The Price Of A Miracle

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully.Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter.
That did it! 'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he said without waiting for a reply to his question.
'Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. 'He's really, really sick ... and I want to buy a miracle.' 'I beg your pardon?' said the pharmacist. 'His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?'
'We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little. 'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.' The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a miracle does your brother need?'
' I don't know,' Tess replied with her eyes welling up. 'I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money.' 'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago . 'One dollar and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audibly. 'And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.
''Well, what a coincidence,' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents - the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.' He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.'
That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.
'That surgery,' her Mom whispered. 'was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?' Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost ... one dollar and eleven cents ... plus the faith of a little child.

You Reap What You Sow

Last Thursday and Friday were quite depressing days in school. I was (and still am) very tempted to blog about it. But if I did, it would be like washing dirty linen in public. So I am going to give myself a little more time to think about it.

Meanwhile, another story from my saved e-mails......

The woman asked "are you hungry?'

The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.

"No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president.. Now go away. "The woman's smile became even broader. "Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.

"Are you hungry?" she asked. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone." Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked. "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?" The officer scratched his head.

"That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?" "See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile." "Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything.." "This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived. The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," thepoliceman answered.

"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business." Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place." The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?" "Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms." "And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?" "What business is that of yours?"

"I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." "Oh." "The woman smiled again.. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" "No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty." "Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?" "Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer." The officer watched him walk away.

"You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent... Believe it or not, I havea reason for all this." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar." "I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry." "Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.

"Iwas just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat." Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."

"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roastbeef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said." I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you.

"There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he asked. "Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. He led me to you." Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways. "Thank you for all your help, officer," she said. "On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And...And thank you for the coffee."

"Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always and don't forget that when you 'cast your bread upon the waters,' you never know how it will be returned to you. "God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart. When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Only 1 of 2 things will happen: either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly! The power of one sentence: God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favour. God closes doors no man can open & God opens doors no man can close.

This story has lifted me from my depression......thank you friend for sending it to me!

The Date

Just two weeks into the new academic year and I feel exhausted! To keep going, I have to remind myself this is just a job, not my life. It is no longer a joy to go to school. Of course I love the time when I'm in class with my students but otherwise.......I can't wait to get home!

Here's another story....

Please read this completely because it is worthy to spend some minutes reading this beautiful story.

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said I love you but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you. The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. "What's wrong, are you well?" she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. "I thought that it would be pleasant to be with you," I responded. "Just the two of us." She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much."

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up. I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. "I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed, "she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting".

We went to a restaurant that, although not classy, it was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. "I was the one who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded.

During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation - nothing extraordinary, but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed.

"How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice. Much more than I could have imagined," I answered. A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have time to do anything for her.

Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son.." At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "I LOVE YOU" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve.
Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time."

As a teacher I can be replaced anytime, but not as a wife or mother!!!

Second decade of the century

It’s already the second decade of the century! It seems so recent when the whole world waited with mixed feelings of excitement, anxiety and fear for what would happen when the clock struck 12 to usher in Y2K. Nothing extraordinary happened; no crashing of computer systems, no disruption to transportation, no blackouts….nothing. We celebrated the new year and life went on.

However, it was an eventful year for me. My little baby was starting regular school, while it was Dhivia’s first exam challenge – UPSR. I got my transfer to the school where my girls were studying so I could be with them. It was an equally important year for Karthi as he was stepping into secondary school. Suddenly, my husband got a job promotion and was transferred to KL sometime in March or April. I thought I could manage the rest of the year in Penang and join him at the end of 2000. But we all missed him so much and we weren’t comfortable with him traveling to Penang every weekend to see us. So…..we packed our stuff and joined him…a major move.

Now, 10 years later, the first year of the new decade promises to be equally eventful. Dhama is into her last year in high school, Karthi will be finishing his degree while Dhivia will be taking a bold step into Scotland to finish her final year in MPharm. My husband and I will be celebrating our silver wedding anniversary! And these are just some of the events I know will take place. This is just the beginning of the year and I wonder what else is in store for us….

