I attended my Counselling and Helping Skills class yesterday. I really enjoyed the session because I got a chance to talk about a lot of things. Especially in reflecting my own personality, experience, etc. and then relate it to the counselling concept or theories. Yesterday we discussed about ‘self’ and ‘selves’.
Simply said, it’s like this, in our daily life, we have different personalities and they seem to transform every time, depend on the circles we are with. Whether it the circles of friends, professionals, family and others. For example, when I’m with my colleague, I tend to be more friendly-less talkative-type woman, but when I’m with my family, I’ll be more stubborn yet fun-type girl. What my lecturer's saying is that we are not just ‘one’ but there are ‘multiple’ of us in ourselves.
Well, to me I can compare this 'self' and 'selves' scenario to an actor/actress life. Actor/actress play different roles on screen but people don't know who they really are in real life. I guess it's the same thing with us. Our friends, families, colleague may know who we are but only us who knows our true selves.
Looking at this from counselling perspective, a counsellor must understand, realise and accept the fact that their client has multiply personalities, especially now that we are living in the complex-global environment. At the end of the lecture, our lecturer asked us a question, what are the criteria of a good counsellor that suit the post-modern community that have multiply personality?
Open minded, positive, active listener, trustworthy, are some of the answers from the class. Well, to add one to that list, I think one of the important criteria a counsellor should have is not to be judgemental. We tend to be judgemental when we met new people. I knew one boy who I went with in secondary school. He’s so quite, a loner. Always walk alone by himself. I don’t think I have ever talk to him. Few years ago, I met him at a reception. I didn’t recognize it was him until he approached me and to my surprise, he even remembered my name. He introduced me to his mother who’s a foreigner. Comes to think of it, I realise maybe he’s not a loner, maybe he just had a problem in communicating in Malay language since his mother is a foreigner. Had I not been so judgemental, maybe I’d have a chance to know him better and be friends with him. At least, perhaps I could share some laughter because I seldom see his smile back on those days.
I guess it’s true when Mother Theresa said that "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
What is it with love? (Ada apa dengan cinta?)
It’s 14th February.. love is in the air.. I picked some interesting things about love from my cousin’s blog, Hang Lucky. I just love it.
"What does love mean?" To understand true love we have to see it through the eyes of children. A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds. The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
I didn’t put all the answers here. Only some of my favourites:
Rebecca - age 8 "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Nikka - age 6"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."
Chris - age 7"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsome than Robert Redford."
Tommy - age 6"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Danny - 7"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Children are pure philosopher, I would say. I’d say I couldn’t even describe love better than they do. Haven’t met the true love myself… My other half, is still out there.. Hah… Tough luck, as if I ever could find one. But who knows, right? Miracles do happen. My best friend shared her story once when she was told that she was choosy in finding Mr. Right. She fired back and said, “Of course I was choosy, aren’t you all? Aren’t you choosy when you buy fish at the market? You choose the best, aren’t you? That is something you eat and it disappears within minutes. This is someone I have to share my life with for the rest of my life. Of course I had the right to be choosy”. Way you go girl!!..
Well, my definition of love is… love is like life itself. It can exists unexpectedly, it’s sweet in the early years, it can last longer if you really take care for it, it’s more precious and complicated when you gets older and it can dies suddenly without you having the answer why, but you really need it because without it, you'll never survive....
"What does love mean?" To understand true love we have to see it through the eyes of children. A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds. The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
I didn’t put all the answers here. Only some of my favourites:
Rebecca - age 8 "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."
Nikka - age 6"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."
Chris - age 7"Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsome than Robert Redford."
Tommy - age 6"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."
Danny - 7"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."
Children are pure philosopher, I would say. I’d say I couldn’t even describe love better than they do. Haven’t met the true love myself… My other half, is still out there.. Hah… Tough luck, as if I ever could find one. But who knows, right? Miracles do happen. My best friend shared her story once when she was told that she was choosy in finding Mr. Right. She fired back and said, “Of course I was choosy, aren’t you all? Aren’t you choosy when you buy fish at the market? You choose the best, aren’t you? That is something you eat and it disappears within minutes. This is someone I have to share my life with for the rest of my life. Of course I had the right to be choosy”. Way you go girl!!..
Well, my definition of love is… love is like life itself. It can exists unexpectedly, it’s sweet in the early years, it can last longer if you really take care for it, it’s more precious and complicated when you gets older and it can dies suddenly without you having the answer why, but you really need it because without it, you'll never survive....
