Let’s start from the beginning. I was inspired to write this after seeing this post on Facebook. The Malaysian education system has once again failed to educate youths who are now entering university. And to be honest, I don’t blame these students because I’m a victim too. Yes, you might think: “Of course you don’t blame yourself for anything” but hear me out.

I was a weak student, I won’t deny that. But I know now that all I needed is a push. That push came from a dedicated and well-meaning teacher who I will meet later on in my final two years of school. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here!

When I was a child, no teacher pushed me. The only thing I got an A for is English because I speak English at home, and read a lot of English books. For all the other units at school, I was very very bad at. Why? Because teachers only know how to be strict. Here’s an example of what happens when you ask a teacher to explain something again:

Student: Teacher, can you please explain again?

Teacher (exasperated): What don’t you understand?!

Student: *keeps quiet with red face because teacher made student sound stupid*

And how do teachers counter students who are talking? The age-old method I hear year in and year out:

Teacher: Excuse me, you over there. Why are you still talking when I’m teaching!

Student: *keeps really quiet and snaps back to attention*

Teacher: The next time you talk, maybe you’d like to share it with the class. *evil stare*

If you put someone down for merely talking in class, that is no way to garner respect from students. Yes, they didn’t respect you if they were talking to each other in class while you were teaching. But is putting them down really the only way to get them to pay attention to you? I find it normal for students to chit chat during a class. If a student isn’t naughty or talk in class, then there must be something wrong with them. The only thing they know is that you were a total b*tch to them by reprimanding while ambarrassing them.

How is that a good way to educate someone too? And you know what? That’s how I was in school. My parents have always encouraged me to ask questions. So I ask, got the aforementioned reaction from my teacher, and felt incredibly stupid for even asking and never asked another question again. By instiling that sort of feeling in your student, do you think they will respect you as a teacher? Certainly not. Instead of instiling inquisitive individuals in school, teachers act like disciplinarians.

On top of that, peer pressure is not always avoidable. Some children learn things faster than others.  But sometimes, even the fastest learner will have a question or two; although it may seem stupid, it is still a question. I find that teachers are quick to brush questions aside and make students feel stupid. How do you encourage students to ask and be inquisitive when you react to their questions as if it were stupid?

When other students understand something and a select few don’t, they will resort to keeping mum because they don’t want their friends to think they’re stupid. If the teacher clearly shows and thinks that you’re stupid, I won’t be surprised if other students react the same way. As if it isn’t obvious enough, teachers are people who others learn from. What makes you think students don’t learn to shun those who are ’not as bright’ when the teacher does so too?

Something else that teachers fail to realise when it comes to teaching a student during those rebellious teenage years is learning to be a friend to them. Of course, you’d have to maintain keeping a boundary between a student and a teacher, but I believe that if you tried to reach out to 30 of them, 10 will reciprocate. Which teenager doesn’t want someone to undersand them? This comes to teachers being disciplinarians again.

Teachers are more likely to punish bad behaviour (although parents nowadays will complain against it). How often can you punish a teenager for bad behaviour? Wouldn’t it be better to talk to them to find out why they did so? Teachers act not only as a medium for students to get knowledge, but I truly believe that teachers are people who we should (or could) refer to as tolerant, patient beings that impart knowledge – someone we could look up to. They are people who we should be able to talk to, and have some form of understanding from.

It’s no wonder that between terrorising students and disciplining them, the focus has been skewed from teaching. It’s no surprise why students don’t learn things properly. Teachers should let the discipline teachers do their job. After all, isn’t that what they are suppose to do? Says so in their title! 

Now we’ve come to that hard part – my story. I have to admit that I learnt math properly in my final years in school, and here’s why:

Two years before freedom (as I know it), I was challenged, encouraged, and literally saved by my math teacher. I’ve never been a big fan of math, but boy did she push (when I say push, I meant nurturing nudge to the right direction).

If I skipped class, I’d still have to go to her, answer her questions about why I wasn’t in her class, and she’ll give me homework. She’d then request for one of my friends who’re awesome academically (still good friends with them til today which I’m grateful for!) to teach me the basics. The next day, she expects me to hand in my homework like everyone else without any excuse.

