The joy in teaching

I'm revisiting high school maths to help a friend catch up before classes commence for her masters course - drafting out lesson plans beginning with the BODMAS order of solving equations, to basic algebra, a sprinkling of calculus, leading all the way to compound interest and annuities. Only one lesson down so far, but she's proving to be a fast student. Of all my mini math tutoring stints, this one is definitely the most noble and most joyful, as she is going back to study after more than a decade of being a mum. So, being humble is out of the question, I so damn proud of this!

It is such a wonderful thing to help someone out. To put our knowledge and skills to good use. For surely there is no use in being knowledgeable if you don't use said knowledge to further someone else's understanding.

Take pride in the number of people or causes we have helped with our knowledge, not the possession of knowledge itself. 

மலர்கள் கேட்டேன் வனமே தந்தனை

One surprise after another. After so many last minute decisions and changes, I'm finally posted to The National Institute of Valuation, an educational institution cum research centre.
I get ALL the things that I was trying to choose among:

• A door into the Public Service,
• Corporate professionalism,
• leadership development,
• international involvement,
• a career in education
• some dabbling in the actuarial field.

A little bit of everything thrown in with the thing I want most, an opportunity to advocate change. The following year is set to be the perfect crash course in everything I need to go about that.

Once again, Big Boss knows best. And he'll know what to do with me when the year ends.

நல்லதோர் வீணை செய்தே, அதை நலம் கெட புழுதியில் எறிவதுண்டோ எரியவில்லை!

The Malaysian feminist gets a voice

Here's to a year of change and empowerment as an Alumni Yayasan Tun Razak ExCo member.

The ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones that do.

வேலை இல்லா பட்டதாரி

I'm currently spending all my time keeping the house and myself looking acceptable. 

“Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.” Albert Camus

Sydney

“You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, I told him, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again.”

― Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran

Wanting to make a difference

I would really appreciate the chance to make a difference. But good intentions are not enough. On one hand the government has few vacancies relevant to me, a long wait before I get a job (if I even get it, that is) and a lot of protocol and hierarchy and a culture that doesn't heed the opinions of someone of a lower position/age. On the other hand are issues I feel so strongly about and that dull ache in my heart pushing me to do something about it. Just something. ANYTHING.

"I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice." -Albert Camus

Ruby slippers

Settle abroad. 

The work culture is much better.

You will have better opportunities there.

You really should get a PR while you can.

Malaysia will never change. Go overseas.

Why are you coming back?

You will regret it later.

Your kids will be better off.

Give me one good reason how Malaysia is the better choice.

Why should I have to defend my desire to stay in the country where I was born and brought up? Why do I have to come up with a rational reason for loving my country? Why are people (random strangers included) so bent on convincing me that there is no hope in Malaysia? 

You can write me a 10 page essay on the benefits of moving to Sydney, and I may take your word for it and uproot my  life and move abroad. But one lazy Sunday morning, I will wake up and crave nasi lemak from a road side stall in Sitiawan, and I will regret it. And I'm not willing to take that chance for now. 

There's no place like home.