Mpisi Express - Issue 5

MPISI EXPRESS2012March-April

5

Easter 2

2. Mother’s Day 3

3. Birthdays 4

4. Interview with Julie 5-6

5. Eye on Korea 7-8

6. New Beginnings 9

7. Employee feedback 10

8. Winter Health Tips 11-12

9. Teambuilding 13-14

10. Company Infographics 15-16

11. Company Charity 17-18

12. Warehouse Interviews 19-20

13. Timeline 21-22

14. Brainbox 23-24

15. Cultural Taboos 25

16. Competition 26

“A difficult time has passed, we must still be aware of every moment we make and be cautionary.”

-Robert Huang

Message from CEO -

IntroductionThe team decided to

interview Julie in the

Forwarding department.

Julie was born in South

Korea and grew up in the

seaside city of Busan.

Julie is Forwarding Regional

Manager and she works

with the processing of

documents and possibilities

between shipping lines

and customers. She enjoys

developing and deepening

relationships with clients.

1 .What do you like about South Africa? I love the fantastic weather, friendly

people and my husband!

2. How did you meet your husband?I first came to Durban in South Africa in 2006, to conduct market research for my previous company.

An ajumma, Korean for older woman, had a dinner party where we met and became friends at first.

Interview with Julie Han-

Then something happened between the two of us, I guess a spark lit things up, and now we are married.

3. Where is your husband from?He is from Taiwan.

4. If you were to compare your life in South Korea to South Africa, how are they different?In Asian culture there is a strong work ethic which leads to working late hours. It seems to be more relaxed here.

5. When you think back to South Korea what do you miss most of all? I miss the food, shopping for clothes and accessories which are so much cheaper in South Korea. I also miss my family a lot.

“My future husband was also working in Durban at the time. ”

10. Have you ever achieved an important goal in your personal life?Moving to South Africa to settle down here with my husband was one of the most rewarding challenges that I have had to face up to. My husband and I tried to have a long distance relationship at first.

At some point I realised that family is the most important thing to have and I decided to move to South Africa so that I could be with my husband.

It was particularly difficult to give up my past and to settle down in a different environment, but it is a work-in-progress and I am very happy I took the challenge.

11. What defines South Africa to you?I think that people in South Africa are more open. Living in such a multicultural society, people are more welcoming here.

한 호 정

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I often go to South Korea to buy clothes and other things I miss such as gimchi, which is a Korean delicacy which consists of pickled cabbage covered in hot pepper sauce.

“In fact, I love gimchi so much that I once had a lot of it in my bag.“

When I returned to South Africa one of the dogs at the airport was really interested in my luggage because of the smell from the gimchi.

The policeman came over to look, but after I showed the gimchi to him everything was fine.

I also miss eating gimbap. Gimbap is a Korean snack made from cooked rice and various other ingredients that are all rolled up in a sheet of gim or seaweed.

6. What is valued in Korean culture?Friendship and the loyalty that goes with being a good friend.

7. Are there any specific people in Korean history that you admire?I have great respect for King Sejong the Great, who ruled during the 15th century.

“He was responsible for the creation of hangul, the Korean alphabet which became widely used as an alternative to Chinese characters.”

8. What is your favourite Korean dish?Dolsot bibimbap is one of my favourite Korean dishes. Dolsot bibimbap is Korean for hot stone bowl with mixed rice and this literally describes the dish which comes with vegetables, meat and egg all mixed together with a red pepper sauce while it is heated to perfection in the bowl.

9. Is there some unique aspect of Korean culture?The wearing of traditional clothes, called hanbok, for events like a wedding and New Year, which is at the same time as Chinese New Year but called Seollal in Korean.

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You Will Need:

• 1/3 carrot, julienned• 4 cups spinach • Soy sauce• 6 inch long half-log of takuan/damuji

(pickled daikon radish)• 1/2 log of odeng (steamed fish cake)• 1 cup bulgogi/cooked mince meat• 4 cups cooked short-grain white rice• 4 sheets of kim - seaweed• Sesame oil• Salt• Bamboo rolling mat

(Helps to have, but is still doable without.)

