They are too serious? Or I'm just too...

Last week, during one of our usual assemblies (whereby everyone was in there respective classroom and the commands were done through the PA system), a rather familiar voice led the entire college in THE PLEDGE. The voice was indeed a very familiar one, but no one expected that voice to lead us in THE PLEDGE.

Some people responsible for the actual leading of THE PLEDGE weren’t around at that crucial time, a technician setting up the PA system felt awkward to let the whole school wait silently for nothing. She took the initiative to lead. She was nervous, no doubt and got a few words/lines awkwardly wrong.

So many students (I bet some staff also) were laughing. That sent “panic” up the spine of the management. Mm.. Leave that aside. But I really applaud the technician for her display of courage and initiative.

In our usual contact time today, the management led us to share about the learning points of that event. It was more like they were interested to know (to check) what we told our students or shared with our students when we were in the classroom with them and they were laughing.

Before the sharing, we were first told (rather sternly) that students shouldn’t be laughing and that was actually a teachable moments or learning moments.

Those volunteered or invited to share certainly know the standard answers, the answers wish to be heard. They admitted that their students were laughing, but quickly added that they scolded their students for that. That was their so-called first phase of corrective measure. Okay, they later explained to the students why they shouldn’t laugh and blah blah blah..

I know leading THE PLEDGE wrongly is serious.

But leading THE PLEDGE that way was truly quite funny lor. To the far end of the spectrum, imagine asking hui(1) ge(1) (or any well-known comedian) suddenly acting all serious and lead the entire nation his entire organization in THE PLEDGE, and leading it wrongly in many parts..

Can’t we all just laugh a bit first (not at the person but at the situation) and then guide the students
- to understand the situation,
- to be tolerant to errors,
- not to finger-point whose at fault,
- how to ensure not to see such occurrence again, etc.. ???

Where is their sense of humour?

Okay, maybe I’m the only one having a silly sense of humour. Never mind..


(Not necessarily in the context of the above-mentioned incident...)
It is just a little sad that the culture is such that when something goes wrong, the first thought many people have in mind is ...

“Cham liao, this time who is going to get it?!” - many followers

“Oh no! How could this happen? You better explain this!” - many leaders

My Spare Tyre..

Of course, of course, I’m not talking about those fatty flaps around my waist. As if there is any? Haha..

I’m really talking about the fifth tyre in a normal 4-wheel sedan car. Mm..

While I was walking towards my car yesterday, I wasn’t alone. The guy walking next to me happened to be the driver of the car beside where my car was parked. There wasn’t conversation between us at first. But when we were both about to enter our own car, he called out to me, for he had noticed something from his perspective.

He : Hi Mister, I think you have a flat tyre.
Me : Huh? Really?

I walked over to take a look at the left-back wheel. And .. Haiz.. I saw a half deflated tyre still supporting my heavy car-body. The culprit was just a nail that pierced through that original tyre. I saw that silly nail. Mm..

Me : … Thanks for telling!

Poor tyre.

Poor me also, for once more, I just got to fold up my sleeves and... Argg…

I was a little shock to see the standard spare tyre available at the bottom of the car-boot. It was awful. I was a little skeptical whether it was able to provide a good support. Let’s see if you feel the same way. Just take a look :

~ ~ Spare Tyre Mounted ~ ~

It looks like a total misfit!

Amazingly, I was still able to travel for more about 30km with that spare typre with no problem at all. But.. It’s certainly much better to see the original state again.

~ ~ Spare Tyre Removed. Normal Working Tyre Mounted ~ ~

- - - - -

(1)
Why the tyre must get punctured at that time??!!
So inconvenient!
I was about to… but just got to miss it.
Because of the arrangement to get everything fixed… I have to miss another…
But again, where got such a thing as a convenient time for a tyre to get punctured one??! Haha..

不顺心的事总不会在所谓「适当的时候」发生。
不顺心的事总是会发生。
我们惟有改变我们的心态来面对所谓「不顺心的事」。


(2)
Why the spare typre looks so awful, looks so insecure??!!
I think this strategy ensures no unnecessary delay to get the injured tyre fixed. This is always the recommended way anyway.
So, it must be for better security reason, for the spare tyre to look so insecure? Haha..

