I got this SMS message from a friend the other day:
"Whenever we find the key to success, some idiot comes to change the lock....
.........so forget the key and break the lock instead!
This is something I should've done years ago!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Classroom Boo-boos
I've been teaching for around 5 years now and in that span of time I've had my share of bloopers in the classroom. I'll let you take a peek at my list:
1. Entering the wrong room. - Yeah, I confess I did this lots of times, especially when the term has just started. Look at these memorable instances:
a. I went into a room for my English 2 class at 7 AM and I didn't notice the students inside the room. Sensing that nothing was amiss, I went straight to the board and wrote down something and even began the discussion. Soon I was aware that so many pairs of eyes in the room were staring at me, speechless. Suddenly a student (who happened to be a student of mine but in my other classes) suddenly cleared his throat and said politely, "Ma'am, excuse me but this is English 8 and not 2."
b. I was running late to an afternoon class when I almost half-ran into the room. Fortunately my intuition was awake and told me that I was in unfamiliar territory. So to salvage some dignity I walked straight to the teacher's desk and opened the drawers and asked the students "I'm sure I left my chalk box here yesterday" before making my escape! I've had many excuses made for this blooper, including:
" Excuse me, did you see a pink umbrella left here a while ago?"
" Ah, people, is this Prof (whatever comes to mind)____"s class?"
" Sorry but I think I left my books here."
2. Beginning with the wrong lecture.
- Since I teach 4 different subjects in the English spectrum, there are times when my schedule means hopping to literature or writing class after art class. It happened, and fortunately I caught myself mid-way and I said " Goodness, I left my brain in Art class!" Thank God the kids were that understanding.
3. Forgetting a class. - I was guilty of this when I was teaching high school years ago. I was absorbed at the library looking for references when I sensed some teenagers lurking near me. They even followed me around through several shelves. For a while I minded my own business. However I sensed that they were uneasy so I asked them what was the matter. "Ma'am, sorry for bothering you but we think you forgot that you have a class with us." Oh.
4. Giving the wrong test papers- Annoying, all right, but the kids liked the fact that the test was moved to next week because of this one.
1. Entering the wrong room. - Yeah, I confess I did this lots of times, especially when the term has just started. Look at these memorable instances:
a. I went into a room for my English 2 class at 7 AM and I didn't notice the students inside the room. Sensing that nothing was amiss, I went straight to the board and wrote down something and even began the discussion. Soon I was aware that so many pairs of eyes in the room were staring at me, speechless. Suddenly a student (who happened to be a student of mine but in my other classes) suddenly cleared his throat and said politely, "Ma'am, excuse me but this is English 8 and not 2."
b. I was running late to an afternoon class when I almost half-ran into the room. Fortunately my intuition was awake and told me that I was in unfamiliar territory. So to salvage some dignity I walked straight to the teacher's desk and opened the drawers and asked the students "I'm sure I left my chalk box here yesterday" before making my escape! I've had many excuses made for this blooper, including:
" Excuse me, did you see a pink umbrella left here a while ago?"
" Ah, people, is this Prof (whatever comes to mind)____"s class?"
" Sorry but I think I left my books here."
2. Beginning with the wrong lecture.
- Since I teach 4 different subjects in the English spectrum, there are times when my schedule means hopping to literature or writing class after art class. It happened, and fortunately I caught myself mid-way and I said " Goodness, I left my brain in Art class!" Thank God the kids were that understanding.
3. Forgetting a class. - I was guilty of this when I was teaching high school years ago. I was absorbed at the library looking for references when I sensed some teenagers lurking near me. They even followed me around through several shelves. For a while I minded my own business. However I sensed that they were uneasy so I asked them what was the matter. "Ma'am, sorry for bothering you but we think you forgot that you have a class with us." Oh.
4. Giving the wrong test papers- Annoying, all right, but the kids liked the fact that the test was moved to next week because of this one.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Split Level Islam
I was reading Hning's latest post and it was truly an eye-opening one. A tattooed guy offering his prayers without fail. I guess it's really up to us and not for other mortals to really work out whether we go to hell or not.
