A Penny For Your Thoughts

Siblings Rivalry & Favouritisms

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I come from a family where my parents loves me and my younger sister unconditionally. Even though my parents have high expectation from both of us, they accepted our strong points and tolerate our weakness. They love both of us for who we are, and that is one thing that that no outsiders could deny. They love us, and they are not shameful of showing their affection to both of their daughters, even in public. Which is pretty rare for Asians. My sister and I do have to endure occasional bear hug from our mother in public and our father’s constant kiddy treats like ice cream and cookies during our family outings to this very day. While it’s a little embarrassing for both of us, we do appreciate the fact that no matter what happens, and no matter how old we grew up to be, we’ll always be our parent’s little girl. It is nice and comforting to know that.

My parents made sure that both of us felt their unconditional love for us. However, they do not treat me and my sister the same way, because they could never have, but that does not mean that my parents treated us unfairly, that’s merely because my sister and I are both two different individual. We may be alike in a lot of ways, but we’re also completely two different individual in other ways.

When my kid sister was just born, I felt that she took away my parents from me, because they pay her more attention to her than me, and she always gets me into trouble with my mom and dad with her constant reports and complain of my teasing and bullying. I used to think that my parents loved her more than me, but as I grew older, I realized that they loved us all the same, only in different ways, because my sister and are two different individuals and affection as well as attention should be given differently according to our personality. I assume, a lot of parents are like this too.

Anyway, enough about me and my sister. Let’s get back to the thing that I would like to send across today which is siblings rivalry and favoritism among immediate family members. Boring and lame topic, no? But I came from a family where my parents loves me and my younger sister for who we are and accepted our flaws, no matter how bad and annoying it is, so when I came across families who loved and care for one child more than the others is rather awkward for me to see.

I could never get used to seeing a father or mother shoving one of his son in a corner and treated him like nothing more than a punching bag to release tension and stress, just because that child is just mediocre in everything while he dote on his other children as if they are his treasure.

I saw some element of favoritisms today in a restaurant that I patronized during lunch with my colleague where a father treated his son, which I assume, his second son rather unfairly in comparison to his eldest and his youngest children. The boy in question was having a bowl of rice with dishes in front of him. While the father filled up the elder brother and younger sister’s bowl with meats and veggie, this poor boy had none. The father  did not even attempt to put any dishes on this boy’s bowl and deliberately ignored him.

And so, I continued to watch the family of four with sadness and sympathy for the boy. The boy wore a hurt look on his face, but put up a cheerful front and reached out for the last piece of fried chicken with his chopsticks and placed it on his bowl, and was about to eat it when his elder brother, whom in my eyes is rather bratty and lack of manners, started to whine and told the father that the younger brother took his favourite dish, which is the chicken wings.

I was not prepared to see what happened next, and I would have curse the father all the way to hell if I did not hold my tongue in the presence of my colleague. Guess what the father did, my precious readers? He gave the second son a dirty look, and reached out for the piece of chicken in the younger son’s bowl by using a pair of chopsticks and placed it on the elder son’s bowl and told him to eat it.

The younger boy protested his father’s action, claiming that he took it first, but the father simply barked at him and told him to shut up instead of filling the younger boy’s bowl with other dishes as a compensation to his loss. What disgust me was not only how the father treated his children in such an unfair and undignified way, but also at the way he spoiled and pampered his elder son. Even if the elder son is his favourite kid, does this mean he could hurt his other son’s feelings that way?

I was completely stupefied to see that the elder brother ‘s reaction to all of these. He laughed at his younger brother’s predicament and wore this smug and satisfied smirk as he’s gotten what he wanted in the first place-which I suspect not only the chicken, but to see his younger brother being shouted at by their father.

Frankly speaking, if I was the mother of the elder boy, I would have slapped him across the face  or give him a piece of my mind for being such a glutton. What else could you do to instill manner in a spoil rotten child who have his bowl full of dishes and still want to take away a measly piece of chicken in his younger brother’s bowl? The boy needs to be taught some manners. But it’s not only manners that the elder boy lack. He also need to be taught on how he should conduct himself with his siblings and be a brother to them instead of only being his father’s pet.

