Getting 3A license

 As the family grew bigger and wanted to drive a car, I embarked on getting a drivers license.  The focus of this blog is on my journey in passing the TP test. Earlier, I had class 2B license and already had passed Basic Theory Test long back, so, I had to sit for Final Theory Test, Simulator and TP test to get the license.

For, passing final theory test, I went through the highway code book and practiced the test using mobile apps. There are lots of free apps available for Android and iPhones which has practice tests. 

After this, I went for Simulator course in CDC and I felt a bit of giddiness while doing the turns in the simulator course which the officer also told some people may experience giddiness. Rest of the them are fine.

The main part of going for driving lessons was to choose either from private instructors or go for driving schools. I started off with a private instructor after doing lots of reviews from Private Driving Instructor Singapore Reviews (pdireviews.com) But the experience was not good and stopped after 4 classes. From my friends, I heard like to get structured learning, driving schools are the best place. I enrolled in CDC and went for Internal Evaluation classroom training also. But when time came to book for practice lessons, I had difficulty booking lessons. Then again looked for private instructors. As my friend had enrolled with a PDI, I also enrolled with him.  The instructor never taught me anything. From first lesson, he asked me to drive and will just talk in phone on speaker. He never taught any techniques or pointers. Lessons went on but I just learnt some steering control only. Then he transferred to his friend. His friend was bit better but always giving intimidating statement like this is immediate failure and your driving skills are poor, bear in mind not to cause any accident as you will be driving with your family etc. But I continued and I did my own preparation. 

My own preparations are:

• Watching YouTube channel - Car Refresher Course. This was really helpful to note the turning points and safety checks.
• Visiting circuit and watching how others do the circuit stations from far and trying to remember the turning points. While doing circuits we do while seated inside the car and seeing other help to give different perspective and helps in actual execution. 
• Closing eyes and visualizing as doing each station.
• Reviewing the document I created based on various sources. It is here.

On the actual day of test, I just kept cool though the stress set off two days back. I was very careful not to commit any immediate failures. As the time was very limited, the tester asked you to go to next station once there is no immediate failures. I was able to clear all stations and tester asked me to go out to road. I was able to clear with some points for turns and signaling. Finally I drove back to center and the tester asked me to follow him. The tester asked me to wait and was finally given the result. 

For me, it was a long journey to get the license though I passed it in the first attempt. This was due to the fact of the PDI asking me to come for lessons for many weeks telling still not ready. If one is confident in their driving and felt as good to go for test, should go and give the test. 

Disclaimer: This blog was created with the intention to share my experience as I was searching for information during my preparation and gained some useful information. The reader is to do due diligence to make this detail useful to him/her.

