~ LIFE ‎

"When you rise in life, your friends know who you are! 
When you fall down, you know who are your friends."

A friend in need is a friend indeed

Ilhan with his cousin Akimi (USJ, Umar Rais' wedding)

~ Picture by Zaidatul Hasnida

As fas as I am concerned this was the longest week I have felt in years. The mid-term exams filled up the week like there is no tomorrow. My paper was Quantitative Methods (QM), statistical for business and economics. Having a background in Industrial Chemistry and postgrad diploma from the National Institute and Public Administration of Malaysia (INTAN) and the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR), Kuala Lumpur certainly did not help me at all in doing my calculations.  Even with my High School to undergraduate level Modern Mathematics and Additional Mathematics did not prep me well to sit for this exam. 

However to off-set this feeling - I was somewhat relieved that I was not the only ONE. 

You could hear, gasp, sighs, and arghhh....! literally in the exam hall. One of the students gave up early and dashed out of the hall in 30-minutes of the two-hour exams shaking his head in disappointment. I felt sorry for him, but then again I'm not his professor. 

Even with my Toyolnomics - cheat sheet that was allowed during the exam was unhelpful. I stared at my notes for about 5-minutes and scanned over and over again looking at which formulae is applicable in the solution needed. I did my utmost best and hope that at least I get sympathetic (pathetic) points.

Toyolnomics 101

Getting out of the hall after two hours - I had about 30 minutes to spare before making my way to Itaewon Masjid.

I surfed my Facebook and came to this perfect picture to underscore my feeling towards my QM exam:

Hell yeah

Haha....

Alright, now to rewind the week that was. Returning to excellence!

On Wednesday (28 March 2012), POSCO TJ Park Foundation held its annual POSCO TJ Park Prize Ceremony Award for outstanding citizens of the world in their contribution for the betterment of the society. 

This year's award was given to three fine recipients - two Koreans and one from Cambodia.

POSCO TJ PARK SCIENCE PRIZE

Jin-Woo Cheon
BSc. Chemistry, Yonsei University, PhD University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA

Professor Jin-Woo Cheon is a world leading authority on synthetic nano-chemistry. He has pioneered and established nano-medicine, an interdisciplinary convergence area, by combining the fields of nanoscience and medicine for the first time in Korea.

Professor Cheon became the only Asian senior editor of Accounts of Chemical Research, an American journal of chemistry that is among top 1 percent with respect to the citation impact factor. He is also an editorial board of member of Nano Letters and a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), demonstrating Korea's academic prowess in science and leading the field of synthetic nanochemistry.

POSCO TJ PARK EDUCATION PRIZE

Jong-Moon Kwag
Principal of Hangyoere Middle and High School

Joon-Moon Kwag, principal of Hangyoere Middle nd High School, has presented a new paradigm of education in Korea throughout his life-time endeavours to afford underprivileged youths education that promotes their creativity and upright character through nights schools and alternative education programs. He is also an educator who takes the initiative in helping young North Koreans defectors adapt to life in the South and giving them new hope. 

He has set a shining example to the educational community, which had previously taken little interest in alternative education, much less recognizing it. As a strong advocate for young North Korean refugees, Principal Kwag is expected to continue to make unwavering efforts to empower and help them self-develop and realize their dreams for the future in a safer environment.

POSCO TJ PARK COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & PHILANTROPHY PRIZE

Somaly Mam
Founder of AFESIP, Cambodia

Born in 1970, when the civil war broke out in Cambodia, Somaly Mam began life as an orphan in extreme poverty. At 16, she was sold to a brothel and subjected to horrible treatment and exploitation. A few years later, she escaped the brothel and briefly stayed in France. She then returned to Cambodia and worked as a voluntary Khmer interpreter at international organizations, where she met many women and girls who were enslaved just like she had been. From that moment, Somaly Mam began rescuing victimized women with the belief that she had to stand up for them.

