Lobo's Lessons

Oh Christmas tree oh Christmas tree...

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:47:00 +0000

Image credit here

It is now that time of year again, where I start to reminisce the Christmases of my childhood. Christmas? you may ask... But I thought he was Muslim?

I grew up in a stout Islamic environment where my parents ingrained in me the tenets of the Quran and hadith. But outside my little bubble I also grew up in an environment where Christmas was a magical time of year. It was the time when my friends would brag about the presents they would be getting from their parents, and how they would be playing with them when I came over to their house on Christmas, and so on and so forth. Excitement would radiate from every child, regardless of which race they belonged to...

It was still an innocent time for me. A time when when boys were boys and girls were girls, and the top shelf magazines were not to be seen, although the curiosity was starting to build (Note - many people here would not understand this reference, though people who've been overseas are probably grinning just about now). In short, Christmas to me was the wholesome family experience that you would see on TV. A time of togetherness, goodwill and peace, not those wild Christmas parties that university students would have. Christmas meant friends and food, caroling and parties (nice ones), and of course...snow. The perfect white Christmas... When the ground would be totally covered in beautiful white snow, perfect and pure, just waiting for us to make snow angels and snowmen.

Yes, I really do miss the Christmas of my childhood...

Time (edited)

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:29:00 +0000

(Forgive the gross spelling errors before as this entry was thumb-typed form my iPhone)

I now sit here all alone in this deserted lecture room..

My mind goes blank for a while as I reflect on how I had to rush everything to make it to this very spot.. Rushed paperwork, rushed driving, rushed lunch, rushed prayers... All so that I could make it in time to evaluate a public speaking session..

And yet, here I am... Alone...

As I wait, the door of the room opens.

I see a young man with pleasant Somali features approach me. The troubled look on his was clear indication that something had not gone according to plan.

"Mr Abdullah..." he starts, with a very apologetic voice "I'm very sorry to inform you that the other session has not finished yet... They started late, so we're going to have to postpone your session... I'm very sorry for the inconvenience"

"It's ok" I reassure him "It's not your fault"

He thanks me for understanding and walks away.

I'm still here... Alone... In this deserted lecture room... Wondering why Malaysians seem to have a habit of tardiness without realising the implications on other people's time...

Indoctri-Nation for the Nation (Part 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:46:00 +0000

B.T.N...

These three letters are synonymous with indoctrination, politics, mental and physical 'torture', and the like.

Biro Tata Negara - responsible for handling the infamous Kursus Tata Negara and recently the Kursus Kenegaraan.

'Not again...' I mentally sighed as I held the calling letter in my hand. I was to report at the Balik Pulau BTN camp on the 22nd of October. This would be the third BTN camp I attended, and being an old hand at the game, it wasn't so much the 'torture' (that's just urban myth to scare

people from attending BTN) as it was the boring lectures about Malaysia this, and Malaysia that... All the things we learned at school regurgitated back to in a space of 5 days.

And it wasn't that it was that bad of a course (based on the previous ones that I had attended). but it was just that there was so much work to be done at the office, and also it meant time away from my son and my newly-pregnant wife.

But there was nothing I could do as it was a prerequisite for all prospective students, whether for Masters, PhD or Sub-specialization, who were going overseas for their studies.

So I grit my teeth, packed my bags, and took a connecting flight to Penang.

Upon arrival, I hailed a taxi, and we hunted for the camp. Believe it or not even the taxi driver had never been there before because it was so remote. The only mobile network which covered the area was Celcom (no doubt installed after a Celcom bigwig was put through the course there!).

But find it we eventually did, and a beautiful place it was indeed... fresh ocean breeze blowing through the dormitories... the waved creating a lullaby with each kiss to the shore... If it had not been for the impending activities and lectures I would have broken out a picnic basket.

Instead this was the sight that greeted me.

And these were my fellow 'detainees'. All with the same unhappy look, filled with gloom at the prospect of spending 5 whole days there.

I could see that this was going to be a loooooooong week ahead...

And it all crumbles to dust..

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:42:00 +0000

Picture credit here

'Hey...'

'It's over...'

