Visiting Sri Lanka - Day 2: Of Schools & Children's Smiles

We visited the school today. As we rode on the one-hour ride, I fell asleep while our tour guide, Fernando explained to us a brief history of Sri Lanka. Some fun facts I managed to catch: Sri Lanka is divided into 9 provinces, and Buddhism is a major philosophy that is practised here, as Fernando puts it. The green fields made way for scattered brick houses and barren ground before we reached the school.

Fernando doesn't know why the provinces are numbered in this order.

 It was a two-storey building surrounded a few small buildings. The school only accommodate 90 students, ranging from 7-year-olds to preteens. They gathered at the science lab, where all the tables were stacked to one side. The kids smiled shyly at us, staring with awe at the people who came in adorning vibrant baju melayu and baju kurung. While we waited for the Sri Lanka Malays Association members to arrive, we started chatting with them. One boy was called Rilwan. Some of the boys were in Grade 5. They all huddled gleefully together, watching their friend play games on abangs' and akaks' phones. Their mouths widened from ear to ear for the cameras.

 I broke away from the crowd to explore more of the place. I entered the class nearest to the lab. It was a small room, with small multicoloured chairs and tables. The wall on the back was full of papers with Tamils words scrawled on them. Placed underneath were handmade telephones, which made me smile. I rarely see this back home, where all the kids their age have smartphones glues to their hands, ridding them of their imagination and fun. I walked around farther, finding classes with only 5 sets of tables and chairs.

Spending some time with the schoolchildren made me ponder. They don't have much to call their own. Their school is old and unkempt. The books are scarce. They don't have any modern gadgets. And yet they are still able to smile and have fun. They don't complain about what they're lacking. The youthful spark is burning in them. It made me think of the times I moan bout not having what I wanted, and how we would sometimes complain about our 'outdated facilities'. If there was just one thing I was able to gain from today, it is the renewed sense of appreciation I have for what I have.

Fun Fact #2: Architecture in Sri Lanka is based on astrology, according to Fernando. It's similar to how the Chinese would refer to feng shui. Sri Lankan Buddhists would usually look at the blueprints of the houses to pinpoint its good and bad signs. For instance, it is never a good thing to place a well near the window, as it would allow your fortune to slip away easily. It's a good thing Malaysian architecture isn't as fussy.

That's it from me today. Remember to always count your blessings.

The science lab.

The girls performing.

The mosque next to the school. Note the lack of a dome.

It's amazing what you can make with imagination.

U'yun & Shazwan walking with Fernando the tourist guide.

Visiting Sri Lanka - Day 1: Settling Down

 Today’s the day we finally fly to Sri Lanka; the last stepping stone of our humanitarian project, Bridging the Gap. What is Bridging the Gap all about? It's basically a class project to help the people of Sri Lanka. You can check out more by visiting BTG's Facebook page here.

 I woke up late today. It would have been fine, if not for the fact that we had a flight to catch. And then it went slightly downhill. Our luggage exceeded the limit given at the baggage drop, resulting in us having to bring half of our bags onto the plane. I got half of my toiletries confiscated because of this (Don't blame me if I spend my following days looking dishevelled). On the upside, being in this situation really helps in teaching me to be patient and coolheaded. 

 The Sri Lankan heat blasted at me by surprise, though the welcome given which is just as warm was expected. It felt just like Malaysia. The sights that passed by the window on the way to lunch also had a kampong vibe which then gave way to a more Muar-like atmosphere. I was amazed at how much it feels like home. We then spent 6 hours dozing off in the bus as we set off for Hanbantota, the district where we will spend most of our week in.

Highlight of the day: When the plane landed, the air crew handed out arrival cards for foreigners to fill in and hand over to the immigration counter. As the steward walked through the aisle, he looked at me. I expected him to give me one, since I was a Malaysian.

He left, thinking that I was a Sri Lankan. *cries*

 And that’s it for me today. Take a look at the photos I took below. There'll be more posted by the BTG team at our Facebook page, so stay tuned. Pray for our success. Over and out.

Going to Sri Lanka on a hangul-covered plane.

The gateway to the rest of the world.

Oh wow, I've always wanted the chance to buy expensive Milo.

The girls having a photoshoot session while waiting for the others.

ADZ

 We all have friends. Friends who you hang out with. Friends who get into trouble with you. Friends who are there with you when you are happy. But do you have a friend who makes you feel very special, someone whom you can share all your darkest secrets with?

I do.

