Varia: Hectic Week and Weekend

What a week this has been!

Last Friday, my third son Izhar came back home and we planned to go to Luna Wonderland in Seremban, the very same night he arrived. This is due to that I have other activities during the weekend (a wedding and an online talk). We also thought that there will be less people there than during the weekend and how wrong we were. We were lucky to have a parking place quite near to the entrance.

As we were waiting to buy tickets, I had this photo with a drummer and (part of) his drumset. Seeing the drumset, I had this impulse of taking a pic since I was a(n) (amateur) drummer. Later, we heard the performers performing some popular Malay rock songs.

After getting the tickets, we went in and took pics (see below). It was a huge place and I got too tired at some point and rested many times.

My eldest son was not with us then since he will be driving us to a wedding next day. My youngest son too was not with us since he received the sad news that his best friend passed away (may Allah forgive him and grant him jannah). He was visibly upset and he wished to go to his funeral in Muar (his father's place). He was living in Seremban with his mum and went for some activities in Kelantan before falling unconscious into coma due to a heat stroke. He was also formerly my son's dorm-mate in UiTM Jasin and they often went outing together when they are both in Seremban. My son then arranged with another friend in Seremban to travel to Muar that very night to go to the funeral. He was back home at about 4am and thus was resting the whole morning thereafter.

That Saturday, we started our journey to a wedding sometime in the morning since my eldest son told us that it will be a three hour journey (I didn't know this). So we passed by some beautiful green scenery of paddy fields in Sekinchan. I knew before this that Sekinchan was where the model paddy agricultural project for the country and I got to see why. The wedding invitation was from a former student of Dr. Nurisya, Shela Tiansin and we knew each other through our group activities. She had also been to our house a few times for the gathering functions we organized. Here are some pics.

We were back home sometime in the late afternoon and I rested for a while before my online talk that night. It was supposed to be a workshop and I was supposed to say something on the topic shown in the slide below.

When I was preparing the slides, it then occurred to me that it was on the Malaysia Day. Thus I inserted this slide.

The content of my talk is shown in the slide below,

Too bad, it was not recorded (if I had known, I will probably record the talk myself). So all I had for the talk was these screenshots.

Following the weekend, was the week where I started my teaching in Xiamen. I went quite early to the campus to make sure I was there before the class starts (need to get my temporary staff card from the library to access the lecture facilities - a full-time staff has his/her own card to use). By the end of the first day of teaching, I was really physically tired (body aching all over). I have left teaching for some time and suddenly I'm doing four hours teaching in a day, standing most of the time (I rarely sit). Nevertheless I felt good teaching at the time. The second day of teaching was less so, due to perhaps I had less time preparing and felt a bit of mental fatigue. I promised to make up with better notes next time. It also had me thinking on how best to teach complex analysis. Some rigorous details might not be necessary for physics students but on the other hand, they should be at least aware of the technical details (usually important for problematic situations that are discussed less in physics). Still thinking what is best. I have also arranged for replacement classes next week since classes that fall on a public holiday (Thursday next week) will have to be replaced. More brooding and long hours ahead.

Finally, this week also saw my other half celebrating her birthday. My second son who came from JB on Tuesday bought her a cake.

Briefings in XMUM

This week, I had briefings at Xiamen University Malaysia since I am joining their Physics Department and classes will start next week. The briefings are meant to help us (new recruits) to understand the system that they had there. One important thing that I need to really do quite fast is to make a course request for the moodle platform. But let me backtrack before to the point where I need to find the lecture theatre where the briefings are made. I met a Muslim lady at the International Students Office and asked where the lecture theatre is. She showed me where it was. I took the opportunity to ask her whether there is a surau (prayers place) there. She told me it is on the third floor where the swimming pool is.

Here is the picture of the lecture theatre where the briefings were made. 

As I waited for the briefings to start, I got a nice surprise meeting my former UPM colleague, Dr. Zulkifly Abbas. Apparently, he has already been in Xiamen since last semester (I did not know this and he was quiet about it) and he is a full-time staff in the School of Electrical Engineering and Artificial Intelligence (you can see his name here). Took a snapshot while we were there.

