Oxymoron In The Tropics

The other day, someone accused me of being 'naive' and he made it seem as if 'naive' is such a terrible thing to be.  As if I allow every conman on the street to trick me out of my savings and as if I buy into all the frauds and scams that fly into town.  The issue we were disagreeing over was the simple matter of trust.  I chose to trust someone else who was as yet an unknown quantity to me, giving that other person the benefit of the doubt. I didn't give that third person the keys to my house... or the PIN to my bank accounts.... or the care of my son.... or the secrets of my life.  I merely chose to give that person my friendship.  However, this really upset my other friend who felt I should keep a distance and observe this other person first.  Watch and wait for him to do something.  Although I do not know what it is that I am supposed to watch for... By 'coincidence', this other friend is also the type to cultivate a coolly sarcastic facade.  No mat...

Today was the last day of the seminar (refer to previous post).  More gems of wisdom :) I learned about using mnemonic devices to enhance teaching & learning of literature.  Jane Deslorena Jaikol shared her experiences in teaching students of average proficiency and helping them to remember details of the story Robinson Crusoe.  I know how frustrating it can be when after all your backbreaking efforts, you have a young student who writes in his exam paper that in the Pearl, Coyote was shot in the head by Mokgobja who wanted rain for his lotus which he needed to eat. Dr Norherani Moning talked about wikispaces and how they helped scaffold the teaching of academic writing.  Eric C talked about using efficiency (E-factors) and appropriacy (A-factors) to help in the selection of reading materials for students.  I didn't ask HIM any questions as I was one of his interviewees :) During the pleno session, the panel brought up points such as : - the excellent quality of the papers ...

I am now at the second day of a research seminar in Hotel Beverly, Kota Kinabalu. It has a title that looks dry.. Seminar Penyelidikan Dan Inovasi Pendidikan Kebitaraan Bahasa Peringkat Kebangsaan 2009 ... but the 'kebitaraan' made me look for a dictionary and the papers presented so far has made me view the seminar title in multicolour instead of drab black and white :) I always look forward to attending such seminars.... and this particular seminar is turning out to be one of the more memorable ones. For me, anyway. I met old friends from so many different phases of my life. I got to make new friends! From schools, teaching institutes, universities... I learned new strategies to use in class, such as dialogue journals (action research by Izyan Shazwani). This is a variation on journals and an excellent alternative to e-journals for schools and communities with limited access to the Internet. I found Jacinta Juin's presentation on learner autonomy using drama-based acti...

There are times when you need a boost of energy.... and one of my favourite ways is to listen to Kitaro play 'Matsuri'... oh yeah!

Here's a list of scholarship links, shared by a friend.  I haven't verified them (too many!). Please inform me if you find any broken or invalid link. MARA Scholarship Programs http://www.mara.gov.my/dasar_tajaan Yayasan Proton Scholarship http://www.malaysia-scholarship.com/yproton.html PTPTN Education Loan http://ptptn.gov.my/ The Star Education Fund http://thestar.com.my/edufund Astro Scholarship Award http://www.astro.com.my/astrolife/scholarship/default.asp Shell Scholarships http://www.shell.com/home/content/my-en click on 'Jobs and Careers' PETRONAS Education Scholarship Programs http://esu-spmtrial.petronas.com.my/ MNRB Scholarship Fund http://www.mnrb.com.my/career_sch/scholarships.asp HSBC Scholarship Awards http://www.hsbc.com.my/1/2/miscellaneous/hsbc-scholarship-awards# OCBC Bank Scholarship http://www.ocbc.com.my/global/aboutOCBC/Gco_Abt_Community.shtm Bank Negara Scholarship http://www.bnm.gov.my/index.php?ch=103&pg=6...

It's official... the host of the 31st Summer Olympics is Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Tried to tweet that info but for the first time ever, I got the page "Twitter Is Over Capacity". I have a feeling a few million people stormed Twitter about the Olympics.

