New Confinement Update

2 weeks have passed since I started my confinement and I am also feeling a lot better. During this time, I have lost weight despite eating 5 to 6 meals a day now.

Since the weekend, Malay traditional massage is also helping me to recover. Kak Rubee is an experienced massage lady who has been doing this for more than 10 years now. I have had 4 massage sessions with her so far and even Mom had her first session yesterday.

Kak Rubee also helped me tie the binder that I bought from Amway. This Tropical Herbs binder is supposed to help women get back to shape after delivery.

Meanwhile, Sze’s brother, Peter, was also back from Canada for an IEEE (engineering) conference. I met him for the first time before my confinement but had to leave most of the hospitality to Sze and his parents soon after, despite having made some plans for Peter’s visit.

From left: Peter, Dad, Mom and Sze

Peter (left) and Sze

PS: Our website is back online again. However, the Contact Us page (and some other pages) are still not fully functional due to unresolved technical problems with the new web hosting company.

Confinement Update

It's been 9 days since I started my confinement. The 1st week was really a challenge to me. I had fever and was unable to eat. I couldn't sit properly and couldn't stand. I was bedridden most of the time and it was a torture.

My parents and parent-in-laws were really worried about me. I knew I needed to recover ASAP as I looked pretty sick. I didn't even dare look at myself in the mirror because everyone said I looked bloodless.

I was really scared that I was gonna lose control over my body. For a few seconds, I was gonna give up. But fortunately, this week, I have gotten better. I could finally eat. Thank God!

I hope to get back in touch with you guys soon after I am back to normal. And I hope that will be sooner rather than later. Will keep you all posted. Adios!

PS: Our website is currently down due to a hosting migration technical problem. Hope to get it back online again soon.

Baby Has Left Us

Many of our friends are aware that Eunice was pregnant with our first child. Her pregnancy was into the 8th month (due on Christmas eve) and had been trouble-free... but 2 nights ago, our baby boy left us. He was recorded as stillbirth (placental abruption) in the early hours of 22 November 2008.

We will miss our baby very much...

I'm an Apple Certified Pro!

Yes, I'm now an Apple Certified Pro in Logic Pro 8, Level 2... woohoo! After waiting for 3 weeks (much longer than the standard 7 day time frame), I have finally received my e-certificate from Apple.

In addition, I have also been granted the use of an Apple certification signature.

Although the Apple Certified Pro certificate looks plain and simple, it is still a hard-earned certificate, nevertheless! As there was no Apple Logic certified trainer in Malaysia, ICOM (my employer) fully sponsored my trip to Singapore for the Logic 301 course and exam (Logic 101 was a self-study effort).

Due to the number of topics to be covered, I had a highly intensive 3-day course at iShop by Club 21, an Apple Authorized Training Center. Fortunately, my trainer, Roy Lim, covered the Logic 301 syllabus comprehensively, which was a big help.

From left: Ben Teng (iShop), Roy Lim (Logic trainer) and me (Sze)

I have also been told that the Logic examinations are pretty tough. So I was pleasantly surprised when I averaged 97% in both the Logic 101 and 301 exams! :):)

My Logic 8 Level 1 Score

My Logic 8 Level 2 Score

Currently, I am listed as the the only Logic Pro 8 Level 2 certified professional in the country (Malaysia, besides one other person with Level 1 certification). This listing can be viewed at the Apple Pro Applications site:
http://www.apple.com/software/pro/training/certifieds.php
and Apple Certification Alliance member directory:
http://www.apple.com/training/certification/certpros/index.php

I also found that Logic Pro 8 Level 2 certification is far less common (worldwide) as most certified users only have Logic Pro 8 Level 1. Perhaps Level 2 (i.e. passing Logic 301 course) is really that tough after all... hehe.

However, despite my Apple Certified Pro status, I am still not a certified trainer. My next step is to achieve the Apple Certified Trainer qualification for Logic Pro 8 Levels 1 and 2. This will then enable me to train my students to become Apple Certified Pros themselves and ICOM to be Malaysia's first Apple Authorized Training Center (for Logic music production software). :)

Offsite Meeting @ Avillion, Port Dickson

Microsoft Malaysia's SMS&P (Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partners) team had an offsite meeting last week at Avillion Resort, Port Dickson. As I was also in that team, a few colleagues and me made car pooling arrangements to travel together from Puchong.

We arrived at Avillion PD before 9am on Friday and started the day with a presentation by the HR Director, followed by a seminar from an external consultant. This seminar was quite fun. We had to identify our own personalities and understand how to deal with different types of people. After analysis, I fell into the "Goal Oriented" category, which is typical of managers and directors... hehe. It's amazing how different types of people can form a better team than only having people with the same characteristics.

Angel and me.

After that, we had a scavenger hunt. This was pretty fun too, although my team didn't win the prize. We ended our day with a delicious 10-course Chinese dinner at the resort restaurant. I also had a small, surprise birthday cake too! :)

It was not easy to fall asleep in the evening despite being very tired. We were staying in the water chalet and the waves kept hitting on the rock wall, producing a natural sea wave sound in the background. It felt as if I was lying on my bed, floating on the sea. However, I managed to fall asleep eventually.

I got up quite early the next morning to catch some fresh air. Avillion at dawn was a picturesque scene and looked beautiful.

Avillion at dawn.

We started the day's SMS&P meeting right after the breakfast. It wasn't too interesting and finished at about 12:30 pm. We checked out of our hotel rooms right after that and headed back home. It had been a fun company meeting and we had an enjoyable time :)

Creative "Sign Language"

Is this Malay or English?

The above photo was taken just outside the Serdang Hospital building.

What's an alternative spelling for FREE GIFT?

This photo was taken at the recent PC Fair in KLCC.

My New Job!

It has been some time since I wanted to change jobs. I tried to leave my job last year but the plan failed due to one of my boss' power of persuasion... hehe.

However, a year later, I finally made up my mind to go and I was determined not to perform a U-turn again this time. Since I had to give my employer a 3-month notice, I had to do it with a lot of courage, as I didn't have any job offer then when I handed in my resignation letter.

I had a few options in mind on my next step:
Plan A: Apply for a job in an MNC (multi national company).
Plan B: Take up a Masters degree.
Plan C: Start my own business.

I kept all my options open until the fuel price increase in June. After a review, I felt that the most secure path would still be Plan A. So I called up Microsoft and met the Inside Sales Manager for an interview. I got a job offer a week later and accepted it within a week.

So now, here I am sitting on the 29th Floor in Tower 2 of the Petronas Twin Towers building. I am the Inside Account Manager and it has been a comfortable 1st week working in Microsoft (Malaysia). Wish me luck!

My new office is on the 29th floor of Tower 2 (right tower).