Happy Deepavali

My favourite celebration is here again. After two years celebrating it far from home, this year I'M Actually HOME! But the only sad thing is now it's my sister's turn and she is away this time. Still, i shopped like hell and can't wait to go home. By the way Happy Deepavali to all my readers out there. Wish you a wonderful Deepavali. Do eat a lot. :-)

Of a Loss and a Gain

After a long break, now i'm back with a bang. These past few weeks has been quite eventful and believe it or not has been all about saying hi to some and saying goodbye to some. 2 weeks ago, i successfully finished my practicum and slowly getting ready to enter into the working world of adults which still sends jitters to me.

About the farewell, i was surprised to get so many gifts from my students especially certain little devils whom i thought hate me to the core. Though the gifts were tiny and simple, they worth millions to me as they are from my first students and also it's a symbol of love, affection and respect. Imagine the student running off to the school Koperasi shop to get a note pad and a pen while i was teaching when she came to know that was my last day of teaching them. I still remember telling my friend that nor me neither my students will feel sad on my last day of school and it turned out to be just the opposite. In my class, there was a giggling student whom i never forget to scold. She giggles without reason and never does any of my work. I love teasing her in the class and she never fails to respond either. On my last day in the school, she came to me and gave a wrapped gift and said. "Teacher when you unwrap this gift, i bet you'll smile also". And exactly as she had said, i burst out laughing at the little cute ANT MONSTER that she had given me.

Amidst all this, just 3 days ago, one of my students passed away of heart attack. I remember her as a petite girl whom i thought as a weak girl but actually proved me wrong when she responded to my question. God bless the soul of the little angel. 16 years is no age to say goodbye to the world and this is definitely one of the toughest good bye for me.

On other note, just as said by to my students, recently i bumped into my ex-teacher in the Deepavali Carnival, KL Central. I have been looking for her for past 10 years plus and out of sudden there she was walking in front of me. Small world indeed. The first time i saw her, i was shocked and at the same time scared to approach her as i was not sure. So, i just let her slip. Then, my friend was asking me to approach her. So, i told myself that if i happened to bump into her again, then i would approach her. And Gods willing again, she was walking towards me and i went and talked to her. When she confirmed her name, i was so happy and upon recognising me, she was so speechless. We were just staring at each other in disbelief and i bet i saw tinge of tears in her eyes. The same was happening to me either. Quickly we updated each other about the things that happened in the 10 years span. I was surprised to know that actually, she knows about my whereabouts in 10 years time as she always ask people about me. The only surprise for her was when she came to know that i am a teacher now. I remember her coaxing me saying that i will be a lawyer in the future as i always wanted to be when i crying that i did poorly in one of my subjects when i was in standard 5. So she was, "What, Teacher? You could have done better than this with your results right? Did i not warn you not to be a teacher?,,,bla..bla " There she was nagging as a typical teacher as she always has been..

With love from your student

"Dear Miss Ramyah,

Firstly, we would like to apologise for every mistakes that we have done in your class. For your information, you’re the first practicum teacher who have influenced us to speak English and succeeded in making us completing our work.

We also now have confidence to talk in English though only in the class. (If we speak English outside, “kantoi” our grammar.) You know how to win our heart by preparing all the interesting activities for us. Sometimes we do not like you coming to the class so early. No time for us to ‘zzzzz’. We used to look at your outfits and different sort of shoes (two inch shoes) and we would start gossiping about it. Sorry ;-)

In addition, we love the way you speak English since we are into English but no one could lead us. We are so curious why you always walk around while teaching. It makes our eyes (a picture of eyes spinning)

We are going to miss you, teacher. Pardon us for our bad English and translating from Malay to English. We are trying and practising. Do pray for our success in future and achieve our ambition to be a lawyer (X) and flight attendant (Y). Love Ya."

This week was my final week in the school as a practicum teacher. The letter above is one of the letters given by my students. I still remember before starting my practicum i was telling a friend that i bet neither my students nor i would feel touchy on the last day of my prac. But i surprised myself when both my students and i got emotional on the last day. This letter is from a weak and struggling class, but still i have always felt attached to the class. When the one of the students was reading the farewell speech, i could feel pricks of tears in me. The speech was very touchy, sincere and straight from the heart. Now i know why even the smallest gift from a student matters diamonds to teachers. Thanks dear students for giving me a wonderful memory to cherish forever.