Uncertain Changes

Financial???!!

Ok, this week I would touch on banking issues.

I am very sure that, this is a topic which you will be very interested in and will have many questions about it.

All of the students located in Essen had an account with Sparda Bank West. Of course you can choose the bank of your choice when you arrived in Germany however in our case, we made our accounts on the very day we arrived and everything was pre-arranged (this is only valid for the students in Essen).

One can open an account in Germany without any minimum deposits in it aka. 0,00€.

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Note: The numbering system in Germany is a little different from the numbering system used in Malaysia

For example: one thousand = 1.000 (Germany) and not 1,000 (Malaysia)

zero point five = 0,5 (Germany) and not 0.5 (Malaysia)

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However in the case of my bank, Sparda bank, I was later deducted 52€ as non-liquid deposit. This means that should you have 100€ deposited, only 48€ are liquid.

In the case of ATM cards

In Germany, as a safety procedure one will recieve your bank card by mail and one week after that, your pin number also via mail. It is important for you to know that you are not allowed to change your pin number. The pin mailed to you are fixed. This is only in the case of Sparda Bank.   

The rest of the students in Duisburg opted for Deutshe Bank.

As a safety precaution, for Deutsche Bank you will recieve 2 separate atm cards. These cards have different withdrawal limits. Sadly, I do not have more information as I do not have one myself.

The pin for your ATM card can be changed by your own free will.

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Note: International banks are not directly connected.

Allow me to illustriate further, when you have an account with bank A in Malaysia and went to bank A in Germany, you will still be charged as a foreign transaction.

Should your transaction be in Euros or in Malaysia Ringgit, the charges will be different base on the type of financial facilities you use (exmple: travelers checks, bank draft, atm withdrawal and etc.)

So pay attention to the transaction charges when  you choose your method of transaction.

That is all for this week

Disclaimer: These information are only meant as reference

The following information are meant to help the next batch of students from UKM to prepare themself. Kindly place your questions as comments should you need more information on certain topics.

I will try my best to help out however always refer to the counselor for official updates.

1) This is how the campus in Essen look like. The university campus in Germany is unlike those in Malaysia. In Malaysia there will be a define area separating the university compound and the public owned areas, however, this is not practiced in Germany. Generally the area of the campus is not well define. There is no fences like those in Malaysia. The roads are for public use and everyone and anyone can enter the so called university compound as and when they like. There are no such thing as guards/keselamatan like we do for our university.

2) The university’s buildings are defined by numbers and colours ( The German loves organizing using number system and sometimes colours). I find that it can be cumbersome at times. However this is how it works…

The faculty or aka Fach for engineering in Essen is V15 defined by blue colour. You will see signs showing you where to go. Don’t worry if you do not know German very well. Just imagine that you are still at UKM and you will find that the setting of the Essen campus is rather like those in UKM with a round about (for people on foot). 

3) The Mensa aka canteen is defined by yellow colour. The following is a sample of the food served in the canteen. Generally for each meal it will cost around 2++ euro depending on what you take. Your matric card is also your food card. You top up your card before you buy food from the Mensa. The machine accept only dollar bills and is located near the Mensa.(very easy to find)

That all for this time, will provide more information weekly hopefully.

9 Aug 2007

Ich war im Flughafen dem Gepäck Ausgang wenn ich meinen kaputten Gepäck gefunden habe. Es war ein schreakliches Erleben. Ich habe keine Lust mehr für anderes Dinge.

10 Aug 2007

Alan hilft uns.Er kommt auch aus UKM.

Er lehrt uns über das Verkehrsystem im Deutschland.

Wir haben unsere Termin mit Frau K vom Akademische Ausländamt verpasst weil wir die Termin genau nicht wissen. Wir haben eine neue Termin gemacht. Sie ist am Donnerstag.

Wir gingen nach der Stadt Essen. Es war unsere erstmal dahin. Ich finde, dass Reise ohne Studenten Ausweis sehr teuer ist. Eine Fahrkarte kostet 4.30 Euro dass Sie viermal benutzen können. Ich denke, dass es am billigten ist. Ein ‘Punch’ ist gunstig für 30 Minuten und Sie können allen Verkehrsbetrieb verwenden.

