Cricket and Me

Cricket has never been Malaysian's cup of tea. I have always been amazed at the Indians' love towards cricket that it showed with the churning of movies like Lagaan, Chennai 28 and so forth. I still remember , my close Indian friend once told me that Cricket has disabled the Indians' ability to play other sports as they can never support another game as much as they do for cricket. And today i got the answer.

I would not call myself as a sports person but i have always interested in sports. I love participating in games as the adrenalin rush at the moment is indescribable. As i am a netball player my friends have always teased me that i 'fly' in the court and i just smile at them. One would never understand the feelings when you jump in the air and get hold of the ball and hit the ground with a great satisfaction and the crowd goes wild with that. That's what i love about sports.

This one week we have been asked to learn Cricket for no reasons. And i remember me along with my friends were making noises regarding the implementation as we could have gone back home for longer holiday had it been cancelled. When the national team Coach came, we asked him "Why Cricket?" and he said "you'll know by the end of this week". And now i know the reason..because it's fun.

I skipped the second practice session on the first day and went for the second day practice session. Since the coach is an Indian and his assistant is an Indian, and also since there are only 2 Indian girls in my cohort, he noticed that i was missing on the first day. So, as we gathered for the training, he was demonstrating some catches by picking some students. I was seated in the front row and praying to every God that i should not be picked. But as you would have guessed, he looked at me and said "You the weakly one. Where were you yesterday? Now go and try this catch".Usually, i'm not that bad with catching and throwing but since i was very nervous i missed the catch and tripped and fell. Imagine the person who was bowling was a young Indian guy who is also the assistant coach. I was so embarrassed at the thought that both the coaches would have thought that i was so hopeless in sports. So i was so determined to get my name cleared.

Finally, i got the chance yesterday. The coach fixed a point and told us that whoever manage to hit that point will get RM5. And when it was my turn i was just 1 inch far from the point which really impressed him. Then, he looked at me and then stretched out his arm for a handshake and i was like "See, i'm not that bad". And subsequently, as we started playing i fell in love with cricket. Though, we did not win the game today, i wish to play cricket again and i might watch Cricket games after this. And yeah even the assistant coach who laughed at me (imagine when i went to bowl, he asked me "ayyo, neengala" (OMG, You are going to bowl)was dumbfounded when i bowled the ball smoothly. Then he was like "Oh, not bad. You're a good bowler". So, Mr. Don't ever judge a book by it's cover k.

The Demise of a Hero??

I dare not say that i have been following the ethnic cleansing in Sri lanka but i would consider myself as someone who feels attached to the issue as i share a common language with the victims. I used to wonder whether the step taken by LTTE worth the lives of the innocence people killed in the name of the war. Hitherto, i could not rationalize it as for me war could never be a solution. But i respect the LTTE Tigers as they fought for their people, they shed blood for the freedom of their people. From my observation, i have always been fascinated by some indians who have no idea on whatever happening in Sri Lanka. It has become an issue close to Tamils who writes, and reads in Tamil only. May be that's because only Tamil papers write in length about the happenings over there.

I am in no position of questioning Prabhakaran's deed as i did not experience what he had. Some would say he is a rebel;some would say he is a terrorist; for some he is a hero. For me he is REAL. When he chose this path, he would have known his end; he would have known that he might lose his family or forthcoming generation. But he went ahead. There have been debates about the suicide bombers, the children trained for army. But then, what would you do when your own siblings refuse to give you a hand when you are dying? What to do? Sometimes, the world is not fair. You need to 'make loud noises' if you want to be get noticed. And i believe that is what he did.

We, Malaysian Indians are not treated as badly as the Sri Lankan Tamils (though we are deprived of some basic rights in the name of 'quota') but still we came up with a rally to protest the government. As such, as people who are robbed off their right to live in a country, LTTE's approach could not be simply categorized as nonsense. Is it fair for them to be killed just because they are Tamils? Whenever i read that ladies are raped by the Sri lankan army, i feel a rage in me and feel depressed that i could not do anything to stop this. And finally selfless people came forward, pawning their lives and Prabhakaran was/ is such a person.

While all the media at this point of time is saying that this Tamilan is dead, there are some unofficial reports circulating that he is still alive. I want to believe that he is still alive. Today morning when i saw the newspaper, i felt tears welling in my eyes. As a Tamilan, i pray for you brother.

