23 June 2009

Thanks, Fara. You've made my day!

With some tricks of the trade, Fara got both of us on this billboard.
Can somebody tell me the location?

One of my FSTEP Batch 2 graduates, Ms Fara Izwa, sent me an email with some glamorous attachments.

Dear Miss Kim

How are you doing, Miss Kim? I drop you an email because I miss you so much. You are my best English teacher ever.

Attached here are our pics taken during our last day at INTEC. I've edited these pics especially for you. Hope you like them.

Regards,
Fara

(Fara Izwa)


Fara and Kim Chow showing off their traditional wear.



15 June 2009

Hand in Hand



This dance called “Hand in Hand” is performed by two physically-challenged dancers, Ma Li and Zhai Xiaowei. Both lost their limbs in car accidents. Ma Li lost her right arm and Zhai Xiaowei his left leg.

Watch their spectacular dance and splendid choreography - a breathtaking interpretation of how people overcome life’s frustrations and reap the joy of love.

Watch it on full screen to enjoy the full impact of the dance. It's okay if your eyes are misty. We cry not for broken bones but cry in celebration of the unbroken human spirit.
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13 June 2009

Young People, Great Example (1)

Zahrin at the Thunder Match Technology outlet in Carrefour Subang Parade

This young man surprised me as an excellent example in customer service. His name is Zahrin and he works as a technician for Thunder Match Technology at the outlet in Carrefour Subang Parade.

I bought a certain brand of antivirus software that ran into installation problems. At 6.15pm I rang the service centre and spoke to Zahrin. He told me he finished work at 7pm that night and advised me to see him the next day. However, I was desperate to get the antivirus installed so that I could use my laptop without any virus wiping off my data.

Zahrin told me to reach his office by 6.30pm but there was no way the traffic could allow me to perform this feat. I demanded to speak to another technician. Unfortunately, Zahrin was the only technician on duty that day, and of all days he had to leave early that day. I raised my voice indignantly. Zahrin did not react to my outburst. He remained calm, cool and composed. He told me to drive over to his office immediately. I grabbed two laptops and raced to Subang Parade.

I reached at 7pm. Zahrin began to install the software on my personal laptop. Then, I quietly pulled out another laptop and asked him if he could remove an old antivirus program. Although I had uninstalled the program, the antivirus was still lurking around in the computer, and prevented me from installing a new program. Zahrin was very knowledgeable. He knew exactly what the problem was and had the perfect solution.

In the end, Zahrin could only go home at 8pm - an hour late. His dedication as a customer service provider has made me a very satisfied and thrilled customer. The service centre charged me RM10 for each laptop. For all the trouble I have caused them, I would be pleased to pay more.

Dear Zahrin, you are the best! You have shown excellent performance in customer service! Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

Zahrin with a colleague at the customer service centre

19 May 2009

"Don't Tell My Mother"


This is Diego Buñuel standing at the wall built by Israel to keep out Gaza Strip. He is the host and director of the NAT GEO series "Don't Tell My Mother".


Last night, I watched the episode "Don't Tell My Mother I'm In the Balkans." I found it most enlightening. I appreciate how the story was told, how the scenes were filmed, and how the interviews were done. I am heartened that certain people were introduced in recognition of their selfless contributions to the people around them. The show has helped me to gain new insights into the tragedies and atrocities of the Balkan War.

I hope more people will watch the episodes of "Don't Tell My Mother" and reflect on the ongoing and never-ending human strifes and conflicts.


Diego Buñuel's Profile

My name is Diego Buñuel, host and director of the series, "Don’t Tell My Mother", on the National Geographic Channel. I am a French foreign news correspondent, and the grandson of the renowned Spanish film director, Luis Buñuel. I was born in Paris, and have bachelor degrees in journalism and political science from Northwestern University in Chicago, USA. After graduating, I did an internship at the Chicago Tribune before moving to Florida to handle the police beat for the Sun-Sentinel in Miami. The French military drafted me to serve in Sarajevo. I worked for NATO’s weekly armed forces newspaper and travelled all over the war-torn Balkans. My 10-month experience in the service inspired me to become a war correspondent. In 2001, I joined the Capa Television Agency where I produced and reported for French television. My assignments focused on international affairs from Afghanistan, Congo, Iraq, Indonesia, Israel, China and North Korea.



10 May 2009

Sacrificing money for love


A young Indian lady who cleans my home office told me this incredible story. A married couple who are her relatives adopted an orphan girl when she was a toddler. Since the time of adoption, the couple knows that the girl is entitled to an inheritance when she reaches the age of 21.

Five years ago, the girl’s adopted parents persuaded my Indian friend to introduce a boy to the girl. My friend duly introduced a respectable young man and sparks of romance began. The young couple became inseparable. Last year, the girl was 20. The adopted parents encouraged them to tie the knot. They wanted the wedding to be held before the girl’s 21st birthday.