A few months ago, a friend recommended a Indonesian band to me and sent me a Youtube link . The melodies were soulful and the vocals were of the unforgettable sort. Their themes seem to center on love and its many permutations. Any place you go, if you hear Ungu over the PA system or on the radio, you just KNOW it's Ungu. Then just now, I saw the band sing on an Astro channel.... sweet... Lyrics : Ungu feat. Rossa – Tercipta Untukku menatap indahnya senyuman diwajahmu membuat ku terdiam dan terpaku mengerti akan hadirnya cinta terindah saat kau peluk mesra tubuhku banyak kata yang tak mampu ku ungkapkan kepada dirimu reff: aku ingin engkau s'lalu hadir dan temani aku di setiap langkah yang meyakiniku kau tercipta untukku sepanjang hidupku aku ingin engkau s'lalu hadir dan temani aku di setiap langkah yang meyakiniku kau tercipta untukku meski waktu akan mampu memanggil seluruh ragaku ku ingin kau tau kuslalu milikmu yang mencintaimu sepanjang hidupku aku ingin engkau slal...

At work, I use the Internet a lot.  I email teachers info and documents, teachers respond with data, I maintain my online groups (looking after ten groups..), I check on what's new in the oh-so-many relevant websites..MOE, JPA, Treasury.... and I have come to depend on the net a lot. Today, I found out I couldn't access my groups.  The web address has been blocked because it is categorized under 'Message Boards and Forums'.  OMG... it is the message boards and forums that is so useful to teachers......... Argh... why are they treating us like kids who don't even know how to police ourselves??? They are punishing the thousands of legitimate users for the very few who abuse the network.  Is it worth it????

Sitting at my PC, I'm reading an online message from a voice from the past.  From the tone of the message, that old and treasured friend is thinking of the past and all his 'what-might-have-beens'.  He is a bit sad and a bit wistful.  But I'm telling him not to look back... When I look at my students, I marvel at their 'empty' Books of Life ... they are just at the beginning of a potentially wonderful life.  It is just up to them what they make of it.  As for me, my approach to life has always been 'No Regrets But Do No Harm.'  So far that approach has worked relatively well for me.  But dare I say that I have no regrets?  Well, maybe one or two. My friend (of the same age) seems to be wishing for some things to be redone.  But I am not too sure if that is a good idea.  Well, he can't change the past.  And when we have let enough time pass, we forget why we made certain decisions.  He made decisions a long time ago that he felt was right, so why ...

Last weekend, I met some old friends who talked of the problem of undergrads who 'outsource' their assignments.  They said it was difficult to get these students to understand the importance of doing their own work.  Then we segued into the topic of degrees, universities and rankings.    I used to wonder why a degree was such a big deal.  Does a period of four (or three) years in an institution really make you a person fit for employment and induction into the officer & managerial ranks?  Can a certificate encapsulate your skills, talents and potential?? But by this 'ripe old age', I have learned what a degree represents to potential employers.  First of all, that cert testifies to a certain capacity to withstand stress while having the discipline, patience & sheer tenacity to see a course of study to its fruitful end. Second, it attests to the ability to collect data, analyse the collection of data and distill a year's worth of research &reading i...

Teaching English in Sabah, Malaysia is a major challenge. If only because some of the students won't open their mouths and say a single word in English. When you ask why, they grin shyly and say," Malu ..." (I'm too shy...) There are also contemporaries who make fun of them if they speak English or worse, accuse them of showing off. So how does an English teacher break the vocal ice? Well, if you're creative and you're open to all sorts of ideas... there's PLENTY you can do! Exempli Gratia.. a) Make them pronounce the words or phrases displayed on the whiteboard or flash cards. b) Read! Poems, articles, speeches, ads, labels...whatever! c) Do jazz-chants. d) Sing karaoke songs! e) Do choral speaking in class. f) Tell stories in relays (e.g. story chains) And here is one lesson I carried out with my Form Sixes : I presented one poem by Edwin Morgan in class (with a reasonably solemn face) and after the class had recovered their composure, I mad...

And the best way to learn this is by getting involved in debating!  Yeah, I'm a bit of a debate fan...:P  Some call me a fanatic.  Fan, fanatic, what's the difference..only four letters..heh heh heh... I always tell my students that the most important skill in life for them is the ability to speak because it is through speaking that you convey information, opinions, ideas, arguments... in fact, it is through speaking that you show people WHO YOU ARE.  Some people say the window through the soul is the eyes...yes, that is true but most people only get to 'see' your eyes after they have heard your voice. For teachers, their speaking is integral to their job specification for how can they convey information and elicit response if they cannot speak?  I am sure there are people out there who are unable to speak but are still able to teach...however, these are very rare cases and these teachers are probably very exceptional people working in very small groups with special...

