Nisfu Syaaban

Last night was a Nisfu Syabaan night (15 of Syaaban). I remembered when I was a little girl my late mom will bring me and my brothers to surau nearby. Our neighbours will join us too. Just imagine few boys and girls with their moms walking to the surau together. Happy Faces!

Eventhough, we didn't understand a lot of things about Nisfu Syaaban but we enjoyed ourself as kids. Our moms taught us a good lesson: a training and educating us to pray and to go to the surau. Every year, we always remember Nisfu syaaban night, because on that day our moms will be busy cooking 'onde-onde' and 'Puteri mandi' to bring to the surau* (my mom died on the way to this surau* at the age of early 40's). Until now, I don't know what is the significance of this onde-onde and puteri mandi to Nisfu syaaban night but that was a tradition of how we celebrated Nisfu Syaaban in our neighbourhood. On the night of nisfu Syaaban we went to surau listening to the preach by Imam and for Yassin recital. Thw night of Nisfu Syaaban also reminds us that Ramadhan is not far away. As a little girl, I enjoyed myself celebrating the night. That was a good old days.

In my adult age, the last few years I still didn't forget the date of Nisfu Syaaban, but there is no more onde-onde or Puteri Mandi on that night. Until last night, I really, really forgot. Shame on me since I rented a house just infront of the surau. To my excuse, yesterday, my day didn't go well. I seldom lose my temper, but yesterday i was really angry to a girl who didn't send my letter. The letter suppose to be signed by her boss and she should sent the letter to human resource department. I handed the letter one month ago and did the follow up. She conformed that she had sent the letter until yesterday I called human resource department and they checked the file and didn't receive anything. I called her back asking about the letter and she said she had sent the letter. I asked her when? she answered - baru pagi ni. When I asked her what time - she said pukul 10 (that was the time when i called her). Oh my goodness, that letter suppose to be sent one month ago! It happens that is an important letter of my scholarship. Her carelessness might affect my scholarship. For the whole day, I was really not in the mood but is that a good excuse for forgetting Nisfu syaaban or what my mom taught to do on that night?

Who is clever?

One Night 4 College Students Were Playing Till Late Night And Didnt
Study For The Test Which Was Scheduled For The Next Day.

In the morning they thought of a plan. They made themselves look as
dirty and wierd with grease and dirt. They then went up to the Dean and
said that they had gone out to a wedding last night and on their return
the tyre of their car burst and they had to push the car all the way
back and that they were in no condition to appear for the test.
So the Dean said they can have the re-test after 3 days. They thanked
him and said they will be ready by that time.

On the third day they appeared before the Dean. The Dean said that as
this was a Special Condition Test, All four were required to sit in
seperate classrooms for the test.

They all agreed as they had prepared well in the last 3 days.
The Test consisted of 2 questions with the total of 100 Marks.

Q.1. Your Name.........................( 2 MARKS )

Q.2. Which tyre burst ?...............( 98 MARKS )

a) Front Left
b) Front Right
c) Back Left
d) Back Right .....!!!

Jigsaw puzzle

Sometimes What I Needed to Know About Life I Learned From a Jigsaw Puzzle
- Author Unknown

1. Don't force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.

2. When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.

3. Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.

4. Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece.

5. When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back later (see #4).

6. The creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook.

7. Variety is the spice of life. It's the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting.

8. Working together with friends and family makes any task fun.

9. Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.

10. Don't be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches aresurprising.

11. Take time often to celebrate your successes (even little ones).

12. Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can't be rushed.

DECISION II

"The battle of life, in most cases fought uphill and to win it without a struggle is almost like winning without honour. If there were no difficulties, there would be no success; if there would be nothing to struggle for, the would be nothing to achieved. Difficulties may intidimate the weak, but they act as a wholesome stimulus to men of resolution and valor. All experience of life, indeed serves to prove that the impediments thrown in the way of human advancement may, for the most part, be overcome by steady good conduct, honest zeal, activity perseverance and by a determination to overcome difficulties" -EDMUND BURKE

Playing chess taught me a lot of good lessons and philosophy that related to our life. It teaches me about patience, determination, hardwork, preseverance, not to be overconfident and etc. I also learnt about struggle, failure and triumph; while struggle is the thing sought, struggle has its joy and failure is not without its uses. Another important lesson I have to learn is making decision.

Decision! Making a decision is a very important element throughout a chess game.While playing chess, every single steps and movements need a decision. Your decision is crucial. Once you make a wrong decision it may leads you to disaster. If you make a right wise decision you can win the game. However, decision has to be made in the time frame given. Either it is a right or wrong decision, you have to decide with time limitation. Right or wrong you will only realize after you have done it. When we made a wrong decision, we have to strive and rise back and find other solutions. Sometimes will find a solution but sometimes you can see the bad consequences of your decision. Losing hopes while you are still in 'battle' is absolutely losing a game. I remember one of the chess player said to me don't lose hope until your opponent can say 'check mate'

Winning the game is really important to me. The truth is I'm afraid of losing and sometimes I blame myself for making any wrong decisions. I remember when I was 8 years old, I will cry everytime I lose. After few years, the important lesson I learnt from chess actually implies in our life, while making your decision you may win or lose. Leave it to Allah for every decisions you have made. If you lose, don't slip into despair and oblivion. Winning may be important but sometimes learning from losing that we become a greater winner.

teacher

“Teacher is like the sun, which being itself luminous, sheds light; or like the musk which being itself fragrant, makes other objects fragrant. He who possess knowledge but does not practice it is like a notebook, which itself being unintelligent, nevertheless serves as a medium of transmission of knowledge, or like the needle, which while remains naked, serves in making clothes for others, or like the wick of a lamp which burns itself out in giving light for others." (Al-Ghazali, Ihya Ulumudin)

I love teaching. I enjoy myself to be a lecturer. At this moment, I never dream to change my job as what I did in my previous job.

I remembered, when I sent my resignation letter to MCCM and said I wanted to be a lecturer, my collegues in MCCM laughed at me. They said I will be a young, naive lecturer and will be bullied by my students.

I enjoy to be in my classroom with the students. In fact, I told my students it is not just my job but it is my hobby. It’s something that I do, I enjoy and have passion into it and that I happen to get paid for. That doesn’t mean it’s not without its frustrations and downsides. Of course not. But I certainly don’t teach just for the money. And that’s a sentiment shared with my sister (also a lecturer).

Teaching is a process what we are probably involve with and committed to. When you love teaching, you should teach what you love. It is easier and you will be interested in every angles of that subject. You will be full of enthusiasm talking and teaching about it. Entering the classroom each day is a new experience for me because each day brings new challenges and achievements. In my experience, once you step into a classroom, it is just like a magic, I forget about everything outside there and the things matter to me is just what I'm going to talk for that class and the flow of ideas are just like a stream. Magic uhhh.....

Having students excited about my subject is a bonus to me. Sometimes, student can realize or see our excitement or sincerity in teaching them. It is my goal and satisfaction to enrich the student’s lives by increasing their knowledge and educating them in different aspects/situations in life. I feel by teaching and educating others even for a short amount of time is an honour and a privilege in which is a true blessing.