#rekomemories 1

Apabila saya sedang mengajar 1KM1 petang semalam, terdapat 3 murid perempuan (Form 4/5) yang turun dari tangga dan salah seorangnya menjerit, "Eeeeiiih... Cikgu baru lah.. comelnya".

Dia memberitahu kawan sebelahnya lalu bertanya saya yang sedang gigih mengajar, "Cikgu comel-lah. Cikgu, cikgu kan?". Dan saya balas, "Oohh.. bukan".

Tidak berputus asa, dia terus bertanya, "Oohh.. cikgu pratikal ke?". Pelajar lelaki 1KM1 mula ketawa apabila saya menjawab dengan senyuman manis, "Bukanlah.. saya seorang pelajar".

Tanpa disangka, mereka percaya dan akhirnya membalas, "Emmm... patutlah comel sebab masih pelajar. Kamu memang comel lah.. Ok.. bye~"

Akhirnya, saya bersama pelajar lelaki 1KM1 ketawa terbahak-bahak.

#rekomemories

One Piece Oishi Green Tea Collection

Before I decided to drink them all up, I should take good photos of my new One Piece green tea collection bought by Calv last week at Thailand.

 

The packaging are adorable and attractive – probably because I am a big fans of this anime? Or it is because of the ‘person’ who bought them all the way from Thailand? Haha.. well, I say both ;)

 

From the left – Sanji, Zoro, Yusop, Chopper, Luffy and Robbin.

Aren’t they adorable? =D

 

Especially the pink one – Chopper! Among all the 6 packages, I love this the most. Chopper is one of my favorite character in One Piece. He is simple adorable <3

 

 

Another reason is because, the box is pink in color together with pink straw! Guess what, with strawberry flavour. Emm… now i wonder how it will taste.

 

Ok. Finish showing off my thoughtful gift from Calv. Now, it is time to sleep. Good night everyone ;)

 

P/s: I wonder when will I ever finish them because they are simple adorable and special!

P/s/s: Any One Piece fans here?

Success – is not always what you see.

 

I might not see the fruits now.

Or my fruits have not even grown. However I believe that one day, I will see the fruits in the end of my chapter – the growth in myself, people around me and my students.

This picture is a good constant reminder for myself.
So, ‘BELIEVE’ is the keyword.

Daddy, I Love You.

I have never felt that I’m a filial daughter.
Not once, as much as I could remember.

 

Checked from Oxford Dictionary:

Filial - adj. connected with the way children behave towards their parents

 

I had never shown my affection towards my parents, especially to my dad because I was not taught to be so since I was small. The only way I show love is through scolding, anger, passiveness and spending weekend/holiday together – as that are what my parents’ generation believe in. Besides, he is in the opposite gender – basically he is a male. Duh.

 

Picture was taken last week. Brought my dslr along but without memory card. It was my greatest disappointment of the day because I couldn’t snap their pictures except using phone #failed daughter.

Hence, I grown up and become a very shy person when it comes to expressing myself to someone whom I’ve never said to, “I miss you. I love you dad. I can’t live without you. I like what you did for me. You’re my hero. Thank you dad for everything”. Why? Because, it sounds terribly weird when you’d never appeared to be sentimental and you suddenly become one. Don’t you think so?

 

It’s just weird.. *enough emphasizing the weird word*

 

When I was small, I remembered I did make cards for my parents every single event such as birthday, mother’s day, father’s day and parents’ anniversary with my heart-shape handmade card, sticky man and wrong spelling wishes (my mum still kept some of them. now when i see them, i feel so shy and dumb. lol..).

 

I wrote ‘love you’ all over the place and sometimes I will write a sincere sentence, asking for forgiveness if I’d ever done something hurtful and wrong (especially when I was hopeful that my mum will stop canning me =P). Well, how did a 5 year old girl learnt to write such words? If I remembered it correctly, it learned this ‘skill’ from my kindergarten teachers. Or, because my friends taught me so? Can’t really remember.