Feel Like Cryin'?...
I love to watch television comedy series. Home Improvements (HIM), My Wife And Kids (MYWIKS), 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughters (8SMS), to name a few are among my favourites. But why in the world did I cry yesterday when I watched HIM, MYWIKS and 8SMS, instead of laughing? It’s all because of those beautiful words they said to each other. For example like “I love you more now than the day I married you”, or “I don’t think I’ve apologise enough for the things I’ve said to you” (HIM), “You’re not only the man of this house, but you’re the man of my heart” (MYWIKS). It’s so sweet that it put tears in my eyes…
Yesterday, during my CHS class, we did some discussion about Normal Behaviour and Abnormal Behaviour. One of my lists about Normal Behaviour is its normal to feel sad and cry. I cried when my aunt (father’s youngest sister) and uncle (mother’s youngest brother) passed away, I cried when I won the first prize for my first radio drama script, I cried with my two Thailand friends when we watched Armageddon, back in 1998 in Singapore, I cried with my two Bruneian friends when we watched Babul, in Reading a few months ago. So, I guess there's no harm in crying... it's a universal feeling...
I’d like to share some information about crying written by Victor M. Parachin, which can be found on this site: http://www.cyquest.com/good_cry.html
Why do people often feel better after crying? Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Colorado Medical School, works primarily with people who are mourning loved ones. "In my experience," he says, "I have observed changes in the physical expressions following the expression of tears. Not only do people feel better after crying, they also look better." And according to Dr. William Frey, a biochemist and director of the Dry Eye and Tear Research Centre in Minneapolis, Minn., one reason people might feel better after crying could be because they are "removing, in their tears, chemicals that build up during emotional stress." Frey’s research indicates that tears, along with other bodily secretions like perspiration, rid the body of various toxins and wastes.
Should tears be controlled? The simple answer is no. Very few people cry for the wrong reasons. Consider the man who rushed his daughter to a local hospital after she experienced a severe fall. Because tears were pouring down his cheeks, the emergency room doctor ordered the young father to stop crying. Clearly, the doctor was wrong. Most people would do well to cry more often, and scientists as well as therapists and doctors are beginning to concur.
Can we cry too often? There is, in fact, only one word of caution about crying. Says one psychotherapist, "People who cry easily should feel glad they’re in touch with their feelings. But if they’re crying a lot in response to criticism, they should try to get some counselling. This kind of crying is an alarm bell of a far deeper hurt; it could signify a loss of self-esteem that is triggered whenever anyone says anything negative."
So to all of you out there, cry as you feel like it. I’m pretty sure you know when to stop. Here’s a story I copied from my cousin blog (Thanks Hang Lucky!). A 4 year old child whose next door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry." So sweet, isn’t it…
Yesterday, during my CHS class, we did some discussion about Normal Behaviour and Abnormal Behaviour. One of my lists about Normal Behaviour is its normal to feel sad and cry. I cried when my aunt (father’s youngest sister) and uncle (mother’s youngest brother) passed away, I cried when I won the first prize for my first radio drama script, I cried with my two Thailand friends when we watched Armageddon, back in 1998 in Singapore, I cried with my two Bruneian friends when we watched Babul, in Reading a few months ago. So, I guess there's no harm in crying... it's a universal feeling...
I’d like to share some information about crying written by Victor M. Parachin, which can be found on this site: http://www.cyquest.com/good_cry.html
Why do people often feel better after crying? Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Colorado Medical School, works primarily with people who are mourning loved ones. "In my experience," he says, "I have observed changes in the physical expressions following the expression of tears. Not only do people feel better after crying, they also look better." And according to Dr. William Frey, a biochemist and director of the Dry Eye and Tear Research Centre in Minneapolis, Minn., one reason people might feel better after crying could be because they are "removing, in their tears, chemicals that build up during emotional stress." Frey’s research indicates that tears, along with other bodily secretions like perspiration, rid the body of various toxins and wastes.
Should tears be controlled? The simple answer is no. Very few people cry for the wrong reasons. Consider the man who rushed his daughter to a local hospital after she experienced a severe fall. Because tears were pouring down his cheeks, the emergency room doctor ordered the young father to stop crying. Clearly, the doctor was wrong. Most people would do well to cry more often, and scientists as well as therapists and doctors are beginning to concur.