 The funny thing is, I never thought I’d be friends with him. AT ALL. The earliest memory of him was in 2011. I was being a busybody, visiting each class instead of studying. Then I heard someone calling my name. “Ash!” I was surprised to see him. He looked like what I call a gangster. Honestly speaking, he scared me. He wanted me to have a look at his story. He was soft-spoken, which took me aback. It was about Nazis and war and that mushy thing called ‘romance’. It was nice.

 And just like that, we clicked. I don’t remember how we got close, but Alhamdulillah, I’m glad we did. He was with me through the ups and downs of my school life. He was the reason I cried. He was the reason I laughed. We have loads of things in common; we’re both the eldest, we have similar names. He’s one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, he’s down-to-earth, and he’s wonderful. He is my confidant, my advisor, my John Watson, my shoulder to cry on whenever I’m down in the dumps. I would do anything for him, and he’d do the same for me.

He’s my best friend. And he is the best thing that has ever come into my life.

This year's present: a sucky-but-from-the-heart painting.

 To Ashraaf Danial Zakaria, if you’re reading this, I just want you to know that you are one of my closest friends. I consider you part of my family already. You will always be my best friend. I hope it’ll last forever (I’ll make sure of that.) I'm sorry if I have ever hurt your feelings. And I didn't buy you anything. :( But hey, the painting is sentimental. :) I hope you cry reading this, hahaha; it’s very hard to put this into words. And always remember that I have your back as well. I wish you all the best in life.

Ash and Ash. (I'm obviously the hotter Ash.) (The one at the left.)

Giving In Ain't Defeat

 Hello there, people. I’m on a month-long break from the hectic college life. And you know how the average day is like when you’re on holiday: Wake up, pray, eat, take a nap, stare at your phones and lappies, not focusing on the telly, being cooped up at home, scared that the sunlight will burn your pale skin. What, your day’s not like that? Lucky you. I’m imprisoned in my own home. It’s not my family’s fault. My friends are just not on holiday like I am. And I'm just too lazy to go out on my own. Besides, being with family ain’t so bad. We bond over game nights.

You can really feel our bonds strengthening. RELATIONSHIP LVL UP

 And one of the things I have to bear with is Mom’s pearls of wisdom. Usually I’d just nod along to whatever advice she throws randomly. But most of them, if not all of them is very much helpful. Like that one time out of countless other moments my little brother and I scrambled for the front seat of the car. Yes, I know it’s childish. My mom noticed the disastrous scene breaking out and decided to pull me slowly out of the scuffle, letting my little brother enter. My heart was boiling, especially when I saw him sticking his tongue at me. I stared at my mom, waiting for an explanation.

 She said: ‘You’re 18 already. Just give in to your little brother. It doesn't mean you lost. It just means you’re thinking of others.’

 Now, I didn't read much into her counsel, because I was so full of emotions. But for the past few days, I finally see what she meant. To tell you the whole story in detail would probably take 2 to 3 pages, so I’ll just sum it up. One of my circles of friends is in what you can call ‘a negotiating period’ over a project. I became the middle person (I felt obliged to do so.) And what I witnessed was touching. One thing you have to know was that the main reason the group split into two very VERY stubborn sides was because of the disagreement of the location. And one girl, L was very enthusiastic over the initial location.

 But she decided to let her wish go, for the sake of unity. She was willing to change location, just so everyone would be in this together. ‘Oh, it’s just a small thing.’ I hear you sigh. I don’t consider a feeling of excitement and dreamy wonder to be a small thing. To give up something you wanted so badly for somebody else is not a foolish matter. My mom’s words vibrated in my mind. She was very mature in handling this problem.

 And now, I shall leave you a quote to ponder upon:

Giving in to people is not a sign of weakness. If it’s for a better future, it is an act of selflessness.

 Neat, huh? Wanna use it, cite it back to yours truly. Yes, I created it. Is it a sign of me finally catching up to my age? No. The day I will be considered mature arrives when I will not fight over the front seat with my siblings.

And that day will probably never come.

Tell Your Loved Ones

 So recently, a tragedy befell Malaysian land. (Other than the increase of prices.) If you were nowhere near any source of information during the past two weeks, possibly due to a temporary allergy, let me catch you up to speed; a female Ambank officer was coldheartedly shot in the face bya security guard in his attempt to steal the money in the safe. Don’t be ashamed if you just found out through me; be glad that you didn’t find it out my way – Staring at the explicitly gory picture of the deceased as it popped up in a WhatsApp chat.

The picture found its way into my phone, not once, not twice, but THRICE. It’s as if people knew I deleted the horrid stuff from my phone and thought, ‘Hey, let’s send him a pic.’ Why people rush in sharing such a picture is beyond me. It’s just disrespectful for the deceased and her family.

