Call centres¬¬¬¬¬

Call centres are popularly used nowadays for companies that are planning to cut budgets down. Is it a useful way? Yes. Call centres are moved to poorer countries like western Asia, Africa or South America. It does cut the expenditures awful lot.

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No offense to all citizens in poorer country, what I want to say is aiming for all company heads of communication. Please don’t be offended and I am not discriminating any nation.

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Think about it, what is the use of communication? Someone speaks and someone receives the message. It is simple but it is not. Some companies are putting their call centre into a country that people speaks poor English. With poor spoken English, how can the listener on the phone receive the message? Maybe some may have noticed that talking over the phone does make the voice not so clear. And when it adds to terribly spoken English, it makes it even difficult.

Once, I have a problem with my ink cartage. I phoned the ink cartage provider (one of the biggest companies in the world to sell computer and printer- with only two letters in their brand name) for supports. The staff of the call centre speaks terrible English and I am not sure what she is talking about. Not to mention her rudeness when I ask her to repeat, she knows nothing about the product, just providing me a website to find solutions. To be honest, is it the right way of a call centre?

Let’s say a company put their English spoken help line to China where people barely can speak fluent English, do you think it works? The speaker will be so hard to explain himself and the listener will be hard to grasp what the staff wants to say. I am not expecting much from a call centre. A call centre with a fluent speaker and providing information that I need is just a basic standard.  

Culture of games

Games, by definition, it provides a way to entertain and relax ourselves. It can include lots of areas, from sports to online and computer games. Among all of them, computer games are one of the most popular of all, it does not only have an effect on children and teens but also adults. Computer games do not only limit on games played in computers and laptops but also including X-box, PSP and also the games apps on our phone. I am sure most people have tried at least one kind of computer games. So why does computer games have such an effect on us?

The answer is simple. Everyone wants to put down their works and relax. It is indeed a very good idea to relax. However, there are lots of arguments in the society about it. Some said games are addictive where some said it is too violent. Actually, I am not worried at these at all but I do have a few points for everyone to think about it.

First, as everyone must have known, the purpose of games is to relax. Of course, we will put down all our stress and enjoy those moments. We will, of course, play hard (hopefully you will work hard too). However, have we ever thought of people besides us? Have you ever thought playing computer games is actually an annoying and also worrying activity? I believe most people will think their parents moaning to ask you to stop playing is annoying but what about them? Are they having a good time too? No. Your parents are just for your own good. However, you do not listen to them or even scold them. Is it a right way to treat a person whom cares about you? Moreover, it is not only you to be annoyed, people sitting near you are also been as much annoyed. Why? When you are trying to enjoy yourself, of course you will try to put yourself into a maximum excitement. Some will put the volume to a very high level or shouting “yes” when they have successfully achieve something or some needs to communicate to each other when playing a “muti-player” game. It is actually annoying to others as you are forcing them to listen to you especially to those who want to concentrate on their work and also resting. This selfish attitude is not acceptable and I think all players of computer games should have a deep think on it.

Are computer games really a bad stuff then? No. As one does not really play computer games, a friend of mine has once told me that “computer games make friends”. At first I do not trust it, thinking there are still awful lots of topics there will be to talk to a friend. However, after times, I find out that it is not that true. Maybe it is not true to girls as girls are less addicted to computer games. But as a male, lots of friends beside me are addicted to computer games and most topics they are talking are within topics about games. It makes me annoyed that I cannot response a single sentence to what they are talking. So games do bring friends. It is a good message to computer game friends.

Do take my advice, play computer games but control yourself for the maximum benefits of computer games. 

No wifi?!?!

Think about it, what will be your life like if  there is no internet access? Someone in this world (maybe it is you!) is addicted to internet services. Some friends of mine is so addicted to social networking website like Facebook or Twitter. They just feel that something is missing if  they are not on Facebook that day. Some even spend over an hour on these websites. To me, I am also addicted to internet like the news. Why?

This answer is simple, just because we want to keep ourself up-to-date.

