A note To PONDER Upon

*********************

In the name of ALLAH, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Assalamu’alaikum w.b.t ( peace be upon you).

Dear beloved and respected Brothers and Sisters of ISLAM (BASIS),

When some things are beyond our control, here’s something that you must NOT DO so as to be happy:

You MUST NOT decide how you think the world SHOULD be. You MUST make rules for how everyone SHOULD behave. Many times, such thoughts can bring you spiralling down into more unhappiness.

On the other hand, let’s say you EXPECT that:

Friends SHOULD return favours.
People SHOULD appreciate you.
Planes SHOULD arrive on time.
Everyone SHOULD be honest,
Your beloved ones or best friends SHOULD remember you in their do’a (prayers).

These expectations may sound REASONABLE.
But, often, these things WON’T happen!
So, you end up FRUSTRATED and DISSAPPOINTED.

There’s a better way strategy. Demand less, and instead, have preferences! For things that are beyond your control, tell yourself:

“I WOULD PREFER “A”, BUT IF “B” HAPPENS, IT’S OK TOO!”

You prefer that people are polite…but when they are rude, it doesn’t ruin your day.
You prefer sunshine…but if it rains, it is ok too!

To become HAPPIER, we either need to:
a) CHANGE the world, or
b) CHANGE our thinking.

* It is EASIER to change our THINKING!
* It is not the problem that is the issue, but rather it is your ATTITUDE attending to the problem that is the PROBLEM.
* It is not what happens to you that determine your happiness but rather HOW YOU THINK about what happens to you!

Wallahu ‘alam bishowab – Only ALLAH KNOW THE BEST!
Wassalamu bilkoir ajma’n.

DRAFTED IN 2001
-SSY (remain anonymous).

Journal Entry – B.Ed TESOL No.2

Date : April 2005

First and foremost, I would like to thank God for giving me strength to go through two months of living in Auckland. Thanks for such a wonderful gift , My Lord.

Driving past, walking fast.
To the field of dreams, hear the children screams
Every corner represents, a different image in my mind
A momentary emotion, spacebanked in time,
In time

Time flies..and I have experienced lots of new interesting things. Followed will be descriptions of 5 aspects of life that I encountered through 60 days of living in Auckland. The aspects are categorized as linguistic, academic, social, cultural, and affective.

1. Linguistic

While completing my first EDUC 225 assignment, I came across a word that causes a concussion among my course mates (Malaysian) that is “SPATULA”. Back at home, such term become applicable when it comes to Science subject. We make full use of spatula in most of our Science projects and experiments in school laboratories. Besides, it is also recognized as a small instrument with a flat surface, used by doctors to hold our tongue down so that they can examine our throat. In contrast, in a Western culture, interestingly, the item is well-known as a part of the cooking utensils. In term of shape, ‘spatula’ that we use is more like a flat steel spoon, in contrast in American culture “spatula” looks like a ladle. On the other hand, among the English, it is regarded as a kitchen tool with a wide flat blade used for spreading, mixing, or lifting soft substances. What a great difference..a small thing could make…in different cultures…but in one planet ..named Earth.

2. Academic

Thanks God! I manage to finish and hand in all assignments (EDUC 223, EDUC 225 & ESOL 201A) before study break begins which is going to start on 18th April 2005. In general, doing those assignments really opened my eyes and mind that to live is to have problems (I did faced difficulties in completing those tasks) and to solve problem is to grow intellectually (not by crying, not by complaining, not by sighing, but by thinking constructively...deep learning..not just surface learning). And the most important of all, I always bear in mind that teachers only open the door but I must enter it by myself. DEPENDENT LEARNERS!

