday with my relative and asking people around there, I found that

Tsunami hit hard at certain beautiful places. Upon looking carefully around, I found that they have put up signages showing the way to run in case the Tsunami Siren goes off.

Go this way, Tsunami Signages, 24th December 2006

Midnight Express New At The Project Site

Where were you last night

The Heavy Downpour ( 15th September 2007)

Could not sleep but keep on worry about the surface water discharge at both projects, Moonlight bay and Island Resort. Since this afternoon the rain has not stop at all and before leaving the site, Island Resort, at 7.00pm water started to pour it way down from the top of the hill and was at the guard post discharging into the sedimentation pond. Before leaving the site my assistant construction manager and I were diverting the traffic at the entrance for there were 8 trailers and 2 mobile crane . The road was very jammed for these trailers were bringing test pile blocks , BRC and also diesel etc.

Still worrying, I asked myself, why don't I go up to the site. The time was 1.00am

Took my mobile phone and a new umbrella for the rain was still pouring down heavily outside and better wear short in case of stepping in muddy water like the last trip a few month back

As I drove pass the traffic junction at the Chee Seng Junction, I saw policemen with the patrol car flashing the siren and slowing down I was informed by the police that the road was flooded in front of us about 50 ft from where we were. I noticed that a few car pass and with confident mind, I drove the company ,Mitsubishi Storm ,through the flooded stretch. I started to be cautious from then on and upon reaching Miami beach all traffic came to a halt. In front, I could that there were two Fire Brigade trucks blocking both side of the road. getting down from my Storm I started to walked to the commotion place. As I passed the bus stop, I asked two people who were taking shelter from the rain on what was happening over there and they mentioned that trees has fallen and the firemen were chopping up the trees with the chain saw. Waited for hour an hour and the traffic started to moved again. As I passed the location where the tree has fallen, I also saw that there was slight landslide.

As I drove up to Island resort, a dog from the two bungalow started to chase and bark at me. This verify what the workers has mentioned earlier that the dog was loose during every night

Upon arriving the site, the tyre basin was filled with sand and also the temporary drain. Water could be seen rushing down to the hill slope .Luckily my staff has filled the erosion area with stone this morning. Met the night guard and he informed me that Moonlight bay was in a bad condition too. The guard post was splashed with water from the hill.

After going through the condition at Island resort, I left and drove quickly to Moonlight bay. The guard at Moonlight bay showed me where all the water was rushing down from the hill top and he and I have to temporary divert the water at the guard post. Further checking and removing some debris which clogged the water outlet, I decided to leave the site and started my slow drive back to home.

By the time I reached home, the clock on the wall showed 2.30 am and I quickly took my bath and have to washed my hair since moving around the site earlier.

In order to dry my hair,half an hour, I decided to write this blog

The following morning when I arrived at both sites, I found that the condition were slightly worse as before I left site in the night.

Well, I am wondering when the rain will stop. For this time , normally there will be sunshine and everybody will be complaining on the heat.

Friends: Life Greatest Treasure

Be Happy when somebody leave the company

Being at my age, I would always encourage younger people to move forward and explore the outside world and even to enrich their life with more education. Today, I am very happy for one of my colleague will be leaving us by the end of next month for further studies in England. Being a very competent and hardworking staff in every way, Erna will be following this route.

Tonight, at Evergreen hotel, we are there to enjoy a good buffet and also sharing all our idea from how to date a girl down to being a good pregnant mother. Not to miss out the daily happening in the Planning Department. Laughter are heard at each corner and matchmaking idea are also encouraged. Secret of spending a company trip as a honeymoon trip are also exposed but yet to confirm.

Well, at the end of the dinner, good thought prevails and always be cherished by all of us. Cheers, Erna will be leaving us for a better future undertakings in her pursue for higher education. All The Best To You, Erna, from all of us.

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Good friends are hard to be forgotten

7/16/07 (Lunar date)

After the dinner, as all of us left, the sadness of my closest friend, Ng Ah Moi flashes through my mind and not to forget, tonight is her first death anniversary. Upon reaching home, I told my wife of the good food provided by the restaurant and reminded her of the Ah Moi's death anniversary. She mentions that nothing is published by The Star newspaper. Maybe her immediate family could have published it in the Chinese Newspaper. She will always be remembered by her love one. All of a sudden, something reminded me to call her 2nd daughter to check on her welfare. At the other side of the line, she sounds very happy and she told me that all of them are OK and her final exam will be at the end of this year. I make a note to remind myself to give her a call as a moral support at the examination time.

