10,000 Steps

10,000 steps a day to good health.
This has been highly publicized by the Ministry of Health.
I can be quite obedient.
So I walk each day; up and down the stairs at home and in school.
At times I walk around the neighborhood in the evenings and think of things.
But the most concrete form of steps I take quite frequently is when I go on my machine.

So I walk and walk for health and of course to look better in clothes. I walk on this pair of sneakers for days and months and can never bring myself to throw them away despite tiny holes appearing here and there.

But today it really gave way. See the foot piece slipped out of the base; it means I have to throw them away. Grace has often chided me for keeping them. But I just could not bring myself to do it earlier as it has accompanied me for so many steps...

The shoes finally are fit for the bin. Old faithful.

Grace has long bought this pair for me to replace them. The old shall pass and the new will come. That's life ; we look forward to solutions and a new look. We add colors and new things for a new joy. So, this will be my new walking mate.

Thank you daughter.

The Prom

What a feeling...

Tradition has it that a night for them is given with blessings and approval from the school authorities. It is a night which many boys and girls become ladies and gentlemen. Every year at this time I seem to grow older. The children suddenly become adults overnight and they love to dress up for a grand farewell before leaving the gates of the school.

This year was really grand...grander than the Retro Night; oh how the youths beat the older generation ! It is so refreshing to have young blood; they have speed and energy.

The backdrop was creative and the decor on the table... all that glitters is really gold !

This is the organizing team; all sixth formers. They exhibit great skills in getting the evening together.

You see; who needs to coach them anymore ? They are adults.

The principal was flabbergasted at her protege; when did they grow up ?

Pretty maids all in a row; including Ung's daughter.

Doesn't one of them deserved the best- dressed title?

Cheeky happy people...

I taught then when they were 15; all have changed in looks and disposition; only 2 short years but it seems they have matured leaps and bounds.

Su Fun in the centre; she reminds me of Grace...

They are platonic in friendship...

Nathanial is all smiles with a pretty choice...your mother is proud of you !

Yi Jiun; a quiet guy...but they say still water runs deep. He can sing ~

The sisters but the singing one has a real powerful voice; must have a singing competition organized too !

Everybody just have a good time...shake it ! May Yean and Sam. They were casual in their presentation and that caught the hearts of the audience. Notice Sam had a yellow tie; MayYean wore a yellow daisy on her hair and had a pair of yellow sunglasses to complete the picture. They must have planned for it.

May Yean had the crowd singing along with her light and easy rendition.

Wow, Jeanne has such a big voice. I did not notice that when I taught her in 3 Ilmu. Surprise, surprise...

They call themselves the Black Swans... don't be misled. They were really ballerinas on stage headed by Jasmine Chew. Beautiful dance.

Oh these super energized young people are really good with their dance. Enjoyed every moment of it. Professional.

This year's committee did something different. They called back the previous king and queen to grace the occasion...Leon and Jun? I hope I got them right.

The aristocratic looking Syaidatul took away the best dressed female...isn't she pretty?

Yes he was the best cloaked guy of the evening...

The crowning of the new king and queen...

Jeffrey Chong, unrelated to me; took away the male title. Even from the beginning of the evening his name was chanted... who is this popular guy? Why is he so well liked? Later, he reiterated that he didn't know why he was nominated and went on to say that the night has proved that even a fat but cute guy like him could carry the title. Now people look for things more than meet the physical eye; people want a people person. Jeffrey with his easy going style is the choice of the night. He must be something.
The sweet Jia Yin was surprised that she was given the crown; she said she was too simple for the title but she was the choice of the evening. Simple in her own eyes but she took away hearts.

The aristocratic prom night...when do we have the next one again?

A Happy Celebration

To my dear friends and students and all whom I know but impossible for me to name, may this be a joyous occasion where your loved ones gather in celebration of a new and meaningful season.

Have a good day of rest, gathering, encouragement and peace.

GNH

Gross National Happiness

It's a term that I have been thinking about throughout the night after reading the Star when Idris Jala asked " Can Malaysia Aim To Be Happier?" Can we? Then he reiterated that Malaysian development programmes are focused on producing big results fast; the big example being the NKRA which has been created partly for achieving GNH if and when the crime rate is lowered, cost of living is within grasp and corruption erased and education policies revamped.

