Subtly significant in this eventful world; I travel, think, and teach. My three worldly pleasures and sweet indulgence.
Wednesday, August 10, 2022
STORIES FROM MY WORK PLACE #1
In this new work place of mine, there is a group of female co-workers with whom I really could not get along.
I have given them numerous nicknames (nasty ones, of course). The mafia. The pack of wolves. The coyotes. The bullies. Fake friends.
And, if these names are not enough, I have also change their individual names in my telephone contact list, using names or words to show my dislike towards them or to conjure an image that would make them appear ridiculous and worth having a laugh at. So I would have something like "Fuzz the Big Fuss", "F the Fart", "T the Mouse", "D the Should Die First" and "J the Jaja Binks".
As an academic year comes to its end, I would usually wonder whether my students have been learning while under my wings. And another matter that would linger in my mind is whether the students appreciate what I have done for them, purposely for them to pass and score in their exams.
And usually, these thoughts remain as thoughts. It is not common now to see every holiday to begin quietly, and to see students (perhaps they can now be called previous students) leaving the college premises without seeing their educators for one last time - to thank the educators for the education they have provided to the students in the academic year. Very few would do that. Some would send SMS thanking the educators. Well, that's better than to disappear as if one has never known or even met the educators before.
Students are becoming ungrateful. If they succeed, they feel it is due to their intelligence, hard work, talents, abilities, etc, etc. Yet, if they fail, it is often the educators' fault - the educators did not teach this and that, did not do this and that; the list goes on and on...
Selfish, I would say of these types of students. Like parasites, they suck out every bit of knowledge from the educators. When they are in the cold waters, they rely on and beg to the educators to save them. When they are out of danger, they would not even thank their savers.
MM is an educator too. Once she asked her students, "I've given 11 As to your class. What can you give to me?". Like all educators, she was expecting a word of thanks. Yet, nothing came out of her students' mouths.
I have actually stopped expecting appreciations to come from my students. For I have generalised that all students are ungrateful. Yet the end of this academic year has surely displayed to me that hope is still there; that there is still light at the end of the tunnel; that there are still students who appreciate their educators' efforts and sacrifices to make them a better person in the future.
I'll share with you what I have received from my students. They are not many but enough to soothe my heart:
A class gave me this cupcake. Small but still meaningful.
Almost the whole class turned up for the 'cake giving ceremony'.
Together with the cake was this card.
This was part of what was inside the card.
I was rather moved by these words.
These are the students, who had presented me
with the cupcake and card.
This is another card, given by a student a year ago.
He alone sent this card but his card lifted my spirits
On a particular day, on my way back from work, I happened to hear two songs being played over the radio. Two songs which I think are memorable and unforgettable; that struck a chord in me.
I'm putting the lyrics of the songs here, just to share ...
Alasanmu by Ezad
Ikhlasnya hati sering kali disalah erti
Tulusnya budi tidak pernah engkau hargai
Berlalu pergi dengan kelukaan ini
Ku mengalah ku bersabar
Bertentang mata seolah-olah tiada apa
Berpaling muka ada saja yang tidak kena
Mencari sebab serta alasan yang kukuh
Supaya tercapai hajatmu
Manis dibibir memutar kata
Malah kau tuduh akulah segala penyebabnya
Siapa terlena pastinya terpukau
Pujukmu rayumu suaramu
Yang menagih simpati dan harapan
Engkau pastinya tersenyum
Dengan pengunduran diriku
Tetapi bagi ku pula
Suatu ketenangan
Andainya kita terus bersama
Belum tentu kita bahagia
Selagi tidak kau ubah cara hidupmu
Ada rahmatnya bila tidak lagi bersama
Terasa jauh diriku ini dengan dosa
Ku tinggalkanmu walau tanpa kerelaan
Yang nyata kau tidak berubah
***
Ku Mahu by Siti Nurhaliza
Sesaat ku terkesima
Pada indah personamu
Sekilas kau senyum padaku
Melarutkanmu dalam kasihku
Sesaat ku terpesona
Pada warna ceriamu
Sayangnya telah ku hidu
Semua paparanmu palsu
Indah impian cintaku
Namun realiti tak seharum
Yang ku impikan kerna
Cintamu tak sejati
Ku mahu kesetiaan dan kejujuran
Kasih sayang yang tiada bersempadan
Pengorbanan cinta yang tulus dan lahir dari keikhlasan
Namun kau hanya mampu memberi janji palsu
Dan kita pun terdorong hawa nafsu
Semua yang kau beri tak benar dan tak kan menjadi erti
Selamanya takkan ku lupa
Kau ajar ku seksa
Kau pandai berkata-kata
Hingga aku derita
Selamanya ku berjaga-jaga
Tak sanggup ku kenang
Cukuplah sekali terluka
Kan ku ingat sentiasa
Aku bukanlah boneka mu
Ku tak rela dipermainkan
Lebih baik sendiri
Dari terseksa di tangan mu.
