Let the Class Begins!

Man, it's already the third week I'm at this Matriculation Center. Time sure flies at supersonic speed these days. Yesterday the timetable for Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics came out - each carry 5 contact hours so all together that's a good 15 hours of class added to my timetable. I'm placed in Group 27 - the first Engineering Group together with Adnan, which I've mentioned before as a fluent English spekaer. He speaks coolly like an English gentlemen while another fellow by the name of Amir Hanif speaks like those easy going Australians, complete with lots of hillarious jokes.

Also got the timetable for FKM (Fundamental Knowledge for Muslim) class timetable which is just 3 hours of class per week. The only missing part of my timetable now is computer class. The timetable is out, but there's no grouping information, so how could I attend the class?

The first class I attended this week is Chemistry. The lecturer is Madam Suzilawati Hamzah. Nothing much for except for the rough outline of the course, taaruf (getting to know each other), AND the date of Mid-Semester Examination which falls on 5th of August from 8am to 10am. Anyway, it's good to know the exam date.

Next is the Arabic Class at room S3011, which is pretty much one of the far flung corner of the campus. The class is from 5pm to 7pm, what a time to study language but then better than having night class. Fortunately, the teacher is an energetic one - Ustaz Hassan Hajjaj which came all the way from Egypt. Our seniors said that having Arabic class with foreigner could be hard but we don't see much problem. True enough, language would be a barrier as he speaks mostly Arabic interwined with English and Malay but because most of the people in my class have basic in Arabic, we already started conversing in Arabic with the ustaz in the very first hour of our lesson.

Speaking of basic in Arabic, the ustaz did ask us how many years we had studied Arabic before. Most answered three (PMR level) including myself while a few others had studied for 4 & 5 years. Only two of us had no basic at all. Then the ustaz said in mock disbelief, "You all had studied Arabic for 3, 4 & 5 years and you are still in this Elementary Arabic class? Masya-Allah~" We just replied with our sheepish grin.

The ustaz also have a good sense of humour, read on...

Ustaz: What is that in Arabic? (Pointing to a book).

Class: Kitab

Ustaz: OK, good. How do you say my book in Arabic?

Class: Kitabi.

Ustaz: Very good, what's that in Arabic? (Pointing to the door)

Class: Babun. (Some of us started giggling already)

Ustaz: How do you say my door in Arabic then?

Class: B*bi (The whole class broke into laughter).

Note: B*bi (babi) means pig in Malay.

Alhamdulillah

Alhamdulillah, I've passed the speaking test yesterday. Just checked out the result at Admission & Records so there won't be any English classes for me here until Year 1 degree programme. But have to keep practicing anyway to maintain my proficiency level (Read: Blogging).

Thanks a lot to all my English Teachers especially Mrs. Wong Bee Bee, Miss Kong Lan Yin, and Pn. Liza Dahlia. My parents, uncles, and aunties. Also thanks to fellow bloggers who made me keep blogging and practicing. Special thanks to all 3G 2001 classmates, you guys rocks! Last but not least to people whom I practiced talking in English.

Heh, sounds like an artist after receiving an award but I do owe them a lot as passing the test lessen my workload here. English classes are even held at night here! Now I can concentrate on my core subjects and Arabic.

Speaking of Arabic I already got my schedule for the class. My class would be on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Arabic classes for Engineering course will commence this Friday. Now have to wait for the Sciences subjects schedule. My contact (class attendance) hour is just 26 hours as opposed to those at English and Arabic Level 1 who will have 32 contact hours. The average contact hour at secondary school is 28 hours so I assume I wouldn't be that hectic.

Meanwhile, my neighbour and Form 3 classmate, Fatin had changed course from Engineering to Biological Science. By the way, Faezar - also my Form 3 classmate had also passed the speaking test but she had to do English for Academic Purposes course here for 1 semester as she is doing Medicine and there's no English teacher at Kuantan Campus.

Goodluck also to fellow 3G 2001 classmates doing International Baccalaurete at Kolej Mara Banting such as Azleen, Hasnul Hadi, Azni and Syazana. Most are Medic bound except for Azleen who will be doing Chemical Engineering.

Signing off now,

Wassalam

Week 2, Independent Campus Life Begins

For a week we had been subjected to assemblies and moving en masse which is very cumbersome and time wasting. Now, I get to move around on my own and suit my own schedule.