 

The moment right after my mum or dad read the letter or card, I will pretend nothing ever happened. There was no card sent. There was no such message. There was no such drawing from me. My parents will treat me differently for a day and I was so happy but I was too shy to show my feeling. So, I pretended and be cool till parents became scary again.. >.<

 

P/s: That’s why, I teach myself to express my love and affection (learned from Counseling and Psychology classes) to my partner and best friends at early stage so that the words will flow fluently and meaningfully throughout the years. I don’t want to be like my parents and the older generation who are not being expressive in saying loving and caring words.

 

Because I am the only child in the family. So, both of my parents treat me very strictly (not so much on dad part). I understood that they want the best for me so that I’ll have a smooth, happy life. Thus, my parents will try their best to protect me. At times, I became rebellious and put a deaf ear on their advices especially during in my teenage period. Well, we did right? Don’t you deny :)

 

 

Even till today, I still pretended that I don’t care much for them because….. It is just hard for me to say, ‘Mum, dad.. I love you’.. OMG! It kills me to say directly to them because my face and ears will turn all red and the heat will cause me fever. Ok lah.. maybe I’m too exaggerate my sentence but really, I can’t..

 

But recently, there is one thing which I am very proud of myself – is when I’m capable to bring my parents to quality and expensive place for good food and atmosphere using my own earning. The feeling is like wanting to shout out to the world and say that, “I am capable to bring my mum and dad for good food with my own sweat money”.

In Chinese, ‘sweat money’ means hard earn money.

 

I celebrated their wedding anniversary at Chocolate Lounge and Father’s Day at Bavarian Bierhuas. Of course, it is not the price that matter. It is the quality time that we spent together while looking at their touching eyes. Probably they’re thinking that, “My daughter has finally grown up and she is proven not stingy!”. On the other hand, I am touched as well because my parents will still care for my wallet and they tried to order the cheapest drink and meal available on the menu *I’m so lucky*.

  

Dad with his signature expression XD

 

A simple joy and happiness are gained from the experience though after the nights, I still treated them normally. I hope, they know that at least I do care for them although I don’t express myself verbally.

And, I have never expected them to read this post (because they don’t have a clue about my blog), especially my dad as this post is dedicated for him on this very special Father’s Day celebration.

 

Happy Father’s Day daddy.
You’re the best dad in the world. I love you.

 

 

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This post is inspired by this videoclip. It is a Thai commercial and I find it real touching and meaningful. To all the daddy out there, Happy Father’s day. To all the son and daughter, love your parents. Don’t be like me. Express more of yourself whenever you can <3

 

P/s/s: I always like Thai commercial clip. There are so creative!

P/s/s/s: Mum, don’t worry. I love you too.

Simplicity Is What I’m Seeking Now

Hi dear all.

How are you lately? It is already Thursday.
I believe most of you love the idea where Friday is soon to be approaching? Well, I don’t because it means that my holiday is going to end very soon. The enjoyment taste by the students are almost equal to the teachers – just not as relaxing as they are because we still work at home such as marking and grading papers, make lesson plans and etc.

Another sad thing to say is  that my next coming holiday will be on the 3rd week of December – 1 month for training and 2 weeks  of holiday before school reopen again. But normally school will take up 1 week for school meeting. So, I only have roughly 1 week before new year…. wuohhhh…. T.T *sneeze on tissue, again.. and again..*

 

In these 1.5 weeks, I have spent my time properly with people whom I loved as well as myself. I have designed a lot of ‘Me Time’ – though most of the time I was working on assignment and paper grading.

Taken in the car while calv was driving.

 

During on my ‘Me Time’, I had done a lot of self-talk and self reflection. For example, I made myself run at the park yesterday, alone with my ponytail tied up and sport shoes feet on. It was a therapeutic moment where I calmly connecting with my self without any distraction exclude the ‘sexy’ image portrayed by an uncle in singlet >.<. Along the gasping-for-air moment, I was thinking deeply on what I want to do next.