Acing through PMI ACP

After working in the software industry for more than a decade and after earning certifications in technical areas like Sun Certified Enterprise Architect, i wanted to earn Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification. But when i aspired to become a CSM after using SCRUM for quite sometime, I looked further and wanted to get a bigger picture of agile methodologies. So, I wish to go for ACP course and certification which would give me wider knowledge and recognition.
As my company had business account with Udemy, I had ample list of resources to prepare and earn the prerequisites.
Preparation
The exam preparation can come from two sources. One is the 21 PDU requirement and another is self-preparation of going through books meant for the exam. For earning 21 PDUs, i took the Udemy course by Joseph Philip here. The course gave lots of understanding about Agile methodologies and practices. I went through the course two times attending the end of the course quizzes, games and final exam.
For the exam preparation, I used PMI-ACP Exam Prep, Updated Second Edition . I read this book 3 times. The second and third time gave me a deep understanding of different agile methodologies and able to complete at a faster rate. This book contains the gist of everything needed for the exam. Besides, i referred Head First Agile: A Brain-Friendly Guide to Agile Principles, Ideas, and Real-World Practices and
Ace the PMI-ACP® exam: A Quick Reference Guide for the Busy Professional . I referred these two books in very high level and practiced the mock exams available in these books. The mock exams are very good in the view of situational type questions.
Ace the PMI-ACP® exam: A Quick Reference Guide for the Busy Professional . I referred these two books in very high level and practiced the mock exams available in these books. The mock exams are very good in the view of situational type questions.
Mock Exams
There are lots of mock exams available online but many of them are bit old and seems to test the concepts directly but the exam is full of situational questions. Attending these mock exams will help to reinforce the concepts but to get a feel of exam context, it is better to search and attend situational question. Below are the list of mock exams available for PMI-ACP which i practiced. Some are free and some has to be bought.
Exam simulator from PM Exam Simulator - Need to register and got good situational questions. Free set of questions available.
Sample questions from the author of PMI-ACP Exam Preparation book - Free
Whizlabs free test - Got lots of situational questions and the questions are very verbose. This will give an idea of your ability to digest situational question and how to manage time in exam.
PMI-ACP Practice Exams - PMBOK 6 - There are two exams and both are very good. This is a paid practice exam from author of PMI-ACP preparation book.
If you buy this book - PMI-ACP Exam Prep, Updated Second Edition , there are additional practice exams available in their website and more information can be found in the book.
Free questions from management yogi
In all, always look for and practise situational questions and read articles from agile methodology related websites.
Application
The application process has been given in detail in PMI website and other sites. The process is a breeze. I paid for the exam and didn't schedule the exam until the time I felt like I am ready for the exam. The reason is that in the last moment if the exam needs to be rescheduled, there is a rescheduling fee of $70 it is within 30 days of original schedule date. If you are living in a metro, there should be multiple centers available and slots should be available in near future in one or other center. So, scheduling the exam close to the point when you are absolutely ready for exam is very important.
Exam
Exam
The exam consists of 120 questions and 3 hours to complete. Most of the questions are situation questions. It takes time to read and digest question and answers. While keep attending the questions, keep an eye on the timer. In my case, initially i felt like i am lagging behind and won't be able to complete all questions on time. So, i had to expedite a bit and if some questions are straightforward i didn't waste time and move to next question quickly. Just to map the timing as 40 questions per hour though some questions may take time, in average try to complete as 40 questions per hour. Having said this and as there is no official break, try not to take any break as every minute will be value in the exam.
If someone is working in Agile practices, it will be easy to digest the questions and answers and try to find what the question is looking for. The first answering approaches should be "Elimination". In many cases, this will be very helpful to narrow down the answers. One of the pointer for elimination will be goofed up terms like iteration vision etc where there is no such thing or answers not related to the context of the question. You should be well versed with key words and terms. Always pick more specific answer than generic ones. Pick the answer which closely matches the question where some choices may be an option after the action for the correction option has happened.
For many of the situational questions, you should be able to answer if you were in the industry and worked as scrum master or coach and should have encountered many of the issues. Before answering any question, check the role in the situational question and as well as the point in time the incident took or taking place and answer the question 
accordingly. This is where the prerequisite of project and agile experience will be really 
helpful.

After reading the answers, read the question one more time to link the context of the question and answers. This is further to get the question right in case the question is asking for "NOT" or "Except" type of questions.
After reading the answers, read the question one more time to link the context of the question and answers. This is further to get the question right in case the question is asking for "NOT" or "Except" type of questions.
At the end of 3 hour exam, there is a survey about the exam and finally you will be able to see the result of your hard work.
I got certified on 24th June 2020.
Thanks to Edward Chung for valuable pointers and links to resources in his site here
Hope this blog helps in your journey to PMI ACP certification.

Downloading view only protected PDF from Google Drive

This is how one can download PDF that is protected in GDrive. This converts pages to jpg images.



