15 September, 2004
'title' and designation
My email:
Dear Lucy,
I've just realised that the date of the exam that we discussed last night
(15 Nov) falls on the days of the Islamic Eid celebration right after the fasting month. I would really
appreciate it if you would consider this as there are several of us
(Muslims) in the class. Anyway, the 1st exam date that we discussed last
week was on 8 Nov (week 14) which i think is more preferable for most of us. However, i would understand if you unable to entertain this request due to university policy etc. Your understanding is highly appreciated :). Thanx.
Regards
Z
her reply:
Z
This is good news as I can now go well armed for a change. The policy can rot. We have bigger issues - education and client service.
I will try again for 8th and let you know.
L
well, she's kewl or what... :) hopefully she'll manage to change the date...
another thing bout lecturers around here... they are really uncomfortable if people start calling them Dr, or Prof eventhough that's the title that they've been granted with... they would prefer to be addressed just by their 1st name... unlike back in my workplace and maybe several other universities in malaysia... the 'title' seems very important... as if it's a taboo not calling those people by the designated 'titles'... i dunno, i dont really see those 'title' that important... (maybe yes for self-achievement/satisfaction)... coz even when i was an undergraduate student (also in malaysia) we are not use to call our lecturers in the dept. by those so called 'titles'... although they do have one... they would actually prefer if we just call them pak, sir, mam, or simply Encik or puan... as long as we respect them... it actually makes us feel more comfortable comunicating with them... they are more like a friend to us... they also have no problem sitting with the students during breaks, breakfast or lunch hour having non-academic discussion...
it's nice to have similar environment in here, it is nothing unusual to actually have a walk side by side, & chat while waiting for the same tram with a Professor! hmmm maybe those things are influenced by the organization culture... it may seems awkward in one place but it is actually something normal in another...
bout another 4 years time.... insyaAllah i might get one of those 'titles'... & i hope i wouldn't mind if people are not addressing me with the 'title' as long as they respect me... kang org kata cakap tak serupa bikin plak.... hehe
remembered last time in the previous college i was working... some older students sometimes called me just by name which i didn't really mind since some of them are much2 older than me... but other would called me 'kak' which i would jokingly replied "heh bile plak saya kawin ngan abg awak... hehe"