Those days back in Foundation CUCMS

For any enquiries about CUCMS, please refer this blog post:

http://nickel-low.blogspot.com/2013/04/life-in-cucms-now-and-then-under-public.html




  It was by then 2009, correct me if I'm wrong, a newbie, an amature, a loner. Oh ya, noticed the 'mii' being changed to 'me'? Haha, had to, coz many of my readers said they didn't understand my favourite 'mii'. Anyway, the point is, it was a totally new environment to mii, with now and then most of my friends will be not only Chinese, but also Indians and Malays being the majority of the lot. 1 Malaysia hence, was well implied in my life for now and then.

From left to right: JJ, Mii, Manmeet, Siu Yin, Beatrice, Sin toun, Welly

  The day of registration at CUCMS started off with mii and my dad turning rounds in our car, trying to find the destined place. Back then, I thought Cyberjaya was too big a place for me, not now of course. Well, you know, that's what they call a 'Lost man's Syndrome'. Upon reaching the gates of my college, I and my family were greeted by the receptionist there. I myself did not sleep the whole night as I was driving the whole way down from Kedah with my dad, hence I was indescribably tired that morning. And it was then I met my 1st classmate with her family, yeah all but Toh Yee Shih! My mum and hers, as usual aunties will do, busy chatting away at first sight. I was introduced to Yee Shih by her mum, and a 'Hi' was all I could manage, I couldn't even remember her name after that, not to even have a chat with her. Well, maybe that's one reason she's been grumpy towards mii ever since, huh Yee Shih? Haha!

From top left to right: Diana, Fatin, U'a, Nadirah, Welly, Beatrice, Alif

  Later on, we had to attend the registration ceremony and speech in the college's auditorium. With my mum and Yee Shih's mum still chattering away, I and my dad slumped into our comfy chairs and started to snooze away. To my mum's horror, my dad started snoring loudy while the speech was being given, at least that's what I heard from my mum after I woke up, and hence the story of my mum trying her best to keep my dad awake! At that moment, I was quite alright with everything going on, there were some cultural shocks though, in which CUCMS stressed on reciting doa (a prayer), while other religions and races prayed accordingly before any activities were carried out. It was new for mii, but certainly well accepted as many of my childhood friends were 'kampung' boys and girls. So for mii, this is an easy hurdle to get through with. 

From top left to right: Irsyad, Jen Boon, Beatrice, Welly, Lecturer (lupa nama, XD), Mii, Ihsan, Alif, Ika, Syukri, Hanif, Majidi, Siu Yin, Zura, Chin Heng, Fatin.

  In the auditorium, that's where I met the my second classmate, Mrs Teoh Siu Yin! (she 'prefers' mii to call her 'Mrs'!  XD). My first impression on her was, she talked too much, and the language she used was rather rojak-ted, with Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien and English, all into one! Still vivid in my mind, but I think the first sentence she uttered to mii was, ' Is this your bag? ', refering to my bag on an empty chair. And so, began the journey of 'enduring' the rojak-ted conversation between her and her mum. In between, she and her mum did ask mii a few questions, and it was great to actually have someone, a friend speaking English to mii at last after being so many years in a Chinese school. Her mum was very nice and friendly, as for Siu Yin, too friendly I guess, haha, she just had so much to chatter on. 

From left to right: Hanif, Fatin, Azira

  After the speech, we each headed off with our families to our hostels, where we will be staying there for the whole foundation year. It was during the time we were 'shipped' to our hostels with vans, that I met my Penang friend Manmeet, whom I was with during my Hospital Visit attachment back in Penang, not too long ago. It was cool to finally meet someone I knew before as it was easier for mii to communicate. What's more amazing was, we were once again put together as a team, weird huh how destiny works? When I reached my hostel, I came to my room, where then I met my Foundation housemates, Wan Ilahi, Hanif, Syazwan, Iryshad and Chin Heng. I also met my room-mate, Jen Boon. As of any other typical Chinese-based Chinese guy, squared-faced I thought, he was one which I could really get used to then. But the one that sparked into life was Chin Heng, helping mii move my things around and having chats with my family. Well, it's of no wonder that Chin Heng is the only guy from my batch that my family remembers up till now. Soon, it was time my family left, and there I was alone to explore my new hostel, get to know my new house-mates, staring a whole new beginning!

From left to right: Siu Yin, Han Chuan, Welly, Sin Toun, Mii, Beatrice

  I and my batch-mates-to-be started off our hectic life (I'm in CUCMS for 3 years now and I can say it's more than hectic!) with our orientation, getting to know each other better through activities planned for us. It was great, apart from some of our batch-mates being punished my the seniors to do push-ups and then walk themselves back to their hostel which is so far away from our campus for some unknown reason. For mii, it was really unreasonable and totally nonsense, as if we were in boot camp! It's an ORIENTATION for God's sake! That aside, I met many other of my friends, in which one of them was Beatrice, whom also was my team mate during my Penang attachment. One of the most embarrassing moments for mii was the mistake of recognising JJ as Ooi, as at that time I though they both looked alike! Seriously they do, both from Penang, typical Penang guys! But it was like two in one, and that's where I got to know both of them better through that silly mistake.