Kimbap Assembly Lay out a piece of kim on the bamboo mat. Spread 1 cup of rice over most of the kim. You can use your fingers, a spoon or a rice paddle. Brush a very small amount of sesame oil over the rice and sprinkle a bit of salt over too.

What’s Inside Kimbap?

Kimbap is made from white rice and various other ingredients of your choice, all rolled up in some kim or roasted seaweed. This is just one possible combination. Possible additions include egg, cucumber, canned beef, kimchi, Chinese or other types of sausage and canned tuna.

Have fun!

Enjoy!

Have four cups of warm cooked white short-grain rice ready, one cup per roll.

Prepare all of the ingredients as mentioned above.

Place the ingredients on top of and next to each other towards the middle of the rice. Slowly and gently roll over the bamboo mat end that is closest to you, and keep rolling while pulling back that same bamboo mat edge. Firm up the roll. Use a couple of grains of rice as glue, if necessary.

Remove the bamboo mat, and get ready to slice up the kimbap. Keep a paper towel soaked with some sesame oil nearby to wipe your knife. You’ll need to wipe it every so often to keep the knife from getting too sticky.

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So, think you’ve mastered the art of reading Korean? Turn to page 26!

I find that people at Mpisi are very friendly. It is great here and I like it.

Personally I enjoy being challenged and I seem to be finding my feet here with no problems really.

At Mpisi , people are very friendly.

I find the research of new technology, and software functionality very rewarding.I am hardworking and live by:“Try and fail , but never fail to try.”

Everyone at Mpisi is friendly

and open . I really enjoy the

food and meeting new and

interesting people .

It ’s easy-going here and I am

fascinated by learning and

discovering.

“Whether you think you can ,

or that you can’t, you are

usually right.”

I enjoy the working environment at Mpisi and find it quite multicultural .

Also, the food is good!I am an enthusiastic guy. I like to communicate with all

people . But sometimes I can

be silent and at peace with my environment.

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Health Tips – Heilet in HR

1. What are some of the things, in your culture, that a person can do to prevent them from catching a cold or getting flu?

Stay warm, get a flu injection and take enough vitamin C.

2. What can a person do if they have already fallen prey to a cold or flu?They can drink lots of water, chicken noodle soup and have bed

rest while staying warm.

3. Are there any specific foods an already ill person can drink or eat to boost their health?

They can take in lots of vitamin C, ginger, tea and other healthy things.

4. What can we all do to keep a healthy environment at work?Stay at home when you are sick. Don’t come to work and make

everyone else sick.

5. What is the origin of these ailments in your culture?We relate it to germs and believe in different strains of flu.

Health Tips for Winter – Cold and Flu (Afrikaans & Taiwanese)

Winter is just around the corner and along with it comes two nasty bedfellows – the common cold and flu. It is generally accepted that there is no cure for these ailments, yet in different cultures, there are certain measures believed to be effective in the prevention whereas others assist in healing.

We went around finding out what measures exist within the Afrikaans and Taiwanese culture.

Health Tips – Saron in Accounting

1. What are some of the things, in your culture, that a person can do to prevent them from catching a cold or getting flu?We normally eat mutton or ginger duck hot pot just before the winter starts. The aim is to strengthen the body’s resistance and to fight cold.

2. What can a person do if they have already fallen prey to a cold or flu?A person can see a doctor and avoid drinking anything that is cold. They can also drink ginger tea.

3. Are there any specific foods an already ill person can drink or eat to boost their health?Any foods that are high in vitamin C like chillies, guavas and oranges.

4. What can we all do to keep a healthy environment at work?Keep your own desk clean, wash your hands a lot and in Taiwan we would wear a mask to work if we are ill to prevent other people from getting ill.

5. What is the origin of these ailments in your culture?If people do not look after themselves by keeping a healthy body and eating healthy food. Also, because of a lack of sporting activity.