She founded the Somaly Mam Foundation in 2007 to support organizations committed to eradicating human trafficking and to provide victims and survivors with a platform to regain a voice in their lives. The Foundation also runs awareness and advocacy campaigns around the world to shed light on an end to modern-day slavery.

~~~

The three recipients have one thing in common - service above self.

You can say the Professor of Chemistry probably came from a well to do family and had everything he ever wanted given to him on a silver platter - but to spend hours and hours of your time doing research on how to use nanoparticles into a patient's blood vessel so that they attach to cancer once detected and then treated is called (phew..!) PASSION. 

As once a chemist himself though not on nano-tech, but on explosions (yes, my thesis was about chemical explosives substances and tests from the Israeli science journals). I got lonely in the laboratories and chose public policy over chemistry. 

Some say I wasted my scholarship doing my science undergraduate degree but I preferred the Harvard professor who gave a talk earlier in March on education - to prepare an engineer, he must not only be good in Mathematics and applied science, but he must also be a musician, having the sense of arts and creativity that will make him a complete engineer. 

When I see most of my colleagues in the management and administrative fields such as I, who have degrees in Mechanical-Civil-Electrical Engineering, Biotechnology, Environmental Science and even Science Fisheries and learning new areas to equip themselves as policy-makers, a wise decision to recruit them.

They'll become better analysers/thinkers (not to say graduates in Economics, Accounting or other non-science field as unimportant, but they do have added advantage though).

The second recipient, an educator who started his own school to accommodate the underprivileged Koreans and setting an alternative education such as vocational and technical schools. 

In Korea, as my Korean friends informed me - their university graduates are inflated. South Korea sees a 3,000,000 rate of unemployment who are highly skilled but not enough work to give them. Yesterday during Academic Writing class, I explained to my Korean classmates of the blue-collar vacuum that Malaysia is facing but is currently addressing it. 

We have Institut Kemahiran Bina Negara (IKBN) National Institute of Skills, IKTBN (National Institute of Higher-Skills) as we do not want Malaysians who have degrees with 3.96 CGPA but do not want their hands dirty handling engines, being electricians and repairman. I gave the example of industrialised countries who have professional blue-collar jobs and get paid highly by the hour. 

Sooner or later, countries like mine will have to pay higher price for someone to replace our Astro decoder/satellite dish (which is about RM100 now - US$30/35,000 Won) or plumber, wiremen etc.

The last but certainly not the least of the recipients - is my inspiration, Somaly Mam. No college degree, no family, nothing. She said that she did not have a proper name when she was almost five or six years old. 

Her parents were missing or killed and at 16, she was sold as a prostitute. How do you beat that? She picked herself up, went and learned to speak French - she could have just stayed in France and enjoy all the welfare benefit the French government gives out to their people. Lived a comfortable life, maybe have a French husband and stayed content.

NO - she returned to Cambodia and became their saviour. This did not involved millions of dollars or highly connected people, but through her hard work and dedication. She cried when she gave her acceptance speech and I felt sad that she had to go through all of the traumatic experience, but moved on to become a key player in eradicating modern-day slavery. She is indeed an inspiration for the empowerment of woman in my region.

I wish to congratulate all of them and hope that their efforts will be exemplary to others.

POSCO Center
Ms. Lee (Student Affairs) and Ms. Nurgul (POSCO Asia Fellow)
Two-months without haircut. NEW Record!

~Picture by Nurgul

~~~

LIFE PART II

I missed two wedding occasions in my family this year. The youngest daughter of Paman Hasmoni Salim and Che Hay Rahil Abu Bakar - Mrs. Siti Halimah's wedding was last February and my other cousin, Mrs. Nadiatul Sheema which was held yesterday, Uncle Norahim's daughter. 

Congratulations Limah and Sheema! Selamat Pengantin Baru!

