Like It !

Wow, teachers may be out of job soon !

Who cares about what you do as long as it brings in decent money ?
Basic skills and values for living are the most essential elements for life after all.

Like the Robin Hood style.

GRACE

For the love of his daughter...

Dad told me that when he first saw the number, he saw his daughter's name.
He tried all ways to possess the number and he succeeded.
But alas, some old things have to go for newer ones; so the car with his daughter's number had to go too.
But dad says no way will he let the number go... so he compromised with the buyer; to wait till today when he can repossess the number again. For it to happen he had to choose a buyer who will agree with his terms; a good friend it went to.


So, today I had my last ride in this favourite car of Sara's. Sara says she cannot handle big machines; a small one will do her fine. So this car has served her well during her undergraduate days. However, time is running out; a decision has to be made as the number has to be returned to the owner...so this is the lamb; it has to save the number.

Yes, the number has come home again; we have missed it for the last 6 months. But what resemblance has it with GRACE?

Dad insisted it is so... he drew his interpretation; now does it look like GRACE? He says it will stay within the family for generations to come because it is read as GRACE.

Oh... of numbers and daughters.

Small In Size

But big in function... the revolutionary discovery of the century.
The hand phone.

It is very important in the hearts of many; young and old, rich or poor, urban or rural folks and it is no more considered a privilege but an essential. Life revolves around the little thing.
When you open your eyes each day, it is not surprising that the first thing you look for is it.
Well, it definitely is happening in my life. I cannot survive without it especially when I have to stare at it religiously each morning. Who is not coming to school? Oh... I hope the relief list is short.
Then I have to lose 2 hand phones in 2011; one at the beach and the other at the airport. There is this sense of loss; in communication and the photos and special messages you have hidden in them. I tried not to feel too bad and sad; but I actually I am; and still am. Somehow the attachment you have kindled with it establishes a closeness that is real. But perhaps the worst is when you lose your contacts kept in the phone. You go through the laborious task of keying in the contacts and ponder piteously at your misfortune.


In school, it is common to discover students bringing them though it is against instructions and regulations. Why would they take the risk of confiscation? Yes, it is again this inability to survive without it. The device has self created its importance slowly but surely into the human race.
I believe students can forgo meals and privileges in exchange for more money to buy phone cards for talk time. Yes, it is better to go hungry than not to have longer talk time.

Basically the human race is communicative; need to be in touch with one another for assurances, friendship, acceptance and love. The hand phone has further allowed and enhanced the communication. For others, the hand phone is used for business, deals, appointments and the list is endless.


When my father and mother first used the phone, it was for survival. Each time they travel by coach to KL in those days, the hand phone made it possible for us to pick them at the right point. As you can see, the hand phone is the single most important discovery of the era. When 2 old folks have found the hand phone useful and important; it is indeed an important tool.

When you lose it and communication is cut off, it is a cold feeling. It looks as if you can live without a physical person beside you but not without a hand phone beside you. Several times I am willing to turn back back to pick it up despite half way through a journey as you need to be in contact with others and you don't want to be cut off.

I read that the single most popular item in China last year was the hand phone; the countless millions of Chinese has one each; just sell them and you will be rich by virtue of the number.

The hand phone is communication itself.
It has now created a status for itself in the lives of many.
You wanna try another creation to surpass this one?

Typically So !

It's so the place... Singapore !

When you go to hotels here, you will be greeted by all kinds of species of orchids... purple...

... yellow...

...white... the national flower...
The Orchid is Singapore.

The Marina Bay Sands is also Singapore...by day...

...and by night...

...on the very top is also the infinity pool of Singapore...

Activities center around the bay...

Art and culture...

Sciences...

Taste and style...

Arty Singapore now...

...moving away from tradition to the creative scope...

...however this stands true; getting higher salary with a commendable exchange...

This Ipoh lass told me that she has opted to work in Singapore as she is paid 3x the amount so she commutes between Johor Baru and work place each day against all odds. She is up at 6am to catch the bus to cross the causeway for work at 9am. She leaves Singapore at 10 pm and reaches JB at 1am to have her good rest at 2am. The cycle goes on. What a life.