'My husband found out about us... It's over...I finally filed... for divorce'

I cannot say that I was surprised at the words that I heard from her.

She was on a crash course the minute she let her former lover back into her life... Not that she did anything overtly wrong... A call here here, an sms there, a Facebook message... but all spiralling faster and faster to the same direction... She was a beautiful 30-something, full of life, and so much to give, trapped in a dead-end... Married for more than 5 or 6 years, husband who didn't appreciate her, staying together not so much that she wanted to be with the husband, but more of staying together for the children...

And the sad truth is - she wasn't the only one.

Many women have confided in me the same thing... Each and every one different women, from different walks of life, with different careers, and different histories... Yet their stories are so common that I could easily tell one woman's story, and another woman would claim it was hers.

It's a different ball-game, being 30-something, and feeling that your marriage has failed you. It's even more devastating when you can't help yourself when you are drawn to that special someone, who listens to you as you pour your heart out... He could be the friend you've known all your life, an old flame, or even a colleague, but they all have one thing in common - they understand you heart and soul, they know you inside out - even better your own husband, and in another life, they would have been your soulmates...

But not in this.

And you know it... and try to let go...

Some of you can...

But some of you find the pull too irresistible...

Like a moth to the flame, drawn closer and closer, until it is engulfed in flame.

Indeed, I find it sad that the sacred bond of marriage is so very fragile, that if pushed enough, will disintegrate upon touch.

However, in no way do I blame the women for what they go through.

I know that they have gone through hell and back, scarred and burnt, but ready to forge a new life for themselves...though for some it may take a longer time than others to realise this...to take the chance and brave the road not taken.

All this has made me reevaluate my own marriage, and my position in the marriage. I realise that these stories are symptomatic of a major cause.

A husband should always try to show his love and appreciation to his wife, no matter how long they've been married , or how many children they have.

Or the consequences could be shattering...

Tired mind...

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:42:00 +0000

It is now 11.43pm...

Tired...

Just got back home only about 43 mins ago...

My head is just spinning with an onslaught of never-ending thoughts, bits and pieces, a cacophony of images and sounds and sights and feelings. It's like a broken TV in my head that I just can't turn off no matter how hard I try.

The human mind is supposed to be able to filter 90% of unnecessary information at any single time, whether they originate from the external senses or the internal thought processes.

The rationale is simple - too much information and the human mind breaks.

My filtering is probably down to 85% tonight, and even then it's driving me up the wall.

Work...classes... meetings... deadlines... vetting for exams... coordinator for UHB 2422... Marks... Adel's not feeling well... Salmah's coming down with flu... swimming... gym... Ikea... Social benchmarking... consolidation of solidarity...friend's husband's a jerk... need time for herself... why can't men understand how women feel?... other people's problems... relationships... Miley Cyrus(???)...

It's a jungle in there.

Maybe I'm just just tired...

Or maybe I'm listening to too many people's problems in too short a space of time?

Or maybe it's a combination?...

I dunno...

Quote of the Day

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:23:00 +0000

I came across this beautiful quote today:

"Don't cry because it's over.

Smile because it happened"

- Dr Seuss

And they grow up so fast

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:50:00 +0000

It just happens so fast.

It only seems like yesterday that I held my newborn son in my hands, so small and fragile... and I saw him opening his eyes for the very first time... Jet black eyes, seemingly so big and tender on his little face.

And there he was this morning, waving goodbye to me, with his hand in his teacher's and walking towards the kindergarten.

I remember the range of emotions I felt as I saw him walk away. I was proud that he was such a big boy, not crying going to school for the first time, in a sea full of strangers both big and small.

I was happy, but as I drove away I became a little sad to know that my little boy had already started the next step of his journey. Pretty soon, he would be in school, and then high school and college...where he would start asking me for ever-growing amounts of money, borrow my car and put a dent in the bumper... And he would start chasing after girls (and If I read the cards right he's going to be chased around quite often too!)...

But all that can wait.

Today, he's just my little boy, that I can pick up and kiss at any time of the day. My little boy who would shower me with unrivaled love and affection.

I can't wait to pick him up from school soon.

