The Star R. AGE #StandTogether SEA Zoom Party (31/7/2021)

 It's been five months since the #StandTogether expanded its kindness to the Southeast Asia region. Now we are back for a zoom party! Before I proceed with the details, let us have a memory refresher on what #StandTogether is. #StandTogether is a kindness campaign by Star Media Group's (SMG) investigation journalist team - R. AGE, to spread kindness and empathy in our communities and schools. 

I was in a middle of an online Buddhist youth camp. I took some time off from the camp and quietly sneaked into the party. I did accept the email invitation by the #StandTogether team, but I guessed it was good to make a surprise appearance. After Ian was finished, I unmuted my microphone to give a quick hello to the kindness leaders who were at the party. I could see the surprise on their faces. Whenever we are in a kindness workshop or a kindness zoom party, the breakout rooms are always my favourite because we get to know other kindness leaders. 

This time, it was finding the three common points that we have in our respective groups. For my group, we had a little struggle in the beginning as we were trying to figure out what do we have in common. Pinya, from Thailand, pointed out that we were all girls, the second point was we were from Southeast Asia and the last point, we all loved Disney's Raya and the Last Dragon. After that, we went back to the main room to share the three points. 

We had a mini sharing session from four SEA countries, Kaveesha representing Malaysia, Chris representing the Philippines, Jun Shan representing Brunei and Neerzara representing Indonesia. Each of the kindness leaders shared their experiences how the campaign helped them to spread kindness in their communities and even conducting their own kindness workshops. I thought "Maybe I should do one too someday". I can't do this alone, need some help with fellow kindness leaders. 

In the middle of the sharing session, the news came in that our badminton men's doubles - Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik delivered the first-ever medal at the Tokyo Olympics - it's a bronze! Yeah, I was in the Olympics mood, I'm sure we all were. 

The party ended with a group picture and a jam board for us to put in our ideas in the next kindness workshop or zoom party. It was time for me to head back to the online camp! Looking forward to more kindness events. For more kindness information, follow #StandTogether's official social media pages. 

FB: StandTogether  

IG: @standtogethermy 

全国私立大专佛教全营：心经的智慧（2/7/2021-4/7/2021）

 “佛教全营” —— 这四个字对我来说，很遥远却很靠近。在疫情之前，就这样错过一次又一次的全营。这一次，绝对不会错过！在营长—— 姵京的鼓励下，于是报名参与第六届全国私立大专全营之《心经的智慧》。

全营的第一天，营员登入Zoom平台 “报到”，全营团队为大家简报这三天的流程以及规则。团康团队给营员们一个小小的任务，就是《小菩萨与守护神》。这活动让我想起大学的活动《Angel and Master》—— 以电邮方式来守护对方或被守护。之后，营员们被派到各自的小组进行在破冰环节。我是在利行组。

在利行组组长—— 康进和蕰莉的领导下破冰，互相认识对方。在全营的前几天，有答应他们要唱一首歌给他们听，唱一小段的《佛法的力量》。在上课程（一）一半时候，晚餐捧到自己的面前，关了摄像机一阵子。心里有点内疚，但是有在听课。课程（一）结束后，大家再次回到小组进行讨论。我记录不多，也是从组员们分享，再加上笔记。晚课，我们念诵华文版的《慈经》，也回向给所有的众生；希望疫情可以早日脱离人间，让我们回归正常生活。

第二天，大家早起出席早课。在早课的十分钟，捷盈还贴心拨电话过来问我是否已经起身了。我们以往会向佛和师父问讯，早课开始啦！原来早课是念诵《心经》、《普贤十大愿》、回向等等。副课话环节可说是有趣的话题—— 《鬼》，如何在佛教的角度看待呢？有一个小总结就是：知道鬼神的存在，互相尊重就不会惹祸上身。在团康环节，第一个联想到是：会不会跳舞啊？或者唱歌？原来动动脑筋来猜猜佛法！可是挑战的是我们完成在特定的游戏站就可以得到一个提示，猜出佛法。利行组是猜到不贪，是十善中的意，“贪” 也是三毒中的 “贪、嗔、痴” 

