It Is Worth It ... ;=))

Nothing was more touching than being given something so memorable and valuable that even words just could not describe the feeling. All I could do was just hugged it close to me and looked at the givers with love and affection. I felt so valued, so appreciated and so loved by these ex-students of mine. What had they given me? A collection of our photos together with scribbles from them pouring out their heartfelt thanks and love ... Did I really mean that much to them??? I might have taught thousands of students spanning 4 states for 31 years .... but this batch of 2013 really outdone themselves. Why?

 It was a week before their SPM exam and they took the trouble to get together, printed out the photos, decorated the album with touching words and got their ex-classmates from other classes now (in Form Four they went to separate classes according to their PMR results) ... and gave me in person on the day before the SPM. All I could say was a big, teary-eyed thank you ...

From my class of 2015 ...

They gave me flowers because they knew I would love it. Ros baked a cake for us. The most touching part was when Shiqin told me that her grandmother sponsored the cupcakes which 5 of them made themselves because I used to teach her mother and now her ... hahahaha ...two generations of her family ... oh dear ... anyway, I felt so honoured. Husna gave me a burger piggy bank because she said I should learn to save money now ... huhuhu ... and a few gave notes and self-made cards ... 

It made my whole life worth it .... teaching them, educating them, opening their hearts and minds, touching their lives and letting them touched mine too ... for better or for worse ... all of us had made a difference in each of our lives. Not only had they gained from me ... but I became much richer in everything because of them ... 

Hello November .... Goodbye October .... ;-}}

This year I bade November welcome with much anticipation and hope. I am going to start a new phase of my life cycle. Count down to my pre-retirement stage. Professionally, I will be out of my career on 19th November.

Welcome November. Be kind and gentle with my tired body, heart and soul. May Allah graces me with his love and blessings. Whatever comes my way .... I have learned to accept them with grace, gratitude, strength, patience and tolerance. I have learned to hold my head up, take a deep breath and smile. I have learned to be happy with whatever it is and make the best of the situation.

Thus, November .... take me into your month ...... gently, tenderly and compassionately. ;-))

Hazy Days ..

Last I posted in my blog about the haze was four days ago. I assumed the situation was getting better but as of yesterday and today (Thursday and Friday) another schools closure day was announced. It was getting worse and moving northwards, Kedah recorded a new high in API level surpassing 230. We had never reached beyond a reading of 170 which caused the schools to be closed. Well, another free holiday but it was really hazy. Yet, I still went for my walk to the park as I was cooped up in the house for the past two days due to a bad back. Very few people were around.There were the usual hardcore walkers and joggers and some were wearing masks. I knew it was better to be safe than sorry but I just could not breathe with the mask on !!!! So, with my back complaining and groaning, I walked my usual three rounds albeit much slower. As hazy as it was, I still felt refreshed and emotionally happier just to get out.

On the way to the park at 7:00am. Hazy and foggy ... a bit thicker and it is entering the twilight zone

5:00pm - the sun trying to shine through the haze. At 6:00pm before I left the park, the sun had turned reddish in colour

I went for my walk twice. Once in the morning and in the evening. There were fewer people and the situation was still hazy with an API reading of 243 by 5:00pm.

Friday. It rained very heavily about 4:00am. I was grateful because it would help to reduce the haze situation. I went for my morning walk happily because the air after the rain was so cooling and refreshing. I have always loved after the rain day. Still hazy ...yes but the cool effect was worth it. A respite from the burning smell and heat of the past week. The park was quite empty although it's a weekend. The tai-chi group, aerobics and most senior citizens were not here today. Thank you, Allah. Alhamdulillah. Despite the haze, I could still go on with my life. I learn to be more appreciative and not to take simple pleasures in life for granted. Fresh air. Clean water. Lush, green trees. Lovely, colourful flowers. Peace. Safety. Birds and squirrels all over the park. Clean environment. Alhamdulillah.

Final Outing .....

For the first time in as many years (more than ten years I guess) I have never been involved in school or field trips with students anymore. If I have to attend any event with students involved, I usually go on my own. Since I was involved with the school's exam unit, I hardly get myself involved in any students' related activities.

Thus, it was a surprise to the school that I volunteered to accompany the Form Three students who were chosen to go to the Soka Gakkai "Everything You Treasure" Exhibition. It was an exhibition on the banning of nuclear weapons. It was interesting, informative and we all learned something new. The Soka Gakkai group had everything very well-organised and prepared. The way they welcomed us was very thoughtful and we were honoured that we were invited to attend the exhibition. They even sent the bus for us. I guess I will let the pictures speak for them ...

The students that had me as one of the accompanying teachers ..

They welcomed us holding a personalised board with the name of our school

A replica of the atomic bomb that was dropped onto Nagasaki/Hiroshima named "Fat Man"

The replica of the other bomb named "Little Boy"

We were given a briefing on the history of the atomic bombs, effects, and what the world was doing about it

One of the young presenters that attracted lots of fans among the girls ...;-))

We were given the picture of the bomb and to draw what life would be if there were no nuclear bombs

The must have group photo ...

The Haze is Back ...

Isn't it ironic? At the beginning of 2015, we had the floods which caused schools to close for another week. Now, towards the end of the school year (4 more weeks) we are facing the haze which is causing erratic closing down of schools for certain states one day at a time. This time around the haze, which does not bother us so much all these years, suddenly escalates in thickness and volume. We could hardly breathe and most of us with respiratory problems start to suffer asthmatic symptoms again.

The haze caused a shut down of most schools in Peninsular Malaysia for two days. While we rejoiced the free holiday, it actually set the schools back in their activities, examinations and programmes planned. It is like a smoke screen has enveloped the entire country.

Where I am now, reaching my school is like going through the twilight zone on bad, hazy days. Early morning and you can hardly see the school until you come right in front of the gate. Suddenly, you can see this building in the middle of nowhere. In the middle of the afternoon, one can hardly see the view of Gunung Jerai from across the school field. Actually, that is the view that one sees on a clear day when one heads towards the school. Now, hardly anything can be seen but a smoke screen.

When Eton came to visit last week, she also commented that she could not see any clouds either. She thought north was not as bad as the centre of the country. 5:30pm is like 7:00pm. I cannot distinguish or identify whether it is cloudy or hazy .... yet since I can still see the landscape clearly, I go for my usual walk at the park. Yes, it affects the throat and most of us were coughing to clear the throat ... life still goes on. ;-0}}

The view of Gunung Jerai from the fourth floor in August

The view of Gunung Jerai at 2:30pm on 15 OCTOBER 2015

You can hardly see Gunung Jerai at 3:30pm on 15 OCTOBER 2015