Cow's head conundrum

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:26:00 +0000

Fifty local residents protest the building of a temple by marching with a bloodied cow's head.

They want to march in protest? Fine, it is their right. I would probably do the same if I felt extremely provoked in some way, over an issue that was important to me.

Marching with a severed cow's head? Stupid, irresponsible, uncouth, insensitive, moronic, and totally idiotic.

The very fact that these protesters chose to desecrate the religious symbol of another race and religion shows how small minded, how provincial, how insensitive they are of basic respect among human beings, especially in a country such as ours. Don't they realise that they have desecrated something holy to other people?

Don't they realise that this action is the same as a group of Hindus marching through the streets, protesting the building of a mosque, with a burnt Quran in hand???

It is an act of open aggression. An act of open war.

Is this how we would like others to treat us?

Does the rule to do unto others how you want others to do unto you no longer apply?

You can protest, yes, but NEVER can you show this amount of disrespect to people of another race or religion.

In the Holy Quran it is stated in Surah Al-Kafiroon:

"Lakum deenukum wa liya deen" (for you your religion/way of life, and for me my religion). Muslims need to truly understand this ayah in the Holy Quran to be able to develop into a more tolerant people worldwide.

Even the Prophet (peace be upon him) never in his whole life indulged in this behaviour. In fact, in the Medinah Accord, the Jews (as Non-Muslims) were given the same accord, protection, and rights to their religion, as long as they did not disturb the peace, and fought side by side with their Muslim compatriots should Medinah be attacked from an outside threat. Medinah, under the guidance of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) was a haven of peace, and religious equality.

As Muslims, I think we need to reevaluate ourselves. Instead of taking the Zionist stance of "We are the chosen people of God, and we will prevail", I think we should start thinking in terms of "If we are the chosen people of God, then let our deeds to others show it".

They too are creations of our Lord.

My makeshift office

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:20:00 +0000

Somehow, there's a magical draw to this place...

When I want work done I sit here.

Pay RM6 extra for coffee than I would in any other place.

Pay RM5 extra for pastry than I would in any other place.

Sit in plush chairs which are would make an office ergonomist cringe while hunched over, doing work that I could as easily do at the office.

Listen to bad jazz music that should have died 50 years ago blaring out of the loudspeakers.

And yet, here I am... hunched over, doing my work, while drinking overpriced coffee... eating an overpriced, overcooked croissant...with butter and jam...

I must be daft...

Life's Brief Candle

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:59:00 +0000

Yasmin Ahmad dies at age 51.

A spark of light, extinguished in the blink of an eye.

As famous as she was for her films, there is not one of them that I have fully seen from beginning until the end. I do not know her for her films. Instead, I knew her more for her opinions and how she stood by her convictions, no matter how heavy the opposition may be. Like and indomitable island against on onslaught of tidal waves she stood, firm and unwavering.

And yet, she too was human, and as such vulnerable to all human weaknesses.

A testament, and a reminder to all, that no matter how bright a candle may burn to illuminate the darkness, when it reaches the end, it fades out and dies.

Out, out, brief candle!

Life's but a walking shadow

- William Shakespeare

Rest in Peace Yasmin.

Blunder and the Beast

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 05:29:00 +0000

Image credit here

It's a Saturday..

And I have only just finished invigilating the Special Examinations for the First Year students..

Funny thing is, the exam season is over... And they had already taken this exam before...

So why am I here invigilating an exam, when exam season is over, and the students had already taken this paper before, when it is a Saturday where I should be resting at home?

Ladies & gentlemen, welcome to the record-setting blunder of the century (as far as my department goes). I am not a liberty to divulge any details, but suffice to say something happened that made the validity of the exams questionable. And so it goes, the students had to resit the paper again...all 2000-odd students from the entire First Year cohort of the entire University... Setting a record indeed.

What I had seen these past 2 months has indeed been a test of courage against adversity against many malignant forces, with true integrity shown by the few chosen people... The implications of the the blunder were enormous, and after the ensuing witch-hunt, the question arose - Do the faculty and department hang the hapless, accidental offender out to dry, or do they take the fall as a team?

I am proud to say they chose the latter.