- - - - - -



有一位圣者这么说：

小人以耳目导心，
君子则以心导耳目，
不因环境的诱惑及动乱，而改变修行的志气。

He Said : If you have no aspiration ...

One pal was relating to me that he heard one person commenting that..

If a teacher has no aspiration to be promoted or reject being promoted, he is then not a good teacher.

Mm..

If this comment is made by someone not in the profession of teaching, maybe I wouldn't feel as disturbing. I will just take it as comment utter out of sheer ignorance. But this comment was actually made by someone not just in the profession of teaching but someone right up there in the leadership / management post, someone involves in the assessment and ranking of many teachers!!!

Feeling a little disgusted strange that such a person is so near me.

Again, I am sure he/she wouldn't dare to make such comment publicly. He/She merely made the comment when amongst people of his/her rank. But no one corrected him/her on the spot??!! Argg..

如果谁敢在众人面前下此言论，
相信不用我亲自出招，
他也会遭受到难以收拾的下场。

那一句话的破绽太多、太多了。Heh..

- - - -



有一位圣者这么说：

星星之火，可以燎原；蚁穴虽小，可以溃堤。

这都说明着，大患之形成，刚开始时大都是很微细的疏忽，进而纵容之，放肆之，终至不可收拾。

一般人看到结果之严重，常不知这些是根源于微细难见的不良种子，而推诿自己责任，嫁祸于外在的因素。

果能依戒书上所示，防意如城，守口如瓶，约身如绳，则不会自陷生命于恶道险境。

Parents Are So Concern..

Almost forgotten this little space here. Too lazy to write, I guess. I shall try again today.

- - -

Talking to parents is never my strength. Not that I don’t like to meet up with them. Actually I don’t mind meeting them. But I often felt inadequate about what I am sharing with them about their kids. How am I going to comment much (constructively) about these *little pals (when I only meet them 2 to 3 hours a week) to their parents (who have raised them for 17 to 18 years)?

Of course, it will be non-sense to tell the parents comments like “your child is weak”, “your child needs to work harder”, “your child is a good boy”, “your child is talkative”, “your child is lazy”, “your child is very good in math”, etc. If the parents are more direct, they could have commented, “Please tell me something we don’t know.”

Silly me doesn’t think I can be very helpful in providing information they don’t know. Mm.. So, whenever a *little-pal asked, “Mr Nanzi, my parents are coming, do you want to see them?” I always replied, “I will like to see them, if they wish to see me.” I think this is the only politically proper reply I can use.

Yester-night the college arranged another session for parents to visit and catch up with their child’s tutors. Yes, it’s “yester-night”, and not “yester-day”, and it was lesson as usual during the day time. Anyway, I learnt that the last session actually ended at around 9:30pm. Mm… Long day.. mm..

- - -

Some parents made me laugh. I made some parents laugh. Haha.. It was just late and .. erm.. come on, relax a little bit.

In general, they are all so very concern about their child and would like to understand how they are progressing and coping. That’s good. They hope (and trust) that we can help their child and see to their development. That’s quite a responsibility.

Anyway, 2 isolated incidents on the night left quite an impression.

(1)
A mother, once we were formally introduced to each other, almost stormed continuously at me …
“Why you set such a difficult paper?”
“My son used to be very good in math, you know?”
“He has a very good (home) tutor. Even the tutor said the paper is too tough.”
“Why set such a paper when only one-quarter of the class passed?”
“My son can do RJ’s paper, you know.”
“My friend’s son (in RJ) compared RJ paper with your paper. He also said your paper is too tough.”... and so on.

Those were comments lunged out from a concerned parent. No worries, I was able to re-direct the fires and extinguish her fires. Haha..

A little thought to myself :

The child of that parent scored near to 35%.
Even if the paper was easier, with his power now, what kind of good score would he have scored?
If the child actually scored beautifully for that paper, would the mother be so proud of her son and so proud of the standard of that paper, instead?

(2)
A couple came along and commented …
“You are too loud.”
“My daughter said it was almost like scolding.”
“She can follow the lesson initially. But after that, she couldn’t understand what you are saying.”

