For the time being, this is how I get satisfaction.
*Thanks for Snow, Aimi Luv*
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Mailed!
Guess what arrived in the mail about two weeks ago?? NME2 through the not-so snail mail! In your face, Kuantan!
Here's what happened: The whole school was anxiously waiting for the announcement of whether our school would be granted with a week break due to H1N1 outbreak so I notified Nina of the issue. She let out a shriek, I was surprised!
Nina: Ana, you kena tunggu sampai posmen datang tomorrow tau!
Ana : Haaa... why??
Nina: Because I sent something through the mail... You KENA tunggu!
Ana : (being smart as I always am) Did you sent in NME2?
Nina: Yeaaaaaaaa... I couldn't bear to think that you akan read the book two weeks lagi
Ana : Kaaaaan??? But Oh My God! You sangat sayang kat I, I sayang you juga *tears*
Nina: Awwwwhhh.. Durra yang beli, I postkan
Ana : I sayang jugaklah kat Durra... But you, you... *speechless*
My Girls are the best.. Who can top this?
*by now, I have finished reading the book and I can't wait for NME3.. hats off to Amir Sharipudin, Ann Lee and Shanon Shah for opening the curious can of the unknown for me*
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
The Best Way
What is the best way of giving some constructive feedback to your students? You know, without sounding harsh and pushing some wrong buttons?
I guess for any new or beginning teachers, we all face the same problem. Feedback is essential for every work, be it marks or remarks yet you just don't know what will the response to the feedback be. You just want to be honest for everyone's sake but how to put it in the most intellectual and encouraging way, that's the quest.
I wish I could pat everyone at the back and say "Good Job" but the standard is raised as the time passes by. I want to see imrpovement, from good to better to best. Most of people haven't really reached good yet being at better shouldn't leave you too comfortable.
Okay, so you have tried writing about lands in Europe and homes of sausages... For other essays, try to tell me something I don't already know. Instead of focusing on the narrative or the plot, you can have a little more emphasis on the characters' soul. Not from the surface, but dwell into its inner thoughts. What do people in certain situation, sometimes compromising ones, think of when they do it?
Also, pick a setting that's beyond here and now. The groovy 60s, for example, is one of the best example. Yes, have some readings on music of the time, the cultural practices. Talk about Malaysia of yesteryears, when students were rulers, for example. What difference can be highlighted that rings truth to the mind?
I have always wanted my continuous essay homeworks to be a punchbag of emotions and conflicts. But more often than not, the essay becomes one of telling an event. A recount.
So, no... You haven't lost it. It's tucked neatly under a layer of doubts, so let's find that exclusively-yours magic. That's a challenge and it's for all of us.
I guess for any new or beginning teachers, we all face the same problem. Feedback is essential for every work, be it marks or remarks yet you just don't know what will the response to the feedback be. You just want to be honest for everyone's sake but how to put it in the most intellectual and encouraging way, that's the quest.
I wish I could pat everyone at the back and say "Good Job" but the standard is raised as the time passes by. I want to see imrpovement, from good to better to best. Most of people haven't really reached good yet being at better shouldn't leave you too comfortable.
Okay, so you have tried writing about lands in Europe and homes of sausages... For other essays, try to tell me something I don't already know. Instead of focusing on the narrative or the plot, you can have a little more emphasis on the characters' soul. Not from the surface, but dwell into its inner thoughts. What do people in certain situation, sometimes compromising ones, think of when they do it?
Also, pick a setting that's beyond here and now. The groovy 60s, for example, is one of the best example. Yes, have some readings on music of the time, the cultural practices. Talk about Malaysia of yesteryears, when students were rulers, for example. What difference can be highlighted that rings truth to the mind?
I have always wanted my continuous essay homeworks to be a punchbag of emotions and conflicts. But more often than not, the essay becomes one of telling an event. A recount.
So, no... You haven't lost it. It's tucked neatly under a layer of doubts, so let's find that exclusively-yours magic. That's a challenge and it's for all of us.