The dean, deputy deans, and the head of department, standing side by side, shields tight and swords held high.

The path they chose - Take the fall, revamp the system, reschedule the make-up exam, send out letters of apology, remake the exam paper, retake the exam, remark the scripts, and resubmit the marks.

Of course, when it comes to actually doing the work, every man and woman in the department had to bear the brunt.

Some almost cracked from the strain, from the incessant, overwhelming burden.

Some were crying for blood, beastly in their demeanour, full of indignance .

However, some realised that it could have been any one of them who had made the blunder, and these were the chosen few who trudged on, regardless of the toil and turmoil the were subjected to.

At the end of the day, if it had been them, would they have personally taken the fall, or would they have been glad that their colleagues, their compatriots, were willing and able to stand by them in their darkest hour?

I know I would have...

The blurry haze

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:14:00 +0000

Picture credit here

A lot of my readers may be wondering why the past two months have been extremely quiet here in Lobo's Lessons.

Well folks, truth is so much has gone down the past two months I can barely recall anything. It's all one big blur. Next thing I know, the semester has just started again, and I'm left with the question:

..."Where'd my holidays go?"...

Let me fill you in on some of what I can remember from these past two months:

1) End of term - marking frenzy to submit marks on time.

2) Once marking was done, got 2 SPACE UTM classes for part-time students - 1 in Kuching and 1 in JB (thank God...last year it was Kuching and KL).

3) Fly off to Kuching every other weekend, and go straight back to work the following Monday.

4) Teach weekend classes in JB every other weekend, and go straight to work on Monday.

5) Attend MELTA conference while still actively doing what needs to be done back at the faculty.

6) Was awarded post of Head of Committee for level 2 English, in charge of a mixture of 30-odd regular lecturers and part-timers, and not to mention the 2300 students who take the course every single semester

7) Was given post of Committee member in the UTM-TLDM programme

8) Was part of the testing and evaluation committee that vets all examination papers of all the English programmes. Had to do extra work because of a new policy - to have exam papers for regulars, exam papers for SPACE, make-up exam for regulars, make-up exam for SPACE, etc etc.

9) Set up and run department workshops

10)Prepare my PhD proposal.

11) Send my PhD proposal to all prospective universities.

12) Contact prospective supervisors.

13) Go for compulsary JPA research methodology course to qualify for the scholarship.

14) Teach Korean kids.

15) Judge competitions outside uni.

16) Prepare claims that have been backlogged since last year - God knows if I'll get them.

17) Set up and run UTM Toastmasters meetings seeing that I'm Vice-president.

17) And a myriad other things...

Had a tough 2 months? Well, maybe after reading this you'll feel better about your life...

Sounds like I'm being a sour grape here doesn't it?, buuuuut I'm just venting here...

I actually LOVE my job!!! ;)

World, meet Biscuit...Biscuit, meet World...

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:25:00 +0000

Hello everyone,

My name is Biscuit. I'm a Persian kitten, but my daddy says I have some local blood in me because of my stripes. I like my stripes. It makes me look like those tigers I see on TV whenever Daddy turns on Animal Planet. I like Animal Planet.

I love Mummy and Daddy, and abang Adel (he's my big human brother). I like to bite them whenever I can. Sometimes I can hear them screaming when I bite them. This means that they love me.

Abang Adel most probably wants to be a wrestler when he grows up. He likes to practice his moves on me. I don't mind. I just show him that I love him and bite him.

I am very happy in my house. But there is one thing I am confused about. Whenever I go to the toilet in the small blue box with that strange sand, Mummy and Daddy smile. I don't know what the fuss is. I mean, it's sand right? But when I go to the toilet in the big toilet that has all those beautiful plants, they get angry and lock me up for the night. Look at this picture.

See? That's sand isn't it? So it's a toilet isn't it? Really... Mummy and Daddy have to go to school again. There's so much they don't know.

Anyway, that's all for now. I have to switch the computer off because Daddy doesn't know I'm using it.

Bye everyone!

Reunions and Runarounds

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:27:00 +0000

Picture credit here

After a group of friends haven't seen each other in a long time, when they meet up in cyberspace someone is bound to have a brainwave and suggest everyone to get together... A reunion.

