A Piece of My Thought

Two month, thousands of priceless experience. My time with Korean people has been incredible. Words cannot express the richness of experiences I have had here. During the Exchange Student Program, I decided to complete my field experience hours at Gimhae, Seoul, and other parts of South Korea. My decision to go was one of the best decisions that I have ever made in my life including my decision to be the leader of biomedical engineering students for the program. There are too many valuable and unforgotten things to be shared.

I was passionate about development work, but I am also highly interested in studying their culture. At the first time I came to my lab, I saw beds, clothes, hair drier, and a dining table occupied the room other than the experimental devices and equipments. The room is more than a lab. It is also a home, where you can sleep inside, having meals with friends, taking bath, meeting and studying. They spent most of their life in the lab. I don’t think they need the punch card to ensure the punctuality of the research assistants every morning. I bet they never had the transportation problems to go and back from their home. They enjoyed their life doing the works and experiments. I always think this is a good work nature and motivated work style that must be a life long practice.

My laboratory experience has certainly diminished my own misconception of the Korean people. I am so thankful to have had this eye-opening opportunity. The thing I am trying to say is the attitude. Everybody knows Korean people having problem in using English. I found the communication difficulties at the beginning when they speak to slow. But then I learnt to appreciate them because they tried to entertain and welcomed me although they know their ability in using English. It made us close to each other. It is so amazing to be welcomed into the homes and lives of the families we build with. The friendships made bring more joy to my heart than words can express. I learnt so much more than I had expected.

To be a group leader of biomedical engineering students also gave me opportunity to be closer to some CEO and executive director of big companies in South Korea. LISTEM, Mediana, Medison, and Bit-Computer Company were the places we went for industrial visit. I didn’t really care how far they could go but what made me impressed were the stories behind their glorious achievements. Most of the people I met experienced a series of challenges. They never give up and till now, they show the world their ability and contributions in medical engineering field. They really motivated me to try new things that sometimes impossible. Now, I can see my educational track clearly and I need to plan my future seriously.

By,
Faruqi Razali
President of AKIUM 2008/09

Program Tautan Kasihku Aceh (TKA)- Belum Berakhir

Kepulangan Dari Bumi Serambi Mekah, Aceh

Sekembalinya kami dari bumi Aceh 14 Disember 2008 lalu, tiada ungkapan lain melainkan kesyukuran yang tak terhingga kepada Allah S.W.T. Hampir semua rancangan kami tercapai dan laluan kami dipermudah. Sejak awal lagi kami melihat program ini tidak hanya memberi manfaat kepada masyarakat di sana, bahkan kami juga mendapat manfaat yang tak ternilai. Program TKA, bukan program tangkap muat yang diada-dakan untuk memenuhi kalendar AKIUM. Bukan program yang diwujudkan semata-mata menunjukkan AKIUM tidak lagi ‘lemau’ di fakulti.

AKIUM memilih Pondok anak yatim di Lhoksumawe sebagai tapak program kebajikan kali ini bukan kerana kami meminggirkan keperluan anak-anak yatim di Malaysia. Ramai juga yang tertanya-tanya tentang rasional AKIUM berprogram di sana. Yang lebih aneh, membandingkan program kebajikan ini dengan kesanggupan golongan-golongan sosialis yang sanggup bersama-sama dengan penduduk tempatan mempertahankan hak mereka. Saya menggaru kepala.

Perbezaan Kita dan Mereka

Agenda yang kami bawa ke sana cukup jelas, bersempena Hari Raya Korban di samping memberi semangat dan galakan motivasi kepada anak-anak yatim di sana yang hidup dalam keadaan serba kekurangan. Mereka tidak seperti anak-anak yatim di Malaysia. Dari sudut kemudahan, black out dan keputusan bekalan air merupakan masalah harian. Belum lagi sebut tentang status kebersihan air yang digunakan sehari-hari. Tak banyak jalan tanah yang terturap menyebabkan kebersihan sukar dijaga khususnya semasa musim hujan. Dari sudut psikologi, kebanyakan sebab keyatiman mereka ialah mangsa konflik Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM), dan mangsa tsunami yang sudah tentu memberi kesan besar ke atas pemikiran mereka. Bagi mereka, Hari Raya Korban merupakan peluang untuk menjamah daging lembu dan kambing.