From left to right: Welly, Nadirah, Mii, Beatrice

  After the orientation, it was then our first day of class. Exciting it was as it started off perfectly, and I remember the first day I and my house-mates sat at the back together as we were quite late there. Nevertheless, it was a good first day for mii, and for the days to come as well! I was in Class 4F that time, a class so lively, so fun that I couldn't stop laughing everyday. There I met the rest of my 4F friends, each with their character and personalities of their own. They were like a family to mii, and I really could never forget those days where we grouped together in out hostels, having discussions for hilarious sketches and other stuff, an experience that I appreciated so much up till now.

Haka Dance 2009 !!!!

 Foundation was a year for mii to not forget, a really meaningful year for mii. I remembered the time when I taught Ooi to take the bus back to Penang, ending up having lunch with my aunt at a decent restaurant, and soon got to know each other even better. There was another moment when I and Chin Heng took the wrong bus to Alamanda, ending up rounding the whole of Putrajaya! Each with a sparkle of it own, memories not to ever forget. Among classes, we students do mangle with each other, and it would seemed everyone had his or her own story, everyone with a person being matched-made to. It was fun actually to see how things progressed, as friends and batch-mates, we walked hand-in-hand together. 

From top left to right: Hasif, Sin Toun, Pauline, Nichole, Ah Sa, Candy, Mei Yee, Beatrice, Welly, Siu Yin, Yvonne, Pija, Dai Ko

  Then came the defying moment of my life. I still remembered that night, stressed-out with all the assignments piled-up on my table, I received a phone call, asking mii out to a bar nearby. And there was where I met those 3 girls, Candy, Poh Ling and Fei Ting. As in my previous blog, I was like a replacement for Han Chuan as he couldn't attend that night, but what a replacement it was as it turned out Candy and Poh Ling calling mii as 'Ah Kong', becoming the best of friends till this very day! Then began the reign of CJ (that's mii) and the 3 girls who always stuck together, with JJ also in the picture. So, that was that, Candy and Poh Ling persisted as the best friends for mii in CUCMS thus far.

From left to right: Candy, Pauline, Fei Ting

  A moment to take note on was the celebration of my birthday by 4F and my other foundation friends. It was a touching moment for mii as they planned troughly for that. I really couldn't stop thanking them, and it really was a moment for mii to stop and relapse back on every detail that day. Another moment to remember was the day I found my short-lived, but meaningful enough love. Though the details are kept confidential, but I do promise it was wonderful while it lasted. I also had Mr. Eric as my lovely mentor, Doremon was his nickname, and soon, he became more than just a mentor to mii, he was like an older brother to mii, keeping mii out of trouble and helping mii in whichever way he is capable of. Thank You Mr. Eric!

From left to right; Top: Megah, Syazwan

Middle: Hanif, Ihsan, Hasif, JJ, Hussien, Jen Boon, Alif, Iryshad

Botton: Nadirah, Welly, Izdiha, Mr. Eric, Fei Ting, Candy, Kambing, Poh Ling

  Our foundation ended with a climax, where we all got together for a batch-grand-dinner. Unity was felt, and everyone was together, sharing and laughing as a whole. Then, it was our Finals, the final of all Finals. Then after, comes the end of our Foundation life. Felt as if a long time at first, but in the end, it ended too quickly. There were so many more things to explore, so many things more to enjoy, but time had to be the limit. Soon all of us will be in 1st Year of MBBS, and there starts the hectic life. I really missed those foundation years, it was the only time I could really express myself, and I really regret I did not do to the fullest at that moment. No matter how, tears were shed, laughter was created and we could only look back now in envy at our life back in Foundation.

From left to right: Suli, Ooi, Mii, Jen Boon

  Time has passed, some of our friends have left us to pursue their studies at other colleges due to some internal problems, though no matter how, those memories with them will never be forgotten. I myself would love to be back there once again, a time where I really was happy in CUCMS, but then, good things do come to an end and move on shall be the only path to be taken upon. My love for all my friends during Foundation shall be eternal, and for that, a tribute paid from mii to all those that had ever walked through my life, those days back in Foundation CUCMS....

From left to right top: Yappy, Mii, Joey, Mei Yee

Really sorry for those whose pictures or names were not included here, don't worry as I still keep hold each and every bit of memories that I've spent with you guys! And to note, I still really couldn't change my 'mii' to 'me', haha! Take care everyone! XD

Here, a video to remember:

A video to remember!! ^-^

Signing off:
Nickel Low CJ