Can we cry too often? There is, in fact, only one word of caution about crying. Says one psychotherapist, "People who cry easily should feel glad they’re in touch with their feelings. But if they’re crying a lot in response to criticism, they should try to get some counselling. This kind of crying is an alarm bell of a far deeper hurt; it could signify a loss of self-esteem that is triggered whenever anyone says anything negative."
So to all of you out there, cry as you feel like it. I’m pretty sure you know when to stop. Here’s a story I copied from my cousin blog (Thanks Hang Lucky!). A 4 year old child whose next door neighbour was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry." So sweet, isn’t it…
Friday, February 09, 2007
Changing the unchanged
Yesterday morning I attended a Behaviour Management class. It’s all about how teachers manage the behaviour of their pupils more effectively.
It makes me flashbacked to my school days memories, when my behaviour, sort of gave my teachers bit of headache. I was not totally rebellious, but I’ve had those moments when I had been called by the senior teacher or discipline master. I escaped from class, didn’t attend a class test, made noise during assembly when the principal gave his speech, asked for 20 cents when my teacher asked me to read a passage in history class and other silly-funny stuffs.
One event I could not forget was during a history test in my secondary 3, when the teacher asked us to write an essay about Sarajevo Incident. What I wrote was “I am sorry sir. I don’t know anything about Sarajevo Incident. I was not born when the incident happened”. Now, after more than 20 years, I still could not stop thinking (and smiling at the same time), why am I pulling that silly stunt. Well, I had to stand in front of the classroom the entire period, and got a zero-mark for that creative answer. I know it’s nothing to be proud of… well… I guess when you’re young, happy-go-lucky and free-spirited kind of girl, you just feel like doing ‘crazy-fun’ things in life.
But one day, I was called to the principal’s office after one incident. I thought he’s going to scold me or punish me, well… then it turned out to be more like a heart-to-heart talk session. He acted more like a fatherly figure than a principal, who genuinely asked me what actually I really wanted to do in life. Not even the discipline master treated me with such kindness. He’s really a great leader, it’s no doubt, currently, he’s one of the prominent figures who held a high position in Brunei. I believed that, the less-than 30-minutes session was the turning point that made me what I am today.
So, if I was asked does managing student behaviour really important? From past experience, I would say yes. It’s not only a matter of the children’s behaviour within the classroom walls but it’s the tale of their life that goes after that which makes a difference.
“Many aspire to change the world but few realize that everyone accomplishes that goal. Each day you live you are changing something. Rather than simply changing the world, one should aspire to make a positive change with each action they commit” - Anon
It makes me flashbacked to my school days memories, when my behaviour, sort of gave my teachers bit of headache. I was not totally rebellious, but I’ve had those moments when I had been called by the senior teacher or discipline master. I escaped from class, didn’t attend a class test, made noise during assembly when the principal gave his speech, asked for 20 cents when my teacher asked me to read a passage in history class and other silly-funny stuffs.
One event I could not forget was during a history test in my secondary 3, when the teacher asked us to write an essay about Sarajevo Incident. What I wrote was “I am sorry sir. I don’t know anything about Sarajevo Incident. I was not born when the incident happened”. Now, after more than 20 years, I still could not stop thinking (and smiling at the same time), why am I pulling that silly stunt. Well, I had to stand in front of the classroom the entire period, and got a zero-mark for that creative answer. I know it’s nothing to be proud of… well… I guess when you’re young, happy-go-lucky and free-spirited kind of girl, you just feel like doing ‘crazy-fun’ things in life.
But one day, I was called to the principal’s office after one incident. I thought he’s going to scold me or punish me, well… then it turned out to be more like a heart-to-heart talk session. He acted more like a fatherly figure than a principal, who genuinely asked me what actually I really wanted to do in life. Not even the discipline master treated me with such kindness. He’s really a great leader, it’s no doubt, currently, he’s one of the prominent figures who held a high position in Brunei. I believed that, the less-than 30-minutes session was the turning point that made me what I am today.
So, if I was asked does managing student behaviour really important? From past experience, I would say yes. It’s not only a matter of the children’s behaviour within the classroom walls but it’s the tale of their life that goes after that which makes a difference.
“Many aspire to change the world but few realize that everyone accomplishes that goal. Each day you live you are changing something. Rather than simply changing the world, one should aspire to make a positive change with each action they commit” - Anon
Life Is Difficult
Life is difficult. Our lecturer in Counselling and Helping Skills quoted the first sentence of a novel in our first class last Monday. Is life really difficult? Well, each and every of us has a story of our own. We all face the ups and downs in life. I would say, it takes a lot of courage, braveness, patience, resilience, open-heartedness and positive mind to lead a happy, peaceful and fulfilling life. Simply said, well… life is really difficult.
