a confetti mind

Hotel Design & Planning, held every Tuesday mornings and Wednesday afternoons are one of the classes we look forward to as there is a change of scenery from the concrete walls and minute window openings (the irony of studying design ourselves !) and Mr. Devendran had a different approach in teaching, where exchange of ideas was always welcomed. 

Team dynamics seemed essential in each and every module in Hospitality Management and communication being the core. Ensuring that we possessed the appropriate communication skills and interpersonal skills, which goes hand in hand - Hotel Design and Planning required us teams and as students, to be equipped with the strengths of digital literacy as the Auto CAD systems could be seen as overwhelming for new users. 

Being away from home, my classmates were almost my second family. working with my team mates was a fun pursuit, especially in the process of putting the 'diarrhea' of ideas to paper. My team mates and myself were on a mental dimension where we imagined what would it be like to be seated within the restaurant and more than often not, we would go into unnecessary fits of laughter over something unnecessary during discussion.

Challenges proved itself when we had to decide and delegate duties as every one wanted to play a part but as one would know, too many cooks will spoil the broth. And we wanted  our 'broth' to present itself as it's best thus we have split into sub-teams. The other challenge was the limited accessibility to the Auto CAD systems but we overcame the situation, Max possessing a Mac which could accommodate the programme without the fears of a crashing computer. 

Having been proactive into taking lead for several semesters previously, it was a nice change to have Derrick in my team as he, a natural leader has taken the lead on this project thought I ought to have kept my silence at certain points of our discussions - it seemed that my dictative nature usually presents itself when it should not !

The only things that I would like to change was the ways I manage my time, coping with several modules is definitely not something new and I should have been prepared before it presents itself. 

Working with a diverse team of diverse ideologies seemed like fireworks going amok however we found the way to work around the differences, and if one would look at it in another, it could be actually a symphony of sparkles. 

I would say my contribution to the team's work wasn't much - a few general design ideas on the initial drafts as well as search for the different dimensions to assist Max into drawing out the furnishings within the restaurant and writings into the overall report.

In areas where I should have worked on improving were my familiarity with the Auto CAD system as so I could assist to the team's progress into completion of the drawing of the restaurant - a European-Asian fusion inspired fine dining restaurant which we came to agreements of naming it Les Cocottes. I could have also contributed more when it came to the research of making a well-written report that complements the drawing itself. Then again, I have not been able to manage my time as well as I should have. 

However, I will take this all as a learning curve and am determined to grow from my current ways. 

Alike confetti, this 22 year old Malaysian student, striding through the final hurdles of attaining a Bachelor's degree in Bachelor of Hospitality Management could hardly contain her excitement most of the time though has always aspired to be a wallflower instead. 

Having the preference to express myself through illustrations done with coloured pencils and water colours, I also hope to explore canvases and oil paintings.

besides that, i have also found the joys of looking through the viewfinder of a digital camera though i have never believed in attempts to make my photographs 'perfect'. at times, i would feel that i am very much a forced extrovert as I prefer solitude - I usually have the best inspiration when alone. 

Sze Meng LAU

0904JH87723

BH 2 G12

szemenglau@gmail.com