Alphabet Weekends

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Love lesson from A to Z...

Tari Tualang Tiga

It's a shame when we are Malay (or any other races), but we don't know our own traditional dance. 

I was a dancer danced before in school, from Tarian Ulik Mayang (I was the puteri ke-empat ok, LOL), some Joget and Zapin for a prize giving ceremony and some charity dinner , and I did some contemporary dance in uni before when Puteri Gunung Ledang the Musical was a big hit. 

I missed it so much. After watching my students rehearsed for Malam Kebudayaan Melayu 2011 just now, old sparks with Malay cultural dances lit again. Especially after watching this: 

How rich is that?! Malay Evolution! 

So friends, any ideas where I can get classes that teach the dance using this particular song?

Well Wishes for 26

Terima kasih daun keladi kerana menge-wish saya happy birthday.

For this year,I'm not expecting anything from anyone, even from my parents. Usually, weeks before birthdays, sisters will ask me in private on the things that I want and they would tell the dad, and dad would get it for me. Same goes to my other sisters. But for this year, I said to myself, those are materials and I think, as a 26 years old girl (cehceh gegirl lagi tu), and soon to be married (Insya Allah), enough with daddy's gift. Instead of asking and bearing gifts from them, why not do something beneficial or fruitful, like creating a business project that I may be interested in? 

Dad, you can provide me with some capital. *grins*

Aku memamg cakap tak serupa bikin. 

But dad, janji akan kasi balik capital tu when untung sudah dapat.

Yelah tu.

But belom cuba belom tahu kan?

Amin.

Thank you friends for the well wishes. God bless.

Teacher Diaries 1: It Ain't Easy

As most of my friends (and maybe you) would already know, the one thing that I do for living is I teach. Hence, the title lecturer was given to me when I stepped my foot at an instituition that I am currently serving.

Being a lecturer is a title if you teach at a University or college, but at the end of the day you are still a teacher. Some people might think being a teacher is not a glamorous job. Trust me, I have 'friends' who thinks that way. But we, teachers fret not, because we know we have nothing to lose. In every sense.

Lecturing Teaching is not easy. The content of the subjects MIGHT be easy; for example, teaching grammar - past tense, nouns/verbs and all the makneneks, but how do take the subjects and incorporate it effectively to your students? Just lecture? Showing the powerpoint slides?

" Ok class, today's lesson is on grammar. So, our chapter for today is past tense. Ok, what is past tense? Past tense is a grammatical tense that places an action or situation in the past of the current moment or prior to.... Simple past is formed for regular verbs by adding -d or -ed to the root of a word. For example class, 'He walked to the shop', or 'They danced all night at the club'....." and bla bla bla.

Sigh. The most boring lesson ever. I've to admit it, it's pretty dry isn't it? Probably the lecturer copies it from Wikipedia and paste it to the powerpoint slides. Any below-average students also can do that right?

Lecturing on GRAMMAR: Simple Past Tense. 

BUT who in the world LECTURES on grammar? Grammar is like mathematics. Who the hell lectures on maths? You teach maths, drill the students on the formulas and ask them to practise practise and practise. Same as grammar.

So, the point here it's not about grammar or mathematics. It's about the the patience and me being a lecturer as a title, but at the end of the day, I'm a teacher. I teach and I guide and I'll make sure students PASS (not by giving them FREE marks, but making sure that they understand the subject), and NOT by making sure that they just PASS but ensuring they can fully utilize the knowledge in their daily life as well as future undertakings.

Just like parents eh? Except that I don't give money.

Membebel like parents? Totally.

Come and be in my shoes, and you'll know how it feel.

You got NO patience and tolerance?
Emotional outbursts out of the blue? 

Like seriously, don't bother trying.

Let Go, Push Away

Towards the end of 2010, I faced a whirlwind trauma friendship drama with some people whom I used to be really good friends with, but now, we are not anymore. How do I deal with it? How do I feel about it then and now?

I was hurt. Obviously I was. They were my friends. Good friends pulak tu. But I seriously am not sure what went wrong, the whole 'we're-buddies-I-love-you' kinda thing went down the drain. All these happened because of the lack of ability in controlling emotions and to think rationally. I believe so. We are adults right, why can't talk like adults? If one is scared of confronting, there are always emails right? Why must we use FB in portraying your dissatisfaction and hatred? Your emotional outburst in public, is it really worth it?

 

So, to cut the story short, I learnt a lot from this. At first, I was so angry and I will blame everybody. I still do though, but I'm letting it go now. Not being the best friend that I used to be to them, but accepting the fact that we're no longer 'friends' that we used to be and things won't be the same anymore. Why this happened? Waallahualam, I don't have the answer for it. Blaming others won't do justice, blaming diri sendiri pulak unfair? Nay? Mungkin ini semua ada hikmah nye tersendiri. Remember that God has determined everything that was/were/going to happened in our lives.

 

A wise friend of mine used to remind me this whenever dugaan-dugaan kecil ini berlaku:

1) We can't force people to be friends with us. We can't make people love us all the time. That makes us human. 

2) What can we gain by not being their friends? Are they the ones who gave you shelter, food and money? Or even jobs? So, what do you have to lose? Nothing right?

3) Sabar. Ini benda kecil aja.

 

It's true right?

