An eventful year has passed. Goodbye 2013 :)

2013 was a year of lot of events for me and my family. Now we are standing at the last page of this year. I couldn't help writing a post right now, even if it's a tiny one :)

The biggest happening of this year for me is I became a father. We have got our first kid, a baby boy in November. I have told about it in my last post. This single event kept us busy for many months. During the nine months' journey and also after his birth. I think we got busier after he was born. Now a days we don't have enough time to mingle with our friends as before, but we don't mind. We are enjoying our parenthood.

Aside from that biggest event, I also graduated this year. I have finished my masters degree which was pending for several years. I just got the certificate on 20 December in a nice convocation ceremony in Tampere University of Technology. Two photos from that ceremony are given at the bottom.

Now the new year, 2014, is just knocking the door. For this year I am not going to make any wish-list. I would rather try to do things better each and everyday. Don't wanna put some resolutions in a time frame. Let's see how the new year goes :)

 The whole family in my convocation ceremony

 She couldn't help wearing my 'teekkari' cap :P

Programming Solution

Signaling in core network - MSS

I participated in a training course named signaling in core network - Mobile Soft-switch Solution. The duration of the course was 3 long days. It started on Monday and finished today. Everyday it used to start at 9 o'clock in the morning and continued until 4 PM. It was quite extensive course, lots of information for 3 days. Moreover, I didn't have enough knowledge of basic mobile network signaling which made it even more difficult for me. But now I got some information about signaling. To me, the best part of the training was nice breakfast in the morning and snacks in the afternoon :D The fresh breakfast sandwich and afternoon pulla (sweet Finnish bun) were really delicious :)



Programming Solution

Why am I so lazy :(

One week ago I got result of one course. It's a 5 credit course and I got grade 4 even though I was expecting 5. It's been a week and I didn't do anything. Just today, I thought to visit the course teacher to have a look at my answer script. So I went to her room and I found that I have got 27 out of 30. To get a grade 5 I need to get 28. I had 4 bonus points in exercise sessions during the course implementation which makes my score 31. So I should be graded with a 5 in that course. I told the teacher and she checked. She found out that she forgot to add my bonus points while sending the result to the administration. She said sorry, and promised me to correct my result and send it again to the administration. When I left her room I had mixed feeling - happy for I got 5 in the course, sad because I am careless about educational grade stuff. Even this morning I was so reluctant to visit the teacher. Just imagine, if I would not go I would have missed a 5 in a 5 credit course for nothing. Lazy me :(



Programming Solution

Got a job in Ericsson

I have been hunting for permanent job for several months. After all those efforts, today I finally signed a job contract. My employer is Ericsson. I will be working in Research and Development centre of Ericsson in Finland as a software developer. The job will start from July, 2010.


As I heard from my senior brothers here it is really difficult to get an interview call. I applied for lots of open positions in many companies but, so far, I got only 2 interview calls. One was in Nokia and another one is in Ericsson. The Nokia guy interviewed me over the phone for an hour. After 2 weeks time the guy informed me (of course when I called him, they don't usually call unless there is positive result) that I am in second position in his list and for that position they are going to hire only one guy. If the guy, who is their first choice, would reject the offer or unable to accept, in that case, they will offer me the position. I never called him after hearing that, neither did they tell me anything.


The second interview was with Ericsson in the second week of April. It was an in-person interview and I had to go to Helsinki to attend the interview. This interview lasted for one and half hours. There were two guys. All three of us were discussing about so many things. After two weeks of this interview one of those guys called me and said if I am still interested to join Ericsson they will offer me the position. They ask me to join from June, 2010. Unfortunately I cannot start from June since I am working in my department at the university. I explained the situation to them and after considering the situation they allow me to start from July. So we agreed when we are going to sign the contract and today is that very day.


After signing the contract, I went to see the apartment where I am going to move in. I also made the deal with the guy there. It was a very long day for me - I have done lots of things, so far seems successfully. Now I have to start preparing other stuffs I have in my hand. The first thing is patching up my masters thesis before leaving Tampere. I hope I can finish that on time.