Cik Limah with hubs - welcome to the family!
~ Picture by Halimah

Sheema and hubs - met him once at another cousin's wedding...
~ Picture by Shariffuddin Abdul Rahim

Weddings in Malaysia are huge events not only for both families where the house of the parent's bride and groom have tents and lightings, catering and such, it also involves the whole neighbourhood and community as roads need to be closed 2-3 days prior to the wedding day. Wedding cards and invitations can easily exceed 1,000 for a wedding reception from 12.30 to 4.00 p.m.

Families in Malaysia are extended until, I don't know - from the Malacca's sultanate perhaps!! Hehe... 

In Kedah, north of Malaysia on my wife's side, it gets more complicated. Every one is PakLang (Uncle Lang), PakNgah (Uncle Ngah), PakLong (Uncle Long), Pak Menakan (general uncle) etc.

Everyone is a family by marriage even if its your 10th cousin! As they say - distant smell-smell (direct translation of bau bau bacang)

In all, March was a good month. April will be great. May is M-A-L-A-Y-S-I-A spring break.

I got a great package from my old friend Khairul Anuar @ BUNGA (FLOWERS - lousy nickname for someone who represented Johor's state (south of Malaysia) martial art athlete and a varsity rugby player) who despite his busy schedule doing his PhD in Nuclear Physics (yikes!) took the time to buy my favourite stuffs at Walmart. 

He is one of the perfect example of when you fall down, you know who are your friends - we had our ups and downs during our uni days and he had also given me confidence in my career as well. 

Thanks old friend. (do I still need to pay this? Haha) OK.. OK I'll maybank2u soon.

Bunga's package from Rolla, MO USA - thanks brother!

And to reminiscence my schooling days when you don't do your homework, fail in your duties, did not clean your room, your shoes are not shined or all of the above.

Running the college parade square should make up for it....

Run Boys RUNNNNN...!

Picture by OP Chan Jun Kwan ~ Commandant Boy 2011

And thank you for reading.

Aimran

080808

Dear readers,

Thank you for the emails, responses and taking the time to visit my blog.

I just came back from a five-hour hike to Mount Inwangsan (338m) and Mount Bugaksan (342m). I will blog about this in due course.

Mid terms is encroaching the students this week and things have been a bit crazy.

I have had around 920 visitors for the first week and I am putting my elementary Qualitative and Quantitative analysis on the posts I have been sending. Not bad I must say.

Aimran's story came up top of the pops with 100 views! Followed by the From Salak to Seoul, 89 views (and that does not come close!) and the third spot goes to the Royal Military College entry with 83 views 

As I said in Aimran's posting, his name means prosperity. I also mentioned that he is the leader of the pack, and I think he is by looking at his fans! Unfortunately, Arfan is the least visited among his brothers, and I think this has to do with the second child syndrome. It's okay son, I know you have a lot of potential.

I guess if I want more readers, I will need to share my inner thoughts on my sons, my family and how to assist more Malaysians and Asians to pursue their studies in Korea.

I will try to cater to all of these issues, but sometimes I will also share on the public and foreign policy part just for my reference in the future. Which clearly shows people do not want to read the heavy stuffs on one's blog.

Take care, and to those who are preparing their sons and daughters for school tomorrow. Take it easy!

Sincerely,

sirmudas.

080808 ~ Afdal Aimran Suhayl

Aimran at Day 1: Innova Fairfax Hospital, August 8th

This is the story of my youngest son, Afdal Aimran Suhayl, the one who brings the Arabic meaning of kemakmuran (prosperity). He was born on the 8th of August almost four years ago. Hence the 080808!

As a Malaysian diplomat, my son Aimran had all the perks and advantages that the Government has to offer. First class ward, top notch nurses and doctors, and all the pre and post natal care that the American medical services could deliver. For that I am thankful to the Malaysian Government for the policy on the well being of their staff overseas.

Where to start with Aimran? 