I did not intend to share all the things that I’ve gone through in life… I believe other people may have gone through harder obstacles than I do. That’s what I’d like to think of whenever I get into difficulties. One of my mentor said to me, “When you have problems, do not look up to the people above you who possess everything, but look down to those who are less fortunate than you and you’ll find the courage to face whatever hurdles you may stumble into in life”.
I always watch television programmes about people facing hardships in life and read real-life stories, where sometimes you can’t imagine that it could ever happened to anybody. For example, a story about parents who lost three of their children that hanged themselves in their teen days, a husband who lost his wife and four kids when their car plunged in a river, a child severely abused and beaten to death by their own relatives and lots more.
I think by learning and comprehending about other people’s experience in life, you’ll feel stronger and will look at life with a more positive perspective. A versus in the holy Quran says “Allah the almighty, will never give you the burden that you could not endure”. I strongly believe that.
I did not intend to share all the things that I’ve gone through in life… I believe other people may have gone through harder obstacles than I do. That’s what I’d like to think of whenever I get into difficulties. One of my mentor said to me, “When you have problems, do not look up to the people above you who possess everything, but look down to those who are less fortunate than you and you’ll find the courage to face whatever hurdles you may stumble into in life”.
I always watch television programmes about people facing hardships in life and read real-life stories, where sometimes you can’t imagine that it could ever happened to anybody. For example, a story about parents who lost three of their children that hanged themselves in their teen days, a husband who lost his wife and four kids when their car plunged in a river, a child severely abused and beaten to death by their own relatives and lots more.
I think by learning and comprehending about other people’s experience in life, you’ll feel stronger and will look at life with a more positive perspective. A versus in the holy Quran says “Allah the almighty, will never give you the burden that you could not endure”. I strongly believe that.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Handwriting and Our Personality
The handwriting in this picture belong to my nephew, Aziz. He’s really into Wrestling and adores John Cena very much. He came to visit me in Nottingham last December with the rest of the family. I really missed them now that they’ve gone back. Talking about handwriting, I always envy my father who has a very nice handwriting and can do Arabic calligraphy. Mine is straight-line, unconnected, kind-of round figures handwrite and unchanged since my school days. One of Malaysia's well-known counsellor, Dato Dr Fadzillah Kamsah, describe someone who has unchanged handwriting as someone who’s not easily influenced by others, stick to her personality and principle. I don’t know if that’s entirely true… some of it maybe. I’m kind of stubborn at times.
Here’s some interesting information about handwriting and how it describe our personality, which I found in one of the web page.
Here’s some interesting information about handwriting and how it describe our personality, which I found in one of the web page.
BACKWARD - indicates that you are shy and afraid to show your feelings, hesitant.
STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN - indicates that you are a person with a strong need for contact
FULLY CONNECTED - indicates that you are a social person who likes to talk and meet others.
FULLY CONNECTED - indicates that you are a social person who likes to talk and meet others.
PARTIALLY CONNECTED - indicates that you are a shy, idealistic person who does not find it easy to have relationships, especially intimate ones.
UNCONNECTED - indicates that you are a person who thinks before acting, intelligent and thorough.
WIDE SPACES - indicates that you are reserved, shy, cautious, and thoughtful.
WIDE SPACES - indicates that you are reserved, shy, cautious, and thoughtful.
NARROW SPACES - indicates that you are a talkative person, maybe even a busybody!
NO SPACES - indicates that you are not very reserved, impatient, self-confident and fond of action
VERY FAR APART - indicates that you are isolated, detached, reserved, maybe even antisocial.
APART FAR ENOUGH THAT LETTERS DO NOT TOUCH - indicates that you are a person who is uneconomical and talkative.
Why is it important for us to know about our personality through our handwriting? Well, according to Dato’, personality is something that can be changed and influenced. So, we can actually change or influence our behaviour or personality by changing the way we write. Try to write something now… if the spaces is very far apart this shows that you are isolated, reserved and maybe even antisocial. So, try to change your handwriting to narrow the spaces down. Maybe in times, it can make you be a more talkative person, but try not to be too busybody!
Comes to think about this handwriting stuff, I wonder if our preference of FONT when using computer does indicate anything? Hmm… Yes, I think it does….