So what goes into conceiving and planning a reunion?

First, the idea surfaces somewhere pleasantly, and everyone says 'what a great idea!'... 'it's been so long'... 'Splendid!'... and so on and so forth. Next, someone asks the brilliant question - 'Who's going to plan it?'

Silence...

And then someone suggests a name... and that person suggests another name... and so the buck gets passed, round and round until someone says 'Hey, let's do it in KL... That's a central location... So and so is there, so let's get him to do it!'

And so the hapless guy takes up the challenge, becomes the leader, and starts delegating tasks... and surprise surprise... the ones who were making the most noise are the ones who are least inept and reluctant and taking on the assigned roles... They whinge and whine... Oh, it's too difficult, it's too far away, it's not really possible, bla bla bla...

After which one of the more dependable ones steps up and starts to do what is needed, smoothen a few ruffled feathers, set up communications, start a blog, get some polls started, delegate some tasks...

Then suddenly, the quiet ones start to find their voice again... with little voices... voicing their dissent to the plan... 'Oh...you know... having it at the state where I live would be much better...it's cheap, convenient, bla bla bla...'

At which point this movement starts to snowball and others also find their voices...peeping out... making noise where there was previously silence...

Question is, if they had these brilliant ideas in the first place, why didn't they say something while it was still worth something? Why give their tuppance worth after things have been set in motion, when other people had already spent a few sleepless nights planning and getting things in motion?

So...what goes into conceiving and planning a reunion?

A lot of heated arguments, bickering, and the motherload of all inconveniences...

Let's just hope the end result is worth it.

Of Marks and Misery

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 19 May 2009 07:37:00 +0000

I just had another student coming in, asking to change his marks...

Just 5 more marks for an A-....

Just 5 more marks, so the Saudi Government will not take away my scholarship...

Just 5 more marks so that I can continue to support my brother who is also studying...

The thing is... I liked this chap.

He came to class, did his assignments, scored very high for his coursework...but did badly in his finals...

He came, but didn't beg... Didn't snivel... Didn't cry...

Totally different from the guy who came here last week.

I just wish there was some legitimate way I could help him...

But 5 marks is still 5 marks.

If I give it to him, where would be my integrity? My trustworthiness? My honour?

If I don't have these... Then who am I?

No use crying over spilt milk

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Fri, 08 May 2009 09:42:00 +0000

Photo credit here.

I just spent the last 2 hours getting a certain student to leave my room.

He had failed the course due to a few reasons:

1) His English was very weak

2) He regularly skipped classes, and did not even bother coming up with an explanation

3) He missed a consultation assessment, worth 10% of his total marks

4) He missed his final presentation assessment, worth 15% of his total marks

5) He lacked the initiative to even do anything about it until I put out his total marks in the system. Of course by then, the marks would have been finalised

Worst of all, he spent two hours in my room pleading, crying, snivelling, just for me to push up his marks. Two hours of my extremely precious time gone... two hours of my life, snatched away from me...

Some people just can't accept the universal fact - You eat, you pay...

It's just no use crying over spilt milk.

And it's no use crying over two wasted hours of your life listening to sob stories...

My little Daddy's boy...

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:33:00 +0000

It used to be that I was almost a stranger to my son.

I realised that throughout his first year of his 2 and a half-year life, my son would not feel secure unless his mother was there by his side... It wouldn't even matter if I was around or not... it simply did not make any difference to him.

Things got slightly better the next year, but the fact of the matter was that it was nice if Daddy was around, but it wouldn't make too much of a difference, as long as Mummy was there. I may be slightly exaggerating there, but that is how it felt... I would go to work, and 2-3 times a week, come back at night when he was asleep... and when I was home, I would be more interested in relaxing rather than playing with him. But of course I would make the effort if I was feeling up to it.

I realised that this pattern was not good for my relationship with my son... So I tried harder.

I popped back from work during lunch just to bring him out to IOI Mall, where we'd get an Iced Milo and some kaya balls, and sit down together and enjoy the food (of course he would be running around most of the time).