 Anyways, that picture isn’t the reason why I wrote this post (I ain't here to spread gore). It’s this picture:

Sad story pic.twitter.com/0VJwIwo1S1
— Sampah Remaja (@SampahRemajaKL) October 25, 2013

 For those of you who still hasn’t figured it out yet, that’s the unfortunate woman’s husband. What really struck me was this:

'I should have told her I loved her there and then. Now it's too late.'

 You can really feel his regret, caused by a decision that will haunt him for years to come. His words really hit home. And I cried as I stared at this photo. It made me realise my own lack of contact with my parents. It made me think about the times where I was too caught up in college activities to call them once in a while.

 Let this be a reminder that we don't live forever, and neither do your loved ones. Don't take them for granted. Don't ever think they'll always be there when you need them. Remember to always show them your love toward them, before it's too late.

 And a reminder to all; I beg you, please don't forward the horrific pictures and videos of the incident to others. It's already too much for the family of the deceased to handle her death. The last thing they need is a constant reminder of how she left this world. If you still have the urge to share something, share the picture above, and remind them to tell their loved ones how much they love them.

Al-Fatihah. May her soul be placed among the pious.

I, the Unintentional Bully

 Recently, I found something lodged in between the pages of a book that really took me back. It was a handwritten letter from a friend, requesting me to hear out his apology, and asking me to wear appropriately before meeting him at the tuition centre. Seeing the three-year-old letter really brought me down memory lane, despite wanting to steer away from this part of my life. I need to store it in the deepest part of my mind, only opening the memories once more when I want to paint myself as an awkward kid/preteen bully in the eyes of my kids, and their kids, which would be unlikely.

It was suffice just to come to me and talk face-to-face, rather than waste a half paper to write a really short and somewhat incomprehensible memo. But I have to admit, it was pretty nice of him to go this far. :)

 “WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???” I hear questioning screams from the other side of the screen.

 Yes, I have to admit. I was a bully. More like ‘accused as a bully’, but never mind. It might be shocking for those who know me.  Frankly, I was quite as surprised as you are, when my friends started to label me that a few years back. They don’t call me that for no reason, that, I realise now.

 There’s a long story behind the then-absurd claims. There was this one peer of mine, who was rather slow compared to other kids, the same one who wrote to me the aforementioned letter. To make the story less confusing, I shall name him W. Hence, being the simpleminded teen I was, I played around with the guy. I remembered clearly how a friend and I (Yeah, it wasn’t only me.), came up with a ruse.  W always carried his water bottle with him, so whenever he left it on the rack to enter the library, we would always relocate it to another spot on the rack, usually hidden from sight.  When he freaked out and reported to the teacher, we would put on our innocent masks and offered to help. And that was only a small segment in a long list of misdeeds done to him.

 You could see how cautious and scared he was of me; he’d run away from me when we coincidentally met on the way to the loo during exam week, and his homeroom teacher, to whom he put his trust on, gave me a suspicious glare whenever I pass by. Heck, there was even that one time when I watched TV with him (It’s a rare occasion.) Some mischievous guy spooked him from behind, and guess which name he screamed out in anger?

 The biggest blow occurred on a day which started off quite normally. The library was a common interest between W and I; I found peace and solitude within a room surrounded by a rowdy atmosphere, while he expressed curiosity towards the TV that sat at the corner of the library. On that day, he pestered a few people, cornering them into a room, holding the door to keep him from opening it. And I, annoyed by the disruption of peace, plus the sudden ‘hero complex’ idea that sparked in my foolish mind, proceeded to kick him out. Struggled to, to be precise. W was constantly screaming and shouting at me throughout the whole ordeal, which turned every pair of eyes at the both of us. Ever since then, people have been calling me a bully from time to time.

 This particular accident compelled him to write the above letter, describing how sorry he was for ‘bullying’ me in front of the others. The nerve.  Anyway, you could imagine by now how terrible I was towards W. Even I feel ashamed at the amount of grief he endured from me.

 In my defense,  I was merely teasing him. But I suppose that was how other bullies would say. I have somewhat learnt from that period of time; cover up my tracks if I were to ever commit a crime again. That, and to think about how others feel before I act.

 Oh, if you're wondering what the letter up there says, and you just couldn't squint enough to have a read, don't fret. Here is the content of the letter. :D :

Dear Asroff,

 I knew I'm sorry that I'd bullied you for a while in the library. As you know what bullying is the pengawas (prefect) will write my name to the list.

 I'm sure that I'm in a bad mood for a bit. While you're at the dewan tertutup (closed hall) I think you will get revenge to me. Please don't call somebody about me.