Step by step:

Open the document in Google Docs
Scroll to the bottom of the document, so all the pages are present
Open Developer Tools and the Console tab
Paste the code below (and hit enter)

let jspdf = document.createElement("script");

jspdf.onload = function () {



    let pdf = new jsPDF();

    let elements = document.getElementsByTagName("img");

    for (let i in elements) {

        let img = elements[i];

        console.log("add img ", img);

        if (!/^blob:/.test(img.src)) {

            console.log("invalid src");

            continue;

        }

        let can = document.createElement('canvas');

        let con = can.getContext("2d");

        can.width = img.width;

        can.height = img.height;

        con.drawImage(img, 0, 0);

        let imgData = can.toDataURL("image/jpeg", 1.0);

        pdf.addImage(imgData, 'JPEG', 0, 0);

        pdf.addPage();

    }



    pdf.save("download.pdf");

};



jspdf.src = 'https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jspdf/1.5.3/jspdf.debug.js';

document.body.appendChild(jspdf);

Now the PDF should be downloaded


What it does? It iterates trough the document checking for images (Google Drive stores pages as images) then writes it’s contents to a PDF.

Recruiting a maid in Singapore

When a need comes to recruit maid, employers usually look for maid agencies. Maid agencies arrange for interviews with employer and got free replacement if the is issue in the maid settling in with the employer. But the employer need to fork out services charges for the maid agencies. As being the first time employer few years back, i didn't have any idea on how to recruit a maid and resorted to a maid agency.

I had lots of problems with the first maid i employed but got to know few of her friends during her employment. When the problem with the maid became severe, i had to return the maid to the agency and let her return back to her home country. Later we found that during her employment, lots of articles missing and we dealt with her accordingly.

I already changed few maids and all are through word of mouth. So the processing is below:

Source of recruitment

1. If you are recruiting through a maid agency, each agency has their own process and follow them accordingly. 
2. If you are recruiting and doing the permit processing of a maid on your own, then follow the below steps to ensure, the filtering is done properly and processing is permit is successful.
1. Has the maid worked before here? If yes, check her employment history from MOM website. If the maid frequently changes job, then ask the reason and if it sounds reasonable, then think of employing her. If not, better to choose other available alternatives.
2. Get the contact of the maid and either meet her personally if she is available locally or call her if she is in overseas. Use the attachment given below for the questions to ask her.

                    Maid Interview Question

                3.  From the above link, all questions may not be relevant in your case. Just this can be a                           reference.

               4.  Once you are comfortable with the maid and decided to recruit her, ensure she fulfills
                    the criteria as set out by MOM like minimum and maximum age, educational
                    qualification  etc. Refer to MOM website for more updated information.
               5. Besides, as an employer, you need to pass a course over the internet as defined by MOM
                  to  be eligible as an employer and know the responsibilities.

Application Process

1. All applications can be processed over online through MOM website.

APPLICATION FOR NEW PERMIT - Already worked in Singapore but FDW not in Singapore

1. This is the type of application where the maid is not in Singapore and the previous permit has been cancelled.
2. Get the passport and permit details from the maid. While applying for permit, the application process will be simpler if you enter the previous work permit number. During application, MOM system will fetch out all the details of the maid and pre-fill the application once the permit number is entered.
3. Submit the application after paying necessary fee and get a print out of the application as well as acknowledgement pages.
4. Once the permit has been approved, a notification with In-Principle approval will be sent to the email address that was given during application process and this IP will serve as visa for the maid to enter Singapore.
5. Now take down the Security Bond No. (SB No) as reflected in the application.
6. Look for any insurance company providing maid insurance services and buy insurance premium as stipulated by MOM. You can prefer to buy an insurance package with more coverage also. While buying take note of the processing time required by the insurance company. This determines when the insurance company can transmit the bond to MOM which give the guarantee that the maid will be allowed entry into Singapore.
7. The maid can enter Singapore once the insurance company confirms that it has transmitted the security bond to MOM. Using IP alone and without security bond, maid can't enter into Singapore.
8. When the maid enters Singapore, she will be given temporary pass for 14 days and the maid has to undergo full medical examination. Then employer has to upload the medical reports, signed declaration forms and book appointment online with MOM for permit to be issued.
9. While booking appointment, employer has to give three ID number whom any one will be available to collect the permit card when it is delivered.
10. On the appointment date, the maid has to go down to MOM to register her finger print.
11. MOM will update you on the date and time of work permit card delivery through SMS and either the maid or any authorized person given in point 9 should be available to collect at given address during permit issue process.