I took him to the playground and basketball court when I wanted to shoot some hoops, even at night after I had come back from work.

I took him for walks around the neighbourhood, yes, even at night after work, and talked with him while walking... even though I'm pretty sure he couldn't understand half of what I said.

I played with him at every opportunity I could, instead of just focusing on work (though that may be because the University holidays are just around the corner).

I talked with him as much as I could.

I tried hard...

And now, praise be to God, all that extra effort has paid off...

My son enjoys my company, and I his.

From this, I learnt that may of us take for granted that relationships between father and son come naturally, and that we do not have to work hard for them...

Boy, was I so wrong...

TESL my TESL...

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 14:47:00 +0000

Every journey has a beginning, and an ending...

And thus, my wonderful journey that I embarked on as a lecturer to my first Drama in Education cohort is almost coming to an end...

I remember seeing them all, one by one, their faces eager to learn, but shying away in the beginning, all reserved in the small cocoons of their own little worlds...

And when they opened up, one by one, I saw in them different, beautiful personalities, each unique in their own way... each finding a place in my affections...and eventually each finding a place in my heart.

Yesterday night was a special night that marked the ending of this journey with them, on the one hand a sense of overwhelming pride that I had directly played a part in their journeys as teachers, building the very foundation of our nation, and even more so, as human beings, being the very essence of who they were and what they became...

To commemorate this night, I sang for them... A tune that they all knew and loved... A tune that we shared sleepless nights with, working towards the completion of our ultimate project - to put on a show to remember!

Yes, this is the closing of our journey together as teacher and student... But this is only a fork in the road in the journey of our lives... Until we meet again, may the Lord Almighty keep you in His grace and protection...

I love you all...

Beverage of the Ages

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 07:53:00 +0000

It used to be that I couldn't drink coffee...

I've always loved coffee, but somewhere starting along my mid-20s I developed a condition that would cause me to bloat whenever I indulged in this glorious beverage. As a result, it would be a case of 'eat now, pay later', where all the enjoyment of the present would be counterweighed by the unpleasant consequences of the near future. A painful acid-reflux reaction often does that to people. So the question that I would have to ask myself would be - "How badly do I need that cup of coffee?"

But strangely enough, over the past few weeks, I found that coffee didn't have this averse effect on me anymore...temporary relief or permanent healing? I don't know... Perhaps it's the mangosteen juice that I've been drinking...

Anyhow, from the frying pan into the fire...

Now I can't get enough of that dark delicious aroma... Tantalising my taste buds all through the working day, enticing me into its hot and passionate embrace when I get back from work... That warm feeling of total relaxation and satisfaction of a hot cup of coffee after a long hard day... Priceless...

However, the thing is, although I love the taste of coffee, I just hate the 'buzz'...That feeling where all the senses are amplified and you just can't sit still... It's awful! Just like how a child reacts during a sugar rush!...especially the 'coffee buzz' after a venti mug of Caramel Macchiato at Starbucks...

But why do I keep ordering it?

Sigh... Coffee thou art my undoing...

The Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:18:00 +0000

Birthdays in my family are usually a happy time - not because we'd have an over the top party or anything, but because it would be the time when the whole family would usually be together, just the share pizza and cake (if for no better reason).

Yesterday was my sister Huda's birthday (Huda the genius - definitely my father's genes all over), but we celebrated it today. Before the party I had the task of looking for her birthday present... The thing is, it's kind of hard to buy presents for girls - buy them a dress and it's not their colour...buy them a skirt and it doesn't fit...so on and so on...so what did I do? Called up the wife and asked for Huda's shoe size...called up my sister Salihah and asked her Huda's shoe size...and bought the safest pair of shoes that were fashionable and could be worn with most colour combinations (and on sale of course!)...hehehehehe... I was so glad she liked them!

However, the party itself was where it hit me the most... all the places that were usually occupied were empty...

My dad was in KL on business, Sameerah & Bruce were in KL; Ammar, Nad & little Aimie, were in KL; Salihah was in UITM Shah Alam; Omer was in MRSM Mersing... I wondered if this was how things were going to be in the future, and with a sense of acceptance, I realised that this is how life was, and will always be...