继续探讨《心经》的内容在课程（二）。在 “空” 的部分，其实不是 “空空洞洞什么也没有”，“空” 是肯定一切存在之存在的，否定有个永恒不变的实体。它是流动的组合。在小组讨论，我们对 ”空“ 有所的疑问，我把所记录的笔记念出来与组员们分享。利和同均嘛！我想也是利行的含义之一吧？

最后一天，可以说是法喜充满一整天。早上时段须要离营一阵子，因为有任务在身—— 教家乡的儿童佛学班；午休时候，再去上家乡的青年佛学班。上完之后，马上 “回营”。师父再给予各组总呈现的评语。我们再次分到各组时候，我们猜着谁是小菩萨和守护神。时间只是五分钟，我们回去 “大厅” 听师父的叮咛。

最大的福利是可以回到各自小组继续互相猜猜小菩萨和守护神。三天的全营短暂，可我们都打成一片了！我的守护神—— 欣仪，都成了姐妹！利行组组员们成了彼此的法侣，希望在学佛的路上可以互相知道彼此。

感谢《心经的智慧》团队，辛苦大家啦！感谢佛祖让我在疫情下参与人生的第一个线上佛教青年全营！愿大家在学佛路上继续走下去，弘扬佛法！

University Nottingham Malaysia Campus MUN 2021: Champions Cup (19/6/2021-20/6/2021 & 25/6/2021-27/6/2021)

 I thought I would hit the 20th MUN conference milestone at Champions Cup 2021 but NightMUN weekend took over the spot, it's okay! First day Champions Cup is quite relaxed, we have games such as the Scavenger Hunt, Sports Tournament and Spy Game. Due to special needs, I only managed to join two out of the three games. I think the Scavenger Hunt is a favourite in my list. Although, I didn't join the Sports Tournament, I heard some of the delegates didn't end up well after that. Ouch, that's harsh! Guess we all need to pump all that muscles despite being in full MCO. 

On the second day, let the brain power begin! I'm in the ECOSOC council once more, delegating as the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. We have two topics to discuss on:

1. Regulation of Cryptocurrency 
2. Finance and Development of Sustainable Energy in Developing Countries 

As always before formal debate, we are given the primary speakers list for delegates in this council to set which topic we are going to debate on. Although, my personal preference is Topic B, everyone is on Topic A. We still have time for the second topic, if we managed to get the first topic done. For the third session of the conference, it's not debate but the team invited a guest speaker from UNMC - Dr. Andrew Silva to share his experience working in the UN. I did ask a lot of questions, especially on how to get youths to talk about mental health. 

Unfortunately, I didn't stay long because I have a Sunday class to attend. After the a long day of debating, it's time to kick back relax and go on a (virtual) holiday with Global Village. I think out of the three presentations, I love the Kenyan delegation, which really take us on a virtual holiday. We all miss travelling! Hopefully, after the pandemic, we can travel like we used to. 

To make our council interesting and stimulate our brains, Eiman has this idea of making our council into a crisis council but it's the ECOSOC version. I have to admit that crisis is not my best form in MUN conferences but it is worth a shot. At one point, Eiman played as the fictional prince in our council and Angus acts as a advisory to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

The draft resolution  has some acronyms that we would use in daily conversations but personally, I wouldn't recommend to put them, really. Here's a tip please use proper acronyms when writing draft resolutions. Again, I'm off to Sunday class. By the time I came back, I heard the delegate of France commits a fictional murder, which this delegate would not accept at all! She is one revengeful delegate in character! Please do not commit any of the actions above. Diplomacy and peace are the keys in a council, unless we wanna have conspiracy, please, go to a crisis council - where we can fictionally plot any plans. 

We headed to the crisis council- which has some intense discussion, it is, because we know crisis! How I wish they could play the running away music background as what we did in NightMUN weekend council.  I'm hopping on and off the channel to listen the discussion they have in council. 

