LIFE IN A NON-PRINT WORLD


MY STUDENTS, MY TEACHERS


We are close, but they know their boundary

 
















In my students' eyes I am their teacher. I impart knowledge and imbibe values at their impressionistic stage.

BUT...In my eyes, I am my students' student. They teach me a lot about life; struggles, resillience,  perseverance, pain, hunger, hopelessness, poverty, humility, simplicity, the courage in gambling the too many odds strewn on their young pathway and upholding of adults' responsibility in their small frame.

About life not found in the printed words or visual screen.

Life etched and locked in their heart and mind. Waiting for someone to unlock and share with them.  To let them know that HUMANITY is still exist and is out there

SOW YOUR SEEDS

Living With Service

                                



















An apple bears 5-6 seeds each. How many apples will each seed bear? It's the whole tree; many apples, many more seeds and many many more trees.

The circle goes in a virtous cycle.  

Life isn't about finding yourself.

Life is about creating yourself.  

Life is about serving and giving.

MASSIVE CLEAN-UP

NOW YOU SEE IT NOW YOU DON'T


Reminders...reminders...like hanging a laundry

 

Before the extreme make over

 


After make over




Files all in order



More space to place worksheets



My conducive workstation




Teacher's Day Tea Session with the President of Spore




Flowers add colours to brighten the table



Family photos as a source of inspiration

Name hand engraved on teak wood

Awards and accolades

 



















A NEW LOOK
Did a major clean-up at my work station before school reopens. Unwanted files, papers, stationery and miscellaneous items parted ways with me. Some were thrown or recycled reluctantly while others received the same fate without me giving them a second thought.  

From a ‘junkyard corner’, now my place can earn the label as one of the tidiest areas in the staff room. I must give myself a pat on the back for the discipline and perseverance I had kept for this huge transformation. Just compare the before and the after pictures of my place to imagine how much has been cleared and removed.  

Now I must steel myself to keep the place as it is for the rest of the year.

MUMLAND



Mum and her children together with their spouses




Mum went for her medical check-up



My Mum, My World

Attending a wedding function

My son fooling around with his grandma

Mum and her elder sister








Mum using an i-Pad to keep her mind alert

My reliable maid who takes care of mum

The most beautiful woman in my heart

A HOLIDAY WITH A DIFFERENCE

Friends have been asking me, "Madam, where did you go for your holiday this time round?” I did not step foot on any faraway continents except to Mumland where I would find unconditional love, inner peace and warmth throughout the year.

I tried to spend as much time as possible with my 82-year old mum this year-end holiday. Mornings would find me oiling, combing Mum’s hair and applying moisturiser to her legs. Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner would find us sitting together enjoying the food and casual conversations.

We would also have hours in front of the goggle box watching soap operas and dramas with mum taking intermittent naps in between. Then there are the medical appointments and reviews to keep and accompany mum to. Social occasions like weddings, birthday parties and prayer sessions also filled our calendar for the November and December months. I could feel mum’s uneasiness whenever I tell her I have errands to run or meetings to attend. She would then be asking Tini endlessly (my superb and reliable domestic helper) when I would return during my absence.

My Mumland experience has kept me busy and allowed me to serve and be closer to my mum, which, I would not be able to do so on normal school days. As I hold and look at Mum’s gnarled hands, I am reminded of the many years she has sacrificed for the family. Yet never a second has her love for us wavered or wane. What I am doing now is beyond comparison to what Mum had committed her whole life to for us.

My mum is the truest friend I have. When trials heavy and sudden fall upon me; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends desert me; when trouble thickens around me, still Mum will cling to me, and endeavour by her kind percepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness and cause peace to return to my heart.

My mother is the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and physical education I received from her. And I find solace in her for the best place to cry is on my mother's arms.

So dear friends, I seek your apology if I am not able to present you with any souvenir items this year. Instead, I present my wish for a fruitful and enriching year ahead for you with your mum. Love your mum for you could be her world.

SISTERLY LOVE

Happy Birthday Mazlifa

For there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather: To cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands.

A sister is little bit of childhood that can never be lost. We are entwined in an intimate mesh of heart, soul and the mystical cords of memory. You sister, is a gift to the heart,  a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life.

Wishing my Sis Maz a very happy birthday today.  May Allah bless you with lots of good health, happiness, love and taqwah in your life. We all love you and are counting the seconds to your arrival.

Lots of love from the Rahim-Sabiah clan.



The sisters with our lovely mum



 

The whole family together





Maz and Me before our Kota Tinggi off road trip





The six siblings of the Rahim-Sabiah clan



We love you Sis Maz



Nephews and nieces together

 

Our other halves



FRIENDSHIP TO TREASURE

FOR YOU MADAM




The pinkish roses that melted my heart




Smiling happily with the surprised gift




Roses are my favourite flowers 

 Thank you Katie







































Totally surprised when colleague Katie surprised me with a pot of pinkish red roses. We have been working on several projects and programmes this year and that had strengthened our ties. Both of us have been heavily involved in mentoring our beginning teachers and we have held conversations with them on ways to improve their classroom management as well working towards making them as more effective teachers.

We had an exchange of conversation after my shock died down.

Me: Thank you Katie for this lovely surprise. You have made my day. ♥♥

Katie: Madam, you have made my year!

A terrific closure to 2012

ALMA MATER

 

Abby and Marina with their children

 

Rahman fillilng in a form

Rahman's brothers were also my ex-students 

 Their alma mater as the top choice  

SECOND GENERATION YISHUNITES

Heartening to see ex-Yishunites Marina and Abby sending their children to YSS for today's Secondary 1 registration. The life-line continues and I am glad to be part of this chain of continuity.
In fact I met three other ex-Yishunites who would like to see their children being part of their former history with the school.   I was on duty for the registration, making sure the teachers have enough assistance to tackle the flow of parents and the new students and helping to clear and clarify the parents' enquiries.  

Parents filled the school auditorium eager to meet with their child's form teachers. They were also given the book list to purchase stationery for the year to come. The school uniform and shoes vendors were present for the convenience of the parents.  It was like one-stop-for-all shopping as we understand that parents might not be free to come back again to make their purchases.

Marina and Abby were my former students and they had joined the Malay Dance group which I was in charge of. I enjoyed being their teacher-in-charge as the girls were disciplined, passionate and were as graceful as swans. Both ladies had decided to send their chilldren to their alma mater becasue they have a strong sense of belonging for the school, love its culture and .

I  also met Rahman, another Yishunite who had registered his son to the school. Rahman's three brothers, cousin and wife were ex-Yishunites too. I know them all very well. Rahman met his wife and got married later. The couple has decided that their son should also be a Yishunite. It seems they want the tradition to continue for their next generation.  

Thank you for your faith and confidence in YSS. Together we seek, we strive and soar.