Happy Birthday..Malaysia

Merdeka Day is just like an ordinary day to me.  A public holiday where I needn't have to go to school.  Though I don't have the patriotism spirit in me but that doesn't mean I don't love the country I live in.  I'm pretty much devoted to Malaysia as I don't have the intention to leave her.  I worked hard all my life.  And am contributing my energy to educate the future leaders of the country.  I abide to the law and did my fair share to help the country to prosper.  What's there to complain about me being not showing my patriotism on this day...?

To all Malaysian....Merdeka-Merdeka-Merdeka .....   

Chicky Rice-Ann's Version

In the mood for cooking today.  Therefore, cook up a storm.  Ann's Special Chicky Rice.  It was a east meets west version.  There you are...the picture tells all.

Initially, this was quite bland therefore Ah Boy demanded for an egg. 

Some add on.....fishball and egg plus soup.

Mummy's portion only the plain chicky.  Noticed the home-made garlic chilly sauce.

Two thumbs sign...

Ann's Chicky Soup

The weather seems 'crazy' the past few days with intermittent rain at one moment and then sunny the next.  The sudden changes of temperature would surely makes the body goes mad as well.  Therefore, I decided to boiled soup with chinese herbs which is believe to be emit cooling effect on the body.
It's Double-Boiled Chicken Imperial Soup.  The ingredients are chicken cubes, red berries "kei-chee", dried herbs "yoke chook", quail eggs and of course water.  "Dumped" everything into the saucepan, bring it to boil in moderate heat for 45 minutes.  Serve hot.

This soup relieves the heat and humidity in the body....alleviates sore throat.  Both mother and son enjoyed the soup during dinner just now.  Feeling guilty as I had been performing "lazy cooking" for a month or so as during the period where I was busying with my studies, research, assignments and exams.  My cooking were resorted to instant express meals straight from the cans.  Ya...that was bad.....guilty...guilty.  Ah Boy..please forgive mummy..However today I compensated with a hearty meal.

Drop Dead

It has been a week...or more that I'm feeling a bit demotivated.  Could it be the wanderer ghostly thing that had been circulating my soul..!!!!  I'm feeling pretty worn-out.  Perhaps it's all because of the late nights and tension that I'm experiencing right now...my uni exams and all.

Looks like I needed a break badly to rejuvenate my dead muscles and replenish my soul....
Am feeling like a week cell-battery with no sense of fulfillment. 

My uni exams is still on going.  Tomorrow another paper to go.  HBEF1403 Seni Dalam Pendidikan

The Figure

In conjunction with the Lunar 7th month, definitely the theme for this week's post would be about Ghost.  Hmmmmm...

A couple of days ago, in my school, in our surau...something extraordinary happened.  However, yours truly didn't witness that incident personally.  I just overheard through word of mouth from my students.  OK...children do exaggerate but they do not tell lies.  That's for sure.  Surau is a place of worship for the Muslims, a smaller version of a mosque. 

My students...not 1 but the entire class of 38 enrolment revealed the similar tale.  Ya..all sounded the same.  With 30 over pairs having the same experience, witnessing the similar thing....that made me dare to share here.  It was a Saturday, a gloomy morning after a drizzle earlier.  We went back to school as a replacement for Deepavali break next month.  And the school organized a religious programme catering the Muslim meanwhile the nons had other activities taken care by a group of Chinese/ Indian teachers.  The nons gathered at the school library to take part in colouring and essay writing competition.  Meanwhile the Muslim students assembled at the school hall. 
Later, as I was told....the Muslim students were divided into respective groups.  That was the time, the Year 3 students were asked to go to the surau. 
As soon as the children walked into the surau, the saw the carpet rolling up like a wave.  And the curtains started to sway.  The girls screamed and the boys ran helter skelter out of the room. Suddenly, they saw a dark figure at one corner, with horns and tails, you know like those monsters usually appeared in Ultraman's sequel.  It stood there motionless for a minute and disappeared.  Most of the kids fell sick the following days.  According to our school's senior ustaz, that so called thing was a malaikat who showed its' presence not to harm anyone.  Hmmmm... no comments.