I was practically fuming when I watched the little boy sighed, and in a defeated manner, he reached for some veggies and swallowed the food halfheartedly while watching his brother and sister devoured their food in enjoyment. I do not doubt that the food was tasteless on the younger boy’s tongue.

I was hit hard on the head then, to realize that this is probably a common scene in most families. What’s worst, what I saw today was probably only a little glimpse of what most children who are in raised in big families are forced to endure every single day during their growing up process.

They’re treated unfairly and was ignored all the time because their siblings overshadowed them in many ways and things are never easy for them. Whatever they do were not appreciated as in their parents’ eyes, and they are always useless, stupid, whiny, bratty and ungrateful. They’re always shoved in a small corner as their siblings were put in the spotlight. Sometimes, the parents do not even see the child’s achievement or helpfulness as their favourite are constantly bragging about their contribution and take credit for what their brother or sister has done.

The children who were ignored and lack of love grew up to have rebellious streak and lack respect and love for their parents. They grew up having bitter feelings towards their parents. And they are often misunderstood as the parents refuse to pay even slightest attention to them or spend time with them.

What’s worst, not much thing change when the children grows up. Some parents tend to dote on certain daughters or sons just because one earn more than the other, or one gives more monetary contribution than the other. In worst case scenario, these children’s achievement and success will also be compared with immediate family members of their age, like cousins, or even in laws, not only in private, but in public as well.

I could never stand seeing that, period. I condemned this kind of parents to hell. As a parent, how could you treat your children so differently and love one child and shower him or her with love and attention more than the other? The child that you claim to have flaws and useless is your flesh and blood. Why can’t you treat all of your children as if they are a part of  you instead of some stray puppy you’re forced to shelter in your home?

Cleffairy: Sometimes, just sometimes, I could understand why some children claim that whether their parent(s) are still alive or not makes no difference to them, and they wouldn’t even care if their parent(s) is claimed by Death the very next hour in their life.

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A Penny For Your Thoughts

Siblings Rivalry & Favouritisms

14 Comments

I come from a family where my parents loves me and my younger sister unconditionally. Even though my parents have high expectation from both of us, they accepted our strong points and tolerate our weakness. They love both of us for who we are, and that is one thing that that no outsiders could deny. They love us, and they are not shameful of showing their affection to both of their daughters, even in public. Which is pretty rare for Asians. My sister and I do have to endure occasional bear hug from our mother in public and our father’s constant kiddy treats like ice cream and cookies during our family outings to this very day. While it’s a little embarrassing for both of us, we do appreciate the fact that no matter what happens, and no matter how old we grew up to be, we’ll always be our parent’s little girl. It is nice and comforting to know that.

My parents made sure that both of us felt their unconditional love for us. However, they do not treat me and my sister the same way, because they could never have, but that does not mean that my parents treated us unfairly, that’s merely because my sister and I are both two different individual. We may be alike in a lot of ways, but we’re also completely two different individual in other ways.

When my kid sister was just born, I felt that she took away my parents from me, because they pay her more attention to her than me, and she always gets me into trouble with my mom and dad with her constant reports and complain of my teasing and bullying. I used to think that my parents loved her more than me, but as I grew older, I realized that they loved us all the same, only in different ways, because my sister and are two different individuals and affection as well as attention should be given differently according to our personality. I assume, a lot of parents are like this too.

Anyway, enough about me and my sister. Let’s get back to the thing that I would like to send across today which is siblings rivalry and favoritism among immediate family members. Boring and lame topic, no? But I came from a family where my parents loves me and my younger sister for who we are and accepted our flaws, no matter how bad and annoying it is, so when I came across families who loved and care for one child more than the others is rather awkward for me to see.