Why is it important for us to know about our personality through our handwriting? Well, according to Dato’, personality is something that can be changed and influenced. So, we can actually change or influence our behaviour or personality by changing the way we write. Try to write something now… if the spaces is very far apart this shows that you are isolated, reserved and maybe even antisocial. So, try to change your handwriting to narrow the spaces down. Maybe in times, it can make you be a more talkative person, but try not to be too busybody!
Comes to think about this handwriting stuff, I wonder if our preference of FONT when using computer does indicate anything? Hmm… Yes, I think it does….
Singing and Public Apperance
Jangan Berhenti Mencintai Ku (Don’t Stop Loving Me) by an Indonesian singer, Titi DJ is my favourite song. I don’t know why that song put tears in my eyes… the first few lyric… “Jangan berhenti mencintaiku, Meski mentari berhenti bersinar, Jangan berubah sedikit pun, Di dalam Cintamu Kutemukan Bahagia…” I’ll try translate it, hope I get it right... well it means something like this… “Please don’t stop loving me, even when the sun no longer shine, please don’t ever change, in your love I find happiness”. Isn’t it lovely?...
I enjoy music. In fact, I love to sing. My first experience singing on stage was in form 6 (back in 1989?). I sang a song called ‘Kau Merubah Segalanya’, by a Malaysian singer, Fauziah Latif. But my most memorable experience on stage, I would say, would be the one when I sang with the Malaysian Diva, Siti Nurhaliza (now Datuk Siti Nurhaliza), at Jerudong Park Amphitheatre. It’s really a wonderful memory…It’s not that I’m a professional singer or whatsoever, if that’s what you all think, I just happened to be challanged by my sisters and cousins to go on stage when Datuk Siti invited the audience to sing with her on stage.
Well, I’ve appeared in several programme on our local tv few years ago, ‘Dian Hijrah’, ‘Isra’ Mikraj’ & others. I joined quite a few singing competition, live on tv, during national or royal celebrations and others. It’s really fun. My last appearance on stage was last December when I joined the Brumanch Talentime in Manchester(in traditional category). One of the girls asked me, how do you feel when you’re on stage? Don’t you have stage fright? I said, yes, I do but only for the first few minutes. Then I start enjoying it and present the best that I could… eventhough sometimes… it’s not really good… ha…
I do agree though that public appearance is not really everyone’s favourite thing to do. It’s not a born-with talent, you have to learn and practice it. That’s why I and my family, (we have a committee member called Usratu As-Saidah which means happy family), like to organise a family show or celebration, so that all the children can show their talent, singing, dancing on stage. We even have organised an ‘Akademi Fantasia/American Idol’-type of show where 12 children sing and act like their idol. It’s fun to watch their video…I think the youngest participant was actually less than 5 years old at that time.
So those out there who have problems with public appearance, just keep on rehearsing and practicing… practice makes perfect…you’ll never know unless you try.
"A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making a first effort." - Sydney Smith
I enjoy music. In fact, I love to sing. My first experience singing on stage was in form 6 (back in 1989?). I sang a song called ‘Kau Merubah Segalanya’, by a Malaysian singer, Fauziah Latif. But my most memorable experience on stage, I would say, would be the one when I sang with the Malaysian Diva, Siti Nurhaliza (now Datuk Siti Nurhaliza), at Jerudong Park Amphitheatre. It’s really a wonderful memory…It’s not that I’m a professional singer or whatsoever, if that’s what you all think, I just happened to be challanged by my sisters and cousins to go on stage when Datuk Siti invited the audience to sing with her on stage.
Well, I’ve appeared in several programme on our local tv few years ago, ‘Dian Hijrah’, ‘Isra’ Mikraj’ & others. I joined quite a few singing competition, live on tv, during national or royal celebrations and others. It’s really fun. My last appearance on stage was last December when I joined the Brumanch Talentime in Manchester(in traditional category). One of the girls asked me, how do you feel when you’re on stage? Don’t you have stage fright? I said, yes, I do but only for the first few minutes. Then I start enjoying it and present the best that I could… eventhough sometimes… it’s not really good… ha…
I do agree though that public appearance is not really everyone’s favourite thing to do. It’s not a born-with talent, you have to learn and practice it. That’s why I and my family, (we have a committee member called Usratu As-Saidah which means happy family), like to organise a family show or celebration, so that all the children can show their talent, singing, dancing on stage. We even have organised an ‘Akademi Fantasia/American Idol’-type of show where 12 children sing and act like their idol. It’s fun to watch their video…I think the youngest participant was actually less than 5 years old at that time.
