PassionFlower Dessert Cafe

I went to Capitol Square with my friends to buy a black cartridge for Epson Stylus TX100. It was located at 730-742 George Street, Sydney. It happened that there the price was higher than electronics store chain like JB Hi-Fi, DickSmith, etc. So, instead of buying it, we bought ice cream from Passion Flower Dessert Cafe (on ground floor). We bought one take away menu, three-scoop ice cream for AUD7.5 + AUD0.5 (additional charge for take away). It was still cheaper than if we ate there, one-scoop of ice cream would cost us AUD6.

Picture 1 This is what the additional cost (50 cents) is used for

We chose Grapefruit Pink (sorbet), Black Sesame (ice cream), and Mud Chocolate (ice cream). Those three flavors were good, but the ice creams were better than the sorbet.

International Festival

International Festival was held by and in UNSW since Tuesday (25) to Thursday (27 August 2009). On Wednesday It happened that before I attended my lecture I saw the crowd, then I figured out that they held a night market from 4PM (I thought it was not late enough and the sun's shine was still quite bright). PPIA (Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia Australia), an Indonesian community club, also opened a stand there. They sold mochi, I could not believe it, even though Cianjur and Semarang were famous by their mochi, but mochi was not Indonesian food, as far as I knew, it was Japanese. Besides that, there are some other stands that represented other countries like China, Japanese, etc.

Picture 1 Night Market (Front View)

Picture 2 Night Market (Back View)

This event reminded me about my reason to study here, in Australia, especially Sydney, was that this place was diverse. Here I can meet people from different nationality, so I can also study their culture. Globalization is an issue and it has changed the way people usually do things and it is often involved people from different culture. A person, in his/her life, has some options like creating his/her own culture and let others follow or following the culture that has been established. In term of globalization, it is easier for me to do the second one because I don't have enough power to do the first option, or in other word it is usually called adaptation. If I can get accepted by the global world, I am sure that I will have more options and opportunities to do more.

Note:

Later, I just realized that when I tried to blend with the culture that has already existed before I am here, other people are important. I evaluated my actions based on other's responses to what I did, so I think it is important for the former people to be aware of this otherwise it will be difficult for new people to feel accepted and adapt themselves.

Ajisen Ramen

Ajisen ramen has established in some country, in Australia they also have branches. After the closing ceremony of ACE Leadership Competition, I and my friend tried one in World Square (the tallest building in the city), 89 Liverpool Street, Sydney. I ordered Ajisen Ramen, it was AUD9.5.

[Picture 1]

Picture 1 Ajisen Ramen (Shop)

Picture 2 Ajisen Ramen (Menu)

They provided free water but it was self-service. Bacon was used in the food, the soup tasted good and not too rich in term of flavor, but the portion was not large enough.

ACE Leadership Competition - Closing Ceremony

Five days after the competition, we were gathered again in Marriott Hotel, Circular Quay, for closing ceremony. It was a cocktail event, so they only provided us with cocktail (champagne, white wine, red wine, etc.), light drink (lime, lemon squash, etc.), and some snacks. It was started at about 6:30 PM.

Professor Alex Cameron, The Dean, did the opening speech. The speech from Juliet, today's keynote speaker, gave me the idea that technical skills without communication skills will not take you further in your career.

After those speech they announced the winner based on ten categories for ten teams (everyone is the winner), but the last three were third position, runner-up position, and the winner. I got the fourth position, the label is as the team that mimic homeless people, if I am not mistaken. Each of us got a voucher (valid for 12 months) worth AUD50 to buy a book at UNSW Bookstore. Since I paid AUD50 for this program, it was paid back.

After it had ended, many of us still chatted or took some pictures outside the room. When I met Shahid and he complained to me because I called him, "Sir". I realized my mistake, this is Australia, a different place with where I came from. I should just call him by his first name.

Plagiarism

Last month, I had an assignment to make a critical review of two article. They provided us a workshop by EDU (Education Development Unit), that is a unit that was established to provide teaching and learning support in my faculty, about "Writing Critical Review". I attended the workshop and two days later I came with my draft to EDU. She, one of EDU staff that gave the workshop, checked my draft and suggested some changes, mostly in grammar and word choice. Several days later I collected final version of my critical review (I uploaded the softcopy to the university's e-learning website and I submitted the hardcopy at the workshop).