Dr. Zul brought me around to see the Block A buildings where I will be teaching and the library is. I signed my contract at the Human Resource Department there. There is a lot to be done. Given that I'm a part-time staff, I do not have a staff card and each time I have a lecture, I need to get a temporary staff card for use (the facility has a smart card slot to get the system running) in the lecture theatre. After visiting the Block A buildings, Dr. Zul bought me lunch at Kota Warisan nearby.

Later in the afternoon, there was another briefing on Moodle. Received a message then from Dr. Siti Khadijah who was the lab officer there (I guess Dr. Zul informed her of my presence), saying that she was a former UPM student. She told me that they have got some (shared) space in Block A4 for me to do work. I told her that I will try to see her tomorrow since the briefing on that day will only be in the afternoon.

Thus, yesterday I went to see where the Department of Physics is. Met Dr. Siti Khadijah and she showed me where my 'office' is. I'll be sharing the space with her and Dr. Zaidan. Apparently, Dr. Zaidan, who taught Astronomy last semester, returned to teach again this semester. I met Dr. Lim Yen Kheng there. Both him and Dr. Siti Khadijah brought me around to see the department and labs. Met Prof. Teo Lee Peng in the corridor and converse a little.

In the afternoon, it was a briefing by the Vice President, Prof. Zhang Ying and the Academic Affairs Department. All new staff were introduced at the briefing.

After the briefing, met Dr. Peter Zeiner (Head of Maths Department) and we talked about the close collaboration between Physics and Mathematics, which I do look forward to. I have yet to meet Prof. Ong Chong Kim, who is the head of Physics Department since he was not there - should make it a point to meet him sometime next week. Also met Dr. Zaidan and Dr. Zul who were also there at the briefing.

There's a bit of anxiety starting a new job but I do need a change of environment. I hope I can fit in well and perhaps contribute to the university. I already know that students of my class are the bright ones and I hope my teaching goes well. Later in the evening, met Syed Hasibul Hassan Chowdhury online with his student to discuss possible research project. So I guess I'm back to my 'normal' days.

 

Food Haven in Centrio

Since Independence Day, I've been watching videos of tourists travelling to Malaysia and most of these talked about the natural beauty, rich culture and the food haven available here. In a way, they give us some good feelings about the country, often not highlighted and forgotten by the usual political bickerers. Due to the diverse culture that we have, the kind of spectrum of food dishes that we have here is just what the tourists find attractive.

Since Friday (last two days), the shopping square (Centrio) nearby our home became host to a popular festive food event, namely Havoc Food Festival. As usual, we try to avoid crowded places and not go there. Somehow yesterday, we thought that maybe we should just try and see what they have there. We waited until around 6 pm to go there, just after the rain had cleared, thinking that there will be not many people due to the earlier rain. How wrong were we.

We had to park our car far away (two streets away) and walked to the square. We bought some food that we thought that are not usually available for us. One of these is a lamb shank dish from the well-known Chef Ammar stall. In fact, he was actually there in person.

Besides food, there were other activities like bird petting and religious lectures and entertainment.

We went back by Maghrib time but my other half and son went to listen to the religious lecture and entertainment.

The festival is still on today. Those who want to go, be prepared to park the vehicle far away and walk to the event.

Teaching Electrodynamics and Complex Functions

I will begin teaching electrodynamics and complex functions (mathematical methods in physics) at Xiamen University Malaysia sometime in mid September as a part-time lecturer. Next week, I will be attending some briefings at the campus to understand the system that they have there.

Today, I have just received the timetable schedule for both subjects. They have conveniently grouped (2-hour) lectures on both subjects on the same day, namely Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

There is a bit of anxiety, having left teaching for some time and the subjects given to me are ones that I have less experience in teaching. Teaching new things often requires plenty of internalization and considerable time to prepare the notes. I pray that I can do it well.