Sudah Cuti
My school has been granted 7 days of leave due to some positive H1N1 case. I get to go back but I feel bad.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Drop Dead Me
This new series aired in Lifetime Channel, USA is currently being aired in Aussie too so I went on to google it and it got raving reviews. It's called "Drop Dead Diva" *ahem.. me* and I can't wait for it to reach our shores.
It's about a gorgeous bimbo-ish woman who falls dead but gets replaced into a new body, a size 16 woman who works as a lawyer. Hence, it's a stark contrast. Sort of reminds me of that Chris Rock movie, Down To Earth.
Or maybe I can watch online. The question is when? blaarggghhh...
It's about a gorgeous bimbo-ish woman who falls dead but gets replaced into a new body, a size 16 woman who works as a lawyer. Hence, it's a stark contrast. Sort of reminds me of that Chris Rock movie, Down To Earth.
Or maybe I can watch online. The question is when? blaarggghhh...
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Cubicle
This is how my cubicle looks like almost all working days, an organised chaos which Hafiz Hazim once cleverly referred to as an aftermath of a horrendous typhoon. There are too many things to do, notice the hills of books waiting for me to peek in and later, have a severe headache over it (owwh, the constant perfectionist is annoying!)
Thus, I am in office at 7.30am on a beautiful Saturday morning, having Nesvita+Weetbix for breakfast while simultaneously correcting grammar and sentence structure in essays albeit my own concurrent mistakes in the same areas are still apparent.
I miss my other Saturday mornings back home, the ones either spent gobbling down The Mother's thosai or having a chai latte+wholegrain muffin at my favourite coffee spot, Marmalade over a good book and the newspaper.
Shit, I just realised that I just might be a workaholic.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
"Funny" Lar You People
So just now we snapped pictures for the school magazine. Since my KP isn't around, I went to replace her as the advisor for the English Language Society. There I was, being all nice and demure as I always am (not) when Nuro and Fai had some really "funny" joke.
Nuro: Ni, kalau ambil gambar Persatuan Bahasa Inggeris kena bukak semua lampu and pasang flash terang
Fai: Pastu lepas cuci gambar, check gambar boleh tengok atau tak..
(aksi ini dilakukan sambil sengih-sengih macam kerang busuk yang patut dibuang 4 hari lepas)
Hahahaha.. funny, guys! You know what else would be funny? If Miss Syikin's and Mr Leong's laptop suddenly goes missing and the Integrity Room mysteriously gets burnt down.
Nuro: Ni, kalau ambil gambar Persatuan Bahasa Inggeris kena bukak semua lampu and pasang flash terang
Fai: Pastu lepas cuci gambar, check gambar boleh tengok atau tak..
(aksi ini dilakukan sambil sengih-sengih macam kerang busuk yang patut dibuang 4 hari lepas)
Hahahaha.. funny, guys! You know what else would be funny? If Miss Syikin's and Mr Leong's laptop suddenly goes missing and the Integrity Room mysteriously gets burnt down.
Berry James Waters
Yesterday, I had an enlightening conversation with 4 Archimedes boys about music. They said a title of a song and I will name the artist. We discussed about what we are currently listening to and the boys suggested a few songs that I ought to listen and later share my opinion with them. I did so and I am glad they shared their knowledge.
Yet, when asked about my favourite genre, I scratched my head in wonder as I realised that the answer is too looooong. I like almost all genre with preference for non-mainstream sounds or plain revolutionary. So you can actually catch me listening to jazz, R&B, hip hop, rock and roll, rave, house music, folk (all walks), brit rock, reggae and new music on different hours of a day. I have little tolerance for metal, though.
For me, music knows no boundaries and I should not limit myself to just one sound. I frequent musical events for reasons as such, just to discover new sounds. And I also have that annoying habit of instantly hating indie artist going mainstream and being liked by all who just decided to join the bandwagon. Underdogs are my forte, man...
