Season 2, Episode 5: TEKAD 09

" Innocent until proven guilty? Or guilty until proven innocent? " - The Innocent Man, John Grisham

After a night fun-filled with English activities, i had to force myself up from bed early to attend the briefing and the opening ceremony of the TEKAD '09 program. 188 Year 6 students from SK Seri Iskandar participated and my job was to facilitate them in the various modules that would be carried out for two days. The modules arranged are for the development and betterment of students in their academic field, their mastery of the English language, soft skills, and other vital attributes. Somehow, i'm glad i can do my part to assist.


The students assembled in the Lecture Hall while the facilitators were briefed by the head. After the Headmaster of the school gave his speech and officiated the program, the students and the facilitators were divided into 5 large groups consisting of 5 smaller groups in it. Mine was Group 17, and i was paired up with Aishah to facilitate the 8-member group. Platoon is Max 5. Name is SkyNet.

Ice-breaking activity for us to get to know the members, and for the members to get to know us. Honestly, i do remember their names but i'm not sure who is who. I tried my best but i still couldn't match the names to the owners. So, i just called them generally 'adik'. Unfortunately, i could not attend the first module, and breakfast, as i had a Chemistry tutorial replacement. The next hour and a half is left blank, and only to be filled after my tutorial by my partner.

I returned just in time for module 2, the sketch- i like drama/sketch/plays! We had an interesting script and an amazing time practising. We were suppose to guide them to correct pronunciation of words- my group has minimal problems regarding this, inject creativity in the performance, instill confidence in front of the crowd and the usage of English. Cooperation among members were also highlighted, as said by one of my member at the recap of this module. I salute my group for putting up a great show given only 30 minutes to prepare- never underestimate Year 6 kids. Well done!

'Which shoes do you choose?' was our title. Could see potential and enthusiasm in themselves.

Lunch time and prayer break. Muslims went to the mosque while we stayed back and entertained among ourselves. Module 3 started when they returned, and it's called 'Pronounce Me'. We were given 2 poems and a song. The song was simple, the Do Re Mi song from the Sound of Music, but the difficult part was the verses not the chorus. We know the chorus, and i bet you do, but often we seldom listen to the beginning and the ending. Improvised, we changed the tune here and there and it turned out all not that bad! The two poems assigned to us were ones i had never heard before. However, that was not the point. Some words in the poems were bold and assumed the higher level of English vocabulary. As facilitator, we were needed to explain the definition of these words to them. Unfortunately, for the second poem, the bold words were also of higher level of vocabulary than mine. Without a dictionary, my partner and i were lost and decided to just read along the poem!

Phone MMS was the next module. It's similar to the Broken Telephone, just that instead of sending words through a series of people, a picture message is sent. But no words can be spoken or mouth movements can be made. Just actions, something like charade, of the picture.

My group drew 50 % of the original picture sent. Not bad. The purpose of this module is to show the students that rumours may not be entirely true. It can evolve along the way, when it is spread from one person to another. Always seek for the truth before believing.

Following that was the 'Think Out Of The Box' module. Given an item, students must be creative and innovative to what other purposes can it be used for apart from the main purpose. For this module, they were given a fire extinguisher to be thought out of the box. Creatively, they came up with some mind-provoking ideas like pillow, jet pack, toilet flush, flower pots and piggy-bank. Some common ideas were using the fire extinguisher as a self-defense weapon and a weight for lifting.

My group presenting their ideas in front of the crowd.

Groups were later reunited with each other of the same platoon and we started playing 'Goreng Pisang' and ' Bom, ke bom'- entertaining yet common games. I could see how the leader of the platoons lead their team to victory. Future leaders?

Who are we?
We are SkyNet.
SkyNet who?
Skynet cool.
Go, SkyNet!

Dinner was inclusive for the facilitator and i left immediately after doing so. This program is actually a two day program and it continues the next day. Having said that though, i only facilitated for the Saturday- it was a wonderful time with the cuties.

They somehow reminded me of my school times and my brothers. I could see them teasing others- like seeing a fat boy being called 'bulat'. Innocence, this is the time they will have to choose. And hopefully they choose the right choice. With UPSR coming underway, i wish them all the best!

wc09 is happy to be part of the ELC and the TEKAD '09 program.

Season 2, Episode 4: Let the cat out from the...

" When the blind can see, when the deaf can hear, and when the mute can sing. Life is sometimes not what we see, or what we hear, or what we speak, but means so much more. "

...ceiling! I don't know how the cat actually went up there- there must be a small opening somewhere that the cat could squeeze in, cat-walked above our heads and landed right above my room. Soon, kittens were born and the problem became no comfortable. Night after night, my roommate and i could hear the cat (and kittens) scratching the ceiling. Sometimes they would let out a 'meow', and often it sounds creepy. Annoyed and irritated by the sound, we tried to bear with it and informed our residential college officer the next day.