Yesterday, some of my friends got theirs back. One of them told me that many people got bad marks and some of them thought that the workshop was not helpful. It was like a reminder that if somebody told me something I should be suspicious (see ACE Leadership Competition - First Day)

Today I just got mine back. The result was sticked to the last page. When I read my result, in "Comments" section, my tutor wrote "Make sure you follow the appropriate guidelines in terms of citation so you won't be mistaken for plagiarism. You need to see me about this issue after class!"

So. after class I went to his office and he told me that I was suspected to do plagiarism. The softcopy that I uploaded was checked and the result was my work has a certain level of similarity with others (other works, the article itself, wikipedia.com, etc.) so there was a possibility that I plagiarize. Thankfully my tutor had read my work and he trusted me, so I was free. He told me to not put too many citation without giving appropriate credits to the author, I should paraphrase it. In fact, I imitated and paraphrased all of the citation (it was also because I did not want the meaning of the sentence changed), but the plagiarism detector also can detect it (it may also analyze numbers of words in each sentence). So, I thought next time it is better to write it using my own words.

Golden Tower

Golden Tower

Seafood Noodle Restaurant

317 Anzac Parade, Kingsford

At the night of the last day of ACE Leadership Competition, I felt like want to treat myself a dinner. I went to a nice restaurant nearby.

Picture 1 Golden Tower

I asked them about their popular menu but they did not mention anything with seafood. I asked about it and he gave me some recommendation. I chose No. 88 Salt & Pepper Barramundi (fish) with rice. It was AUD7.8.

Picture 2 Ordered Menu

I got a free tea and the food was tasty (salty like its name). The food was good and I thought today I had also tried the best I could do and achieved. I was grateful.

ACE Leadership Competition - Last Day

This third and last day is about EXCELLENCE. We were gathered in ASB Business Lounge (sixth floor of ASB Building) at 8:30 AM. This time we did not get any breakfast. There were several activities for this day.

1. Business Case

Our role was as a consultant. Each group picked the case at certain time and had one hour to prepare for seven-minutes-presentation. Each group was assigned to certain room and facilitated with paper (A4 and A1) and two color marker (black and blue). We got about one hour before picked the case. We use the time to prepare things that we thought we would need to mention or discuss. After we got the case, we use half an hour to discuss and another half to write down the presentation on A1 paper.

2. First Presentation

We got seven minutes to present and another two minutes for being questioned and answered those in front of the judges and handycam (our presentation was recorded). We supported each other's answers for each question that was given to us.

3. Self Assessment

We self-assessed ourself by using questionnaire that was given after we got out of the presentation room. It was about:

a. what we think went right for our team

For our group:

- We understood the case

- We made the structure before, so our presentation was well structured.

- We listened and tried to understand to each other's ideas (brainstorming).

- We stuck with the time.

- The questions were unpredictable (like if you do that, what do you think your competitor will do?), but we had the information (from brainstorming), so we could answer the questions.

b. what we think are the ways in which we could have done better

For our group:

- We discussed things that we had planned but we did not because of time schedule (like contingency plan, risk analysis, etc.).

- We managed our presentation (like blocking).

c. negotiation style

d. Belbin (it was introduced to us on the workshop at the first day of the program)

I did not planned this, but when I thought about it, each of us played our Belbin's role for at least:

- 1 originator

- 1 coordinator

- 1 supporter

- 1 finisher

It happened naturally without planning.

4. Lunch

They provided us lunch.

Picture 1 Lunch

5. Feedback

Each group received feedback from the judges. Positive feedbacks were that we did good, our presentation was structured, and we did a good start (strong introduction). Negative feedbacks were that we gave to many solutions (we should just pick the top three). After we received our feedback, instead of chatting with others, our group returned to the room and prepared for second presentation although we did not know whether we would make it to second presentation or not.

6. Second Presentation

Only top three groups were given a chance to do the second presentation and my group made it.

After that the judges gave us their speeches. They emphasized about these:

- eye contact, always look at the audiences at their forehead, not stare at their eyes (not only the presenter but also the other members).

- to not look at the board all the time

- structure, tell your ideas then re-confirm what you have told

- to keep it really-really simple

Shahid talked to us and he told us something and I realized that I took all of the challenges without complains, I worked on it with my group, and I presented my group work. This way, I took a step in my life.