So those out there who have problems with public appearance, just keep on rehearsing and practicing… practice makes perfect…you’ll never know unless you try.
"A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making a first effort." - Sydney Smith
Friday, January 26, 2007
me and memory
I didn't realise it's November that I last write in this blog... it's January now... 2007.. and I still thought it's 2006 because I said to myself today... what a nice number today, its 26 january 2006. Then, it came to me that it's already 2007. My... what an absent-minded I am..
I'm well-known for my forgetfulness.... my family, friends...nothing will surprise them...There was time when I drove my car and didn't realise that my umbrella was still hanging on the side mirror.... and I thought the guy driving next to my car was smiling because he like me!. There were other events too when I left my car door open, forgot my car keys hanging on the trunk lids, forgot my passport when we're going to Miri... ha.. I could write about my scatterbrained longer than my 5,000 assignments...
It's funny though how human brain work... despite my forgetfulness, I could remember hundreds of phone numbers, date of birth, identity card numbers of my family & friends... I don't know how but I just have a technique of putting two and two together... for example, our postcode number is BC2715. So I just keep in my mind that the postcode is a combination of my date of birth and my sister's. Or two of my cousin/friend's birth date falls on the 11 September...the 11 September!!....My sister's association membership no. is 2438 that's the same as my uncle's car licence 438, or my teacher in the secondary 5 phone number is 4481511, when he told me about it twenty years ago, he said to me 4+4 equal to 8 and 1511 (Portugese capture Malacca).
I guess it's just easier to remember things when it can be related to something. Thomas Nissen, a Danish psychologist called it cumulative learning. It occur when you learn something off by heart, or invent a connection to something that you know.
I called it my other not-so-forgetful memory...
I'm well-known for my forgetfulness.... my family, friends...nothing will surprise them...There was time when I drove my car and didn't realise that my umbrella was still hanging on the side mirror.... and I thought the guy driving next to my car was smiling because he like me!. There were other events too when I left my car door open, forgot my car keys hanging on the trunk lids, forgot my passport when we're going to Miri... ha.. I could write about my scatterbrained longer than my 5,000 assignments...
It's funny though how human brain work... despite my forgetfulness, I could remember hundreds of phone numbers, date of birth, identity card numbers of my family & friends... I don't know how but I just have a technique of putting two and two together... for example, our postcode number is BC2715. So I just keep in my mind that the postcode is a combination of my date of birth and my sister's. Or two of my cousin/friend's birth date falls on the 11 September...the 11 September!!....My sister's association membership no. is 2438 that's the same as my uncle's car licence 438, or my teacher in the secondary 5 phone number is 4481511, when he told me about it twenty years ago, he said to me 4+4 equal to 8 and 1511 (Portugese capture Malacca).
I guess it's just easier to remember things when it can be related to something. Thomas Nissen, a Danish psychologist called it cumulative learning. It occur when you learn something off by heart, or invent a connection to something that you know.
I called it my other not-so-forgetful memory...
Friday, November 10, 2006
10th Nov, in my room, fresh after a good night sleep. I sit in front of my computer and start to write my assignment. Lots of questions pop up on mind. I stopped writing and read my brief paragraph through. Am I on the right track, have I understand the question correctly? What if I didn’t?
And then come anxiety, will I be able to argue it critically, provide strong evidence, use academic vocabulary and etc…..Urgh..… a big sigh!.... I need to read some more articles to support my arguments. I need to focus and concentrate.
Oprah Winfrey said : Energy is the essence of life. Everyday you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, by maintaining focus (O Magazine, July 2003).
I got up. I need to make my cup of coffee. Maybe by then I can continue on my assignment again and maintain my focus.
And then come anxiety, will I be able to argue it critically, provide strong evidence, use academic vocabulary and etc…..Urgh..… a big sigh!.... I need to read some more articles to support my arguments. I need to focus and concentrate.
Oprah Winfrey said : Energy is the essence of life. Everyday you decide how you're going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, by maintaining focus (O Magazine, July 2003).
I got up. I need to make my cup of coffee. Maybe by then I can continue on my assignment again and maintain my focus.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Developing creativity
Assalamualaikum and Hello everybody…
It’s been quite some time since I last write on this blog. Well, actually I do love writing, especially creative writing, it’s my passion. I write short stories, radio and tv scripts but it’s all in malay though. I’ve never tried to write in English. I send my stories/scripts to our local paper and tv station. When my first 13-series drama script was broadcast on tv, I was so delighted and nervous at the same time.