The bottom line is, don't get in touch just to tell more lies; or to make a fool out of me again. And don't be in touch because you want to have some fun, for I'm not at all interested.
Last weekend, I was at my alma mater - the prestigious University of Malaya.
It was not actually my event. It was MM's niece's graduation. She was in the Rancangan Persediaan Khas ke Jepun, or RPKJ, a term we, the UM people often use to refer to them, the students of the programme. It was just a small scale event but being there, in UM to witness the graduation, brought a lot of memories back to me. And thus the time spent there became such as nostalgic experience for me.
The graduation ceremony was held at the Dewan Tunku Canselor, or the DTC, as it was fondly known by all of us. A long time ago, one of my lecturers called it the Dewan Tak Cat [the Unpainted Hall], at which we hilariously laughed. Yeah, it was "tak cat" [not painted] for a while until it caught fire on one unfortunate day. After that, it was nicely refurbished till you couldn't help feeling proud of it.
The feeling of nostalgia was nowhere near me when I entered the hall, for it was not my first time there after leaving the UM. I was back in UM in 2003 after obtaining my first degree and was in the DTC four years later for my own graduation. So entering and being in the DTC that day had not so much effect.
And then they had this slide show of the RPKJ students' activities. And I saw, after leaving them many years ago - the tutorial rooms (where I had my classes once in a while), the lecture halls (which I entered at times, including when they had the same graduation ceremony for my RPKJ friends at that time), the staircases and the small mounds by the classes (on which we also stood many, many years ago to have our pictures taken), the Varsity Green. My heart fluttered with pride (for I had been there) for a while, then it choked with sadness, a sense of longing and nostalgia.
Yes,those were the good old days. The happy times. The times that I miss - the times when all that we really did was attending classes, going to Pekan Buku, walking under the hot sun by the DTC before class or after class or to go for games at Varsity Green, having meals -breakfast, brunch, lunch, tea - at Pekan Siswa or Plaza Siswa... this space might not be enough to mention all that we did... Then there were the RPKJ people. My RPKJ friends - Irwan, Mat Pui, and there was one girl whose name I forgot, and there was this boy I know by the nickname Awel. There were others too, actually, but unfortunately due to time and memory lapses, their names have somehow faded away..
It was those times, the times that I could never return to. The times that only remain in memory and would always be treasured and cherished as among those things that made me who I am today. I'm sad for not being able to go back and enjoy all those days again, but I'm also thankful for having been given such times to forever remember with happiness.
I will let the pictures I took on that day tell you about the rest of the RPKJ 30th batch's graduation ceremony.
The DTC, where it all happened..
Mind you, DTC is Dewan Tunku Canselor; not Dewan Tak Cat!
Before the ceremony started
The DTC has been nicely and beautifully refurbished.
Now it even has a multimedia screen! Check it out...
The Powerpoint slide show that triggered past memories.
Among those who turned up for the ceremony were
the students,the RPKJ juniors.
The simple yet nice programme book
The speech by the Japanese ambassador. His was the 3rd speech
after those by the Head Japanese teacher & a JPA representative.