Initiate the full medical examination immediately once the maid has landed in Singapore as only 14 days of visa is given for the maid. The detailed medical examination involves X-Ray and blood test and some clinics take 5 to 7 days to process the samples and give report. If the reports are not uploaded and a temporary pass wasn't issued before 14 days, it will be considered overstay. Take public holidays and weekends into account into this.

If getting the medical report is delayed, login into WP Online and request for special pass to extend the stay of the maid.

Once the medical report is out, you need to request for permit to be issued by MOM. There will a declaration form for the application that will be sent out to you as part of approval. That declaration form should be printed, signed by the maid and employer. This signed form should be uploaded along with medical report during the process of requesting for permit to be issued.

APPLICATION FOR NEW PERMIT - FDW never worked in Singapore before

1. This is the type of application where the maid has not worked in Singapore previously.
2. Get the passport details from the maid and submit all details required.
3. Submit the application after paying necessary fee and get a print out of the application as well as acknowledgement pages.
4. Once the permit has been approved, a notification with In-Principle approval will be sent to the email address that was given during application process and this IP will serve as visa for the maid to enter Singapore. Sometimes the FIN number may not have been generated when the permit is approved and FIN is needed to apply security bond. Login to MoM and download the forms again the next day. The FIN would reflect in that. 
5. Now take down the Security Bond No. (SB No) as reflected in the application.
6. Look for any insurance company providing maid insurance services and buy insurance premium as stipulated by MOM. You can prefer to buy an insurance package with more coverage also. While buying take note of the processing time required by the insurance company. This determines when the insurance company can transmit the bond to MOM which give the guarantee that the maid will be allowed entry into Singapore.
7. The maid can enter Singapore once the insurance company confirms that it has transmitted the security bond to MOM. Using IP alone and without security bond, maid can't enter into Singapore.
8. When the maid enters Singapore, the maid will be given 14 days of temporary pass. She has to go for Settling-In-Program (SIP) where the rights of FDW, working environment and other details will be briefed by MOM appointed agency. The employer has to book and an appointment with MOM appointed agency for the maid to undergo the program. The maid has to submit her O level educational certificates along with passport and IP copy. Once the maid completes the SIP, the appointed agency will update the details to MOM. Search google for appointed SIP agencies. Appointment for this training may not be easily available, so it is better to book the appointment once the permit is approved and before the maid lands in Singapore.  The maid has to undergo this training within 3 days of landing in Singapore excluding Sat, Sun and PH. 
9. Register for training at https://app.gmcs.com.sg/grace/login The courses will be specific days of week for specific language. So, book in advance. For training in Tamil, it will be Mon, Wed and Fridays.
10. Besides, the maid has to undergo full medical examination. Then employer has to upload the medical reports, signed declaration forms and book appointment online with MOM for permit to be issued. The permit can't be issued if the helper is vaccinated overseas and the vaccination details should be update to NIR by visiting any of the Joint Testing and Vaccination Centers (JTVC). The request to issue permit can only be made when maid complete the SIP as stated in point 8.
11. While booking appointment, employer has to give three ID number whom any one will be available to collect the permit card when it is delivered.
12. On the appointment date, the maid has to go down to MOM to register her finger print.
13. MOM will update you on the date and time of work permit card delivery through SMS and either the maid or any authorized person given in point 9 should be available to collect at given address during permit issue process.

Initiate the full medical examination immediately once the maid has landed in Singapore as only 14 days of visa is given for the maid. The detailed medical examination involves X-Ray and blood test and some clinics take 5 to 7 days to process the samples and give report. If the reports are not uploaded and a temporary pass wasn't issued before 14 days, it will be considered overstay. Take public holidays and weekends into account into this.