At a glance, my interview experiences in Finland are as following:

1. Very less technical question
2. The employer wants to see the person's dedication and interest to the specified job.
3. I think, as a candidate, just answering the questions is not an impressive approach, rather participating in the discussion is much better. If possible, asking them relevant questions at times is a rule of thumb to me.


Programming Solution

Got a job in the university again

This is the other update that I was talking about in my previous post. Yes, I have got a job as a research assistant again in my university. I got the confirmation on 1 April and I started from 6. I was quite busy last week to tell about this here. This time it's a four months' full time contract. So the contract will end at the end of July, 2010. Wish me luck for my new job. I hope it will go smooth.


Programming Solution

Course completed

Day before yesterday I got mail from one of my teachers that I am going to get 8 credits from his course. That confirmed the completion of my course work for masters.


I needed to achieve 90 credits to complete my masters degree. There are 4 modules in this 90 credits. I had completed all three clusters a bit earlier but the I lacked exactly 8 credits in my advanced module. I was doing this course Software Engineering Project since the starting of this academic year. The credits are variable in this course. You can achieve 6-10 credits based on Ur working hour. In our school 1 credit hour equivalent to 26.7 working hours. In this course project my reported hours were 196. So I was not sure whether I am going to achieve 7 or 8 credits. So I sent mail to the teacher asking about this and he just replied day before yesterday that I am going to get 8 credits. So the advanced is also completed now.


The only thing left right now is my thesis. Well, I am attending three more courses (Finnish for Beginners II, Artificial Intelligence & Analysis of Algorithm) right now but those are just for my own interest and for fun. I am writing the thesis also. Let's see when I can finish it :)

Programming Solution

Writing thesis is difficult

I have completed almost all the courses of my masters degree. The only thing that is left is writing the thesis and submit it to the academic council of my university. As soon as I can submit that I will be eligible to receive my masters degree. The problem is I am not good at writing :( Moreover, writing a thesis seems even more difficult to me. I may write one or two pages in one day but the next day I cannot write anything at all which makes my progress very slow. I just hope I can concentrate in writing and will be able to finish it soon.


Programming Solution

Last day at work

Six months back I started to work in the university as a research assistant. My contract was for six months and today is the last day of that contract. It's like I am writing a paragraph on "Last day at school" in an English exam during my secondary school life :)

Like everyday, today I came to office as usual. I didn't do any work the whole day. I had meeting and then I was busy in arranging my folders and documents. If I had to return the laptop today then I need to transfer all my personal stuffs from here. Since 2 pm I have been looking for my supervisor and for the secretary but they were not available. Finally I got my supervisor in his room around 5 pm and I went to tell him that it's my last day at work. He thanked me to work with him and mentioned that he will let me know if he has some other work for me. He also said that I can keep the laptop until I finish my thesis. So I need not to return the laptop today :D

Right now I am preparing to leave the office. Since I could not meet the secretary today I have to return the key tomorrow. Before that I need to take all my personal stuffs from this room. Time just flies. Six months just passed so quickly.


Programming solution

First exam in the new academic year

Today I have appeared in the first exam of the new academic year 2009-2010. The exam was on Introduction to Object Oriented Programming. The exam was not so well I guess. I made some silly mistakes as always. I hope I can still get some better grade. Just wish me luck.



Programming solution

Convocation of Miraj vi and Farzan vi

Yesterday was the convocation of Miraj vi and Farzan vi. Miraj vi finished his Ph.D. few months back and Farzan vi just completed his masters from Communication Engineering Department. Yesterday afternoon they got the certificates. Later at night we had a nice iftar and dinner in Miraj vi's home.

Here goes some pictures from the ceremony.