If you think that that’s wrong, well I think her method worked with me. My theory is this:

• She probably knows that I’m brave enough to face her/face the music, so she requests to see me each time I skip her class so she could talk to me. And when she does, she speaks to me like an adult. She calmly asks why I skipped class, and if she were to appoint my friend to teach me, could I please hand in the homework tomorrow like everyone else.
• Secondly, she throws the challenge at me to be better maybe because she knows I love healthy competition (as witnessed through cheerleading competitions).

By wanting to speak to me, I feel as if she wasn’t going to give me a hard time, she just wants me to learn. By getting one of my friends to teach me, it means I’m peer-learning so I CAN ask stupid questions if I want to and there’s no stress. By asking me to hand in my homework like everyone else, she’s challenging me to get something done.

Of all the teachers I know, she’s the one who tolerates it when we ask her some seemingly stupid questions. She’ll laugh it off and answer the question anyway. I’ve noticed that by doing so, she banters well with the whole class and basically became friends with us! So, the question now is this: Why can’t all teachers teach like her?

I admit that I am sometimes prone to lazyness, and am afraid it has taken over me after I bought my iPad. Yes, I have become “one of those people” who own an iPad. If it’s any consolation, carrying it around while I’m outdoors is a no-no for me. Like most people, I carry it to bed with me every night. Which leads to my current obsession.

Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre Foods!

Recommendations from friends made me source for it on YouTube (and a lack of television at home – I know, how can anybody live without one GASP) led me to utilise my iPad in bed while watching Andrew Zimmern stuff horrific things down his throat. I’m totally obsessed with where he goes and what he does. From rubbing guinea pigs on his body to eating potatoes that were previously crushed with his feet - how is that not entertaining?!

Advise is a verb, advice is a noun!

So, I shall write by practicing this new knowledge.

” What you know now that you didn’t know then…”

This was what was plaguing my mind for the last few days. 

On top of that comes the punch. Would you still give the advice you gave someone all those years ago? Or would you have told them something completely new now with what you currently know? Say, maybe you’ve mature over time and had some changes happening in your life which in turn changes the way you look at things (all over again or yet again – things change over time constantly no matter how much we dislike it!).

With that said, I have to admit that in an ideal world I would love to live without regret. Alas, every action has a consequence and sometimes, not everything I do has awesome consequences! Hey – we’re all only human right? I certainly don’t know how I feel about giving people advice now.

In fact, I am absolutely petrified that the advice I give might cause them a misfortune that I personally don’t want to be responsible for. Not that I want to shed responsibility and neither should they take my advice understantably so because everyone has a choice. But just the thought – what if?

Ah… “What if”… The two little words you ponder over at least a million times in this life when making a decision. I thought about any advice I’ve ever given to someone and the latest would be advising some friends of recent relationship developments or breakdowns. I believe that being able to do what you like without sacrificing your personal happiness is important. For example, if someone is constantly not happy in a relationship, they should break things off.

Harsh (and simple), I know, but look at it this way (Disclaimer: This is just my opinion! Not really any advice you should, but could probably take…) :

• Why should you be with someone who makes you unhappy? That’s unhealthy in the emotions file, and if you think you deserve to feel unhappy then you’re warped (unless you killed someone and haven’t been caught then you deserve it – 100x).
• You can’t just HOPE for things to turn out awesome or just the way you want it to. That other person in the relationship? He/She still has their personal goals or ideals too! *shocker* This also includes wanting to change someone - I mean, what’s the point? ’Nuff said! 
• If you can talk about it, then talk about it. It’s your life and if the issue could be resolved simply by talking, why squander the feelings you’ve developed by keeping your mouth shut?

As an afterthought, what if someone breaks up with their other half because they followed the advice and feel a thousand times worse than they did before?

I have been told that when I advise someone, I usually advise them according to what their situation is and not what I think they should do. In my opinion, that’s the only way relevant to someones’ problems. Giving someone your own opinion as compared to giving it some extra thought and advising them according to what their situation entails? Miles apart. 

I guess you can’t do it all the time, but if you can, then I guess you’ve struck a balance – good for you! At the end of the day, I think it’s all about balance in life. There’s no right or wrong way, thus no definition of what balance is! My definition of it is  this – if your thoughts and feelings sit right with you, then that’s balance enough for me.