 Go to the tuition center by today. Wear formal clothing when you have Malay and Science class. Be there when I came to the tuition by car. I need to apologise to you.

 Please accept my apologies. Thank you.

Two things to know:
1) He spelled my name wrong; and
2) If you think that there are a few grammatical errors there, it's not my fault. I typed it word by word.

How Come You Go To Tuition?

"How come you go to tuition?"

 That's the one of the few questions headed my way when I stepped into the air-conditioned classroom. In fact, it's the FIRST question asked. All the time. Followed by a bewildered 'Youweren'tsupposedtobealive' stare. Cue my reply: "Why, I cannot come to tuition anymore meh?" It was fun to see people react this way the first couple of times, but after a while, it's kinda irritating.

 Yes, I'm a fully residential school student. I stay in the school grounds 24/7. I practically breathe the boarding school. That does not mean I'm prohibited from joining tuition classes. Yeah, they're probably worried about me, spending time at the last place students would dare enter during a time where students could finally taste freedom (Yeah right, they will. I'd be a famous celebrity before the day arrives.)

 Yet, there's a tiny part of me that urges me to strive hard and makes use of the time to revise during the hols. And if that part isn't enough to make me work, there's always dearest mummy. Besides, I'm sure all of us have screamed out "I'm gonna make use of my time well during the holidays!" at least once before. I know I did, every single time a holiday's nearing. I also know that those times were lavishly spent on watching TV, computers and sleeping (Hey, you can't blame a kid for having needs, especially one that has been deprived of all basic entertainments.)

 But not this time. This year is very important for me, and all Malaysians my age. We're facing a major turning point of our lives, the SPM examinations. These exam results would determine our lives; whether we could soar into a bright future, or stay firmly on the ground, thinking of what would have happened had you studied. Of course, university life also plays a key part in determining your future, and so does working experience. Luck's also a large factor, but who cares? We needa hurtle through an obstacle at a time.

 So yeah, I do need to go for tuition, even though I study day and night every single day at school for the past month and a half. And if anyone asks me why, I'll just say "How 'bout you?"

It Was My BDay... And Nobody Remembered...

The Reading Room

I was in the reading room on the ground floor of my dormitory block, when I received a call from my mother. It struck me as weird, as I had only sent her a text asking her to check whether the deadline of the KFC Star Create competition falls on the 15^th, and she, being the typical cheapskate when it comes to words, would reply one word; ‘yes’ or ‘no’. I picked up the call, and surprise, surprise, my sister’s voice rang into one ear and out the other, screaming ‘Happy 17^th birthday, Abang!’ Utterly surprised, I was, and glancing at my watch, I realised that indeed, the long hand struck 12. Now, now, before you say it’s impossible to forget one’s birthday, I did know it’d be my birthday, but as I’d been complete absorbed in checking my essay during the whole hour prior that, I’d completely forgotten. After chatting with my family underneath the coffee table (The school rules states in black and white that phones are forbidden.), I took out my parents’ gift given to me a few days earlier, on a Wednesday, since they couldn’t be with me on my special day (A solid reason why I shouldn’t be able to forget my birthday.) – a brand new, glossy red camera!  

Busy with work, even on my BDay...

 I spent the day unlike my previous birthdays before this; busy being undetected and low profile. There’s a good reason for this. There’s a tradition at my school regarding birthdays. The said tradition involves a large group of people (Preferably 15+) beating up the birthday boy, if possible in a dark classroom, at night, during preparation class. And I don’t want the same happen to me. So obviously, I made sure all sources that hint at my birthday, however miniscule it were, halts before the precious information gets into the wrong hands. Unfortunately, my dorm mate teased me, telling me he knew my birthday.

 And that was why I wiped off my birth date from my Facebook account temporarily. That, and another reason; to find out whether anyone would care enough to remember my birthdate. It was a regrettable action, seeing as none of my friends bothered to wish me a happy birthday. Well, one did, a close friend and a sensei of mine, but it was a tad late, but I don’t mind. All the wishes I received were from family members. Well, serves me right for being curious. But at least I knew how dependant people are for Facebook.

 At the end of the day, no one dangerous knew it was my birthday. Yeah, my close schoolmates knew my birthday, but they 

weren't the type to get all excited over an ambush. What was surprising was that my knowing dorm mate didn’t wish me. Turned out he forgot it. Then he tells me that a Korean star’s birthday falls on Wednesday. Guess I’m less important than his idols.

My Embarrassing Speech and What I Learned From It~!