Anyway, just in case you're wondering what the title has got to do with the topic I'm writing about, I just watched Cadillac Records that is yet to be screened in Malaysia. It was a movie that helped me understand the dynamics of the race music that I have been reading all this while. The antagonist, Muddy Waters came across in my readings of The Rolling Stones who idolised this man like a God. In fact, Mick named the band after one of Muddy's song. The movie, which trailed on the true story of Chess Records which was THE record label for race music before Motown and Berry Gordy, features Adrien Broody, Mos Def (as the prolific Chuck Berry) and Beyonce.
I guess my education in music is going to go on for a long while where I will learn to appreciate different sounds and discovering the many faces of human.
Yet, when asked about my favourite genre, I scratched my head in wonder as I realised that the answer is too looooong. I like almost all genre with preference for non-mainstream sounds or plain revolutionary. So you can actually catch me listening to jazz, R&B, hip hop, rock and roll, rave, house music, folk (all walks), brit rock, reggae and new music on different hours of a day. I have little tolerance for metal, though.
For me, music knows no boundaries and I should not limit myself to just one sound. I frequent musical events for reasons as such, just to discover new sounds. And I also have that annoying habit of instantly hating indie artist going mainstream and being liked by all who just decided to join the bandwagon. Underdogs are my forte, man...
Anyway, just in case you're wondering what the title has got to do with the topic I'm writing about, I just watched Cadillac Records that is yet to be screened in Malaysia. It was a movie that helped me understand the dynamics of the race music that I have been reading all this while. The antagonist, Muddy Waters came across in my readings of The Rolling Stones who idolised this man like a God. In fact, Mick named the band after one of Muddy's song. The movie, which trailed on the true story of Chess Records which was THE record label for race music before Motown and Berry Gordy, features Adrien Broody, Mos Def (as the prolific Chuck Berry) and Beyonce.
I guess my education in music is going to go on for a long while where I will learn to appreciate different sounds and discovering the many faces of human.
Lonjakan Saujana
Semalam saya pi beli New Malaysian Essays 2 tapi bukunya belum sampai di Kuantan ini. Biasalah tu, I'm not surprised pun. So, I almost went amuk and the parang was out. But then, saya ternampak sesuatu yang gamit jiwa dengan lebih menusuk..
Ceritalah 3: Malaysia A Dream Deferred by Karim Raslan! Kau tahu erti lompat gembira, lonjak2 sikit tanpa malu2 selepas amuk kerana buku yang dicari takdo.
Macam tu lar aku semalam. Aku sangat gembira lepas kecewa. Along with that, also bought Tales from the court and other stories by Matthew Scott. Uuuwwwhh... time for utter hibernation
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
A Gap
I'm not good in this, I give myself too much sometimes. I need to create a gap in everything in my life. Enough with the doubting, I cannot bear to risk so many people.
Toodles, I wish I could go
Toodles, I wish I could go
Kita Bertanding Sapa Beli Dulu...
Hang rasa sapa akan beli dulu? Aku rasa aku tak boleh tidoq malam ni memikirkan NME2 ada Shanon Shah punya hasil, The Khutbah Diaries dan juga satu tajuk yang konfem masuk mimpi aku malam ini iaitu Aku, Hang & Demo oleh Danny Lim. Esok, aku akan bakar Popular Megamall tu kalau depa takda buku ni. Mancis dah siap dah (ya, aku old school)
(i love the cover.. all my aunts and uncles on both sides of the family had such pictures circa 1970s. Malaysian, indeed)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
OneMalaysia
I have waited for a while before I had the mind for my 2 cents on the issue. Reason being is that the concept is such a fuzzy one and seems to stand as yet another policy by another prime minister who seeks to outdo the previous one. As time comes along, we sort of anticipate for the policy to be abandoned or left lurking in the lukewarm while another steams up the scene. It's a pattern long practiced in this beloved land, with the exception of Rukunegara or the rather debatably disastrous NEB (DEB).
So while I took the time to read my head off on the topic, I could not help myself but to identify some issues that might raise a few eyebrows. I have noticed that instead of being a platform for the government to assert their want of uniting people, it has challenged the belief of many of the top tier people in the country as well as your laymen around. They follow, yes.. But ask them a question about One Malaysia, you will have many contrasting opinions on the adequacy of the implementation.