The speech by the UM Pro Chancellor, Toh Puan Aishah Ong
The certificate presentation
The best students had a chat with the Japanese ambassador
after the ceremony .
A beautiful family potrait on such a memorable day.
Another favourite UM "port" for memorable photo snapping.
Once upon a time in my life, I went squid fishing.
I don't know the right English words for it. In my country, we call it mencandat sotong. I guess the nearest translation would be squid fishing, no matter how ridiculous it might sound. 'Sotong' means 'squid' while 'candat' would refer to the action of "fishing" the squid as there is a certain technique of doing it, using a certain kind of fishing equipment.
It was all BBCC's [or MM's, by which she would now be known] idea. I wouldn't want to sacrifice my beauty sleep or at least my comfortable bed for a night on a fishing boat. But she insisted, and as usual, I gave in.
It was in May, the month when the squids are said to be in abundance. The location was Kuala Terengganu, the capital city of the state of Terengganu, for that's where all the actions were taking place. It so happened that a local newspaper company was organising a festival of squid fishing there. MM was swift in registering both of us as participants, which landed me in a position whereby it was impossible and also a bit too late to say "No".
And so my squid fishing experience began. I was all the time wondering how it would be like. We packed rather meticulously, buying raincoats and even pills to prevent sea-sickness. We arrived one day earlier, checked into a hotel and spent the rest of the day checking out the venue for tomorrow's event, the Shahbandar Square.
The Shahbandar Square, where it all started
The next day, at around 12 pm , we had ourselves registered, after which we collected our goodie bags. We had received a hat and a t-shirt each, bearing the name of the festival, and of course, the fishing equipment or candat.
We were on Boat no 4 at first, then transferred to another boat
MM checked out the size of the squid caught last season
At 2 pm, we were all geared up, in appropriate attire, waiting for the time to go aboard the boats. There was a lot of waiting to be done, since we were registered as individuals and not as groups (as most of the participants were).
First, the wait by the jetty . . .
Next, the wait in the jetty . . .
Finally, all our boat members arrived and our boarding into the boat occurred at approximately 4 pm.
All smiles in the boat
But the wait was not over. This time round, it was for the event to be launched, the flag-off.
Boat around us, waiting to be launched
While waiting, I saw this old man performing Asar prayers
It was around 5pm that we finally began our voyage. Once we moved on the silky waters, my excitement soared. For I love to be free in the open sea, under the blue sky. I couldn't take my eyes off the beautiful view, one which I might see perhaps only once in my lifetime.
Moving towards the sea, the Shahbandar Square on the right
Racing with other boats to the open sea
We sailed until the day turned dusk. And continued sailing in the enveloping darkness. The land was nowhere in sight. Not even the lights of Kuala Terengganu. The moon, the wind, the sounds of the waves crushed by the boat kept us company. About an hour later, we anchored and our squid fishing experience began.
I wouldn't say it was easy. In fact, I found it quite hard. As it was a festival where winners would be selected, we were not allowed to use baits. And that made it much harder to catch the squids.
Squids are attracted to the light and bright colours of the candat. The candat would be tied to a string with a weight. Using only your arms, the candat had to be moved up and down in the sea water. It is believed that the squids, upon seeing the candat, would mistakenly think that it is food and then would take a bite. And thus the squid is caught.
Theoretically, I feel, it sounds easy. Yet in practical, I failed. I did not catch even a single squid! And my arms were hurting. The boat crew tried to help, and then the string broke and all the fishing equipment fell into the sea. It was just not my night.
The others had better luck. A young women seated behind me in the boat caught 6 squids even though throughout the night she was either falling asleep or was totally in dream land. A male participant who brought his fishing rod even caught some fish. MM also managed to catch a squid, fulfilling her dream of a successful squid fishing trip.
We left the sea at 5 am, and the jetty at 6 am. I left with an aching back, a bruised ego, a dizzy head and a drowsy mood. The boat crew had been kind to give us some of the squids they caught, which we turned into 'Sotong Goreng' (Fried Squids) at a stall later that evening.
I leave all of you with pictures of MM and her caught squid, at least as a consolation for my lack of luck in squid fishing! Better luck next season, perhaps.