Certainly, what happened in the classrooms was feedback to the parents. That’s pretty good.

A little thought to myself :

I got to admit I wasn’t talking to her that gently recently.
I have some reasons, not excuses I hope.
For I don’t think she is doing the minimum.
That’s only my guess, anyway.

The child was weak in math ever since primary school.
Her secondary school teachers also suggested that she may not be suitable for JC.
She insisted to come to JC and actually have to meet up with the principal twice (at least) just to decide on her subject combination.
She knows she has problem with the subject Math.
Yet she chose the subject to study at advanced level.
Fine. Since she is now in my class, I have the responsibility.

She scored only about 10% in the recent major exam.
Of course, with her power now, she would not be able to follow any lesson (by anyone) when passed the introduction stage. I am talking about lesson in class, when the pace of a lesson should be tailored to the majority and not to a particular individual.

A recent mini-test also suggested that she may not be doing enough.
We had just covered a small topic in tutorial.
We revised just after the tutorial.
After the revision no one responded when asked, “Any question?”
So we proceeded to administer a mini-test.
She struggled and failed just as badly.
We discussed the corrections of the paper two days later.
Yet she could not answer the most basic of all questions when asked.
She must have known she doesn’t know the topic.
You know… questions of that mini-test were very similar to the tutorial (only the numerical numbers were changed).
And the presentations of such questions were also printed in lecture notes.
What has she done?
Yet she only commented how her CCA was/is draining her time. Mm..

It pains me a little to see the parents’ eye turning a little watery and reddish when talking about their daughter. They know their daughter needs more time in grasping concepts. They only hope we can be more patient with her and guide her through this tough time.

What else can I do?

More individual attention, I guess.

- - -

~ ~ Developing Rose Bud ~ ~

It will blossom to an unimaginably charming rose when given the right conditions.

It actually feels not-too-bad when we think we can actually play a role in developing some individuals. But the question bothering me sometimes is “Am I really doing so?” Mm..

- - - - - - - - - -



有一位作者这么写到：

人生不要太圆满，
有个缺口让福气流向別人是很美的一件事。

Sharing a Map of Jiu Zhai Gou..

Ladies and gentlemen, may I share with you

A Tour Map of Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve
A Tour Map of Jiu Zhai Gou Nature Reserve

九寨沟之地图

( … different way of writing it just to increase “searchability” …)

I got this map on the site only after my second attempt (as mentioned here).

I thought the map is kind of useful for anyone doing some kind of initial planning. Mind you, I don’t think you can get such detailed map of Jiuzhaigou (九寨沟) from the usual guide books we see around. Not even from those very reputed ones.

Thanks to W for the neat effort in scanning. Cool! :o)

Oh, sure, I know!
You may “complain” that the picture above doesn’t really help because it is so small. Blogger automatically re-sizes the picture once we uploaded it. Argg.. This is exactly the main reason why it took me so so long to post this entry. I was thinking of how to share it more effectively and meaningfully. If not the effort by W may be kind of wasted.

Hehe.. I am slightly more “thinking” today. I thought of a way, not necessarily the best, but it works. Ladies and gentlemen, if you need it, the full size picture of the map can be downloaded here.

- - - - - - - - -



A writer wrote :

Everyone has beauty
but not everyone sees it.

Not That I Am … But…

I was particularly excited when B said he has a series of some video clips. I requested for a copy of the entire set. Not that I am that interested with those clips (for I think I simply don’t have the flair for it), but I know I could share with a few others who are really interested/talented and perhaps put the related knowledge into good use, somewhat.

Come to think about it, I was also rather delighted when S (or anyone) said he/she knew about this-and-that place with palatable delicacies. I gladly took down the addresses. Not that I am that 馋嘴 (erm.. not suggesting I am not one either.. haha..), but I know I could share with a few others and I think they will be just as glad.

我不一定有办法擦拭人们落下的伤心泪珠。

But I’m not giving up, I guess.

我想尝试不同的方法增添人们脸上的微笑。

Hope that I’m doing it the right way, most importantly.

- - - - - - - - - -

记得友人跟我说过，
能懂得锦上添花是很好…
不过，我们也应该学习如何来雪中送炭…

I Escaped Those "Invitations"..

