Dear gentle readers,

Since I got the the study leave + full pay for my PhD, I was being bombarded with questions about how I apply for it and what are the procedures. Well, let me explain here 'The First Step' on how I apply for my study leave..

a) Simply write a cover letter --> Application for futher study (PhD) - write the reasons why I need to do my PhD

b) Fill up a scholarship form (SPC Scheme) from MARA --> I saw an ad in the newspaper and get a form from MARA

c) Write another letter --> Application for study leave (at that time I did not indicate whether it is full pay, half pay or none). Then the HR personnel told me to simply put down study leave with full pay saying that "mana tahu ada rezeki Hidayah dapatlah cuti belajar bergaji penuh".

d) The result --> Dah rezeki agaknya, dapatlah study leave tu...

Now, proceed to Step 2 --> Secure an interview with MARA... I am currently waiting for an interview date..

"Unbelievable.Speechless.Excited." Those were my first reactions when I received the good news. I have to admit, it was shocking at first, but then when I came to think about it, rezeki dari Allah.. Alhamdulillah, thank you Allah for giving me this opportunity..

2nd April 2008 - During the Management Meeting, the Director told me about this good news, and how my study leave was approved. Insya Allah, if God permit, I will be able to pursue my PhD at Iowa State University starting Spring 2009 for three years.. Currently I am in the process of getting scholarship from MARA and studying for TOEFL. So Iowa State, here I come!!

I'm planning on bringing my family there, and Insya Allah, my younger brother (ADIK) will go there as well. I'm starting my clan at Iowa State, you know.. hehehe.. so who knows, maybe my siblings (Angah and Apit) will go there in future.. So daddy and mama, we will celebrate hari raya there with both of you :P

Some pics of Iowa State University:

Everyone, guess the drawing, pleaseeee!

'Tapau' Competition!

Me + Hubby + Fatihah and Mr Dzul in the background

Last week, a panel of lecturers and administrators from Coventry University, UK came to Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Kuantan. The reason of their visit was to give approval on new courses that we applied earlier which are B Eng of civil Engineering and BSc Construction Management. As the Head of Department, it is my responsibility to make sure that these guests were comfortable during their visit here.

The college management team and I gave the panel a tour around campus and later on provide them with lunch. The menu? Not western food, but Malay food. It was funny watching the 'mat salehs' eating ulam and sambal belacan. I fact, one of the panel members, Chris took a spoonful of sambal belacan on his plate!! hehe.. so he likes spicy food, he said.Then another panel member, Rob Eggleton were asking me about the Malaysian culture and tradition.

Rob: Do you Malaysians like watching the EPL? (English Premier League)
Me: Yeah, in fact we have several channels on cable that shows EPL.
Rob: Really? That's cool. Didn't know the Malaysian are into EPL.
Me: Are you a football fan? Which club is your favourite?
Rob: I'm a Bolton fan, not the MU fan. We're in the Darby's.
Me: I'm not much into football, but I certainly heard about that one.

Our conversation moves on the topic of England Royals, followed by Jamie Oliver and then the eating out trend among the British.

Yet, it is very interesting to talk to these 'mat salehs' after haven't seen one in a while. Anyway, in the end we got the approval to conduct the programs (yay!) and that means more work for us at the college..hehe..

*Sigh* I kept promising myself on updating this blog, but hey.. I was extremely busy (kalah PM..as if I am the election candidate..) with so many things.. mana nak kejar dengan mengajarnya, dengan tugas2 ketua jabatan lagi.. anyway, this time is about my daughter's photo shoot which happened a month ago..

This one is my favourite photo :P

During the photo shoot, we dressed her with this gown with ruffles and ribbons (and she keeps on trying to feed herself with the ribbons) rimasnya tuhan je yang tahu..hehe... Susahnye..she started to cry when we put her in the 'wooden wheelbarrow' that was use as a prop for the photo shoot.. then with the help from the 'audience' around the set, she managed to calm down and give some good pose...

