Thursday, May 31, 2012

The MQA Panels have come and done a complete evaluation of our Programme - Bachelor of Animal Production and Health. All the members of the panel of evaluation are my dear friends from UPM.

So the two-day programme went on in a very friendly atmosphere.

Days before the evaluation were hectic. Imagine having to print all the lecture notes, test and exam question papers, answer scripts, etc

The sweetest thing was to hear The Chairman of the panel saying that we have to be proud that our programme is unique in the sense that it covers almost equal portion of animal production and health.

A small concern is that there is too big a gap in the age of lecturers. There are no 30+ - 40+ age group! We all realize this.

It is over and I hope we will get a good report.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Again I was called to mumble and nag about the standard English among us, students and adults alike.

No, I am not flagging-up English just because it is the language of our colonial masters.

It is because, like it or not, most of the present scientific presentations, be it oral or written, are in English.

Even tests and exams are also in English.

We just have to accept that English is important. I know, some of you will say what about the Japanese? The French? The Germans?

I know, they still speak and write in their mother tongue lingo.

No, I don't care about them. What I am interested now is us.

We have to be good in English, that's all.

Please, be serious and listen. We can do it. 

Look at me, a kampung boy, wandering barefoot in the beris soil of Kampung Tuan, far from English-speaking comunity and English books, still have the motivation to improve my English.

I am not bragging or blowing my own trumpet, but you may say that it was the system, we, I mean those of us born in the fifties, are good in English.

Why not look back at how we did it those years. There is no harm and nothing to be ashamed of, to shift into the reverse gear, if that will bring back the standard of English to us.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

AGING GRACEFULLY

Friends, old and new, questioned me for doing what I have been doing since my retirement - still working and living alone.

 I told them repeatedly that despite of my retirement, I still have to work and earn a living.

 I just retired from DVS and never from LIFE.

There are still mouths to feed, minds to educate, bodies to cloth, necessities to meet, life to continue and knowledge and skills to pass on.

An FB friend said that it is bad for a man of my age to stay alone 5 days in a week. He proudly told me that he enjoyed life with his family besides him after retirement.

I told him that I am proud of what I am doing now. I know, life can be a bit miserable with the distant-marriage thing and doing many things alone.

I just have to work to continue living. The one and half month leave prior to retirement had taught me that not-doing-anything-for-most-of-the-day was not a good and healthy way of life!

Too much relaxation and a life void of stress kill, or at least make you lose your mind! I don't want to be like that.

My daughter gave me another two years, after that she wanted me to call it a day and she will look after me for the rest of my life. Well, that was what she said. Reality is another thing.

I told her that I will continue working until they found me no more useful. I will work till 65, that is my goal.

I know, some of us also know and may be not many of you know that life as a weekend husband is full of trial and tribulations for marriage.

Feelings of both husband and wife can easily be disturbed by sense of insecurity, loneliness and of course, that dreaded green monster.

Delays in answering an sms or picking up calls have been misunderstood as I was doing something else. Sounds of womanly giggles from the next table during dinner as overheard during mobile conversation could easily be misunderstood as I was enjoying my dinner with the opposite sex!

I know I have gone through some difficult times a few times, but patience, maturity and my great love to my family have made me sailed through the choppy sea, quite smoothly.

To Allah I pray that I will continue be useful to my fellow human beings and age gracefully till my last breath.