adapting and changing..

Have you ever been continuously told that you need to adapt in order to survive? well, there's nothing wrong with the advice..to a certain extend it's true. I mean, when you are thrown into a situation or a place, the best thing that you can do is to familiarize yourself with it and be part of it. However, if you know that the situation is wrong or unfavourable..i don't think adapting is the best choice..right?

This is my opinion..and everyone is free to accept it or to reject it..because I might not see the other part of the argument.. But personally, as far as adapting is important, making a change is also needed. In the context of the education system, someone told me that I cannot change the system..because the system is already there...so what I have to do is to adapt to it. Although there are some truth and rational in it, but a question that keeps lingering in my head is why can't the system be changed if it's for the better?

When I came back to Malaysia, I have been told that now I am back to reality and that I shouldn't keep on comparing what I expereinced oversea to what I am experiencing here in this country. I know how some people might find it annoying when people keep on saying "When I was in Australia..." or "When I was in New Zealand.."...I am not being boastful and I am not saying that I have lots of knowledge..but have people ever thought that these comparisons may help us realize the things that we need to improve? I mean..one of the purposes of sending Malaysian students abroad is to help them gain experiences so that when they come back, they will be able to make changes that will lead to the country's betterment.

But it seems like this is not happening. Seldom were we given the chance to contribute or share our experience with other people..just because people think that we are a dilluded lot who cannot forget our past experience. Some even have a perception that we have somehow become rebellious or outspoken and therefore we need to be brought back to reality.. So, does that mean that what we experienced before when we were studying abroad is not reality? Does that mean that everytime we speak we are condemning? I dont think so.

I know I may not have the authority to say this..nor do I have enough experience to opine this point..but to me, all these are rather contradictory to what is aspired by the nation. where it has been continously advocated that we need to be progressive and that we need to be able to contribute to the society and to the nation at large.. I mean how are we going to do this if we dont even have a voice? ('We' here is not referring to oversea graduates only..but to everyone.). Even if we do, in the end, it is those in power who have the final say..who may then make decisions based on personal and political interests. And then we are back to square one.

Well, I am not blaming anyone or any institutions in particular because realistically, this is how the world nowadays work. Also, i am not trying to create an uproar..please..dont get me wrong. Relating this to what I said earlier..my point is, is adapting enough? If we just accept things the way they are and not doing anything because 'this is how things work around here'..then, I believe we will remain stagnant. Don't you think that this will only place us at a losing end? Just a thought....

of teaching...

It's been a really hectic two weeks for me..with all the assignments, revisions and many more things that can ebb away my sanity. I guess this is life..and to survive..I have to maintain positive. Alhamdulillah..am able to do so till this very day.

Before I decided to enrol in this education course, I've heard a few voices who downgrade the teaching profession. Although it was said subtly, the meanings inferred are indeed a sore to the ears. People seem to think that becoming a teacher is not a favourable thing..most feel that the job is not well-paid and it's hard to make a living by just becoming a teacher. Some even label this profession as a last-resort option that one would take up if nothing else works. What's more hurtful is that people seem to think that those who enrolled in teacher training colleges or in any educational courses are those who are not as intelligent. I just don't get it!

I have some friends who compare my educational course with the so-called high-level and intelligence-enhancing courses that they are enrolled in. Some tend to complain how hard their courses are..having to do this and that..having to use a lot of cognitive resources and stuffs. i don't mind them expressing their stress or complaining about how they don't have enough time to do all those stuffs..but the part that i hate most is when they start to say : 'U takpelah..u amek TESL..senang je..belajar language je". You are so WRONG!

To me, teaching is a profession. There are many jobs that deal with machines but I believe that teaching is one of the professions that deals with humans the most..with complex living things that come in various shapes and sizes..equipped with different brains, mentality and thoughts.. can people actually imagine how difficult is it to handle this responsibility? we learn about theories and approaches..but in the real classrooms, it is more complicated that teachers have to use their intellegence and exploit their creative resources to deal with students. Still, many thought that teachers only go to school, teach and that's it..and teachers enjoy a lot of holidays..soo NOT! do people know that apart from teaching subject matter, teachers are responsible to mould positive values and characters? Do people realize that when the children are at school, teachers have to ensure their security? Are people aware that teachers have to come to school during holidays and give extra classes to students so that parents who want their children to achieve good grades can be rest assured? yet many of us do not complain.

and relating this to TESL in particular..do people know how difficult it is to learn language that is dynamic? Do people know how complex is linguistic? Do people really KNOW that learning linguistics is as complex as learning the anatomy of the human body? I am sure many people don't. So why downgrade? why classify TESL and educational courses as unimportant? Do people know that we are the ones who educate doctors, engineers, surgeons, and even prime ministers? Well, I might sound a bit boastful..but that's not my intention. I am just trying to say that people seem to judge from the outlook.. and many fail to see the unheard and uncommercialized contributions of teachers and educators in general. So to all future teachers.. let us do our best. we are responsible to uphold the teaching profession and restore its positive image. There are many challenges that we will face..but no matter what, we have to path our way through. No matter what people say..we must be able to stand back up..and say to ourseleves..WE ARE FABULOUS! (i know this is a bit gedik..but trust me..it helps! hehe.)