The first time news came of promotional posts for Form Six teachers was in December 2007.  That excited so many people... and then news came again of Master Teacher posts up for the taking.  In Sabah, anyway.  Promotional exercises came fast and furious and forms were being filled in by every teacher.  There were even cases of teachers filling in forms because they saw their friends filling in forms and they were afraid of being left behind.  I remember when I was a DG44 Senior Assistant ( Penolong Kanan ) in school and there was an opportunity to get a DG48 post as a Form Six Academic Teacher.  I waffled for two weeks and finally gave in to the fear of being left behind and FILLED IN THE FORM!  Like so many other of my compatriots.  And the result is... so many of my Senior Assistant friends are now stepping out of their administrative posts and taking up DG48 posts as Master Teachers or Form Six Academic Teachers.  Some are happy as they have been buckling under the stresses of a...

Was reading a book this morning...and one statement caught my attention.  The author says never to spend time with people who make negative remarks, especially those who do it 'for your own good' and who 'care about you'. Old advice but I keep 'failing' to heed it in the name of friendship. Just last week, a friend asked me so solicitously how I was doing at work or in my personal life.  I replied that I was doing okay, upon which she got an uncertain look on her face and looked as if she was thinking hard.  Naturally, I asked her if anything was wrong.  What happened next was so typical. She said,"Well, So-And-So so said to me... oh no, I shouldn't say this." I took the bait and urged her to tell me.  Which she did and straightaway told me to forget it. Hah, do you  think I can forget it?  It is like a stone in my shoe.  And I feel like such a stupid fool for this is what this friend does to me on a regular basis.  She likes to tell me thing...

Hooray the School Term Timetable is out! PERINCIAN PERSEKOLAHAN MENGIKUT PENGGAL   KUMPULAN B : Sekolah-sekolah di Negeri Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Perak, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor, Pahang, Sabah, Sarawak, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Labuan & Putrajaya TAHUN 2010 PENGGAL MULA PERSEKOLAHAN   AKHIR PERSEKOLAHAN   JUMLAH HARI           04.01.2010 29.01.2010 20   01.02.2010 26.02.2010 20   01.03.2010 12.03.2010 10         CUTI PERTENGAHAN PENGGAL 1 1 13.03.2010 21.03.2010 9         22.03.2010 31.03.2010 8   01.04.2010 30.04.2010 22   03.05.2010 31.05.2010 21   01.06.2010 04.06.2010 4         CUTI PERTENGAHAN TAHUN 2 05.06.2010 20.06.2010 16       21.06.2010 30.06.2010 8 01.07.2010 30.07.2010 22 02.08.2010 31.08.2010 22 01.09.2010 03.09.2010 3       CUTI PERTENGAHAN PENGGAL 2 04.09.2010 12.09.2010 9   ...

If you have nothing good to say, then don't say anything at all. I don't know who said that but I believe in it.  Not that I always succeed in staying true to the basic premise in that sentence, but I try. I have a friend who does many things in order to be true to herself.  Not everyone agrees with what she does but life's like that, isn't it?  However the latest stage of her life is to find salvation in a religion anathema to her family members.  And so they heap blame and vitriolic poison on her hapless shoulders.  Everything that goes wrong in their clan is blamed on her.  What utterly idiotic logic... But she sits there and TAKES it.  I tell her to just get up and leave.  And she just sits there and takes it. I remain her friend and I get some of the poison as well.  What do they expect me to do...?  Stand with them and 'stone' her?? Well, I think these righteous people should pay heed to these words: John 8 : 7        He that is without sin among you...

On the net, there are many things that get circulated and some of these are motivational stories.  I was reading the story of The Wooden Bowl one day (for the umpteenth time!) and it never fails to surprise me how some people never realize that when they mistreat their parents, their own little children are watching them and 'learning' how to treat THEM when they get old.  Poetic justice, some may say but I just think it is sad. However at the end of The Wooden Bowl , someone tagged on that you can learn a lot about people by the way they react to a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage and a tangle of Christmas lights. I thought of someone I love very much and laughed.  For he thinks rainy days are times to have a good sleep, he is super patient with the elderly, he can scream bloody murder if anyone dares to lose his luggage and he would probably end up flinging the tangled Christmas lights at the wall & buying new ones (so far none of our Christmas lights have dared t...

