Studying at the University of East Asia
Born in Pakistan, Adnan never imagined he would one day leave his country and travel to Macao to study, work, and live in a completely different environment.
In 1987, many universities in Pakistan closed because of political instability. In order to complete his education, Adnan decided to pursue further studies abroad. During the process of applying to various international universities, Adnan met a friend who just returned to Pakistan from Hong Kong. His friend introduced him to the University of East Asia, which was the predecessor of the University of Macau (UM). He decided to apply for the bachelor’s degree programme in computer science. At first, Adnan’s father did not support this decision because he believed that studying abroad would be a waste of time. However, after Adnan received a confirmation letter from the university, his father eventually gave in.
Adapting to Cultural Differences
Adnan arrived in Macao with joy and excitement, but things did not go as planned. ‘It was very difficult [to adapt] in the beginning because the cultural difference between Macao and Pakistan is huge and I came straight to Macao and had never been to any other country before,’ he says. ‘In fact, food was a main issue to me in Macao because the dishes consist of pork and as a devout Muslim, pork is considered unclean. Therefore, I will carefully select the dishes or cook by myself.’
When Adnan was a third-year student at UM, he had a financial problem and he had to withdraw from his studies in order to find a job to earn money to support himself. While he was working as an assistant in a bank, Adnan faced the increased challenges of being less competitive in the market because of a lack of professional knowledge in management. ‘I was lost at that time as I had no knowledge in either management or accounting,’ he says. Therefore, Adnan decided to work during the day and study for a
degree programme at night. He eventually graduated with a degree in business administration. He believes that life is a ‘live and learn’ process, so he continued his master’s degree studies and graduated with an MA in business administration in 2000 at the City University of Macau, and an MA in communication and new media in 2014 at UM.
Getting the Job Done
In 1991, while reading a newspaper, Adnan noticed a UM job vacancy for a computer service operator and he was interested in the position. He says, ‘Though I have worked in the bank for many years, I am still interested in computer-related fields which I am keen on and I’d like to use my skills to help others.’ Eventually he quit his bank job and returned to UM to take up the new position.
First joining UM as an operator, Adnan was responsible for maintaining the mainframe and providing assistance to students and staff who needed to use computers in the laboratories. ‘At that time, computers and the internet were not popular and it was a novelty to have one, so the environment was completely different compared to what we have now, and our jobs mainly involved maintenance of hardware and making backups for staff and students,’ Adnan recalls.
Adnan currently works at the Help Desk in the ICTO, and is mainly responsible for answering enquiries from users who encounter problems with their computers, and troubleshooting on the internet. Adnan loves his job. ‘Unlike the traditional way of staying in a computer room to fix equipment, the Help Desk is absolutely another thing. It requires a positive attitude and the motivation to listen to the problems of the requesters, to understand their situations, and to offer them the right solutions,’ Adnan says. ‘It is not stated in any of the manuals or books that teach you about problem-solving. It is the connection with people that matters. I find my job very interesting.’
Providing Backup Support
After UM completed the relocation to the new campus in 2014, the larger size of the campus meant that ICTO expanded in size as well. ‘Phone calls are almost non-stop and emails are packed in the mailbox every day, therefore it is challenging to handle every single issue professionally and effectively. There were times when we had to contact colleagues who happened to be near the requester to head to the site and provide assistance. Help Desk mainly provides backup support and it is important to let requesters know that you are always there to help so that they feel safe and relieved,’ Adnan says.
Adnan believes that teamwork is essential to achieving common goals. ‘Always be thankful,’ he says. ‘As I can barely speak Chinese, my colleagues will help interpret and explain the situation to me when I could not understand. I am grateful to have them who are always supportive and kind.’
Cricket Connects Expats
Having lived in Macao with his family for almost 30 years, Adnan understands the hardships of expats when they first arrive in Macao and meet people from around the world who are in the same situation. Therefore, he is determined to help other expats to adapt to their new lives in Macao by playing a universal sport – cricket. Cricket was not common in Macao in 1989. ‘Cricket was first introduced by UM students from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India, who formed teams to play in basketball courts and tennis courts at UM,’ Adnan says.
To further promote the sport in the local community, Adnan and other cricketers established the Macau Cricket Association in 2008. He has served as the president of the association since its establishment.
Having established the association, Adnan and his teammates hold regular practice sessions and have participated in matches outside Macao. After matches, they hold gatherings to strengthen friendship among team members. ‘Cricket is like a teacher to me,’ Adnan says. ‘Apart from athletic skills, cricket also teaches me sportsmanship, fair play, discipline, and respect. These qualities can also be applied in work and daily life.’ Adnan adds that in life sometimes things will go against our will, but the endurance he obtained in sports training will help to keep him up with the challenges. ‘Once you have pulled yourself together after disappointment and adjusted your strategy, you will have a chance to win,’ he says.