Through the PA system, “All staff members are invited to the event if you have nothing on..”

The phrase “if you have nothing on” dulls every other thing. I only remember that phrase and decided to make myself look busy (as if got something on) or just disappear from the near-by scene for good.

It was not that I 耍大牌.

But I’m just not into such function, where all of us will be merely seating there listening to speeches (of people you usually don't know well) and clapping accordingly (when names of people you are usually not-too-familiar with were called upon). It was not even an event to celebrate success, but just a handing-over ceremony with so many people from different places invited.

Some people may believe such ceremony is (very) important, for it marks the beginning of the operational readiness of a new team. A little cynical side of me reminds me that it is going to be a new team (yes) under the direction of the same-old powerful and watchful management/leadership. :p

The limitation is mine, I can't see or feel the difference (yet).

But again.. somehow, if the characters of the main focus (of such event) are whom I know well, I may actually quite enjoy being there. It is quite a different story to see our friends beaming with pride.

- - -

I also recalled a past invitation to a talk/forum/dialogue.

That invitation was more formally done. A letter was drafted and sent out to thousands of us.

It read, “ … you are cordially invited to … ”

Only “cordially invited” and not “compulsory”.

You know what?! Only about half of the entire cohort turned up. The big auditorium looked quite empty.

Erm.. It was supposed to be a forum (or dialogue) between a minister and the thousands of us. And again, I conveniently absent myself.

Oh, we had a long tongue-lashing session from the organizer first thing in the morning on the next working day. The organizer was again stressing how important the forum (or dialogue) was. And how dare we absent ourselves when the minister (our big boss) was invited.

I admit I wasn’t right, in certain social context. But.. Ha.. I think I am not made for important things. Heh..

By the way, the organizer learnt their lesson. For the subsequent talks/forums/dialogues, the phrase “cordinally invited” was dropped from the invitation letter. It was replaced by “attendance is compulsory”. Indeed, they took attendance before and after such sessions.

- - - - - - - - -

梦：有色、有香、有温

I once wondered whether my dreams were coloured (when I first heard that astronauts have black-&-white dreams).

Like many people, such question can be rather difficult to answer as when we talk about dreams, they can be really vague. Even when we remember the details of events, we might not aware whether they were coloured or merely black/white.

I am sure my dreams were coloured. Ha.. At least some dreams (if not all) were coloured. Because not long after I had that thought in my mind, I had a dream.

In that dream, I was aware that I was dreaming and I also remembered my aim. So I was frantically searching for "proofs". I saw many people wearing white robes. Argg.. Of all colours, why must they wear white robes??!! Then how to achieve my aim??!! Ha.. But then, after searching more intensely, I saw one of the white robes has a big distinct red cross printed in the middle. Yeah!

- - - - - -

I also wondered whether we can smell in dreams. Just last night, my query was answered adequately.

It wasn't the kind of dream I expect to have, although in reality I would quite enjoy the experience, I guess. I shall spare you the details, giving more room for imagination.

Anyway, I was so close to a source. I can smell. It wasn't exactly a super nice fragrance, but something faint and something I don't mind to have it around me. I knew that I was dreaming (for the scenes were far from reality) and I was half suspecting the smell could be from my room itself. But no.. It can't be as that smell was a little foreign to me also. The smell was distinctive enough and it must be directly from that source.

I was that near to the source that I can even feel some warmth.

- - - -

Ha.. So this entry is very much like a personal documentary, documenting that all my senses are generally still very active during my dreams.

How about you? :o)

还记得那深沉且暗红的十字架。

还记得那亲切又独特的夜来香。

还记得那适中和舒服的温暖度。

Okay, let's get back to reality.

- - - - - - - - - -



有一位作者这么写到 ：

在白天，
我们所能看到最远的东西，是太阳陽。

但在夜里，
我们却可以见到超过太阳亿万倍距离以外的星体，
而且不只一个，数量是多到数不清的。

人生进入黑夜时，你是否看到更远、更多星星 ...

Glad to be at Your Service..

H was saying, “I feel a little uneasy if I were to see my friends being very busy and yet I can’t help (or relief them) in one way or another.”