Ich habe meine Heimat angerufen. Es kostet 35 cent + 8 cent pro Minute. Ich werde eine Deutsche Telefonnummer in der Zukunft genommen um ein günstiger Preis zu bekommen.

11 Aug 2007

Ich und meine Freunden vom Malaysia sind im Fluemarkt gegangen. Wir benutzen den Zug. Der Zug ist wie unsere KTM im Malaysia. Danach gehen wir nach IKEA. Natürlich haben wir unseren Weg verloren.

Ich habe Bratwurst

Erstmal haben wir zusammen Spaghetti gekocht.

12 Aug 2007

Heute gehen wir einen sehr langen Spaziergang. Er war 4 Stunden lang. Natürlich haben wir noch einmal verloren. Wir sind vom Kray Süd bis Frillendorf zum Fuß gegangen. Es war so weit vom unsere Studentenwohnheim. Aber das Wetter war schön. Dashalb haben wir viel Spaß. Alles war in Ordnung.

13 Aug 2007

Wir gehen in der Stadt alein ohne Hilft. Wir sparzieren in der Stadt bis Abend.

14 Aug 2007

——????

15 Aug 2007

Wir haben eine Termin mit Dr. Deneke. Er zeigt uns um der Fach. 

16 Aug 2007

Wir lassen unsere Studentenausweis in das Akademisches Auslanderamt machen. Aber leider können wir das Studentenausweis am Donnerstag nicht bekommen. Wir müssen bis Montag warten.

17 Aug 2007

Ich schicke meinen kaputten Koffer zum Dolfin.

Wir gingen in der Stadt. Erstmal probiert pommes. Wir gehen zusammen zum ersten Tag des Essen Original. Es regnet und ich war nass. Ich war erstmal so kalt im Deutschland.

Ich habe Bad Boy und viel andere gehört.

18 Aug 2007

Ich bleibe in dem Zimmer. Am Mittag gehe ich zum Aldi Supermarkt alein. Und ich habe Hye Min vom Korea bekennt. Sie wohnt im Zimmer 312. Die andere Studenten und Studentin waren im Fluemarkt.

19 Aug 2007

Ich war im Essen Original. Es war enibisschen komisch weil viel ‚songs’ auf Englisch war. Erstmal probiert Currywurst und Jägerwurst. Danach haben wir erstmal Bier getrunken. Frankheim Alt.

Wir verwenden Der NE Bus zuruck. Wir kennen einen neuen Freund. Er kommt aus Niederlander (Amsterdam). Er hat seinem Abschloss im Germanistik und Englisch gemacht. Er werde am Mittwoch nach Hause gegangen. Er gibt uns seine Besteck und broom. Wir danken an ihm.

20 Aug 2007

Wir haben unsere Studentenausweis eigentlich bekommen. Wir können alle Verkehrbetriebs im VRR  kostenlos verwenden.

21 Aug 2007

Wir waren in dem Auslander Büro am M straße ( Bitte benutzen Sie Bus Nummer 196 von der Uni oder vom Essen Haupbahnhof).Wir haben uns in der Stadt Essen angemeldet.

Wir gehen noch einmal in der Uni. Ich habe meine Kennung besucht. Aber leider geht die nicht. Dashalb haben wir in der Bibliothek e-point besucht.

Danach gehen wir zur Mensa. Es kostet 2.70 euro für das Mittagsessen. Ich habe Pasta gegesen. Aber die schmackt nicht gut und war sehr teuer.

22 Aug 2007, Mittwoch, Es regnet im Dusseldolf und ich war nass.

Wir gehen zum Dusseldolf via RE 1 ( Die Bahn fährt um 10.32am vom Essen Haupbahnhof ab. Wir brauchen um 30 Minute dort anzukommen. Wir bezahlen nur Essen und nie sonst. Wir haben vieles Fotos gemacht.

In der Nacht

I have register/ activated my user name and password.

I have logged on to Sparda Bank West internet banking service and changed my password.