I remember my first speech as if it was yesterday. Ah... Oh wait, it WAS yesterday. And it was disastrous, I can tell you that. I had it all planned in my head, what I was gonna do, what I was gonna say. And when I steeped on the stage and grasped the mike in my hands, it all went POOF. When I looked back, I realised I made too many mistakes, and gave the audience (The students.) too little info. And as soon as I stepped off the stage, I sank to the ground. Funny how my legs knew when to lose their strength at just the right moment.

 Simply put, it was a failure. I lost all my confidence back there. Being the emotional me, I finally broke down when I unexpectedly bumped into my English teacher, whom I avoided on purpose out of guilt for not doing better. It's okay now, though. I'll just have to... Find a dark corner... A-and weep my heart out quietly. *sniff*

 Still, I learned many things from the embarrassing incident:

•          i.            Never trust the timetable
    This was the main factor of the failure of my speech. Initially, as it was written on paper, my speech was due a week later. My teacher, however, had a sudden change of heart, and decided to bring it earlier as ‘there would be many future events , and there would be no time  during the coming weeks’.
  
  
         ii.            Never confide in your joker friend
   This is very much a must if you have doubts on your choice of topic. I had chosen my topic a week earlier (What was my topic, you ask. Wait for it. Read on.) had it all planned out. Then two days before my turn, I made the mistake of asking for my joker friend’s opinion. ‘Boring.’ Was his reply, which panicked me. As a result, I spent the final day trying  to think of other fascinating topics instead of focusing on my choice.
  
  
        iii.            Write your points down...
  ... Uness you’re sure your memory won’t fail, you however strong it might be, when you face the audience. Trust me, you do not want to hem and haw while you talk in front of them. If you think it’s annoying when other people do that, it’s annoying to them when YOU do that.
  
  
       iv.            Choose a suitable, tease-proof topic to talk about when you talk to a audience that's prone to teasing
   If you don’t mind being the centre of attention, don’t mind me, just carry on reading the next point. My topic was something you wouldn’t hear usually/ awkward at my school... It’s entitled... Ugh... ‘Puppy Love’. My audience was obviously the type who likes to tease their mates at every, and I mean EVERY chance they could get. Put the two together, and BAM! You get called Puppy for the rest of the day... And most probably the rest of the year.
  
  
   Heck, when I stepped into the library, the trainee teacher took one look at me and yelled, ‘It’s Puppy Love!’ Yes, even teachers called me that for the whole day.
  
  
         v.            Don't be too hard on yourself
   This is the most valuabe thing I learnt that day. All I thought after the speech was:
  
  
   OMG, IT WAS SO BAD. I’M DOOMED. IT WAS TERRIBLE, I COULD SEE IT IN THEIR EYES. THEY’RE DISAPPOINTED. I’M A FAILURE. I’M SO DUMB. WHAT A COWARD... ETC.
  
  
   Yeah, it’s true. I felt that negative the whole day. But, throughout the day, friends and teachers came up to me and said, ‘Hey, nice speech! It was funny! Even the headmaster lauged!’ (What, really? Achievement unlocked! :D), ‘You were very calm, despite the fact that you were panicking.’, ‘You had very nice points!’, ‘It’s okay, it was good enough. Your friends were like “Go, you can do it!” when you paused and cried.’(I didn’t realise they were cheering me on. I didn’t know I was CRYING ONSTAGE. My life is RUINED. D:) One even told me to stop being too hard on myself, and not to give up. It’s a relief knowing that they were feeling the opposite of what I thought. :)
  
  
  That’s all the lessons I could think of from that speech. It wasn’t all that bad in the end. At least it inspired me to write a short story. Have a nice day~! :D

Whatcha Gonna Do When the World Ends?

2012 arrived the same way for me as 2011 did: with fireworks blasting off in the night sky, with me watching from the bedroom window. New years are always the same with me. :) Speaking of 2012, what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear it? Most people would think, DISASTER, MAYAN CALENDAR, END OF THE WORLD!!! Y'know, that kinda stuff. To think all this widespread fear happened because of some Mayan calendar. Turns out they just couldn't fit all the dates into one circle thing, and the supposed apocalypse is the start of the new calendar. PSHAWWW. :D But many people still think the world's gonna die.

Hence the title. What are you gonna do, assuming the world is coming to a close? Would you think of all the things that you did in your past? Would you go all out to repent? Would you try to make the the world a better place (Even though it would explode in an awesome way.)? Would you do your best to get into Heaven?

Or would you throw away all your ethics and become a greedy little monster? Would you go 'Since the end of the world is near, might as well take all these, I'm sure no one would mind.' before robbing shops senselessly? Would you do all the things that you wanted (Bad things, of course.) with your reasoning a bit like this:

THE WORLD IS GOING TO END = RULES DON'T MATTER ANYMORE

Would you party all night long, dancing 'til the world ends? Popping bottles 'til you can't stand anymore? If you would, then you, my friend, are very foolish.