On a different note, I want to share what I miss about the holidays, now that I am back in school. I never thought I’ll say this, but I’m missing my “Aiyoh, OMG” entertainment channel! Haven’t heard of it? It’s quite exclusive only to my neighbourhood!

Actually it is from my back neighbor’s house. Our kitchens are separated by a pathway which is about 1-2 meters wide, so any loud conversation in their kitchen can be heard clearly in mine. I think their Indonesian maid is new and not quite trained in our Malaysian ways. So for a couple of hours every morning, while preparing meals in the kitchen, I get to hear the exchanges between employer and maid – of course the employer is much louder and clearer then the maid. I suppose the maid must be giving unacceptable or rude answers as I hear the boss getting louder and louder….and when she has exhausted scolding the maid, she goes…Aiyoh, Oh My God!!!!Almost every time. Once I heard her scolding “…you bukan bodoh tau….” And I thought what was coming would be “you malas”. But instead she went “ you sangat, sangat, sangat, saanggaaaattttt SSSAAANNNNGGGAAATTTT BODOH! It was quite entertaining listening to them, but sometimes I wish there was a volume control button, especially when I wanted to listen to my radio.

As for school, I’m enjoying meeting many new faces in Form 3 and 4 and looking forward to my lessons with them.

It is only the 6th day of the year so I think it is still not too late to wish everyone…. Happy New Year!

Carrots, Eggs and Coffee

A carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee...You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, ' Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

The Rose

......another inspirational story.....


The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose.
I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze.

'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked. She jokingly replied, 'I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...'
'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.
We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went.
She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, 'We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.
There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!
There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.
The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.'

At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS
OPTIONAL.

We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.

Never Give Up

As I go through my inbox, here is another story I've been saving to share.

Don't give up.....

One day I decided to quit...
I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life.
I went to the woods to have one last talk with God.
"God", I asked, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"
His answer surprised me...
"Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"
"Yes", I replied.
"When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them.
I gave them light.
I gave them water.
The fern quickly grew from the earth.
Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.
In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful.
And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the
bamboo. He said.
"In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed.
But I would not quit.
In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. I would
not quit." He said.
"Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared
to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall.
It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive.
I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle."

He asked me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots".
"I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."
"Don't compare yourself to others."
He said.
"The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern.
Yet they both make the forest beautiful.."
"Your time will come", God said to me.
"You will rise high"
"How high should I rise?"
I asked.
"How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return.
"As high as it can?" I questioned.
"Yes." He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and brought back this story.
I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. Never, Never, Never Give up.
For the Prayer is not an option but an opportunity.
Don't tell the Lord how big the problem is,
tell the problem how Great the Lord is!

The Charles Schulz Philosophy

I received this e-mail and felt it was worth sharing......

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point..

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress....
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.


How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.


Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school..
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special!
5.. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.


Easier?

The lesson:
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials.. the most money... or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most!

Dhivia's "The Serpent Saga"

What is a mere serpent when you have the wisdom and mental capacity to take on the Lochness Monster????

You never fail to amaze me with the way you evaluate a certain situation and form your perceptions. You have the ability to see the bigger picture and prepare yourself for what lies ahead….so don’t let all these little incidents scare and scar you. Let me assure you, you are the one who is going to have the last laugh.

I think you have the institution of Friendship in the right perspective; unlike me. You know how I have been taken for a ride by some of my ‘friends’, even backstabbed and how much it has upset and affected me. I am not embarrassed to admit that many times I have wished that I could see things the way you do.

The time is approaching for you to be on your own. As difficult as it is for me to let go, I know I have to. I have full confidence that you will do very well. You have the maturity, intelligence and are independent enough to handle anybody or any situation.

So go forth and conquer!

24 YEARS!!!!

Yes, that’s how long I’ve been married today! And if asked would I change anything if given another chance, I’d say… NO. Hmmmm….perhaps on second thought….some of the in-laws!

29-11-1985.... The journey began...

...1990...

