The Red Alert

The colour of the season.

The Chinese of temperate lands greet the season as winter is replaced by spring. They have every reason to celebrate as it means starting a new year in the Lunar Calendar and keeping the cold and gloom away. The Chinese of tropical lands are mostly migrants of lands of residence but nevertheless carry on the culture of their forefathers and have every reason to celebrate too.

It is a season of family togetherness ushering in the new year with a new hope, prosperity and plenty of good luck.

To connote all the good things that are to come; red is the colour.

Red seemingly knocks down ill luck, drives away evil and ushers in everything good. To the Chinese, the colour must be seen, worn and adorned in the home, So, it is without surprise that when you visit shopping malls including our very own Mydin, you will see the favourite hue of the season.

At a local mall, the entrance itself is decorated with red canopy to only allow all things good to enter its door for business and prosperity.

 Red packets are adorned with reminders that good fortune and prosperity are the talk of the year. This is the year of the monkey in the Lunar Calendar.

That unmistakable pineapple pronounced as "Ong Lai" is an unspoken connotation of good luck. So it is also typically hung in Chinese homes for good fortune to happen.

Of course they are nothing in comparison to the real ones of temperate  lands but I suppose they are good representations of what they are there. Flowers in particular the peony is a celebrated bloom too. So plastically artificial or not they will find their way to homes. 

You see the malls surely understand the clients well. They sell brooms, dustbins and mops all in the precise shade. What better way to get business done.

Table runners, floor mats and cushions are all well matched.

They must be in red.

The trend happens only in this season.

 The couplets speaking of all good and the best are here to allow what is spoken be real. Surely what you profess with the mouth is powerful. 

 My eyes roved everywhere but only saw the colour of the season; red.

This has thus persuaded me to buy red clothes too; do try to catch me in that colour. You will be overwhelmed.

The epitome of red at Pavillion.

May the season be one of joy indeed.

The First Week

A different one.

I have had many first weeks throughout my teaching career of 36 years 10 months and 28 days,

But this particular one is different.

Starting a new adventure needs courage, perseverance and tenacity. 

But when a promise is made, you need to make good of it.

So, here are some differences.

First, we have decided all our protege are stars from the first day.

So, our mission is to make them stars from where they are; so their faces will be printed and pasted on the stars. We must not be mistaken that a star is one with only academic accolades; a star is made when the learner has courage to be on his/her own, speak confidently, play in good cooperation, collaborate in activities and learn to speak in English from ground zero. 

Yes, it may take days, months and years but do we not learn all our life?

Ha. I must confess my weakness here. The little ones whom I have never have the privilege to be in contact in my previous experiences are a hit. I sometimes forget myself as I go up to them, hug them and yes smack them with kisses ! But they are so adorable on Mondays. Look at them. 

This is so different.

Well, some things have to be the same though.

 Household rules I call them.

Dustbins are for them to use.

Throw them at appropriate places.

Line them.

Change the plastic only when necessary.

Save.

The lucky pioneer batch has the privilege of new chairs and tables; all tailored.

They are reminded of keeping them clean; nothing to be drawn purposely and to be responsible for own doings. Clean them when mistakes are made.

These are older ones; nevertheless needing much guidance and leading.

Even after many reminders, they can be up to tricks; going out of class without permission and filling up tupper wares of water as and when they want. That got the discipline master up his neck. Nothing done with willful disobedience can go unnoticed. They stood in front of me without movement for the next 15 minutes until the master said it was time to go.

We try hard to give them good teaching. Old comrades of Seafield came in to assist. Where can we find such teachers who teach with the heart in the name of education? Indeed, once a teacher; always one. She has indeed taken the road not taken. Thank you, teacher.

The younger ones are learning their best to adapt to a new environment and though learning challenges are a many, we hope to do our little part. They are here for us to care and love. They are so sweet.

Oh I cannot help it.

 This is an incident. Someone "accidently" brought the dreaded weapon; the evil liquid paper and got others into trouble. I told them that when they bring harmful stuff, they can get others into trouble. 

So, if caught a second time, they will be chided.

They were reminded to let us know their 'wrong doings' by mistake and to correct themselves immediately. Then they will be spared.

The frightened victim rushed to the rest room to get her fingers cleaned and continuously said  " Principal, I promise to be more careful next time. Please, please, please."

She broke my heart.

What is education without correction?

So we teach values; made so much more easier with a small group.

Meal times; a first experience too.

Food is catered.

Parents will be happy if they finish their food.

Some younger ones have to be persuaded; older ones are never having enough.

" Teacher, I am so full" said this year 3 learner. "How come?" I asked.

" I finished my friend's food. She doesn't want to eat..." Is that confession or he deserves a pat? It made me laugh as he went around patting his round belly.

Teacher Vanessa is always there to make sure meals are well taken.

Ashton is a superb example. He eats his vegetables and finishes his portion; he is obedient and remembers mummy's instruction. Pretty Michelle is slightly more picky and has to be persuaded but nevertheless tries her best to take her meals.

 What is this?

" Teacher , my tooth dropped..." This is so entertaining what with learners of year one and their milk tooth woes. So, I must blame someone... it must be the caterer and his fried chicken pieces ! So, he sure had a call from me.

 The caterer is none other than my ex student. Yes. it's Thomas. So, a promise was made. Better quality, next time.

Next, I am into my favourite programme.

Reading Aloud.

 I take it a point to see the younger ones personally to see how well they can read. The reading aloud process will build their confidence and speech. I was glad to find out that all the 3 that I pulled out could read as well as I like. There is much potential. This a personal effort I will take for the reading programme of the center.

