Values are taught and shown ...

Today, I took 4 students from my class to go shopping after school. Namely the Assistant Monitor, the Treasurer and 2 of their classmates. All girls outing. Reason - to buy something for their teachers. It is Teacher's Day this coming Thursday (16th May) and I wanted to instill the values of appreciating their teachers. They had collected an extra ringgit for this month's class fund ( RM2 a month ). Plus the cash prizes that they had won for class decoration and the class fund collected since March.

We had discussions in class since last week when I entered their classes. I was busy with being an adjudicator for the district level English Parliamentary Debate last week. The week before I was a judge for Public Speaking competition. What with meetings, planning the first-term exam time-table for Forms 3, 4 and 5, preparing exam question paper .... this weekend another meeting at Tasoh Resort in Perlis for ULKCP. So, we decided on giving something healthy. Something memorable and lasting. Something simple and understated elegance. Thus, I suggested they did bookmarks. Find quotes on teachers and print them on thick papers, punch a hole and tie a nice ribbon. They could do that. Something personal, meaningful and lasting as the teachers would keep that in their many, many books. It is hand  made.  Hence, this would show their thoughtfulness, appreciation, respect and love.

What did we buy? We decided on a fruit hamper. We bought large pears, apples, oranges and Chinese pears. Kit-kat chocolates and oat cookies to balance the hamper. We estimated the cost of each hamper was RM5. So, each teacher would get 2 fruits, a Kit-kat chocolate and a packet of oat cookies (a packet of 3). Natasya, who was good at wrapping and decorating, volunteered to do the 14 hampers for all the teachers teaching their class. Then, we proceeded to a gift shop to buy presents for the 8 classmates who were born in April and May. I stopped by KFC to get them lunch and drinks as they were already hungry by this time. I finally sent them to Shahirah's house to wait for their parents. It was a good outing and we had fun in the car singing songs, telling ghost stories, their families and friends.

I wanted to instill in them the values of appreciation and love for their teachers. Values have to be taught and shown. I used to do this for my children when they were in their primary school before they went off to boarding schools. In boarding schools, they continued these values and were encouraged by their teachers too.  I hope, one day, in my students' future lives, they remembered this simple, "old" form teacher of theirs who tried to instill in them the spirit of unity among them (Malays, Chinese and Indian students) as one class. A class. Not you or me but WE. That they will take with them these values of appreciating nature, environment, the earth, cleanliness, personal hygiene, personal and family relationships, respect for their teachers and friends, respect each other beliefs and faith ... most of all believe that they are ONE Malaysia without any slogan or propaganda.  :-)  Then, I would feel I have taught them well.

These are the rules I want my students to live by. What I taught my own boys. They have to be taught good manners and habits. Politeness and courtesy. Sharing and caring. .... May Allah grant me the patience, tolerance and perseverance to mould these young people into better ones. InsyAllah.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY - 12 MAY 2013

For all those women out there whether you are a biological mother, adopted mother, surrogate mother, foster mother, sisters, aunties, nieces, baby sitters, caretakers, ..... my respect, appreciation and thanks for being there for my children and others. Even though they say that every day should be a Mother's Day, it is nice to know that there is one special day dedicated to us for others to show their unspoken, unuttered, unshowed display of affection. It was understood that Mother's Day was actually a day of celebrating the nuns. According to an uztaz, as long as it is not a religious celebration, it is "harus" as what is proclaimed by Majlis Fatwa. Since it is celebrated commercially, the real intention for the celebration is gone and replaced by appreciation of "mothers" in every sense of the word.

When the boys started to go to boarding schools, they hated public display of affection. When I tried to kiss their forehead to say goodbye, they would turn their heads or tried to pull their faces away. One day, feeling slighted, I told Akmal, my first son,... "let there not be the day when you asked me for a kiss goodbye and I am no longer here..."  the other two brothers looked on and watched what he would do, taking his lead. He gave his face to be kissed willingly at the bus station in full view of his friends and the public. Ever since then, when it was time to say goodbye, they were the ones who waited expectantly for me to take their faces in my hands and kissed their foreheads goodbye. Not the cheeks but their "ubun-ubun".

As children, I used to run my fingers through their hair and kissed them good nite. Nowadays, sometimes, when we were together on the bed, just talking or sharing stories, I still gently ran my fingers through their hair. Sometimes we played this game of comparing our hands and feet. How large they had grown.  :-)D)  Maybe because they were not girls who were more showy in their affection. We compared their darkness and fairness. These little antics that we did without their father. Just me and the boys. I am very grateful for the bonding that we shared.

When they were in boarding schools, they sent sms wishes. Nowadays, they sent through facebook. Postings that would garner a few likes from their friends and family. This year, Ikram and Syafiq were home after they had completed their courses. Ikram washed my car as a Mother's day gift. Syafiq send me virtual card through my facebook. And of course, dinner since I was working on that day. Thank you for a memorable day. Simple yet satisfying with all the thoughts and wishes.