I could never get used to seeing a father or mother shoving one of his son in a corner and treated him like nothing more than a punching bag to release tension and stress, just because that child is just mediocre in everything while he dote on his other children as if they are his treasure.

I saw some element of favoritisms today in a restaurant that I patronized during lunch with my colleague where a father treated his son, which I assume, his second son rather unfairly in comparison to his eldest and his youngest children. The boy in question was having a bowl of rice with dishes in front of him. While the father filled up the elder brother and younger sister’s bowl with meats and veggie, this poor boy had none. The father  did not even attempt to put any dishes on this boy’s bowl and deliberately ignored him.

And so, I continued to watch the family of four with sadness and sympathy for the boy. The boy wore a hurt look on his face, but put up a cheerful front and reached out for the last piece of fried chicken with his chopsticks and placed it on his bowl, and was about to eat it when his elder brother, whom in my eyes is rather bratty and lack of manners, started to whine and told the father that the younger brother took his favourite dish, which is the chicken wings.

I was not prepared to see what happened next, and I would have curse the father all the way to hell if I did not hold my tongue in the presence of my colleague. Guess what the father did, my precious readers? He gave the second son a dirty look, and reached out for the piece of chicken in the younger son’s bowl by using a pair of chopsticks and placed it on the elder son’s bowl and told him to eat it.

The younger boy protested his father’s action, claiming that he took it first, but the father simply barked at him and told him to shut up instead of filling the younger boy’s bowl with other dishes as a compensation to his loss. What disgust me was not only how the father treated his children in such an unfair and undignified way, but also at the way he spoiled and pampered his elder son. Even if the elder son is his favourite kid, does this mean he could hurt his other son’s feelings that way?

I was completely stupefied to see that the elder brother ‘s reaction to all of these. He laughed at his younger brother’s predicament and wore this smug and satisfied smirk as he’s gotten what he wanted in the first place-which I suspect not only the chicken, but to see his younger brother being shouted at by their father.

Frankly speaking, if I was the mother of the elder boy, I would have slapped him across the face  or give him a piece of my mind for being such a glutton. What else could you do to instill manner in a spoil rotten child who have his bowl full of dishes and still want to take away a measly piece of chicken in his younger brother’s bowl? The boy needs to be taught some manners. But it’s not only manners that the elder boy lack. He also need to be taught on how he should conduct himself with his siblings and be a brother to them instead of only being his father’s pet.

I was practically fuming when I watched the little boy sighed, and in a defeated manner, he reached for some veggies and swallowed the food halfheartedly while watching his brother and sister devoured their food in enjoyment. I do not doubt that the food was tasteless on the younger boy’s tongue.

I was hit hard on the head then, to realize that this is probably a common scene in most families. What’s worst, what I saw today was probably only a little glimpse of what most children who are in raised in big families are forced to endure every single day during their growing up process.

They’re treated unfairly and was ignored all the time because their siblings overshadowed them in many ways and things are never easy for them. Whatever they do were not appreciated as in their parents’ eyes, and they are always useless, stupid, whiny, bratty and ungrateful. They’re always shoved in a small corner as their siblings were put in the spotlight. Sometimes, the parents do not even see the child’s achievement or helpfulness as their favourite are constantly bragging about their contribution and take credit for what their brother or sister has done.

The children who were ignored and lack of love grew up to have rebellious streak and lack respect and love for their parents. They grew up having bitter feelings towards their parents. And they are often misunderstood as the parents refuse to pay even slightest attention to them or spend time with them.

What’s worst, not much thing change when the children grows up. Some parents tend to dote on certain daughters or sons just because one earn more than the other, or one gives more monetary contribution than the other. In worst case scenario, these children’s achievement and success will also be compared with immediate family members of their age, like cousins, or even in laws, not only in private, but in public as well.

I could never stand seeing that, period. I condemned this kind of parents to hell. As a parent, how could you treat your children so differently and love one child and shower him or her with love and attention more than the other? The child that you claim to have flaws and useless is your flesh and blood. Why can’t you treat all of your children as if they are a part of  you instead of some stray puppy you’re forced to shelter in your home?