...1995...

...2000...

29/11/2009... and the journey continues.......


I LOVE YOU DEAR ♥

yes, you too Dhama, Dhivia and Karthi :D

Camping to connect

I always feel refreshed after a camp, despite the late nights and lack of sleep. This year was the third time (not in a row) I accompanied the prefects for their camp. I have also camped overnight during ‘Kem Integrasi’ in school and also somewhere near Batu Caves a couple of years ago. Committing myself to say ‘yes’ to these overnight camps is the most difficult part – thinking of leaving behind the family and household chores for the weekend. Of course it’s only the family that I miss not the chores, but knowing I’ll have to deal with them (the chores) during the week days is not comforting!

Once I’ve said yes I actually look forward to spending time with my friends and the students. This is the time we get to share…more then the food! I always come back feeling closer to these friends…knowing that the time we shared together helped us understand each other better.

This is also when I get to know the students better. Some are friendly while some keep their distance from me. I appreciate the maturity of those who understand that I’m a different person in the classroom, school and outside school. My roles are quite different respectively. For example, at camps I am a guardian for all the children there. It was so amusing when some guys ran down from their apartment at 1.30 am, afraid to tuck in for the night because there was a ‘huge’ insect (bug/beetle?) there. Fortunately our 8 year old facilitator (Mr. Ruben’s son) said he’ll take care of it; saving us teachers the climb up to the apartment on the 3rd floor I think! Before we could move off, another couple of BOYS came running to us – the smaller (in size!) boy asking us to convince the bigger one that there were no ghosts and it was safe for him to go to bed!!! Ironically there were no girls in sight – they must have all bravely retired for the night.

I can also see how the students tend to bond with one another and I think some friendships grow stronger after a camp. However I tend to agree with the principal (in her closing speech) that a true camp is where we pitch our own tents instead of sleeping in apartments and cook our own food. I can’t imagine how much fun that would be – burnt meals, sleepless nights watching out for creepy, crawly ‘visitors’, no decent toilets!!!!!I have gone through these during my university days and I remember them better than the marks I scored in my exams!

Maybe Samad should have a camp-out for all the staff and students one weekend…..Oops I better not say. Don’t think it is going to be a well-received idea! But it will definitely help us connect.

You can be whatever you want to be

There is inside you
All of the potential to be whatever
You want to be –
All of the energy to do whatever
You want to do.

Imagine yourself as you would like to be,
Doing what you want to do,
And each day, take one step
Towards your dream.

And though at times it may seem too
Difficult to continue,
Hold on to your dream.
One morning you will awake to find
That you are the person you dreamed of –
Doing what you wanted to do –
Simply because you had the courage
To believe in your potential
And to hold on to your dream

~ Donna Levine ~

Isn’t that just beautiful?
This one is dedicated to all my beloved students who are now either struggling or strolling through their SPM!
Especially for Yu Hong who has constantly reminded me to update my blog. Thanks for your support Yu Hong.

2009 – Bullish at SMKSAS!

Yes, the bull has come charging in even before the start of the new lunar year. The bull is known to be a hardworking animal and that is exactly how everybody in SAS seems to be this year. I can’t seem to get my choice parking lot when I arrive in school at about 7.05 am as there are already over 20 cars parked there. The staffroom which used to be half empty when the bell rang at 7.25 am is now almost full by 7.15 am. Absenteeism in school and at meetings has greatly reduced. I have not seen the relief list for a whole week! Last Friday I saw the teachers’ record books stacked up pretty high on the office counter at 12.30 pm.
Sorry, I have not been able to make more observations as I too am rushing to get things going! But at this rate SMKSAS is on its way to being selected as Sekolah Kluster.