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TEAMBUILDING13

TEAMBUILDINGWhat, in your opinion, is the

purpose of teambuilding?Teambuilding is an exercise to bring you closer to your colleagues.

Which activity did you enjoy most of all?Completing the task at hand.

What are some important lessons that you’ve learnt from the teambuilding?That communication is very important to overcome any differences.

Which personal qualities, would you say were important for the teambuilding?To have a light hearted attitude, competitive spirit and to be easy going.

W hat did the teambuilding mean for you, personally?

It helped us to get to know each other and also taught us how to work together in a more productive way.

What did you like about the teambuilding?Everything went well and it was quite interesting too.

Which activity did you enjoy most of all?The World of Beer.

What are some important lessons that you’ve learnt from the teambuilding?I learnt quite a few lessons from the World of Beer which was very interesting. I learnt how to make an African beer and secondly that black people were only allowed to enter shebeens, home style bars, in 1965. Fortunately we are now free and have peace in our land.

Which personal qualities, would you say were important for the teambuilding?Being active in what you do, cooperation and teamwork.

What, in your opinion, is the purpose of teambuilding?The purpose of the teambuilding is to bring us all together.

Jane - Imports Dennis - Projects E5 Granny - Cleaning

What did you think of the teambuilding at first?

At the first day of the teambuilding I was so surprised. I have never experienced anything like it before.

What did you like about the teambuilding?It was a good experience. I liked that we were all working together as a team and the fact that we talked and thought about everything before doing.

Which activity did you enjoy most of all?The World of Beer.

What did you enjoy from the World of Beer?The fact that we went inside the building and could learn about the different types of beers such as lager and stout. We also learnt about the history of beer and I enjoyed knowing more about the rituals involved when making umqombothi, traditional African beer. This taught us respect for our cultural traditions.

Was the teambuilding useful?Definitely, we all connected on a personal level. I got to know everyone and we all greet each other and enjoy talking to each other.

What, in your opinion, is the purpose of teambuilding?To learn to be friendly and to keep on talking to each other.

COMPANY INFOGRAPHICS

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Guide dogs are trained to assist visually impaired people. Guide dogs make a huge difference in the lives of these people that require assistance in their day-to-day lives.

This is why the wonderfully dedicated people of SAGA, the South African Guide Dog Association, make such a difference. Their aim is to achieve the highest standards in breeding, caring and training of dogs. This is combined with the process of finding the perfect match between a guide dog and specified person.

Each and every guide dog is reared from birth and trained for a period of two years to meet specific requirements. This can be quite costly.

Mpisi Group recognises the valuable work done by SAGA and donates to this charitable cause so they are able to continue with their good work. We are proud to contribute to an organisation that changes the lives of others in such a beautifully caring way.

Further information can be found on their website:

http://www.guidedog.org.za/

Company Charity - SAGA

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http://www.guidedog.org.za/

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WAREHOUSE INTERVIEWSWAREHOUSE INTERVIEWS

JEFFREY - CITY DEEPJEFFREY - CITY DEEP

What do you do at the warehouse?I control the stock for the warehouse and make sure that everything runs smoothly.

What do you enjoy about working at the warehouse?I enjoy the fact that we are all working together as the guys are always willing to help each other out.

What is the best part of your day?Lunchtime.

In what way do you feel teamwork helps you do your work better?Without teamwork we simply cannot do the job at hand. Communication that flows freely can make everything easier and quicker.

What do you like to do in your spare time?Swimming and listening to music.

How would you describe yourself?I am an energetic guy.

What do you do at the warehouse?I drive and operate the forklifts and also handle the loading and offloading of trucks.

What do you enjoy about working at the warehouse?At around 16h30, when we are finished with our work, there might be more containers to do and then we receive an extra R50. I really enjoy this.

What is the best part of your day?Afternoons.

In what way do you feel teamwork helps you do your work better?It helps when we have to check invoices, for calling and fetching.

What do you like to do in your spare time?Playing football after work.

How would you describe yourself?I’m very happy to work for Mpisi Group – lots!

