Christmas came early for the staff of Wawasan Open University (WOU) who gathered for a joyous high-tea celebration at the main campus today.
A GREEN ROSE FOR THE GENTLEMAN.
All were greeted at the door with a specially crafted ‘rose stalk’, available in green and red colours. Many of the staff came dressed in red, gold and green, in line with the theme of the event, while the elegant Christmas tree and decorations gave the hall a festive ambience.
The evening commenced with Christmas carols and a medley of songs like the late Dato’ Sudirman Arshad’s Gerimis di lautan, the Beatles hit I wanna hold your hand in Hindi, and The Carpenters’ Top of the World.
WOU CAROLERS BELT OUT ‘SILENT NIGHT’.
Next was the WOU Scavenger Hunt table game led by Lecturer Sean Ooi Li Hsien from the School of Education, Languages & Communications. He got nearly everyone off their feet as they rushed around trying to get signatures for 16 categories of descriptions, such as who rides motorbike to work, has been to Mount Kinabalu, is left-handed, 68 years old and above, a WOU graduate, and so on.
The team comprising Gomathi Chandrasekaran and her colleagues from Registry along with Norliza Mohd Rodzi of ETP were the winners. Each received a bar of Rochelle chocolate for their effort.
GOMATHI (2ND FROM LEFT) AND HER TEAM POSE WITH THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE (IN SANTA CAPS).
The occasion was also a time to bid farewell and thank Sandana Dass Arokiasamy of GSA for his contributions every year in faithfully decorating the venue. Vice Chancellor Prof Dato’ Dr Ho Sinn Chye presented him with a gift, courtesy of the organising committee. Dass, the chief building warden, joined WOU in June 2007 and will be leaving on December 23rd.
CHRISTMAS FEAST AT WOU.
The staff then enjoyed their high tea of fried rice, fried chicken, egg salad, pasta, orange cake, and chocolate cake, which they happily washed down with coffee and tea. The evening ended with the carolers singing Last Christmas.