7. Experiential Exercises

- A competition to make a structure from a piece of A4 paper as tall as possible in 15 minutes.

We managed to build one, but it did not last long because of air conditioner (external factor). When it was started, everyone just jumped into it (no plan), even though in the end, after one of us came with a good idea, everyone stopped working individually and helped.

- A competition to gain control of a series of straw.

We managed to control it, but other groups can do it faster than us. We did not understand it, we just realized that it was all about time when it was over.

Some last words:

- Ash (Project leader for this day) told us about leadership, that is not only about coordinating, but also influencing.

- Stan (Project leader for second day) told us to keep things that we like.

ACE Leadership Competition - Second Day

This second day was about COMMUNITY. We were gathered in 183 Campbell Street, Surry Hills at 7:50 AM. It is known as Table for 20, an italian cafe. We used its upper floor. This morning we got a T-shirt and a breakfast with various choices.

Picture 1 Preparation for breakfast

The upper floor looked like a bar, but in fact it is also a base for Hope Street, a social organization. People from Hope Street gave us information about homeless while United Way (our sponsor) gave us the case and the tasks.

The tasks were about homeless people and it was basically:

1. to engage with people and raise awareness of http://www.commoncause.com.au

2. to create a fundraising structure

A moderator was assigned to follow us during the day and make notes about us. We were given AUD50 to cover all of our expenses, including the moderator. We were given time to work in there until 11:00 AM. We brainstormed and left from there a little bit late.

Problems:

1. We decided to buy a concession TravelTen card to travel by bus to Apple Store in George Street. When we got in the bus, three men dressed in blue got in and they asked for our card. After they looked at the card, I did not get concession. So they asked for my driving license and to noted my address in his book. My teammate kept speaking to one of them. I was relieved when they told me that this time they let me go, but later I would not. Two of us got caught, two others had concession, and one managed to get out of the bus before asked.

My thought: a team should care about its team member and each others condition. In that way, we may avoid the group to make decisions that make others uneasy.

2. After we reached The Apple Store (the store has lots of display products and internet connection), we tried to implement our idea about the first task that was to engage with people through facebook (create a group for the website) and twitter. Each of us worked with a display laptop. Just after we started our moderator told us to re-read the task and we just realized that we misinterpreted the first task. We made a sudden plans and moved from there to find a printing service. It was Saturday, so it was difficult to find one. Fortunately we found it in OfficeWork, so we could print and also use their display laptop to design. We were about one hour behind the schedule.

My thought: External resource is important, in this case at least it is to check whether we got the right idea or not. I was thankful that our moderator played her role nicely, otherwise we might have lost our points for the first task. Allocation of spare time is important.

3. We worked on our presentation slides (power point) and finished it just before 4:00 PM in Marriott Hotel. Each of us prepared our presentation while other groups presented. After I made up my speech, my teammate had an idea to not use the presentation slides because many groups did not manage to finish theirs. We agreed and we re-arrange the part that each of us had agreed before. I had to re-prepare within about 16 minutes (each group got 8 minutes) and then when we presented it, I just realized that my part and my other teammate part was overlapped. We worked as a team, so I did not do everything that I have prepared and I did some of it spontaneously. With this plan, we still did not manage to finish our presentation. I was disappointed because I thought that we had so many great ideas but we did not able to communicate those because of time limitation.

My thought: For presentation, especially when it is so much to talk about within a short period of time, I think it is better use put pictures (as proof or illustration) or diagram (to guide the audience and help them to get our idea) than write down all the words, pictures, and everything else (so we can just read those in presentation slides).

After presentation self-service dinner was served for us.

Picture 2 Dinner

After dinner, Doug Taylor (judge and keynote speaker for today's program/competition, CEO of United Way) gave a speech to us. The thing that I remembered from it was that we could start from anywhere and take a step, it would direct you.

ACE Leadership Competition - First Day

This was the first of three consecutive day when I will be involved this program which was held by Australian School of Business (ASB) for its postgraduate students. This was the first time the program was run and it cost only AUD50. There were about 50 students joined this program and we were arranged to 10 different groups. It was started on Friday, 21 August 2009. This day the program was about ADVANCEMENT.

ACE Opening Function

It was held at 8:00 AM in Marriott Hotel, Circular Quay. We were asked to wear business attire which I think refer to a black suit.

