Calling In Sick.

 I tried to mobile-blog at the hospital just now but my little Sony Ericcson seem to not respond well to "sterile" environment. I was there for obvious reason - wished I could say that I caught the flu so that all of you could imagine me sniffling cutely. Alas, being a food junkie has given me the most unsexiest illness of all which involves frequent visits to the loo. Go figure. 

But, thank God the doc pitied my predicament and gave me a sick leave chit (yeay!!). Although it was only for one day, I'm glad to get one day off. I really need the rest because I've been in and out of the bathroom for more than seven times since last night. Not a pretty sight (adakah orang ber*k yang ayu-ayu ah? :P). Not to mention the vomiting episode. I take the fever anytime!!

Ok...I'm going to make myself a cup of chamomile tea, grab a Terry Pratchett novel and lie in bed after this (and before I feel the urge to throw up and "throw out" again)

uhuhuhuhuhuhu.... 

Lawak Hari Lima

In my class at 1030a.m...

Student : Teacher, moskiukiu tu... masjid bah kan?

Me : Moskiukiu?? Ohhh...you meant mosque? M.O.S.Q.U.E is mosque, which is, yes...it's English for masjid.

Student (to a friend) : (triumphantly) Nah, kan sa bilang!!!! Ngam bah moskiu tu  tu masjid!!!

Me : Bukan moskiu...MOSQUE!! And did I hear you said "tu" twice or is it just me?

*the rest of the class giggled*

Student B : Miss, dia bilang tu nyamuk bah tu...moskiutu...hahahaha....

Me : Ohhhh...I thought I yang salah dengar!! And by the way, a nyamuk in English is a MOSQUITO! Not moskiutu!! You go for solat Jumaat at a MOSQUE, not a MOSQUITO. Imagine praying to a mosquito...

*at this rate, the class burst into incessant laughter*

-_-''

I will never look at mosquitoes the same way again.

source.

Report Card.

It has been quite a hectic day. Not like running-around-like-a-chicken type of hectic, just...well...social related hecticness. If you're wondering what am I rambling about, it's Report Cards Day at my school today!

It's actually not that bad, I've survived gloriously this event for the past three years. It's just that it got me thinking.

Everytime I opened up the papers, there will be cries for education reform. Or on a scandalous day, it would be politicians crying out for a change in the education system. Whatever and however we see it, it was always about the same thing.

Some would blame the highly exam-oriented system  (I am pro-student autonomy), quite a lot of somebodies remonstrating about the teachers' role (in which, I do agree that there are black sheeps out there who thinks teaching is the easiest way out of unemployment, but I hate it when it seems that the issue does not exclude those who are really dedicated teachers. Plus, can somebody really do something about reducing our non-teaching tasks?), and some would say that parents should also contribute in the teaching and learning of the children (in which I support the notion a 100% but a big NO to hovering parents).

As a teacher, I do agree that our education system is in a dire need of a reform. But there is more to this issue than just a change of system. Education reform is not like changing our profile picture or Facebook statuses. 

I do agree that exams are a tool to access student's level of mastery but it shouldn't be the center stage of the student's overall achievement. Although the curriculum was well written and thought of, it was not well implemented as students regurgitate fact after fact after fact. I'm glad I teach English because it doesn't require so much facts, just a dose of reality and imagination. I can turn my classroom into a theatre, a mock office, a concert, whatever the students and I can imagine, let it be done according to our will!

Oh, wait. I wished I could but I have like more than 10 types of composition for these kids to master before the PMR examination. But anyway, since any Tom, Dick and Harry can sit and flunk the exam and go on to the next form, I could just teach them as I like. Oh, but wait...our school must achieve this ridiculously unrealistic percentage so we all could be "in lieu with the ministry's requirements". If only my marker pens are magic wands and I only have to wave it on my students' brains. Maybe I could but I have minutes to write, reports to type, form X to be submitted to PPD or more than 10 files to update. Let's not forget the analyses to be crunched into sizeable chunks.

As I sit there comforting the parents who think their children are stupid because of the 7Es he or she received in the report card, I had my doubts about the effectiveness of the system. Although I told the parents that their child has this extraordinary talent in arts, poetry, etc or are very well-behaved or have been diligently working, they are convinced that because of the Es, their children will be outcasts of the working class. 

As the day progressed, I hear laments after laments. Some really touch the core of my heart because I know that these parents who are mostly farmers have high hopes for their children. But one parent lifted my spirit as he said:

Terima kasih cikgu. Sebab akun mengajar anak saya. Saya amat-amat berterima kasih. Kalau tiada cikgu, tiadalah sekolah untuk anak saya.

There is still hope after all.

Oh my father, father...

This Sunday is Father's Day and what a wondrous occasion to talk about my dad.

