Disappointment

I will be the first to agree that SA is not a perfect school. As a member of its teaching staff, I have had to endure lots of work. Like me, many of the other staff members have had to spend countless hours doing work that is in addition to our core business, which is teaching. We have had to bring our students out for various activities and competitions. We have had to call up parents and deal with various issues related to their children. We have had to drive the students home because we got back late into the night from some activities. We have had to spend our own money, and more often than not, our time to make sure that everyone (else) is taken care of. Many a times, we have neglected some family activities to cater to the school's activities and to take care of our students. Often some of us had to lend our things to our students so that they don't get into trouble with whoever. We've played counsellor, nurse, nanny, friend, storekeeper, you name it, we've probably done it.
So what really irks me is how we are accused of many things. SA teachers are supposedly over ambitious. We supposedly care only for the name of the school and not the individual students. We kononnya do not have the interest of the students at hand and only make demands from their parents.
Coming back to why I am disappointed. Because of the charity dinner, I have opened my eyes to how everyone else sees us. The dinner was never meant to be a burden to parents. Someone asked if we wanted red carpet for the school. Meaning, we are over-ambitious and having a swimming pool or an air-conditioned hall is just pure luxury, not a need.
So I am feeling sad that we are surrounded by people with no vision for the future of SA. Much as I dread the amount of work we have to do in SA every time we are endowed with some titles, I AM proud of my role in this school. And I do want to be proud of the students and their parents for their roles in this school. I hope that the SA family will work together and this family includes not only the staff.

Relationship

There are some relationships that I truly cherish. In all these years that I have been around, I have come to realise that some relationships are just special and can stand the test of time, and distance.
Starting from my closest circle, I am glad I have some very special friends at work. We do not always agree on the same things. We do not have the same taste in things. We do not behave the same way all the time (though I am sure some people will disagree). But we do have quite a number of things in common and we have learned to agree to disagree, and to respect one another's principles and opinions. We get away with calling one another nick names we wouldn't call others. We get away with doing all sorts of funny things. Our bond is such that we sometimes fill in for one another, and we complement one another. Perhaps that is why we make such a formidable team.
Next is my group of friends from way back in university. We were the TESLians or TESLites, whichever one wants to call us. We were the noisy bunch, and we still are. In spite of going our separate ways after granduation, we have managed to keep in touch and meet. Not all of us, but most of us. We are still as crazy as ever when we do get together. It's almost as if we have never left UPM.
My family ... well, my inlaws anyway. I am thankful that I have a set of understanding and wonderful inlaws. My mother-in-law is someone I really wouldn't mind living with. She is a gem of a lady and I am sad that she will be leaving this coming Saturday. My father-in-law is also a good man. He likes to argue. Half the time, he probably argues to keep his mind alert. My husband's siblings and their family are all in Australia. I don't see much of them but I do miss them and hope to see them again soon.
Last week was Malam Graduasi for the Form 5s. I wasn't there. But as these girls prepare to leave high school for something better, I hope that they too have forged wonderful friendships that will stand the test of time and distance. And I pray that they will encounter other friends in the future whom they can bond with and start a new relationship with. As they grow into young ladies, I hope they will find a life partner with whom it is indeed "til death do us part", and find an inlaw family they will love and treasure.

Two from Galilee

Tonight I was at the Panggung Bandaraya with some colleagues and students. To say the performance was awesome would be stretching it. However, I would say that it was an enjoyable show, performed rather well by The Canticle Singers. The singing was generally good and more than made up for the acting that was not particularly convincing. Nevertheless, it was a good performance overall. I hope the students learned to appreciate some of the issues in the play. For example, relationship, love, expectations, traditions, faith. I hope the students were able to see beyond the names of the characters and the background of the story. Certain scenes were touching and they reflect some values that are universal, regardless of our faiths and beliefs. And one nice thing was I met with one of the cast members who was a student of mine some 12 years ago.

