11.8.2025 Monday - lessons from teaching

At the Rock Road showroom site with the UPM cicaks

I recall a conversation with Eric, I mentioned that one of his students is a lovely person and I would like to have her in our office. We don't look for top students or those whom their school says has good design skills. That is the school's opinion. Besides, the principals in the office are the key designers, what we need are people who are interested to learn, quick to understand ideas when explained to them and people who care about other people.

 

One of these interns applied for a job at a friend's firm, who criticised his lack of design ability and rejected his application. Lost of an opportunity, I thought

The latest crop of interns - from CYCU, Taiwan - the kind hearted girl in this photo.

Favourite place, favourite people

I shared this with Sher-lin who visited from Japan (her Spring Break). I told her that she has a legacy here; two foster children she brought to life here in Sarawak, and have left here for others to bring up.
This was one of her final projects with us; left for Sean to bring up with builder, Liew.

When I showed her this page (the back page of our local architect's newsletter is dedicated to the importance of details) - she told me that she liked the photo on the top left. I wonder if it is because her Japanese experience has left in impression, one that reminds me of the "engawa" or the open side verandah of a traditional Japanese house.

The nursery under construction

Weak Ties

Qilin, Sia, Michelle.

The strength of your weak ties - I heard this phrase online today.

It refers to a study which showed that people got their first jobs not through their 'strong' links such as their parents, spouse, friends, but via 'weaker' links. It suggests that there is greater potential for growth, by exploring the not-so-comfortable paths, rather than the habitual and predictable networks.

Coincidentally, we were talking about this phenomenon over breakfast with Michelle Vaz and Xie Qilin. They were (re) visiting Kuching from ChongQing - they talked about conducting workshops which put Bartlett students with local graduates. Using the unfamiliarity, language and cultural barriers to create stimulus and hopefully, fertile ground for ideas to cross-pollinate and friendships to form.

Sunday Lunch for Min

There is a Whatsapp group set up by several former interns (and now close friends) - to have meals with me when I visit Singapore. We meet and eat, and talk about their lives there, and their plans for the future. I tease them about how much money they are making, that they should treat me to more meals when I visit.

The 3 of them are amongst many Malaysians who decided to work in Singapore. Many leave after obtaining their degrees for the higher pay and favourable exchange rate and never return. Even when they leave Singapore, many do not return to Malaysia.