Revenge of the Earth

Aloha. Sorry for the lonnngg wait.

Anyway,

Imagine being trapped in a mudslide.
A massive one.
What would you do?

Imagine losing all your love ones,
Or worrying bout them,
Not knowing whether they are alive or dead.
People you have knew and lived with for decades.

If you are one of the survivors of these natural tragedies,
Do you have the guts to carry on living?

I’ve been thinking about these questions since the mudslide in Taiwan occurred. It was very much more serious than I thought. Looking at the images and video clips on television. My heart goes out to them, but what can I do? And to think I’ve been spending an hour or so before that, grumbling about the internet connection, which hasn’t been working since last week. (Yes, I’m guilty of not coming online because of this. Sadly, not because I’m hardcoring.) My problem seems so insignificant.

Some pictures to illustrate my point

Tragedy

Hotel collapse

Buildings tumbling

Bridge falling apart

Mud and water exploding

Land slide

Flooding in Ping Tung

Saving people

Searching for survivors / human bodies

This used to be a village (Shao Lin village)

Typhoon's true face (pretty, yet disastrous)

Have you noticed that these disasters become more frequent and more serious as years passes?So now, is this Buddha /God / Allah 's way of punishing us for ill-treating earth?

_____________

Signing off,

Wondering

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we never know the worth of water till the well is dry. ~unknown

Growing Up

After leaving Johor to study in Taylor's for nearly 7 months, here's some stuff I would like to share. For those of you who are leaving home to further your studies soon, I hope this might be of some help.

Firstly, if you are like what I was, who didn't have to wash your own clothes and cook your own food at home, then learn. However, I would gladly suggest you bring your mother or your maid along. Save time, save money. Don't understand why I wrote save money? Yup. Because I think it's more expensive if you burn down the whole kitchen or worst still, the whole house just because you are learning how to cook! Oh, wait. I think that only applies to me. =(

If you are going outstation to study alone, you'll need time management and (yes, Jennie) self discipline. Both of which I'm obviously still lacking. It's not totally my fault when my laptop has a mind of its own and decides to on by itself whenever I'm studying, right? Anyway, get the picture? Without time management and self discipline, I think I'll most likely be skipping classes and hanging around places I'm not supposed to go. The best part is, my parents would'nt know it.

Besides, you'll need an extra pair of eyes. I think I've yet to really learn to heighten my senses. You must be extra cautious as you are not on land you are familiar with. Furthermore, whatever happens, you must be able to contact people who can come to you immediately (save their numbers in speed dials). When you are overseas, discrimination may also occur. Therefore, learn to be street smart from now.

Here's what my friends and I experience in the first few weeks when we came to Subang. It was quite fun for the first few days. To me, it was like going on a vacation. In fact, more like a gathering as we meet up each night for dinner. After a week, the feeling that we left home to study sunk in. Then, we had our moments. Some cried. Some were just moody. i did not cry. Not that it's something to be proud of or anything. But somehow, I just knew that if I let myself go, I'll most likely be crying whenever there are setbacks. I guess I hid that feeling well as most people thought I was going strong.

Yes. I call home every night. I knew my parents would definitely be worried if I broke down, I even willed myself into believing that since my parents already paid a huge sum for my education fees, it would be foolish to pay and come here to cry. However, this became difficult when I fell sick and am alone in a sharing room (when my room mate went back to Johor for her holidays). But with determination, it can be done. I believe my father was pretty much suprised that I took 'leaving home to study' so well. I guess it is also because I went with quite a few of my friends from Johor. They made life here bearable (in the beginning) and fun (later on as we had outings whenever we felt like it). Because of my experience in Subang, I believe I'll be able to survive if I go alone to Australia to further my studies.

For now.
__________
Cheers.
the student.

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“Keep your mind on your objective, and persist until you succeed. Study, think and plan.”

-W. Clement Stone

English? Not?

I've been wanting to write this post since a month ago. Based on the link Siew Lee gave me, it seems that the Ministry of Education in Malaysia decided to change Mathematics and Sciences subjects back to Bahasa Malaysia in year 2012. Plus, they'll be hiring teachers from overseas to teach English subject to our people. http://tst.nst.com.my:8080/Current_News/NST/articles/20090709112220/Article

After only about 7 years of Mathematics and Sciences in English, are they giving up already? The government thinks that we, the people in the city are being bias as the people living in rural areas are suffering because of the teaching of Maths and Science in BM. Hereby, I shall admit that to a certain extent, we are indeed being bias. However, what about the other reasons we offer?