Woke up a bit later than during Taaruf Week but still early enough to reach the mosque before Azan Subuh. Read the al-Mathurat to kick off the day before Subuh prayer. Then just after Subuh dua I jog down the hill and do one round at the field in front of my college. Stopping immediately after jogging will just cramp my legs so I just walk leisurely around the field one more time. The air is fresh in the morning not like during the afternoon which is practically chock full of dust particles.

Then breakfast as usual, went to Library and learnt what roughly Mechatronics are which I gladly found not really far off from my understanding (I'll write about it in a few days). Also went to the cyber cafe to complete the online form since I don't want to qeue up long at the Computer Lab tomorrow and the few days after. The afternoon is a bit relaxed as there's no briefing for us to attend.

I also learnt that some of us had changed programme. Mostly from Engineering to Biological Science, Pharmacy & Medicine. 38 secured a place for Medicine while 59 got their place in Pharmacy. Looks like competition would be much stiffer for these would be doctors.

After Asr prayer I head to Admission & Records to chck out the result of English Placement Test and Arabic Placement Test. Alhamdulillah, I'm qualified for the speaking test tomorrow. Once I passed it I'll be exempted from English classes and exams with the exception of MUET. Which in turn would give more free time as English courses have the most contact hour. Thanks a lot to all my English teacher and parents.

As for Arabic I'm placed in the Level 1 class. Not much a problem I suppose as I still remember the basics of Arabic just I'm not good at grammar and essay writing.

Meanwhile tonight I've met my two seniors at school, Brother Azri Nasaruddin and Sister Syaza. Brother Azri had changed his number so no wonder I can't contact him. When I asked for his number he mischiveously sad it out loud together with his name which is more than enough to be heard by the sisters at the table next to us. Pretty much just update him on what happening at SMART and who's who enter UIA with me.

Well, have to get ready for the test tomorrow. Also having course briefing in the morning.

Taaruf Week Closing Ceremony

At last, after almost a week of orientating, tests, and getting to know each other the Taaruf Week came to an end today. The Honorable Guest is Assoc. Prof. Mohd Daud bin Bakar, Deputy Rector of Student Affair and Developement. Other VIPs present are the Dean, Deputy Deans and Senior Officers.

The ceremony kicked off with the arrival of the Honorable Guest and the VIPs. The Honorable Guest came in a MCIIUM black Toyota Unser escorted by a group of big bike riders. You don't read it wrongly, there really are big bike riders with rugged outfit with rock music in the background to match. Then the Honorable Guest accompanied by the Dean, Deputy Deans and the Manager of Taaruf Week, Brother Mohd Saifullah walked to the stage. Three Sisters flanked them on each side while dropping Jasmine flowers to the ground in a line.

As usual, the program starts with the recitation of Ummul Kitab. Then the recitation of glorious words of wisdom from the Quran recited by one of the first year student. He recited Surah Al-Mukminun from Verse 1 to 20. Next is the recitation of Asmaul Husna, the singing of the National Anthem and the Matric Song led by the Commitee Members Choir.

After the songs, came the speeches by the Manager of Taaruf Week, the Dean, and the Honorable Guest. The Honorable Guest quoted a Chinese proverb, "There can't be two dragons in one pond, nor ther can't be two tigers in one mountain." Then he adds, "So seek your niche skills so you can be a dragon on your own pond, and be a tiger in your mountain, and don't just be like small fries." Indeed, it's very true in today competitive job market.

After that is one of the main highlight of the event, which is the Bai'ah or Oath Taking ceremony. The Bai'ah Leader is Md. Khairul Anwar of the Laws programme. The ceremony ran smoothly and precisely like what we had rehearsed before. The loud voice of the Bai'ah Leader inspires a new spirit in us. Then the Bai'ah Leader came up to the stage and handover the Bai'ah scroll to the Honorable Guest.

Another unexpected gimmick came later. Two brothers in KRS uniform came from the back, supposedly been lost in the jungle. One of them carry the other one on his back until they are near the mini podium besides the main stage.