3. Social , Cultural, and Effective.

On 27th February, my friends and I went to a friendly hockey match between Malaysia and New Zealand. It was a superb match. Both teams battled hard against each other from A to Z. Everybody paid full focus to the match without missing any single seconds of it. Unfortunately, Malaysia lost the game to New Zealand 0-3. But we still won the cheers. We were the loudest group on that day. An interesting thing that captured my mind on that day was, Malaysian prohected their voice as loud as possible when it came to singing our national anthem. In contrast, New Zealanders who attended the match on that day remained silence, we hardly heard any single words uttered from their mouth when their national anthem was aired. And I still wonder WHY?Next, for Easter, we went to David and Cynthia’s house at Glendowie to learn on how to bake English scones and lemonade juices. The Irish couple and their two little daughters welcomed us with broad smiles and gratitude. Cynthia brought us around the house and showed us their apple, grapefruit and lemon trees. She offered us some fruits to be taken back to Railway Campus. I met Pauline, a grandmother of a girl and a boy at the occasion. She was so motherly and I liked her so much. She narrated to me the story behind Easter celebration and described on how people celebrated it in New Zealand.

Then when it came to baking scones and making lemonade, we were the most excited ones at the kitchen. Cynthia guided us on it step by step and I managed to record it via my digital video-camera from beginning till end. After about half an hour, tantalizing smells of fully baked golden scones filled the atmosphere and watered everyone’s mouth. Pauline spread some jam and cream on the scones for me with a sweet smile. It really touched my heart. I could not adequately express my feeling to Pauline at that moment. Tears filled my eyes. Seeing me crying, she approached me closer and consoled me. Her affection reminded me of my mom. Oh, how I wished she was there! I really most those precious moments; when we baked cookies and cakes, whenever the whole family got together at home. Mom, I miss u so much!

People need people and friends need friends
And we all need love for a full life depends
Not on vast riches or great acclaim
Not on success or on worldly fame
But just knowing that someone cares
And hold us close in their thoughts and prayers

THE END.

Journal Entry – B.Ed TESOL no.1

Date : 23rd March 2005

I would like to begin my journal entry with something that I used to hear from my beloved mother, Faridah:

“The journey of a thousand miles has to start with the first step”.

And this is the first part of my journey of pursuing new knowledge in Auckland, the City of Sails. Thanks to Lord The Almighty, by His Grace and Mercy, I managed to go through a month of living in an alien place without my family successfully and I must say that I enjoyed every part and parcel of it.

Followed are descriptions of 5 aspects of life that I encountered through 30 days of living in Auckland. The aspects are categorized as linguistic, academic, social, cultural, and affective.

First of all is the linguistic aspect, in other words, language. As a new comer, I did faced some difficulties in understanding words uttered by New Zealanders for the first few weeks. The way they pronounced certain words was quite different from the Queen’s English, the one that I learned in my hometown. From my observation, I discovered that many of them tend to speak without opening their mouth widely. It looked as if they were mumbling those words inside their mouth. Hence, in order to understand messages they tried to convey to me, I had to pay full concentration not only to their facial expressions but also their lips’ movements. This technique was also applied in understanding first few lectures and tutorials in campus.

The second aspect is academic. For this semester, I have to cover three courses which are Advanced Academic Writing (ESOL 201A), Educational Psychology (EDUC 223) and Curriculum Assessment and Evaluation (EDUC 225). Out of the three courses, I noticed that ESOL 201A is more relaxing . It is a course where everybody let their hair down and had some fun. The lecturers involved not only expert in the language field but also in the classroom management. They managed to control their class successfully with their motherly way of delivering knowledge to their learners, consequently, made everybody enjoyed the course very much. Next, the EDUC 223; in terms of content, it is more like a continuation episode of “Human Development” and “Learning and The Learner”, both courses that I studied while completing my first year of degree in Malaysia. Thanks God! My latent knowledge of the subject helped a lot in enabling myself to understand it. Last but no least is the EDUC 225, the toughest course among the previous three courses. It is a hard core course, packed with loads of must-have information. The lectures and tutors of this course wore serious faces almost all of the time. I could feel the tense was up on the air as everybody busily tried their best not to miss any single words uttered by the respective lecturer. The language used in this course really challenged oneself to heighten their linguistic ceiling.