Personally, I think that teaching Maths and Science in English is a step towards globalization. For example, in the world of health sciences. Doctors and pharmascists from Malaysia will be able to attend and understand meetings held throughout the world without language as a barrier. The scientific terms used will be as what was taught to them before. With better equip language, doctors and pharmascists will be able to update themselves more frequently as most meetings are held in English. They'll also be more willing to attend these meetings if they do not have to spend a few more minutes thinking about the translation of certain terms. This brings benefit to health of Malaysians. Even in the Business World. Would businessman in the future be hiring translators, wasting a few minutes for the tranlators to translate some terms or whatever both parties have said for an international deal? In a Business world, time is money. Literally. That couple of minutes wasted on translation each day might have brought about an increase in Malaysia's economy status!

Ok. You might be thinking that doctors can learn the translations in University. But wouldn't that be tortoring future doctors? And would they have to study a couple more weeks or months learning the terms in English? And maybe even years, getting used to the terms? If this happens, will extra classes be given just for them to adjust these terms to English? How much more time and money must these people pay for their education? For students who intend to study overseas, they might even need to sit for a special entrance exam to universities, to test their skills for terms in English.

As I've written above, maths and science have only been taught in English for about 7 years. Has it occur to the government that the first batch of students taught in English hasn't even graduated? Of course there'll be lack of teachers who are able to teach these subjects in English. Why can't we wait for a few more years, after a few batches of students have graduated? Or else, when the first few batches of students graduate, it'll be just like the current situation. Only that, there'll be a lack of teachers who are able to teach in BM.

I believe that it'll be wiser, to spend more money and time on students in rural areas by sending teachers (can be from overseas) to teach English there. Instead of reverting the whole education system of maths and science back to BM.

If the excuse given is, "BM perlu dimartabatkan", in my opinion, we are not doing anything as serious as to cause BM to "tidak dimartabatkan". History, Geography, Kemahiran Hidup, Accounting Subjects, ERT and many other subjects are still being taught in BM. Plus, out of all language subjects, BM is still the subject which is of the longest duration in SPM examinations.

Therefore, if the Ministry of Education still insists on reverting Math and Sciences to Malay, I believe many of our citizens might choose the option of sending their child to neighbouring coutries, such as Singapore for education. Should Malaysia take this risk, where their citizens with good potential of being fine leaders in the future, might end up working for neighbouring countries due to unsatisfactory education system here?

This subject was brought forth when my mum and I were having lunch when I was back in Johor a few weeks ago. My mum said: "Should the Malaysian policy, be it the education policy or any other policy, be unsatisfactory when you are working in the future, migrate if you can. That's your only option or, be the prime minister."
__________
Yours truly,
A Malaysian

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He who cannot change the very fabric of his thought will never be able to change reality.

~Anwar Sadat~

Dead Blog.

Blog's dead. Totally dead? Not. Just barely alive. Exactly like me. My life. Can imagine what i went through last night to prepare for friday? Ok. Imagine having to rush out a 20 marks Moral project in a group of 4 (You might think it's better than doing it alone. Yes, if you aren't rushing for time), discuss and evaluate strength, weaknesses for Bio Practical, study for Physics Common Test and study for Chemistry Practical. All in just half a day.

Well, that's the 'reality' for SAM students. Anybody, can I buy insurance for dying a few years earlier just because of this programme? At least I'll have some money to spend in heaven? Or hell.

Schedule for next week: Maths Directed Investigation (Monday - Wednesday), ESL Text Production (Wednesday - Friday). That's only for exams. What about my pile of chemistry homework? Oh. And my Bio Presentation on Monday and Physics Investigation Design Skills Assignment.

Hence, I'm predicting that the next time I update my blog would be.... 1 week later?

I know. Other people have 24 hours a day. I too have 24 hours a day. But why isn't 24 hours a day enough for me? Why???

Ok. Probably I should start studying now. And not doing stuff sooooo last minute. Oh wait. Doesn't this sound familiar? Isn't this my new year resolution every year ever since.... I was born? Bad habits die hard. I'll try. And see what goes. =)

Should go do my homework now.
___________
Chiaoz.
My life is over.