If getting the medical report is delayed, login into WP Online and request for special pass to extend the stay of the maid.

Below are the documents to be carried by the helper when entering from overseas:

• Original Passport
• In-principle approval - Helper's copy
• Ticket
• Status of security bond transmission downloaded from MoM website
• SG Arrival card (SIP Program will need this)
• COVID vaccination certificate. The certificate should reflect name as in passport, passport number and date of birth
• Educational Certificate - Original / Photocopy of transfer certificate if the helper is new as she needs to go for SIP. The certificate should show the helper has completed 8 years of formal education.

Once the medical report is out, you need to request for permit to be issued by MOM. There will a declaration form for the application that will be sent out to you as part of approval. That declaration form should be printed, signed by the maid and employer. This signed form should be uploaded along with medical report during the process of requesting for permit to be issued.

APPLICATION FOR TRANSFER PERMIT - FDW is in Singapore and willing to change employer

   

1. This is the type of process where the maid is already working here and wants to change employer and won't be leaving Singapore.
2. First both of the employers should agree in writing that they want to transfer the maid. This is according to the MOM and this can be of any arbitrary format but meaning both are agreeing for the transfer.
3. If you have two kids and already have a maid and want to relieve the current maid after the transfer maid comes in, the permit for new maid can be applied without terminating the permit for the current maid. But if you have only one kid and want to terminate existing maid once the transfer maid comes in, it may not be possible. First cancel the permit of the current maid then apply permit for transfer maid and specify the date of commencement of work for the transfer maid.
4. Now apply for transfer permit and download and take print out of the application forms. These forms should be signed by both employers and should be uploaded to MOM site as part of requesting permit to be issued.
5. Take down the security bond number and apply for maid insurance. Maid insurance company will update you once the security bond has been transmitted successfully to MOM. New maid's starting date should be after the bond transmission date.
6. Once the maids permit is cancelled, as new employer you can request for new permit to be issued and part of the process, you have uploaded the signed documents downloaded during application process.
7. MOM will update you on the date and time of work permit card delivery and either the maid or any authorized person should be available to collect at employer address.
8. For transfer maid, the maid doesn't need to go for finger print registration.

After on-board

1. Sign a formal agreement with the maid using the format given below:

             Maid contract

      2. Get the maid signature provided in the above form once salary is paid every month.   

      3. Install a IP camera to monitor with two way audio to monitor closely.

Finally, employing a maid needs lots of tolerance and patience from employer because for maid they don't care and keep changing employers and employer are the one suffer paying insurance, doing processing etc. For me, as far as the maid doesn't commit theft, doesn't bring in boy friend into my house and do take care of kids, i still have to tolerate with the assurance that someone at home to take care of my kids. One of my previous maid was very poor in cooking but other areas were fine. So, i still carried on for 2 years with that maid.

Many of my colleagues not able to have a maid employed and changed few maid and finally looked out for other alternative like child care or elder care.

CANCELLING A PERMIT

Once a maid has ceased employment and ready to go back to her home country , you have to cancel her permit. MOM will issue a special pass for 14 days by which the maid has to be sent back. Ensure her return ticket is confirmed and the work permit is collected from her before she goes back.

This card should be posted back to MOM.

If a maid's employment is terminated before 26 months and no claim is made against her policy, you should be able to claim pro-rated premium back from the insurance company. Many of the insurance companies have this clause of claiming back the premium if no claim is made. Check the insurance policy for details regarding this. If there is such clause, the insurance company will process this after two weeks the maid has departed the country.

Cost of recruiting a new maid:

Application: $35.00

Security Bond: $420

Training: 75.90

Medical : $35 (MCR Clinic)

Work Permit Card: $35

Disclaimer: I have created this post for my own reference to check the steps when i recruit new maid. All the process were correct at the time of writing.

If there is any change in the process described, please comment below.