Because of a friend, I'm now reading the famous bestseller 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus' by John Gray. I'm actually exploring and investigating how different our perspectives, views and ways of thinking are.
On the cover of the one I bought, it was claimed that this book had 15 million copies sold worldwide. It must have been famous.
Though another friend had told that the knowledge in this book is not really relevant due to the difference in my culture and background with those of the author's, I still think that the book should be read. I have always believed that there is no piece of knowledge that is 100% useful nor 100% useless. If I can't apply all, at least an amount of it, be it a little or a considerable percentage, can still be used. What more when the book is about how people think and behave, for your way of thinking determines how you would behave.
From the book, I've discovered that I do think and act like a man at times. I sometimes do what men do, and think like they do. To be specific, the book mentions that when women pour their hearts and their problems out to men, the latter would usually provide solutions for the said problems. According to the book, that's not what women need. All they want is for men to listen and to offer emphaty. Wow, what a revelation.
It shocked me to realise that at times, when I pour my heart and problems out to men, what I need is a solution! When I do this with my female friends, I often end up irritated or fed-up for their inabilities to provide me the solution I need. The book also said that men sometimes need some space, that they would pull away from a relationship just to have "the space". I realised I did that too. What's worse, I need that "space" too!
So, what's this? The book said that in a relationship, men often expect women to think like men while women expect men to think like women. So, what's wrong with me? I'm capable to think like men, perhaps due to my background of being raised up with 4 male siblings, that I somehow "had been inculcated" with their way of thinking? Or I am capable to think like men because naturally all of us are capable to think like the other sex? Or is it because we, men and women, do think alike?
For now, it feels like I'm jumping between Mars and Venus. I do think like a female too most of the times - being emotional, being sensitive and all. Yet, after a considerable time and amount of wallowing in self-pity, my rationality will take over and I guess this is when I start thinking like a man. How crazy does that sound?
So, can this thinking between Mars and Venus help me in a relationship? In surviving one? In understanding a man? Perhaps in understanding his actions. But I could not be the understanding one all the time. He has to understand me too sometimes.
I believe men and women are not created equal. Men are created with a degree of advantage over women, with some extra privileges/strength for they are required to be the protecters and maintainers of the women. Yet, women are not second-class to men. Women are suppossed to be treated with love, kindness, tenderness and compassion. Are men strong enough to do that?
I also believe a relationship is not a competition between a man and a woman but more of a connection which enhances both individuals. It is where each is respected and accepted for who he/she is; and thus each should never control or be controlled. Although any differences should be celebrated, a compromise should be attained as to maintain a balanced, harmonious relationship. For the main goal of any relationship should be nothing less than happiness.
Do you flirt at the office? Do your friends? Do others, your colleagues?
Sorry, not really accusing you or anyone. Not really saying or making a statement that people flirt at your office or workplace. Yet, it happens.
Reader's Digest, in its September 2011 issue, listed 10 places where it's dumb to flirt. Guess what, the workplace is at no 10.
Well, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that since the workplace is at no 10, then it's okay to flirt at the workplace since it's not no1 or no 2. Hello, which earth are you on?
To have the workplace listed is already a signal that the office is not the place for you to have some "fun". And if it's dumb to flirt at the office, I would conclude that those who flirt at the office are dumb!
It has been shocking to me to find out that some people have no shame to get involved in office flirts and scandals. Of what they say and do, I think they have no respect for themselves nor a drop of dignity in themselves. To think, see, hear or observe what they are willing to do - to bring themselves down to among the lowest rung in the moral ladder - I just couldn't fathom it. How could one disgrace oneself to that extent? How could one do such evil, such unkindness to one's very own self?
The office is the place for me to work, to earn a living. And I'm not into flirts, scandals or even affairs; be it at the office or anywhere else. Not really trying to brag or to declare that I'm the good, pure, untainted soul. Just to make known of some of my life principles.
SRK (that's Shah Rukh Khan, if you're wondering) is one of the few celebrities who is also against scandals and affairs.