For example, on the issue of vernacular schools. Some are proposing that the different vernacular schools being closed down as it hinders unity while others think that it would be rather unfair and ignite racial unrest. The matter is; it should be a choice made available and the education system can be effective in dealing with the issue. If the Malays get the opportunity of studying in full residential schools that were designed specifically for their success, why deny the other races of privileges that they need to strive for personally?
(I have asked a bunch of 16 year olds in a full residential school about this and the answers were sometimes disconcerting, with hints of righteousness and "hak saya, bukan mereka" perception.. I am sure glad I have brought the issue up to be discussed)
The key here is OneMalaysia needs to be developed with a strong foundation without relying too much on empty rhetorics. Yes, a few plans have been developed like the Yayasan OneMalaysia or the National Scholarship where merit is the way to go. But if some of the top ministers could not lay their fingers down right to the core of OneMalaysia, you would recognise that the policy is one of a populist nature that seeks to tap on the common interest of the younger generation.
At the very end, it seemed like a knock-off version of Malaysian Malaysia, just subtly built with preference for some.
So while I took the time to read my head off on the topic, I could not help myself but to identify some issues that might raise a few eyebrows. I have noticed that instead of being a platform for the government to assert their want of uniting people, it has challenged the belief of many of the top tier people in the country as well as your laymen around. They follow, yes.. But ask them a question about One Malaysia, you will have many contrasting opinions on the adequacy of the implementation.
For example, on the issue of vernacular schools. Some are proposing that the different vernacular schools being closed down as it hinders unity while others think that it would be rather unfair and ignite racial unrest. The matter is; it should be a choice made available and the education system can be effective in dealing with the issue. If the Malays get the opportunity of studying in full residential schools that were designed specifically for their success, why deny the other races of privileges that they need to strive for personally?
(I have asked a bunch of 16 year olds in a full residential school about this and the answers were sometimes disconcerting, with hints of righteousness and "hak saya, bukan mereka" perception.. I am sure glad I have brought the issue up to be discussed)
The key here is OneMalaysia needs to be developed with a strong foundation without relying too much on empty rhetorics. Yes, a few plans have been developed like the Yayasan OneMalaysia or the National Scholarship where merit is the way to go. But if some of the top ministers could not lay their fingers down right to the core of OneMalaysia, you would recognise that the policy is one of a populist nature that seeks to tap on the common interest of the younger generation.
At the very end, it seemed like a knock-off version of Malaysian Malaysia, just subtly built with preference for some.
My Wishlist
Evening Is The Whole Day- Preeta Samarasan
Snow- Orhan Pamuk
The Japanese Wife- Kunal Basu
The Audacity of Hope
Snow- Orhan Pamuk
The Japanese Wife- Kunal Basu
The Audacity of Hope
Ode to My Flower
Where am I to find thee,
For thou lingered always in the background,
Sharing the perfume of thy wonderworks?
Why are thou vigilante eyes a dear distance,
Though it looked through many frames,
Sharing the scenes of thy wonderworld?
Even in thy deep slumber,
Thy name continues to bring the fragrance,
Of realisation and hope of oneness,
Even in the hiding eyes of the doubts,
Thy visions bring colours to yearn,
Of reciprocal dreams and wish of togetherness
I would lead my way down the road,
Of questions and qualms of myself,
Guided by thy potent reverie of hope,
To believe that everything is possible,
Blessed, is thy soul of a beaming light,
For never wilted are thy petals of dreams...
Obit: My Flower, Yasmin Ahmad (1958-2009)
You brought a meaning to my life, as I am sure to some other millions out there.
*My: Mine; Malaysia
For thou lingered always in the background,
Sharing the perfume of thy wonderworks?
Why are thou vigilante eyes a dear distance,
Though it looked through many frames,
Sharing the scenes of thy wonderworld?
Even in thy deep slumber,
Thy name continues to bring the fragrance,
Of realisation and hope of oneness,
Even in the hiding eyes of the doubts,
Thy visions bring colours to yearn,
Of reciprocal dreams and wish of togetherness
I would lead my way down the road,
Of questions and qualms of myself,
Guided by thy potent reverie of hope,
To believe that everything is possible,
Blessed, is thy soul of a beaming light,
For never wilted are thy petals of dreams...