The third aspect is social. I realized that guys and girl are freely talking and poking each other here. In contrast, back in Malaysia, I am bound to certain norms of society. As a girl or a lady, I must well-behaved myself; being polite and genteel. I must restrict myself from being over socialized with people of the opposite sex. I can set conversation with guys but just towards a certain extent; no touches such as patting and poking should take place. Speaking about socialization; in term of making new friends with society, thanks to Lord of all The Worlds, I managed to tie new bonds of friendship with other international students at University of Auckland and also at my residential area, The Railway Campus. Majority of them are Americans and Asians. They were all out-going people or in other words they are the extroverts. I love to befriend them.

Fourth, is the cultural aspect. Interestingly, I came across a new culture of New Zealand’s residents; they keen to hold morning tea sessions to their guest or new comers. During such session, it was obviously seen that there were smiles on everybody’s faces and some of them also had dimples dancing on their cheeks. This warm sensation helped me a lot in filling the emptiness of love in my heart. Only God knows how much I longed for my beloved ones in my hometown. Next, when it came to climate, it was a bit strange for me as a newcomer to this City of Sails; though the sun shined blazingly in the sky, but the blowing wind of Auckland, silently blanketed myself with coldness. In other words it managed to make me felt chilled. Only than I knew that, this country had dried but cold air circling around the place. Besides, I discovered that Auckland’s sun ray was a dangerous one. Espousing oneself outdoor without perfect moisturizer and sunscreen protection may risk her to suffer sunburns, bad rashes, and the worst of all , skin cancer. Hence, just a few days after arrival, I darted into University Of Auckland’s pharmacy to get a sunblock with an assured SPF-grade for better skin protection.

Finally, the last aspect of the five is affective. Truly, just after I reached Auckland International Airport, I broke into tears. I still could not believe my eyes that after twelve hours of journey via Malaysia Airline; I arrived safely at a new destination of learning where another chapter is going to be tinted in my diary of life. I spotted people smiled broadly and waved excitedly to their loved ones and also foreigners. Indirectly, such spirit of friendliness of the New Zealanders warmed the hearts of those who saw it. I got homesick on the 21st of February, the fourth day of my arrival in Auckland. The number

21 meant a lot to me this year as I turned up 21 on that day itself. The moment that I had been waiting for such a long time, significant pairs; being 21 on the 21st of February. Celebrating it alone in an alien place was something that I would not forget for the rest of my life. Tears kept running through my cheeks as I recalled it back. I prayed to God, the Supporter of the one who need support, to showers me with chains of strength and patience. May He bless my humble effort of seeking new knowledge in a new land named New Zealand today and the days to come.

The End.

One day..in the Railway Campus, UOA. (thanx 4 sending me e interview transcript as remembrance..my friend)

UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
EDUC 223
ATTRIBUTION (PROJECT DUE MAY 2005)

Interviewer:
Hello, good morning, Miss SSY and how are you today?

SSY:
Hello, good morning, Ms.?. Alhamdulillah (thanks God), I’m totally in a great health condition and I hope the same goes to you too.

Interviewer:
InsyaAllah (by God’s permission), thank you. First of all, I would like to thanks you for giving me permission to interview you ..plus recording this session this morning.

SSY:
You’re welcome. My pleasure and I’m more than happy with it, lillah (sincerely).

Interviewer:
Thanks again. Oh, yah, SSY, it is important for me to let you know that the chief reason for this interview is to help me to complete my Educational Psychology assignment on “how people think about their performances while studying” ; in other words making analysis of the attributions a person makes for their success and failure in study. And your real name will not be identified in my report; you’ll remain anonymous.

SSY:
Yes (nodding indicate agreement and understand).

Interviewer:
Before we move further, would you mind to introduce or describe a little bit about yourself..perhaps about your age, what course are you taking,.. and etc.