A nice chorus song to start the ceremony





The rector is announcing the names and giving the certificates





Smiling Farzan vi with flowers from well wishers





Miraj vi and his family





Sharing his certificate :D





... and his flowers too :P


Programming solution

My resident permit extended

When I came to Finland my student visa was for a year, from 5 August, 2008 to 5 August, 2009. So it was time for me to apply for an extension since I have to stay here for couple of years more. I applied last month and today i just got the extended student resident permit for one more year. Now my staying here in Finland is valid until 5 August, 2010.

Here is my extended Finnish resident permit :)






Programming solution

Got a job in the university as Research Assistant

You know I came from Oulu suddenly to attend a meeting with my professor. I met the professor today and he formally let me know that he is going to take me as a Research Assistant under his supervision. My joining date is June 1, 2009 means next Monday.


Today the professor introduced me with the secretary of our department and she helped me to do the procedural stuffs. I had to fill up few forms. Next Monday she will give me the key of my room and then the laptop that I will use for my work.


Its a 6 months' contract as a full time worker(weekly 37.5 hours). So from next Monday I will sit in a tiny room in my university from 9 to 5 and hopefully my 3 months' long summer vacation wont go in vain :)




Programming solution

One academic year completed

Today I just attended the last one of three consecutive exams. The fifth period of academic year 2008-2009 has been over with this exam.

I started this academic year in August, 2008. It seems that I came here only few days back but by this time 9 months has been gone. To tell you the truth, I still haven't worn some of my cloths that I brought from my home. Those are in my cupboard as were folded in Dhaka. Time really does fly.

From today, the three months long vacation is starting. Its a long vacation. For few weeks now, I have been feeling like going home. I am afraid I wont be able in this summer :-(




Programming solution

Stressed out

I had an exam yesterday. The course was Digital Linear Filtering. I could not attend the lectures since the time conflicted with another course's lecture. Well, to tell you the truth, I attended few lectures but I was unable to grab the complex calculations of sinusoidal wave and other filter-related stuffs. I didn't have any basics of signal processing. As a result, I was not well prepared for this exam.


I only had the weekend to prepare and the syllabus was enormous. From Friday evening I started reviewing. Thanks to Morshed vi, he helped me a lot to know what are the topics I needed to cover. He also made some of the topics clear to us. When I started reviewing it was really difficult. As time passed by it became a bit understandable. I was in my room for last 3 days except for going to Rajit vi's room twice for 10 minutes each. Finally I was so stressed out and was waiting for the exam to be over. Good that the exams here are not that stressful since they don't make lengthy questions. The exam time is 3 hours. I wanted to leave the exam hall early. So I wrote so quickly, finished the exam in 1 hour and 10 mins and left the exam hall with a bad headache. Still I was feeling good as its over and alhamdulillah, my exam was good as well.




Programming solution

First exam in Finland

Today I have appeared in my first exam in Finland. This is the exam week after the second period. I have 4 exams in this week. Today was the first one - Programming I.


The exam started at 1 pm. It was a 3 hours exam but I heard it earlier from my senior brothers that here the exams wont take more than 2 hours if you learn the things well. Programming I is a basic course and I have done several programming course during my graduation schooling. So it was a bit easier exam. In 2 hours my exam was completed.


I was writing with pencil and had eraser on the desk. The amazing thing was there was not seat plan. You can sit anywhere you want. If you need extra paper nobody will get you that. You have to go to the stage( yea.. the examination hall is a gallery like auditorium ) of your own and will collect the paper by yourself. As a matter of fact, I raised my hand when I needed extra paper but the responsible person was looking at me with a strange look. The student beside me told me that I can go there and get the paper. Then I got my own paper by myself. You can even drink or eat in the exam hall( well, I saw many of the students were doing that!!! ). The situation of the exam hall is very flexible here but strict in only one case - cheating. Any kinda unfair means will be result in immediate dismissal.




Programming solution

Got acceptance letter from TUT

Yesterday afternoon I got the acceptance letter from Tampere University of Technology(TUT) in international masters' degree programme in information technology. They selected me for the subject Communication Engineering.