So my dear daughters are fending themselves down south too... daughter number 2 may be joining number 1 for the rat race in town... home is sweet home.
Well the saying goes; you need to lose to miss.

So typical Singapore.

The Matchmaker

Aha; the role of the matchmaker is as old as civilization.

May it be in the Chinese, Malay, Indian and even the Jewish cultures.
It's fun though if you are able to play the role of one; a confession I must make. I have been once before; and the couple are now a happy match with 3 teenage children. It started with some colleagues in a previous school and while over morning coffee, 2 of us decided to play matchmaking.
So when 2 teachers put their heads together, they climbed hills and mountains to make sure it happened and it did.
Oh are we glad we actually helped two lonely hearts to get together?

So, enjoy this little extract :

Unforgettable

There are certain matters which you choose not to forget as you keep them in the recesses of your memory. Here are some about the last visit to Melbourne.

This man. He asked to be photographed and grinned...'take it, take it' he cheekily insisted. That's because he did not know it will be known by many...

He was manning this whopping sea of shell fish and so palatable !

What's Grace peeping at?

Yea a dozen of fresh oysters! They cost a bomb back home.

Squeeze some lime over them and they are ready for consumption; no need to cook; the only shellfish to be eaten in this manner without fear of purging...

Very soon ; really soon ... all vanished and what a meal ! Unforgettable.

That called for a second set which disappeared just as fast. Now you must believe not everything is expensive in Melbourne because the dozen of oyster cost only 10 AUD... so very, very , very reasonable. So eat and buy native things here.

When you stroll the streets of Melbourne City, you are bound to see the very low lying lines hanging on top of your head. I asked Esther what were they for.

She told me that the tram system here operates under a source of energy that runs through the cable lines; clean and neat with little pollution.

So the trams have 'antennae' that are attached to the cable lines for them to draw energy. I have not seen anything like that before.

There, some for memories.

Living Skills

The Less Academically Inclined

Every year at this time the school has the responsibility of meeting the requests of stakeholders in the future plans of the form 4 students. Stakeholders and students ask for packages which are sometimes beyond consideration because of academic results. Many plead, cry and at times demand for places which are difficult to fulfill. So the school takes the brunt and 'answer' to the requests.
In some cases, we advise them for vocational studies and acquire skills that may earn them a decent living and enough to survive comfortably. But alas, whenever we try to persuade them, we face an uphill task convincing them... no,no,no... 'how can you even suggest my child does a vocational alternative?'; the expression seems to say.

But I have a story to tell about Ah Hwa.

Ah Hwa is neighbour to my parents' shop in town. I have known Ah Hwa and wife since they first got married. I used to visit my parents in the then days and became friends to Ah Hwa and wife. I see them struggle between business and building a new home. Soon, Ah Hwa and wife became parents to 2 girls and 2 boys. Not a day passed when they did not open their shop for business unless on a Sunday.
Ah Hwa and wife speak and understand some English; though their main mode of communication are in the Malay and Chinese languages. So they did go to school until their secondary school days but did not make the academic mark. So what?
They have values that see them through good and meaningful living. They did not go to the university but they manage a business that grows every year. I know they are now the proud owners not only of the premise they are in but also a couple of other shops along the main road of the town.
Sad but true, I find even hard to possess a shop lot; Ah Hwa aims and gets it. So what if I had been an academically inclined person and I had been to the university? At the end of the day, it is the life we lead that counts.

Everyday, Ah Hwa and wife will display these baskets of flowers on the 5 foot way to attract customers.

They will diligently carry the rolls of linoleum and I see them cut meters after meters at the requests of customers.

They sell tapestry materials too and try to meet all sorts of needs to draw profit and business.

Come festive times, they close their business way beyond midnight to cater to the requests of many and take the opportunity to earn as much as they can to cover duller months of the year. They work hard; but who doesn't have too? Teachers included.
Today I also know Ah Hwa's children have done well in school. They cannot afford overseas education but I know the first sibling went to a local public university and has graduated in Chemistry whereas sibling number 2 has been offered a place too.