After all the wedding plans have been made, the adopted parents dropped a bombshell – they wanted the girl to transfer her inheritance to them. The girl was angry. The boy was furious. My Indian friend was outraged. The adopted parents were adamant. If the girl refused to accede to their demands, they would cancel the wedding and marry her off to another man.

After months of bitter wrangle, the girl and her future husband became enlightened. They became aware that the inheritance was the cause of their pain and suffering. It was the cause of the evil that tortured them. The desire to get hold of the money has driven everybody insane.

The young couple made a startling decision. They decided to sacrifice the inheritance for their happiness. The girl is convinced that she loves her man more than her money. The young man is convinced that he has the ability to support his wife and raise a family without any inheritance. My friend is convinced that the young couple has chosen wisely.

I rang my friend, “Have they signed the papers?”

“Yes. It’s all done. The girl has transferred her inheritance to the people who brought her up. It’s okay. She doesn’t have to worry about the future. God will always be there.”

Greed can turn us into zombies. Perhaps, God has to destroy all our material possessions so that we learn to treat each other with love, kindness and compassion.


18 April 2009

Susan Boyle - from charity to celebrity


Susan Boyle appeared on the TV reality show Britain’s Got Talent on 11 April 2009 and sang ‘I Dreamed A Dream’. She is a 47 year-old heavy-set woman with thick eyebrows and unkempt hair. She walked up to the stage wearing a frumpy dress and looking more like a comedian than a singer. Everybody in the audience was certain that she would massacre the song and turned herself into a laughing stock.

When Susan Boyle began to sing, the sceptical and sniggering audience was stunned. Her mesmerising voice resonated through the theatre. The audience started to applaud thunderously. Finally, they rose to their feet, cheering wildly.

Susan is unemployed, unmarried, and lives alone with her cat in a small town which she described as a collection of villages.

Within the first 24 hours, her YouTube video has been viewed over 5 million times. As of 18 April 2009, it has been viewed nearly 30 million times. Within the span of a week, she has been interviewed by Good Morning America and Larry King Live show. She has also been invited to appear on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Susan sang ‘I Dreamed A Dream’, and her dream to sing like Elaine Paige shows that nothing is impossible.

Susan Boyle website




12 April 2009

FRANC-ly speaking, they love to sing

Singing on stage gets the adrenalin flowing and gives our self-esteem a welcome boost.

Two members from Team Franc in FSTEP brushed up on their diction, overcame their stage fright and added a feather in their cap.

This video shows Suarddy Parman aka AWESOME ADY in action. He sings “Hero” and works the girls up into a frenzy.




Here is vibrant emcee, Liza, introducing the singer, Nur Dalila Zainudin aka SIZZLING DALILA who sings “My heart will go on”. Dalila practised hard on her diction, voice control and body language. A commendable effort!





The FRANC drama

I salute Team Franc in FSTEP who plucked up the courage to perform an English drama on stage. They could have opted for a mime performance, but they decided to do something more challenging. They put their heads together and came up with the script. Then, all the performers had to practise their lines frantically. Finally, they stepped up to the stage and put their communication skills to the test. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

PART 1 - THE ABSENT-MINDED PARENTS

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PART 2 - AT THE CLINIC

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PART 3 - IN THE TAXI


PART 4 - SAY NO TO OLD FOLKS HOME


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The cast:
Father: ALIF
Mother: NAWAR
Daughter: SHIDAH
Doctor: TASHA
Nurse: SYARAH
Taxi Driver: SARAH



24 February 2009

They beat me flat


I am their English teacher but when we play a game of Charades, they become my teacher. In fact, they are so good that I have to raise the white flag in defeat. They simply beat me flat!

Goodness gracious, these at FSTEP who underwent the INTEC programme (Intensive English Course) amaze me. Their reservoir of English song titles and movie titles is stupendous. I guess they must have listened to every song and watched every movie.

They call me their English sifu. After the Charades, I humbly relinquish my sifuship!



22 February 2009

God's great love will keep us together



As Team Tulip in FSTEP are approaching the end of the INTEC programme (Intensive English Course), they are asked to do the final team project – organizing the farewell brunch.

It is a project that encourages English communication in planning, holding meetings, putting various proposals to the vote, forming working committees (logistics, food, entertainment, invitations, etc), reinforcing teamwork and stimulating creativity.

I am absolutely amazed by the results. Every part of the programme is organized with a touch of class. Every task is executed with a high standard of excellence. Every member fulfils their duties with enthusiasm.

I am confident that this group will bring value to the financial sector and serve their organizations with pride and passion.



In my farewell speech, I dedicate this song to them:

Smile an everlasting smile
A smile will bring my tulips to me
And we’ll never say goodbye
We’re near though we are far apart

You think that I don’t even mean a single word I say
It’s only words and God’s great love that keeps us together


To all my beloved members of Team Tulip, I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. I love you all.