So, let go. Stop analyzing. Stop complaining. Life is short for this. There's more to life than bickering with people who is not worth your time, so why sweat over it?

Self reminder that is.

Pavloves

Hi guys, ok I've to admit that my post right now it's about me promoting stuff again. But this time it's my product. *shy*

Ok, I'm guilty.

I would like to promote to you guys something that my sisters and I have been working for.

Strawberry Pavloves (or better known as Pavlova)

It's only RM 85 and I am not afraid to say, it actually tastes good.

Nak order? Email me at rashida.rafar@gmail.com

Kate - Catherine of Cambridge

Did any of you watched the Royal Wedding? 

Ok, stupid question kan? Of course you all did! *slaps forehead*

To me, the highlights of the wedding were:

1. Kate Middleton, which are now to be called Princess William; Duchess of Cambridge

2. The Dress

Nothing else except Kate and her dress(es). Mainly it's because the wedding is solely a typical royal wedding where the guests are pretty much the same people from the royal family, ministers, celebrities and many more people 'up there'. But I was excited to see Sultan Mizan's little face from the crowd. Ahaha.

Anyhow, Kate Middleton is a stunning lady. She's the epitome of 'less is more', as been said. She doesn't overdo, elegant and she got a class of her own. Her silent voice when she said her vows reveals her personality, which make her suitable to be one of the members of the royal family and most importantly, The Queen when William holds the throne.

She's simple and that really portrays her humble being. I got to know that she did her own make-up for her wedding because as according to some websites that I read, she wants to at least keep some 'normalcy' in her life. I think that is just awesome. A lot of people that I know would hire professional make-up artist for weddings, because first, they don't know how to use cosmetics  the correct way (like me!) and second, they would want to look   different and stand out from the crowd since it's their BIG DAY kan? But this young lady is more comfortable to do her own. Check her out man.

And the dress. I bet brides- to- be out there are re-thinking of their own dress. I would if I'm them too. Maybe not the whole style, but the concept of simple and elegant is just breathtakingly beautiful. I know I know, 'breathtakingly beautiful' is just so overrated (everyone has been saying that lately this week after the Royal Wedding), but that phrase is just for Kate. 

Kuddos to Sarah Burton! I've never heard of her but she certainly did a great job (clearly it's because I never follow any fashion news). Lepas ni lagi meletop la Sarah Burton ni ye tak?

Catherine Middleton is the Princess Diana today. As suspected, the reason Prince William chose Kate to be his wife, because she can offer him normalcy in his life like what his late mother had been wanting for himself and Harry. Kate gave him a sense of fresh air and also she reminds him of his beloved late mother. Apart from that, it looked like Kate is loved by the members of the Royal Family especially the Queen. I guess that's pretty important isn't it? 

May they live happily ever after.

Babysteps?

Why babysteps?

Hah, ni ceq nak habaq ni. Ceq dah pi Kursus K! Excited!

Ok ok but hold your breathe dulu. No, not yet. The big day is not yet confirmed, neither is our E-day. The reason why we enrolled ourselves for the course is because we want to get some insights on the importance of marriage.  Not wedding. MARRIAGE as that is our main focus. Apart from that, we need this as we thought that by attending the course, it may can 'push' us towards the real thing. Ye ke? We shall see. Insya Allah.

A lot of people went to the course because they wanted to avoid the changes that will be made to the course, a longer one to the extend of it will be during weekdays. I'm not sure of the content of the new syllabus, but a birdie told me it is more on hands-on practices rather than just listening to the talks. But, that's just news. I'm not really sure what's the deal though. 

Anyhow, those who are not planning for marriage yet can also attend this course. No harm kan just to listen and learn something from it. Lagipun, it is compulsory for every Muslim to have the course certificate. It is one of the requirement for your marriage registration. So, it's good to get it done fast.

I went with my other half, and few friends. It was actually fun and interesting, not even a regret of having to spend my limited holidays to attend the course. There were lots of enlightening and insightful facts that  most of us are not aware of. Especially on the process of marriage (the registration and preparation) as well as on talak (divorce). It was sad to hear that the divorce rates are increasing among young couples, and many of their reasons are petty and unacceptable. 

Other than that, the course focused on stress management, life after 'the wedding', financial planning and sexual relationship between man and wife. I must say, THAT was the most interesting part. We giggled laughed like hooligans of course. The speakers are from various backgrounds and they were seriously funny in delivering the talks. Competent too. 

Do i learned anything from attending the course? I did especially on communication between our partner. Right after the course, we reflected on our relationship and questioned ourselves why sometimes it is hard to communicate with each other? Why is it there are still sulking, shouting, sighing, etc? Is it because we are lack of patience? Or understanding? Hah, hang kena pi sana and dengar ape depa nak habaq dalam kursus tu.. 

All in all, Kursus Kahwin Mont Kiara is definitely worth to go to. The place is clean and the ambience is so relax and chill; it is so easy to find parking especially on Sunday, we can just park straight in front of the building. Food was provided for us; tea on Saturday, breakfast and tea on Sunday. You need to get your own lunch, but I don't think that's like a big deal for any of you since mamak Bestari is just a poop away. Tee hee.

Mr. and I. Insya Allah Amin. Pray for us ya?

Babysteps. For now.