Then they pretend to collapse in front of the main stage before getting up again an walk towards the mini podium where there is faux stone bearing the logo of Taaruf Week which the lettering 'TW' and a green butterfly. One of them tried to pull put the sword embedded in the stome but failed which he finally gave up. Then they pretend to read an inscription at the stone which reads - "The sword can only be pulled out by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohd Daud bin Bakar". Then the Honorable Guest is invited to the podium to finally pull the sword to mark the end of the Taaruf Week while at the other end a banner tied to balloons rose to the sky.

The VIPs returned to the main stage for a while before leaving the venue for some refreshment. We remain for a while at the field for some announcement. Then we are requested to take out the al-Mathurat from the Taaruf bag and put it in our pocket before us brothers simultaneously threw the bag as high as we could in the air and catch it back followed by the sisters. Then the final show is the particle wave motion done by all of us at the field, and that marks the very end of the Taaruf Week.

Thanks a lot to all commitee members, the Dean, Deputy Deans and Senior Officers for making this Taaruf Week a memorable event in our life.

Matric Song

Let us come along and get together
Affirm our faith in God and the Messenger
Light the flame of love in him, warm and brighter
Hold the rope, and trust in him forever

Divided we will (we'll) fall, United we stand
Unity bears the fruit of unification
Triple I.C.E us ever our mission
Excellence in all we do is our vision

We are the torchbearers for the Ummah
Gudided by the (-) Qur'an and Sunnah
Matriculation Centre of (-) IIUM
The gate of The (-) Garden, Knowledge and Virtue

Office of the Dean
Matriculation Centre
International Islamic University Malaysia

Taaruf Week Opening Ceremony - 15 June 2004

After a hard day of two tests and an aerobic session came the highly anticipated opening ceremony. The event starts after Maghrib prayer and was held at the field as the Al-Malik Faisal Hall is simply too small to accomodate us all.

Sisters sit at the right side of the field while the Brothers at the other side. We sat on the mat provided in our Taaruf Kit. We were arranged in grids and even the placement of our sling bag was uniformed to give a streamlined look. Although the ceremony was held at the field it was quite comfortable with the cool weather. High powered spotlights bathed the field with white light and you can easily read any text.

The program starts with the arrival of Prof. Dr Ismawi Hj. Zen, Acting Deputy Rector of Planning and Developement accompanied by the Dean of Matriculation Centre, Tn. Hj. Abbas. Their escorts are martial artist from Seni Silat Cekak Society. Then the recitation of Ummul Kitab followed by silat performance from the escorts. Then one of the senior recites Surah Al-Hujurat from verse 6 to 13 which he recites beautifully while the translation is projected by two LCD projector at either side of the field. Then we recites the Asma al-Husna, followed by the sining of the National Anthem and the Matric Song led by a group of our seniors.

Next came the speeches. First is from the Director of the Taaruf Week, Bro. Mohd Suffian. Seondly is by the Dean of MCIIUM, Tn. Hj. Abbas. Last but not least is official speech by the night honorable guest Prof. Dr. Ismawi Hj. Zen.

The highlight of the event is the officiating ceremony which is mostly a highly coreographed drama. First, the lights at the field went out giving an air of suspense to all of us. A narrator at the back stage tells the story of Malacca in it's glory days. Then came a group of students dressing as Arabs meeting a group of Malaccan Malay warriors. The Arabs spoke to the Malays in Arabic (what else?) but the ironically the Malays replied in English. The Arabs requested to meet the Sultan for a highly important matter but the warriors disallow beacuse the Sultan is having a conference. True to their nature, the Arabs insisted which include a babling in Arabic and after a few times being refused they just stormed off to the main stage to meet the Sultan - Prof. Dr. Ismawi Hj. Zen. The Malay warriors get to the front of the stage and explained what has happened.

Then he is invited to the mini podium. Then starts a coreographed move by senior Brothers and Sisters. They walked in pairs, each bring a candle light and lined up at either side of the centre lane while another group of Brothers and Sisters holding red lanters flanked the field. Starting from the back of the field each pair motioned the oil lamps at each other before putting it at the post by the side of the center lane. Then they walked out in pairs from the front of the field heading to the back.

Then a model of a 'batu bersurat' bearing the name of Taaruf Week is lighted up and rotated. Then the the Honorable Guests are invited to sit in front of us for a multimedia presentation which is deemed very impressive. To emphasize that the world is filled with lies it even include the 'Tipah Tertipu' dialogue. Most of the soundtracks used are from Linkin Park. Then the Honorable Guests return to the stage before the closing dua'. Then they walked out of the field thru center lane for some refreshment. Only then we head backt our respective residential colleges in orderly manner.