The moral of the story is encourage learning that best suits the child and instill values that will see them through in life; even if it means being a seamstress, a hairdresser or even a mechanic.

By the way the hairdresser I went to last weekend earn more money in an hour than me; Rm200.00 in an hour. Thanks to vocational skills.

To the less academically inclined; the future is just as rosy if not more.

Oldies...

Oldies stay good forever.
The songs of the 60s, 70s, 80s are precious because they are so meaningful and easy to sing along with...
Esther is doing up her room and daddy is adding new things to the old house while the player is playing music that is so therapeutic that even Esther has conceded to switching off her contemporary music...
Here's one of them by Joni Mitchell...

Enjoy it.

The Laotong

Sworn Sisters
"A tie that binds";
as written in a movie commentary in the Star; 24th December 2011.

Lisa See digs deep into the Chinese people; she reveals the way of life, thoughts and culture of the Chinese profoundly. So, if you want to know the Chinese way of thinking, read her books. Each book will tell of a different aspect of the Chinese. I have finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan while flying in and out of Melbourne during the last break and thought I should share some of my feelings.
Grace bought the book and passed it to me. This is one of my investments in her life; life long reading. When she was a little girl I used to read to her diligently. I remember holding all kinds of books from nursery rhymes to short stories and read to her every night before bed time. So she is a reader today because of I believe a little of my time investment. Young mothers; read to your children. Of course today, she reads faster than me what with her younger eyes.


I have also watched the movie; downloaded by Esther as a special Christmas request. The movie is starred by 2 beautiful ladies; in particular Li Bingbing who has that forlorn and faraway look ; so bewitching. But I must admit that your understanding of the movie will definitely be more enhanced if you have first read the book. Many thoughts, practices and feelings are portrayed in the book. I want to talk about the 'laotong' part.
This is the first time I have been made known of the Chinese practice. Apparently, in Olden China it is common to pair 2 females for a life long friendship called the laotong. The partnership will mean that the 2 female friends would share from all aspects of life; family practices, foot binding, love life, marriage, children and everything else. Nothing was not to be shared.
So in the book, Snow Flower and Lily were paired and became laotong. So the friendship began right after the foot binding days ; about seven or eight of age and how they shared their emotions and way of life. Lily was the more fortunate one as she was married into a more high standing family and so she had easier times; foot binding was a criteria for a good husband; the smaller the foot , the higher the chance of getting a good family to marry into.
Snow flower married a butcher; had more miscarriages; had more daughters to her detriment and she seemed cursed.
The story went on to reveal how after so many years into their adulthood, the laotong friendship still stood strong and even concorded a scenario whereby Lily had to put up with Snow Flower for months when a civil war broke out. Lily was separated from her immediate family and stayed with Snow Flower and her family in the mountains braving chilly conditions and snow. Lily stood by her laotong all through the difficult days of hunger and food rationing and how she cried when Snow Flower lost her husband's favorite son in the hard conditions. She saw how the butcher beat and slapped Snow Flower and the plight of a woman and the curse of a dead son.
Later when peace came and Lily was reunited with her family, there came a time when Snow Flower lied to Lily and the discovery of it broke the laotong love of Lily for the former. In spite and despite all that were spoken, done and broken, Lily finally was at Snow Flower's bedside before the latter breathed her last.
It spoke of a friendship which lasted for decades and the integrity of a sworn promise...till death do they part. Integrity and true friendship. It is hard to build and nurture in this modern time. People don't have the time; many feel that there is no necessity; for those who feel this way, the book will have no meaning and no impact. Reading the book will also mean deciphering through the values of olden times. Do people today still want that ? In love and friendship?

The Laotong is a cultural practice that has revealed much to me.
I enjoyed the book more than the movie; but I love to look at Li Bingbing.

Hello

Good Morning 2012

Let's wishing everyone a sunshine year in 2012
Happy New Year.