He Came, He Looked, and He Asked for Money...

Date: 2nd April 2010
Location: In front of Our Lady of Sorrows Church
Time: Around 7.45 pm or later, after Good Friday service.

The rain was pouring down heavily. Each one of us who just attended the Good Friday service was very hungry. Step, Man Lee, me and several of our juniors were deciding which cafe or restaurant to go to during that rainy day.

"Let's go to Prangin Mall," was the final decision that we made. While waiting for the others to join us, suddenly a man of about 50 year old appeared and talked to us with his fluent English.

"Hello, I am a Catholic too, I just attended the Good Friday service," he started to introduce himself. " I came to Penang to attend this service from my hometown in Perak, and I needed to go back tonight. But the bus fare is RM8, and I only have RM5," he elaborated, while sheltering himself with his right hand. He looked quite in a pitiful state, but that time, I was sceptical, and quite annoyed, because he was using the tactic to create a dilemma in us for being a Christian who just came back from church. It was as if, since we were going to church, we should be good enough to show some sympathy and do some good deeds to him. The hidden premise is that, if we do not help him, what's the use of us going to church then?

"I need some money to go back home, " he continued.

I was thinking, okay, maybe I would help to contribute only RM1 in case if he really needed the cash. But before I could say or do anything, my junior, Joe, took out his RM 10 note and gave it to the man without saying much.

The man, of course, was very happy, and responded with "God bless you!!" and walked away in the downpouring rain.

Most of us were looking at Joe with our wide-eyed expressions.

"Joe~" was the only word that came out from our mouths during our speechless moment.

"Mana tau kalau dia benar-benar perlu duit tu," was his answer. Then we agreed with him.

"Ya, betul, " Man Lee agreed with Joe's decision. It is because, if he really needed the money, we would be committing sins of omissions for not helping him, but if he was lying to us, well, he was the one sinning, and we were not to bear the guilt of not helping him. But still deep down in me, I wouldn't offer that much to the person whom I still doubted, but since Joe was generous and all that, maybe it was okay. God bless him.


FAST FORWARD TO THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY...
Date: 10th April 2010
Location: the hawker stall area at Sunway Hotel, near Our Lady of Sorrows Church
Time: Around 8 pm or later, after Sunset Mass

We were sitting at our usual place before having our dinner. Me, Claire, Natalia, Mike, Deidre and Mike's future girlfriend, ahem, V*v**n, were trying to decide what to eat before we order the food. Suddenly, a man appeared at our table, he somewhat looked kinda familiar to me, and he spoke in English. He was greeting us with some "Hi Christian " thingy and tried to remind us of our responsibility as Christians, or precisely, Catholic. He was asking for money to go back to his hometown, and this rang a bell in me.

No wonder he looked familiar! He was the same guy who asked for money from us when we finish our Good Friday service a week earlier. OMG, and he was still using the same old crappy story to gain our sympathy, but too bad you're busted, fraud~! Checkmate! The same old Why-you-Christian should-help-me crap and talking about how good if he could go back to his hometown now. Gosh, he wasn't creative for a fraud, huh?

I interrupted him and told him that "Weren't you the same guy who asked for money last week? Hadn't you got your money to go back to your hometown already? My junior gave you the money, and it was RM10!" My words were more or less like that, based on my weak memory. The mean gene inside me was pouring out.

He looked at me, then he said something like this "You must be mistaken! I just came here today," he tried to fool me. What did he think I am? A cow?

"No, no, no! I am sure it was you! You told the same story, going back to your home town, you're a Catholic," I said and at the same time he was talking continually to Mike and V*v**n, maybe trying his luck? Lol.. We were not born yesterday, my dear fraud. Before he went away, he said "God bless you!" and I replied "God bless you too," with a goofy smile.

In my heart, I was thinking, "Oh, no Joe... Too bad your good deed was wasted on a fraud like him." But I guess it's the intention that matters, no matter to whom the help was offered to, even for a fraud..


I guess, to be fooled once, is okay, but to be fooled twice, no way. I wouldn't give in to that. I know maybe he really needed the money, but why did he need to lie to get them? By the way, he's healthy, and he could probably get a job, but I guess, with his reputation as a fraud, it was hard for him to get any. To help a parasite is also a sin, at least for me. So, next time, to be fooled by a person once, it's his fault. But to be fooled twice by the same person, it could be your fault.