He is the only one in the family who is left handed. Still thinks and speaks in English, and calls me "Mama". He thinks faster than he can speak and at almost four years old he is still petite for his size. He has big pout lips that some say has the features of Angelina Jolie or perhaps Dennis Rodman's lips.

Aimran at eight months old, Cedar Mill Court, Vienna, VA

My wife said that of all the boys, Aimran has the features on her family's side, wider eyes, and behaves mostly like my father-in-law, Haji Abdullah Abdul Hamid - he likes everything neat and proper. He hates it when the door is not closed tightly and makes sure that our gate is closed properly after we parked our car on the porch. He also likes to sweep the floor!

Aimran looking cool at 14 months old

At three, he chooses his own attire to wear. He prefers long pants or jeans rather than shorts, and he makes sure that it is properly tucked in. 

Looking at him, makes me wonder that as the third child in my family, I always had things easier. Maybe because my father was earning comfortably as a senior Military officer and could give us more things. I think he was about to be promoted to a Lieutenant Colonel when my younger sister was born ten months apart from me, and Aimran's situation is fairly the same. He always had new shirts, pants, toys and books as if he is the first born.  

 Washington Redskins uniform

Aimran in his best behavior. Aunty Tini's House, Madrillon Ave. 

At our yard in Dec 2009, a few weeks before
moving back to Putrajaya

The Virginian-born son with Barry 

Though he enjoyed everything a father can give, I am guilty of one thing - he's going to be four years old this August, and we haven't had a proper celebration for him. I will do that soon my son Chuhail as his elder brother Arfan calls him. 

Of all the three boys, Ilhan is the one who speaks the earliest while Arfan could only arrange sentences at  three and Aimran still speaks in his own language which I think he gets from me in speaking gibberish. Hehehe...

Crew cut Aimran at Taman Keramat

I remembered a good friend of mine in Washington who said, "This one (Aimran) is going to be the leader of the pack because he's smart, he knows what he wants and he'll get what he wants." Which is true on the what he wants part, for now.

Looking at my boys, I still can't believe that I'm a father. (Sayang jangan marah haaa...)

Trying his skills on Abang Afiq's rubic cube,
Kempas Baru, Johor  Bahru

Yankees Baseball at Sri Lavender, Kajang

I am truly blessed with three strapping boys, healthy, active and more than we can handle. I hope one day, there's a Binti Afdal Izal after this. 

Kerja Kuat!!

Aimran was born three days before my mother passed away. He is the only grandchild that my late mother hadn't the opportunity to embrace close to her bosom. I will always see him age with time and remember the date my mother passed away. The three blog entries about my sons is dedicated to you, ma. 

Al-fatihah.

Afdal Aimran Suhayl 

Afdal Musyrif Arfan ~ Ahfang (The Protector of the Learned One)

Mr. Sebab (excuses excuses)

Before I begin to tell you about my second son, let me begin by explaining the meaning behind his Arabic name. 

My mother-in-law once quipped that my son's name is too "keras" or hard as it has two 'R's in his name. I based my sons names on Chinese where they put their surname at the front (the Koreans as well) - the Chinese have been Muslims earlier than the Malays if one were to argue.

Well, back to Arfan or Ah fang as he addressed himself when he was two years plus.  

Musyrif was based on Pakistan's then President (General) Pervez Musharraf who planned the coup d'etat of President Nawaz Shariff when Musharraf was the Pakistan Army's Chief of Staff. Musyrif means Protector in Arabic, and Arfan means intelligent.  The name Arfan was to be different from Irfan, or so I thought.

Hence after careful consideration, I named him Afdal Musyrif Arfan - protector of the learned one. And that is the boy's name I received at Putrajaya Hospital on 21 February. He was bigger than his elder brother at 3.5kg and when he was wrapped by the nurse, he stared at me as if in protest - "Why did you take me out from mama?"