Typing off, Wassalam.

Taaruf Week - Day 3

Today is the exam day. English Placement Test and Arabic Placement test. English Placement Test is tougher than SPM but for essay you are only limited to 350 words. It covers Error Identification, Completing the Text, Comprehension and Essay.

As for Arabic Placement Test, there are two type of paper. One is for students with no basic which only took 30 minutes while the other one is a two-hour paper. As the list indicates that I'm a non-Arabic student, I answered the 30 minutes paper which is really simple like what I've learned during primary school.

Tonight event would be the Opening Caremony officiated by Prof. Ismawi Zen, Deputy Rector for Developement. Tomorrow would be filled with briefings.

Taaruf Week - Day 2 - 14/6/2004

For today there's nothing much except for the Fardhu Ain Test, Campus Tour and phtoography session for Matric Card. Te Fardhu Ain Test comprises four sections - Aqidah, Ibadah, Akhlak, & Quran recitation. The test was done orally taking around 10 minutes. I've passed the test and would go stright for Halaqah and won't be sitting any exam.

Meanwhile,got to know a few others. The Kelantanese is Naufal Hakimi, his thick Kelantanese dialect was hard for my other two roommates to comprehend so I hope he could imprive on that. An interesting guy I've met today is Adnan from Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan. We had a conversation in English before Asar prayer. He is interested in Chemical Engineering.

I also met Ashraf from SM Al-Ihsan, whom I've met before last year. Then the others I get to know is Afiq from MRSM Jasin, Muhyiddin from Bangi and the Shahri AF look-alike from Penang named Hanif. Also noticed Asmaa, my form 3 classmate who just registered today.

OK, that's all. Had to prepare for Englisg and Arabic Placement Test tomorrow. The outcome will determine how long my study here. Wish me luck!

Re-establishing Forward Base

Most people entering college or university would just bring a few bags of belonging. But I bring truckload of stuffs - a 3-tonne truck for that matter. Of course, it would be utterly insane to bring such a lot of things to the university. I just bring a few bags of belonging to the university while the rest of it will go to our 'forward base' a.k.a old house at Keramat, KL. Why we do this? Dad is doing consultancy job in KL each week and putting up at hotel each time would be boring. On weekends I'll get to do my laundry and do my work. But then, this privilege came with a responsbility. And this house in KL is bigger than our current resident in Kuantan but I have to single handedly maintain the house. (But of course, some of the big matters is to be taken care of by my uncle).

I'm blogging from my room in IIUM Matriculation Centre,Petaling Jaya. I'm placed at the Umar al-Khattab College in a room shared by for people. I already got acquainted with two ofmy roommates, both of them from Selangor - Mahyuddin and Ashraf. The other one is Kelantanese, but we still didn't get to know his name yet. All of my roommate is doing Engineering. Mahyuddin is interested in Mechatronics like me while Ashraf is more inclined towards Biotech. The room condition is ok and quite well-maintained.

Well, got to go now. Have a briefing tonight on Language Proficiency Requirement at the al-Malik Faisal Hall.

Starting Afresh!

In conjuction of my entry to Mactriculation Centre, IIUM I decided to change the template which I think is very pleasant to look at. Also resized the Friends & Sifoos pictures so it will be nicer. Don't worry, I'll still blog regularly. With advances in technology, I don't even need to find a Cyber Cafe to post. Now I can post direct from my phone. OK, have a lot of things to pack (I means A LOT!). See you folks next week. :)

My Friends - [L-R] Shariman (UTP - Electrical Engineering), Azree (Australian Matriculation), & Hasnul(IB for Medicine, UK).

Learned an Interesting Fact: All of them allergic to prawns, just like me. ;) 

Hasnul Hadi - Just came back by flight on Tuesday. Now waiting to do IB at KMB in preparation to do Medicine at UK.

Wireless Update

Wireless Update

Testing wireles update from my PDA using Celcom dial-up via Nokia 8250 connected using Infrared. Posted using post to email method. Done in preparation to blog from IIUM Matriculation Centre, Petaling Jaya.

Firdaus Ibnu Ariff

Check out all the pix at http://ibnuariff.fotopages.com