I'll let you people ponder on that. Just to note: RELAX. The world won't end on 21st December 2012. It's just rumours. Evidence ------> Here.

What you wanna do when the world ends, does not mean you don't have the slightest desire to do it even if it doesn't end. Control yourself, and lead a happy 2012. :)

Comics, Why They Are Good For the World~!!!

Earlier in the year end hols, my mom, who was driving, in some random moment, turned to me and said: ‘Why do you like to read comics? It’s not good at all.’ I, an avid comic fan (And an overemotional brat), felt very much offended. So much so that my mom noticed my devastated face, tried to soothe me. The conversation went pretty much like below:

MOM: Don’t take it personally. I don’t read comics, so I don’t really know.

ME: Yeah, well, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. YOU taught me that.

MOM: That’s why I’m asking you. What’s so good about it?

ME: Uh… (At this moment, I knew my reasons, but I couldn’t explain it in the language my mom, as well as most adults speaks.)

MOM: So, you should take this as your yearend assignment. Give me ten reasons why comics are advantageous to youth nowadays.

Fast forward a couple of weeks, and here we are now, with me giving you information you could use to counter your parents’ ramblings about comics being some kind of disease towards mankind.

Reasons to Love Comics:

1. 1) Comics have the same elements as what a novel would have. That includes character development, setting, plot, theme, point of view, conflicts, climax and so on. Get what I’m saying?
2. 2) It also has built–in clues to help readers understand the story better. Since comics are visual, even if the dialogues are hard to understand, there are diagrams supporting the comprehension of the tale.
3. 3) Comics have a wider age-range than other reading devices. There are more comics that entertain young and old alike than books.
4. 4) Comics amuse people visually, especially kids. Why, you ask? It’s simple: CHILDREN LOVE PICTURES. :D
5. 5) Most adults want their kids to be reading books. If your child does not even have the slightest interest in books, one advises you to let them read comics. It is proven that comics attract youth to reading. Think of comics as a stepping stone. Your kids will be begging you to buy books.
6. 6) Comics also influence children to be more creative and artistic.
7. 7) Plus, if used right, comics can be used as an effective education device! From experience, it is proven that what you learn can be memorized easier and stay in your head longer if lessons aren’t so boring. By reading educational comics, which is an interesting way to convey messages to kids, it would stay in their minds for a very, VERY long time (Or until they need the info for an exam).
8. 8) Not only that, comics also have a wider range of selection! Yeah, most parents would be shocked ‘bout that, but it’s true. Every month, there are lots of new comic materials out in store. It’s certainly way faster than the release of new books. Take that.
9. 9) Did you know that comics need a different reading strategy than novels? Since comics are just dialogues and illustration, readers need to rely on both and conclude what is not written. Simply put, it gives us a chance to find out extra info.
10. 10) People need variety. In a reading diet, one cannot possibly live purely on words. Explore the imaginary world the comics offer.
11. 11) Most of all, comics are FUN! Reading does not have to be so dull, right? :D

Oh, I gave one extra tidbit, didn’t I? Oh well, it strengthens my claims that comics really are good. :D Just wait ‘til my mom sees this~! :D :D :D

Just don’t get too addicted to it. :) It might mess up your life (Not to mention your book rack.)

9/11

 September 11th used to be just a normal day in our lives. People would just go through the day doing what they'd do routinely. All that changed in the year 2011. Dark memories and recurring nightmares of that fateful day haunts lives. Does the fear that scarred our hearts still live on now? Now, I know most people can still remember the events that occurred on that day, some even trying to erase it from their minds. For those of you who doesn't know anything 'bout it (Probably because you're under ten. But hey, if you are, I'm hapy a kid visits my blog. :)), I'd give a quick recap, but I don't really remember. The main thing was the World Trade Center destroyed after two hijacked planes crashed into, killing innocent lives.

 Some people theorized that a Muslim extremist, Osama bin Laden was the mastermind behind it all. Last I heard of him was 'round May. He was killed and thrown into the sea. Others, however, doesn't buy this story and says he doesn't exist. Instead, they say it was all a plot created by the former President Bush.

 I don't really care.
All I know is that many families lost a dear somebody in their lives, and I'm sure some still can't overcome their grief. My heart goes out to them.

 The 9/11 incident affects the world in many ways. Hatred is planted, paranoia instilled in people's hearts. Friendship were broken, trust destroyed. Even after 9/11, many lives were lost as people did the unthinkable. Now, after 10 years, the police are wary of the threats they get, searching for bombs that might not exist.