Happy Mother's Day

My mum and I are not great friends. We don’t share a lot of common ground. She is an outdoor person while I am more to the indoor type. She is quick and I am slow. She is predictable and I am sophisticated. She is fair and I’m brown. But she is my MUM and I’m PROUD of that.

When I was a small kid I used to be really really stubborn and people couldn’t put up with that. My mum and I could never get along and till now I am wondering about the reason. I was more close to my dad and literally mum was like an enemy to me that I could not listen to her. While my brother and sister occasionally did get their fair share of scolding and beating, I always made my worse by being ‘laser’ with my mum. I raise my voice when she raises hers; I hold her hand when she tries to hold mine. I was just completely aggressive with her. I used to wait at the aisle of the house waiting for my dad to come back from work so that I can complain to him and being dear father he would scold my mum. I secretly enjoyed it. I always accused her being partial to her own children though I have no idea on the rationale for that.

As I moved to primary school, I tamed a little bit as I was busy with my studies. My mum is not a well educated lady but she knows the importance of education. She started teaching us the basics at the tender age of 3 or 4 but never robbed us off our childhood in the name of education. I wonder if I could do that with my children. She could not help much with our education when we moved to standard 3 onwards due to her limited education. But her routine was imprinted in us that we never waited for her instructions to study. It came automatically thanks to my mum.

When I was in standard 6 and the UPSR results were announced, I scored 1D and could not accept that and refused to go back home. My mum was called to school and the moment she looked at me crying, she couldn’t bear and started crying. None of us said anything but the silence and the tears consoled me. Then, weeks after I was told there had been a mistake and was given 7 A’s. Again, my mum didn’t say much. She just hugged me and kissed me. She was never verbally expressive yet I understood her gesture.

When I moved to secondary school, and sailed through the teenage years of pimples and mood swings, I was never very close with my mum. I always felt my friends were closer to their mums compared with us. But we were never distanced also as we did talk and hang out together. I was so busy with my studies, tuitions; competitions whereas she was busy with her little farm and house chores.

I was 18 when I moved out from my home to further my studies in KL. I still remember the day my mum and dad brought me to register in the college. When it was time to leave, I saw tears welling in her eyes and I was quick to make some stupid jokes. She smiled, still with her tears. She hugged, kissed me and left crying. That’s when our special bond started. Suddenly I found myself very much attached to my mum. During weekends, whenever I was home, we talked a lot; we gossiped. Sometimes, I just lie on her lap with no words exchanged between us but still felt that some form of communication.

When I went to Sydney a year ago, I would call home and talk for hours with my mum which is something that I would not have thought of doing. I have become more understanding and rarely yell at her. I have started appreciating her and reduced complaining about her.

Even now, at times I am annoyed when she confuses my birthday with my sister’s; when she forgets to wish me during my exam; when she forgets things that I deem important for me; when she forgets our semester holidays. Sometimes, I ask her “What kind of mum are you amma since you can’t remember important things about us?”. And she shrugs saying “ I don’t know. I am very dumb. I can’t remember anything but the utmost important thing is I raised all my three kids into three diamonds”. That’s my mum. She is the most unconventional mum I know and the best too. I love you Amma and Happy Mother’s Day Amma.


p/s- I am supposed to post this 2 days ago but no thanks to my internet connection i'm just uploading it now.

Shopping Woes Part 2

Sales Person: Another important factor in shopping which either makes it a wonderful or bad experience is the sales person’s character. I have come across some sales girls who are so nasty and rude that makes me feel like hitting them with the stiletto that I was looking at. Some sales girls are so friendly and understand their job completely that they never make nasty faces whenever you request for different colours and sizes and even give comments (usually all positive ) regarding your choice. When I was in Sydney, I went for a job interview as a shoe sales person and my training for the first day was to smile at EACH customer and greet them. The manager told me that she was not interested with the number of shoes that I was able to sell because as a sales person I should be able to create a positive feeling for the customers. On the other hand, here in Malaysia the sales person does not even smile at you and I have encountered cashiers who don’t even look at my face and behave like programmed robots who charge the items and take money and return the receipt and balance money. WTH!! Still, I think the guys who sell Sari are the best. They take out and open the Saris without you asking them to and want you to see as much Sari as possible. No wonder in India ladies can shop for few days without going back home.