Cleffairy: Sometimes, just sometimes, I could understand why some children claim that whether their parent(s) are still alive or not makes no difference to them, and they wouldn’t even care if their parent(s) is claimed by Death the very next hour in their life.

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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Award/Badge, Current Issue, Event coverage

World AIDS Day, Please Support PMTCT!

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It’s 1st December 2008 when I wrote this entry. This entry was originally meant for another one of my regular venting until I saw a young child, who is probably still in her primary school walked passed me at my regular breakfast spot. I almost missed the red ribbon that she’s wearing, pinned on her black coloured t-shirt. All but a child reminded me that today, 1st December 2008 hold more significant than other day. Today is supposed to be the World Red Ribbon Day, or in other words, the World AIDS Day.

The realization hit me very hard on my head. I felt as if I’ve been knocked on the head by an imaginary teacher, and it hurts. I have realized two things over my cuppa tea after seeing the little girl wearing a pinned ribbon on her t-shirt, which is first, I did not do my part as a human being to make a difference to stop the stigma on the number one pandemic that still shows no sign of stopping. And two, I realized that Malaysians are not doing much to stop the innocent being victimized by AIDS. If Malaysian government have been doing their part to reduce the spread of this pandemic, I would have realized earlier that today is World AIDS Day. If Malaysian bloggers bothered enough to talk about AIDS the way they camwhore on their blogs, write about their food gluttony, bitch about politics or even gossips, I would have realized earlier that today is world’s AIDS Day. And if only Malaysian newspaper stop bootlicking the politicians for a while to reflect on Word AIDS Day, I would have worn the red ribbon myself today.

And so, today, as a blogger, I’m really ashamed of myself, for even planning to write about something that do not really matter, something that could not make a difference to the the world. So today, I would like to speak up about AIDS and the innocents. You may read this entry or even skip this altogether, I don’t mind. I just would like to spare my conscience from a guilt trip from being an ignorant and selfish human being. I may not so much difference with this entry, but at least, once you, precious readers saw the red ribbon, you’ll know what day is it today.

The innocents that I’m talking about is women and children who contracted AIDS simply because they had sex with their husband, and simply because a baby is born to a woman who is HIV positive. AIDS are often a result of infidelities and casual sex. It’s sad to see women and children all around the world had AIDS because of their husband/father’s lusts.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2007 some 2.5 million people became newly infected with the virus. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.

Around 95% of people with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.

Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

Currently only a minority of pregnant women living with HIV in the developing world are provided with drugs to prevent the virus being transmitted to their babies. As a result, nearly half a million children become infected with HIV every year.

I will not talk about how AIDS is spread and what we can and cannot do when we interact with a person who have AIDS, you probably know that. Let’s talk about stopping HIV from being transmitted from mothers to babies.The vast majority children’s prevented by stopping the transmission of HIV from mothers to their babies. If babies don’t become infected with HIV then they won’t develop AIDS and die.

Any baby born to a mother with HIV risks becoming infected during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. The chance of this happening can be massively reduced by giving HIV infected mothers and their babies anti-HIV drugs and, where appropriate, by feeding the baby using formula rather than breast milk.

These interventions are known as the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission or “PMTCT”. No mother wants to pass HIV to her child, but without PMTCT interventions, around one in three babies born to women with HIV will become infected with HIV themselves.

In developed countries, almost all HIV infected women will receive good PMTCT care. With the best treatment and formula feeding, the chance of HIV being transmitted to the baby is less than two percent. But I doubt Malaysian women are getting such care, as the stigma is still huge in Malaysia, not to mention that women cannot access PMTCT service because it’s not available or inefficient in hospital or clinics. Stigma does not help the situation too. Once a woman is infected by HIV, she’s doomed to be called names and shunned by the society, even though she’s innocent and gets HIV as a result of her husband’s wild sex life.