Attended the ASFF Under 15 2009 Farewell Dinner at Palace Hotel tonight. Well, actually I emceed the function together with Henry N... so, yeah, that qualifies as having attended the function. I am feeling happy about it because things generally went well and the evening ended on a high note. The food looked good ... although emcees hardly ever get the chance to eat (no time and no appetite!). I just assumed the food tasted good based on the empty plates heaped on the tables. Started the evening with a multimedia presentation (recap of the championship events), moved on to the usual speech of farewell and handing-out of certificates of participation & appreciation, dinner, songs and dance by the Sabah College singers and dancers (I thought Abd Khareez did a great rendition of Hello Beautiful!), exchange of souvenirs among the contingents.... and CONTINGENT TALENTINE! I wasn't expecting much, considering that the contingents came to play footie...but I found myself thoroughly...

My son's only six but he already grapples with homework every night. His teacher gives him two sentences every day to copy out five times; one in English and another in Chinese...or Malay and Chinese. Tonight he has to do 'The weather is fine." and also ' ~&\%$*@~' Sorry ah, I don't know how to read Chinese characters. Besides homework, he has also learned the skill of procrastination. Mummy, I'm thirsty. Homework cannot be done until he gets a drink. Mummy, it's hot. Mummy switches on the fan. Mummy, got cheese? Mummy looks at son and walks to the kitchen to find a slice of cheese. Mummy, I want the cheese cut in triangles. Mummy finds a knife and cuts cheese in triangles. Mummy, I want eraser. Mummy asks where his eraser went. He says already gone. This happens every night. With varying differences in his requests. Mummy is now an expert in perfect cheese triangles, optimum fan angles and keeping a supply of erasers and sharpeners.

Today I was on the phone, calling up English teachers I knew (and didn't know!) to help out during an international event in my city. It wasn't a difficult task for the teachers...all they had to do was become tour guides to Kota Kinabalu. Qualification? Ability to speak English well, cheerful personality and proactive mindset. It wasn't the first time I've been asked to get English teachers together to do something not related to English teaching. English teachers tend to have a reputation for being willing to do all sorts of stuff (er...can I read that as being creative?) and bundling in lots of loud laughter in the process of doing the job. I've noticed that TESL grads are extremely marketable in my part of the world. Quite a number of my TESL buddies have 'abandoned' the MOE in search of greener pastures elsewhere. One even found an employer willing to pay off her substantial bond to the government! A corporate friend of mine told me that these gr...

Just got back from Palace Hotel.  All I can say is that I survived emceeing the ASFF Welcome Dinner...just. Anybody who has ever been an emcee knows what it's like.  You prepare for all eventualities and OTHER eventualities happen.  But I suppose I should be happy because on the whole, the most important things took place according to plan, as listed below. 1) The VVIP gave his speech and we didn't mispronounce or miss important parts of his name or post. 2) The dinner began on time (despite the microphone hiccup!) and ended waaaaay ahead of time... hooray for us! 3) The right tokens of appreciation went to the right VIPs. 4) The cultural performances ended on a high note, Sayang Kinabalu sung by Asmin Mudin its composer. I won't mention the hiccups because no-one seemed to notice except for those who planned the dinner and of course, the ones who emceed the function...LOL.... The Sri Lanka footballers sat next to us and seemed to be amused, watching Henry and I tryi...

Last Friday, I attended a meeting for the Asian Schools Football Federation (ASFF) Under-15 Championships taking place in Kota Kinabalu from the 12th to the 18th of August.  One of the main issues discussed was Influenza A H1N1.  While the officials were worried about the pandemic, they were focusing more on how to handle the issue.  No cancelling of the championship ... :) I'm one of four emcees tasked with handling some of the functions during the championship so it should be pretty interesting, watching the goings-on.  Looked like the emcees will be given quite a free hand, bar the usual Malaysian protocol rules.  I like this aspect of being an emcee using the English language... Malay language emceeing has too many rules!  Hmm, should I be getting worried....naaaah, don't think so. So far, only ten countries are taking part, braving the pandemic...LOL... Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Macao, Singapore, Brunei, China, Thailand, the Philippines and of course, Malaysia!  H...

