Joshua’s Big Day Out
Joshua’s Big Day Out
“Jin, wake up, it’s time!” Mom’s familiar voice broke me from my slumber. The day was Tuesday, the 24th. Exams was just over, and here I am in my aunt’s place at PJ(mom is around as well), waiting to attend the Public Speaking conference organized by The Star. (don’t ask me why and how I signed up for it.)
Boss came with his dad and picked me up soon after. The venue was at Eastin Hotel, just next to Menara Star. As we approached the place, there it was, in all it’s glory, the Menara Star, standing tall and strong. It gave me the impression of the City of Gondor in LOTR, there was a sense of arrogance and pride in the building itself. Huge and mighty, this is the headquarters of the most popular newspaper in the country.
We hopped off and made our way in the four-star hotel. Mind you, I haven’t had a culture shock in a long time. Who would have thought of all days this day will be the day I experience it. As we made our way into the registration area, I raised my eyebrows when I noticed a few old gentlemen dressed very formally with long sleeves, tie and all. My eyes grew bigger when I find more and more of these kind lingering around the area, and when I entered the conference room, whalla!! There you can find men and women of all ages and backgrounds, oh I missed out one point, men and women of all ages ABOVE 30. I was expecting this workshop to be packed with students, and boy was I right, students of the conference, not of the society.
Anyway, it took a while for the numbness and akwardness to subside. I settled down, and got along with the conference. Conference was great, and even if it were not, I would have to wince my face and admit that it was great. Having paid RM 350 for a conference, no fool would admit it being a lousy conference if it was. But being honest, they did provide us with good points and sufficient training to take us a step higher in presentation skills, MC-ing skills and projecting ourselves well publicly. I hope that all these will help me greatly in giving out my sermon during the coming mission trip.
Food was magnifito, Srumptilous, delumptious and wonderfully wonderful. Bombastic words? Yes, the food was bombastic. So was my stomach. I downed everything I see on sight. Let this be a lesson to you, trying to eat back RM350 is never a good idea. The pastries! Yes, it would be a shame not to mention the pastries. Man, I’ve never seen so many pastries and cakes that come in all sizes, shapes and colors. Good thing I heeded of the advice of Boss of not eating any breakfast before we set off. Oh yea, good thing I wore loose pants. Hmm, come to think of it, I’ll mention it all to justify it la. First tea break: Fried Bee Hoon, Popiah, fruit cheese cake. Lunch: Appetiziers, Fried Rice, Kurma Chicken, Buttered Salmon, Deep Fried Chicken, ( c’mon think! Think!) Yee Mee, and other stuff la. Deserts and Appetiziers: Yea, the PASTRIES!! Bubur Chacha. After eating so much, I was not even sorry I was so greedy!! Haha. Last Tea Break : Fried Wan Tan, Pizza and Chococlate cake with a nice rich chocolate coating. Here, take this tissue, your saliva is all around your chin.
After lunch, it’s time for exercise. I mean group exercise. I guess considering the amount put into our mouths, its time for something to come out as well. Points and reminders were given during the morning sessions, afternoon it’s time for us to show off our skills!! We were broken up into 10 groups, and in each group we had to pair up and present a short presentation on any topic to our group itself. I paired with boss of course. The rest? For me it was kinda fun. Ask boss to find out la.
Later in the evening we had a forum time with some famous personalities. Suhaimi Suliaman, Douglas Lim, Maya Karim( yeap, I too it was Mariah Carey the first time I mention it) were the few celebrities present for a Q-&-A session. Oh yea, did I forgot to mention there was these “entertaining” old uncle from Penang? Yups, he definitely entertaining. Sometimes it’s fun to watch people who think they know everything, trying to show that they have nothing else to learn. The more hilarious part is, sometimes they fall flat on their face trying to prove that. You know what I mean.
After finishing the course, me and boss headed to the Menara Star for a visitation. The security was quite strict, as me and boss were wandering around the lobby, the guard approached us and was suspicious of our doings. I don’t blame him, I was having a face like a Hong Kong visitor, my mouth gaping so big for its design. Walking around the compound of Menara Star is like walking in the valley of mountains. The buildings reaching for the skies, I felt really small and inadequate just wondering around the surroundings. Many people were bustling around. I saw photographers with their equipment, journalists, and other “white coats”. I didn’t know how “big shot” boss’s dad was until that day. With just a word of mouth, he could convince the guards to let us in though it was pass visitation hour. He took us a tour around the IT department, and we observed how the articles were put together using the technology of IT. Mr Khoo said “ You think putting a newspaper together everyday is easy? It’s wonder I tell you, it’s a wonder.” I never doubted him. He invited us to his office, and we lingered there till we went back.
I was exposed to the working world during the course of the day. Having been in the midst of working adults, and having visited the workplace of fellow workers of the society, I started asking myself questions, questions like will I ever make it in the working world in the future? A studying life is full of security and comfort, will I be ever to adapt? It’s a whole different world out there. I learnt another thing as well. Position is evident in the working world whether you want it or not. I observed that many people pay respect to you if you’re holding a high position. Will I be absorbed and tempted to achieve this glory when I work one day? Will I become “power-crazy” as they put it one day?
Know what? Screw all this, I’m gonna enjoy my study life while it last.