When I finished reading the post, I began to remember an old professor in college telling us about "Split Level Christianity". In my country where the majority are Catholics and other Christians, religion is used as a convenient smokescreen to cover dastardly acts. For example, you'd see "God Bless Our Home" signs and crucifixes on the doorways, of all places, houses of prostitution! Or how about the findings of a national survey that getaway cars of criminals and vehicles of traffic offenders are complete with rosaries and figurines of saints on the dashboards? How about Christian politicians who attend church services every Sunday and then spend public money on their own interests? They profess belief, but their actions show otherwise.
And now how about us? If there's "split level Christianity," I believe we also sadly have "split level Islam" too. We're not exempt. It's a very convenient curtain that keeps others from seeing the dastardly acts some of us do.
Here in my little pocket of the world where Muslims live, there are many who flamboyantly profess the faith and yet their deeds point to the opposite. We have people here who would profess that they're Muslim (especially when talking to outsiders) when they don't pray or practice even the simplest tasks required by Allah of them. Local politicians usually put up an Islamic front or appearance during election campaign period,mentioning God's name during speeches, and then buy votes the day before voters go out to cast their votes. Then during the counting of the votes, the counters (Muslims!) cheat on the results. After the voting and counting has finished, they fight over who should have won, since there are times when the losing parties won't accept defeat. Often, political violence in Muslim areas of my country breaks out and killings result. It's enough to have foreign observers to monitor the voting. And for the winners, they party off public funds and leave the roads full of potholes for years and years without doing a thing about it. Or worse, deprive employees of their salaries or put off implementing important projects because the money had been spent to buy real property, or a new wife or two,or put as a stake in a casino somewhere.
My father's ethnic group is known for being businesspeople. They'll even go to other places just to trade. What's fishy is that they'll tell you they're Muslims and you'll find them selling counterfeit DVD's, porn, or worse, drugs, which are sure ways to get bucks fast. If they're in other lines of business, they'd sell items at a more expensive price than the same item in the shop next door. It seems that earning money, no matter how unscrupulous the means, is top priority for many of them. Islam has taken a back seat.
And then let's not forget the "war freak" or arrogant attitude displayed by some of my fellow countrymen who think that they're really Muslims in every sense. Aren't Muslims supposed to be humble people who don't believe in vanity and pride and ultra narrow-mindedness? How could they attract more reverts to Islam with the kind of attitude that they show to others?
And then we complain that the national media is fond of branding us "Muslim criminals" "Islamic terrotists" and the like. It's our fault too; we perpetrate the distorted images that the mainstream media is so fond of feeding to misinformed people. I especially remember the time when I was still a journalist the newspaper I used to work for rolled out a headline saying that our Muslim-dominated province is one of the biggest hotspots of the region's drugs trade. Which is true nevertheless. Needless to say, the editorial board got a lot of flak from the local bigwigs saying we exposed something shameful about our people. Garbage! Look at our local news archives and you'll find that many of those arrested or at large who were involved in drugs had Muslim names. Why hide something that everybody knows? Why prevent people from getting the information they need that could help them wake up and help solve a problem that's theirs? Why complain when the issue is destroying not only the reputation of an ethnic group but that of Islam as well? Isn't it our moral and civic responsibility to help stop our erring countrymen from doing these things because it will hurt us as a whole?
My point here is that, people shouldn't parade or pass themselves off as perfect practicing Christians or Muslims when they can't adhere to the simplest tenets of their respective religions. We may be born as Muslims, but isn't being a Muslim something to be worked at, not something earned by just sitting down?
I'm just writing down my observations here. I've been a journalist once, and I've had the misfortune to see so many things that others do not usually see. "Split Level Islam" may just be an idea, but it really will take days, even weeks, to really write or talk about. I'd like to hear our fellow Muslims' views about this, especially on what's happening in their country. The issue is very sad yet true.
When I finished reading the post, I began to remember an old professor in college telling us about "Split Level Christianity". In my country where the majority are Catholics and other Christians, religion is used as a convenient smokescreen to cover dastardly acts. For example, you'd see "God Bless Our Home" signs and crucifixes on the doorways, of all places, houses of prostitution! Or how about the findings of a national survey that getaway cars of criminals and vehicles of traffic offenders are complete with rosaries and figurines of saints on the dashboards? How about Christian politicians who attend church services every Sunday and then spend public money on their own interests? They profess belief, but their actions show otherwise.