My writing today may not do much difference to the escalating number of women and children getting AIDS, but I do hope to make known of this campaign that is aimed to stop the transmission of AIDS from mother to their babies. I’m pretty sure that not many is aware that such this is actually possible.

Please, I beg of all of you, spare some time to VISIT THIS SITE to find out more about PMTCT and spread about it.

Join the campaign. Your effort may be not much, but it could possibly save a life or two. You, precious readers, can make a difference. If you can camwhore for your blog, write about your food adventure or anticipation for upcoming parties or events, you definitely can do this, something that could possibly save children’s life.

Cleffairy: The children do not have to suffer for the sin of their father and mother. Stop the innocent from suffering and dying.

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TGIO- NaNoWriMo 2008, I’m done, Am I?

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I’ve been juggling between maintaining a blog, battling my disastrous work in office, fending off bitches who try to claw me, tend to my little family, as well as writing a novel with at least 50,000 words to answer NaNoWriMo 2008 challenge til the wee hours. And at 25th November 2008, I went to validate my manuscript, and this is what I get. I know I did not get money, but I get satisfaction out of this. Okay, call me a nutcase, I don’t mind. I’m too happy to bother anyway, even though I’m still not feeling so well. I can be proud this year, because I did not cheat my word count at all. Here’s what I get:

NaNoWriMo 2008 Winner Certificate- Awarded to novelist who manage to write at least 50,000 words novel in one month time, which is from 1st November 2008-30th November 2008.

.

And since I am also a member of NaNoWriMo Young Writers program, I get another bonus certificate. Cute one at that. (I’m considered a part of NaNoWriMo YWP Program as an educator, as I have students under my charge who participate in this program)

NaNoWriMo 2008 Certificate for Young Writers Program- Certificate awarded to children and educators alike for achieving their goals to write a novel in one month time.

On top of that, I also get a couple of web badges to boast about. LOL. I had not wanted to boast, but what the hell, I went through a gruesome month, let me boast a bit. Hahaha.

And another set of badges:

And the young writers program badge winner’s badge:

Some may say that I’ve been doing a completely stupid and useless thing throughout the whole November, answering the NaNoWriMo challenge, because I will not be awarded in the form of cash or material possession, but I have learn a lot throughout the November, which is discovering a part of me that I never knew could actually exist, which is SELF DISCIPLINE. I manage to sit down at the same time each night and write an average of 2,000 words per night for my novel. This is actually a miracle for me, because I really do lack discipline. I’m not sure what actually motivates me to do so, because I know that there is no way I’ll be able to do such thing when I was in school or high school. Discipline was never my middle name. My parents would have to actually force me to sit down and study every night when I was younger. ( My father tutored me personally when I was in primary and secondary school)

I guess, when one is not forced to do something, the rebellious streak kinda fade, and such thing is made possible. Let me ask you guys a question- Why do some people read and write more when they are out of school, college or university? You see, you guys blog and read articles and google most of the time-that alone is reading and writing. Why do people crave to study when they are already adult?

I think the answer is quite simple. It’s because they are no longer being forced to do those things anymore. Adults who continued to pursue education even though they are already having a stable career do such thing because they are motivated by the environment-where the working world require them to be more educated and more skillful. They also further study knowing full well they they would no longer be judge by parents or teachers or be punished if they failed to pass their examination that they decided to take. So the kind of stress and pressure that they get when they were younger is definitely not there. It’s easier to achieve when you know that judgment would not be delivered upon you even if you failed badly. One would strive better if they do things willingly and less is expected of them.

If only our education system does not forced our children to be overachievers, I daresay that they would be easier to handled as they will be more open minded and would think outside of the box constantly. They would be more alert to their environment and enjoy learning better. Forcing children to study instead of letting them study at their own accord own accord could actually restrict them from really achieving in a full-rounded way, that, I must say. I can only wish that our education system could coax children into motivating themselves and study voluntarily so that they could achieve better.