UTILITY SOFTWARES

Listed below are the software i used when there was a need for that feature and working fine. On top of all, they are free for basic functions.

1. To edit, merge and split PDFs - PDF Sam
2. To find system information for a windows system - CPU-Z

SOFTWARES FOR PROFESSION

Tool for Querying Oracle Database

    http://sourceforge.net/projects/sqlt-pp/postdownload?source=dlp

Multi-tabbed Putty

    http://sourceforge.net/projects/putty-nd/?source=directory

Screen capturing software

http://sourceforge.net/projects/greenshot/?source=directory

IM software

http://sourceforge.net/projects/pidgin/?source=directory

MP3 Ripper and Audio Converter

http://sourceforge.net/projects/bonkenc/?source=directory

File and Directory comparison

http://sourceforge.net/projects/kdiff3/?source=directory

Image compression software

http://sourceforge.net/projects/caesium/reviews/?sort=created_date&stars=0#reviews-n-ratings

Online project collaboration

Trello

Online CMS

LifeRay

Online Task Management

To Print PDF

PDF 995

To learn new language

Anki

HTML Editor

Compozer

My favourite motivational quotes...

Below listed are my favourite motivational quotes, i collected over the years through the listening of personality development audio books. Hope you can give a thought on these..

• Practice doesn't make perfect but perfect practice makes perfect
•
• Nothing good happens by accident
•
• There isn't enough time to do everything but ample time to do most
important things
•
• Pre-occupation is the enemy of achievement
•
• The more you do…the more you can do.
•
• No one can make me feel inferior without my permission.
•
• No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.
•
• You made yourself unhappy because of your choices.
•
• Elevator to success may be out-of-service but the stairs are always open.
•
• Successful people always think what they want but failed ones always think what
they don’t want.

• You become what you think most of the time.
•
• Casualness brings casualties.
•
• You can’t hit a target which you can’t see.

• All improvement starts in your life with your mental picture.

• Persistence is the key to success.

• Courage is resistance to fear not absence of fear.

• If you don’t do the things you fear, the fear will control you.

• List the fear in the order and answers how it holds me back and help if I can overcome and what could be my pay off to overcome.

• Future belongs to risk-takers not security-seekers.

• All the motivational advices will give result if continuous, persistent action is done inline with the advice.

• Learn to tap the power of sub-conscious

• Reasons come first and answers come later.

• Make sense of small changes to get prepared for the bigger change.

• Apply optimism when the cost of failure is less.

• Apply ABCDE technique to practice optimism.

o A – Adversity
o B - Belief
o C - Consequences
o D – Disputation
o E – Energize

• All the battles are won or lost in the mind first.

• Are you wandering generality or meaningful specific?

• If we don’t put the seed of the plant what we want in the garden of our minds, we
are letting the weeds to thrive.

• Happiness is a personal choice and not the product of anything external.

• FEAR = False Emotions Appearing Real

• Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% is perspiration

• START – Self image, Target, Action, Respond, Tenacity

• You always get more what you focus on.

• Meaning of communication is the response what you get.

• Speak when you are angry, you will make the best speech you will ever regret.

• Our lives begin to end the day when we keep silence for things that matter
- Martin Luther King Jr.

• Anger can blind. Fear can paralyze. Guilt can weaken.

• Good habits are as hard to break as bad habit but little difficult to begin.

• We sow our thoughts and reap our action. We sow our action and reap our habits. We sow our habits and reap our characters and we sow our characters and reap our destiny.

• I would rather fail on what I love to do rather than succeed on what I hate.

• Event + Response = Outcome. If you want to change the outcome of an event, you have to change the response you react with.

• The most absurd thing in the world is to expect different result by doing the same thing. If you want different result, do things differently. This means CHANGE.

ABOVE ALL, MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE AND I ALWAYS MURMUR,

PEOPLE DON'T DECIDE THEIR DESTINY, PEOPLE DECIDE THEIR HABITS AND THEIR HABITS INTURN DECIDE THEIR DESTINY