Yet Again!

               Ni Hao..... aao aur jao! I mean, the oral test of Mandarin, just got over and weekend finally starts officially. With a marriage to attend and some guests expected, it is gonna be a busy weekend; not to forget the first written test that awaits us at 1030h, Monday.

              The scene outside the examination hall today was nothing unusual. Some students did not have the Admit Cards because it could not be downloaded (we are yet to come to terms with the avoidable clash between Google Chrome and EBS BB). Many others who were not even aware of the pre-condition of feedback (on faculty) before downloading the card, were at loss with the error message that they had been getting since appearance of admit card on our blackboard. Strangely, till as late as yesterday, we were not aware of any such pre-condition. And when the information was conveyed to us verbally yesterday, the attendance, understandably so, was already pretty low and message lost its effect. With an ERP in place, such a message could have been posted electronically. And then there were those who were simply lost. You see, with CB exam due next week and the pattern (case study has already been loaded and we are expected to face answers related to this case study in our exams) being such, some students, and rightfully so, have got the textbooks on CB issued. But in the process, they have got stuck with library clearance. There was at least one who claimed to have cleared all his dues but clearance had not been given to him. Since my own attendance of BC has not been modified despite repeated reminders over past month plus, I do feel bad about such poor souls. And lemme confess that there were a few stalwarts too and they were getting what they had asked for. No mercy for them!

       Communication, as it has been, appears to be the key again! It was pretty fascinating when someone walked up to us yesterday (while we were having our lunch in the cafe) and informally introduced himself as the person-in-charge of exams. It would have passed off as a routine thing had it not come after a half day long struggle on our parts to find out whether Mandarin test would be a written one or oral in format. Since we were not even aware whom to approach, many different 'wrong' people had been contacted and obviously, no one could tell us with certainty till that small interaction over the lunch table. Certain irritants, I am sure, can always be avoided and then a few others become acceptable!