And now how about us? If there's "split level Christianity," I believe we also sadly have "split level Islam" too. We're not exempt. It's a very convenient curtain that keeps others from seeing the dastardly acts some of us do.
Here in my little pocket of the world where Muslims live, there are many who flamboyantly profess the faith and yet their deeds point to the opposite. We have people here who would profess that they're Muslim (especially when talking to outsiders) when they don't pray or practice even the simplest tasks required by Allah of them. Local politicians usually put up an Islamic front or appearance during election campaign period,mentioning God's name during speeches, and then buy votes the day before voters go out to cast their votes. Then during the counting of the votes, the counters (Muslims!) cheat on the results. After the voting and counting has finished, they fight over who should have won, since there are times when the losing parties won't accept defeat. Often, political violence in Muslim areas of my country breaks out and killings result. It's enough to have foreign observers to monitor the voting. And for the winners, they party off public funds and leave the roads full of potholes for years and years without doing a thing about it. Or worse, deprive employees of their salaries or put off implementing important projects because the money had been spent to buy real property, or a new wife or two,or put as a stake in a casino somewhere.
My father's ethnic group is known for being businesspeople. They'll even go to other places just to trade. What's fishy is that they'll tell you they're Muslims and you'll find them selling counterfeit DVD's, porn, or worse, drugs, which are sure ways to get bucks fast. If they're in other lines of business, they'd sell items at a more expensive price than the same item in the shop next door. It seems that earning money, no matter how unscrupulous the means, is top priority for many of them. Islam has taken a back seat.
And then let's not forget the "war freak" or arrogant attitude displayed by some of my fellow countrymen who think that they're really Muslims in every sense. Aren't Muslims supposed to be humble people who don't believe in vanity and pride and ultra narrow-mindedness? How could they attract more reverts to Islam with the kind of attitude that they show to others?
And then we complain that the national media is fond of branding us "Muslim criminals" "Islamic terrotists" and the like. It's our fault too; we perpetrate the distorted images that the mainstream media is so fond of feeding to misinformed people. I especially remember the time when I was still a journalist the newspaper I used to work for rolled out a headline saying that our Muslim-dominated province is one of the biggest hotspots of the region's drugs trade. Which is true nevertheless. Needless to say, the editorial board got a lot of flak from the local bigwigs saying we exposed something shameful about our people. Garbage! Look at our local news archives and you'll find that many of those arrested or at large who were involved in drugs had Muslim names. Why hide something that everybody knows? Why prevent people from getting the information they need that could help them wake up and help solve a problem that's theirs? Why complain when the issue is destroying not only the reputation of an ethnic group but that of Islam as well? Isn't it our moral and civic responsibility to help stop our erring countrymen from doing these things because it will hurt us as a whole?
My point here is that, people shouldn't parade or pass themselves off as perfect practicing Christians or Muslims when they can't adhere to the simplest tenets of their respective religions. We may be born as Muslims, but isn't being a Muslim something to be worked at, not something earned by just sitting down?
I'm just writing down my observations here. I've been a journalist once, and I've had the misfortune to see so many things that others do not usually see. "Split Level Islam" may just be an idea, but it really will take days, even weeks, to really write or talk about. I'd like to hear our fellow Muslims' views about this, especially on what's happening in their country. The issue is very sad yet true.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Honesty Tag
So Nani37 has tagged the Bead...although my earlier posts have indulged my narcissism, I'll give this one a shot!
1. I got operated for "lazy eye" when I was two. My eyes wouldn't (and still wouldn't) roll together. My eyesight is ok, but sometimes you'll see my left eyeball still at the right when the right eyeball is at the center.
2. I'm tolerant of other faiths, but when people try to stuff their beliefs into my throat, beware. So what if they think I'm doomed because of this and that just because I don't believe the way they do? Religion, I believe, is something personal, not a bandwagon thing that everyone can jump into.
3. My mixed religious and cultural heritage is something I am proud of. You get the best of both worlds, and even incidents of discrimination have led me to believe that narrow minded people are to be pitied because they have been deprived of a well-lived,colorful,many-faceted life that I have been given the privilege to live. Theirs is the only life they know, and discriminating against others is proof that they're intimidated or insecure.