“Jin, wake up, it’s time!” Mom’s familiar voice broke me from my slumber. The day was Tuesday, the 24th. Exams was just over, and here I am in my aunt’s place at PJ(mom is around as well), waiting to attend the Public Speaking conference organized by The Star. (don’t ask me why and how I signed up for it.)
Boss came with his dad and picked me up soon after. The venue was at Eastin Hotel, just next to Menara Star. As we approached the place, there it was, in all it’s glory, the Menara Star, standing tall and strong. It gave me the impression of the City of Gondor in LOTR, there was a sense of arrogance and pride in the building itself. Huge and mighty, this is the headquarters of the most popular newspaper in the country.
We hopped off and made our way in the four-star hotel. Mind you, I haven’t had a culture shock in a long time. Who would have thought of all days this day will be the day I experience it. As we made our way into the registration area, I raised my eyebrows when I noticed a few old gentlemen dressed very formally with long sleeves, tie and all. My eyes grew bigger when I find more and more of these kind lingering around the area, and when I entered the conference room, whalla!! There you can find men and women of all ages and backgrounds, oh I missed out one point, men and women of all ages ABOVE 30. I was expecting this workshop to be packed with students, and boy was I right, students of the conference, not of the society.
Anyway, it took a while for the numbness and akwardness to subside. I settled down, and got along with the conference. Conference was great, and even if it were not, I would have to wince my face and admit that it was great. Having paid RM 350 for a conference, no fool would admit it being a lousy conference if it was. But being honest, they did provide us with good points and sufficient training to take us a step higher in presentation skills, MC-ing skills and projecting ourselves well publicly. I hope that all these will help me greatly in giving out my sermon during the coming mission trip.
Food was magnifito, Srumptilous, delumptious and wonderfully wonderful. Bombastic words? Yes, the food was bombastic. So was my stomach. I downed everything I see on sight. Let this be a lesson to you, trying to eat back RM350 is never a good idea. The pastries! Yes, it would be a shame not to mention the pastries. Man, I’ve never seen so many pastries and cakes that come in all sizes, shapes and colors. Good thing I heeded of the advice of Boss of not eating any breakfast before we set off. Oh yea, good thing I wore loose pants. Hmm, come to think of it, I’ll mention it all to justify it la. First tea break: Fried Bee Hoon, Popiah, fruit cheese cake. Lunch: Appetiziers, Fried Rice, Kurma Chicken, Buttered Salmon, Deep Fried Chicken, ( c’mon think! Think!) Yee Mee, and other stuff la. Deserts and Appetiziers: Yea, the PASTRIES!! Bubur Chacha. After eating so much, I was not even sorry I was so greedy!! Haha. Last Tea Break : Fried Wan Tan, Pizza and Chococlate cake with a nice rich chocolate coating. Here, take this tissue, your saliva is all around your chin.
After lunch, it’s time for exercise. I mean group exercise. I guess considering the amount put into our mouths, its time for something to come out as well. Points and reminders were given during the morning sessions, afternoon it’s time for us to show off our skills!! We were broken up into 10 groups, and in each group we had to pair up and present a short presentation on any topic to our group itself. I paired with boss of course. The rest? For me it was kinda fun. Ask boss to find out la.
Later in the evening we had a forum time with some famous personalities. Suhaimi Suliaman, Douglas Lim, Maya Karim( yeap, I too it was Mariah Carey the first time I mention it) were the few celebrities present for a Q-&-A session. Oh yea, did I forgot to mention there was these “entertaining” old uncle from Penang? Yups, he definitely entertaining. Sometimes it’s fun to watch people who think they know everything, trying to show that they have nothing else to learn. The more hilarious part is, sometimes they fall flat on their face trying to prove that. You know what I mean.
After finishing the course, me and boss headed to the Menara Star for a visitation. The security was quite strict, as me and boss were wandering around the lobby, the guard approached us and was suspicious of our doings. I don’t blame him, I was having a face like a Hong Kong visitor, my mouth gaping so big for its design. Walking around the compound of Menara Star is like walking in the valley of mountains. The buildings reaching for the skies, I felt really small and inadequate just wondering around the surroundings. Many people were bustling around. I saw photographers with their equipment, journalists, and other “white coats”. I didn’t know how “big shot” boss’s dad was until that day. With just a word of mouth, he could convince the guards to let us in though it was pass visitation hour. He took us a tour around the IT department, and we observed how the articles were put together using the technology of IT. Mr Khoo said “ You think putting a newspaper together everyday is easy? It’s wonder I tell you, it’s a wonder.” I never doubted him. He invited us to his office, and we lingered there till we went back.
I was exposed to the working world during the course of the day. Having been in the midst of working adults, and having visited the workplace of fellow workers of the society, I started asking myself questions, questions like will I ever make it in the working world in the future? A studying life is full of security and comfort, will I be ever to adapt? It’s a whole different world out there. I learnt another thing as well. Position is evident in the working world whether you want it or not. I observed that many people pay respect to you if you’re holding a high position. Will I be absorbed and tempted to achieve this glory when I work one day? Will I become “power-crazy” as they put it one day?
Know what? Screw all this, I’m gonna enjoy my study life while it last.