  

Lunar 7th Month Festival

                       Courtesy of the Star-Kee's World 16 August 2010

It's the time of the month again.  Hungry Ghost Festival.  Scarry....
This month is Lunar Calender's 7th month....marks the period of our Hungry Ghost Festival. In Malaysia, one'll noticed many Chinese people offering offering their prayers using huge joss sticks, burning Hell currency at every crook and corner.  Aplenty of foods were offered like a feast. It is obvious that Hungry Ghost Festival is rather important among the Chinese people esp the Taoist.

Hmmmm...GHOST are you afraid of them ?  During this period, the Cninese believed that we need to to appease "them"  so that "they" do not hurt us.  Makeshift stages were erected with tong tong chiang..opera show,  or even the sexy clad singers lunging their heart rendering oldies ago-go.   

For this month, many would avoid watching Horror movies, so the scarrie feelings doesn't lingers till midnight.....ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Take a Break

Taking a good rest now.   Sunday spells SLEEPS only.

Super Tired

I'm super exhausted right now, after sitting for two exams papers !  3 and half hour each.  Both papers are well 'equipt' with theories.  Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics drove me NUTS.  Am glad that I'm now done with both papers.  The Broca's and Wernicke's areas of my brain are badly bruised now.  Feeling the pain though can't be notice with bare eyes.  Need a CT scan..huh !!!  Still have to 'stuff' the damage brain cells with another module @ HBHE 1203 - Health Education......tomorrow @ 2pm.

Okie..gotta get back to my notes.  See ya   

Super Tension

I am super tension !!!

Lucky Bamboo

The Chinese Feng Shui believes that placing lucky charms around specific areas in the home or workplace would harmonize one's life with that of the natural elements.

As a results, yours truly decided to put some lucky bamboo branches along the balcony with the hope that it may attracts the good vibes and provide her with lots of A ssss in her coming exams.  I want A ssssss, ya I'm starving for distinctions.  I wanna get good grades so that I could maintain my 3.6 pointers. In order to do so, I need to score at least a A- or paling teruk pun a B+ in all the 4 papers that I'm taking this semester. 

Some expert told me that bamboo symbolises good grades.  Therefore, I need lots of bamboo to obtain good grades.  Well....that could be some kind of superstitious but no hard trying my luck.  I understand that if I don't study, means I can't answer well.  But who knows...I have this luck coming from these bamboo....haha. 

I must have gone crazy with my revision.  This Friday the 13th is the DAY.  Psycholinguistics and Sociolinguistics fall on the same day.  Hopefully, my brain doesn't get mixed up with these confusing theories.  Looking forward to fight the DAY with excellent anticipations.  Ann is really to fight the battle. 


My Bamboo Charms

Octopus Paul

Am seeking Octopus Paul to spot my exams questions...!!  Since this lil Sotong seems so good at predicting things...why not asking him to spot what questions are gonna come out in my exams...
Really can't remember so much theories.  Had been experiencing this "Read this forget that" syndrome.  Read over and again and yet unable to remember.  Too much theories lah...

Though, I'm confident to pass my exams but I'm aiming for A ssss.  I looked forward to obtain another Dean List this semester. 

Studying

I've exactly 7 days to 'stuff-in' all the theories and facts into my lil coconut ...ya my Psycholinguistics, Sociolinguistics and Health Education papers.
To tell the truth, I haven't been concentrating on my revision, thus far I had been busy with my thesis paper.  I do have problems remembering facts especially this semester where I'm taking a theorically inclined papers like linguistics subjects.  To make matter worst, both papers will commence on the same day !  My uni is rather "inconsiderate" to hold two heavy papers on the similiar day.  Mind you...these papers are full of theories and many of them are overlapped which may cause confusion among the students espcially yours truly.  This coming Friday the 13th...is gonna be a tough taxing day for me. 

I do hope that I do not get tanggled up wit the theories.  Oh boy...my lil coconut ! 

You see, I tried to study the 1st chapter over and again but seems to kept on forgetting  them as I move to the next chapter.  Hence, it's back to square 1. 
   
Is there a concise manner for remembering facts ...I wonder !!!


