A busy start!

Life is so unpredictable... when I thought I should be a little better this semester when my teaching duties were mostly unloaded, I actually became quite totally opposite!

Apart from studies, research kicked started, also many other projects. Most interestingly, I have many students who wanted to work 'on voluntary' basis to gain experience, even without pay, they wanted to come and help daily. It was good sign... this means, the time and efforts I have invested in the last two years are now bearing fruits.

I always believe, when you treat someone with a heart, you will receive the same too :)

This is a case proven true!

Freezing night, warm event

Sisu Sport Day at Pohjavaara School

The weather was cold, and I have lots of assignments and school projects to complete... but nothing stopped our attendance to this 'important' event - our children's sport day. It was cold, and windy evening, but the parent organizers are warm and welcoming, and they put in lots of work to plan and implement the event. Many children came, and the kids have lots of fun. It was a nice, warm event inspite of the weather.

http://youtu.be/c4zbJvBsGQ4

The beauty of simplicity....

Life is so simple but beautiful....

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151137717687505&set=a.232316762504.137393.593812504&type=1&comment_id=7421638#!/photo.php?fbid=514683181879855&set=a.122872071060970.21376.122420541106123&type=1&theater

RIP to my dearest friend

Just returned from holiday, had a very nice, short and sweet journey... however, my joyfulness was shadowed by the shocking news of a passing friend - a long lost teenage friend whom I found again early this year. We exchanged emails several times, and I saw her photos in FB, she looked pretty as always, and very joyful. However, suddenly. I found out she committed suicide this morning..... and I realized, her happy face, photo updates in FB were not showing the deeper side of her and the terrible things she had been experiencing in life. It was a pity all came too late. If we would have known her circumstances, she would have received much help and support from friends.... but not many of us knew her true situation, thus could not take any actions to help her through the difficult times. Anyway, now she is gone... may be this is the best way for her, but the challenges now fall onto her young sons who need to cope with the lost of their beloved mum, and a lifelong impact that their mum has died of unnatural causes. Now can only offer our prayers for their safe growing up, and hope all well for them. God, please give your blessing to her children....

Another excellent news!

Hups! I could not believe it! I received another result today, and was graded a 4!! I am sooooooooooo HAPPY! Hard work pays, though I have yet to think how to apply what I learned... but for now, I am happy with my own progress :) 

Excellent news!

Received result for my first course, and I was thrilled with the outcome. I had a 5, which totally blown off my mind! Nonetheless, it was a nice surprise, though I am doubtful such brilliant results will repeat for the subsequent courses. In view of the kind of schedules I have, I am extremely pleased with the outcome. More importantly, I could not have done it without hubby and family's support! THANK YOU!

Research Interview

My first research interview with some games students who have started playing games since 5 years old! It was very informative and fun sessions :)



Paternal love and care

I read an article this morning. A famous doctor in Malaysia who moans and regrets his late notice of his son's problem which has led him to leap off to his death at the age of 24. He was able to fulfill all the material request of his son, but he has lack of time for him since his young age. As a result, there were hardly substantive conversation, and also lack of understanding to his inner soul. His son seems to look cool and happy from outside, but his inner side was weak to handle challenges. This is a good reflection to my decision to give up my corporate career. A great job, with great prospect and income... but the fall side is, I never had enough time for the kids. Now, I have enough to live, and lots of time with kids and for myself. These are things money could not buy.... happiness is not equals to money, one can find happiness from simple things, with the right mentality and attitude to life.

News article from Zhongguobao:

http://www.chinapress.com.my/node/331078

Assignment completion...

After a long week of hardwork, finally, the assignment is taking shape. Not in the best form, but at least I have an assignment to submit tomorrow (the deadline). I realized after not writing for a long time I have lost my writing skills.. some how? I am not sure by reading a lot and writing a lot, I will finally get the 'skills' back.

Another challenge when doing this assignment is, I realized my 'practical mentality' has totally over ruled my 'academic mentality'. I am not sure how to 'de-learn' this to re-learn academic discourses and discursive practices. It feels like a mission impossible at the moment... I need to find ways to overcome this hurdle quickly!

