My Trip to Microsoft

by Olivia CHIU
Singapore's First iWhiz
SMU SIS Undergraduate Student (Batch 2006)

"iWhiz is Singapore 's first infocomm reality TV show to increase Singapore 's talent pool for the progressively dynamic infocomm industry, themed along the National Infocomm Competition (NIC) challenges. Due to a series of unexpected events, not only did I find myself one of the twelve final contestants on iWhiz, I eventually emerged as the winner. As part of the grand prize, I had the opportunity of a lifetime to visit Bill Gates at the Redmond Microsoft campus! Here is a short account of my journey." -Olivia Chiu

Olivia stood at the SMU lift lobby and pointed at an A4 poster on the wall. 'Who would want to Visit Bill Gates in the US? Aren't physical prizes better?' Olivia asked her friends. A bad case of sour grapes was the root of that question.

Never did I imagine that I would be that lucky person to win iWhiz. Never did I imagine that my first trip to USA would be fully sponsored. Never did I think that I was going to own a picture of me taken with the world's richest man.

Putting the horrible jetlag aside, this Seattle trip was truly an experience of a lifetime. I got to visit the famous Pike Place Market where the first Starbucks café resides (food and more food!), the Seattle Historical Underground, Seattle Premium Outlets (lots of shopping!), and of course, the Microsoft Campus.

For a company with 60 000 employees worldwide and half of them working in Seattle , I had the impression that we would be surrounded by people in a busy building. Thinking that the Microsoft campus was located at far far away land, I slept on the journey there. As I half opened my eyes, I thought we were passing a local college, and the bus stopped. We were at Microsoft!

Given Microsoft's hospitality, we had breakfast at the Microsoft Executive Briefing Centre, where we had the best breakfast we've had in days! Can you imagine having the choice of berries for fruits? I love berries! I was spoilt for choice! A free flow of Raspberries, strawberries, and blueberries! At this breakfast we had to sit with folks from the other schools, and we got to know one another much better. I even found out that one of the RI boys did not change his socks since day 1 and the itch on his feet tortured him.

Then the door opened. Bill Gates can stop time. As he walked into the room, everything became slow-motioned. ‘Ooooo-Myyyyy-Godddd itsss HIM!!!' I whispered excitedly. I am sure it's the same for everyone else, especially when some of us still had breakfast in our mouths. Everything became surreal, and when he started speaking, I couldn't hear him. All that was in my head was ‘Wow that's Bill Gates! Bill Gates is standing in front of me! He actually looks like a ‘normal' person! Wow!'

After I regained my composure, I heard him speak of the future. Imagine every entertainment device like the TV, DVD player, and stereo sound system controlled by one single remote. Or imagine, creating your own memory spheres simply by taking multiple photos from different angles of a particular place. I recall that Doraemon used to have a translation sponge, whereby after you eat it, you can speak any language. It was one of my favorite tools from Doraemon's magical pouch, and Microsoft is bringing it to life. Common problems in life gave birth to these creative solutions. Microsoft never stopped innovating, and I am utterly inspired. And because I was the only female winner, I got to stand (very excitedly) right next to him during the photo shoot! Some people have asked, but no, Bill Gates does not smell any different from you and me.

While Microsoft hosted the welcome dinner, IDA hosted the farewell dinner, and I had the best company with me. Throughout this trip, I got to know many people better, and I certainly enjoyed everybody's company. What started out as a trip ‘on my own', turned out to be so much more. As much as I don't want to say it, I will miss everyone. Just see what Yasmeen (the Microsoft representative) and I bought from Victoria 's Secret, all of us posing in the cold while waiting for a bus, or how people fall asleep right after dessert!

Thank you Microsoft and IDA for hosting this trip, and of course SMU for grooming me to be what I am now! I enjoyed myself so much, and I made many new friends, and I did manage to find myself again amidst all the fun. This experience is something that no physical prize can beat.

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