Creativity is the theme topic I chose to talk about this time. Creativity in Wiktionary means the quality or ability to create or invent something, originality. Some people think, creativity is a gift or born-talent. Well, maybe it’s true to those renowned lifetime legend, like Shakespeare, Mozart, Leonardo Da Vinci, etc…etc…
But researchers also believe that creativity can be build, enhanced and nurtured through hard work, mistakes, observation, experiments, experiences, critical thinking and etc. Everybody has the ability to be creative and should have all the opportunity to develop their creativity. So, it’s the responsibility of teachers, parents and communities to cultivate, foster and develop the creativity in the life of their children/students.
There are many ways of developing creativity. Asking silly questions for an instance, yes probably, you’ll get silly answer but maybe creative, in a way. I’m sure with ICT and other multimedia as a tool, it will be a more interesting and motivational process.
So teachers, parents & friends… keep the goals high… who knows you may create another Einstein or Beethoven in the future?
Here’s an inspirational quotation from the man himself ;
"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world."-Albert Einstein
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Thousand miles away from home....
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Assalamualaikum and Hello Everybody...
I feel homesick today out of the blue.. it's because I just talk to my sisters, nephew (Harris) and niece (Hessa), via a 3G phone this afternoon. It's lovely what technology can do today. Eventhough they're thousands miles away from me, it seems that they're so near and I could talk and see them directly as if they're just next door.
I remembered when my aunt and uncles studied in UK in the 1980's, we hardly receive any news from them. When my aunt came back home from UK, I eagerly waited for her at the airport and I just looked at her, admiring her cream brownish dress with small roses design, her nice wavy shoulder length haircut and her fair skin.
Nowadays, I called my family every week via phone, or sms or e-mail them and my friends... like everyday... well, thanks to all those scientists, inventors, ICT specialists, engineers, etc for pioneering the creative and innovative inventions.
Communication certainly has changed tremendously over the years. From the era of traditional/manual communication (horses, on foot etc) to the era of telecommunication or mass communication (telephones, telegraph, radio, tv, internet, sattelite, www, etc).
Comes to think of it... Do you think these superb technology has taken over human life?Hmmm... I wonder what's today's life will be without tv, computers, play station, mp3, internet, etc...? Well, whatever it is, traditional or advanced technology, it has both advantages and disadvantages.
And I do agree with this quotation from Antoine...technology do bring all the people together.
" Transport of the mails, transport of the human voice, transport of flickering pictures— in this century, as in others, our highest accomplishments still have the single aim of bringing men together" -Antoine De Saint-Exupery, "Terre des Hommes" (translated into English as "Wind, Sand, and Stars"), 1939
Monday, October 23, 2006
Eid, Technology and Forgiveness
Hi All There...
It's the first day of Syawal... Selamat Hari Raya or 'Eid Mubarak' to all my muslim friends. I spent my first day of Eid in London today. We've 'takbir' and prayer at 8.30 am at Brunei Hall. I didn't want to think about Hari Raya so much because it'll make me sad especially the moment where I usually asked for forgiveness from my loving parents and family. I didn't want to be so melancholy in this blog so I better not talk about it. Maybe I should talk more about how Hari Raya or Eid has changed with the development of technology.
First, about Hari Raya Card or Eid Greetings. Nowadays, people don't send Hari Raya Card as they do before. I still remember I used to order the printing of my Hari Raya Card months before Eid. After quite some time, I didn't order them anymore. I just print my own Hari Raya card using my PC. I even put poems or my family pictures to put more personal touch on them. Nowadays, E-Card is more popular as it's easier, convenient, accessible and available on-line for free. It's just only a click away. SMS and MMS is also a popular media for sending Hari Raya greeting.. I received lots of sms and mms from families and friends back home. But, no matter what media people use, what matters most is the thoughtfulness & rememberance, right?...
Secondly, about the foods, biscuits or cakes. My grandma used to make all those Ketupat and rendang (a traditional food) and stayed up all night preparing them on the eve of Hari Raya. I know some people still make it a tradition but for some working housewives it's easier to find an instant ketupat and instant rendang where you just bought them at the supermarket, defrost and then cooked them up. It's ready within minutes.. And instead of baking cakes and biscuits, people now prefer to order or buy biscuits and cakes which are available anywhere, even order them on-line. But again, no matter how you prepare the food and dishes, what matters most is how you received and treat the guests at your home, right?...