Why this call? Well, it is very hard to explain as one of my closest friend quoted,

"As a good friend you should have done it for I would have done the same."

Ah Moi and me during college day

Por Tor in Penang Times Square Site

Ivory "Por Tor" Day (All Soul Day)

edited on 27/8/07

Today, the day where all the Ivory's staff from every departments will turn up for the

Por Tor ceremony.

What is "Por Tor"? It is a word in Hokkien and this ceremony takes place on the 7 th lunar month (whole month) where it is believe that all the loose souls are allowed to come out to our present world to roam and enjoy all foods that are offered by we, the living people. This is what I was told seen young.
Arrangement for the ceremony started seen yesterday afternoon with one of our staff, Ah Khoon Chek, cleaning up the road beside where we would place all the stuff for the prayer. A temporary Joss Paper Oven was immediately constructed yesterday
beside it.

Look at all the foods

As early 8.30am, all the staffs started to place all purchased items and cooked food
on a temporary erected table using scaffolding. At around 10.00am all contractors
started to arrive and then followed by staffs from the Head Office at 11.00am.

At 11.30am sharp, our Boss turned to initiate the Por Tor Ceremony.

Hi, long Hi , long time no see. How is life at your site. You look prosperous


Oop, who took this picture of Obeiliao making the final prayer

When all staff has prayed, one of the staff has to make a final prayer to and ask permission to burn the joss paper. By using two coins and tossing them into the air , the coins will fall to the ground and if the the face of the coins are different. then we has a " yes' to proceed the burning of the joss paper and also to let the staff to eat the foods. The ceremony ended at around 12.30pm. Thank to everybody who in one way or another making this ceremony a successful one.

" Chut Jip Peng Ann, Peng Ann"

Not to forget , all the staffs also went over to the "Datuk Kong" shrine to pray since they are here.

A question pop up, any senses of a good number. Well, one of our workers was asking "Datuk"for a good number at the end of the ceremony and the number is 9999

Good luck to whoever view this blog

This number never turn up but 9699. Quite close Eh!

Well, the real number that came out on Saturday was 1406. Why this number? Well , on that day before we start praying, one of our staff mentioned to me that the "Huet Lor" was too small.

Immediately, our Senior supervisor search for an old stainless steel bowl and converted it by spraying it red on the external.

Obeiliao told everybody of this number ,406, but everybody forget about it. Well , one staff was lucky for he has purchased and striked it. ( a few hundred ringgit extra richer for him)

Penang Laksa ( updated 4th Sept 2007)

Ivory carnival

Hei, Obeiliao, we have decided that you will cook Laksa for our Ivory Carnival which will be held on 19th August 2007 at University Place, the first project that I and my team of competent construction staffs built along Jalan Gambier, Penang.
Turning my head I quickly answered the statement with these word, " Wait, who agreed with that, I have to check with my Chief Cook, Janet, whether she agreed to this idea. Alot of people thought that it is very easy to cook this dish.

Alot of work when you are cooking Laksa. I remembered that on one of my company function in Tanjong Park, the 1st project by Ivory Properties Group, she took off for that day just to cook for me. Not to forget all her friends who came over to help her to peel the fish meat,chopping the onion etc. Special thanks to Auntie Cheah who helped and mentored her with good advice which a mother would do.

As usual, one week before the event, at most every night, she would steam the fish and after dinner she would seperate the meat from the bone. Started to pack all the fish meat into the freezer by 12.00 midnight. As usual a little grumbling here and there. Dad, do not go into the kitchen for my son would advice me!!!. Ah Yah, better don't go into the Kitchen.

