It was 6.20 p.m. I was to get up soon from my nap. I was damn tired but I need to pack my bag to go back to PJ this evening. Suddenly there was this called from an unknown number. I picked it up and on the other end I heard a male voice asking,
“Ms Leong, this is Winson. Where are you living?”
I was thinking, ‘now this is my student, why does he need to know where I live? I can’t be possible inviting him over to my house to ask about his coursework at this hour. I am going home.’
Therefore I asked him in a curt manner, “Why do you need to know where I live?”
All I can hear at that moment was a string of incoherent babbling and suddenly he said he was involved in an accident and he was alone and he needed help.
I quickly promised him I would be there as soon as possible. I was worried. For him, and also for myself. I was unfamiliar with the place I need to go. And hell it was jammed and packed from end to end in KL in the evening.
I badly wanted to wake Choon up to accompany me, but I was afraid she would get mad at me for waking her up. So I went alone.I only reached there after 45 minutes stuck in the traffic jam.
When I reached the Setapak Police Station, I couldn’t see him. I parked my car beside the road and started walking. It was a bad idea to drive and get lost in KL at this hour. I finally found him.
He was still sitting in the car and could barely move. A few tow trucks operators appeared from nowhere, surrounding him and pestering him to sign some paper to allow them to tow away his car to their workshops. I fended them off, called an ambulance and sit in the car with winson. We waited for his brother to come all the way from Klang.
as we sat there waiting, we talked a lot of things. he showed me his gf photos. still in form four but has shown great potential to be a great beauty when she gets older. even in his pain, he still managed to ask me his coursework grade. i find that very amusing. i assured him that everything is alright.
Finally at 8.10pm, his brother came. But the ambulance never arrived because they missed us out. So winson’s brother carried him on his back and back to his car, which was quite a long distance. Great brother huh…
We sent him to the Hospital Kuala Lumpur, where winson was admitted. Finally I could breathe in relief. When I reached home I packed my bag to go back to pj and reached there around 11pm. It was an eventful night.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Hou Sam Tong Argh ....
the first time my car was vandalised in the college, i was so shocked and i cried. i was very tired and was emotionally drained at that time. i couldn't believe this is happening to me. someone knocked a hole in my rear signal light with a tree branch.
i couln't think of any of my own students who will do this to me. the only one i can think of was a student who nearly knock into my car in the college when i was reversing from the parking lot. he shouted obscenities at me. maybe it was an act of revenge. but i would prefer to think it was a random act of vandalism
the second time it happened again, a few months after the first incident, there was a long scratch mark on the driver side from the front to the rear of the car. i discovered it after i finished my class in the morning. i was despaired. and i have avoided both parking places thereafter.
since then, i pay attention to other college staff cars and i found some of them also have scratch marks like mine. trust me ... there is a lot of unhappy and frustrated souls out there, trap in the college and are causing problems to vent their anger.
My College Life
Yes, i have one too!
I have been with Tar College for more than 6 years. Before i come to KL i was with Tarc Johor Branch Campus.
I was lonely and quite terrified of my KL students when i first came to kl. I expected them to have higher command of english and speak better in english compared to my poor sheep back in johor. and they would have have higher expectation of me and would probably demand that i teach more than just grammar and essay writing.
but eventually i realized that they are not so different after all. Just that i get a little more rude students and they are not as friendly once the class is over...
but i do have my own happy moments in the class too. when i am prepared and teached well and when my students asked questions and give feedbacks, i felt my efforts has not been in vain.
but there were many moments of unhappiness as well. i have more noisy and ruder students this semester and i can't carried out my lessons well. i was cranky and bad tempered. but i kept my smiles plastered on my face. never would i uttered a hurting word to any of them because i knew how far deep a hatred can go and how unforgiving a heart can be. and i am not fightng back in any sense, they are my students and i am supposed to be here to help them.
but i guess sometimes they just don't need help of any kind and just wanted to be left alone.
incident 1:
It was a short one hour class in the afternoon. the class was noisy and nobody was paying attention to me when i walked in. i have to shout just to be heard and i wanted to start my lessons immediately. i asked them to quiet down. some girls still talked. when i start to talk, they still talked and peered excitedly into their laptop. i told the two girls that i wanted them to close down their laptop.