We only have a short amount of time where we can enjoy being together in the nest of the family, before we all sprout wings and fly away...

I miss my family...

Anas Zubedy's Plea

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:12:00 +0000

Today in the Star, my friend (at least I hope he is) Anas Zubedy made a brave stand against the entire embicility that is our government, and all the involved players called politicians. For those who did not read the full-page advert/plea, I paste its contents below. My hat off to you bro.

Dear Malaysian Politicians,

Please stop the power chase, call for a truce and focus on the economy.

I do not claim to speak on behalf of all Malaysians, but I have strong convictions that many share my sentiments.

Our concern today is not who rules the country or heads the state governments but the looming bad economy.

Whether Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat leads, it is meaningless if Malaysians have no job to go to, no money to pay rent and no means to put food on the table.

I am a business owner, like other business owners and managers of corporations I have a responsibility to ensure people under my care and payroll continue to have jobs and a decent income to take home. We work hard and willing to go the extra mile to make sure our nation not only survive this crisis but come out stronger and wiser. We need your help.

Let me explain. I am in the business of Training, Development and Consultancy and have 20 people in my team.

Saedah is 42. She keeps the office clean and helps organise the training rooms. She has four children and her husband is unemployed. She was first hired on a part time basis, because she is very hard working and has a great attitude, we offered her a full time job to help provide a stable income for her family. Even then, when her third child started school this year, it was a struggle for her to buy new school uniforms and other necessities. Saedah lives on a ‘kais bulan, makan bulan’ basis, so, if she is jobless, her tap runs dry.

Samsuri is 27 years old. He lives with his sister and her family in a low cost government flat in Sunway. He does our despatch, helps with various clerical works and occasionally acts as a driver. During the first week at zubedy, we learned that he not only did not have money to buy new clothes and shoes for work, he had no money for lunch. Like Saedah, if he has no job, his tap runs dry too.

Alicia in Client Servicing turns 26 this year. She lives with her dad who is 71 years old and retired. Her mom passed away when she was little. Alicia is a hard-working team member, has a gentle caring outlook and fun to be with. (We like to poke fun at her as she blushes easily). Last May her dad went through a major operation, thank God he has recovered well. Alicia needs a job, both for herself and her dad.

Sudesh, 38, is one of our facilitators. When his father passed away last year, he moved back and lives with his mother in Seremban. He shuttles between Kuala Lumpur and Seremban daily, leaving home sometimes as early as 4 in the morning and returning late at night. He is no stranger to hard work and sacrifice, he knows what he needs to do to survive and to care for his mother, but he too needs a job.

Like fellow Malaysians, every one of us in zubedy needs employment, those that live from hand to mouth like Saedah and Samsuri and others like Alicia and Sudesh with family to care for. We Malaysians need the Malaysian economy to be strong. We need you, our leaders, to work hard and to work together to make our economy viable.

So this is my plea.

Pakatan Rakyat, please stop your attempts to take over the federal government and persuade BN’s lawmakers to join you. Stop all legal proceedings, no more 916 and let go, just let go. The nation can wait till the next general elections if they want change. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and gracious and give you their support in the next elections.

Barisan Nasional, please stop any attempts to take over PR states and win over PR’s lawmakers. You have proven your point with Perak. The nation can wait for the next general elections if they want your party. Focus all your talent, energy and hard work in steering the country out of an economic downturn. By doing so, Malaysians will see your party as caring, unselfish and smart and give you their support in the next elections.

BN and PR! Call for a truce. Get together and compromise. Someone has to give in. Or has hate consumed your heart till it blinds you? You can do it. You have enough intelligent people between you. I am sure you can find solutions. Take the nation to heart. That is why you are in politics in the first place.

Focus on the people.

Focus on the economy.

Anas Zubedy
Managing Director
Zubedy (M) Sdn Bhd

Almost from the Land of the Rising Sun

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 07:03:00 +0000

It's been a hectic 2 days for me here in Putrajaya..Shacked up and slumming in the majestic open vistas of the Putrajaya landscape, as seen from the balcony of the Shangri-La...