Thirdly, about visiting relatives. When I was a child, I enjoyed going around the village, going from one house after another. Collecting sweets, chocolate and coins, of course. I don't think children today have the same amusement as before...maybe not in the same way. I don't receive that many children visiting our house during Hari Raya. And when they do visit families or close friends, they'll just sit infront of the tv, either watch the varities of Hari Raya special programmes or play PS2 or other games. Well, maybe, that just happend in my village...I don't know.. But again, no matter how you celebrate it, what matters most is the togetherness and closeness of family and friendship ties that you're creating, right?...
Well, no matter how Hari Raya or Eid may have change, be it in sending cards, baking cakes or visiting practise, what matters most, above all, is the forgiveness that we're seeking for, right? So, during Eid, it's best time to ask for forgiveness from Allah, families, friends or even enemies and importantly, forgave others in return...
I end today's theme with a quotation from Mahatma Ghandi "The Weak Can Never Forgive. Forgiveness Is The Attribute Of The Strong".
Monday, October 16, 2006
leadership
Hi everybody..
My theme this week will be about ‘leadership’. Why did I choose to talk about it? On my first day attending the ‘Leading Learning’ module, I was assigned to select a quotation on leadership. I haven’t got the chance to choose one so I think I’m just going to talk about it in this blog.
I choose a simple quotation that I found in the internet. It said:
"The difference between a boss and a leader: a boss says, 'Go!' - a leader says, 'Let's go!'"
-E. M. Kelly, Growing Disciples, 1995
Although this quotation sounds simple yet it has a meaningful idea of leadership. When a boss, just say ‘Go!’, it means they’re just telling or instructing you to do a task or to accomplish something. Yet, when a leader says ‘let’s go’, it means that they will be guiding, motivating and bringing you all the way to success.
Being working in the education field, I think this quotation is related to teachers as leaders. And I believe it is important for a teacher to be a leader. Why?
Because a good teacher will not just instruct their student but will also guide, motivate and bring their student to achieve success in their life.
So, I hope every teacher will realise how important their role are as leaders. They should have a new perspective on how they could contribute more to the students and education as a whole.
I end my blog with this quotation:
When you make a mistake, don't look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward. Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.
- Hugh White
My theme this week will be about ‘leadership’. Why did I choose to talk about it? On my first day attending the ‘Leading Learning’ module, I was assigned to select a quotation on leadership. I haven’t got the chance to choose one so I think I’m just going to talk about it in this blog.
I choose a simple quotation that I found in the internet. It said:
"The difference between a boss and a leader: a boss says, 'Go!' - a leader says, 'Let's go!'"
-E. M. Kelly, Growing Disciples, 1995
Although this quotation sounds simple yet it has a meaningful idea of leadership. When a boss, just say ‘Go!’, it means they’re just telling or instructing you to do a task or to accomplish something. Yet, when a leader says ‘let’s go’, it means that they will be guiding, motivating and bringing you all the way to success.
Being working in the education field, I think this quotation is related to teachers as leaders. And I believe it is important for a teacher to be a leader. Why?
Because a good teacher will not just instruct their student but will also guide, motivate and bring their student to achieve success in their life.
So, I hope every teacher will realise how important their role are as leaders. They should have a new perspective on how they could contribute more to the students and education as a whole.
I end my blog with this quotation:
When you make a mistake, don't look back at it long. Take the reason of the thing into your mind and then look forward. Mistakes are lessons of wisdom. The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.
- Hugh White
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Hi All.. Welcome To My Blog!.. I named my blog Hafida's Notts Diary because it's purpose is to record any events, memoirs and whatever experience I've had and will gone through here in Nottingham. I plan to have one theme to talk about every week / in two weeks. Some of the theme I've been thinking about are about globalisation, ICT, friendship, sisterhood etc. So, I would like to invite all of you to suggest any theme topic that I can talk about in future.
As my first theme, I would like to talk about "The World of Nottingham University". What do I mean by that?.. Since I arrived in Nottingham few weeks ago, I've met lots of friends from all over the world. On my first day itself, I met Jesicca from Taiwan, Ivan and Irina from Malaysia, Anisa and Irene from Indonesia. Now I've met a lot more and more friends from Mauritius, Kenya, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Iran and etc.
So by being here with all friends from all over the world, it's not only about studying my MA but it's more about understanding, sharing, learning from each other. I hope to be able to interact and learn more from each other, value one's culture and beliefs, share each other's experience and knowledge.
I believe Education has bring the world together and I hope through education we could have a better understanding and mutual respect for each other. For the better future of the world...
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