Yup. That's my dad. The one on the right. The lil'boy is my youngest brother, John. This picture was taken thirteen years ago during our trip to Melaka. I was the one behind the lens ;-)

I won't say much because even though he is imperfect like all dads are, he is awesome. 

Happy Father's Day, Pa!

I would also bring into this post the patriachs of my family i.e. the late Mr Philip Juin and the late Mr Tulas Tangkuhong. Although no longer with us, I miss my two grandpas. Both are equally awesome. My grandpas are walking pieces of history when they were still alive.

For instance, my dad's dad (Philip) was a musician. Well, he didn't play music as a career though. He played the saxophone and the piano. When we balik kampung, he would greet us with the biggest smile and he would swoop me and my eldest brother and seat us on his lap. Then he would tickle both of us and then play with us. At lunch or dinner, he would give all his grandchildren a very generous serving of rice and would reprimand us if we didn't finish it. One of my memories with him was at every Chinese New Year, all of us his grandchildren would line up and kiss him on both cheeks before we receive our angpows. He would reciprocate by kissing us on the forehead and hugged us tightly. He died when I was just 7 years old.

My mum's dad (Tulas) was a CID with the police department. He was a visionary because when almost everyone in Melalap would stop sending their children to school when they reached puberty, he kept on sending my mum and her siblings to school. His actions may have caused his family to be scattered all over the place but he always believed in the importance of education. I remember, when we were young, if he visits or we visit him, he would always give us snacks from his tuckshop. He likes to keep journals as well. He even brought us out for a ride on his old motorbike. If we stayed at kampung, he would tell us stories about his experience during the war, ghosts, and many others. He would also rotan us whenever we crossed the lines and we would run around the house, trying to escape...hehehe....He died of old age in 2004.

In retro, I am what I am because of these three legendary men.

Happy Father's (and Grandfathers') Day, you three. 

Rambling in Autopilot.

I lived like a zombie today due to lack of sleep. I think my body still need some adjustment to the A.M wake-up call. As I am writing this post, my autopilot mode has receded thanks to an hour's afternoon nap. I guess I just can't live with only 4 hours of sleep. Luckily, I didn't cause any harm to myself or anyone with my driving this morning. Seriously, it's like an empty shell driving the roads of Sook with rote memory as a guide.

I was thinking what might be the reason of my insomniac episode. I was already in bed by 9.30p.m, knowing well that it would take me at least 20-30minutes to fall asleep. But my mind refused to rest. I guess I'm excited to get back to work the next day.

Although I have all that excitement to go to work today, it doesn't help at all in my productivity. Imagine having a zombie teacher teaching you? Fun, eh?

Nonetheless, before I retire to bed to catch up lost sleep, I leave you all with words of wisdom from one of my favourite author, Paulo Coelho :

"Have an excellent week. Live now what others dream to live in the future."

Wedding Story

I've mentioned in my previous post that I will attend weddings (make that A LOT of weddings) during the holidays. Despite the heat and the rain, I managed to attend almost all except my cousin's and another colleague's because of date clashes. 

I'll only blog about one tho' because I played a co-starring role. A role that I think many would be happy not to play i.e. the wedding emcee!!

Loviana asked me to emcee her wedding several months ago and I was so humbled that she entrusted me with the responsibility. It has been so long since I last hold the mic (and reporting during assembly does not count) and I felt a mixture of excitement and anxiety over the prospect. Just one thing tho', I have NEVER, EVER emceed a wedding. Not even the kampong2 ones!!!

So, I did a little Google research on how to emcee weddings. I studied Youtube videos on professional and amateur wedding emcees. Susah pula nie...uhuhuhuhuhu...that is my initial reaction. Not only I have to emcee the event, I am part event manager. I experienced that when I attended the rehearsal and during the actual day of the reception. To add to my nervousness, there were several guests of honor and our very own KK Mayor also attended the wedding. I felt nervous because I might turn the event into a perhimpunan sekolah :P

But, I think the event turn out well. I discarded my cards and just be myself. After all, this event is not about me, it is Loviana and Vers (or LoVers as the toastmaster quipped during the blessing) day. I learned something tho', always do research on the couple's love story. 

All in all, I had fun that night. Thanks again, Lubi and Vers for trusting me to handle your reception. ^__^  May God bless your journey as husband and wife and may His love and peace be in your marriage, forever!

For you visual readers, here's a few piccies taken that night...

 Me and my friends. Look how lovely the bride is!! ^__^

 I was also the road/GPS operator that night. Tukang bagi directions even though my own sense of direction is moderately poor!!

 That's us: TESLians of 2002. I do wish the rest could join us.

 Me on stage...giving my best :-)

Me discussing with the manager/coordinator about the cake-cutting and yamseng ceremony. 

Bah, I'm going to bercuti dari blogging juga until the school hols end. Mau berabis enjoy dulu ^__^

Bye!!