SSY:
Sure. I’m S..S..Y. I’m now doing my second year of degree in B.ED TESOL course. I’m the eldest of five siblings..and I’m like the chip of the old block since both of my parents are educators..the same postI am going to be in a few years time. I am 21 years old.

Interviewer:
Hmm..the eldest..a great responsibility must be lying ahead..on your shoulder. But, I know you can do it. Shall we proceed with the interview now?

SSY:
Yes, of course. Let’s begin..

Interviewer:
Alright..SSY, I want you to think to of something related to your studies in which you did really well recently. It might me you got a better grade than expected for a test or assignment, or that you were praised by a teacher. And how did you feel about what happened?

SSY:
Okay, it was my latest assignment which is ESOL 201A. I managed to score 14/15. It was unexpected result since I have not been practising writing an academic essay after such a great time. I felt so great and ..it was not easy for me to describe in words how greatful I am about it.

Interviewer:
14/15, oh my..that was one point close to full marks. Congratulations,my friend! What a great surprise..though you haven’t being practicing for such a long time but you managed to get such great score! May I know what leads you to did so well?

SSY:
Personally, I think the BEST explanation for my success in this testis my own will. My inner strength..my thirst of gaining success..my self realization..that as the eldest child I must portray a good example to my siblings..and I don’t want to disappoint my parents, instead I want to make them proud of me as their first daughter.Plus..my inner voice..sort of internal motivation..that drives me on..to attribute my success in any field I venture in. Basically,everything is due to my own’s effort..yeah emm..i am really sure with it.

Interviewer:
Wow! Great effort and strong will power! That’s good.

SSY:
Thanks. Oh, yah..by the way I did create my own words of motivation..voices from my heart that function like a pillar to every single things I do.

Interviewer:
That’s interesting..voices from your heart..inner drives..translated into words.. do you interpret it in a form of song, stories, or poems?

SSY:
Sort of a poem..kind of..would you like to know it? Shall I ?

Interviewer:
Of course I am. I would love to..tell me more about it..

SSY:
Well, it goes like this..sincerely expressed from my heart..my own words motivation.. whispers of success that I always coin to myself, SSY..“Reach high; For stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep; For every dream preceedes the goal. SSY..some people are paralyzed by their own thoughts. They accept limitations by saying ;“This is all I can do”. SSY, search yourself for hidden dreams; And set your goals on stars up high;For you, SSY are greater than what you think YOU ARE!

Interviewer:
MasyaAllah (Oh My God! So GREAT!). That was fantabulous! I am really proud of you. Keep it up! SSY, are there any other reasons that you might have done so well?

SSY:
Well…thus far..the first thing on my mind is I want to do the best ..I want to be…if possible to…be outstanding in class, and i can’t deny tha teachers/lecturers do play important roles in leading me to this success..erm..because my ESOL lectures…they are so motherly, they are like mothers to us..they are also experts in their field of teaching..expertises who really knows on how to deal with students insuch effective and creative ways. They manage to make the whole class to pay full focus to their teaching throughout the whole session and the best of all she always praises me whenever I got correct answer in class.

Interviewer:
Do you mean teachers’s feedback? And how does this affect your future studies?

SSY:
Yes, correct. Their sincere feedbacks towards every single of my correct response in class. Those praises really embark my spirit like a sort of motivation…from the day onwards I want …my hunger of praises gradually increase.. but of course not the unsincere ones, but the sincere ones. Therefore I have to struggle very hard to get sincere praises from teacher. But…no matter whatever form they are..i strongly believe that everything will finally relies back on me, I’m.. as the person herself..even with tons/ mountains of praises befallen me..but if it does not comes together with self actualization.. realization…that success..REMINDING.. what i do today is important because I am paying a day of my life for it... What I accomplish must be worthwhile because the price is high....cause.. MY family wants ME to do well in everything (e.g. good grades and good health)....and... MY family don’t want ME to rush through and simply pass and know nothing. ...hhh....In the hope that I will have a good qualification so that I can have a bright future. MY STRONG WILL POWER TO SUCCESS!