Recently, my wifi service is out of order and I cannot access to the Internet. No news, no social networking, no online games or whatever. Many of friends are amazed by it and ask me why can I pass through days without wifi. It is actually very difficult...

50 years ago, computers are still not commonly in use and information can be only disturbed in limited ways. Nowadays, we are living at the modern world with plenty of advance technology systems. Modern people have already adopted to the fast ways of access information but starting to forget the traditional ways. Think about this, how long are you spending with a technology device compare to your friends and buddies? In buses or trains, most people are holding their phones or notepad or even computer, staring and pressing the screening. Although this helps us to access to information more quickly, it is not a healthy activity. Staring at the screen will make your eyes tired where holding a phone for a long time will harm your nerve system. I think I do not need to speak any more as it is obvious.

Here, I just hope everyone can use less technology devices and speak to your friends more... Break Now I am off to find my friend....

Review of a flight from Hong kong to London

I just took a flight from Hong Kong international airport to London Heathrow airport, flying with Cathay Pacific. Let me share my experience with you.

Hong Kong International airport

Hong Kong International airport is a fantastic airport. Wow! Everything is just wonderful. The airport is clean and the staff are nice. The most important of all is the wifi service. It allows passenger to access the Internet wherever they are in the airport (even in the un-restricted area).

     East hall traveller lounge

     This lounge is not bad at all with a wide range of food and services although the lounge is a bit too much people. However, there are enough space and seats. There are a bar table and also a small buffet area, providing sandwiches, noodles, rice and etc. drinks are also unlimitedly provided, range from soft drinks to wines.

Cathay Pacific

Well, my flight is scheduled to depart at 00:35, but boarding starts at 00:20 and the plane leaves gate at 01:00. After taxiing, the plane finally departs at 01:30, almost an hour late as the porpoised time but arrive on time as scheduled. The flights attendants were doing their work extremely carefully for pre-flight checking like switching off electronic devices, seat beats and loosen items. Double checking was conducted. The in-board entertainment was good with more than fifty movies and TV shows available. Music ranged from classical to pop is also available and games are provided. The food is not excellent but not too bad. I think the white rice provided is too hard but the appetizer and the desert (ice-cream) is wonderful. During the flight, snacks are provided and passenger can freely get them. A tiny turbulence hit the flight but the pilots are capable to sort it out. Both taking off and landing is taken in good manner.

London Heathrow Airport

I can say that London Heathrow airport is much older than Hong Kong International airport but also one of the busiest airports in the world. Although the queue for immigration is long, there are enough staff so waiting time is not long. One thing I appreciate London Heathrow Airport is staff will take all the luggage out of the belt after a period of time. This make travelers easier to get the luggage and decrease the time to find their luggage.

    Maple Leaf London Arrival Lounge

     This lounge is managed by Air Canada and it is not easy to find as you need to get out to the bus station before getting into the lounge. The staffs are kind and provide help whenever needed. The showering facilities are prefect for travelers taking a long flight. Although less facilities are provided compare to Hong Kong East Hall Traveler Lounge and wifi service don't seem to provided, there are computers and coffee corner is in service.

School...

Here comes the first Monday of September! I believe most students in the world (excluding those countries start a new academic year in January or whatever months) are starting school today. So, schools… Let me talk about school today.

I think school is a wonderful place. Being a place to study, it does not only provide knowledge in books, it is also a place to grow. In schools, we will learn the skills that lead to success in the future, for example communication skills. By knowing friends, we increase our social network. Don’t look down upon to this  network. It is an amazing stuff- just as amazing as the spider web in “Charlotte Web”. Humans are live in groups and we will give our friends a hand when they are in difficulties and vice versa. As our ancestor said, “One’s wealth is not depending on money but friends”.

Have you ever noticed that the friends you meet in school are the most pleasurable? Although we may not keep in touch much with our school friends after graduate, I am sure you will notice that school life is one of the happiest times in your life. Friends met in school are real friends but friends met in your career are virtual. Why? Just simply, humans are greedy and most friends made in your career will only have their eyes open when benefits can be made. Of course, I am not saying every human is greedy and no true friends can be made in your career. There must be some exceptions but most of them are true. To have true friends or even best friends are difficult, not just like adding a friend on Facebook or Twitter by clicking a button or so. True friends need time to build up and this relationship will be challenged (and may be decay) by time.