Moral of the story: Next time, make a deal with people whom you are helping. If he/she wants the money from you, the condition is this: THEY HAVE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU! HEHE. SEE IF THEY WILL STILL WANT TO FOOL YOU IN THE FUTURE?

He Came, He Looked, and He Asked for Money...

Date: 2nd April 2010
Location: In front of Our Lady of Sorrows Church
Time: Around 7.45 pm or later, after Good Friday service.

The rain was pouring down heavily. Each one of us who just attended the Good Friday service was very hungry. Step, Man Lee, me and several of our juniors were deciding which cafe or restaurant to go to during that rainy day.

"Let's go to Prangin Mall," was the final decision that we made. While waiting for the others to join us, suddenly a man of about 50 year old appeared and talked to us with his fluent English.

"Hello, I am a Catholic too, I just attended the Good Friday service," he started to introduce himself. " I came to Penang to attend this service from my hometown in Perak, and I needed to go back tonight. But the bus fare is RM8, and I only have RM5," he elaborated, while sheltering himself with his right hand. He looked quite in a pitiful state, but that time, I was sceptical, and quite annoyed, because he was using the tactic to create a dilemma in us for being a Christian who just came back from church. It was as if, since we were going to church, we should be good enough to show some sympathy and do some good deeds to him. The hidden premise is that, if we do not help him, what's the use of us going to church then?

"I need some money to go back home, " he continued.

I was thinking, okay, maybe I would help to contribute only RM1 in case if he really needed the cash. But before I could say or do anything, my junior, Joe, took out his RM 10 note and gave it to the man without saying much.

The man, of course, was very happy, and responded with "God bless you!!" and walked away in the downpouring rain.

Most of us were looking at Joe with our wide-eyed expressions.

"Joe~" was the only word that came out from our mouths during our speechless moment.

"Mana tau kalau dia benar-benar perlu duit tu," was his answer. Then we agreed with him.

"Ya, betul, " Man Lee agreed with Joe's decision. It is because, if he really needed the money, we would be committing sins of omissions for not helping him, but if he was lying to us, well, he was the one sinning, and we were not to bear the guilt of not helping him. But still deep down in me, I wouldn't offer that much to the person whom I still doubted, but since Joe was generous and all that, maybe it was okay. God bless him.


FAST FORWARD TO THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY...
Date: 10th April 2010
Location: the hawker stall area at Sunway Hotel, near Our Lady of Sorrows Church
Time: Around 8 pm or later, after Sunset Mass

We were sitting at our usual place before having our dinner. Me, Claire, Natalia, Mike, Deidre and Mike's future girlfriend, ahem, V*v**n, were trying to decide what to eat before we order the food. Suddenly, a man appeared at our table, he somewhat looked kinda familiar to me, and he spoke in English. He was greeting us with some "Hi Christian " thingy and tried to remind us of our responsibility as Christians, or precisely, Catholic. He was asking for money to go back to his hometown, and this rang a bell in me.

No wonder he looked familiar! He was the same guy who asked for money from us when we finish our Good Friday service a week earlier. OMG, and he was still using the same old crappy story to gain our sympathy, but too bad you're busted, fraud~! Checkmate! The same old Why-you-Christian should-help-me crap and talking about how good if he could go back to his hometown now. Gosh, he wasn't creative for a fraud, huh?

I interrupted him and told him that "Weren't you the same guy who asked for money last week? Hadn't you got your money to go back to your hometown already? My junior gave you the money, and it was RM10!" My words were more or less like that, based on my weak memory. The mean gene inside me was pouring out.

He looked at me, then he said something like this "You must be mistaken! I just came here today," he tried to fool me. What did he think I am? A cow?

"No, no, no! I am sure it was you! You told the same story, going back to your home town, you're a Catholic," I said and at the same time he was talking continually to Mike and V*v**n, maybe trying his luck? Lol.. We were not born yesterday, my dear fraud. Before he went away, he said "God bless you!" and I replied "God bless you too," with a goofy smile.

In my heart, I was thinking, "Oh, no Joe... Too bad your good deed was wasted on a fraud like him." But I guess it's the intention that matters, no matter to whom the help was offered to, even for a fraud..