I usually take a break in between my duties so I always get started on something else with a clear head. For the past two weeks it hasn’t been this way. I would continue to do what I’ve been doing and a few new emails will pop up with more stuff! When I’m done with half of those, a few new ones will pop up yet again so this means no breaks in between, work all the way through. I even have lunch while doing work sometimes because I know that if I don’t, I’ll be swamped after lunch time is over.

What’s worse was my colleague left to go for a music festival that she’s already bought tickets for. For four days, I was doing the work of three people! It was daunting and stressful to the point where I forgot to eat lunch. BUT – I took it as a challenge and I got through it. It’s an awesome personal achievement (although there were moments where I want to break down and cry while pulling my hair out in frustration) which gives me great pride in knowing that I can take the pressure and I can probably work very well – if not better – under pressure.

With my current predicament, it’s no surprise why I come home tired every evening. During the weekends, I can be seen vegetating at home. The call of the city and things to see just wasn’t even appealing anymore.

Unhealthy? Yes, I’d like to think so. My remedy is to visit the city to see the sights and enjoy myself as much as possible.

The only thing more unhealthy is having a day at work that’s not so busy. I feel as if I’m not productive enough and seek for things to do. And when that’s done, I don’t know what else I can do to make myself more useful. 

I realise that I am getting very accustomed to the feeling of being busy – and liking it. This is a disastrous recipe for a workaholic! Outcome would be awesome because I’ll have A LOT of things done. Downside would be burning out from doing many many things without taking the time to relax and unwind. There’s got to be a balance and I need to find one!

Arrested for having a voice (and balls/guts might I add) to participate in a rally held in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 9th of July 2011, advocating for clean and fair elections. Bersih means clean in Bahasa Malaysia which is also the name of the whole campaign.

If Malaysia is a democratic country, why is it that people can’t protest peacefully? For further emphasis, please see the videos below with further explanation:

This one features the Information Minister, telling us that “we are allowing protest… but the protesters didn’t want to disperse… police compromised… police succeeded in handling them gently.. THIS PROTEST IS ILLEGAL”. What the %&#* is he trying to get across by saying it’s legal, THEN illegal?!

What more, telling the journalist interviewing him that they are wrongfully reporting what was really going on and that the people in the video she was watching were “all actors”. Does a melee of hundreds of people; running around to avoid being sprayed by CHEMICAL WATER, look like actors to you? I’m sure the footage was Al-Jazeera’s!

Who paid them to be there voluntarily and have chemicals sprayed on them?

To add insult to injury; that is no doubt already fizzing from salt, the interviewer said that ” our correspondence officer came back to the office, sir, with chemicals in his eyes”.

HOW CAN ANYONE IGNORE THAT STATEMENT AND CONTINUE RANTING ABOUT FALSE ACCUSATIONS BY AL-JAZEERA, MAKING COMPARISONS BETWEEN MALAYSIA AND PAKISTAN/BURMA/MYANMAR? 

I am truly disgusted. If anyone who’s not Malaysian heard him say the word “bayar”, it just means pay. How did he get the position of Information Minister when he can’t think of an easy three-letter-word in English (the second language we learn in school year in year out too!)?

And by saying that the protest is illegal (at the end of the video) because there’s elections every five years?!

What a numbskull - PEOPLE ARE PROTESTING BECAUSE THEY WANT CLEAN AND FAIR ELECTIONS!!! Which part of the briefing did he space out on? All of it I reckon.

Oh, and not to mention the many accounts of spraying chemical water into hospital compounds and using force to subdue people…? All denounced when the Prime Minister said the below:

Really? Was there no actual force used?! What about this?

Will you allow someone who would lie internationally, lead YOUR country? What does that say about him, or you for that matter?

I believe that by settling problems/issues with violence is a sure sign of weakness. By contradicting yourself is another sure sign that you’re afraid, uninformed, and have no grounds to represent the people  much less the country. There is no cause to stop people from protesting as the protest was done peacefully.

The only reason why there were casualties was because the FRU (riot squad) and police started throwing teargas and chemical water at people.

