Meeting (and a brief holiday)

Me and my colleague, Yana were asked to attend a meeting in KK. We were very excited to go because (1) it's a chance to shop now that salary's in, (2) it's an opportunity for us to relax and refresh ourselves and (3) err...shop?

Even the Boss can't resist to say his parting words to us:

"Bah, jan kamu nakal-nakal sana KK sama si Fauziana (Yana) ah..."

*smug*

We checked-in at a nearby hotel. Even though my house is just 10km away, knowing the traffic jams at that area in the morning, I decided to stay at the hotel with Yana. At least, Dad wouldn't have to send me that morning. 

Upon arrival, I couldn't resist to compare that hotel with another hotel (that we went for a course last year). To me, the latter was better compared to the former. Why? Well, the former has a spacious room, nonetheless in terms of service, the latter is more superior (and hence the pricier room rate). Maybe next time, I'll check myself into a hotel at Warisan Plaza just for the fun of it (and this kinda depends on the fatness of my paycheck hehe). 

Tomorrow I'll be going back to school. 

Why does the day seem to flow by so slowly?

ticktockticktockticktockticktockticktockticktockticktockticktockticktock

Finally...Kaching!!!!

I've told you all in an earlier post that my salary was blocked for a month. Finally, the wait is over! 

I GOT MY SALARY!!! WOOOTTTT!!!

Luckily I had plans to cover my expenses during the one-month hiatus. I admit, it was very difficult to adapt to 30 days without money of your own. Although it was educational for my financial experience, I find that I am more appreciative of whatever I earned. And I am also thankful for my generous friends who had been so nice to treat me to lunch, yamcha and dinner. Thanks ah, girls ;-) Sia punya turn lagi hehehe

Lepas ni mau bayar bills and hutangs and belanja diri sendiri...lama suda pi service muka hehehe

A line to remember...

I could be a forgetful girl sometimes. I am even quite hopeless with remembering a person's name and face. I am not so sure why. Genetics, maybe (hah!) But I can never forget these lines said from the movie "Four Weddings and A Funeral". I love the way the words resonated within my being long after it was uttered. I love the strong emotion involved, the feeling of love and brokenness fused together. I love the frankness of the speaker (and of course, the writer) in conveying his loving feeling for a dearly departed friend. I also liked the way he quoted W.H.Auden's poem. So, here are the lines taken from the movie : 

Matthew : Gareth used to prefer funerals to weddings. He said it was easier to get enthusiastic about a ceremony one had an outside chance of eventually being involved in. In order to prepare this speech, I rang a few people, to get a general picture of how Gareth was regarded by those who met him. Fat seems to have been a word people most connected with him. Terribly rude also rang a lot of bells. So very fat and very rude seems to have been a stranger's viewpoint. On the other hand, some of you have been kind enough to ring me and let me know that you loved him, which I know he would have been thrilled to hear. You remember his fabulous hospitality, his strange experimental cooking. The recipe for "Duck à la Banana" fortunately goes with him to his grave. Most of all, you tell me of his enormous capacity for joy. When joyful, when joyful for highly vocal drunkenness. But I hope joyful is how you will remember him. Not stuck in a box in a church. Pick your favourite of his waistcoats and remember him that way. The most splendid, replete, big-hearted, weak-hearted as it turned out, and jolly bugger most of us ever met. As for me, you may ask how I will remember him, what I thought of him. Unfortunately there I run out of words. Perhaps you will forgive me if I turn from my own feelings to the words of another splendid bugger: W.H. Auden. 

This is actually what I want to say:

"Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bonel, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Let the aeroplanes circle, moaning overhead Scribbling on the sky the message 'He is Dead'. Put crepe bows 'round the white necks of the public doves, Let traffic policemen wear black, cotton gloves. He was my North, my South, my East, and West. My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong. The stars are not wanted now; put out every one, Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun, Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood; For nothing now can ever come to any good."(from : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109831/quotes)

My knees fell weak over poems...

Celebrate.

I just feel like celebrating this week..

Celebrating that I have less workload and one free weekend. I know it's temporary but hey, celebrate while it lasts.

Celebrating that my 1 Bestari has finally listed in the top three most "ceria" class. I can still see my students's faces beaming with happiness when the result was announced last Tuesday. We might not win again but heck, it still worth celebrating...for once, just wanted to prove that "kelas belakang" kids are also capable of many things..just need to have confidence on them (and convince yourself that your instincts are right).

Them.

I also wanted to celebrate my GGs for being there. Regardless whether it was only for tea or for a heart-to-heart girl talk, I feel blessed. 

I also wanted to celebrate my semi-normal family...whose dramas can make you laugh, breakdown then back to happy again...

In conclusion, Celebrate people!

Into the Kampung!!

Today had been a very exciting day. For the first time in my teaching life, I and my colleagues went to Kg. Binakaan for a brief gathering with the students and their parents. It was our principal's idea, and although we have to sacrifice our weekend, it was worth it. 

Kg. Binakaan is situated about 7km from our school. Well, it sounds near but the poor road condition (laterit plus stone = go figure...grubble!!) made it almost impossible to reach the village within minutes compared to a properly asphalt-ed road. No wonder my students were sometimes "dusty"! 

The primary school is small but beautiful. I think it's my first time being inside a kampong school...it feels so nostalgic. After the formalities (speeches and award-giving aside), it's time for us to meet the parents. I met Tiffany's, Cecilia's, Binidik's, Lawrence's, Hendry's and Elister's parents and guardians. We talked and discussed about the children and I couldn't help but share with you a little dialogue that transpired between me and Binindik's mother :

Me : Kakak, kasi suru lah si Binidik ni membaca buku bahasa melayu atau inggilis 15 minit setiap hari la supaya dia buli berlatih membaca...

Binidik's Mum :(while chewing her bettlenut) Iyalah...ada juga sia suru dia basa basa di rumah...selalu juga dia pi mengajar kakak dia membasa itu bukuh bukuh...

It took me a while to process that membasa is reading...I thought she asked him to main basah-basah or something..:-P

Our brief adventure into the village reminds me that sometimes as teachers, we must not forget to walk in our students' footsteps. Sometimes, I can't understand why X arrived in school late, dirty, smelly, slow but somehow this short trip opened up my eyes that these students are the real heroes. They showed up in the midst of poverty, despite being deprived of what their peers in the city have. They have a strong will to learn but they are very delicate...an insensitive criticism can make them run back to their shell. 

I heard we're going to have another program like this with another remote school in Sook. 

BRING IT ON!!!

The road to Binakaan.

Our "troops".

My students : Tiffany (in pinafore) and Cecilia.

My students : Binidik (in purple shirt), Lawrence, Hendry (one row behind, far right) and Elister (hidden by another student's head)

Teachers in Live action! Cuba kamu cari mana saya? hehehe

Class teachers who missed their graduation moments hahaha...

Our discipline teacher and his "followers" ;-P

The road condition from our school to the village. My students do not go on the typical yellow school buses, they have to charter a car and pay rm50 monthly for that. Sometimes, these children will not be able to go to school if the car has problems e.g. tyre punctured, rusak dan sebagainya.

Some of the families who attended the programme.

Pleasant weekend everyone! <3

Good Friday.

Catholics throng churches today to remember and celebrate Good Friday. I was at Stella Maris,Tg Aru and the church is packed and overflowing with sinners (and saints). In his homily, Fr said 'embrace the cross'..sometimes, I forget that crosses and burdens are parts of life. On this day, I thanked God for loving me by giving His life. We remember, we celebrate, we believe.