SRK
I understand that the world is not perfect. Our world is also not perfect. And we are like an injured bird - hurt, helpless, trying to find a shelter or a loving heart to nurse us back to perfection, to make us whole again. And then, there are temptations around. In our quest for compassion, we often fall for temptations.
I think we have to be wise, and to think of others. People in a scandal or affair are often being selfish and self-centred, only thinking of their own unhappiness, heartaches or imperfection. The scandal or affair is their way to make themselves happy, content, satisfied or even complete. Do they ever think that they're harming others -the people who love them, and the people whom they love? Everybody around them is affected by the scandal or the affair, that's a fact.
I would end by saying, avoid affairs and scandals. It's dumb anyway.
And remember that Allah s.w.t has said in the Quran that:
"Dan boleh jadi kamu benci kepada sesuatu padahal ia baikbagikamu, dan boleh jadi kamusuka kepada sesuatu padahal ia buruk bagikamu. Dan (ingatlah), Allah jualah Yang mengetahui (semuanya itu), sedang kamutidak mengetahuinya." (Al-Baqarah, 2:216)
Translation: But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and you know not.
And He also says:
"Dan tidak (dinamakan) kehidupandunia melainkan permainan yang sia-sia dan hiburan yang melalaikan: dan demi sesungguhnya negeri akhirat itu lebih baik bagi orang-orang yang bertaqwa. Oleh itu, tidakkah kamu mahu berfikir?" (Al-An'aam, 6:32)
Translation: What is the life of this world but play and amusement? But best is the home in the hereafter, for those who are righteous. Will you not then understand?
I am writing this entry today with the thought of dedicating it to my students of 2011/2012 sesssion. The results for their application to the university was released last week on Thursday. And from those who have remembered to inform me of their future place of study, I got to know of some of the results.
Andrew was the first to inform me of his course. Though I had been hoping he would get UM, he received an offer to do Medicine at USM Kubang Kerian. I am happy that he's happy to get into the medical course. That's the best gift a teacher could have: to see a student moving happily into the next phase of his life, to embrace what was given with open hearts, and to plan to excel without regrets and with much exuberance. I wish you all the best, Andrew, and be the best that you can ever be. Never forget what you have learnt and gathered in KMPP and use them as your guide for your future undertakings. Remember, education is not just what's on a piece of paper.
From Andrew, I got to know that Ang and Lim (from his class) have managed to go into UM. I'm honoured, for UM is my Alma Mater. I hope these students would enjoy academic as well as student life in UM as I had when I was there. Hopefully, when they graduate, they would always be proud to be part of UM as I have been all this time.
So students,
I know many of you out there have received your own offers and are now happily planning and preparing for your new life at the varsity. Though you might not have told me, I would like to say "Congratulations!". May your varsity life be filled with education, experience, joy, happiness, friendship and love. Challenge yourself to the limits of your being and be the best that you can ever be. Have a wonderful varsity life.
Dear students of 2011/2012... Andrew, Chiara, Girisha, Farah, Kay, Alwani, Nadia, Amir, Lim, Shiqin, Fatin... and the long list of other names that I might not be able to mention here... this is a declaration of an unfulfilled promise. Or rather, a declaration that I will not fulfil my promise.
You might be asking, what promise? I understand, after having been at home for 2 months. You might not even remember that you had spent almost a year with me in this side of the world.
Alright, coming back to the promise... it's the promise of a Facebook account. If I had remembered well, I had promised of opening a Facebook account to keep in touch with you and vice versa.
Yet, I feel, at this moment, that I do not really need a Facebook account. I am not a computer nor an Internet junkie. I do not spend most of my time every day in front of the PC. Though I have the privilege of a PC at the office, my life is not ruled by it. Having looked at a friend's FB account, I am confident that I will be stressed thinking of updating my status, checking and replying to messages, adding and rejecting friends, getting rid of unwanted, unbecoming, inappropriate messages, and God-knows-what-other-things related to Facebook. I'm already having a hard time updating this blog of mine, what more with a FB account to update rather regularly.