I went as far as to un-friend someone on facebook who commented that “after all the casualties, it was still pointless”. I bet you he wasn’t there. I’m not saying I was there, but I just plain don’t like people who rattle away about issues that their miniscule, mentally-incapacitated minds can never in a million years comprehend. Why should I associate myself with someone like that?

I know – opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. But no; not when I can help it, I shouldn’t have to listen/read someone’s dumb opinion.

If you can’t prove something, then keep it to yourself. Who’s to say what’s pointless when you obviously don’t share the same ideas that the greater good does? 

However…

Between the free range eggs and the free RANGER (century) eggs, I didn’t know what else could go wrong. Really, why don’t people put in more effort to spell things right?

I’ll let the photos do the talking – introducing Brisbane, the city of bridges!

I admit the last picture is a badly taken  one. We were on the ferry heading towards the city which was really nice. The sights were amazing!

Brisbane is a very very structured city. It is so structured, they have this:

Not that  other cities don’t have it, but I found it simply astounding simply because it was by the water. Yes, I am easily amazed. >.<

Now, what is an Australian city without street malls?

EVERYTHING is on this street mall; with there being an expensive side (Louis Vuitton, Gucci etc.) on one end, and the more affordable side on the other end. This beats having to walk all over the city when one wants to shop for both affordable and expensive things.

In Perth, the luxury goods store are in a completely different area than the street malls. In Sydney, shops are all over the place.

This is why Brisbane is so, so structured. I think the bad side to that is the exploring you don’t get to do. In my honest opinion, I find that looking for something while walking around and getting (mildly – if that’s even possible) lost is the best way to explore and see things. Note that this can be done only by foot. No buses, no tour buses.

Now, speaking of exploring, we headed to South Bank to get some ice cream later that night!

This is South Bank at night:

Didn’t I say we were going to get ice cream…?

Needless to say, it was good!

Brisbane CBD from South Bank. Honestly, any picture of a brightly lit city taken at night is always breathtaking in my opinion.

By the river, looking down. I was informed that there are approximately 500 bull sharks in the river. Swim at your own risk! Also, the river is the lifeline of Brisbane! Brisbane-ites celebrate this river here (in South Bank) every year during the Riverfire Festival.

Now, the man made beach…

…destroyed during the floods.

They are fixing it up though, so hopefully it’ll be restored back to its original condition the next time I plan a holiday to Brisbane!

Brisbane’s casino which had a very small floor.

Not a very well-taken picture and no picture-taking in the casino (I think – didn’t want to be hauled off and chucked out for taking pictures!). Like I said, it was small because there weren’t many gambling tables… Maybe because Gold Coast has a casino, and was a 45 minute drive away? It’s a major holiday destination as well…! Which was what we did the very next day!

Introducing my tour guide (SChan and I) on the train to Gold Coast the very next day:

This is what we see when we got off the train…

Where’s the beach!?

It was a 20 minute car ride away. >.<

We didn’t make it to the beach – however, here’s the best view I got of it.

And the next day, it was ANZAC Day – the day I head back to Sydney.

Guess what was in our way?

Green means go, but the horses were as slow as… Zzzzzzz…

That was Brisbane for me in a nutshell. I would say it’d be nice if it wasn’t a public holiday. I prefer being in Sydney in all honesty, but Brisbane will be a nice place for a relaxing holiday. And since I’m heading to Gold Coast at the end of the year, I can guarantee more pictures!

TTFN!

Due to the lack of updates, I’ll be getting around to blogging about my time in Brisbane during Easter.

No doubt Brisbane has had some bad luck earlier this year with the terrible floods, but I’ve also heard some amazing things about Brisbane as well. The views and the way it’s structured is (apparently) better than the rest of the other major cities in Australia - or so my friend says. I would trust him though, because he’s lived in Brisbane for 10 years and although he’s moved to Sydney now, he still wants to return to Brisbane!

That’s a clear indication of how nice it is there, no? But then again, it’s all subjective. I’ll be back with pictures and whatnot for viewing pleasure since my blog has been dry and lifeless for weeks!

1. You can plan your life out like a map; your ducks in a row so to say. But things will change. Life will change. You will change. Circumstances will be different. And all that was planned will be shot to death. You can only have a goal and work (very hard) towards it.