I can say Champions Cup 2021 is not our traditional MUN. Although, there is some confusion in between prior to the conference, overall the team has done an amazing job to make this first ever virtual Champions Cup a success! Kudos to Yun Ni (Winnie) and team! Not forgetting my fellow delegates in the ECOSOC council and to our honourable chair and co-chair, Eiman and Jesse! 

This is Kar Marn, delegate of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from ECOSOC, signing off! 

Sunway Virtual Intercultural Project: Reitaku University Japan (24/6/2021)

 After an experience with the students from Petra Christian University Indonesia last month, now it's time to "pack" and "fly" to the land of the rising sun with the students of Reitaku University Japan. Okay, I'm not an up riser, but I have to. Luckily, I'm a morning person - which is a good thing. After breakfast, it's time to turn up the computer, log into the Zoom room and let's go to Japan (virtually).

Ms Joey - the coordinator for today's virtual intercultural project. First off we start off by welcoming the students to Malaysia (virtually) since we are the host for this project. I'm impressed with Ms Joey's Jaapnese skills. We showed the students of Reitaku University why Sunway campus is the #MostHappeningCampus, and in turn, they show theirs. 

We are broken up into breakout rooms for the Malaysian and Japanese students to meet. First off, the Japanese students show us a dessert - kakigoori, which is eaten during the summer - which is right about now but Malaysia is summer all-year-round, a tropical country. Marie and I ask the questions to the students whether we go by bike or by train. 

The best way to get to the kakigoori restaurant is by train - a station away with walking distance. It's similar to the one we have in Malaysia - ais kacang batu campur or ABC for short. Marie and I show the students the places in Malaysia. A five-minute break for us to take some time off, we are supposed to stay in the breakout room but I exit the breakout room a few times. We continued with the food in Malaysia and Japan. 

We head back to the main room to share our insights during the interactive session with our new friends. I really love it! It really brings me back to my trip to Japan with my family seven years ago. Hopefully, when the pandemic is over, we can travel again. 

Thank you to everyone who joins the event! Hope to see you at the next one! Please keep in touch! 

UNofficial MUN: NightMUN 2021 (5/6/2021-6/6/2021)

 I was in a middle of a MUN break after a hectic month of April of attending MUN conferences back to back. I was relaxing as always, then, Angus - the secretariat of NightMUN asked me to join in. The thing was just left a couple of days before the mini conference. The reason he gave was "They needed someone who is experienced to guide them in conference - an older sibling to look after them, to show them the ropes on how MUN is done," 

Prior to the conference, I did have a sneak peek of the list of who were in the conference. Veterans like Lim Ke Wen and our famous and friendly MUN detective "Sherlock Holmes" also known as Ernest, they have done more MUN conferences than I have before stepping into the scene in 2018. I was sure, they didn't need me to be there. I couldn't stand the bugging anymore, signed up at the last minute. My role was assigned as MP of Taman Setapak (it's a make believe constitution, imagine we are in the future year of 2053). 

In the beginning of the council, I was doing just fine - giving speeches in the general speakers list (GSL) and raising Points of Information (POI). True enough, I got shot by the new delegates on board and thought to myself: "Am I really in the right council?"

 Some of the delegates thought I was stealing the spotlight by flexing my experiences in MUN. Well, if we wanna to show the new comers on board on how a MUN conference is done, we have other experienced MUNers in the council right? I can just sit back and watch the drama and listen to the debate - which I eventually did, during the second day of council, most of the time. 

Okay, we had to admit the running away music scene it's pretty cool of a fictional crime, which it was because we were in a crisis council with a form of Dewan Rakyat. To new budding MUNers, crisis council might not be the best choice, but if you're adventurous and taking the first step, good for you! 

Kudos to Angus and team on the first ever NightMUN weekend conference! Keep it up! 

This is Kar Marn, MP of Taman Setapak, signing off! 

Sunway Virtual Intercultural Programme: Petra Christian University Indonesia (29/5/2021-31/5/2021)

It’s been almost a week since I officially graduated from university (virtually). As I adjusted to my new status as a Sunway alum, it’s time to give back to the alma mater by being one of the student helpers, well, alum helper for me, to host the students from Petra Christian University (PCU) Indonesia. 