 But it taught us a very important lesson in life. We have to unite to prevent events like this from happening. The 9/11 incident has come and go, and we can never change the past.

 But we can try to change the future, and make the world a better place.

 Now, let's have one minute of silence to remember the dead.

The Spirit of Eid

This month, Eid ,or Raya, is being celebrated 'round the world after a month of fasting, including Malaysia. It is a festive season, one which is celebrated by going to visit open houses, and having fun with your family and friends.

Kids, however, have more than just fun in their heads. Yes, for the time being, their thought are filled with MONEY. They go 'round people's home and rob them of their money collect Raya money given by the adults. This is the moment where the children tune into their loan shark spirit, their eyes burning with determination to collect the most among them. How greedy-minded are they? This is a true conversation:

Dad: Do you want to go visit my friend's open house?
Baby bro: Is he rich?

 Yesh, this happened a few days ago. O.O *Dundundun* I wouldn't be surprised if I see kids running 'round with a list of open houses to visit. They're like, collecting debts from grownups or something. XD

 But Eid is a time to forgive. There are people who wants to be forgiven, but lost the chance forever. There are people who, most of the time, finds it hard to forgive others, because of the seriousness of the culprit's offense. Just ease the burden for all of us by forgiving them who have wronged you. :) Have a happy Eid.

Celebrating Independence Day

What day is it today? Wednesday!!! :D Haha, totally outta topic. Well, today is a historic day for Malaysians, for today marks the 54th anniversary of independence. On this day, 31st August 1957, Tunku Abdul Rahman declared freedom from the grip of the British Empire. Hooray! :D

But now, 54 years fast forward, do you young people even know about this awesome feat, let alone appreciate it? How do you guys celebrate it? By clubbing? Partying all night? WRONG. You guys should totally celebrate it with your head held up high and going have a trip 'round historical sites! Feel the patriotic spirit in you! You guys don't have to do stoopeed stuff that might hurt the country's reputation. :)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to hang a flag up. :D

Single Father Experience~ D:

People, hello~! :D Since Father's Day is 'round the corner (Actually, a lot of corners. It falls on June 19th! Or so I heard. :)), let me share an advice to you guys and girls who are still young and wanna be parents, or don't really appreciate your parents that much:

LOVE YOUR PARENTS

and

PARENTING NEEDS PATIENCE

You might think that this is crap, hearing from an innocent teenage boy. Let me tell you something: I really know how it feels to be a father. :) NOW, BEFORE YOU PEOPLE GET IT THE WRONG WAY (Seriously, people who think like that needa wash their brains. XD), last weekmy friend and I had the privilege of taking care of seven 13-year-olds. In Sunway Pyramid.

Yeah, yeah, it might not be the best experience I can get, but hey, I felt it. It's very hard to control them. They ran all over the place! D: They can't stand still without fidgeting! I leave them for one second, they disappear... D: Kids these days. What can you do with them? And then I lost my mind with their voices in my head, their hands pulling me from one place to another. I snapped.

I screamed at them to go away.

NEVER EVER DO THAT, PEOPLE. I did that because of stress, but I can only blame myself.

One stayed with me. Another went with my friend. The rest wandered alone by themselves. And believe me, from after the incident 'til the time to regroup, their safety was bugging me. Heck, I couldn't even eat pizza calmly. Fortunately, they were fine. Phew.

A few things I learnt:

1) Being a single father is HARD. Taking care of them alone... It's tiring. D:

2) Never, EVER lose your temper at 'lil kids. God, I felt so guilty doing that to them. They might also look at you in a bad light. ):

3) Next time, take care of lesser kids. One is good enough for me. :)

4) Appreciate what your parents do. It's hard taking care of kids. It's VERY hard to take care of ME. :)

Being a single father is hard. Traumatizing for an innocent teenager like moi. XD But it felt very exciting, very... New. Shouting, screaming at kids, worrying 'bout them, chasing after them. Sigh... I feel so old. :D

Should I Exist?

Recently, I have been down in the dumps, feeling guilty of leaving a meeting of friends, planned just to meet me before I go back to boarding school, way too early. I felt sad and paranoid, thinking that someone out there hates me. Since then, whenever I talk or do stuff with them, I feel more left out, ignored, feeling that I shouldn't not be there. I spent all my time, until now, with this one question stuck in my head:

Would it be better if I never existed?

I'm sure someone out there feels the same way too. So, think of it this way. Without me in this world, there would be less fights between my siblings, nor disturbances in the classes. There would be one less person to hate for my friends and teachers, because I usually create problems (Accidentally, of course. :)) Thinking about all of this, I was certain that I was only just a burden. That sucks, right?