H added, “It feels good to do something, just anything, even very simple thing, to assist people you know. Not that they can’t do the work. I am sure they can do better. Just that.. mm.. Just that it feels good that tiny me can still somehow provide them with some conveniences.”

我想说我也有同感。
但是，程度上应该还远不如 H. Haha..

咱们
对《助人为乐》体认多少？
对《一视同仁》体认多少？

我好像也不是全面性的知道...
我就边学习、边体认吧...

- - - - - - - - - -



有一位作者这么写到：

我体认到生命中的缺口，彷若我们背上的一根刺，
时时提醒我们谦卑，要懂得怜恤。

若沒有苦难，我们会骄傲，
没有沧桑，我们不会以同理心去安慰不幸的人。

First Such Run..

Couldn’t believe I would have actually signed up, paid up and turned up for a run (Saucony-100PLUS Passion Run 2007). Yes, my first such run. If not for the encouragement from some good pals, I would probably just laze away my Sunday morning again.

So now, I have
Experienced the passion.
Experienced the run. :o)

It was quite different running with so many people.

It’s not just running, I guess. (Haha.. At least I was there not to win the race.)

It could be just setting our own personal records with so many people witnessing. And certainly running alongside with so many serious runners provides unimaginable motivational energy to continue even when we are very tired. (Ha.. Such reasons were shared by someone. I think they are true, but they are hardly my main concerns lah.)

Or, it could be just.. erm.. being there to relax, enjoy (with friends and strangers alike) and to just look-look-see-see :P

Anyway, it was an enjoyable experience. Thanks to all that came along. :o)

- - - - - -



有一位作者这么写到：

如果你是一个蚌，
你愿意受尽一生痛苦而凝结一粒珍珠，
还是不要珍珠，
宁愿舒舒服服的活着？

Some Responses after an Exam..

It is now not too long after the administration of a pretty major examination. The results are rather disastrous. Of course, we can blame the students for not studying hard enough. But at the same time, I would also like to reflect the general effectiveness of my/our teaching approaches. Mm.. Some responses from the *little pals set me thinking quite a bit.

1.
L said, “Mr Nanzi, not to worry. I’m 《放长线钓大鱼》 type. Next test, you see. Sure improve one.”

L scored less than 20%. He still appears somewhat jovial. In fact, he reacted delightfully when he learnt that he scored slightly better than some of his closest friends.

- - - - -

2.
C texted, “I would not promise you anything now. But I reassure you I will definitely try my very best for the next test.”

C scored near to 60%. But that was far below what he had targeted before the test. He is really determined. Just this afternoon, he came armed with an assessment book and asked for advice on the questions to attempt over the weekend.

- - - - -

3.
X commented in her writing, “It’s not as if I don’t give a damn to the exam. I studied for it. So? Still get 4 Us. WTH!”

X scored well below 40%. She missed the PAE and she really has loads to catch up. As long as she doesn’t give up, there’s hope.

- - - - -

4.
G requested, “Mr Nanzi can I see you later?”

G did come to see me later.

G : This is not about math questions.
Me : Sure. I will still try to assist you.
G : Mr Nanzi, you see. It’s not that I never studied. I did the tutorials. I tried many exercises. I understand the materials. I am more serious this year. But why?.. Why only improved by only 3 marks.

By the way G is currently repeating his first year and still scored much less than 40%.

G continued : I tried RJ’s paper. I tried NJ’s paper. I tried .. I could get the answers. But why I can’t seem to do our own paper?

How do you expect me to reply G?

Mm.. I gathered some courage and I tried somehow. We tried to work out something in the end. I only hope I am reassuring enough and he continues to work hard (in the right directions).

- - - - -

5.
S said, “Mr Nanzi, not to worry. I already have plan.
Me : What plan?
S : Next year if I were to repeat, I know exactly what subjects to take.
Me : You actually spent time thinking about such contingency plan?

S scored less than 20%. She is taking it that bravely.

- - - - -

6. 7. 8. …
There are many more different responses of course. But, I shall stop here.

