Morning, Evening, Night.

(Exposure time-6 seconds, I set it on timer and laid the camera in the floor...hehe)

(Exposure time-15 seconds, on timer and again I laid the camera on the floor but facing upwards)

***

I was asking God how, how, how am I going to be involved in the school choir (wasn't sure there was one).

And then, she asked me whether I was interested to join Kelab Kebudayaan and train the kids for choir. Prayer answered!

But, afternoon supervisor for tennis?!

I'm also the afternoon supervisor for the Alat Pandang Dengar Room. Easy Smeasy. Just make sure it's locked everyday and it's always in good condition.

Come shine on me.

***

So, I've been teaching at Mangosteen school for one week. Here are some of my observations, thoughts and also happenings that took place last week.

I have learnt to accept My School but there are still new(sad to say) surprises each day. There are so many things that can and need to be improved but I guess some people are just not bothered.

I feel that all TESL students (especially the good ones) in the universities should seriously consider teaching in government schools. It's sad to see many good ones opting to teach elsewhere or not to even become a English teacher. The bulk of students comes from these schools (rural and urban) and they are the ones who will end up serving the country (not students from International Schools and elsewhere).

We are short of good English teachers.

If only the academically challeged students realise that there is a world bigger than their own coconut shells. If only they realise that there is more to life than running around like hooligans. If only they realise that the are more important things in life.

I still thank God for my posting. Some things don't just come to me. I don't even need to ask. It just comes. A teacher from my school asked me whether I could give Biology tuition to her daugther and her friends. I was thinking, I could start now, if not when? So I said yes.

I am a class teacher of 1 Zamrud and I am so glad they are more well behaved then the other 6 form 1 classes which I'm teaching Sejarah. I reckon they are afraid of me after giving them a list of class rules to follow. Good! Good!

Three form one boys in the 2nd last class cannot read or write in Malay.

How in the world am I going to teach them History?

I think Indian boys and girls look very cute when they smile or laugh.

Oh, but they're real devils when they're naughty.

I went to the last Form 1 class to teach. This classroom is located in one god-forsaken corner, far, far away from all the other classes. Oh, I didn't teach because NONE of the students were in the class. I waited for almost 20 minutes and went back to the staff room. I have never seen such a terrible looking classroom in my 13 years in school. (I taught they were playing truant, but our dear school counselor had no courtesy to inform the teachers that she was having some program maju diri with them.)

There is always an opportunity to improve and I am going to make myself useful (and better) to the school...and to my family.

Inspiration.

More pictures here.

***

I am not a spoilt brat.

Can you imagine, I have to teach History to all the Form One classes in my school?

11.14pm. 2010 soon. Happy New Year!

Playing with Shadows.

***

I have reported at Mangosteen School and I am now officially a teacher. Today we had our first staff meeting (3 hours!). Frank McCourt would love to teach here because only 39% passed all subjects in PMR. Only 12 Form 1 students out of 163 and 31 Form 2 students out of 163, passed all subjects in their final exam

This is officially the worst school in My Town.

Although my options are Biology and Maths, I am required to teach Form 1 History, Maths and PJK. (grrr...) and I am also a class teacher.

Nevertheless, I am SO grateful to God for getting a placement in a school that is so near to Home although it took me some time to get used to the news. Everything worked out so well. It was a surprise because most teachers were not posted back to their hometowns. To those who know me well, you'd know that it would be rather difficult if I were posted far away. (If I didn't get It, I would have applied for Sabah and then I'd be so far away from my Parents).

There's a reason and purpose for everything. (even if I have to live with It for many, many years).

2010's going to be a great year!

:-)

40 years together!

My Daddy and Mummy

20th December 1969

Can you give me a 'bokeh' of flowers?

Mangosteen School

I'm posted to Mangosteen River School in BANTING.

And I'm going to work my way up, up, UP.

And I'm going to make sure I get my Masters.

And try to improve our country's donkey Education System.

Sigh.

God, You are good to me.

***

I am a nervous wreck.

Hey, have faith in me. I may seem useless but I am trying hard to be a better person.

I removed many tick colonies from Loopy, and ended up dreaming of ticks the whole night.

...the complacency of fools will destroy them.

Them dogs.

These two doofus have one interesting relationship. In the afternoons, Loopy will be irritating Panda (eg. nibble her leg, nibble her mouth, chase after her). And then Panda will get so frustrated and start barking at Loopy but Loopy will go on and on and on...

Then, when night comes. Everything changes. These two will have their evening walk around the house. Berdua-dua-an some more. Real dungus.

Really, they do fascinate me a lot.

My mum tells me I must put captions to my pictures, then only they make sense and people will actually understand what they mean. I tell her I'm not good at it.

Bleh..I'll try. Hehe...

He ain't heavy, he's my dead brother!

Look Ma, I can do the somersault!



Carrying the Loot.

***

Now holidays are going to end. Expect me to go bonkers on the 17th of December because the posting list will be out on that day.