Most of my classmates applied in different foreign universities for masters programme. I was very lazy in doing such thing. Some of very close friends were pestering me to apply but still I didn't. Finally I could manage to overcome my laziness and applied in one finish university and that is TUT.


I sent my documents at the end of March(Shishire helped me a lot to do that). Rafi brought me the recommendation letters from 2 of the teachers of my graduating school. Shahan brought me the transcripts and the certificates attested by the registrar. What else did I do then :-S just wrote the statement of purpose?? :-S I think so :D Anyway, the mail just made me happy as I was having a bit inferior complex within me upon hearing many scholarship news among my friends.


I am not sure yet about taking the offer and going there. There are many constraints; I have to consider all those and make my decision. I may go to TUT or may be not but its a pleasure to get this kinda news even though its not a scholarship :)




Programming solution

Nice advertising idea

I have got an website address with nice advertising ideas. I found some of the ideas so nice. Thanks to Razib for the link.


Its not that you will get the themes at a glance. Spend few seconds for each advertisement to get its theme. I hope you will enjoy it :)


Here goes the Link.




Programming solution

IELTS results

Today I have got my IELTS result that I have appeared on 17 November. My overall band score is 6. That's a damn low score :( I was expecting at least 6.5 after my exam but I couldn't make it.


I have got 6.5 in both reading and listening, 6 in speaking and 5.5 in writing. I told earlier that I did really bad in writing part but yet I didn't expect less than 6. I have got only 5.5 and that made my overall band score just 6. If I got 6 in writing then my overall band score would be 6.5. Anyway... I don't mind it much :D


moral 1: Do not attend this type of exam without having proper idea about it (I did appear :D I didn't even bring pencil in the exam hall while it is a must to answer reading and listening part with pencil)

moral 2: Try to practice some example test in home, if possible give some mock test. It will help a lot.





Programming solution

ahhh... The IELTS exam is over :D

Today I have appeared in my speaking test of IELTS exam that I missed earlier. This test was also moderate I think.


Before going to the center I was a bit nervous but as I entered the room, where my test was taken, I saw a middle aged lady sitting there and I thought "Ohhh... she is not here to kill me; I have to talk to her and nothing else". So I just talked to her almost for 20 minutes. I don't know how she will evaluate me (I am not worried about that :P ) but the thing is I did better than my expectation :)


At the end of my test she thanked me and switched the voice recorder off. I asked her if I could ask one question. She allowed me and I asked how my test was :P She laughed hearing my question and told me "I can't tell that now. You can ask me anything except that question". Right at that moment another question came into my mind but I didn't ask that as it wouldn't be gentle at all :P So thanking her I just left the test center :)


So... my IELTS exam is totally over now. Its a bad feeling to have an exam like that ahead of you. I am feeling good as it's over :) ohh... don't forget to wish me one more time - this time for getting a good score :D




Programming solution

I have appeared in IELTS exam

Yesterday I have appeared in the pen and paper part of IELTS exam. The exam was a moderate one I think-not so good or not so bad. But the amazing thing is I missed to attend my scheduled speaking test. yea, it's true, I really missed it. The British Council was supposed to inform me through sms before the speaking test but I didn't get any from them and I missed it when it was scheduled on 16 November.

Yesterday(17 November) morning I went to the office of British Council to know my exam schedule. The front desk girl was amazed to hear that I didn't know it yet. She was looking at me with a strange look and giving me the schedule for that day. When I asked about my speaking test she checked it out and informed me that it was on the previous day. I said "Good... what can I do now?". May be she was a bit astonished seeing my reaction(I was smiling while asking that :P). But she gave me her assistance. With another strange look she called to the higher authority and gave me the phone to talk to that guy. I talked to the guy and told him what happened actually. His voice was a bit annoyed. May be he was thinking "ohhh... this damn pastoral guys... always creat some kinda problems" but finally he gave me another schedule for my speaking test and that is 19 of this month :D


So among the 4 parts fo IELTS exam I still have to appear in 1 that I had missed firstly :P and as my english speaking capabilty is not so good wish me luck more this time :)




Programming solution