Having a condusive place to study...hmmm I do have one which is quiet and secluded.  I knew I'm unable to handle distractions while studying, that's why allocated a room in my lil abode solely for studies...with totally no computer nor Wifi.  I banned food in here too.  With just a table and comfortable cushionated chair, air conditioned and bright lighting.  Perfect environment for deep concentrations.

But..but but.....how come I'm still unable to study well in here ?  What's wrong with me ?     


I knew that "Success does not come without effort!"
Therefore, I'm prepared to sacrifice.  Sacrifice what...ya..my time, my Internet, my TV, my fun time...and all.  Patience and determination...I have loads of it.  hahahhh...am pretty adamant to get good grades...if possible First Class Honours.

Kept reminding myself...that I'm capable of obtaining flying rainbow colours.  I want the Dean List....I want...I want..

Study tips from experts...I have done mind mapping, various short notes...and somehow the facts just refuse to stick onto my lil coconut.  Colourful notes, highlighted notes....didn't help either.

Mnemonics of important points to ease memorisation....only helped a bit. 

And when I thought I was the auditory person, so I recorded my voice and hear them through MP3....but still gain nothing.  And then I thought I was visual kind....   

Nothing works....oh gosh...it's ain't easy having a rustic brain.  The system is slow.  Or perhaps storage space not enough. Whatever it is...I still need to study.  Alright, Ann...log off and get back to your revision now..  Am not supposed to blog during such crucial moments....

Another hurdle

The highlight of my 4 year study is probably my thesis paper.  And I'm glad that I've manage to produce one recently.  Am proud of myself (wink-wink).  Do you know that I did all that basically on my own.  It's ain't easy for a first time like yours truly.  Started everything from scratch of zero knowledge.  From writing endless literature reviews, creating research methodology that could provide reliable datas to statistics analysis.  Hey...they aren't easy for 'senior students' like us.  I had to read up or surf for resources....
As part timers, I need to juggle my many hats_ all in a row~ multi-tasking between my teaching job, mummy duties and my other assignments.  Am fortunate to have helpful people around to help when time was limited. 
Months passed without me realizing, and finally...tadaaaa...the completion of my research paper.  Summitted to my lecturer a couple of days ago....what a relieve.   
 
Now that I've finished that difficult paper..... the next challenge will be my final exams @ 13 August.   This is another gruelling hurdle I've to face..... !  This semester, I have 3 papers back to back in 2 days.  Theorical papers like Sociolinguistics and Psycholinguistics on the same day@ 3 hours each.  And the following day, Health Education Pedagogy.  Imagine...TWO heavily laiden theorical papers scheduled on the same day.  Expecting my brain to absorb the varied language theories and then regurgitate them onto my answer sheets.  Hopefyllt, my lil coconut doesn't get 'diarrhoea' over the mixture of theories.  Am worry that I gotten mixed up with the theories.....

Hmmmmmm., still have one week to swallow as much my brain could....wish me luck..la
 

Mission Accomplished

The moment I summitted my thesis paper to my lecturer...it was like a total relieve ..all of a sudden my shoulders became light as feathers.  I've gladly completed all the neccesary assignments for this semester.  And the best part, I completed my research paper way before the due date!  A great acomplishment.

A month ago, things was real bad.  My proposal was rejected.  Had to rewrite my literature review.  My tutor disagreed with my  research methodolody.  She demanded a different questionnaire.  This meant that 3/4 of my draft was out.  Arghhhhh 

1001 things circling through my mind.  Everything went kaput..when I struggled to write.  Blank...aimless...

Emotionally, I just want to write it and shove it through the hole. If it comes back, rewrite it and shove it through again … after three or four times … maybe it’s done.
Intellectually, I won’t be able to do that. I’ll have to do my best. But, can I get it done on time?  And that was "all-day, all-night efforts … with naps and food only". (Oh yeah, water, too.) As one person put it (and I laughed) “research prison.”.  Juggling between my teaching job and completing my paper...

Finally, I could breathe the air of relieve... 

These are all my hardwork.

The 3 main assignments for this semester

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Another assignment...where I designed a teaching kit complete with CDs, storyboard and manuals. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The research paper summitted to my supervisor.  The original hard cover one is still pending at the binding shop. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Now that everything is done, I'm preparing myself for my final exams @ 13 August.  Wish me luck.