Today I was miserable. I woke up, feeling as if I had a Sword of Damocles hanging over my head and was so sure that the day was just going to get worse. Which naturally it did. Things didn't go the way they were supposed to, discussions went from bad to worse and things pretty much degenerated to the point where the aircon was too strong, the coffee was too bitter and the CARPET WAS TOO BLUE! I just wanted to drag my useless and unproductive body home, find some pillows and bury my head out of sight until Monday melted into Tuesday. But of course I logged into the net first. First person I met online patiently 'listened' as I typed all my grievances out. After an hour, I felt much better. Then I went into Facebook and naturally, since misery loves company, I changed my status to ' had an awful Monday.' Almost instantly, friends and cousins began asking why, sending teddy bears, Jesuses and commiserated with me. They didn't allow me to be miserable. What sw...

I was reading a friend's blog post where he expressed his frustration with teachers who just didn't care. It is sad to meet such teachers as actually they are suffering inside.  Either they have forgotten the magic of teaching and seeing the light of knowledge in their students' eyes or they never really knew that magic at all.  But then why are they in the teaching world at all?  Teaching is a VOCATION, which means it is a career you are called to.  Something you have a need to do, a strong inclination towards.  For me, to teach is life.  I MUST teach, I NEED to teach...otherwise I feel dead inside.  When I teach something new and a student says,"Oh wow...I didn't know that...", my day is made.  If I teach and I see a bored expression on a student's face, I cannot rest until I find out why that student is bored and how to dispel that look.  If you are a teacher and you're reading this and you do not understand, then you should ask yourself why on ea...

And the winner this year is....Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School of Malaysia! It may seem like an ordinary international competition win to some but to those in the know, this victory almost didn't happen. First of all, the level of competition was pretty high, with the STTSS students having to beat other equally-hungry schools in Sabah. Out of 105 teams all over the world, STSS was among the handful that made it to the finals. Second, there was an advisory issued by the Ministry of Education, barring all student travel out of Malaysia due to the H1N1 flu epidemic. Teachers and parents had to kick up a blizzard of letters and phone calls before permission was granted. For the team to win, after all the stress and shocks they suffered, it must be pure ecstasy. To Averyl Bachi, Annabelle Yap Yang Ling and Jonathan Lee Yung Sheng, this will be something they will never forget :) I asked Averyl to tell me about the competition and this is what she wrote : In this competition, the orga...

Sometimes, in the midst of chaos, something suddenly appears and causes me to stop and check myself. Last Friday at a hall, as I was silently cursing under my breath, dragging chairs hither and yon, a hauntingly simple melody caught my attention. The lyric ' syukuri apa yang ada, hidup adalah anugerah ' seemed to freeze my thoughts. Be thankful for what you have, life is a gift... Suddenly all the upset and frustration just seemed to be suspended for the short while the melody was played. And for a short while, I was bespelled by a simple tune and a haunting voice. What would our world be without talents like this to bring enchantment into our hectic lives? Then I thought of the massive talents that have recently passed away - their losses are not of mere men and women, but of magic and imagination. So the next time I walk down a school corridor and see a boy strumming on his guitar, Maths book left unheeded, I will hold back my words of admonishment and think that for a fe...

Someone asked if 'Oxymoron' in my blog title meant I had a split personality or some kind of dissociative disorder.  Let's just say it took me a while to grab my breath because I was laughing too hard. Unfortunately I am absolutely and boringly free of any disorder.  Sorry....:D  Okay, maybe I can be a little bit paranoid and a little bit fussy....and sometimes people complain I won't let up (translate that as 'being a nag') but it's only with stuff and issues I care about.  Otherwise why would I bother? Oxymoron in my blog title only refers to the conflict I sometimes feel as an individual living in a world with set expectations.  I think that goes for pretty much everyone else on this planet, right?  But most people just suck it up and live with it.  I blog it...LOL...

One analogy I like to use in handling situations in my life is DOORS. You know, the very cliched 'doors close, doors open' and the 'opportunity knocks, so open the door..' Two days ago, I went to see an officer in a section that I was hoping would be able to 'help' me. Close friends know what I"m referring to. After an hour of discussion, I left his room with mixed feelings. Let's just say, I am now looking at three doors. Bronze door, glass door and polished wood door. All these doors open to bright futures....but I would like to go through the bronze door...and the glass door is also not bad. But suddenly both seem to be shut fast. And it seems as if it's only the polished wood door that is open for me...sigh...