i was going to burst, but i hold myself like a helium ballon. they turn their defiant faces at me, huff and close the laptop, and immediately plopped their faces onto the desks and go to sleep. ohmigod .... what am i supposed to do!??? !
i ignored them. i can't believe girls would do like this to a teacher in the class. i never meet one before. anyway, they can't see me eye to eye after that after the incident boiled down.
incident 2:
It was already into week 11. i am starting to use the text book more often now. more than half of the students in this class have no text book and they shared. i have a time when 5 students were sharing one book. i was mad. they were noisy and come solely for the attendance. what for ....??? it's just a waste of time. why just don't skip the class totally?
one hour later, after i finished giving lecture on letter writing, i asked them to write a letter of complaint or enquiry in the class. most of them did not. they are roaring with laughter and are punching each other with jokes. i told them they can leave and complete their work at home if they feel that sitting in the class was a waste of time. some do, but some still stay back because they have to do role play and group discussion later. (these students are the noisiest and they are the groups that missed out their coursework because they were absent for coursework)
i was engaged in a discussion with one of my students when the lecturer from the next class came in through the backdoor and asked them to lower down their volume because they have been getting increasingly noisy. i was embarrassed. my ballon burst this time and i brushed them up really nicely.
i was tired when i get back home in the evening. drain physically and emotionally...
I have been with Tar College for more than 6 years. Before i come to KL i was with Tarc Johor Branch Campus.
I was lonely and quite terrified of my KL students when i first came to kl. I expected them to have higher command of english and speak better in english compared to my poor sheep back in johor. and they would have have higher expectation of me and would probably demand that i teach more than just grammar and essay writing.
but eventually i realized that they are not so different after all. Just that i get a little more rude students and they are not as friendly once the class is over...
but i do have my own happy moments in the class too. when i am prepared and teached well and when my students asked questions and give feedbacks, i felt my efforts has not been in vain.
but there were many moments of unhappiness as well. i have more noisy and ruder students this semester and i can't carried out my lessons well. i was cranky and bad tempered. but i kept my smiles plastered on my face. never would i uttered a hurting word to any of them because i knew how far deep a hatred can go and how unforgiving a heart can be. and i am not fightng back in any sense, they are my students and i am supposed to be here to help them.
but i guess sometimes they just don't need help of any kind and just wanted to be left alone.
incident 1:
It was a short one hour class in the afternoon. the class was noisy and nobody was paying attention to me when i walked in. i have to shout just to be heard and i wanted to start my lessons immediately. i asked them to quiet down. some girls still talked. when i start to talk, they still talked and peered excitedly into their laptop. i told the two girls that i wanted them to close down their laptop.
i was going to burst, but i hold myself like a helium ballon. they turn their defiant faces at me, huff and close the laptop, and immediately plopped their faces onto the desks and go to sleep. ohmigod .... what am i supposed to do!??? !
i ignored them. i can't believe girls would do like this to a teacher in the class. i never meet one before. anyway, they can't see me eye to eye after that after the incident boiled down.
incident 2:
It was already into week 11. i am starting to use the text book more often now. more than half of the students in this class have no text book and they shared. i have a time when 5 students were sharing one book. i was mad. they were noisy and come solely for the attendance. what for ....??? it's just a waste of time. why just don't skip the class totally?
one hour later, after i finished giving lecture on letter writing, i asked them to write a letter of complaint or enquiry in the class. most of them did not. they are roaring with laughter and are punching each other with jokes. i told them they can leave and complete their work at home if they feel that sitting in the class was a waste of time. some do, but some still stay back because they have to do role play and group discussion later. (these students are the noisiest and they are the groups that missed out their coursework because they were absent for coursework)
i was engaged in a discussion with one of my students when the lecturer from the next class came in through the backdoor and asked them to lower down their volume because they have been getting increasingly noisy. i was embarrassed. my ballon burst this time and i brushed them up really nicely.
i was tired when i get back home in the evening. drain physically and emotionally...
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Chern Fun and Catherine's wedding
It came as a surprise. they were not revealing anything and suddenly after chinese new year they announced that they were getting married in October.