 

I know very well that I am actually in a new chapter – no longer a student and no longer a jobless girl. I have a full time job with 2 years of commitment (to be exact, 1.5 years left) as a Teach For Malaysia fellow. Besides, I am also a soon to be 1 year old girlfriend to my partner (omg! i thought we are longer than that!) where future planning is already on discussion.

 

A lot of incident happens within this 1 year and looking back on what I had been through, I privately whispered to myself, “Girl, it is worth the journey despites of all the stormy and raining days I had crawled over”. Occasionally, I will read this post again and again ‘Experiences Are The Best Teacher’ especially during at my down moment to remind me that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. As long as we don’t give up on what we believe in and keep on fighting, we will achieve what we want in the end of the day.

 

Probably I have grown up (slightly more), I enjoy simplicity of life. My drama-ness has reduced and my narcissistic trait has been toned down compare to many years ago. I don’t know why. Maybe it is due to my age? Or due to the exposure I received right now? I am more into vintage and non-complicated stuff. Or called it a trend?

Emm.. I don’t know. Maybe I should just embrace this feeling till the day I want to change again.. or not.

 

As you can see, I have changed my blog layout. I spent nearly 2 hours, trial and error to find the best design I want using the photos I have and html prior knowledge that I still have. Currently, I switched to the blogger free template and include a photo of mine to personalize this site.

 

I am not worrying if I get a large number of readership anymore compare to years before this because the idea of becoming a celebrity and earning big bucks through online do not attract me. My equation before this is:

 

 

High number of visitors = Popular = Received more ads = Earn more $

 

 

Haha.. well, it is obviously a wrong equation for me as I am not consistent in my writing and I am not bold enough. I used to worry if I don’t update my blog, my readers will leave and gone forever. As a result, I wrote mostly for others and not for myself which is now to think about it, it is wrong because I didn’t enjoy blogging as much as before. Thus, the long disappearance took place and now, I am back with a clearer mission and vision. I am here to do what I am interested with and not being interesting (Jacqueline Novogratz, 2012). I had already lost my readership and I have nothing else to loss.

 

What I am more concerned now is, I have lost the interest in journaling due to teacher’s burnout effect! I should continue, especially now when I am in my 2 years journey which once gone, forever gone experiences. I want to blog whatever experiences I gained from now on so that when I have children one day, I can prove to them that mama is a loving lady who love their daddy just the way he is. Even to answer their curiosity about the idea of creativity, dedication and success as a teacher or student. Or one day, when I was old, I could look back what I have been through and peacefully sleep on my deathbed. Well, who knows right?

 

Well, enough of mumbling. I should go to sleep. I am glad that I am still keeping my expressive side after so many months of quietness. Miss the old eggie ;)

What the FROG?

I have never taken frog seriously until lately, I am paying more attention to this creature – since Thursday.

 

I am serious! Like yesterday, when I was walking in the mall to do my long-time-no-do window shopping (ever since become a teacher, I am even conscious of my own spending. So, window shopping is what I did. No different when I was a student =.= ), my eyes keep spotting Frog items such as frog mug, frog soft toy, frog bottle, frog slipper, frog handphone bag, frog keychain and frog, frog froogg.. >.<

 

Before this, my focus is more on Panda because it is my casual jokes on Calv – because his eyes really like panda when he didn’t sleep well.

 

But now.. the focus is on the green creature because lately, Teach For Malaysia fellows were being invited to attend training organized by Frog in KL to explore the possibilities for future collaboration using technology in our classrooms. Here are the badges I received from their freebies. Yay! =D

 

 
Free cute badges I received from Frog *happy* ;)

 

Doesn’t it just sound 21st Century type of workshop? If you are wondering why is FROG being mentioned frequently, I shall clear your curiosity *tune in to deep, professional voice*. Frog or known as

 

“The Frog Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a web-based learning system that replicates real-world learning by integrating virtual equivalents of conventional concepts of education. For example, teachers can assign lessons, tests, and marks virtually, while students can submit homework and view their marks through the VLE. Parents can view school news and important documents while school administrators can organize their school calendars and disseminate school notices via the Internet”. (Ctl C + V)

 

For more information, visit their website here.