Addictions

It is strange. I don't need to be addicted to illegal things to truly understand what it means to be addicted to something. So what am I addicted to?
Some of you may have noticed me reading a very thick book during the exam season. I was so addicted to it that I could not put it down. I had to read on, keep at it until I finished it. I even spent one night until almost 4am to finish the book. That day was still a working day and it was tiring. But I probably was surviving on the adrenaline rush of having to get the Form 3 cheerleaders ready for a gig that night. The stress was great but, surprisingly, I got through the day and night. I only got home at 10:30 that night. When I got home, I still managed a few pages of the book! Surely that was asking for trouble. I kept at it until I finished the novel - all five hundred over pages of it. And when I finished it, what did I do? I started reading another book, by the same author. Yeah I have finished it as well.
What's the other thing I am addicted to? I have already mentioned it in passing in another post. It is the Facebook's Restaurant City. I know I am addicted when I woke up at 5am and went straight to check the restaurant. I know I am addicted when I asked a friend to take care of the restaurant for me while I am at work. I know I am addicted when I bug my students and ex-students to trade with me.
So how am I going to deal with it? I will just have to live with it, at least until I reach level 32!!!No, I am going to prioritise. I will play, but it will not take over my life, my time and my family.

Trying this out from handphone

I am just trying this out using mobile blogger. Nothing better to do while waiting to go to a colleague's house for last round of raya open house.

Busy busy busy

The lack of upates on my blog is probably going to be something some of you will complain about, unless you too have been busy with numerous things. It is exam season, so I have been busy with all things related to exams : setting question papers, marking, other paper works, doing the mantap minda programme for the form 3s, and now exam stuff for the form 2s and form 4s.
In addition, I have also been busy with my in laws who are back. And while they have been back, we have attended a funeral and visited other relatives. I can see that my in laws are a lot older now. I can see how much they have aged in the one and a half years I have not seen them. They have been inflicted with various health issues and I worry about them. Everyone their generation is "expiring" one by one. I can tell that they are also worried.
Just two nights ago I took the cheer girls from Form 3 to go for a gig in Crowne Plaza, KL for a gig. They had to dance and chant a bit about the hotel. It was very short notice and they had just finished their PMR the day before. So the gig was not as well-performed but it was ok. The girls were so tickled when they were asked to pose with many of the guests for photos. On top of that, the food, though cocktail style, was nice. We generally had a good time. But I was extremely tired as I had only had a 2 1/2 hour sleep the previous night and had been out of the house from 7am until 10:30pm. Nevertheless, I was glad for the break in routine.
Tonight, I will be going for a durian party of sorts! I am looking forward to it, but I'll miss hubby who is in Genting. Oh well.
I will update more when I have come back from Bukit Tinggi.

Calling all former Sri Aman students

Attention all former Sri Aman students!!!! The school has been asked to compile a list of what former Sri Aman students have achieved after leaving school. We need to know where you have gone since leaving Sri Aman, what did you study and where, if you have started working, what you are working as and where. Please spread the word around and get them to email me at puan.chris@yahoo.com Thanks, all.

Majlis Restu 2009

We had our Majlis Restu for this year yesterday. Last year, I expressed my thoughts about the one held last year for the PMR students. This year, the difference is that the session was held for both the PMR and the SPM students. Oh and for the STPM students as well. Unlike last year, this year the celebration time (makan time) was held for all the candidates regardless of race and religion. Although the Muslim students had their Majlis Restu in the Surau on their own, and the non-Muslim students had theirs in the hall, everyone came together after that at the gallery and had their meals together. It was nice to see everyone coming together then. This is one step towards perhaps having a combined Majlis Restu one day. I can hope, can't I?
I have photos but they are all in my phone still.
There are two people I must thank here. To Justin and Jessica, kudos to the both of you for rising to the challenge that I pretty much threw at you: to be the MCs during the MR, and also to conduct the whole session in BM. I know...you could have done it in English, but you did not argue when I said to do it in BM. Both of you did a splendid job. And THANKS for agreeing to do it in the first place. You proved to us all that you had it in you!!!! My only regret was not being able to say farewell before you left.
Once again, thanks to the speakers for coming to SA to encourage our students and to pray for them. Thanks Pastor Aaron Tham, Mr Lim Teik Leong, Mr Lakhbir Singh and Mr Parthiban Ramachandran.