Dear gentle readers,

Since I got the the study leave + full pay for my PhD, I was being bombarded with questions about how I apply for it and what are the procedures. Well, let me explain here 'The First Step' on how I apply for my study leave..

a) Simply write a cover letter --> Application for futher study (PhD) - write the reasons why I need to do my PhD

b) Fill up a scholarship form (SPC Scheme) from MARA --> I saw an ad in the newspaper and get a form from MARA

c) Write another letter --> Application for study leave (at that time I did not indicate whether it is full pay, half pay or none). Then the HR personnel told me to simply put down study leave with full pay saying that "mana tahu ada rezeki Hidayah dapatlah cuti belajar bergaji penuh".

d) The result --> Dah rezeki agaknya, dapatlah study leave tu...

Now, proceed to Step 2 --> Secure an interview with MARA... I am currently waiting for an interview date..

"Unbelievable.Speechless.Excited." Those were my first reactions when I received the good news. I have to admit, it was shocking at first, but then when I came to think about it, rezeki dari Allah.. Alhamdulillah, thank you Allah for giving me this opportunity..

2nd April 2008 - During the Management Meeting, the Director told me about this good news, and how my study leave was approved. Insya Allah, if God permit, I will be able to pursue my PhD at Iowa State University starting Spring 2009 for three years.. Currently I am in the process of getting scholarship from MARA and studying for TOEFL. So Iowa State, here I come!!

I'm planning on bringing my family there, and Insya Allah, my younger brother (ADIK) will go there as well. I'm starting my clan at Iowa State, you know.. hehehe.. so who knows, maybe my siblings (Angah and Apit) will go there in future.. So daddy and mama, we will celebrate hari raya there with both of you :P

Some pics of Iowa State University:

Everyone, guess the drawing, pleaseeee!

'Tapau' Competition!

Me + Hubby + Fatihah and Mr Dzul in the background

Last week, a panel of lecturers and administrators from Coventry University, UK came to Kolej Poly-Tech MARA Kuantan. The reason of their visit was to give approval on new courses that we applied earlier which are B Eng of civil Engineering and BSc Construction Management. As the Head of Department, it is my responsibility to make sure that these guests were comfortable during their visit here.

The college management team and I gave the panel a tour around campus and later on provide them with lunch. The menu? Not western food, but Malay food. It was funny watching the 'mat salehs' eating ulam and sambal belacan. I fact, one of the panel members, Chris took a spoonful of sambal belacan on his plate!! hehe.. so he likes spicy food, he said.Then another panel member, Rob Eggleton were asking me about the Malaysian culture and tradition.

Rob: Do you Malaysians like watching the EPL? (English Premier League)
Me: Yeah, in fact we have several channels on cable that shows EPL.
Rob: Really? That's cool. Didn't know the Malaysian are into EPL.
Me: Are you a football fan? Which club is your favourite?
Rob: I'm a Bolton fan, not the MU fan. We're in the Darby's.
Me: I'm not much into football, but I certainly heard about that one.

Our conversation moves on the topic of England Royals, followed by Jamie Oliver and then the eating out trend among the British.

Yet, it is very interesting to talk to these 'mat salehs' after haven't seen one in a while. Anyway, in the end we got the approval to conduct the programs (yay!) and that means more work for us at the college..hehe..

*Sigh* I kept promising myself on updating this blog, but hey.. I was extremely busy (kalah PM..as if I am the election candidate..) with so many things.. mana nak kejar dengan mengajarnya, dengan tugas2 ketua jabatan lagi.. anyway, this time is about my daughter's photo shoot which happened a month ago..

This one is my favourite photo :P

During the photo shoot, we dressed her with this gown with ruffles and ribbons (and she keeps on trying to feed herself with the ribbons) rimasnya tuhan je yang tahu..hehe... Susahnye..she started to cry when we put her in the 'wooden wheelbarrow' that was use as a prop for the photo shoot.. then with the help from the 'audience' around the set, she managed to calm down and give some good pose...