These hotel stays are detrimental to my waistline as I am a bit of a gourmand... (enough said). Buuut I try to compensate with trips to the hotel gym and swimming pool.

It was just last weekend I was in KL, and now just under a week later here I am again.. But this time in the capacity as MC for the establishment of the Meiji University Alumni Association of Malaysia, of which university our present PM Pak Lah and our previous PM Tun Dr Mahathir had received honorary doctorates... A rather daunting task for the uninitiated.

But for me I'm happy to say it was a breeze! Another feather in the cap of this MC!

So, after a looooooooooooooooong session of speeches, food, and incessant bowing (of which I am actually very accustomed), it is now finally over.

Overall, a good haul of networking contacts I would say - among them the top brass in Meiji University, and very surprisingly, the managing director of Kinokuniya bookstore in KLCC... Not bad at all...

Now if only the secretary hadn't booked the flight for 7 hours after the event finishes...

Buuuuuuuut you can't have everything can you?

pre - FINAS in the Flamingo

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:44:00 +0000

I write this entry in a beautiful hotel room in the hotel Flamingo by the Lake..

Tomorrow, I face all the bigshots of the local universities who have anything to do with student films in a meeting at FINAS...And I'm wondering what the heck am I doing here? I scan through the name list of the attendees - Dato this, and Tan Sri that, and I see their positions - Deputy Vice Chancellor, Director, Dean... And who am I?

Encik (Mr) Abdullah Bin Mohd Nawi.

What is my post? - lecturer, department of modern languages.

What is my relevance to the local film scene? - I teach drama in education, I supervise theatre performances, I act in the occasional short film... but that's about it...

Honestly... What am I doing here?

Anonymity assured

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:58:00 +0000

Image credit here.

Recently, I visited a blog of a friend who had blogged about a recent hankering for a McDonalds Prosperity Burger.

I was taken aback but not surprised by a comment which was negative towards the entry and its writer, due to the ongoing boycott of McDonalds and other companies allegedly in cahoots with the Zionist regime. I shall save comment on this particular issue as I have had many a debate over it, though I see both camps have a certain sense in their arguments.

The issue here is that the comment had been made anonymously, just as one would write a poison-pen letter, for fear of repercussions of one's convictions. In my view, everyone is entitled to their opinion, whatever it may be, and is welcome try to convince others of these opinions. This in itself is not wrong, but even encouraged here in the academic world.

However, the issue is that when one is absolutely convinced of one's point of view, and has the willpower to voice it out against another point of view, one should be prepared to justify and defend it (in a civilised manner of course). This is also what we teach in the academic world.

Nevertheless, when an opinion is freely dispensed without giving the receiver of the opinion the chance to defend his or her opinions, and the language used less than appropriate, then this would be an act of cowardice.

The power to dispense one's opinions comes with one's accountability.

"With great power comes great responsibility" - Benjamin Parker

Time

noreply@blogger.com (Abdullah) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:05:00 +0000

It's just so hard trying to find time to do everything I need to do.

First, I've got to take care of matters at work, which include lectures and tutorials, consultations, research, and a billion other things so minute that it wouldn't be worth the time to mention them.

Second, I've got my personal life to take care of - seeing that I have time for myself as to not burn out, spending time with the wife and kid, spending time with the parents, parents-in-law, family and extended family, and some friends.

Third, I've got to take care my self-development - Seeing to my role as the Vice President of Education in Toastmasters, working my way up up to Competent Communicator and hopefully Competent Leader within the organisation, constantly upgrading my knowledge on my subject matter, and of course, chase that ever elusive PhD proposal that I was supposed to have finished last semester.

Fourth, I've got to take care of the other things as well, Emceeing jobs, giving talks and lectures, facilitating workshops, teaching Korean students English, just to name a few.

Fifth, I've really got to find time to go to the gym. As it is now, I'm lucky if I make it once a week, just to do the treadmill for 15 minutes, and weights for 15 minutes. My target is 3 times a week. I wonder how I'm going to do that?

Sometimes I wonder if 24 hours is ever enough to finish what we have to do... And then I check myself - What we have to do will never finish, no matter how many hours there are in a day.

True wisdom indeed...