2008 ~ the Year That Was

Thank you 2008 for being kinder to me then you were to the country and the world on the whole. In retrospect, I find there is much for me to be thankful about.
As for my job, I have had more than enough to keep me busy through the year. The year end holidays gave me time to catch my breath and get ready for the year ahead. I am actually looking forward to seeing the students again but am hoping for a change in the teaching routine. Am not sure what I want, just for work to be more interesting.
Things have been good at home. The children have been doing well with Dhivia finishing her 1st year of the M Pharm program in IMU, Dhama getting excellent results in her PMR and Karthi comfortably in the 3rd year of his engineering course. My husband had a chance to do a certificate course in the U.S. and also made a couple of trips to the U.K. He felt rewarded for all his hard work.
The family was fortunate enough to have a few holidays together. The highlight was our trip to Bali which was our 1st overseas holiday for the 5 of us since 2003. We had a great time. We also made a trip to Penang for Deepavali, spent a few days in Langkawi in November and visited Malacca for Christmas. Can’t remember having so many family outings in one year!
Health wise too we have been blessed. Thank God! No major catastrophe except for some aches and pains (that comes with age!) for me and a couple of asthma attacks for Dhivia.
The petrol price hike and subsequent rise in prices of almost everything else was a little worrying. But with a simple lifestyle, we are handling it quite well. I hope to save enough money for a holiday in 2009.
There has been a downside though – I attended funerals of 6 relatives/close friends, the biggest number in a single year! Sadly too, 4 of them were still in their 50s. That’s scary especially since I’m going to be 50 this year!
Well… briefly that was 2008 for me and will be grateful for a repeat in 2009.

Astro

I decide to take a break from my chores, sit back on the sofa, put my feet up to rest and catch some interesting programs on TV. I understand our satellite TV Astro has hundreds of channels. But there seems to be only one ‘program’ on all the channels every afternoon – SERVICES CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE! It is a very boring show – a blank screen with only one silent and still character -a yellow dot. I don’t have the patience to leave the TV on to time how long this ‘show’ goes on everyday but I’m disappointed that I’m paying for it!

Shouldn’t we consumers be demanding compensation from Astro for such bad service? We should be getting a rebate on our monthly payment for all the NO-SHOW hours. I thought that satellite TV was a very advanced medium of communication and a result of our progress in Science and Technology (form 2 Geography!). Thank goodness I have only subscribed to the basic package in Astro and thank God for RTM – Reliable enTertainment for Malaysia. Nothing to shout about but it doesn’t let you down every time it rains.

Promotion for 6th form teachers.

Note : 1) To my children – you need read no further. This is going to be very BORING!
Btw, my posts are not meant for your entertainment.
2) To my students – you may learn a little about school politics so please feel free
to comment.
3) To my bosses (hopefully to the highest level) – please take note of the contents.

Two weeks ago a letter was sent out to parents asking them to provide a stamped self-addressed envelop to their child’s class teacher so that the child’s final exams results can be posted to them. To date I have received ONE envelop! Since it will be the holidays, I threatened to deliver the results personally to their homes if they do not hand me the envelopes this week. I’m waiting to see how many fell for this threat. Anyway, I expected this response from my 2 Seroja kids and that is why I have already got my envelopes and stamps ready. I also heard some of the students intend to give wrong addresses! What has this got to do with the title? This is just one of the many challenges a 6th form teacher won’t face.

Last year a decision was made to treat 6th form classes as a separate department in schools and several new posts were to be created (read promotion) for teachers. Apparently some teachers were called up in December 2007 to apply for these posts. Early this year when school reopened, there was a scramble among teachers wanting to teach 6th form (I suppose to qualify for this promotion exercise) and the teaching time-tables were rearranged several times. However there were numerous complaints by teachers, especially from those whose schools do not have 6th form. I thought there was a case to put this decision on hold.

Several days ago the principal announced that the 2nd promotion exercise was underway and told teachers qualified to apply. I paid little attention to this as I don’t teach 6th form and I was also in a hurry to get back home to finish some chores in preparation for Deepavali. However as I was leaving the office, the principal asked me if I had collected the forms to apply. I felt very honoured by that question but I told her I don’t teach 6th form. I interpreted her question as she recognizes me as one who deserves to apply. That alone was like a promotion for me. Thank you Puan Nurul.