Sick
It has been two weeks since I was discharged from the hospital for dengue fever. I was bored to tears staying in the ward for three days. Fortunately it was weekend so ky was able to come for visits. However he couldn’t stay more than one hour each time because he was too bored. But he has been such a sweet loukong.
When I was sick he went all the way to Tanjung Malim just to get me the froggy ‘tinkai’ so his mum could boil it with those little bitter gourds which is believed to be good for dengue patient. I didn't take any photos while i was in hospital. However Ky did asked me if I wanted to take photos to put in our blog and I thought he was crazy. However, I did take some photos during the weekend while we went back to Segamat. Now this picture would probably tell you how I got the dengue fever.
When I was sick he went all the way to Tanjung Malim just to get me the froggy ‘tinkai’ so his mum could boil it with those little bitter gourds which is believed to be good for dengue patient. I didn't take any photos while i was in hospital. However Ky did asked me if I wanted to take photos to put in our blog and I thought he was crazy. However, I did take some photos during the weekend while we went back to Segamat. Now this picture would probably tell you how I got the dengue fever.
In the rubber estate!!... ky wanted to be a tourist and insisted he wanted the tapping knife. however i couldn't find one for him.
That weekend was father birthday too and we have bought him a cake. I gave him a jacket and a tool box for his birthday present. He was extremely pleased. But he bought a very funny thing for himself at the 2 ringgit shop and was really proud of it too. Ky was his only admirer.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
A weekend getaway
Last weekend we went to genting because we've started to get bored doing the same things every weekend. we thought going to genting was a good place to start with. 
Boarding the bus to Genting from 1U
cheap cheap ... bus , skyway and themepark tickets all included
We waited for one hour just to get onto the space shot. i told him i wasn't afraid ...
Next, boatride at dinosaurs land
Boarding the bus to Genting from 1U
cheap cheap ... bus , skyway and themepark tickets all included
We waited for one hour just to get onto the space shot. i told him i wasn't afraid ...
Next, boatride at dinosaurs landwe were riding into the clouds!
Ahhh...!!!
it's difficult to take our pictures together.
last stop, eat all you can for free.
Her Monday, September 29, 2008
27 September 2008 - Our Registration
27 September 2008 – the day we registered at Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. There were a lot of anxious moments and we wanted to make sure everybody is happy during our registration. King Hoong has been such a darling. He was the one who got me the pretty hand held bouquet of roses as our registration gift and was our photographer for the day too.
Registration was a simple affair to some people as it would normally be followed by an elaborate wedding ceremony. But for us, we have to invite all family members to witness the registration as our wedding ceremony is still far away. It will be held only in March 2010.
Yes … we have already set the date. But due to the reason of incompatible dates in year 2009 for both of us, born in the year of goat, we have no choice but to wait for another year.
Getting married is not all clear blue skies and blooming bed of roses. I was stressful and so was KY. We have a small tiff starting on the night before the registration day until the next morning. We are not speaking to each other and I was mad at him. However, when we reached the hotel where my parents were staying, we made up to each other and everything was alright again.
After the registration, there was lunch and a lot more hosting has to be done. My family members have to be checked into another hotel. This weekend had been very hectic for both of us as we have to do a lot of running around. After lunch with my parents on Sunday, we said bye bye to them and finally a bit of rest and peace for us.
My poor ky was down with sore throat and slight fever. I promised I will be nice to him the next few days.
Sorry friends, we can’t invite you along as only 14 people are allowed into the room. But you can be sure I will rope you in for our wedding ceremony when it comes. There will be no more spending until next year.
And for now we eagerly looking forward to cher fun, ah mok and teck siong’s wedding end of this year.
Registration was a simple affair to some people as it would normally be followed by an elaborate wedding ceremony. But for us, we have to invite all family members to witness the registration as our wedding ceremony is still far away. It will be held only in March 2010.
Yes … we have already set the date. But due to the reason of incompatible dates in year 2009 for both of us, born in the year of goat, we have no choice but to wait for another year.
Getting married is not all clear blue skies and blooming bed of roses. I was stressful and so was KY. We have a small tiff starting on the night before the registration day until the next morning. We are not speaking to each other and I was mad at him. However, when we reached the hotel where my parents were staying, we made up to each other and everything was alright again.