Although this assignment is over, but still another more challenging one ahead. Frankly, I am not even sure if I could pass this one, but I will worry about it later. I have yet to receive the results for the other one in May... I am not sure not news is good news, or bad news... again, can only wait patiently, nothing could be done at the moment...

Hay Day, Supercell!

Hay Day is a farming game with user friendl  interface, attractive graphics and addictive market orientation where players can engage in trading activities with their farm produce... just like real life. For more info: http://www.arcticstartup.com/2012/06/25/supercell-hay-day-launch-metrics-review

Happy Midsummer Festival!

Longest day is over!

The longest day has just past, and starting today... day is getting shorter. Nonetheless, today is the mid-summer Friday in Finland, one that's closest to the soltice. Well, time flies so quickly... this is our 6th mid-summer celebration in Finland. The first one, I had 'sleepless' night in Singapore where I chatted with hubby till morning on this very long 'day' :)  We have guests coming in the evening, so now... preparation time!

Pormakku homicide

This is the 8th family homicide in a year's period. This kind of news is getting sickening... Apparently, there were 8 family homicides over the last one year! How can parents murdering their own child like killing an animal!? In my opinion, when we choose to be a parent, we must be responsible for our action. We brought the child to this world, we are responsible to love them, give them the best we could, and do our best to protect them, groom them. Even when we are distress, sad or frustrated... we should not mix our life up with theirs. They are little angels from heaven, they deserve a good environment to grow into a good person for the society. I hope all couples reconsider their actions. IF they are not ready for kids, don't have them. It is best for themselves, and also their 'to-be children'. That's just my thinking... in a simplified manner. There are many other complex issues to consider, but I will keep this post simple for now. May the little angels in Pormakku rest in peace and may their mother has the necessary strength to live through this bad ordour.

Summer Soltice - Longest Day of the Year!

Time flies... when I started my study, the days were short, and we were in perpectual darkness... without knowingly, time whizz by so swiftly, and now we are on the longest day of the year again. Tomorrow onwards, days will be shorter by seconds, and soon we will be in winter soltice again. I never felt time flown past so quickly while living in Asia. However, here, I could really see how time flies... the seasons and changes in the nature are so visible, you could not stop thinking... I am running against time, I must do what I need to ensure I do not leave with regrets when I perish...


More info from YLE news:
http://yle.fi/uutiset/longest_day_of_the_year/6190466

Dad's 71st Birthday

Yesterday was Father's Day in Malaysia and today is my dad's birthday. Every year, this is the case, it is a double celebration... Last year this time, we were celebrating in Malaysia, singing karaoke.. and time flies, this year, he is in brother's place with his family celebrating in Spore. Anyway, we wish him a healthy life still ahead... with many more birthdays to come. Happy Birthday, Dad!

Another good course

Just returned from another good course. Intensive and tiring, but I have learned so much new stuff again. However, it was also a little confusing for me. I start to feel that a practitioner is really like an Alien, in the academic world. The language, discourse, practices are so different. Wonder how theories from academia can be understood by practitioners, and vice versa!? A puzzle I am eager to solve :D

A short video of the good time....

http://youtu.be/fmROFyHy6vM

Mixed feeling....

Today, there is a bit of mixed feeling for the first time after started my doctoral studies for 5 months... is this really the kind of world I would like to be? For a moment, I felt that I was in between a bunch of Aliens! We are all speaking 'English', but for some reasons, the discourse (discussion, vocabulary, meaning) are soooooo different, so much so that I started to feel that I really did not belong to that world?! If I am in a business consulting seminar, or something... I felt that I am speaking the same 'language' with the presenter, and participants... but when I am sitting in between 14 business academia, I did not even feel like I am one of them, nor speaking the right terminology. It felt really like an idiot! I now start to have doubt, if this is really a worthy journey, or would it be better I just stay in my practical world which will bring more benefits to myself than a phD which has not much practical meaning to me... ponder!?

KATAJA Course in Lapland

These courses ran by the KATAJA network in Finland are absolutely well done! I just attended another course in Lapland, and had another big boost of knowledge in Practice Based Approach in Business Research. Challenging but enlightening. Got some new ideas for my research, so now must think how to implement and update my research plan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-baCXDrcfo

Midnight Sun in Lapland (Pyhätunturi, above Artic Circle)

This is majestically beautiful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h5u7eCacME

My lovely cats