4. I'm known for being not too enthusiastic (read: doting) towards children. Of course it doesn't mean I don't want to have any kids, but you won't see me cooing over babies that much, or engaging in baby talk to toddlers for more than 10 minutes. Then again, don't think I don't like kids or don't know how to take care of them. Trust me, I've changed my younger brother's and sister's diapers hundreds of times.
5. I consider my two years of teaching high school as my worst years ever in my career! The kids were a handful, the schedules hectic, the deadlines inhumanely short, and the principal a complete *&%$#@#%*%. The experience was soo traumatic that now I avoid the place whenever possible, the gate being the nearest I could ever stand. The sad thing is, I was a graduate of this high school.
6. My fondest wish this year is that he and I will soon be married.
7. I still have to make up with my best friend after that fight 3 years ago...we talked one time weeks ago...but it was an uneasy conversation.
8. I have broken the hearts of two men...I didn't do it deliberately, it was because it wasn't meant to be or to put it more accurately, we weren't supposed to be. In both instances these guys and I were poles apart, religion,career, and culture wise, End of the case.
9. People have this first impression of me as an aloof person at best, and arrogant at worst. Soon after they get to know me a bit they end up befriending me though.
10. I will forever carry the guilt of knowing that I said "I love you" to someone so many many years ago, and it wasn't true. T-T
I don't know of any one to tag....
1. I got operated for "lazy eye" when I was two. My eyes wouldn't (and still wouldn't) roll together. My eyesight is ok, but sometimes you'll see my left eyeball still at the right when the right eyeball is at the center.
2. I'm tolerant of other faiths, but when people try to stuff their beliefs into my throat, beware. So what if they think I'm doomed because of this and that just because I don't believe the way they do? Religion, I believe, is something personal, not a bandwagon thing that everyone can jump into.
3. My mixed religious and cultural heritage is something I am proud of. You get the best of both worlds, and even incidents of discrimination have led me to believe that narrow minded people are to be pitied because they have been deprived of a well-lived,colorful,many-faceted life that I have been given the privilege to live. Theirs is the only life they know, and discriminating against others is proof that they're intimidated or insecure.
4. I'm known for being not too enthusiastic (read: doting) towards children. Of course it doesn't mean I don't want to have any kids, but you won't see me cooing over babies that much, or engaging in baby talk to toddlers for more than 10 minutes. Then again, don't think I don't like kids or don't know how to take care of them. Trust me, I've changed my younger brother's and sister's diapers hundreds of times.
5. I consider my two years of teaching high school as my worst years ever in my career! The kids were a handful, the schedules hectic, the deadlines inhumanely short, and the principal a complete *&%$#@#%*%. The experience was soo traumatic that now I avoid the place whenever possible, the gate being the nearest I could ever stand. The sad thing is, I was a graduate of this high school.
6. My fondest wish this year is that he and I will soon be married.
7. I still have to make up with my best friend after that fight 3 years ago...we talked one time weeks ago...but it was an uneasy conversation.
8. I have broken the hearts of two men...I didn't do it deliberately, it was because it wasn't meant to be or to put it more accurately, we weren't supposed to be. In both instances these guys and I were poles apart, religion,career, and culture wise, End of the case.
9. People have this first impression of me as an aloof person at best, and arrogant at worst. Soon after they get to know me a bit they end up befriending me though.
10. I will forever carry the guilt of knowing that I said "I love you" to someone so many many years ago, and it wasn't true. T-T
I don't know of any one to tag....
Monday, January 26, 2009
Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!!!!
Today is the Chinese New Year!!!!!
Gong Xi Fa Cai (pronounced "Kong Hsi Fah Chai") is Mandarin for "Happy New Year". In a country with a strong ethnic Chinese community that has influenced the nation for centuries, the Chinese New Year is something many people here look forward to.
Now I'm not exactly ethnic Chinese, but my skin tone and my small eyes sometimes give people that impression. I can remember Mama telling the story that a couple of Chinese people were following me around in public since they thought I was Chinese! Maybe I've got traces of Chinese somewhere in my genes, but then I took a quiz on a magazine to try to discover my "chinese-ness". Just see what happened:
1. Do you eat anything Chinese?
- of course I do, noodles are my favorite! Then there's dimsum (halal it should be, of course!) I don't like snake soup though. EEEEWWWW....