The following day saw many teachers in serious discussion about who had been successful in the 1st promotion exercise. No official announcement has been made and I am in no position to question these awards. I just want to highlight my work load in comparison with the 6th form teachers.

The subjects I teach are only given 3 periods a week, so 24 periods a week sees me going into 8 classes every week. Class size ranges from 22 – 37 students ( P.Moral classes) and 32 – 35 students in my Geography classes. In total I face 254 students every week and that also translates into that number of books to mark, coursework to check, exam papers to mark, etc. I am also not privileged to teach non-examination subjects, so my 24 periods is solid covering of syllabi to prepare for exams. While flipping through the school magazine, I couldn’t help noticing the size of the 6th form classes. Some as small as 11 students! And how about the number of students taking certain subjects? Sorry, I don’t have the statistics. But as for me, my 4th form Moral classes were considered too small so they were later combined so that I have 36 students in my form 4 A/B class and 37 students in my form 4 E/F class.

Another salient point to note, NO STUDENT goes for P. Moral TUITION. So even if the pass rate of my P.Moral class is just 50%, I can claim total credit for it. Not only is there no tuition for this subject, there is also no demand for tuition because it is considered unimportant by the students. Very few students also go for Geography tuition. In fact I always advice my students to invest their 1st month tuition fees in buying several Geography revision workbooks , then be disciplined in answering the questions. This way they save tuition fees and time traveling to and from tuition classes.

Academic work aside, administrative and disciplinary work is also more challenging in the lower forms. I have sent out more than 50 ‘surat amaran’ for absenteeism to the parents of my 2 Seroja children. Imagine how difficult it would have been for me to collect fees from these children if I can’t even get them to give me stamped self-addressed envelopes! I could go on and on and on…..

Anyone reading this and thinking why don’t you try teaching 6th form? For your info I have taught 6th form from 1985 to 1990, until I went on a transfer to a school with no 6th form. I am up to the challenge (read privilege)! I understand it is easier to teach 6th form now because many go for tuition! Boss, don’t you think I can handle MUET? Would love to give it a try!

Little thrills

At my age there’s hardly any chance of having thrilling experiences. I might try the roller coaster in Gentings because can’t afford bungee jumping in New Zealand. I could save up for a ship cruise because that will definitely excite me to the core. But then again, a cruise will be a big thrill!
Thanks to the school magazine editorial board, I was thrilled to see my pictures in several articles reported. I have not been so privileged before. Better yet was the article on blogging which had a special mention of my blog.
Now I feel pressured to post more regularly. It is not that I don’t have issues to discuss but I must practice self-censorship so that my blog won’t be controversial, contentious, litigious or touchy. But with the school holidays around the corner, I hope to find more time to practice my literary skills.

Datuk Shah Rukh Khan!

What a surprise when I saw the front page news on Saturday ~ Shah Rukh Khan was being awarded a Datukship by the Malacca governor. Yes, what exactly has he done to deserve this? Apparently 6 of his movies' song sequences had been shot in Malacca and this, claims the governor, has brought more tourists to the state!

If that is the case, about 50% of the South Indian movie heroes should be given datukship because they have shot more than song sequences; they have made movies in Malaysia which has made our country a household name in India. Why do you think there are thousands of Indians coming to work in Malaysia? These movies shot in Malaysia have given them glimpses of the beauty, the wealth, the lifestyle, the multi culture and so on. Only when they arrive here do they realise movies are for entertainment. They are not life and movies can fool you.

Back to SRK, wonder if he knows how to pronounce the name Malacca? knows where it is? what is this datukship award all about? Aren't there any more deserving Malaysians? My son has been contributing to the Malacca economy these past 4 years!

Anyway, can't wait to see SRK's next movie, with the credits running - Starring Datuk Shah Rukh Khan!!!

Exams and academic year end.

