Life Goes On

That's the way.

Amidst so many fears of all kinds; a bleak economy, the shrinking of the ringgit, security threats and general lethargy, it was comforting to see shoppers shelving the gloom and come out in throngs to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the monkey.

I had to catch that cheer and find defend the meaning of joy. 

 The Monkey Year

The malls are covered with images of the mascot of the year.

Every business man is asking for the year to be a year of bounty and the ill fortune of the previous year to wane away. How long more?

Despite the need to consolidate and salvage, the Chinese businessman will never compromise on the call of the drum and the auspicious creature.

Here, much effort is involved to  install the stilts for the creature to perform on.

 The lion dance and the roar of the drums must be here to usher in a good year.

It was a majestic performance as the lion deftly hopped from stilt to stilt without  fumbling and each time a feat is accomplished, the enthusiastic crowd from the young to old of all racial compositions put their hands together.

It is true.

Being happy is universal. 

People want to be happy for as long as they can but many times they suffer when others make mistakes.

So we can only pray for peace.

The display of colourful hues and decor surely heighten one's mood and reason to celebrate. Blatantly I mingled among them and stole every opportunity to inch my way to the front to watch the lion dancers perform and clapped too every time there was reason to do so. It was good to let go; unabashed. 

 A cultural street was created where everything Chinese was seen. The bamboo stalks are here to energize the home with strength and steadiness. So the more bamboo stalks the better.

Raise the red lanterns.

Evil is driven away and prosperity affirmed.

When I suggested to dad to hang some at home, he looked at me hard and long.

So I gave up.

He says God is in control.

The calligraphic writing I believe says to usher in the new Spring as the 6th generation of the mascot brings in peace. Oh I think that is what it means.

The undergarment advertisement reminded me again about the auspicious color.

Some old pals gathered over lunch for this very local cuisine; the yee sang.

It's as if a Chinese cannot start  the new year without the call of blessing over it.

Some practices are done for fun; this is one.

What connotation can it hold?

The New Spring.

Evergreen

Some memories last forever and they can still make you laugh.

Dealing with children of all ages bring all sorts of past connections and ties to a new awakening and fun.

Today has been especially eventful with a teacher falling sick and with me having to stand in. How do you begin with 6 and 7 year-olds ? The teacher in me searched for the basics of handling them and reaching down to their level. Indeed the child in me must arise for the challenge. 

My house was the topic of drawing and writing.

A drawing that speaks.

I asked him why Monday? Oops sorry he said.

But nevertheless he expressed well in the picture scratched. Later, with the aid of the WH questions he was asked to write five sentences about his house. With all his teeth shown in a smid write for I have seen a much older child finding it difficult to read the time on a clock. It all could boil down to immersion and exposure.le and his cheeky eyes squeezed into a line, he constructed the simple sentences. Yes, he did it with the aid of WH help. It is commendable to see the 7 year old constructing the sentences when I do see some older ones not able to read the time on a clock. It must boil down to exposure and immersion.

Then there is this industrious class monitor who keeps knocking at the door to report on the wrong doings of classmates. "Principal, so and so did this and that..." how to be irritated? He is only doing his duty and in the process got ostracized. How sad. But I remembered so clearly that I was once like him too...

The things we did then are still practiced today. Eternal. Hahahaha.

Later, Joshua came in " Principal, I have food poisoning..." Not from here I hope. No he had it the day before. So he unashamedly confessed he had soiled his suspenders. Hahaha... no, I am not tired of them. We gave him a rub of the famous 'Yu Yi' oil so popular among Chinese mothers. If a baby is colicky, that oil will do the trick.

It is true. I must have grown older and now able to take in whatever it takes. I realise that there is meaning attached to such acts. Ask me if I am joking and the answer is no. Why the need to do this? It is interesting to be with people.

A mother's love is so genuine. She goes to great lengths to make it a happy day for her daughter. Mum and dad promised not to disturb the routine of the centre; they would only come during break time to sing the song of the year for their dear child. How to deny them?

Pretty Esther is very sweet and helpful. She is a hit among her friends and takes care of others very well. She is a delight to be with and teach. She responses well and tries very very very hard to speak to me carefully for she knows I would not use any other language except English. Her learning stint at a vernacular school did not provide her the ethos to use English and so she is here to pick skills in the language. We hope the immersion theory works well with her as she is bright and vocal. Esther's disposition reminds me of my own daughter also called Esther.

What a coincidence. My Esther used to look like this too; slim and tall.

The birthday wish I have for her is that she will grow up to be a people person, caring and loving to all around her. May the Good Lord bestow upon her blessings abundant indeed.

God bless you, Esther.

Enough events for a day for my old heart.

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.