But then, if I never existed, some of my friends would have never met each other. The place would be a lot less livelier, and I would have never inspired so many people. My brothers and sisters would never had an interest of drawing if I hadn't been there. Without me, the people whom I've helped before might not get any help. Even if they did, it'll be late.

And of course, there'll be one less people to love in this world. :D

With this playing on my mind, I smiled thinking that though I might be a burden, I also played a part in people's lives, and that without me, those happy moments might not have occurred. If you are feeling down just like I had, and have this same question in your head, think of what your friends and family would miss without you. Remember, God didn't create us to cause problems.

He gave us life to bring joy into this world. :)

The Divorce Case: My Pointa View~ :)

OK, this is REALLY gonna be my last post. I had extra time. I didn't know that. XD

---> Remember, this is from my pointa view, so don't get offended. If I am wrong in any way, please do forgive me, and do tell me, as I will change it soonest. :) <---

So, I'm gonna be talking 'bout this lil divorce case going 'round the Malaysian newspapers. It's 'bout a Chinese couple (Or ex-couple.) who is currently fighting for the custody of the daughter.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/30/nation/7904326&sec=nation <--- Link to story here. :)

So, I have read their point of view on today's newspaper. Personally, I think that the dad, Low, should have the custody of his daughter, Bi- Anne. Because:

1) He has taken care of Bi-Anne for 'bout 'ten years', as said by Bi-Anne.

2) Bi-Anne wants to be with his father.

3) I don't think it's reasonable to leave your daughter for eight years just to be in London to pursue your career. So why should she, Tan, do that?

But, one thing I am sure of is that: THEY ARE BOTH AT FAULT. You have a kid, and you wanna divorce? That is not good. D:

On the First Day of CNY: The Advantages and DISadvantages~! :):

I hope you people, celebrating Chinese New Year are having fun out there, wherever you guys may be, Malaysia or other parts of the world~! :) Even though I am not a Chinese, there are advantages of the festive season for me, and others. :D Like:

1) Your nearest amusement park (For me, that'll be Sunway Lagoon.) will be less crowded. More fun for us~! :D

2) Your place will be more lively. Mine sure is~ :)

3) More chances to get money. XD

But with advantages, there are DISadvantages to come along. I've learnt one thing after today, and that is to never, EVER go shopping at Sunway Pyramid on the first day of CNY. ): Half the shopping mall's closed. Sigh... What am I gonna do 'bout it? D:

And what I've learnt at Sunway Lagoon:

1) Tourists are nice people. :)

2) Scream Park is nice~! And screamy~ :D

3) I need more time to visit all the parks. D:

4) Bring camera next time. D: D: D:

Oh well, that's it for today~! Get on with your life, people! Enjoy your hols, while you still can! Don't regret it, and go,'Oh, why the ___________ (Fill in the blank with your fave word.) did I waste my holiday!?'

Changes

The world is changing, people.

There were times when kids respect their elders, and when crimes were low. But now, it ain't easy to walk the streets on your own without having fears of being snatched by people. Where has all the courtesy and kindness gone? They couldn't have just ran away from us just like that! Cruelness and anger has now replaced those valuable traits that we had.

Those times where parents were too strict on their kids are long gone, even though there are still some who use that way of teaching their children to be 'perfect'. Now, we have to care for them and instill good values in them. If you limit them too much, they'll grow up to be a dull, stressful person.

Don't expect youngsters to be evil and vulgar just because they use inappropriate words. These words express themselves, it doesn't really mean anything to them. And if you don't like it, you just see it this way: Those words are not directed at you. :D

Changes aren't easy, guys. And they're not all bad. :) Technology is improving. So has our lives. We could go to faraway places, past the stars, where the older generations could not grasp in their hands. We should appreciate it. We just need to improve OURSELVES. Just let yourself be free. Let go of the past, and look forward for the future. :)

That's all from me now. I'll see you later. :) :) :D

2011 Arrived~!

Hi, and a happy 2nd January to you people! :) Ah, how time flies so fast~ I don't think a month and a half is enough for us teens! D: It seems so short. We keep our memories of the past year, and march on forward to the wonders of 2011. Don't ever linger in the past! It ain't good for your health. :)

Why not relax and think 'bout this: What's your fave memory of the past year? It can be more than one.

Ooh, and I got a special prezzy from my mate. I couldn't believe she'd buy it for me! I LOVE IT! Conan~ First thing to start off my toy collection! Thank you! Best prezzy EVER! :D

Oh well, I'm gonna have to prepare for school, which starts tomorrow. Face the wrath of the HISTORY TEACHER!