Obit: My Flower, Yasmin Ahmad (1958-2009)
You brought a meaning to my life, as I am sure to some other millions out there.
*My: Mine; Malaysia
Monday, July 27, 2009
H1 What??!
After all the scare has worn down, I think it would actually be nice to be quarantined like the other 8 people from my school. They went to the Hari Kebudayaan Jepun event in SBPI Gopeng and some of the participants had some symptoms similar to those with the Influenza A disease.
Since I just came back from Girls Worldwide National Public Speaking Competition in Bangsar, I remembered a conversation I had with a student from Sabah who said that she was on a plane with SMS Lahad Datu students. So, as usual, sources leaked in and I went to see my GPK 1. Okay, no need to go back. Fine.. I was relieved at that time.
After constant running from 7.30am until 3.30pm (Pentaksir Kawasan for ULBS came around, so there goes my only break between 11am-12pm), I thought that the one week break wouldn't be that bad anyway. As it also translates into going back home to KL, it will mean that I'll be quarantined with Dome Breakfast, continued with Devi's lunch and further with The Mother's awesome parpu curry for dinner. I would visit Acap at Guthrie for lunch and force Nabil to bring me up to Hartamas for my local special pizza..
aaawwhhh.. the plans of quarantine. Looks like I'm just gonna enjoy March 8: The Day Malaysia Woke Up by Kee Thuan Chye for the week and bury my head with work while I am at it. Hold up, I think I just sneezed.
Since I just came back from Girls Worldwide National Public Speaking Competition in Bangsar, I remembered a conversation I had with a student from Sabah who said that she was on a plane with SMS Lahad Datu students. So, as usual, sources leaked in and I went to see my GPK 1. Okay, no need to go back. Fine.. I was relieved at that time.
After constant running from 7.30am until 3.30pm (Pentaksir Kawasan for ULBS came around, so there goes my only break between 11am-12pm), I thought that the one week break wouldn't be that bad anyway. As it also translates into going back home to KL, it will mean that I'll be quarantined with Dome Breakfast, continued with Devi's lunch and further with The Mother's awesome parpu curry for dinner. I would visit Acap at Guthrie for lunch and force Nabil to bring me up to Hartamas for my local special pizza..
aaawwhhh.. the plans of quarantine. Looks like I'm just gonna enjoy March 8: The Day Malaysia Woke Up by Kee Thuan Chye for the week and bury my head with work while I am at it. Hold up, I think I just sneezed.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
empty space
there is a hollowness in me,
when i miss you,
but i don't know if you do,
when i love you,
but you never say you do,
i clinch my heart tight,
stopping it from ballooning
from sorrow and emptiness,
its space characterised by
an eerie concave of nothingness,
but it seems to swell worst
as time propels onwards,
i fear there is no cure;
to an empty space of hollowness
when i miss you,
but i don't know if you do,
when i love you,
but you never say you do,
i clinch my heart tight,
stopping it from ballooning
from sorrow and emptiness,
its space characterised by
an eerie concave of nothingness,
but it seems to swell worst
as time propels onwards,
i fear there is no cure;
to an empty space of hollowness
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Say Something...
If you were my brother,
I would have slapped you,
If you were my sister,
I would have hugged you,
If you were smaller,
I would have pat your back,
If you were bigger,
I would have gave you a smack,
If you were younger,
I would have gave you sweets,
If you were older,
I would have fed you wheats,
If you were legal,
I would have dated you,
If you were any different,
I wonder if I would have spoken to you?
I would have slapped you,
If you were my sister,
I would have hugged you,
If you were smaller,
I would have pat your back,
If you were bigger,
I would have gave you a smack,
If you were younger,
I would have gave you sweets,
If you were older,
I would have fed you wheats,
If you were legal,
I would have dated you,
If you were any different,
I wonder if I would have spoken to you?