23 Aug 2007, Donnerstag, Die Sonne scheint.

Ich bleibe in dem Zimmer. Ich bin keine Lust draußen gegangen. Ich lerne einbisschen Deutch alein im Zimmer.

In dem Abend

Wir laden unsere Senior zum Abendessen in der Studentenwohnung ein. Ich und Pei Tze kochen zusammen. Wir haben fünf dishes gegessen und (Kombar und Diebel) Bier und Wein (vom Spanien) getrunken.

24 Aug 2007, Freitag, Die Sonne scheint im Dortmund

Wir verwenden die RE Bahn noch einmal. Heute gehen wir zum Dortmund. Wir besuchen Jacques’ Wein-Depot am Ostenbergstraße 96, Dortmund. Du kannst guten und güntigen Wein dort finden. Heute kaufe ich einen Roten Wein ( nur 4.20 euro) und einen Weißen Wein (nur 3.50 euro )vom Le Tapie, France. Er schmackt sehr gut. Ich habe fünf Typ Wein probiert.

Danach gehen wir zum Theater Klause ( Bier Keller im Dortmund ). Aber wir können nur Foto machen weil es viel Geld kostet.

Hinweis: Es gibt viele Museum und places of interest aber alle braucht Geld. 

25 Aug 2007, Samstag, Die Sonne scheint im Essen.

Love is all around…Love Parade 2007 im

Essen

( Beliner Platz )

Wir gehen in der Stadt um 3.30pm. Das Zug hat verspätet. Wir haben um eine Stunden gewartet.Am Ende fahren wir mit dem Bus zur Holler Straße. Danach gehen wir bei Fuß zum Beliner Platz. Sie ist die größte Tanzveranstaltung der Welt.

Oh… count down to 09.08.07 (just two weeks!!!)

And Astronaut Joo Ee Tan (J) will land on Mars!!

A place where men comunicate using an Alien Language…

And how Astronaut J’s going to survive…

Well, men on Earth have long perfected a Universal Language

Named Body Language (Körper Sprache - in the Alien Language)

Tune next time to find out more about Astronaut J’s expedition

It has been a long time since I am free enough to blog…

Well, I am not exactly free, just a little bored and tired. There is so much to do and I just don’t know how to start. So I guess this title is best to discribe how I feel now.

Oh, I am so lost!!

Not quite sure I am doing right now. Feeling insecure more often than ever.

I am looking forward to the new environment but staying at home now makes me feel a little reluctant to execute my plans.

The first real engineering project… it makes me wonder, should I or should I not continue in this field.

The thought of missing my friends company really frighten me.

Oh! And the list goes on and on as usually…

Hast du eine Idee? Englisch oder Deutsch? Warum darf ich alles nicht vergessen? I bin sehr traurig.

Warum?

Ich kann gut Englisch sprechen aber nicht so gut Deutsch sprechen. Dashalb, bin ich traurig und dann habe ich Angst.

Kannst du mir helfen? Aber ich bin nicht fleißig. Hast du Zeit für mich?

(Woh… Can you understand what I am writting here? If you can then you are just the person to help me.)

The above note is written in German language. Try to find out what I have written. ______________________________________________________________

After finishing secondary school, I’ve not been in touch with much English grammar. Furthermore, I am currently attending beginners German course. Ah… the irony. Just when I am improving my German language then there comes the English course.

You see both these languages have some similarities as well as big difference in terms of grammar and spelling.

For starters, after so many years learning English, I still can’t spell properly. In other words don’t ask me to write. I speak fluently however write horribly.

Now, the situation is much more troubling. All those German and spellings…Arggh!! It is killing me softly. All mixed up.

Any comments?? Feel free to offer me some advise that you think will be helpful.

Finally after many, many week’s I’ve returned!!!

Aha!! As lazy as ever…

Well, this long awaited hols have to come to an end even though I wished it could have lasted longer. Totally no time for friends and family. Make me feel like this guy…

(Sorry for the blurred pic)

You get the idea don’t ya!

p.s: I am not a good dancer…

However there’s also good news coming from this super short hols with too many things left unfinished.

Imagine…Hanging out with friends will be so much easier if I had my own set of wheels won’t it?