In general, I can sense that they finally sense that Advanced Level can be so different from Ordinary Level. They are in the process of coping. They know time is tight and time doesn’t wait. They are eager. Nervous, perhaps? And they reacted quite differently.

How can I (we) assist them? Mm..

Started with a student's bad hand-writing.
Ended with a teacher's mistake.

Even if it all begins with our student's lack of motivation...
I think I should play a part in motivating them.

- - - - - - - - - -



有一位圣者这么说：

批评别人容易，改正自己困难；
宽恕自己容易，原谅别人困难。

心满则容不下别人的劝告，故闻过则怒；
自传则听不入别人的规箴，必闻谏而仇。

病莫大于不知己失，罪莫大于言人是非。

有过不知，愚人也。
悔而不改，废人也。
知而不悔，庸人也。
过而掩讳，小人也。

Dream : Optimistic Side of Us..

From a simple thing as a dream, I kind of see how optimistic we all can be.

If we happen to have a good dream, … we hope it comes true.

If we happen to have a bad dream, … mm… we may feel bad for a while. But we usually recover very soon and tell ourselves how reality differs from it.

And usually, a little while longer, we don’t even remember the details of the dream, be it good or bad. We are back to face reality, regardless we like it or not. Heh..

This is really the optimistic side of almost all (if not all) of us.

But what if when we are half way crossing a suspension bridge and.. mm...

I am imagining a little too wildly, I guess.

- - - - - - - - -



有一位圣者这么说：

不杀生曰仁：就是不侵犯他人的生命。
不偷盗曰义：就是不侵犯他人的财物。
不邪淫曰礼：就是不侵犯他人的身体。
不妄语曰信：就是不侵犯他人的名誉。
不酒肉曰智：就是不侵害自己的灵智。

孝顺亲，即是应该的善行。
正己心，即是基本的善行。
忠诚信，即是处世的善行。
勤渡人，即是慈悲的善行。

Memory Power of People in Business.

I think I have not patronized the stall for more than a year. It was so long that I think I need to read the map again in order to find my way there.

In any case, I called to place an order first, just to make sure I don’t make an empty trip.

Me : Hi, I would like to place an order for blah blah blah.
S : Sure. You can come any time tomorrow to collect them.
Me : Great. Thanks.
S : You are Mr Nanzi right?
Me : Wa! You sure have a great memory.
…

It feels not-that-bad to be remembered. But at the same time, it feels a-little-strange for I think it is only my third visit to the stall when I collect the items tomorrow and my last visit was more than a year ago.

I think people in business have great memory power.

No wonder I cannot imagine myself in business.
But I sure remember the pretty face of S. Hehe..

- - - - -

忽而想自问，这些日子以来我…
- 个性气质收敛多少？
- 杂欲俗念净化多少？
- 言行心量开阔多少？
- 慈悲喜舍用心多少？
- 忍辱坚定几分？
- 反省受教几分？
- 耐性修炼几分？
- 内涵谨慎几分？

I hope... I should have... BUT...

I really hope that ... , but I know I shouldn’t ...
有时候…
我知道我内心的所要，但是我也明白其中的不该。
所以，千万不要太过合我的意。
原来，要做到「随心所欲而不逾矩」还真不容易。

Of course, we are always very glad that things turn up the way we hope, we wish to be. I just like to pause a little to think about the appropriateness of what I hope for or what I wish for. Inappropriateness inevitably leads to undesireable outcomes. Ha...

- - - - -

I know I should have ... , but I have yet to ...
事实上…
我明白我身负的职责，但是我仍任性的踟蹰不前。
其实，万事皆具备东风也不缺。
原来，要做到「真知真行」也要一番毅力与坚持。

Maybe it is good to constantly revisit :
What is my purpose in life?
How well am I approaching it?

If we keep procrastinating till such moment,
maybe it will be really too late.

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有一位圣者这么说：

「反省」是一种高贵的自修功夫。
生命的提升是要透过反省改过才能助长。
若省思自觉力不强或是无奋勇大毅志来推动那股气机的话，
那也无法创造另一番的高尚行为。...

若自觉心不自强而萎缩，
则气质将突破道德心之防线而驾驭德性之仁心，
使人的生命险溺、扭曲、变质而坠落。