Then I read that the GNH is based on the Bhutanese philosophy of 8 8 8 ; work, pleasure and sleep. This magic formula is indeed the key to a slower mode of living; but it will mean having time to ponder over matters in life, taking pleasure in little things and eating slowly. How nice; if only this is practiced in real life. Can it work? Yes, it can if there are external factors to help us like not having to pay for utility bills, education till the tertiary level is free and people live life as it should be. Yet, this is only an illusion. So, the magic formula is still for individuals to measure.

But I also learn that the Bhutanese though poor in comparison to many 1st world countries are the happiest people on earth. They are environmentalists and crime is rare though people trek for hours from one place to another. Beggars and homeless people are unlikely to be seen. Poor and yet full of integrity. So basically if we practice right values, it does lead to real happiness.

I was surprised at a finding. Children speak and use the formal lingua franca - ENGLISH. Bhutan's education system believes that English should be the medium of instruction in school; that's why the present king went to Oxford. Closely knitted and traditional; I am pleasantly surprised that they do not think using English in school will have a detrimental impact in unity. I really like that.

Better still the Bhutanese government has a GNH commission formed to conduct surveys as indicators to establish the nation's well-being and the people's aspirations and desires. It has 1st class mentality here. Tshiteem, the commissioner's secretary reiterates that Bhutan has a policy to use the 24 hours in a day equal among work, pleasure and sleep and that a truly sustainable and happy life cannot compromise on these 3 aggregates for a long time... working too hard however meaningful your work is will be detrimental. So they make decisions for the nation based on the happiness factor; one of which is to tap revenue from hydroelectricity to reduce tax burden. What a responsible decision. They listen to their people. That's why they love and respect their former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck so much for leaving such a rich legacy behind. The former king believes that development was better measured by how happy his people were than how rich they were. He was appalled at what rich countries had to pay for progress - smog, pollution and tainted air and water. He would rather his people breathe in oxygen-filled air and having rolling plains to play on.




When the present King Jigme Khesar married a commoner, Queen Pema, Bhutan rejoiced as thousands watched the live telecast of the ceremonies in the absence of visiting heads and foreign princes. Is this too an indication of true happiness; that the people of Bhutan should celebrate the occasion in a warm, simple and closely-knit ethos without outsiders? Happiness is being with your people and for your people? King Jigme Khesar says the people of Bhutan has inherited a queen who is warm, loving and approachable and that is happiness.

Maybe the key factor is to know what you are happy about in life taking into consideration many things that may work against it. So reflect individually and just stay happy even at the slightest delights. Maybe happiness is making others happy.

How can the world emulate Bhutan?

Moments

The Break

Today it is the beginning of another week of break. That's why I love Malaysia. The makeup of the country is such that we get time off for rest after days of hard work and when we are about to give up because of the intensity of work...oops the holidays are here again; well at least for teachers.

The only not so good part was when Grace came home for a few days of break in the middle of last week, I was too busy in school to look at her. After many months of the empty nest syndrome, it is indeed comforting to have a bird flying home for a rest. I also realized that the girls or at least Grace is really an adult and I no longer can 'tell' her what to do but rather I have to listen to what she thinks. Unlike when she was younger and takes instructions, she now shares that she no longer need to take in all that I say. She must have grown up and I definitely have grown more gracious...to listen and not to be too opinionated.

Though a grown up, she will always remain a child to me; the way I remember her and her habits. Mothers are always concerned about how children fare in their place of work, who they go out with and their latest outlook of life. Now she tells me...will you stop asking me about boyfriends? Do I need to have one? Can I stay happy the way I like it? If I feel like popping home, I am home. Can or not? Can... so the dear mother must not be too meddlesome and stay happy that she flies back to see her.



Hanging on one of the walls is this pic that shows the girls with their cousins in their very much younger days. The 3 female cousins and the 3 male cousins. All the girls are mine and all the boys are my sister's. Now the 2 men are married and the eldest one is already a father of 2. But they are cousins forever; like siblings more to it.