 

And guess what? Frog is working together with Teach For Malaysia in all selected 17 schools in KL, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. It is awesome!  Imagine the possibility of using use technology for virtual learning in the classroom. Students are engaged, their achievement improved and you become happier teacher =)

 

A random photo of our #TFM LDOs – Sarah, Giles, Sawittri and Shannon.

 

If you can’t imagine how technology is used in the typical non-conditioning classroom in Malaysia, the photo below are good examples. They were taken during Teach For Malaysia Week when Datin Kathleen visited my school at SMK Jalan Reko with the Frog team. They brought 30+ chrome books (or known as netbook), projector and own internet 4G connection from Yes.

 

It was really cool! I can imagine myself learning with teacher who use chrome book, projector and fast speed wireless in the classroom tho I will never get the chance to taste it like a student… =(

   

Behind the scene team. My students were nervous and excited at the same time with all the attention given on them. Lol…

 

We are currently at the brainstorming stage to explore, discover and work on every possibility that we think will success and helpful for both the teacher and students. The only concern I have now is, will this sophisticated idea help the students to succeed in academic? Will the teacher save more time in teaching when implementing this method? Will all these prepare the students to be a better learner? I don’t know and I would like to find out.

 

For me, I will just need a projector, a speaker and a laptop if I want to implement this virtual classroom concept. I did it before in my Form 1 Civic class and received full engagement and participants from my students.

 

 

They even came out with creative ideas that I have never thought of. Well, technology can truly enrich the experience for both teachers and students.
But why my teachers never did that on me geh? =(

 

Well, back to my 2 days training at Jalan Sentul, KL with the passionate frog teams. The experience was really fun, enriching, inspiring and touching with all the efforts given by both Frog and Teach For Malaysia teams. Our goals are aligned, and no matter how far the discussion been brought to, the end product will still FTK – For The Kids.

 

Besides FTK, there is still FUA – For Us All.. =P

 

Our breakfast, tea time and lunch were attended warmly by the team.

See. So nice their cinnamon buns with topping.

 

I have never eaten something as nice as this. They even got the best scorn in town! I wonder why they have such a great taste? I thought they just eat flies and bugs?Impressive! =D

 

In the end of the day, we did group discussions between TFM and Frog teams. We used mahjong paper to brainstorm and our final products received recognition from the Frog! We managed to make it through for Frog’s Wall Of Fame! Famous~~ * proud for no reason*

 

This is my team’s product. Everyone brainstormed and came out with idea while I wrote and drew on the paper using marker pen. I pretty like how it turned out, especially with the frog. Now I know! Must be the cute mascot of Frog that made me having a crush on the real green creature (which I never really liked before because of the mucus and it jumps!).

 

The training was so awesome that I didn’t get the chance to do my ‘eggie’s-fashionable-note-taking’. OMG! The way they presented their material using Prezie were too attractive while the presenter showed infectious  persona. As a result, my concentration was fully on them and hardly on my purple sketchbook.

 

  I leave a large space with the hope that I could doodle what I had learned in the past two days. Now I am in day 2 after the training and it still remains empty. Lol..

 

Dunno how Captain America came into the mind when the presenter gave an example of a scene. And shit! I don’t know is Captain America real name is Steve?

 

Anyway, ya.. That's all about Frog. FROG! *jump jump*

 

P/s: Should I fund raising for a projector so that my students can benefit from it? If yes, where and how can I start it?

 

P/s/s: I won a first prize for winning the highest vote for my Frog site design (not too sure what does it call =.=!) so I got a Yes 4G top up credit from Frog. Awesome! I received a dongle from Datin Kathleen during TFMweek. Now, I can have some free credit and try it out at school. Thank you Frog and Yes! Yes! =D

 

*update*
I changed the blog post title from Frog to What The Frog. Feel cuter and unique. Lol.. what the frog =P