After the registration, there was lunch and a lot more hosting has to be done. My family members have to be checked into another hotel. This weekend had been very hectic for both of us as we have to do a lot of running around. After lunch with my parents on Sunday, we said bye bye to them and finally a bit of rest and peace for us.
My poor ky was down with sore throat and slight fever. I promised I will be nice to him the next few days.
Sorry friends, we can’t invite you along as only 14 people are allowed into the room. But you can be sure I will rope you in for our wedding ceremony when it comes. There will be no more spending until next year.
And for now we eagerly looking forward to cher fun, ah mok and teck siong’s wedding end of this year.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Kavitha's Wedding
king yeung's friend got married last sunday and both of us attended her wedding ceremony which was held in a Hindu temple. these were some of the photos i took which i thought would be interesting to write about.
One of the most distinctive features of an Indian wedding is their elaborate ceremony and rituals which the bridegroom and the bride have to perform before they are made husband and wife.
Indian weddings are full of customs and traditions and are celebrated on a grand scale with lot of fan-fare. One of the most remarkable features of an Indian wedding is that it not just marks the coming together of two individuals who are getting married but also the coming together of their respective families.
Attending an Indian wedding is a grand affair and every Indian ladies will deck out prettily in in their beautiful sarees and their hair is adorned with strings of jasmine flowers. Jasmine, known as "The Queen of Perfume", was used to anoint kings and wealthy people of the society. It has a very strong distinct smell and supposingly very soothing to the senses.
there are many websites which wrote in details about indian weddings. i am not going to the same thing here, but just to describes each pictures i have uploaded here because i was there and it was my experience of attending an indian wedding and i also feel its little details are worth mentioning.
Picture 1: the drawing on the floor is known as kolam. It is thought to bestow prosperity to the homes. For special occasions limestones and red brick powderwder to contrast are also used.
Picture 2: i wasn't sure what was this big brass basin filled with water and flowers doing on the floor. but i thought it looked very pretty.
Picture 3: beetle leaf( paan), areca nut( supari); It is a mouth freshener as well as aids digestion. but i didn't try any because i wasn't sure if it is for the guests or as offering to the gods.
Picture 3: beetle leaf( paan), areca nut( supari); It is a mouth freshener as well as aids digestion. but i didn't try any because i wasn't sure if it is for the guests or as offering to the gods.
Picture 4: This ceremonial wedding music was played on flute-type brass instrument to usher the bride and her entourage into the hall after she has changed into an elaborate silk saree.
Picture 5,6,7: Kavitha entered the hall with her bridesmaids. she was later seated on the stage with her husband where they perform their ceremonial duties.
Picture 8: Us :)
Picture 9: young Indian girls dressed in Langa, before they are old enough to wear a saree.
Picture 10: king yeung's ex-colleague son.
the wedding ceremony ended with a lavish vegetarian lunch for its guests. hmmm... nothing beats an authentic indian meal. the curries were fantastic.
ok.. before i end this blog. i would like to post some tips for people who is attending an Indian wedding for the first time.
Q: I've been invited to a Hindu wedding. What should I wear?
A: Wear what you would wear to a non-Indian wedding. The only clothing taboo to be aware of is that you must take your shoes off to enter a temple or the wedding canopy, so be prepared to leave them at the door. Do try to make some allowances for comfort -- it's not uncommon for seating to be on the ground, so a tight suit or dress that doesn't let you sit cross-legged might not be the best choice.
Of course, if you're the adventurous type and want to wear traditional Indian clothes, go for it! Very likely there'll be a friend or cousin your size who'd be delighted to loan you some clothes and show you how to wear them. Women guests may even get the chance for an application of henna or mehndi if they're around the day before the wedding. But don't rely on the bride or groom to help you themselves -- they'll be way too busy on the day of the event.
Q: My Hindu friends are getting married. What sort of gift should I give?
A: The traditional gift at an Indian wedding is money. The amount should be an "auspicious" number ending in 1 -- $11, $21, $51, $101, $201, $501, etc. (or similar numbers in rupees, pounds, or what have you). Cash or a check is fine.
However, outside of India most Indian couples understand that giving money can be considered tacky and they don't expect it from their non-Indian friends. They've embraced the western tradition of giving housewares as gifts and many couples register at department stores. So the better answer is: give what you would give at a non-Hindu wedding.
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