This is their favorite haunt here. The little resource room. They love to gather there after food and while waiting for their transport. They play games and read. This is what I love to see. Children mixing well and cooperating with one another. There is much to build here; in due time.

Yes. The children are blessed with a sports arena.

When it is badminton time; they jumped and smashed happily, professionally and energetically. This goes so well with them. Indeed we are giving them something different.

The little ones need different attention.

So teacher Siva, a veteran with young ones prepare games and activities that befit them. They will have time to at the court soon.

Teacher Ryan is versatile. A youth leader; he is good at almost anything including leading the children in songs. We hope the children are enjoying themselves too.

Yes, may the learners learn right attitudes, values, friendship and excel academically too in whatever capacity and bring joy to parents and teachers.

May they also have fun and find a difference here; to make it a worthwhile change.

 Yes. That's it.

The Faithful One

 The Eagle

Yes, indeed 2015 has been a year of deep gratitude for God's undivided attention and mercies. Thank you dear God for a year of provision, protection and preservation. For the many unseen blessings and interventions that only can come from a God of goodness and faithfulness.

So, the year end had been busy; busy with what?

Busy being back in action.

Yes, the calling has been loud and the decision has to be honoured.

This time the site is difficult.

Air-conditioned and more pleasant.

We are blessed with a comfortable venue.

But the job specifications remain the same; greeting children, loving children and nurturing them. Yes, it is good to see the faces again after being away for some months. It is in the blood to be with them.

See? My new protege. They seem a little too small so unlike those of yester years but nevertheless hopeful and ready for intervention. I must not forget that I cannot hug them too much. But really, they evoke the motherly instincts in me wanting to protect and lead them the way to best practices. The teacher in me also cries out for giving the good combinations of learning, creating and play.

Talking to parents, teachers and children has always been my forte. Some tell me that the bird will come down from its nest to hear me talk. Please take it as a joke. But I do enjoy convincing people of doing what I want them to do.

So today to some sets of parents and their children, I told them children are indeed smart in some ways; some in numbers, some in language, some in pictures and some in music. Others are smart physically.

I also reiterated that my tailor who only received minimal school contact is able to sew a cheong sam which I am not able to do. My hairdresser trims my hair in 10 minutes to be paid RM50.00. So who is smarter?

Yes, children are indeed smart.

It's capitalizing on their smartness. 

 Then we had a meal together; a gesture which seals good ties and feelings. It was heartening to see teachers voluntarily extend their hands to help out in big and small ways. I have a set of children to handle and guide now.

My prayer is that God will surely use me to reach out to the needy and the ones with learning challenges on best solutions and practices. The journey is in front and it has to be walked. So I am treading gingerly and hoping the journey will indeed be a meaningful one.

Yes back to teaching and learning.

At Eagles International.

Want to join me? Teachers and children ?

More stories to come.

The Cute One

She's here.

When Grace told me they will be back for a few days, my heart and spirit leapt in joy and the longing to touch and hold her surged.
It would be good to see her happy face and her smiles.

When I last babysat her in September, she was only tossing and turning in bed.

This was what she did best then; on her stomach showing off her pretty face.

She would fight with me in protest when I fed her for I would not allow anything else except finishing her drink. It was a battle of the wits; who persevered more.

Then I would report to mama Grace how much she had taken.

When the feeding was complete, it elated both mother and grandmother.

Yes, the samurai looking lass smiles all the time.

She is a heart breaker.

Sometimes mama tries to make her look more like a girl; so head wears are put on.

But with or without them, she is still the sweetest on earth.

Agree?

 Emily is fast. She has two full grown lower teeth at 4 months and now the upper front teeth are out!

Poor girl has been biting non stop at every object and I suspected long ago though mama Grace thought it impossible that the teeth would grow so fast.

So she does become cranky at times but is forgiven all the time as it's no joke having to put up with teething challenges.

Now she can sit up on her own and crawls like nobody's business.

She is a fast one; growing too fast for mama's liking.

 Last week the paternal grand dad got her that coveted bike ! The BMW car!

Yes, she rides on it with utmost joy.

 That's how both mother and child look like whenever they fly home.

Mama gets her into that docile mood with the pacifier to calm her during the flight and prays hard she sleeps throughout the journey.

But what a joy to receive them at the airport.

She is absolutely charming.

Grandpa Lau looks forward to another weekend of swimming fun with her.

Both play pretty well with each other  and Emily is not afraid of the cold water.

She splashes the water each time without fear and doesn't want to leave the pool.

 So here's  to a happy weekend together with grandma too.

You like our head gears?

Merry Christmas everyone.

Winter

Cold

Mee Sing sent me through whatsapp this scene in Korea now.

She told me many are getting sick because of the cold

When sister Lee Ying says its gloomy and melancholic, she replied that it's like winter wonderland.

That's how people look at things.

You can choose to interpret the way you like.

Just as I also once commented that poor Lou has to drive 40 minutes to work and what a hard life he is going through, Mee Sing said "no lah", it's an easy ride and work is a breeze.

So, maybe we should all learn the lesson; to be positive and be happy.

So, yes let's have a good day today.

Interim

 Art

While waiting for more stories, here is a brief interim.

Dad loves the outdoor and nature is part of him

When he goes to places where he can pick leaves, he will grab at the chance.

So in Korea he did just that.

He held a used plastic bottle to keep the fallen leaves and then dried them in between pages of his book for the journey home.

See, the ginkgo leaves, dried and ready for memory.

Dad dried them carefully in the micro wave oven before giving them a thin layer of varnish. 

The end products are beautiful. Do you not think so?

They will be etched in our memory for the years to come of our trip to Korea.

We will find a wall in the house for them.

Beautiful art.