2. You CAN do so much in one day – but that’s if you WANT to do it.

3. Sometimes, they ARE out to get you. So always watch your back.

4. You’d feel better being diplomatic than blowing your top off for all situations - something I should do more often.

5. Know your shit so you don’t get caught out and you could possibly catch a bullshitter in the act!

6. Always read the news. It helps build better conversations with people.

7. Listen to what others have to say and accept their opinions/thoughts even if you don’t full agree. Everyone; even YOU, have your own opinions on things. What makes yours right and others wrong? 

8. Don’t judge. We are humans and it is almost instinct to judge somebody from the get-go. However, we can always try not to.

So. That’s what I’ve learnt and am trying not to do as I grow older. What did YOU learn?

Let’s get to the point. I’ve known friends who cheat, friends who are thinking of cheating, and friends who have been cheated on. No doubt, there’s no point sticking to someone who thinks you’re replaceable or expendable. But if you’re married, the choice you have to make to leave that person is so much harder.

Today, I had a sudden flashback; or rather a thought about people who lead double lives. 

No, I don’t mean spies. 

I mean people who marry a second wife/husband without divorcing the first wife/husband. Some people manage to keep it a secret. I don’t know how they pulled it off legally (for those who live in countries that don’t legalise polygamy). Others try to keep it a secret but their wives find out eventually, and remain with unfaithful husbands ”because of the children”. I’m not too sure what men will do if they find out their wives are leading double lives, and I certainly hope they just leave and not murder someone!

Everyone has probably heard of this, but to experience it or see it happen is a different story.

I was going to a shopping  centre after school with a friend. Her dad was ferrying us around so we went back to her place after school to get ready. I was surprised that we didn’t venture out of the suburbs to the next town because she said that’s where she lives. I thought she had a second house so didn’t think much of it.

I met someone who I thought was her mother, but was surprised when my friend didn’t call her ‘Mum’. We proceeded to go upstairs to the  privacy of a room - my friend explained: her dad’s second mistress aka. second wife lives in the house we were in. My friend didn’t break down in tears when she told me. I’m guessing she has known for some time and knows better than to say anything to her own mother because she didn’t want to hurt her.

Being 15, I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know what to say. It was a mindblown discovery that opened my eyes to the adult(erous) world. Back then, I didn’t know how to react but I knew it was a sensitive issue so I didn’t tell anyone at all. In some ways, I understood what was happening but I was deeply shocked. I was in an MTV/Channel V phase and having crushes on boys – this was the last thing I expected to experience so young in  life.

Having heard and seeing for myself that these things happened made me aware that just because two people are married, that doesn’t mean the relationship is a secure and stable one. In fact, it never is unless there are two last people on earth and none of those two people are into beastiality. Mind me, but let’s face the facts – we live in a crazy world. 

Moving on; the following year after that, a close friend of mine went through hell because her dad had left her mum, her, and her younger brother. With that said, it was depressing and she was constantly sad. They had to move out into a flat but luckily her mum owns a small business so they got by.

Seeing how it has affected her is really heart wrenching and I’m glad she pulled through. She told me she knew why he left – it was for another woman and he was running away from some other problems (I’d love to say loan sharks but I’d be exaggerating).

When she was about eight, her dad brought her out to “vist a friend”. She told me she saw a wedding photo of her dad, but her mum wasn’t in the picture - it was some other woman. The large framed wedding picture was hanging on the living room wall. This obviously confused her.

Her dad actually introduced her to the other woman. At the tender age of eight, I think it would scar her memories of a normal childhood. After that incident with my other friend a year ago, I was ready to face up to this and told my friend she can talk to me about if she wants to. Sometimes she would be depressed, other times she would be alright. Eventually she pulled through and went on with her life.

Looking back, I think it made me realise how hurtful all this can be. However, I’ve never been in their position before and am just an outsider looking in. The only question I have is why?

I came up with answers like:

• They’re not happy.
• They’re bored.
• They want more in life.
• Their wives are not giving them enough sexy time and are frigid.
• They just want to do it for the thrill.
• They want someone who can understand them on a different level.

What do you think?