I guess, to be fooled once, is okay, but to be fooled twice, no way. I wouldn't give in to that. I know maybe he really needed the money, but why did he need to lie to get them? By the way, he's healthy, and he could probably get a job, but I guess, with his reputation as a fraud, it was hard for him to get any. To help a parasite is also a sin, at least for me. So, next time, to be fooled by a person once, it's his fault. But to be fooled twice by the same person, it could be your fault.

Moral of the story: Next time, make a deal with people whom you are helping. If he/she wants the money from you, the condition is this: THEY HAVE TO TAKE A PICTURE WITH YOU! HEHE. SEE IF THEY WILL STILL WANT TO FOOL YOU IN THE FUTURE?

Practical: To do or not to do?

The first time I heard that latihan industri a.k.a practical is optional for my course, I was very happy. Yeah, I know. For a hyperlazy person like me, this was indeed a good news. But little do I realize that practical is the thing that differentiate you from other graduates. Employers of course prefer graduates who had experience to none. Yes, I was somewhat motivated to do a practical after I had a conversation with Mel, a friend and a coursemate of mine, told me and my friend, Hawa, that she was thinking of doing a practical during the next year semester's break. Hawa was interested too, and since I think it is a good way to spend your holiday than lazing around in the house, my interest somewhat outshine my laziness, so I was thinking of "Why not?" Since we are all from the same course, well, I guess this was the best right?

But there's one thing that been bugging me. First, what kind of job should I do my practical for? With my major and minor right now, I am into something journalism, but back in my hometown, the only prominent newspaper company was the Borneo Post. But for both my friends who are living in Kuching, the job varieties will be more of course if compared to Sibu. So I was thinking, should I do my practical back in my hometown or here in Penang? I really wanted to be at my hometown for that two-months holiday! But the usual job that my mother would suggest me is to become a substitute teacher. I could imagine her saying "Oh, practical to gain work experience? Why not become a substitute teacher? You can even get salary." Yes, I know that was a good idea, and attractive one indeed, especially the salary part. With my last salary as a substitute teacher, I had purchased my own laptop and treated my family to eat at urm, heheh, the stall upstairs of Sibu Central Market, and after all that expenses, I still had balance from my salary to keep for my university expenses. With about two-months salary, which might be around RM1000++ for STPM graduate, I could buy, urm, much more new clothes and shoes? Heheh? Ya, ya, I know, not to forget of treating friends and family. But thinking it from a different perspective, if I were to apply for a journalist job in the future, would they think that the working experience as a teacher is relevant to the job that I am going to apply? Uggh~!! Thinking, thinking mode. Besides, I never wrote an article for any magazine, none, nada, even for the school magazine back in my high school. So what portfolio do I have to put in my resume?

Okay, so this blog is the only proof of the existence of my writing besides my written essays in the A4 paper. Imagine me telling the future prospective employer, "Urm, I never write an article before but you can log on to lameleftygirl2.blogspot.com to view my writing," which contains a lot of rojak language by the way. How funny and immature would that sound?

So during this semester's holiday (Christmas is coming, hohohoho~!!), I had to do a little homework, do a little discussion with my mentors --> (the professional way to refer my parents) and make a good decision on where and what practical should I do. I could already imagine Mentor Mom voting for becoming a substitute teacher as the practical while Mentor Dad may also follow suit.

I wish working at KFC and McDonald is considered as a practical, for experience in public relation service, we could call it.

Practical: To do or not to do?

The first time I heard that latihan industri a.k.a practical is optional for my course, I was very happy. Yeah, I know. For a hyperlazy person like me, this was indeed a good news. But little do I realize that practical is the thing that differentiate you from other graduates. Employers of course prefer graduates who had experience to none. Yes, I was somewhat motivated to do a practical after I had a conversation with Mel, a friend and a coursemate of mine, told me and my friend, Hawa, that she was thinking of doing a practical during the next year semester's break. Hawa was interested too, and since I think it is a good way to spend your holiday than lazing around in the house, my interest somewhat outshine my laziness, so I was thinking of "Why not?" Since we are all from the same course, well, I guess this was the best right?