Some people say, the second born as the "second child syndrome" - he or she will get second hand goods or the used stuff, he'll get a new one maybe on his birthdays. He has to compete for his parent's attention as the eldest one had the privilege as being the ONLY one for a few months or years. When he gets a kid sister or brother - he has to compete again with them.

My father is the second child in his family, and he admitted that he had to prove hard to his father that he'll be the proud son his father ever had. Sometimes I see it that he craves to see his father say "I'm proud of you, son."



Arfan - the boy who 'protested' to his papa, ten months later 



Arfan is the grandson that my late mother had the chance to care and nurture for, as I was living with her before my posting to the US. We stayed with her for almost a year and a half. My mother always had close attachment to her eldest grandchild, Nur Almaz as she took care of her when her parents were away in the States. 

Arfan had the same situation when my wife and I were working, Ilhan would go to school and Arfan will stay with his poh poh during the day.

Before my mother passed on in August 2008, and after a few months settling in America, she sent a text message in May of the same year: "Afdal, I must see Arfan before I die." I called her immediately to check if she was okay. She said she misses Arfan and would like to see him. She always had a picture of him as shown above and would boast to her friends that this is Arfan who is in Washington, D.C. with his dad.

Arfan at 11 months

Arfan celebrated his fifth birthday a week after mine. He is witty, has the same nema problema "no problem" attitude like me, likes to make his brothers mad or angry for his intelligent strategy e.g. wakes up early to control the TV channel, iPad and have the chocolates earlier or finishes them off.

He is a classic example of "Marry a man, only if you are proud to have a son exactly like him." 

He is the only son who likes to go back to Johor Bahru rather than Alor Setar and he has this love-hate relationship with his cousin Kakak Mash (Almaz).

He has four stitches on his head alone - three in the States, one in Kajang - I know he'll be a trouble maker, but for now I'll enjoy his boyhood years and hope that if he gets into trouble, just don't get caught.

Hehe...

Poh poh's Boy

Afdal Muhammad Ilhan ~ Abang

This entry is all about my first born son, Afdal Muhammad Ilhan. 

He is seven years old this year and I can still remember the day he was born at Kulim Specialist Hospital in 2005. It was a Saturday with my wife who was only due in two weeks time to deliver. 

We drove to the hospital which was about 10 minutes drive from our home in Taman Desa Impian, Kulim. My wife was in labour for about 8 hours. I waited patiently at the waiting area with two other uncles - one a policeman, and a fireman, and I was then called by the nurse to receive the little boy. There he was weighing at 3.1kg, normal birth and a healthy baby boy.

As any new father, I was so excited to receive him, buying lots of baby stuff - shirts, diaper, baby cot you name it. At a meagre salary of a junior government officer; with his wife who was not paid for almost ten months, it was tough.

But this son of mine made it all worthwhile.

Ilhan at 3 years old. Bethesda, Maryland

He is now the Class Leader or Class Monitor of Satu Gigih (Persistent) and he has his ups and downs as a leader. Well... he is only seven, but you do have high hopes for him.

Ilhan at 4 years old, Cedar Mill Court, Vienna, VA

He always complained that his classmates do not listen to him and he seems not to be popular at times because heyyy... who likes  to be told unless you're the one doing the telling...

He likes to take charge, to be the one with the responsibility. When I see him, I see a young Jack Palance - his grandpa's nick name in the Army. He is also short-tempered, always too quick to call it quits but when he gets the hang of it he can wake up early in the morning as early as 0500H to do his homework.

Ilhan at his Sekolah Rendah Agama Islam KAFA Jannatul Firdaus

I hope when he grows up he'll be responsible and dependable to his brothers, loves his mother as much as I love my late mother... 

Ilhan at papa's and grandpa's alma mater - RMC's sand dune!

I love you son. You're the man of the house for the time being.

Love, papa.

NEXT: Afdal Musyrif Arfan ~ Poh poh's boy!