With NaNoWriMo, I also learn to not procrastinate. Oh yes, yours truly is a Procrastination Queen. I keep deferring things that I have to do to a later time most of the time, and ended up not doing it all all. I’m very good at doing that. This November, I procrastinate less, thanks to self motivation and pep talks from professional authors all over the world.

But all is not good in NaNo World. At least, not in Malaysia. I learn that most do not really understand what is NaNoWriMo is really all about.

Most just joined in the fun so that they could join TGIO( Thank God It’s Over) Party held on 5th December every year, where they could go wild and bitch around to their heart’s content. NaNoWriMo in Malaysia is pretty much adult oriented, and I am very, very disappointed to discover that. There are lack activities for minor. Even write-ins event are done at classy place like Starbucks and shopping malls where parents would definitely won’t let their young children go without supervision. This year, TGIO party will be held at Centro, KL Central where it’s actually a restaurant/bar/club lounge. Convincing parents to let their kids on loose there alone would be a problem, so thank you very much, I’m not going and not bringing my students there.

Dissapointing to the very core really. When I asked the person in charge about this, I was told off in a rather pompous manner that they know what they are doing and was told to shut up because they are very experienced in doing whatever they are doing. They are not open to suggestion, criticisms or even mere opinion. Some newcomers are told off in a rather conceited way, but, Malaysian, being Malaysian, really do love to bootlick those who have powers and bitchy. Plagiarism is also taken very lightly in NaNoWriMo Malaysia.

I guess politics are everywhere. I’m really disgusted to see such things- with the way certain authors/novelist behave, anyone would automatically labeled all authors in Malaysia as ‘bitchy group of people’ instead the ‘creative and friendly’ type of people.

The Municipal Liaison for Malaysia region somehow succeed in making NaNoWriMo event every year a ‘classy’ and ‘high class’ event, where there would be fund-raising and parties at bars and pubs, but definitely failed to make NaNoWriMo’s ORIGINAL purpose (which is to EDUCATE) to be really known to the public as there are no attempts made to approach the media to advertise such activities. They just can’t get a grip at it that the whole thing is about encouraging people, adults, teenagers and children alike to be involved in writing line and reading more.

Cleffairy: I really do hope NaNoWriMo in Malaysia region could change for the better and stick to the original purpose which is encourage people to read and write, but I guess I am hoping too much out of Malaysians. Another thing that ‘Tak Boleh’ in Malaysia is asking people to stop bitching around and start educating and learning.

Ps: I may have won NaNoWriMo 2008 challenge, but in truth, I have not won my own challenge, which is to complete the whole novel. Hitting 50,000 words is very easy, but finishing a novel is not. Wish me luck.

And special message to Aunt Iris who is so concern for my health. Don’t worry Aunt Iris, give me a few days, and I will be as right as rain. I’m not sure if you received my second email or not, because your jaring mailbox is full. So just a short note to let you know that I’m all right. Will keep in touch with you, so you take care too.

😀

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A Penny For Your Thoughts, Award/Badge, Current Issue, Event coverage

TGIO- NaNoWriMo 2008, I'm done, Am I?

28 Comments

I’ve been juggling between maintaining a blog, battling my disastrous work in office, fending off bitches who try to claw me, tend to my little family, as well as writing a novel with at least 50,000 words to answer NaNoWriMo 2008 challenge til the wee hours. And at 25th November 2008, I went to validate my manuscript, and this is what I get. I know I did not get money, but I get satisfaction out of this. Okay, call me a nutcase, I don’t mind. I’m too happy to bother anyway, even though I’m still not feeling so well. I can be proud this year, because I did not cheat my word count at all. Here’s what I get:

NaNoWriMo 2008 Winner Certificate- Awarded to novelist who manage to write at least 50,000 words novel in one month time, which is from 1st November 2008-30th November 2008.

.

And since I am also a member of NaNoWriMo Young Writers program, I get another bonus certificate. Cute one at that. (I’m considered a part of NaNoWriMo YWP Program as an educator, as I have students under my charge who participate in this program)

NaNoWriMo 2008 Certificate for Young Writers Program- Certificate awarded to children and educators alike for achieving their goals to write a novel in one month time.