Today I feel heavy-hearted... but at the same time, I'm asking myself why I bother to FEEL anything. I've been doing a lot of things lately and some of it isn't what I can call my 'core business'. But I do it anyway...cos someone has to do it, right? I don't ask for anything in return as I'm 'pulling one for the team'. I'm deliberately keeping this vague. So if you don't get it, never mind... I'm just letting off steam. No matter what I do, it's just never good enough for SOMEONE. One may ask, why do you care? I ask myself that too. Maybe because most of the benefit goes to that someone??? :P While I don't ask for rewards, neither do I ask for brickbats. I think that is too much.

However the heat has merely shifted to English Language... Published: Wednesday July 8, 2009 MYT 2:42:00 PM Updated: Wednesday July 8, 2009 MYT 3:55:24 PM Math and Science back to Bahasa, mother tongues (Update) KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet has decided that the medium of instruction for Maths and Science will revert to Bahasa Malaysia in national schools and mother-tongue languages in national-type schools from 2012 onwards. The reversal of the Teaching of Math and Science in English (PPSMI) policy will be done in stages, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said on Wednesday. He however added that there will be greater emphasis on learning the English language. English literature will be re-introduced, as will subjects on grammar and composition. Beginning 2012, students in Year One and Year Four in primary schools, and Form One and Form Four in secondary schools, will learn Math and Science in Bahasa Malaysia. The change will not affect those in Form Six and...

Well, they did it. Wednesday July 8, 2009 Mathematics and Science to be taught in BM, vernacular languages The Cabinet decided on Wednesday that Mathematics and Science will be taught in Bahasa Malaysia and vernacular languages in stages from 2012 onwards. Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who announced this, however, said more emphasis would be placed on learning English. Follow the announcements on Twitter It's a pity, actually...as I've always found it easier to learn Science in English.  In university, I used to buy my Chemistry, Physics and Biology books in English so I could understand the concepts faster before attempting to answer the questions in Malay. We are all at the mercy of our politicos.

I've been involved in many computer courses, as a participant and also a facilitator.  Sometimes when I step into a roomful of ICT-aware young so-and-so's, they look at me and immediately dismiss me as an 'auntie' who probably needed to be taught how to hold a mouse.  Auntie ah, the mouse you right-click and left-click like this one... Ah but sometimes I do get my revenge. You see, the kids nowadays learn computers from the cradle but their computers have mice and trackballs and joysticks.  The computer I learned how to use way back when only had a keyboard.  Mice back then were animals you chased with a broomstick..or a parang .  The first computers I used didn't have Windows.  They had DOS.  For those young 'uns out there, DOS has C prompts and A prompts and strings of code people memorized.  When we migrated to Wordstar and Wordperfect, we also had to memorize commands such as CTRL-TAB or CTRL-F.  If you mastered Wordperfect, you were almost a demigod bec...

My head hurts... For the past one week, I've been dealing with what I call 'ICT glitches'. I've been collecting and compiling data from schools and for the most part, it's been a breeze. However, the glitches which sit like a pebble in my shoe are quite numerous. I've been given data in MS Word format, despite the fact that I distributed an MS Excel template. Try copy and paste data from MS Word to MS Excel and multiply that by about 400 entries. I guarantee a frustrating time. I've been given incomplete information, resulting in the following exchanges: Me : But this is not complete. X : Yes, I cannot get the info. Me : WHY?? X : The individuals forgot their serial number. Me : Isn't it in their document? X : They don't know where they put their document. Me : There are two documents that contain this info. X : Yes, they cannot find either one. Me : >< A similar exchange: Me : But this is not complete. X : Yes, I cannot get the info. Me...

I SAID I wouldn't say anything about which place I prefer yet.  I SAID I had to give the new place a chance. But sometimes when the writing bug hits you, it hits you.  And so I want to say what I feel about my transfer to the new place. First, the positive bits.  Always mention the good stuff first... classic approach. I am where things are decided at the district level and I can say things like I wanna be emcee for the Asian Schools Football Cup pretty please!   Or organize things the way I want them done...such as the way data is compiled and analyzed.  I can sit in an air conditioned room the whole day and make calls and surf the official websites (other sites are blocked...LOL...).  The working hours is not really a factor as I spent the same number of hours (and MORE!) in SMKKL. But the negative aspects... There are no students to teach and no classes to conduct.  And it's not the same as SMKKL.  Yeah, I like that school and its lovable mish-mash of eccentric people (b...