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Name Me!
I like these names (so you can't steal it)
Jessica Jasmine
Aidan Aqim
Melody
Faridah Hanum
Aqmal Afendi
Athena Amirah
berangan orang putih nama-nama ini... walaupun hidung pesek, nama tetap meletops okaaayyy???
Jessica Jasmine
Aidan Aqim
Melody
Faridah Hanum
Aqmal Afendi
Athena Amirah
berangan orang putih nama-nama ini... walaupun hidung pesek, nama tetap meletops okaaayyy???
FOC Awards 2009
A great shout out to Shih-Li Kow for being shortlisted in the prestigious Frank O'Connor Short Story Award for the anthology Ripples and other short stories published by (why am I not surprised?) Silverfish Books.
Other shortlisted works are:
1) An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah (Zimbabwe) published by Faber, London
2) Singularity by Charlotte Grimshaw (NZ) published by Vintage, New Zealand
3) The Pleasant Light of Day by Philip O Ceallaigh (Ireland) Published by Penguin Ireland.
4) Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower (USA) Published by FSG New York and Granta UK
5) Love Begins in Winter by Simon Van Booy (USA) published by Harper Perennial New York (such a beautiful book, my personal favourite for the win)
I have read Ripples and other stories and Love Begins in Winter as I own a copy but I'm yet to read the other shortlisted works. FOC Awards has seen receivers such as Jhumpa Lahiri in 2008 for her excellent "Unaccustomed Earth" and Haruki Murakami in 2006 for the lyrical and highly appreciated "Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman"
So, we're in the league finally! Why do I feel like I'm contending? Blaargggh.. I sure wished I did :p
Other shortlisted works are:
1) An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah (Zimbabwe) published by Faber, London
2) Singularity by Charlotte Grimshaw (NZ) published by Vintage, New Zealand
3) The Pleasant Light of Day by Philip O Ceallaigh (Ireland) Published by Penguin Ireland.
4) Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned by Wells Tower (USA) Published by FSG New York and Granta UK
5) Love Begins in Winter by Simon Van Booy (USA) published by Harper Perennial New York (such a beautiful book, my personal favourite for the win)
I have read Ripples and other stories and Love Begins in Winter as I own a copy but I'm yet to read the other shortlisted works. FOC Awards has seen receivers such as Jhumpa Lahiri in 2008 for her excellent "Unaccustomed Earth" and Haruki Murakami in 2006 for the lyrical and highly appreciated "Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman"
So, we're in the league finally! Why do I feel like I'm contending? Blaargggh.. I sure wished I did :p
Kau Ingat Kau Bagus?
*I just felt like bitching about this so bear with me*
I just came back from a rather tiring camp from the deep jungle of Hutan Lipur Jerangkang where I was supposedly the AJK for F&B. So there were many work and things to be done. Imagine food for 120 6 times a day... fuh, struggle
But surprise, surprise! I went there with a princess... A princess wannabe. Menyampah tengok muka toye kau yang rasa bagus pi hutan tapi tak nak tolong langsung apa-apa. Duduk je kat bangku, rasa bagus..
okay, so you don't wanna be a teacher but you still have the pay as a teacher. You wanna be a lecturer but you are obviously not good enough. Think if you are really good, why do you have to contract yourself to something so insecure in the government service?
You are no better than us... In fact, you're worst. Sekian, terima kasih.
I just came back from a rather tiring camp from the deep jungle of Hutan Lipur Jerangkang where I was supposedly the AJK for F&B. So there were many work and things to be done. Imagine food for 120 6 times a day... fuh, struggle
But surprise, surprise! I went there with a princess... A princess wannabe. Menyampah tengok muka toye kau yang rasa bagus pi hutan tapi tak nak tolong langsung apa-apa. Duduk je kat bangku, rasa bagus..
okay, so you don't wanna be a teacher but you still have the pay as a teacher. You wanna be a lecturer but you are obviously not good enough. Think if you are really good, why do you have to contract yourself to something so insecure in the government service?
You are no better than us... In fact, you're worst. Sekian, terima kasih.
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