Before the big day, we had a briefing on how to attend to the students. Some of us were concerned of language barrier but we were assured that English will be used at all times which kind of gave us a relief. 

The big day came, we were super excited to meet our Indonesian counterparts for the first time. We have Ms Endry, who was one of the lecturer representatives from Petra Christian University. First and foremost we had an ice breaking session. After that, we introduced them to Sunway University College as well as Malaysia. Same went to our Indonesian counterparts as well, when they introduced Petra Christian University and the amazing places that we should visit in Indonesia. 

To give them a taste of Malaysian culture, we showed them how to make teh tarik (sweet tea) and mamak - a place that us Malaysians love to go anytime of the day. If we have a sports event, especially the Olympics - we will gather at the mamak to cheer the Malaysian contingent on. 

After showing each other’s cuisines from both countries, we were broken up into individual rooms to interact with one another. In my room, I had Angelica and Kenley. We have a list of topics to choose from. At first, we wanted to choose taboos but it was a little tough. After Angelica looked up on my social media profile, she asked me "Katelyn, are you a Buddhist?", I said "Yes!"

We decided to change from taboos to religious venues. We found out that Malaysia and Indonesia have a lot in common in worship places. After that, each team presented the common and differences of Malaysia and Indonesia.

A group photo was taken to commemorate the day. Thank you Sunway Cultural Exchange and the students Petra Christian University Indonesia.  

Sunway University Virtual Graduation 2021 (23/5/2021)

 It's the moment that every graduate is waiting for - an official graduation ceremony to close the chapter of four years in university and embarking into the real world. The graduates of Sunway University are no exception. Due to the current covid-19 pandemic, we have virtual graduation. Virtual graduation - a common scene for university graduates from all over the world. We have seen some universities where they have robots replacing the students to take the scrolls on their behalf. 

At first, I thought, will that happen to me during my own graduation? We'll just have to find out. A day before my own graduation, I attended the graduation of my course mates in my batch (Jan / Mar 2017 intake). The first virtual graduation ceremony for the class of July 2020 has now begun! Dignitaries such as the ambassador of French to Malaysia, the UK High Commissioner to Malaysia and The Dutch Embassy just to name a few to wish all the graduating class of July 2020 a huge congratulations and success in their future. 

The graduation takes place both on Facebook and YouTube through live streaming, we can even wear in our pyjamas while watching. The ceremony begins with the student council taking the chancellor sceptre from the library to the venue of graduation venue at Sunway Resort Hotel, followed by the ceremonial march of professors and chancellors. After the national anthem, the Negaraku, the chancellors and professors were seated, let the ceremony begin! 

The ceremony begins with a speech from our chancellor and founder of Sunway - Tan Sri Jeffery Cheah, AO. He is affectionately known as "Papa Cheah" among the students on campus. "Quality education shapes the quality nation", that's what he said in the opening speech. Next, it's the moment we have been waiting for , the presentation of the scrolls of diplomas and degree scrolls. One by one, the students' names are shown on the screen. 

A speech from the valedictorian and welcoming address from Prof Elizabeth Lee to welcome the new graduates into the Sunway alumni community. At the end of the ceremony, a slide show of our days on campus with our friends and lecturers. Not long after the first-ever graduation ceremony, the phone starts to buzz in with messages to congratulate the graduating class of July 2020. Days before graduation, I drew a graduation cap which I learned from YouTube. My course mates thought I was giving ang pau (red packets) to them. 

This is what the virtual graduation looks like for the next three sessions - which I attend all of them because my friends are in the second session of the first day of the virtual graduation. On 23 May 2021, it's a special day for me and my coursemates in the August 2017 batch because it is our turn to be officially graduated. 

An hour before the event, I clad in my yellow cheongsam - which I'm planning to wear if we were to have physical graduation. I guess we can still dress in our best to have the feeling even though we are not there in person. Seeing my name popping up on the screen for that few seconds, a sense of joy and happiness, as well as success! I'm proud to say that I'm a Sunway graduate! 

Congratulations Sunway graduate classes of July 2020 and February 2021! We did it!