There are positive ripples...and there are negative ripples. A case in point is a friend of mine, who did something she believed was right for her. Unfortunately the majority didn't view it as positively as she did. And till today, whatever she does that resembles the old action is seen as suspect. And she is treated accordingly. What is happening to her is kinda like ripples that keep destroying as they go on and on. Some may say, who dares to judge? But then again, we all live in a society. This society needs rules in order to function properly. And these rules are guarded closely...sometimes even viciously. The alternative, you see, is chaos. Well, at least I think so. That is why we should be careful about the things we do and the things we say. They have a way of living on ... way beyond our own short memories. Today too, I heard this during a briefing : When you change your thinking, you change your beliefs. When you change your beliefs, you change your expectations. ...

On the 22nd of June 2009, 105 teachers from Kota Kinabalu (including Penampang) will be sitting in KK HIgh School Auditorium, waiting to receive their letters and waiting to be given their briefing. On the same day, a few hundred others will be OUTSIDE said auditorium, feeling all kinds of emotions.  I foresee emotions such as disappointment, anger, despondency, envy. bafflement, jealousy, fury... distress. And afterwards, this turmoil will cause problems in school :P  No need for me to elaborate. The moral of the story : plan better next time before one implements something .

I've had angels in my world all my life.... They manifest themselves in ... C who calls me up to 'blast' me about things I do (which I don't always appreciate...heh heh) L who talks about swords, prayers and angels :D A who gave me a much-needed push ;) in 2003 AD who gave me a wake-up call about my relationship with God J who got me involved in debates a long long time ago JJ who kept me sane and on-track during my Masters program H who drinks coffee with me and listens listens listens .... oh, so many earth angels... And now my latest angel just called me up to offer a course to help... of all people, K, a person close to me. Really out of the blue and a welcome surprise to start off my day. And the added 'benefit'...K would only attend the course if I went along. How could I refuse such an opportunity?

Today, ripples are on my mind ;) Sometimes in the course of my work (or fun!), someone asks why I bother to do such and such.  Like why bother to blow up twenty balloons for a nephew who is not having a birthday party.  Or why bother to talk to someone who doesn't want to listen.  Well, I do some of the tiny insignificant things I do because of ripples.  The twenty balloons may 'kill' me (blow up this many and you will know what I mean!) or the 'deaf' friend may go his way anyway (& I have wasted my breath!) but... The kid will be happy and stay happy for a few days... The 'deaf' friend may remember my words one day...when the time is right. And who knows what may happen or what may be averted? A friend shared some realizations about prayer with me which made me sit up and think hard about my own prayer life.  Then the changes in me caught the attention of other people, who asked and they too sat up and thought hard. It never hurts to share... the wor...

Ever heard of the saying,"Be careful what you wish for...you just may get it."? Well, right now I'm thinking of "Be careful what door you open...you just may not be able to close it." I opened a door and now I'm thinking of closing it.  But the problem is... I don't think it can be closed.  And even if I close it, I fear that like Pandora's Box, what's done is done. So now what does one do when one has taken a step down a certain path and one can't turn back? I suppose one just continues on down that path. I used to tell my friends (and smugly at that!) that I would never take a step down a path if I don't like what lies at the end of that path.  Well, I wince now at my arrogance.  For many a time no one knows what is at the end of the path. Sh*t.

Had a great weekend...! Saturday was hubby's birthday so we went to have buffet lunch. Son was, as usual, all upbeat about the smorgasbord of dishes on display (paying special attention to the ices and jellies). Tried taking pictures of hubby but he wouldn't cooperate so I focused on son instead. The sweetie loved mugging for the camera! Lunch was a combo of feasting and entertainment ;) Sunday was a really packed day. Promised mum that I'd help out at the food fair in church so I stood (!) on duty at the cake stall till noon. After hours of handling cakes of all sorts (cinnamon, butter, honeycomb, chocolate moist, sponge) and cookies and biscuits etcetera etcetera, I had had my FILL of the sweet stuff. And imagine trying to answer questions like "Is this sweet? How sweet?" and "Is this delicious?". But at the same time, I had the opportunity to meet so many old friends (such as Juliana, Walter and Winston) By one p.m,, I was almost dead on my fe...