Crossing the chasm.

These ants were walking on the gate, carrying bits and pieces of so many things-moss, an insect, a baby snail (!), a dead ant, a grain of sand and what nots.

It was so interesting to see them cross the small gap in between the 2 doors of the gate. And yes, they were cooperating. Some even formed a bridge so that the other ants can cross over. (unfortunately, Canonite the Camera couldn't capture it)

Will attempt to do another photography session with them tomorrow.

She's a mother already.

***

For the past 1 week, I've been reading the AD Chronicles by Thoene. I've finished all 3 books and there are 8 more books left and I don't have a single one of them. Not reading it today feels...weird. It helped me a lot in understanding the life of Jesus better and the background of the people living during his time.

...But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"

It's raining Rambutans.

(hmm..If it really were raining rambutans,then all the rambutans must be already black and rotten right?..hehe)

The 7th Munchkin.

Naomi Mary Thomas born on the 3rd of November 2009.

God is good!

Still not a porkified dog.

***

This was Loopy in September. Today Loopy looks like a porkified dog. No picture of him yet because he has evolved into a very, very hyper dungu.

Colours inspire me to be more creative.

In times like this....

...work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

I am so in love...

with David Klinkenberg. Listen to 'Track 3: Holy, Holy, Holy- feat. Jim Brickman' (top, right). I can listen to it over and over again and not get bored of it.

and.

Matthey Gray Gubler from Criminal Minds. Aaaah...

and.

both of them are so good looking. Hehehe...

Speechless.

I attempt to blog about something but then I end up not blogging because I just don't know how to be more specific. Or maybe I'm just plain lazy. Or maybe I just like to keep the thoughts to myself. Or maybe because I have lost all the mood to blog when the computer screen turns blue.

Got called for an interview next Monday at Putrajaya. Thank God! So many steps ahead and this will be the first major one. Oh, before that I still need to decide: 1. Selangor 2. ?

I miss Sabah and the things I did almost everyday when I was there:

1. Driving the kids to tuition and school. (It's not so hard to remember the roads there).

2. Driving to town .

3. Watching Season 4 of 'Criminal Minds' every night with Mum after she has put the kids to sleep.

4. Eating pork and beef noodles (and drinking coffee) for breakfast with Mum. Yum!

5. Looking at Mount Kinabalu everyday when I drive Laura to school.

6. Looking at the clear blue sky. (I come back home to Banting and it was so hazy).

There is a time for everything.

***

More pictures here.

Another one?

***

During this time of waiting, I feel absolutely helpless (and scared). All I can do is to pray and trust that God has taken care of my future. I really can't wait to teach. Wouldn't mind teaching in Sabah if not because of 'that'. but the other part of me also strongly wants to be near to home, near to my parents.

I miss Loopy because by the time I go back, he will be a huge dog and no more a puppy.

'May our memories of kindness be long and of offenses be short.'

Let your light shine forth.

***

I like the way Sabahans speak Malay. It makes me like the language even more.

Little Joshua William was born on the 6th of October at 6.50pm. He weighed 2.9kg.

Note to self: Take picture of Kak Lin whenever she carries a plate, sack of rice, bag, etc on her head.

Hey ladybird.

***

Despite feeling physically weird the whole day (sighs), just now I decided to go look for big-red-eyed flies, then I came across a pretty ladybird and a strange looking caterpillar.

It's nice studying about King David. (I think David's a nice name..and I always imagine King David looking strikingly handsome..aah). Reading 'A Heart Like His' by Beth Moore.

God gives us a firm place to stand, but we have to decide we want to take it (or not).

Mata Merah.

***

Usual routine: Get up early in the morning. Travel. Line up. Wait. Watch rude people cut queue (this is always a certain race, sorry lah but it's true). Geram. Wait. Rush to take number. Wait. Young nurse takes blood. (sometimes trainees). Emo. (lagi emo if trainee takes blood)

Not-a-usual-routine: Get up early in the morning. Travel. Line up. Wait. Watch rude people cut queue .Geram. Wait. Rush to take number. Wait. Old and experienced Malay man (as old as dad) who is the HA ( I think) takes blood. Happy! (cepat, efisyen dan sakit-less!)

The Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you!

Fresh from the clouds.

***

Photography can be so therapeutic in times of distress.

(even when you're taking pictures of scurrying Kerenggas)

Buying Ding Dang chocolate the other day reminded me of my primary school days when I used to buy a whole lot of junk food like Choki Choki, keropok bantal and that long-ish looking ais-krim panjang. Some memories will remain with you for a very, very long time.

I waited and waited and waited for God.

At last he looked; finally he listened.

He lifted me out of the ditch,

pulled me from deep mud.

He stood me up on a solid rock

to make sure I wouldn't slip.

He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,a praise-song to our God.

More and more people are seeing this:

they enter the mystery,abandoning themselves to God.
Psalm 40:1-3 (The Message)