Much discussion has been going on in the media about when school final exams should be held. There have been many requests that exams should be avoided during the festive season. Such issues have not been raised in the past. Now parents demand that their children should be allowed to enjoy the festivities and not be bogged down with exams. Festivals take priority over their children’s education. Festive celebrations come and go every year but their children’s school years are only for a short period of time, especially the public exams. Why all this fuss? Is it because parents are occupied with their own work and social life throughout the year and only reserve time to be spent with the family during festivals?
Schools have received directives to hold final exams right at the end of the school academic year. This was a result of numerous complaints from parents that when final exams are held earlier, their children do not go to school after that. So teachers are very free in school but these parents probably have a difficult time managing their children (or only child!) at home. Parents may be ignorant of a teacher’s duties and responsibilities, but I’m surprised that officials in the Ministry of Education actually entertained these complaints.
As a parent, I would want to know how my child fares in the final exams so that I could plan for him/her to utilize the school holidays to revise and be better prepared for the following year. Presently, exams are being held just before the school holidays start so that teachers can mark the exam scripts and process the marks during the holidays. I suppose students will only know their grades next year. Students won’t have a chance to check their answers until 2 months later. By this time exam scripts may be lost or misplaced during the break. They may not even be marked / marked properly if there is a possibility that the papers won’t be checked!
Teachers are not exactly free after the school final exams. Apart from grading exam papers, year end reports have to be prepared and filed. A large percentage of teachers have to invigilate public exams, such as SPM and STPM that goes on until early December. It is teachers too who grade the public exam scripts, which is done through December. Certain teachers who have special duties like preparing the time-table for the following year; organizing distribution of text books; collecting, processing and distributing PMR results, and so on have to come back during the holidays to perform their respective duties.
Why do students stay away from school after the finals? Is it because school is uninteresting or home is more entertaining? Children have all sorts of gadgets to entertain themselves at home like Play Station, computer games, internet (unsupervised!), Astro, VCD / DVD players (viewing also unsupervised!) and enough money to be splurged at entertainment centers. I wonder who is responsible for this??? Yes of course, teachers!
Many students said they actually looked forward to school after the final exams. This was the fun part of school where they played games, had enjoyable activities and could put their books away for a couple of weeks.
Now, no more class parties…lost tradition. No more last minute advice on how students should spend the holidays or even giving students holiday homework, especially for those who fared badly in the finals. When the bell rings after the last exam paper, it is bye, bye. Indeed a HAPPY HOLIDAY. Have fun!

Short book review?!

Thank you for telling me in your own polite ways that people don’t like to read book reviews in blogs. I thought I will do my share of promoting the reading habit since research showed that Malaysians only read 2 books per year. However I am not surprised at your feedback because a colleague who teaches English commented "you still read story books at your age" when I brought out my book to read while waiting for the meeting I was attending to start. Ironic that it should come from a teacher, and an English teacher at that! Didn’t know there was an age limit for reading story books. Every time we visit a bookshop or I read a book review in the newspapers, I point out to my children the book I would like to read. That saves them the headache of deciding what gift to get me for birthdays, anniversaries, etc while I can be certain that I will like my gift! I also read between 2 – 4 newspapers everyday, depending on how much time I have. It is very important to me because it helps me relate moral values which I teach to current issues and situations to enable students understand what they are studying better.

On another issue, I am not one who frequents the temple. We only go to temple on auspicious days like Deepavali or Thaipusam and sometimes on family members’ birthdays. But I admit I feel good and revitalized after each visit to the temple. After reading an e-mail forwarded to me, I feel guilty thinking it is a hassle visiting the temple on a regular basis. I like to share the story with you:
A 'devotee' wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to the Ashram or Temple. 'I've gone for 30 years now, he wrote, and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 mantras. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the Gurus are wasting theirs by giving services at all. This started a real controversy in the 'Letters to the Editor' column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:
I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this.. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to the Temple for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!
When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

By the way, if you are one who likes to read suspense-filled legal thrillers, you shouldn’t miss Steve Martini’s ‘Critical Mass’. It is about the theft of two nuclear devices from the former Soviet Union and smuggled into the US. It is a gut-wrenching, superb thriller… so realistic it scares you. Happy reading.