IYF Certificate and Complaints

On June 15 all World Camp participants including IYF volunteers were given a certificate certifying our presence and participation in the World Camp held from 16^th to 20^th of May, 2010. At 5:00pm, we gathered at NIE again and were anxious of receiving the certificate.

Honestly most of us were very disappointed of the World Camp program which was far different from our expectation. What we were told before the camp did not exactly happened such as the Mini Olympic program, interaction with international students, and especially the i-pod prize for group report winners. I believe these are the biggest expectations of most participants from the program which unfortunately didn’t happen at all. In contrast, the lectures took longer time than we had expected. I am not saying that it’s not good to have the lectures, but since it’s given too often, it makes students have an adverse feeling toward it. Obviously, students have been complaining that it’s more about Christianity promotion rather than the general teaching of the world of mind. Personally, I also have similar feeling.

The World Camp report was actually graded and ten groups were given a prize. Unexpectedly, the prize was not an i-pod but a DVD of Gracias songs. I’m not eager for an i-pod, but they should have kept their promise. No matter what it was, my group report was not selected.

Some students didn’t receive the certificate of participation on the day due to the improper preparation of the organization. I was just doubtful why they didn’t prepare it all before having the ceremony. On June 26 afternoon, we were informed of going to CJCC to attend the IYF’s day and to receive the certificate of IYF volunteer. Similarly, not all volunteers received it either. For others, I’m not sure how they feel, but personally it’s quite frustrating. Fortunately, mine was ready.

To be a volunteer is good for people themselves and for other people, but the organization should be more well-organized and truthful. If not, it will discourage the volunteers from continuing serving them.

Duan Wu Jie 2010

This year Duan Wu Jie (端午节) or Dragon Boat Racing Festival was held on 15^th of June. Around that day, I have watched a piece of news in a Taiwanese channel inquiring several youngsters in high school about the history of having this festival. None of them could answer correctly. When I was a student in Chinese primary school, we had learned about the history and the reason on why we ate rice dumplings (粽子) and had boat racing. And now it still remains in my memory. However, these days the real meaning of this festival has gradually been forgotten. Despite of this, in this post I’m not planning to write about the history of this festival again since I already wrote about it last year. You can search ‘My Duan Wu Jie’ for the information.

In fact rice dumplings or Zong Zi can take many shapes and have different tastes based on the custom of place and people who make it. In Cambodia, rice dumplings are more on the Khmer traditional style. As I’ve observed, it’s quite simple as to have only sticky rice, green bean paste and a long piece of fatty pork. We can also find a common rice dumpling, called ‘Num Chang’ which is as simple as sticky rice wrapped with bamboo leaves. People would buy this kind of rice dumpling for the festival. For my family, the way of making the rice dumpling is passed on from generation to generation. My grandmother was very good at making kinds of Chinese snacks and this rice dumpling is the only one that my mother could learn from her. However, the taste and the way she makes it are not exactly the same as my grandmother did since it has always been modified and improved based on the taste bud of family members. She has been making it several years and makes it at least once a year. However, I have never learned from her.

The following pictures demonstrate the main components of our rice dumpling. Perhaps you can try to make it by yourself.

The Day of Career Forum at Koh Pich

It had been a stressful week for me and I feel the need of relief. There was an exhibition called Career Forum held for two days, May 12 and 13 (Weekend), at Koh Pich Center. My friends and I planned to go there in the morning of the second day.

I didn’t intend to look for a job since I’m now still busy studying, but I was to look at the requirements of the positions in which I’m interested and to get to know the companies better. And another purpose might be to meet some friends and be happy. Therefore, I didn’t prepare my CV, cover letter, or photos in advance. However, Nareth had prepared everything beforehand.

We went from one stall to another and get many leaflets and brochures about each company and organization. Totally I applied for four companies, including Beeline, Farlin, TOTAL, and Coca Cola, which provide application forms for interested visitor. I don’t think I’ll be contacted because I’m still lack of many qualifications to fit the applied jobs. Others also applied for similar companies. We spent almost 4 hours walking in the exhibition center when at lunch time we decided to have lunch together once in a restaurant. After discussion, we finally came to Mercy House, where Nith, Pheak, Nareth, and I used to have lunch together on last Chinese New Year. This time we had two new members including Lak and Visal.

We had different courses based on our appetite. The followings are the photos we took there:

Left (front to back): Visal, Pheak, and Nith.

Right (front to back): Lak, Me, and Nareth.

Fake Lottery Winning Notification

Recently I’ve received a mail claiming that my e-mail address has been randomly chosen to be the winner of the BMW promotion. I believed that it is just a joke or a deceit, but I want to know how they will deceive me, so I replied to the sender with the asked information.

The mail wrote:

Your E-mail ID Have Won £950.000.00 In Our BMW Promo, Send Your Name, Phone,Occupation,Country.

The next day I received another mail, wrote:

THE INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS
PROMOTION DEPARTMENT OF
THE BMW AUTOMOBILE COMPANY.
22 Garden Close, Stamford,
Lincs, PE9 2YP, London
United Kingdom.

Reference Number: BMW: 2541236004/25.
REF: 92O/BM


Dear Esteemed Winner,

I wish to inform you that the receipt of your mail was acknowledged.

Your details has been forwarded to the Llodys TSB Bank were your winning funds was deposited. The Bank is presently in possession of your winning certificate and after information of you to enable them re-activate your online account to enable the transfer of your winnings.

In this regards you are now required to contact the Llodys TSB Bank. Contact details of Bank stated below:

Llodys TSB Bank plc.
Accounts Officer: Mr. Frank Ban
Official Email: lltsb-uk@live.co.uk
Tel: +4470457 28957


On contact with the bank, you are to provide the security code for the fund which is SCCN/9020/830UK/9839.

Get back to me as soon as you get in contact with the bank so that I can update my files and also advise you on what to do if need be..


Thanks and once again Congratulations on behalf of Staff's and member of the British BMW PROMOTION Board International!!

REGARDS.
PROF LARRY SMITH
CLAIMS MANAGER,
BMW CLAIMS DEPARTMENT
THE BMW AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, UK.

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This e-mail is intended only for the above addresses. It may contain
privileged information. If you are not the addressee you must not copy,
distribute, disclose or use any of the information in it. If you have
received it in error please delete it and immediately notify the sender.
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It seems so real due to its well organized written structure and contact. However, I was still very doubtful about the information. Therefore, I spent some times searching for the given bank and I found that the name of the bank is wrongly written—‘Llodys TSB Bank’ vs. ‘Lloyds TSB Bank’. From this mistake, I’m on the way to totally believe that it is a real deceit. I also checked with the BMW Company where I found many similar cases. Many internet users wanted to confirm the similar mail they had received and complained about this scam. By comparing their mails with mine, I came to a conclusion that it’s surely a deceit.
I’m posting this to inform all friends who may receive this similar mail. Please beware of this fake lottery winning notification and other similar ways of deceit. Long time ago, I used to receive a mail saying that she is dying and wanting someone to inherit her property and help her realize her wish. Do not believe that you are lucky to have such an opportunity, but you are just about to be cheated.

Remember that ‘There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.’