The good news, I think it is coming soon…

So friends out there be ready for the ‘Mamak Queen’!!

                                                 Here’s the future "Mamak Queen" flying off…

to infinity and beyond…

                                             Jooeeeeeee….    

The story trace back to the date 2nd of August 2006…

It is fairly common that sometimes if not always we tend to judge others by their looks before even knowing them better. Well this statement is also true for people you already knew or thought you knew. In other words we as human also tend to prejudge othes by their previous action.

So here I am to highlight a few very extrodinary persons (we wished that there will be more of this people around) who extended their helping hands to rescue a demsel in distress.( your dearly beloved ME!!). These few names here are those involved in the most touching but yet embrassing senarios of my life:

1. Goh Kaa Chiew

2. Wong Peng Kew

3. Tan Aik Chuan

4. Henry

5. Gan Kean Tat….

                                      and fellow course mates who sort of helped out.

These few extrodinary gentlemen (if I could say so even though they are also laughing their heads off when they heard what happened), regardless of their personal hygine helped indirectly toward recovering my poor (stinking) wallet which fell in to the toilet bowl, that very day. The details of the incident are not so important as the main reason of this article is to highlight a side of them rarely noticed.

This incident protrait a very different character of the people mentioned. That day, they have showered me with a whole lot of care and concern that surprises me. It made me realise how thankful I am to have such wonderful course mates with great personalities. I was so dead sure that no one would go to such extend to help in such a trival matter. However, now I realise I was wrong and THANKS!!! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!

So at the end of this article, I hoped that those who have read this will be enlighten and start to treasure the people around you.

                                                                                           Thankful Gal…

Now, now friends!

I think it is time for all of us (students) to relax and put our time to greater use than just plain books!! For those of you who already know and are in to "this", I congratulate you.Not forgetting, for those who will be finding out and joining us, good for you (and after that you can thank me all you want!!)

Welcome to the World of Sudoku!! Yes!!

For those blur people out there, Sudoku is one of the greatest puzzles that test on your overall intelligents!(of course there are other tougher puzzles like karakuro but that is a story for some other time)

So it is time to shed some light into our lives and be enlighten. Such puzzles are great fun and guess what, I think I am quite good at this (meaning I am SMART!!) and hope that you guys would join me. Here’s my source of Sudoku puzzles:

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/sudoku_html

The best thing about playing it online is that it is FREE!! Give it a try and catch the wave as it has already hit Malaysia in a grand way. Lets go global and start playing.

Now lets do a little survey:

How many of you out there have heard of or played Sudoku?

Let me know your comments,ok

Caught in the craze gal….

                                       Signing off

During the month of July this year (2006) I’ve happend to bump upon FATE once again to the beautiful island of Redang located in the state of Terrengganu, Malaysia. It was surely a fantastic trip to remember.

Ever dreamt about strolling along the beach, enjoy the sound of the wave taking every last drop of worries away and getting burnt red hot like a cooked lobster but loving every moment of it. Well, all this came true!!This and much more is  awaiting for you my friends.

Going snorkling is the main and maybe the only activity that you will do for as long as you are there but it sure is interesting. Sure there are much more other activities during the evenings where we can dance with the crowd or go to the outdoor disco at night but for me its all about going back to nature.

I find that there is always something new for you to explore in the open sea. It doesn’t matter if you can swim or not. Being able to will be great but even without it you can still enjoy it (as long as you have proper life jacket on). Yup!! For a person who loves island hopping I am one useless fellow. I can’t swim even though I’ve friends who tried to teach me.

Anyway, back to the main story…

It was simply wonderful to touch and hold wild fishes (especially the clown fish for me) as they are swimming just centimeters away. However word of caution some of them do bite (quite painful I would say) as they are confused about your hands being food.

Getting in the sun was great for me. It is just what I needed since I’ve been looking like a zombie lately. I was burnt head to toe even though its only at the back of my body due to active snorkeling. For all you beauty consious people out there there will be no worries about getting your face dark as it will be under water most of the time. In my case, I look just as fair as before I went but leaving the island much more energetic.

That’s all for now due to time constrain…

See ya.

           From a one week beach gal.