Accessories: Finding accessories that match the clothes has never been easy. I know friends who have matching shoes for every single dress that hangs in their closets. For me, I never bothered. I just buy either dark brown or black shoes which are the magic colours that fit any clothes. For once, I bought a pair of gold shoes and they are still lying in the closet unworn as I couldn’t find any dress in that colour. Some girls are very determined that they will buy a dress and immediately hunt for the appropriate accessories at that very moment itself and never leave the mall without getting them. I just pity their shopping partners especially if it’s a guy; p

Okies. I think I have rattled enough about shopping, thanks to the movie, “Confessions of a shopaholic” for the inspiration. So whoever thinks shopping is easy and very relaxing, I would ask you to think again. It is as difficult as other difficult things in life. Period.

Shopping Woes Part 1

It is universally acknowledged that shopping is an incredibly difficult task and knowing this God has chosen girls to shoulder this greater duty and given the guys the pleasure to support them physically and financially. And usually people (refers to GUYS) don't understand the mental torture that a girl endures during shopping. Shopping..Pheww.. How much decision making troubles and how much financial managements? No wonder after shopping all you want to do is sit somewhere and eat your lungs out. What makes shopping so tiring? The list goes on and on...

Decision Making- Decision making has always been the most torturous element in life regardless of the place, time and age. I think decision making process during shopping is the most excruciating pain in life. Being torn between to or not to buy is strenuous . Imagine you walk pass a shop and there lies the most beautiful dress that leaves you gasping. And you stand there making the most important decision in your life. Should i use my Credit Card knowing the reality? Should i skip my posh and lavish outing for another few months to come? Will i have enough place to store this in my already overflowing closet? Sometimes, your brain successfully overpowers your desire and you proudly walk out of a store feeling satisfied that you have controlled your desire. I'm lucky that i'm not a shopaholic to that extent but sometimes i do put a pair of shoes back to the rack dreadfully looking at the thin purse laughing at me.

Size, colour and Price- Another painful attribute of shopping is the painful journey of finding the right size, the right colour which falls within your buying power. And any lame person knows that it's not an easy task. I have a friend who undergoes such a difficult moment whenever she goes shopping for shoes. She will never find her size especially when she has already fell in love with that particular design and colour. Such disappointment is indescribable where it leaves you with welling tears ( that's an exaggeration obviously). But it makes you to feel so sad and gives some sense of rejection when you don't get what you want. And that makes you to curse the designer for being so selfish and being ignorant of other sizes. Personally, i am an underweight girl and had lot of problems in getting the right size in Malaysia that i hated going shopping. However, Sydney became a paradise for shopping when i actually i found that i'm size 6 and YES they do have clothes in that size. And that year i really spent my allowance to the maximum and had to pay extra for shipping all my stuff back home. Since i can't find a place in the closet they are still sleeping in my luggage back even after 5 months.

Rejection- That happens a lot to me. You think you have found the right clothes/shoe/bag and you try that on and flash to your friend and the person gives a nasty comment. As much as you want to hear a sincere you always refuse to take the nasty sincere comment. Recently, i was out on the mission of getting a new handbag, and as i laid my eyes on one piece, i went like "isn't she gorgeous?" and tried on. And my friend was "That's not nice. It's too childish. May be you should carry something else". My face wilted at that immediate moment. Then regaining my composure i took another one and she was shaking her head in refusal. I was seriously disappointed and in my heart i was like "May be i should just come alone another time and get one". But at the end of the day we found one beautiful bag that both of us agreed on immediately. Anyways thanks venisha for the sincere comments though at times i feel like choking your throat for rejecting them.

to be continued...

Exam..

Phew! The exam fever is finally over. I can’t believe that I am done with exam for another few years to come. After this, I am going to be the beast who tortures students with exams. 6 years of studies is coming to an end in another 6 months and I just can’t believe it ( though, everyday I woke up and wished I was already working especially when I had assignments to do and exams to study for). I just realised that I actually love examinations (I know that might sound freaking weird). I love the adrenalin rush at the very first mention of test. I love fidgeting in the examination hall and praying to every God for an easier paper. I love cracking my head to find an answer for a difficult question and mentally patting me when I got it right. Digging through my unorganized mental schemata and finding the right answer at the nick of time always fascinated me. It makes you to feel like a survivor; a smart alec or just a good digger, may be? But the feeling is indescribable.

But yeah, I have had moments where I feel like crying looking at the question paper; pouncing at the test designers for making my life a hell or curse the person next to me who writes non-stop. But then, on a frank note I have always felt difficult tests are very interesting as no one can easily answer them but the smart ones. Anyways, I might be roaming in blog world more often now that I am completely free. Adios