So I have decided then... no FB. Furthermore, my friends who are suppossed to transfer to other colleges decided not to go and so a FB account is no more essential. Well, I have to be honest, one of the reasons for me to have the FB account is to keep in touch with my friends whom I thought were leaving. And as they are staying, I think you know the answer.
I therefore apologize, especially if you have been waiting. Please still do keep in touch, via this blog if not by phone. I would want to know where you are heading for tertiary education. All the best then for your future undertakings and please do take care.
2011 has passed and in retrospect, it has been a good year for me. Some new lessons were learnt, some problems got solved, some new friendships and relationships were formed while some old ones were restored, reinforced and solidified. Some new understandings of matters, issues and life gained. Some levels of maturity achieved. In short, on 31st December 2011, I was happy of what I have done and went through in the past year and thus welcome 2012 with a smile.
Therefore, as a symbol of gratitude and thankfulness to everyone -family, friends, colleagues, students- and everything that have made my life in 2011 happy, fun, educational, worth living; I dedicate this New Year wish to all of you. It's actually a song by Rascal Flatts but I really love the beautiful lyrics (To some of my students and colleagues, you might have already heard this song, but who cares...!)
So here it is, my New Year wish for you:
"My Wish"
by Rascall Flatts
I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walking till you find the window,
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,
But more than anything, more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
I hope you never look back, but you never forget,
All the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
And you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
And you always give more than you take.
But more than anything, yeah, and more than anything,
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big
Here's a beautiful video of the song from YouTube made by Libbyerality for you to enjoy the song whether or not you have heard it before:
May you have a wonderful, prosperous, happy, educational, full of fun and experience, worth-living and worth-remembering 2012!
Last Deepavali holidays (in October, if you have lost track of time and dates), I made this trip to cari kayu di Terengganu (I like how they rhyme, the words I mean). But it's not a common kind of kayu that I was searching for, actually. I was hunting for a specific kind of kayu - ukiran kayu, to be exact.
You might be wondering, why Terengganu? Especially when I can get many Indonesian work of arts here in the west coast. I guess I was being patriotic, or perhaps sentimental. I read years ago in an inflight magazine that some westerners came all the way to Terengganu to have their boats done by local boat makers. It struck something in me. This is national heritage that remains untapped or perhaps, overlooked by local people. So when I was scouting for some furniture for my house and perabut ukiran kayu came to mind, perabut ukiran kayu Terengganu won over perabut ukiran kayu Jati Indonesia.
And so I went. We (BBCC and I, of course) drove. Prior to that, I did some research on the Net and found two addresses where I might find what I wanted. One in Kuala Terengganu, the other in Besut. We headed to Kuala Terengganu, planning to stop in Besut on our way back, especially if I could not find what I want at the state's capital.
Although initially my search was for only for perabut ukiran kayu Terengganu, what I found was much more than that. While passing through Jerteh, we came across this impressive wooden mosque. I couldn't really sustained my eagerness and forced BBCC to make a U-Turn. I definitely must be there!
The impressive Masjid Kayu in Jerteh
I was totally consumed by the ukiran kayu I saw in this mosque. Every inch of it. Every corner. Had we not been heading for Kuala Terengganu, I would have stayed there for hours.
I managed to take a few snapshots of certain angles of the mosque. I would have taken more, if not for my fear that BBCC might be crossed with me. Well, who would not be, right? We had miles to go and yet I was "fooling around" here with my camera. What's worse, she was the one who was driving!
My first snapshots are the door and the window of the female prayer hall. I wish I could have something like these at home:
The door frame of the female prayer hall.
Don't you just admire the carvings?
A closer view on the carvings above
the door frame
These are the snapshots of the outsides of the mosque. If only I had more time to go around the mosque...
BBCC also couldn't help feeling impressed
that she asked me to snap this photo
As I was about to leave, my eyes caught some other interesting details of an adjacent wooden building and I quickly took these pictures:
All in all, I can only sum up everything in one word - WOW!. Never ever will I underestimate the talents of our local craftsmen (though I never have), and of course, the beauty and richness of our culture and heritage.
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