Ivory Cares

Today is the day where all of us, staffs of Ivory Properties Group put through our best effort in raising fund for Ivory Cares. The whole committee of Ivory Cares were there very early but was shocked to see that tent for the stage was blown off during yesterday heavy downpour. From information ( Phaik Har and Alex), all of them get reconstructed the stage before the guests arrived at 9.00am

By the time I arrived , everything was in order. My assignment today was to assist my wife to sell Laksa. Very fortunately my staff ,Ah Mei and my Senior Project manager and his family were there to assist us. Not to forget, my wife truth friend , Ah Tan and Noor were there to cut and chop up all the remaining ingredients which have to be done at that time. WHY? Peppermint leaves to wash before selling. If you wash it over night , it would get spoilt. Next were the cucumber. they get very watery also if chop up one day before the event and blur blur blur..........................
Well by 10.00am we make our first sale to our General Manager's wife, Yee Hun, for she has to
go home due to her child. Comments coming from public, Ho Chiak!! Male and female gave the same comments. Today, a special person turned up and I would like to introduce her to you, THE CLOWN. Behind this beautiful and cheerful mask made up was a smart girl from University Sains Malaysia student. I did not ask her for further details but then the chemistry click. My wife saw her picture and told me as I was posting her picture, she is very unique and beautiful. I told my wife that she could speak many dialects and languages even Japanese!
such a talented girl, the Cheerful Clown.



Hi, my tast bud tell me it is tasty................................................ Gau Chiak lo...........



Laksa ......................................................................................More soup please.

Tears falling. Now you know lah!!

Always agreeing to people to cook Laksa.

What happen to the cook after the carnival?

When she arrived back home, she started to wash all the cooking utensils and went straight to the hall and dooze off. Wah, lucky lah, I quicky went over to my computer and started to upload the event at my blog. Well, when she woke up around 7.00pm she came to me and ask this question,

" Any good show in Gurney? " With that surprised question, I quickly surf the net for info and told her that there is a good show and we landed in the cinema watching a Cantonese Police Show.

Smooth throughout that night. He! He!

Installation and Celebration for the Datuk Kong (updated 22/08/07)

After prayer, all staff would gather and have a big feast

Food arranging for prayer at Datuk Shrine

Island Resort Project. Penang

In construction, whenever we start a new project, we would start installing a new Datuk Kong Shrine at a suitable location in the site. After a few problems regarding the location, we finally agreed to a new location. When erecting the base slab earlier,I have checked with our Feng Shui master on its location but still there are objection and a further clarification by him cleared the doubt of the first location. No doubt the Shrine is facing the sea, as long as there is a piece of land in front, the future development below it, then the location would be fine. The most important is the compass direction.
Well, the installation was done on an auspicious day about two week ago, the day when the Heaven door was opened and today,big prayer celebration was for all involved with this project to come forward and offer a prayer to the Datuk Kong.

Believe it or not the "Chai" that was hanging at the door came out. Unlucky nobody buy it. He!

Hatyai,Thailand

Sunday trip

As a normal Sunday, after clearing the garden, my wife ask whether we are still going for a short trip to Hatyai. We woke up our son who is around for his semester break.
The journey is very smooth and upon reaching Kayu Hitam ,on the Malaysia side, we parked our car at the Duty free complex and just walked over to Danuk, Thailand border town. Took the local van in front of 7-eleven costing each of us RM5 for the trip to Hatyai. It was not very crowded at this time for most the tourist normally arrived at the border at around 6.00am local time. Why so early? Well, some want to be there early so as not to waste precious time. For us the local,Thailand time is almost 11.00am when boarding the van. We reached Hatyai almost 12.00 noon. We went straight to Lee Garden to buy toiletries for my younger son at Boots Pharmacy .His regular product is FCUK and recently bought one Bontanical product for him to try..
After that we went down to Basement to check whether the Japanese restaurant sold there were cheap as claim by one of my Japanese friend during my last trip with him over here. I did not follow him for lunch during that trip for my wife and I always enjoy the buffet at the restaurant on top of Lee Garden hotel.
As usual, my wife decided to go to the local coffe shop behind Lee Garden for our lunch. Well, the Thai chef cooked the Tom Yam very well. and also not to misss the Pat Si Yu, Kao Pat, Pak Pak Rom Meet. Total cost for lunch was Baht 210.
After our lunch , we proceed to the Central Supermarket situated below Noveltel
Did not but anything and we left for Hatyai central market. Upon arrival we went over to the store where we normally purchase our dry staff. ( dried grape, ikan bilis, and fish stomach. after asking her to pack, we went to the back where we normally purchase our leather bags, shoe,T Shirt and blah blah .........