Another surprise today is an email from a long-lost friend Foong See Kit who apparently will be teaching at Xiamen as well. If I'm not mistaken, I first met him at the Fifth Asia-Pacific Physics Conference in 1992. Another conference where we met is the Quantum Physics Conference in 1997. The last time we stumbled into each other is in a conference in IAS, NTU. It will be great to meet him back again.

Putri Ariani in Qualifier Round

This post is about Putri Ariani's second appearance on AGT for the qualifier round. I believed this appearance was much awaited by many all around the world. The audition video earlier went viral and has gotten by now 51 million views. The video of her in the qualifier round has already reached 3.1 million views in just one day after its release.

Her performance was essentially stunning, like what everyone has said. The choice of U2 song, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For is actually a surprise to me. Some thought that it will be one of those songs that she has covered in the past but I think this would be too predictable and too easy for her. Her second song in the audition (Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word) was also a song that she had not covered before, if that it is any indication of the path she will take. I would be interested to know if the song was her own choice or someone else's suggestion. Whatever it is, it (the title at least) certainly fits Putri Ariani current journey to her dreams. Kudos to U2 (later revealed by Simon Cowell) who allowed her to use their song for her to perform (and in a way a recognition for Putri).

Her take on it was certainly different from the original, one which is much slowed down. I'll be interested to know if there were helping suggestions from others for the brilliant arrangement (see Simon's advice here). The whole song structure that Putri adopted was reminiscent of Whitney's rendition of I Will Always Love You. It begins with an acapella part, continues with a part that has her piano (music) accompaniment and then ends with a memorable vocal part. Given that I know her good and strong vocal abilities, this time I was probably more impressed by her musical arrangement of the song. Some of the piano parts reminded me of those of jazzier pop ballads. Heaping all praises for the performance may not be all the artist wants. I saw two places where further improvements could be done. First, the runs she did in her head voice (around minute 1:50). Second, was the belting part that seems to have some shaky moments (around minute 2;26). Some mentioned that these made the performance more realistic and more emotional (and I agree). I should also add that the visuals were also stunning with her in the grand dress under the spotlight with the white grand piano, adding breathtaking features.

Now some might be surprised why do I do this post. This is my second post really on Putri (see first post here). As I have said before, I have musical interests and every time I see good talent, I feel inspired. Some will probably say that an academic like me, should have discussed on more serious topics. I do have views on more serious matters but normally I don't air this too much (due to their complexity). On those matters, many made their voices heard on the social media (which I am now trying to shy away) though there are tendencies of (over) simplification. My views on such matters (if any) tend to be close to that of Snowden's (see e.g. here). I reserve my right to be silent particularly when I don't have the means to act on such matter.

The Hospital Weekend

In the last post, I mentioned that my youngest son Izzuddin had dengue and at the time was treated as an outpatient. On Friday, we went to get him another blood platelet count and it had dropped considerably (132 from 172). The doctor recommended him to be warded and so we did. He was put on drip.

We tried to cheer him up since he was a bit unhappy being warded at the hospital, but  it is for the better, so that he could be monitored more carefully.

The next day, he had another blood test and the platelet count was still on large decrease trend (116 from 132). His fever is no longer there but the doctor mentioned that it is normal that the platelet count continue decreasing despite absence of fever. That day, the other patient in the same ward left and he was left all alone. So I decided that I will stay overnight in the hospital with him.

Early next morning, I was fetched by my other half and then continued resting at home, while my other half and eldest son went to see him there. At noon, the doctor told us that he can be discharged, given that the decreasing rate of his platelet count has slowed down (106 from 116). That was good news - no more going in and out of the hospital. Sometime later in the afternoon, we got the discharge letter and hence paid the hospital bills. Currently he is now resting at home, but he is due for another blood test on Wednesday.

Update (6.30pm): Just a few minutes ago, they have started fogging the area to get rid of the mosquitoes that carry the disease.

Added note: There were already a few cases of dengue before my son got it.