We waited and waited but to no avail. The officer didn't seem to care and so we took actions in our own hands. I came back from my English tutorial Monday night and Jeremy suggested that we bring the little kittens down. I did not disagree. Another problem arose- we could not reach the ceiling!

Then came a friend. He is tall enough to reach the ceiling and the kittens. A box was prepared as the new home for the little kittens and SE slowly brought the kittens down. One by one, they occupied the new home and surrounding. The mother cat was not there.

In action.

The kittens. We thought the kittens were thirsty and hungry. So, we fed them some milk from my friend and water.

We thought we will not be bothered by the sound at night anymore and could sleep at peace again. How wrong we were! The mother cat returned to find her little. They, obviously, were not there and she started to 'call' for them. The call went over and over, and she moved not only above my ceiling but searched everywhere above us. We pitied the mother cat, but there was nothing more we could do.

It sounded like a cry- meow. We were sympathetic for the mother. Imagine this, if our mothers were to come home, in her mind saying that we were safe and sound, only to be shocked that we were all missing and nowhere to be found. What more we were still young, defenseless and vulnerable. The mother cat felt no less. The kittens were adorable, but are susceptible to danger now that the mother could not be there to protect them. The thought of reuniting them crossed my mind, but i just don't know how. For sure, they must not be on my ceiling. Sorry, and i hope that you will find them someday- i sincerely hope you do.

This week, studies were rather loose. Next week, it'll be very much tighter with test and quizzes, and lab reports. But then, it's next week- i'm not being a procrastinator but just facing the truth. Why must the second semester be tougher compared to the first semester? Again, that's facing the truth. The first few chapters of the subjects are already confusing and overloading me with formulas. Study, study, and just study?

I could not download music in my uni and so i resort to YouTube if i want to hear them- though it takes time to load. Currently, i'm addicted to Halo by Beyonce- my favourite Vocal of 2008, and Footprints in the sand by Leona Lewis- my favourite female artiste of 2008.

wc09 will want to see the mother cat and the kittens reunite someday. He is claimed not guilty. Sometimes the situation pressures us to do things that comforts you, but hurts others.

Season 2, Episode 3: Dancing Valentine

" Anyone can catch your eye, but it takes someone special to catch your heart. Happy Valentine! "

How was your Valentine? Memorable? Special? Fabulous? I don't usually celebrate Valentine. Yes, i may still be single and that could be the reason why i don't feel the spirit like others do. But Valentine is more than just casting your love in a couple- relationship. It could be the love towards your family and friends as well. Here, i would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine.

Shall We Dance? I suppose TV3 played this movie on Friday the 13th in line with the Valentine's Day. I watched it and it did spark my interest to dance. Although i don't quite get the purpose of the show, it was entertaining to watch.

Valentine in uni equates leaving all the bachelors alone, single and available. There was nothing much for me to do except to complete my pending tasks over the week. Poor thing, as it may seem. But as the night rolled in, the bachelors finally had something to do- to attend the Festival of Colours, FESCO.

The colourful event was held at the Chancellor Hall. Audience begin to fill the seats.

ASWARA kicked off the show with Tari Inai.

UNITEN entertained us with Ulik Mayang.

UGM Indonesia solo performance. She is professional, but sadly it was long and it began to bore us.

IMU's Zapin and Joget.

USIM thrilled us with Ghazal Party and Zapin Hanuman.

My favourite of the night from KYS, the Bamboo Native. Watch the video below.

Since i did not get to watch this in Sabah, my RM5 ticket here paid well off.

UCSI performed Asmaradana- made popular by PGL and zapin.

Sunway UC for a Bollywood dance.

UKM Tari Tualang Tiga.

From HELP UC, the Multiracial dance.

Joget Gamelan by TATiUC.

Kreasi Gamelan Baru by MARA.

Medley Borneo Rhythm by Masterskill UC.

Pencak Tari i suppose.

Oberlin Shansi USA's drumming fusion.
Kolej Taj Ipoh's Malay and Indian fusion.
MMU's Inang Renik and Canggung.
UMS with their light Daling Daling.
Uni KL with zapin.

And save the best for last...

UTP! They were good.

To wrap up the night, all performers were invited back on stage. Don't it look colourful?

Sim and me in the hall.

Indeed, it was a colourful night. The festival ended midnight and we headed for supper.

Valentine anyone? wc09 is wowed by the dances and this Valentine is truly a dancing one!

Season 2, Episode 2: CNY in 'study' mode

" Study-lo... "

I returned to uni after a week of the Chinese New Year celebration back home in KL and in Melaka. Coming back here means missing the good food galore, missing the freedom to not study, missing the visits- but they will not last long for i'm heading back again this weekend.