Berbeza dengan anak-anak yatim di Malaysia yang kini sudah tidak menerima lagi bantuan berbentuk makanan dan pakaian. Mereka dilayan dengan baik dari pelbagai sumbangan yang datang tak putus-putus. Jamuan di hotel itu acara biasa. Enam pasang kasut raya untuk seorang kanak-kanak juga tak pelik didengar. Malah ada juga di kalangan mereka merungut apabila mereka diambil sebagai anak angkat apabila keluarga angkat mereka tidak memberi kemewahan sepertimana mereka rasai di rumah anak yatim mereka sebelum ini. Program TKA-anak di hutan disusukan, anak sendiri di rumah di’milo’kan.

Kills Two Birds with One Stone

Selari dengan itu, kami memilih Aceh sebagai tempat kami menghulurkan kebajikan fizikal dan rohani. Alang-alang perancangan ini dilakukan di luar negara, maka bonus pula untuk ahli AKIUM belajar bagaimana pengurusan persatuan yang melibatkan hubungan luar antarabangsa, kebudayaan negara Indonesia, dan sebagainya. Malahan, program ini memberi pengalaman baru kepada sebahagian besar peserta yang pertama kali ke luar negara, menaiki kapal terbang, dan membuat passport. Hati saya sejuk melihat kesungguhan mereka dalam usaha menjayakan program ini kerana kami sedar keberadaan kami di sana bukan untuk melancong (Aceh bukan tempat yang baik untuk pelancongan), tetapi membawa misi menyemai benih perubahan kepada pemuda pemudi seakidah kita.

Kami tahu, enam hari kami di sana tidak memungkinkan untuk kami memberi lebih atau melihat perubahan itu di depan mata. Kami bukanlah witches yang boleh ubah manusia dengan hanya menjampi. Mereka juga bukanlah robot yang boleh diubah dengan hanya diprogramkan. Apa yang kami lakukan hanyalah menyemai benih perubahan dalam diri mereka. Dengan didikan yang mereka terima dari pengasuh mereka, saya percaya anak-anak yatim ini mampu menyuburkan sendiri benih yang kami semai dulu. Di kalangan mereka sendiri sudah punyai cita-cita yang besar. Mereka hanya inginkan motivasi sebagai keperluan ruji bagi menyemarakkan azam dan tekad mereka.

Program Tautan Kasihku Aceh

Sebahagian Sahabat KUIS ke Negeri Serambi Mekah

Sejak lebih dari dua bulan lalu, iaitu setelah struktur jawatankuasa Program Tautan Kasihku Acheh dibentuk, semua Exco dan Majlis Tertinggi AKIUM telah giat dalam usaha membantu anak-anak yatim di Lokhsomawe, Banda Acheh. Program ini merupakan buah tangan dari pimpinan AKIUM sesi 2007/08 apabila mereka menyerahkan program ini supaya ia lebih teratur dengan perancangan yang mencukupi. Kami, pimpinan AKIUM sesi 2008/09 mengendalikan program ini atas rasa amanah, lebih dari itu sebagai tanggungjawab.

Pihak AKIUM mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada Ketua Jabatan Kimia, Fakulti Kejuruteraan Universiti Malaya, Dr. Ezzat Chan yang bertindak sebagai penasihat program ini dan juga beberapa wakil wakil Malaysian Muslim Solidarity (ISMA) . Banyak perkongsian antara kami. Perkongsian itu menyegar dan mencelikkan. Jika tidak kerana program ini, mungkin kami menganggap Aceh masih lagi padang jarak padang tekukur- sepi dari sebarang kemajuan.