Wake up call

Earlier today, I heard about the earthquake in Japan. I was like ‘owh okay’..I mean it did not surprise me much because there have been so many earthquakes lately. So I was somewhat ‘malas nak layan’ so I just went on doing my stuffs. Then when I was in the car, I heard the news about the earthquake and then I realized how severe it was. I was so shocked. At the same time I was a bit angry with myself for being ignorant and for knowing about it late when many people have died and many international bodies have already started to provide humanitarian aids to Japan. At home, I turned on Al-Jazeera, BBC News, CNN and a few other news channels, and then I finally got to see the whole picture of the situation. It was horrifying! Everything was swept away by the 10-metre wave in just seconds! And the horror did not stop there. It was reported that many more countries such as USA, Peru, the Philippines and even Malaysia (particularly Sabah) have started to give out tsunami warning.

Enough of the facts! I mean, the facts can be retrieved everywhere. My point is, lately, we have seen many natural disasters happening. In fact, it has been going on for years and years. I am sure that the 2006 tsunami is still fresh in our minds. Then we have the hurricane in America and more recently the endless earth quakes in New Zealand and the massive flood in Brisbane, Australia. Now, the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.. which was reported to be the worst in 300 years. Personally, I felt really scared. I mean, it might happen to us..who knows. And I realize that I have been too complacent all these while..enjoying life..often forgetting that one day my life is going to end..and only Allah knows how is it going to be. I believe that we have been forgetting about a lot of things. And now..Allah is sending us another of His signs.

Reflecting on us..as humans..especially me..I feel that we have been too proud with our achievements. We build buildings, we create cars, we build large and beautiful ships, we make islands for the rich to dwell, we develop nuclear power, we trigger war, we shed one another’s blood..we are indeed proud. BUT we forget that there is a bigger power..a more powerful force.. The One who created the universe..The One who created us..Allah. We forget that whatever we do is in fact what Allah permit us to do ie without His permission..we won’t be able to even breathe. We forget that what we have right now are lent by Him and He may take it back at any time He want to. And when He want something to happen, He just say ‘Kun’..and it will happen in less than a mere second. When He take back all His blessings from us..who are we then?

Lets us all think about and reflect on ourselves.. When I look at the tsunami footage..of how the waves easily swept all the cars and destroy all the houses..I realize how small and weak we are. This is actually a reminder to myself.. A reflection of my own weak self who needs to be continuously reminded..because as a normal human being..I am indeed forgetful. My aim of writing this entry is to share what I feel..to reflect with the rest..and to plead to be reminded of the many things that I may forget.. because today, this Tokyo earthquake may remind me of many things but when I wake tomorrow..I may forget all the things that I have realized.

Yummmm!

I guess my blog has been a bit too wordy..don't ya think? So I decided to put a few pictures of some tasty food that I would highly recommend to all food lovers out there..feast your eyes and ignite your senses! you know you love me~

classic carbonara@italliannies

@house of pakeeza

strawberry colada

macaron@harrods

peach slice with vanilla ice cream

seafood platter

lasagna@delicious

chocolate brownies

blackforest cake@suchan

mee bandung

ayam penyet

@the loaf

when you believe...

There are times in our lives when we feel like it is soo impossible to achieve something..when we feel like its is so hard to move the limbs in our bodies to start something..when we feel like it's better if we just stick to what we usually dio and jgn nak gatal2 make a change.. semua ni sebab we doubt ourselves ie we dont believe in our true potential. I have experienced this too and I believe that I will experience more of it in my life..because I guess it's normal to feel insecure or unconfident.. the only thing that makes the difference is whether or not we let these feelings take control of ourselves.

To be honest, when I was in secondary school, I never thought that I would actually achive some of the things that I have achieved till today. Being in a school where all students are smart academically, there were many times when I doubt myself..I always felt inadequate and that sometimes I felt like I don't belong..so I just said to myself..'hey, why bother..after all I'll still be the same'..BUT i did not let this thought cloud my judgement. I love to dream..and when I dream..I dream big. Some people say that it's'not good to dream..but I believe from DREAMS come MOTIVATION..and from there comes EFFORT which will then lead to SUCCESS. Maybe it doesn't work with everyone..but for me, at times it does. However, the dream must be realistic..I mean don't dream of something that is totally out of your capabilities because you will end up frustrated instead!

Most importantly, what has made me preservere in my endeavour is that I BELIEVE in myself. I BELIEVE in hardwork and I BELIEVE that if I work hard..Allah will help me. That's what I think we should all believe in. Some people just pray for the best but when they pray, do they really believe that Allah will help them? or when they pray, do they work hard to achieve what they pray for? Tawakkal is one thing (because apa2 pun Allah yang tentukan) but as we know..without usaha..we will never achieve anything. Please..I am not saying that i am great and that I have acheived many things because I believe in myself or that I work hard..NO. I am not using this as a medium to brag. I just feel that I should share what I think is good..for the benefit of all of us. So friends..lets BELIEVE in ourselves..and do our best in everything that we do. Because when we believe..somehow we will...