Before the CNY, we had a little gathering!

How's your CNY? Hopefully as great as it should be! I love mine. We returned from Melaka on Thursday and on Thursday night, i attended another CNY open house- Uncle J. Steamboat was good, especially the tasty soup. Friday night was Uncle A's house. Mouth-watering cakes and desserts were highly anticipated. Saturday night, i visited my granduncles' place- a simple visit as i do every year. Sunday evening was Uncle M's house- the taste of pork rendang still lingers in my mouth. And on that night, it was Uncle Y's open house- slurping noodles! CNY house hopping is fun- it's like taking turns. Today, you have your open house (which means you have to prepare everything, from house to food) and tomorrow, you visit others (which simply means you can sit back and let the hosts serve you!). What do these houses have in common? A table of mahjong, a pool of card gamblers, trays of good food, and a nicely decorated CNY house. I've yet to visit my friends' house though- can i come to your place?

Coming back, i could begin to feel the workload and the undue pressure on my shoulders. Labs and tutorials start this week. Lectures are more serious these days. This sums up to quizzes, tests, lab reports, tutorial works and assignments. In short, pressure! Learning Physics 2 on electricity- i dislike electricity. I don't seem to get some of the concepts and go haywire over the directions. Hopefully, with more time spent, i will understand. Same goes to Chemistry- really need to re-revise. Engineering Maths is so far surviving and breathing. ICIS is about storing in my brain information. English, no comments. To study still in CNY mood?

Despite the pressure, i have just watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- curious how i have watched it so soon in my uni? About the show, i definitely like how the story unfolds. It's sort of a flashback and the significance of time ticking backwards on the clock is amazing. Leaded by Brad Pitt, this movie has earned many nominations and no doubts to why it has earned them. It sets in an older time and progresses slowly as how he age backwards. Though sometimes it maybe a little draggy, the story moved smoothly and, i would say, touchingly. It gives a different perspective to some people who would want to look younger as they grow older. It ends well, with a narration at the end. About 2 and a half hours, the story is, to me, interesting and captivating. Slumdog Millionaire?

Book fair in uni! 'Popular' bookstore made its appearance here and books were sold at discounts rarely we can get outside. The popular books on sale and bought are Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn- it must be the movie and Robert P that place these books back on the 'wanted' list. As for me, i could not resist to buy The Innocent Man, by John Grisham at a discounted price. I have always wanted to read this book and now that i have bought it, i don't know when to read it- because of Semester 2's pressure.

There is nothing but to study even though it's still the CNY. Somehow, i'm also craving for good food, ang paw and my hands are beginning to itch to gamble. wc09 has half-pressed his 'study' mode button, but it's still the CNY!

Chinese Ox New Year '09 mesmerizes...

" Ox-picious, 0x-perous, ox-piness new year!"

Dear Mr Ox,

It has been a pleasure to meet you! The Chinese new year is one of my many favourite times of the year. Yes, ang paw enters the pocket, good food enters the mouth, but what i like most about the spring is the spirit of the celebration itself. It's the time when i get to meet my relatives, to catch live lion dance performances, bet for a black- jack and hop house-to-house for visiting!

Reunion dinner- the most exciting part of welcoming the new year. It's the time my family reunite for a dinner before we usher in the new year. It has been a tradition for ladies to help one another in the kitchen to prepare dinner and the men to be doing last minute clearing of the house. But modernization has altered and we had dinner outside at a restaurant. Though so, the energy and the excitement did not lack a bit!

Goodbye Mr Rat, and Happy Ox New Year! First day and it's time for celebration. My aunties, my uncles, my granduncles, my grandaunties, my cousins, my childhood friends, my friend's friends, my cousin's friend and my high school friends arrived for lunch.

Food haven!

Scheduled after lunch is the lion dance performance. I had to rush to get right spots to capture the actions of the lion.

Like last year, we have a red lion. Unlike last year, we have a gold one this time. Lions entertaining youngs.

Lions vying for the vege.

Floor performance amuses the audience, and me!

Grandparents with the lions!

Enjoy the video!

My school friends! Rarely meet them these days.

Mini-casino opens- black-jack, mahjong, poker... The first day is great and more to come, Mr Ox.

Second day- the day when daughters go back to their hometown. To go back to Melaka! Breakfast, hoi-lin, good food! Mini-casino opens again...

Place your bet!

Meet my aunties, my uncles, my granduncles, my grandaunties, and my cousins in Melaka.

Barbeque = Yummy!


Jump this CNY!

Dinner was delicious!

And what closed the second day is some firecrackers and, as always being a tradition, a game of gamble.

It's just me, in me, that i have, and always will have, the spirit of Chinese New Year!

Yours truly,
Mr Ram