2. Do you own joss sticks?
- those fragrant sticks you light up? Yes yes yes... I got them in lemon and orange. Nope, they're not lighted up for Buddha,hahahaha , I use them to freshen up the room. Now somebody get me a good joss stick holder!
3. Do you have a pair of chopsticks, and use them?
- not just a pair, I have three, including a beautiful laquered pair from Beijing,and I use them to put my long hair up.
4. Do you have a qipao or a cheongsam?
- Um I have a blouse that looks like a cheongsam. Will that do?
5. Do you speak a Chinese dialect?
- Well, "Gong Xi Fa Cai, Hong bao na lai" which roughly translates to "Happy New Year! Now where the hell is my gift?!!!!"
6. Do you use a Chinese product that your family has used for generations?
- Hmmm, my father and my paternal grandparents are die hard fans of this product: White Flower. And yes, I have a bottle too. Good for headaches, toothaches, insect bites, and yes, even pimples.
7. Do you observe some Feng Shui rules?
- nope, but I believe that a house must never be near the following: Schools, Funeral parlors, Hospitals, and Cemeteries!
8. Do you know what Chinese year you were born?
- 1981= Year of the Rooster
Sheesh...if I will continue, I'd be saying "yes" to most of the questions half the time! Anyway, for today I'll just enjoy the fireworks and the dragon dance on cable tv. Cheers for the Year of the Ox!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
:(
The icon says it all. My sis didn't make it to the Congressional Interns Program. It's her ultimate dream to be given the chance to work outside our place for four months. She's tried two times...and she thought that the second time will get her in.
Why did they let her in for two stressful weeks of leadership training and then she wouldn't be in anyway? I smell something fishy... But my task now is to comfort her.
Why did they let her in for two stressful weeks of leadership training and then she wouldn't be in anyway? I smell something fishy... But my task now is to comfort her.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
More Beads...
(note: this is my periodical post that tells about the little yet notable things that have happened in my life, tidbits from what I read, and lines from family, friends and colleagues at work)
* This afternoon: I prepared everything, and I mean everything for my 2:30 to 4:00 PM class hours before. My notes were organized, I mentally put my spiels (things to say)in order, and to top it off, I made myself really presentable (powder and all that). Yes I was ready to give my greatest class performance. When the bell rang, I strode over to my classroom, only to find it---EMPTY!!! It was then that it occurred to me that I had given the kids a huge assignment and had made a deal with them not to meet them today! Yeah, right. Embarrassing, isn't it?
* Prof. Lorna (a senior colleague) commenting about the mass layoffs everywhere:
"We teachers get laughed at for accepting ridiculous amounts of pay, jeered at for being drudges,but look, after everyone else is out of work, we're still employed!"
* Something I read somewhere: "Nobody studies for tests unless you postpone them."
* Out of the blue, my former best friend, who I haven't seen in years, and I had a conversation over chat. It wasn't really a comfortable conversation; it wasn't cold, but it wasn't warm either. To think we parted ways because we got on each other's nerves! Nope, no reconciliation yet. Maybe someday...
* This afternoon: I prepared everything, and I mean everything for my 2:30 to 4:00 PM class hours before. My notes were organized, I mentally put my spiels (things to say)in order, and to top it off, I made myself really presentable (powder and all that). Yes I was ready to give my greatest class performance. When the bell rang, I strode over to my classroom, only to find it---EMPTY!!! It was then that it occurred to me that I had given the kids a huge assignment and had made a deal with them not to meet them today! Yeah, right. Embarrassing, isn't it?
* Prof. Lorna (a senior colleague) commenting about the mass layoffs everywhere:
"We teachers get laughed at for accepting ridiculous amounts of pay, jeered at for being drudges,but look, after everyone else is out of work, we're still employed!"
* Something I read somewhere: "Nobody studies for tests unless you postpone them."
* Out of the blue, my former best friend, who I haven't seen in years, and I had a conversation over chat. It wasn't really a comfortable conversation; it wasn't cold, but it wasn't warm either. To think we parted ways because we got on each other's nerves! Nope, no reconciliation yet. Maybe someday...
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