Program ini berorientasikan kebajikan khususnya kepada anak-anak yatim di Pondok Raudhah, Lhokseumawe. Antara lain, aktiviti kemasyarakatan bersama penduduk sekitar melapah daging kurban. Tahun ini lebih meriah dengan jangkaan 50 ekor lembu yang akan dikurbankan.

Sehingga kini, AKIUM telah menerima sumbangan dalam berbagai bentuk termasuk wang tunai dan logistik. Dalam perancangan, program ini akan menjadi program tahunan AKIUM bagi memastikan usaha membina ummah dan gerakan dakwah terus subur di bumi Aceh. Walaupun usaha kami kerdil, moga ia menjadi salah satu dari jutaan usaha ini. Sama-sama kita mendoakan program ini dibukakan jalan-jalan kemudahan.

Industrial Visit

June 2008, Wednesday- Prof Cho, our beloved Korean song seng nim (Professor) planned an industrial visit for eight of us, biomedical engineering students. We took about 45 minutes by subway, Prof Cho fetched us and moved to the Parkside Rehabilitation Hospital. Along the way to the hospital, Prof Cho told us a bit about the hospital. I can guess, this is not the ordinary human rehabilitation center. Some points made me curious, and some facts made me excited.

What so special?

We arrived there 15 minutes later. "This is a private hospital", that was my pre-deduction after looking at the structure of the buildings. I could see a lot of abstract-message pictures on the walls. Who of ever thought that the 81-bed rehab facility which also sees about 80-90 outpatients per day is just a year old. The center's director, Dr. Insun Park-Ko was very friendly. Jovial wouldn't be too strong a description. She greeted us at a conference room. Prof Cho told us some stories behind the ambitious women and impressed us with her vision for rehab and the design and operation of the facility. The building and equipment are very modern and cheery.

Dr. Park-Ko was the first hospital leader in Korea that I have heard describe a credible target market segment and positioning. Basically, she wants to attract Korean Americans on the West Coast of the US who need speech therapy after a stroke. As she pointed out, patients need to do speech rehab in their native language. For patients whose native language is Korean, it's going to be a heck of a lot easier to find Korean language therapists in Busan than in the US. Busan is a pleasant, beachfront community, and the hospital can make arrangements with nearby res idences to house patients and their families so they can have therapy on an outpatient basis.
If you are connected with the Korean community on the US West Coast and are looking for a promising entrepreneurial opportunity, there are possibilities here worth examining. In particular it could make sense to connect with a TPA serving Korean owned and operated businesses.

All of us were motivated and impressed with her ability and courage. I will always think of her if I facing difficulties in my way to achieve my dreams. Before we went back (move to the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea), I addressed people a speech as a representative of biomedical engineering students to express our appreciation for the well treatments and meals we had.

Next to Parkside is a UN cemetery where Korean War veterans are buried. We had a look from the hospital's rooftop and then took a stroll there. The park has sections for various nationalities that fought in the Korean War, including Americans, Canadians, Australians and so on. In addition there is a black granite wall reminiscent of the memorials on the Mall in Washington, DC where the dead are listed by country and state. It's a peaceful place where we saw many Koreans who looked liked they were veterans of that era. Dr. Park-Ko mentioned that she has sent her students over to the park in wheelchairs to experience what it's like as a PT patient. After an hour wheeling around they come back exhausted.

Slip Exam

salam buat semua warga fakulti kejuruteraan um....ingin dimaklumkan slip exam dh keluar....sila ke tingkat 2 mengambil slip exam anda...tarikh akhir pengambilan slip ialah pada 30 october 2008...sila baca arahan sebelum mengambil slip exam...sekian


attention to engineering student of university of malaya you can take your examination slip at level 2...please do it before 30th october 2008...before that please read the instruction before you take take examination slip.....tq