But there's one thing that been bugging me. First, what kind of job should I do my practical for? With my major and minor right now, I am into something journalism, but back in my hometown, the only prominent newspaper company was the Borneo Post. But for both my friends who are living in Kuching, the job varieties will be more of course if compared to Sibu. So I was thinking, should I do my practical back in my hometown or here in Penang? I really wanted to be at my hometown for that two-months holiday! But the usual job that my mother would suggest me is to become a substitute teacher. I could imagine her saying "Oh, practical to gain work experience? Why not become a substitute teacher? You can even get salary." Yes, I know that was a good idea, and attractive one indeed, especially the salary part. With my last salary as a substitute teacher, I had purchased my own laptop and treated my family to eat at urm, heheh, the stall upstairs of Sibu Central Market, and after all that expenses, I still had balance from my salary to keep for my university expenses. With about two-months salary, which might be around RM1000++ for STPM graduate, I could buy, urm, much more new clothes and shoes? Heheh? Ya, ya, I know, not to forget of treating friends and family. But thinking it from a different perspective, if I were to apply for a journalist job in the future, would they think that the working experience as a teacher is relevant to the job that I am going to apply? Uggh~!! Thinking, thinking mode. Besides, I never wrote an article for any magazine, none, nada, even for the school magazine back in my high school. So what portfolio do I have to put in my resume?

Okay, so this blog is the only proof of the existence of my writing besides my written essays in the A4 paper. Imagine me telling the future prospective employer, "Urm, I never write an article before but you can log on to lameleftygirl2.blogspot.com to view my writing," which contains a lot of rojak language by the way. How funny and immature would that sound?

So during this semester's holiday (Christmas is coming, hohohoho~!!), I had to do a little homework, do a little discussion with my mentors --> (the professional way to refer my parents) and make a good decision on where and what practical should I do. I could already imagine Mentor Mom voting for becoming a substitute teacher as the practical while Mentor Dad may also follow suit.

I wish working at KFC and McDonald is considered as a practical, for experience in public relation service, we could call it.

Speechless?

As excited as I was towards my current ambition, which is to become a journalist, I was very happy when I get to borrow a book introducing to the world of journalism titled "Careers in Journalism", written by Simon Kent. But the first page was kind of crushed my hope. The title was stated like below:

Is This the Job for YOU?

Are you observant and interested in world affairs or local affairs?
Observant? Man, I am only observant sometimes. Urm, if you mean scandals, I am really interested. But politics, hehe, a big NO.

Can you work to a high level of accuracy?
I am accurate in creating fictions.

Can you write good English with correct grammar and punctuation?
NOpe.

Are you good with people and do you have fantastic communication skills?
I am good with people, but I don't have fantastic communication skills. Huhu~

Can you work irregular hours?
Can. My assignments are usually done at irregular hours.

Are you calm and imperturbable?
Calm sometimes. Imperturbable? What is that? (After referring to the dictionary) Oh, the meaning of imperturbable is almost like calm or cool, and oh yeah, I am sometimes like that. I am not easily excited, at least, I am able to control my cool in certain circumstances.

Can you recognise a good story or find new angles on everyday subjects?
Urm, I recognise a good story, like for example, I just talked about dreams with my swimming mate. I think it would become a
good story if I kind of do a research about the meanings behind dreams. Yeah, right, and I am going to do the research in my dreams. Lol..

Can you work well under pressure to fixed deadlines?
Yup. Usually the product of my assignments are usually better when done under pressure.

Are you assertive and confident?
What is assertive? Confident? Nope. But I can pretend to be confident. LOL. (After referring to dictionary) Oh, assertive's meaning is almost like confident too, but it's more towards aggresive and self-assurance. Okay, sometimes I am like that.


I guess my personalities are still far from the qualities and requirements needed to become a journalist. Am I able to sacrifice all the comforts I have to live as a journalist? Am I really into journalism? I am quite torn now. I guess to do what we like, we have to sacrifice too. Sacrifice is not only for things that we hate. In fact, sacrifices are usually done when choosing something we like.

Okay, if these things are what it takes to become a journalist, okay, I accept your challenge. I am gonna adapt some of these qualities and hopefully, I will not become an annoying journalist.

Speechless?

As excited as I was towards my current ambition, which is to become a journalist, I was very happy when I get to borrow a book introducing to the world of journalism titled "Careers in Journalism", written by Simon Kent. But the first page was kind of crushed my hope. The title was stated like below:

Is This the Job for YOU?

Are you observant and interested in world affairs or local affairs?
Observant? Man, I am only observant sometimes. Urm, if you mean scandals, I am really interested. But politics, hehe, a big NO.

Can you work to a high level of accuracy?
I am accurate in creating fictions.

Can you write good English with correct grammar and punctuation?
NOpe.