Interviewer:
Congratulations..you seem to have..full confidence in yourself. Okey, next.. I want you to think of something related to your study in which you did not do so well recently. It might be that you got a worse grade than expected for an assignment or test, or you were criticized by a teacher for example. And just like the prior question..may I know why do you think you didn’t do so well? And how did you feel about what happened?

SSY:
Emmm…may I take the most significant example from my schooling experience instead of here?

Interviewer:
Yes, of course as long as you feel comfortable with it.

SSY:
Thank you. Well..it was regarding my add maths subject (additional mathematics). I scored a ‘C’ in my final year examination. And it did really made me felt bad and totally frustrated with myself. It was quite unpredictable..because as far as I could remember..i managed to answer all of the required questions..perhaps I might lose marks on my calculations’s steps..furthermore..getting correct steps in calculating..cost more marks..for each correct steps.. ..than getting a single correct answer (2marks) in add math. One may get between 1 to 2 marks for each steps..thus if there’s 4 steps towards getting the right answer..one can easily obtain 8 points. And for this coincidence..i didn’t think that it is due to lack of struggle..i did put endless effort on it..i bought lots of reference and exercise books plus attending tuition class for it once a week…hmm..may be I am weak at analyzing numerical questions..truely since I was in school..at one state…I finally realize that I’m a linguist not a mathematicians..i perfom really well in fields associated with language compare to numericals/maths..

Interviewer:
SSY, did you find add maths difficult? Or is there any other reasons or factors that might cause you to did not perform so well in it?

SSY:
No. I can’t say that add maths is a difficult subject because if others can get good scores for the subject..indicating that it is not a difficult subject at all..i should be able to do it too. But, in my opinion, the most important thing of all is on how people regard or perceive it..their mind setting towards the subject. Perhaps, as a result of setting my mind that I am a linguist not a mathematicians .... slowly affect my achievement in this subject.Yeah…. everything falls back on me..i don’t think there’s any other factor contributing to it…my internal motivation.

Interviewer:
How might this affect your future studies?

SSY:
Emmm…I will keep saying that I am a linguist. I don’t want to think of mathematics anymore. How did it affect me? Well…it’s the end of everything. It was the final exam. And after all..after schooling.. I choose to pursue my studies in Bachelor of Education – Teaching English to Speakers Other Languages (B.ed TESOL). A course..which I could say almost 90% does not involve mathematics at all but LANGUAGE.But bear in mind that this does not mean I HATE ADD MATHs..i won’t..every singlE created things/field of knowledge has it own significants or use in any man’s life..it was just that for this moment..i am more toward linguistic fields..who knows in years to come my interest might goes to Mathematics.Wallahu’alam (Only God knows everything).

Interviewer:
Okey, SSY, thanks God, I obtained lots of useful information from you.Thank you very much for your sincere cooperation to me along this interviewing session. May God repay your kindness and sincerity by leaps and bounds. Forgive me for any inconveniences, my friend. Good Luck in all your endeavours! Set your goal and strike for it. Surround yourself with those who believe you and will help you achieve your goals. Remember that SUCCESS covers a multitude of blunders. You will
be successful, I just know it. InsyaAllah! (by God’s permission).

SSY:
You are welcome. The same goes to you too! All the best for your assignment. Assalamu’alaikum (peace be upon you)

Interviewer:
Wa’alaikumussalam (peace be upon you too).


**Short notes:
• THE REAL NAME- remain anonymous
• The italicized words are Islamic or Arabic phrases and those in brackets are the translations of it.

Assalamu'alaikum wbt

Alhamdulillah 'ala kulli hal..
InsyaAllah..hasil tangan ..baru akan direleasekn tak lama lagi.
Mudah2n dpermudahkan sgl urusan..insyaAllah
Kulakukan segalanya ikhlas lillahi Ta'ala.
Wassalam.