WANDILE - SHED 10WANDILE - SHED 10

WAREHOUSE INTERVIEWSWAREHOUSE INTERVIEWS

FANIE - ROODEKOPFANIE - ROODEKOP

What do you do at the warehouse?I am in charge of access control and managing security on site.

What do you enjoy about working at the warehouse?I enjoy the environment and the good-natured people.

What is the best part of your day?Socialising, being busy on site and any challenges.

In what way do you feel teamwork helps you do your work better?It helps with problem solving, changes and any updates.

What do you like to do in your spare time?When I am at home I enjoy anything related to IT like programming, C++, Internet browsing and net programming.

How would you describe yourself?Obviously, I enjoy IT and spending time at home. I am also a very hardworking individual.

The Mpisi Express team spent a few days going to each warehouse. While we were at the different warehouses we got to know a bit more about the wonderful people there. We did quite a few interviews and hoped that we could get to know everyone a bit better this way.

These are some of the people we met.

WANDILE - SHED 10WANDILE - SHED 10 20

TIMELINE 2012

31MAR

01APRto

1st Team BuildingBuilding company relationships

05APR

Easter A fun-filled feast with chocolate Easter eggs

05JUN

World Environment DayCaring for the environment that sustains us

16JUN

Youth DayCelebrating the contribution of our youth

23JUN

Dragon Boat FestivalGet out your rowing paddles and hit the water

31JUL

MPISI Express 6th Issue Can you hear the beating of our drums?!

JUNE 6 JULY 7

COMING SOON

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The completed crossword puzzle needs to be handed in to the HR Department to the Mpisi Express task team. The person whose crossword puzzle is drawn in our lucky draw will be the winner of the AceLink G361 phone.

Asia - Taiwan:• One should never give money in a white envelope as a wedding gift.

Rather use a red envelope as money in a white envelope is only given at funerals and associated with death.

• Never give a clock as a present because the Chinese word for clock, songzhong, refers to the death and funeral period of someone.

• Similarly, a building should not have a fourth floor as the number 4 in Chinese, si, is also similar to the word for death.

• There are many taboos that a pregnant woman should observe such as staying inside her home, not going to high places, moving her bed or carrying scissors.

Africa – Zimbabwe:• When you are walking in some parts of the forest where the king is

believed to have lived before, you are not supposed to comment on the trees or vegetation there, otherwise you will get lost and disorientated. You will only be able to find your way home after a few days.

• If a girl is hit using a wooden cooking stick, she won’t get married.

• You are not supposed to walk backwards otherwise the ancestors will turn their backs on you.

• You are not supposed to use your fingers to point at graves otherwise you will lose them. If you do it by mistake you have to bite them so as to avoid losing them.

• You are not supposed to work on your farm on a Friday otherwise the animals will come and eat all of your crops.

• As each family has their own surname, they also have totems like the pig for example. Now if your totem is the pig you are not supposed to eat pork otherwise you will lose all of your teeth.

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Now that you’ve learnt how to read in Korean, I’m sure you know that Korean characters represent sounds. So, you can even read English words in Korean characters then.

Look at the following:

is kum-pew-tuh is computer

That’s quite easy, right?

Well, it’s time to prove your skills and if you are the first to send the correct answers you’ll be rewarded. So hurry!

All you need to do is solve what the following three words, written in Korean, are in English. These words are all popular things to eat and drink. Good luck!

Know what these English words are? If you think you have the correct three words then send them to the Mpisi Express Task Team.

If you are the first person to send the correct three words you’ll be the proud winner of the AceLink A3 phone.

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Tel: +27-11 450 4740Cell: +27 76 3775197

Johannesburg Office: 2nd Floor, No. 2 Skeen Boulevard, Bedfordview, Johannesburg, RSA.Durban Office: 103 Intersite Avenue, Umgeni Business Park, Springfield Durban, RSA.

Maputo Office: Time Square, 25 De Setembro No. 270 Andar 4th Floor Maputo, Mozambique.

www.mpisi.com

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Mpisi Express - Issue 5

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