The simple dinner of kailan ikan masin, ayam halia, ikan sweet sour and omelette at a simple Petai Belalang restaurant courtesy of the father, of course.  ;-)

Does anyone ever heal?

Healing may not come quickly, but it will come. People said time heals all wounds. Yet, this quote begs to differ. Don't you agree?

HAPPY EARTH DAY ....2013

Happy Earth day everybody. In today's Form 1 class, I asked the students what they understood from celebrating "Earth Day". They were quite knowledgeable in the sense that they talked about switching off the lights for less carbon prints, reuse, reduce and recycle, be kind to nature.... Well, they talked as a thirteen year old level would. Full of enthusiasm, excitement, and innocence. They believed the earth was a good place and everything was alright in their own little, secure and protective world. 

So, today in lieu of the topic "Healthy Eating" they made sandwiches without the use of meat. They used boiled eggs and canned sardines (do we consider this meat?) with lots of tomatoes, salad and cucumbers. We used old newspapers, cloth as rags and metal spoons and paper plates. After they had completed their group work "project" they were asking if they could eat it now and then. It was only the second period and it was only about 8:45am. Class ended at 9:00am. So, what the heck! I gave these children a break. Yes, they ate with much gusto and appreciation as they had no breakfast yet.  :-DD))))  As they were eating I showed them a slide of the eagle and the choice it had to make to live. I had brought something for them to add to their "main course". It was a topic on healthy eating hence I gave them apples, oat biscuits and mineral water. It was an enjoyable and stomach fulfilling class. Well, it applied the topic "healthy" and kind to the earth. Next week's topic will be "Living Fit". Now, what shall I do during this lesson so that we get out of the mundane, claustrophobic classroom environment? Hmmm .... maybe we will go to the field and play a game or two????? :-)  

Pre - Elections ... 2013

20th April 2013. Nomination day for the chosen and "picked" candidates of each party which is competing in the 13th general elections for Malaysia. Well, actually it did not affect my life here much as I was not into politics or their respective parties.

I was brought up in a political environment. With an uncle who used to be a candidate and a father who helped in the campaigning .... Now my cousin, this one and only uncle's son, is actively involved in politics. No, he was not nominated this time around. I supposed because he was more laid back and  involved in running his many businesses. It was not really significant in my life then as by the time I was more aware of politics, my father's health started to decline and thus, we were not involved directly in any elections. Pak Cik was also not nominated in his later involvement years and with the death of Mak Cik, he concentrated on his business ventures and new family. Only Naim was getting more seriously involved.

Among my circle of friends of non-Malays, we adhered to an understanding of not discussing politics, religion and economy. They could be quite vocal on their dissatisfaction and what to them was inequality of the distribution of opportunities as it benefited the bumiputras and Malays. Now, it is a different story. They kept forwarding anything that was against the government. Even though they no longer live here and have become permanent residents of other countries, yet, they feel they have every say and right in this country. Hmmm ... I still keep my opinions to myself. I read whatever was sent to me via e-mail, of course. I did not raise to their provocation or dissatisfaction. I am really not politically inclined.

I had never been involved in the voting process. When I turned 21, the legal age to register as a voter, I was more interested in pulling myself together and helping my mother coped and accepted my father's death. Then, I was in Kelantan from 1984 to 1988. It was advisable not to be involved as politics could be quite volatile between the oppositions. Thus, I kept my counsel until I got married and moved to Kedah. By then I was already 30 years old. Noor insisted that I registered. I had changed my address so, I registered to keep him off from pestering me. The first time, which was 2 elections ago, I finally went to do my duty. No, we never discuss politics either to keep the peace in the family. Thus, this coming elections will be my third time voting.  ;=))  Anyway, I am seriously thinking of opting out this time around as I honestly have no conclusive opinion or whatever that can somehow, guide me to pick the most reasonable candidate for my constituency. The more I read the more confusing I become. What is truth is what they believe it to be. So, what is the truth?

I hated reading whenever both parties just spewed out what they thought was wrong or shameful or dishonourable or the dirt they had gathered on the other party. Why couldn't they become more gentleman or as in sports, with much sportsmanship and panache? Be honest, sincere and integrity. Just talk about oneself. There is no need to lay out the dirt of others. Open a closetful of skeletons which should just be left buried. Why can't they work together? Why must politics change people? Friends become foes. Siblings become sworn enemies. The good become the bad and ugly. I have seen personally how being in politics can transform people close to me.

My hopes and wishes are for a peaceful campaign. A clean campaign. I have yet to hear of a candidate who goes all out to campaign about himself without tarnishing the reputation of others. Well, we'll wait and see how this fortnight of campaigning and the 13th general elections go. To everybody, filter what you hear. May the best candidate be chosen based on merit, honesty, integrity and sincerity. Do they still exist?????  :-}}

The colourful flags which was seen along the Changlun-ALor Setar highway.

Oppositions and pro-Government flags flying side bys ide. Isn't that nice?????  ;-)

Decorative flags along the roadside to add to the scenery ... let the "war" begins.