We left Hatyai at around 4.00pm and upon reaching Danuk, we went into the Duty Free complex for final shopping but still did not get items from there.
Drove through the Malaysian Custom. Nothing to declare at all due to only foods stuff.
Arrived back to Penang at around 8.00pm and again stop at Teslco, along the Jelutong Express Highway. Bought the breakfast stuff for my son and finalised arrived back home at nearly 10.00pm.

Total 4 hours in Hatyai. WELL THIS IS OUR NORMAL TRIP TO THAILAND BORDER TOWN when we want to take a short break out of Malaysia.

Thailand Project (updated 080707)

The Telecom Tower
formerly known as Tongkah Tower

First day on site, I started to see the lack of experience of the construction workers and during this time they were just going to cast the foundation of the Passenger Hoist. I started to supervised the work myself and without knowing my Project Director was observing everything that I have instructed the Thai Foremen. After completed the job, as I entered the site office, he called me into the room and asked me what was the main problem with that work. I started to explained to him about the lack of knowledge by the construction workers and has to explain every construction sequence to them and they were very obedient to follow whatever I have directed. The next day, I was immediately called by the carpenter and bar bender foreman into the site to solved the insitu problems. I was very happy for I have gained the trust of the Thai construction team. The main headache was I have to start to read the Construction drawings immediately so as to avoid making error.

Earlier I mentioned the Thai language that I have learned from the construction and just imagine when my Thai sister, Khun Buay heard it she got shock and pull me to the side and explained to me that there are some words that I should and never speak for they are vulgar words . Well, even when I was in Iran, some of the first few Farsi (Iranian Language) words that I have learned were also vulgar. Maybe these are the way people learn another language faster.

............................con tired . after spending whole day in the Orchard.

Industrial Training

What Stuff Do They Need To Be Trained
(updated 24/06/07)

I need to start this topic for every now and then my company, Ivory Properties Group would accept new trainees from all colleges and universities as it is mandatory under their University to be trained under actual field or office work.

When they arrived at the site , I would be be asking the usual questions. What are you majoring in and is this your first or final year in the College or University?. After that what subjects have you been studying and "blah" "blah" all the way. From the normal conversation, I started to understand the subjects content of what they have been taught and the final question was how long is your training with us. Some mentioned 6 months and some only 3 months. Oh, what should I teach them in this short period or What Stuff They Do Not Learn in Engineering School? I always remember what my Eldest Brother told me before even after he has graduated from MIT,USA (Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management ,( being humble) I am still very fresh on the road and I will need to know a lot of things in this world. At this time, I was about to finish my external exam paper in UM ( University Malaysia) and about to go out into the world to work. After hearing what he has spoken, one thing flash across my brain, "Se liao,Wa Im Chai Oh Kao Boh Kao". ( I am death, have I learn enough to go out in the world to work?). Remembering what an old and very experience backhoe operator told before, do not need to worry and let face this world one thing at a time, as it come along .

Before leaving my room, I have to assign them to Captain,( Our safety manager ) who will brief them on Safety at Site as required by DOSH (Department of Occupational Safety and Health). After that I went straight over to Mr Ong, our Assistance Site Manager, for his opinion as to whom this trainee should be working under. When everything was in order, I went back to my table and start to read the notes that was left by the trainees.
I started to plan in order to train them correctly. Sometime I do not have so much choice that is to allocate them under the groups that will help them to refresh what they been studying but to send them into any section that would require extra helper.

Anyway, This was what I have planned for them.
1. Surveying work. This is basic of everything in construction.Levelling and Total station work.
2. Type of Drawings. How to relate all drawings from every sections .
Architectural, Structural, Mechanical and Electrical, Plumbing and any outsource drawings like Lift and LPG.
3. Actual construction work from Substructure ( pile caps and column stump and Superstructure Works ( Individual floors slab till typical floor slab construction using the system formwork).
4. Lab test (Mix concrete design from our concrete supplier) and and some soil test (CBR) lab in case they are in hill slope construction
5. Structural Design (Under Ir Chow). In case ,they are studying Civil or Structural Engineering. Sometime the trainee,who is not studying this course would ask my permission to be undergo this module and I normal agreed provide IR Chow agreed
6.And last to be under the Technical Department to learn Autocad Drafting. They are very lucky for the Trainers are normally Architect from Unversity.Why do they require this training? Well, after looking at all the drawings, I realise that a lot of drawings are not properly set in layers and basic compulsory commands are not highlighted in their course and the reason for do this and that. I have personally attended this class and found out why a lot of drafter made dangerous mistake that will affect the constructor.
7. Communication. The most important of the whole training is to speak,write and listening.