Are you good with people and do you have fantastic communication skills?
I am good with people, but I don't have fantastic communication skills. Huhu~

Can you work irregular hours?
Can. My assignments are usually done at irregular hours.

Are you calm and imperturbable?
Calm sometimes. Imperturbable? What is that? (After referring to the dictionary) Oh, the meaning of imperturbable is almost like calm or cool, and oh yeah, I am sometimes like that. I am not easily excited, at least, I am able to control my cool in certain circumstances.

Can you recognise a good story or find new angles on everyday subjects?
Urm, I recognise a good story, like for example, I just talked about dreams with my swimming mate. I think it would become a
good story if I kind of do a research about the meanings behind dreams. Yeah, right, and I am going to do the research in my dreams. Lol..

Can you work well under pressure to fixed deadlines?
Yup. Usually the product of my assignments are usually better when done under pressure.

Are you assertive and confident?
What is assertive? Confident? Nope. But I can pretend to be confident. LOL. (After referring to dictionary) Oh, assertive's meaning is almost like confident too, but it's more towards aggresive and self-assurance. Okay, sometimes I am like that.


I guess my personalities are still far from the qualities and requirements needed to become a journalist. Am I able to sacrifice all the comforts I have to live as a journalist? Am I really into journalism? I am quite torn now. I guess to do what we like, we have to sacrifice too. Sacrifice is not only for things that we hate. In fact, sacrifices are usually done when choosing something we like.

Okay, if these things are what it takes to become a journalist, okay, I accept your challenge. I am gonna adapt some of these qualities and hopefully, I will not become an annoying journalist.

Crossroads puzzles...

I was determined to take Psychology as my minor for the coming semester until last week, when I surf the internet to find the job advertisement as part of the LSP assessment. I found out that there were only a few jobs which mentioned my course in the requirements. The jobs that I was interested in mostly put the Masscom degree as the requirement. So now, I am thinking of taking Masscom as my minor. I mean, if I take Masscom, I can work in the journalism area, in the press, and most of the things which is related to writing since I favour writing so much.

But the problem here was that, if I take this Masscom as a minor, then, I would be attending the classes and lectures alone since most of my friends made their mind up to take up psychology for the next semester. But I think I am going to get through this and even make new connections with new faces. I think I could adapt to this new faces scenario since I was also like this the moment I stepped into USM. I did not know anyone, and everybody doesn't know me, but look at me now. Though not popular and not a social butterfly, as long as I survive, that's okay.

Okay, maybe the second problem would be, I am a clueless person. What would happen if I suddenly miss one of the lectures or tutorials and also overlook some tiny but important details? Well, well, well. I guess I am going to figure things out on solving this matter. Maybe I can buy a camera to take the slide show photos? Maybe I can start saving other people's number on the first day of class? Hmm, maybe~

But the important thing is that, hope my timetable doesn't clash with my upcoming minor. Or else I would have to choose an unrelated course which I might not like but take it up for the timetable convenience. No, I pray dearly that this kind of thing won't happen..

Crossroads puzzles...

I was determined to take Psychology as my minor for the coming semester until last week, when I surf the internet to find the job advertisement as part of the LSP assessment. I found out that there were only a few jobs which mentioned my course in the requirements. The jobs that I was interested in mostly put the Masscom degree as the requirement. So now, I am thinking of taking Masscom as my minor. I mean, if I take Masscom, I can work in the journalism area, in the press, and most of the things which is related to writing since I favour writing so much.

But the problem here was that, if I take this Masscom as a minor, then, I would be attending the classes and lectures alone since most of my friends made their mind up to take up psychology for the next semester. But I think I am going to get through this and even make new connections with new faces. I think I could adapt to this new faces scenario since I was also like this the moment I stepped into USM. I did not know anyone, and everybody doesn't know me, but look at me now. Though not popular and not a social butterfly, as long as I survive, that's okay.

Okay, maybe the second problem would be, I am a clueless person. What would happen if I suddenly miss one of the lectures or tutorials and also overlook some tiny but important details? Well, well, well. I guess I am going to figure things out on solving this matter. Maybe I can buy a camera to take the slide show photos? Maybe I can start saving other people's number on the first day of class? Hmm, maybe~

But the important thing is that, hope my timetable doesn't clash with my upcoming minor. Or else I would have to choose an unrelated course which I might not like but take it up for the timetable convenience. No, I pray dearly that this kind of thing won't happen..