We were provided self-service breakfast by Marriott Hotel since 7:30 AM. I tried a chocolate croissant, two donut (one with strawberry jam inside and one with caramel topping), a cup of tea (Pickwick Refresh Green Tea and Lemon), and a glass of apple juice. The cakes were good, but the drinks were just usual.

Prof. Chris Adam gave speech and declared opening of the program. At 9:20 AM two bus took us form there to ASB.

Leadership Advancement Workshop

After we reached ASB, we were directed to Room 115. The workshop was facilitated by Denise Weinreis. It was meant to equip us with knowledge about teamwork and get us ready for tomorrow's competition. We got a break from 12:00 AM - 1:00 PM and a voucher worth AUD10 for foods and drinks in Quad.

We assessed ourselves by using Belbin questionnaire, then there was an activity called Zin. Some teams of about 9 people were formed and we competed each others. My team was managed to be the first to solve the problem correctly. Other team that came second held a grudge against us and our time difference is not more than 1.5 minute. I evaluated myself and found that we actually could submit the problem earlier, but some of us might not in the same page. I mean that some people like me did not think to win, I just wanted to answer it correctly. If all of us were intended to win the activity, we might submit it earlier.

I remembered that last week I was introduced to group development model (Tuckman, 1965) in a lecture. It is consisted of five stages that are Forming-Norming-Storming-Performing. This day I was told that it was not entirely correct and she showed us a model that she developed with her partner based on a research. This is the model:

[picture]

I was disappointed with my lecturer. I remembered that several months ago I listened to a speech that said that if somebody told us something, be suspicious! The activity was continued until about 4:00 PM, then we were briefed about tomorrow's program.

Thainatown Restaurant

My friend recommended this restaurant to me and my house-mate when we went to city (Sydney). This restaurant, Thainawon Restaurant, serves Thai cuisine. It is located at shop 48, 91 Goulburn Street, Haymarket. We ordered some single-meals.

Picture 1 Thainatown Restaurant form outside.

We ordered two different menus. These are foods that we tried:

Picture 2 Pad Kraphao

Picture 3 Pad Thai

It costed us less than AUD 10/serving, but they gave us free drinks (pure water) and the foods were delicious.

Sixty Years since Foundation Day

It has been 60 years since University of New South Wales (UNSW) was founded OR if it is compared to other university, it has ONLY been 60 years. Sixty years can be considered as short period by someone or long period by someone else, but I am sure that within that period history was written. With history, the university can look back, compare between the past and the present, and find out its achievements. History is important, not only for the university, but also for me, because in history information about my past was kept. I need it to monitor my progresses and learn so I can do it better when the chances come. There lies my hope that I will not take the wrong track and discover my ICE TRACK.

Photos on The Celebration Day, 30 July 2009, are as follows.

Picture 1 Quadrangle Lawn from angle-1

Picture 2 Quadrangle Lawn from angle-2

First of All

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BACKGROUND

As a working person, day-to-day activities are dominated with routines, ad hoc assignments, and deadlines. As I am getting used to do those, things get easier and I am getting more comfortable to do my job. As I am stuck within my own comfort zone, I realize the importance of "Lifelong Learning" and I started to learn again. This blog serves the same purpose since the first time I started it, to share my knowledge with you with a hope that You will get something useful from here.

 

I am looking forward to your constructive feedback.

BLOG DESCRIPTION LOG

"Ice is dangerous because it is slippery. If you have the right tools dan the abilities to control slippery ice, it is possible to run very fast on the ice safely. ICE TRACK is an undisclosed way to race at excessive speed toward your goals." (initially stated on 17 August 2009)

"Track on ice is dangerous and slippery. I am a human, no human is perfect. Every human can make mistakes and I am not exceptional. Some of my posts may be dangerous and slippery for some people, but it is not my intention. I just want to share my thoughts from my own perspective and sharing my thought is also my and our own freedom. Be a free human and share your thoughts!" (changed on 2 February 2011)

"Ice Track maintains fast paced and up to date business insights as an addition to major business news publishers." (changed on 13 April 2011)

"Ice Track as a consulting service which bridges international and local entrepreneurs to understand Indonesian market." (changed on 9 July 2011)

"Bridging Indonesia and The World" (changed on 25 May 2012)

"Learning as An Effort to Have A Better Understanding About Indonesia and The World" (changed on 29 January 2013)

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