By the end of their training, I hope when they would be succeed in getting a good job after they have graduated. Recently, I met a trainee and he thanked me for the training for he has got a job. He told me that the interviewer asked from A to Z, Goodness Me , and he got through with flying colour. After leaving him I thought to myself that this trainee asked many questions when in doubt and that matter the most.


What are the stuff that they do not learn in School

Recently I overheard some people talking during the lunch break.

A to B: I report for work today and they are all calling me Mr. Engineer
B to A: You are very lucky for the company that I work do not border at all whether you are Engineer or not.
C to B: That is okay for we know nothing and only theories. My new company staff ask me to learn one thing at a time and ask if I do not know. Be hard working are their golden advice.
D to A: You are now in the "Real World" and there are a lot more that you all have to learn from now onwards.

I overheard that the next topic was on Salary but I left immediately for my break time was almost up.

The Real World.

Everyone of us are leaving in a cocoon for we are protected most of the time even when we are going through University. Once we are in the real world, "Jiang Wu", there are many questions and the most important is to realise that you have no control over the real world but have to control our behaviour and actions in dealing with the real world out there.
So have the college prepare you for the real world? Definition NO. I always remember what my mum would mention each time when she pray to Lord Buddha, Please let my son meet a lot of "Kwee Zin" (Good and helpful guidance) when working outside in the real world. The real world is not neat. First you have to know that you have to have initiative and do not wait to be shovel with answer. There are time when things just pop up and affect what you are trying to accomplish. Nevertheless you still have to get on and finish your assigned job and the worse is to complete on time. The final answer to everything is "Just Do It" as like a slogan under Nike.

Speak, Listening and Writing

After going through with all the trainees, I realise that most of them in one way or another lack in this topic for most of them are quite poor in communication. Are they taught in nontechnical skill when in University? As many of my friend told me, there is a big different between an Engineer graduated in USA and Britain. and when I asked him why, the answer is the American students have to study Liber Arts and this is not so in other countries.
Anyway, all trainees were asked to speak in English regardless of their race so as to prepare them for better communication.

1.Writing

Most of their reports that they will be submitting will be in English. Hence they have to write in advance all their daily activities. The best way to improve English is to read more. Then when writing use simple, clear and direct language. The computer revolution has assist us with the spell check and that eliminates grammar mistake ,spelling and a lot more. Finally ask peer to go through what you have written and correct all the mistakes.You may feel uncomfortable asking but should not .

When I was a student, I made a lot of grammatical mistakes and even today. I once remembered that I have helped my parent to write a letter to my eldest brother in the United States and when the replied mail came back, I saw my brother correcting all the mistakes I have made with a red ink. I started to improve from that day onwards. In this family of us, all of my brothers and sisters are teachers other than my Eldest brother and I are having a different career. Sin Seh Ka Liao (All teachers) in the family.Other than this, my elder brother will be called upon by my English teacher to explain why my English was so bad. Maybe I did not read the English cartoon story books like Superman , The Green Lantern, Spiderman and so .......

2. Speaking

The first rule of speaking is to know the subject that you are going to talk. Secondly, you must know who your audience and what they expect to hear . The most important is not to be shy but just ask peers beside you to correct your mistakes.I remember once when I have to pick up my son from Primary school and immediately when he approached me at the Chinese school gate, he started to speak to me in English. Just then a friend of his who was passing by and was shocked to hear our English conversation. He quickly asked my son this questions. Xing Yi ,you speak to your father in English ? and my son answered yes. We speak English at home all the time.

3. Listening

For most of us, listening to other when they talk is the most difficult thing to do. Why? Sometime you could be listening to what the other person is talking but are you actually listening to what they are saying? Most of the time, our brain are constantly multitasking and for this reason , we will not absorbing hundred percentage of what are spoken. There are many way to improve our listening skills. First try to reduce any distraction and pay attention to what the person is saying and also their feelings, ideas and overall intent. Second,make sure you reassure the other person you are understnading what they are saying by responding with a nod or if you do not than don't hesitate to ask. The most important is do not interrupt while he is talking or complete the sentence for him for this is very annoying and frustrating to him