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To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else. ~ Emily Dickinson

Food and Play Keeps Me Living

Started this blog on a Sunday. But was having too much fun till I couldn't find time to finish it. Went to my aunt's house on Friday night. Kinda sad that I couldn't join Brian and the rest to catch 'Transformers' in Tropicana. Anyway, managed to help my younger cousin draw a time table as she haven't really started her revisions for her upcoming PMR examinations. That's the best I can do as studying still is based on one's initiative.

On Saturday, Kuen, my older cousin and two of her classmates in Form 6, brought some friends (from Vietnam) around to have some fun. They decided to go Pulau Ketam as her friends wanted to have a look at how the modern aborigines in Malaysia live. Kuen brought me along. It's my first trip to Pulau Ketam. Kuen drove us all to the jeti and we took a boat there. There, we saw many houses made of wood. There were many also restaurants selling seafood. Many of these restaurants were side by side or just opposite to one another. Fighting for customers was inevitable. But I'll give them some credit by saying that their seafood are fresh and delicious.

In the boat on our journey back to Kuen's car, we played quite a few games. Next we went for some ice. After that, we went kite flying in a field where there was a 'wau' competition. Haven't flew a kite since I came back from Terengganu. Oh wait, that was only a month ago. Then, we went for sate near the MRT station as the two friends from Vietnam would be leaving after their 3 days here in Malaysia.

At about 10.30 p.m., my cousin's family and I went for seafood again. Then, I realised I've been eating for exactly 12 hours non-stop. I guess that's the price to pay for living in Malaysia?

Oops. Just remembered got test for Moral Studies tomorrow. Will I study for it? To be debated later.

_________________

Signing off,

The food connoisseur

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If A equals success, then the formula is: A=X+Y+Z. X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut

~Einstein

H1N1 (Convent JB)

Dissect goats kidneys today. Was kinda fun but it stinks. =(

Well, it was rumoured that 1 of the students in Convent contracted H1N1. However, the actual thing was that it was her older sister (came back from Australia recently) who had contracted it. Once the student found out about it on Monday, she was home-quarantined. Even the taxi driver who send her home that day was quarantined.

Then, reporters came and as what they usually do, the whole incident was made such a big fuss of. Teachers had a hard time chasing them away from school grounds. The night before, some teachers were sms-ing students to bring sanitisers and face masks for prevention.

Anyway, when my sisters arrived at their school this morning, there were students lining up in the field. It seems that students have to take their temperature and have their hands cop-ed (with school cop) before entering their classes. Many students decided to go home. Teachers then had their meeting most of the morning. After recess, they had to have their temperatures checked again. When school ended, there were a group of reporters who seem to be trying to snap photos of students in their face masks.

Wonder whether it will be printed in the newspapers tomorrow. =)
______________
Written by,
me the reporter

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If words were invented to conceal thought, newspapers are a great improvement of a bad invention. ~Henry David Thoreau

Your Brain.

With my parents and sisters here during the weekend, there definitely isn't time for me to update my blog. But still, a sacrifice that is much worth it, i dare say. My weekend was full of spending time with my family, hanging out with some classmates, prayer sessions, Math Olympiad, parent teacher meeting and of course, preparation for my esl presentation. Still did so badly after preparing for it. Pretty obvious that I just can't do presentations. *Makes mental note to NOT do any jobs which involve presentations in the future.*

I've been wondering about what I'll write for this post, and then I came across an e-mail which was quite interesting. I pretty much just stared at it for a full 3 minutes.

Clockwise? Anti-clockwise?

This was what was written:

If you see the lady turning clockwise, you're using your right brain.
If you see it the other way, you are using left brain.
Some people do see both ways, but most people see it only one way.

Right brain thinkers: uses feeling, “big picture” oriented, imagination rules, symbols and images, present and future, philosophy & religion, can “get it” (i.e. meaning), believes, appreciates, spatial perception, knows object function, fantasy based, presents possibilities, impetuous, risk taking

Left brain thinkers: uses logic, detail orientedfacts rule, words and language, present and past, math and science, can comprehend, knowing, acknowledges, order/pattern perception, knows object name, reality based, forms strategies, practical, safe.

This was proved at Yale University , over a 5 year study on the human brain and it's functions.

Try changing it's direction voluntarily. It's kinda cool.
____________
Signing off,
the neurologist.

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The mind is like a parachute - it works only when it is open

~ Frank Zappa