Back to communication skills, think about it. What is the difference between a dumb and one person who is lack of communication skills? Without communication skills, your listener will just don’t understand you. With a more seriously case, you may hurt one easily. Words from our mouths are a powerful weapon and it does hurt people often. I am sure everyone have tried to hurt one by words.

By all these, I enjoy school life and miss it so much. So I wish all teens all the best in their studying career. And here, I hope all student work hard and aim for the best.

Good luck and enjoy school!

Right or Wrong???

Today is the 22th Sunday of the Ordinary Time and I went to church as usual on Sundays. And I would like to share my little thoughts of the gospel. Do not be worry, I am not asking you to join Christian (though it will be prefect if I can persuade you to be Christian), I just want to share my views of the modern society.

Today'a gospel is from Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23 (Jesus and the traditions) where the bible mentions about Jesus's disciples eat with unclean (unwashed) hands which is against the Jewish "law" (traditions from their ancestor). Jesus argues that the original meaning of washing hands is to purify themselves in front of the altar (where God is present) where the law of forcing people to wash hands before meals is against the original meaning. Yes, washing hand clean yourself before meal, and in modern world, to avoid bacterial microorganism enters our body. However, it should not consider as a "must" and punish who do not do it.

Sometimes, we just think about what is "right" or "wrong" but not considering the original meaning of it. Sometimes, we object a policy or an idea but not thinking about the thoughts behind the policy. For example, students are complaining about homework and exams for the extra pressure. But the fact of setting up exams is to make sure you remember stuff and know your weakness. So why not? Another good example of this is the words from your parents. I know that most of them are stinging but have we think about our parents? Our parents are just kind and caring. Why will one care you if he or she is a stranger to you?

So step back, do not always consider what you can see but also think deeper. Before deciding any thing, have a moment of think and you may discover the world is much better than what you are seeing now.

May God bless you all.

Farewell, Facebook!

It is my first day not logging into Facebook after using it for at least 3 years. Well, I created my Facebook account dated back to 2008 but not using it until May 2009. The reason I started using Facebook in 2009 is to save precious moments in my old school. And here comes blogger~~~

At first, Facebook was really a good platform to communicate with friends and long lost friends. However, Facebook eventually changed the look of the page and I started hating the new looks. Every new function was just as complicated as hell. After Facebook forced me to change my profile to the new “timeline”, I was planning to close my Facebook page but I didn’t as Facebook did bring me joy before. In the hate and love situation, I decided that if anyone disappoint me with Facebook in the future, I will stop using it. After struggling in this “hate and love” situation for a month, finally, one of my best friends angers me on Facebook on the 31th of August. The reason that angers me is that I could not get immediate reply from the chatting messages. Although it seems like that it is not a good reason to hate one, it is tiring to starling at the screen, waiting for a single reply. Yes, he did reply me but I need to wait for at least 5 minutes for one single message to pop out. I did warn him before for a faster pace of replying but there are no improvements. For me, chatting message act like speaking to one by words and I am expecting immediate reply from that person. On the other hand, e-mail is not a chatting system where immediate reply is not necessary.

However, the worst had not yet come out. I am shocked by the messages after I put a post that I will not be on Facebook. One friend of mine said,” don’t be so childish” and stating that I am smaller than him. Yes, indeed, I am exactly one year smaller than him but I thought he had already accepted the fact that I am smaller than him but studying in the same year. It makes it worse by that friend whom had anger me at first writes out only part of the reason that I stop using Facebook (the only part that “just because i cant reply him every message on time...”). He does not seem to not to have any guilt at all and it is just not the whole fact. The most important of all is he does not keep what i have told him private. He even replied the post that “never will he really grow up...” This is the most disappointing sentence ever in my entire life. I thought a best friend of mine will understand me but it turns out I am wrong. How disappointing it is!!!