Even in their 20s they behave as though they have never grown up. When they meet occasionally, all that they really are will be in the open. They jump, kick, fight like never before when they see one another. So Grace challenged the cousin brother to a session of 'who can stay longer' stunts in the home.



I love to see them like that; maybe the house has been too quiet for a long while and it's therapeutic to have more sounds in the home. So they did aerobics for quite a while and finally the cousin said he wanted to have a copy so that he can jump up and down like that with his dear wife. So Pam, be prepared. Who needs to go to the gym was their final conclusion.



Look at the house help, Allie. She is most excited when the girls are around. The flower will always attract the bee. So Grace's long time school friend; a die hard friend will never fail to drop by and this time bake with her. Strange, when the girls are not around, no one comes by...

Using Sara's formula, there is action in the kitchen again...red velvet cakes.

Never the same without the topping... but it's a bit too sweet for old taste buds.

The generous Grace packed them up in boxes and flew them back to her work place the next day to give her friends a treat. Why is she so nice to her friends?

A lonely heart pouring out.

The Retro Night (3)

A Look At Others

Meet others; this post again tells you of the well-being of your teachers and therefore is especially dedicated to ex-students and teachers.
Wherever you may be, the school for one is here to stay; your Alma mater.

The leader of the pack; the principal Puan Zaleha with her loving spouse; Professor Dr. Hashim of Universiti Malaya.

They are not finished with that scooter yet; Lee Lan, Sophia, Wong Chet Thing, Ruhaida, Rahim, the 2 Tans.

Friends for many years; Zaini, Khadijah, Norhayati, Shahrizad, Maziha and Zaidah.

These old timers have been with Seafield ever since its birth; Loy, Tan Geok Siew, Periachee, Aw Pek Cheng, Tee Lay Pin... they speak and eat the same.

Oh, he thinks he's PCK... Kang Wee Seng breaking the hearts of young ladies.

The old favourites; Selva, Latha, Phung Kooi Choo, Hargopal ( newcomer but is so so so assimilated) and dear Thilaham; the maintenance lady of the school. Doesn't she look bright ? You think she deserves a prize for good dressing?



The tough clan; very good with numbers and figures and serious outlook...Chow Mee Wah, Ng Poh Choo , Goh Poh Chiok, Looi Siew Kean, Lee Lan ( she's not good with figures) and the 'sau nai nai' (lady of lesiure) Heng Sok Tiang...

The merry crowd representing the PTA... Christine, Choo, Suhaily and Rosalind.

My eyes; my eyes; blame it on them that I cannot recall a couple...Noridayu, Mardalina, (cannot decipher), Juliana, Geok Siew, Maziha, Sophia, Haron, Doris, Me, Lay Suan, Zunaidah, Nordiana, Shw Shing, Chet Thing, Zaidah, Roslina, Ainon.

Yes Roslina, now an- ex staff ( but she's always with us), Ong Lang, Siew Ngoh...

Roslina says she misses me a lot, a lot, a lot and wanted that bear hug...

New recruits Indera Devi and Renuga...

This is the male populace of the school; beside me its Ardi, Jafny, Yusdin, Charles, Nasuha, who's that next ?, Wee Seng, Kim Jin, Zaharol and Zulkifli. Seated from left to right Rahim, Haron, Selva ( yea he's still with us), Tasnim, Zuraimi...the males grew in number.

Puan Wang with the girls and seated in purple is Puan Anne; a library angel for years.

Standing from right; Tan Shw Shing, Sophia, Ye Fei, Yee Ping and seated from left are Tah Mong Ling, Doris, Kwee Cheng and Siew Ling ; all good friends of the afternoon session.



But tonight, the Retro evening is a roaring success because of the tireless effort of this sweet, demure, patient and loving teacher; Puan Zunaidah. She together with Jafny and team ploughed through sleepless nights just to make the occasion work like in a dream. The dining hall was transformed just like the Cinderella Story.

It was in fact a Cinderella Night when many allow their imaginations to run wild in their attire and performance. Still clinging on to sweet moments of the night.

The Retro Night.