On top of that, I also get a couple of web badges to boast about. LOL. I had not wanted to boast, but what the hell, I went through a gruesome month, let me boast a bit. Hahaha.

And another set of badges:

And the young writers program badge winner’s badge:

Some may say that I’ve been doing a completely stupid and useless thing throughout the whole November, answering the NaNoWriMo challenge, because I will not be awarded in the form of cash or material possession, but I have learn a lot throughout the November, which is discovering a part of me that I never knew could actually exist, which is SELF DISCIPLINE. I manage to sit down at the same time each night and write an average of 2,000 words per night for my novel. This is actually a miracle for me, because I really do lack discipline. I’m not sure what actually motivates me to do so, because I know that there is no way I’ll be able to do such thing when I was in school or high school. Discipline was never my middle name. My parents would have to actually force me to sit down and study every night when I was younger. ( My father tutored me personally when I was in primary and secondary school)

I guess, when one is not forced to do something, the rebellious streak kinda fade, and such thing is made possible. Let me ask you guys a question- Why do some people read and write more when they are out of school, college or university? You see, you guys blog and read articles and google most of the time-that alone is reading and writing. Why do people crave to study when they are already adult?

I think the answer is quite simple. It’s because they are no longer being forced to do those things anymore. Adults who continued to pursue education even though they are already having a stable career do such thing because they are motivated by the environment-where the working world require them to be more educated and more skillful. They also further study knowing full well they they would no longer be judge by parents or teachers or be punished if they failed to pass their examination that they decided to take. So the kind of stress and pressure that they get when they were younger is definitely not there. It’s easier to achieve when you know that judgment would not be delivered upon you even if you failed badly. One would strive better if they do things willingly and less is expected of them.

If only our education system does not forced our children to be overachievers, I daresay that they would be easier to handled as they will be more open minded and would think outside of the box constantly. They would be more alert to their environment and enjoy learning better. Forcing children to study instead of letting them study at their own accord own accord could actually restrict them from really achieving in a full-rounded way, that, I must say. I can only wish that our education system could coax children into motivating themselves and study voluntarily so that they could achieve better.

With NaNoWriMo, I also learn to not procrastinate. Oh yes, yours truly is a Procrastination Queen. I keep deferring things that I have to do to a later time most of the time, and ended up not doing it all all. I’m very good at doing that. This November, I procrastinate less, thanks to self motivation and pep talks from professional authors all over the world.

But all is not good in NaNo World. At least, not in Malaysia. I learn that most do not really understand what is NaNoWriMo is really all about.

Most just joined in the fun so that they could join TGIO( Thank God It’s Over) Party held on 5th December every year, where they could go wild and bitch around to their heart’s content. NaNoWriMo in Malaysia is pretty much adult oriented, and I am very, very disappointed to discover that. There are lack activities for minor. Even write-ins event are done at classy place like Starbucks and shopping malls where parents would definitely won’t let their young children go without supervision. This year, TGIO party will be held at Centro, KL Central where it’s actually a restaurant/bar/club lounge. Convincing parents to let their kids on loose there alone would be a problem, so thank you very much, I’m not going and not bringing my students there.

Dissapointing to the very core really. When I asked the person in charge about this, I was told off in a rather pompous manner that they know what they are doing and was told to shut up because they are very experienced in doing whatever they are doing. They are not open to suggestion, criticisms or even mere opinion. Some newcomers are told off in a rather conceited way, but, Malaysian, being Malaysian, really do love to bootlick those who have powers and bitchy. Plagiarism is also taken very lightly in NaNoWriMo Malaysia.

I guess politics are everywhere. I’m really disgusted to see such things- with the way certain authors/novelist behave, anyone would automatically labeled all authors in Malaysia as ‘bitchy group of people’ instead the ‘creative and friendly’ type of people.

The Municipal Liaison for Malaysia region somehow succeed in making NaNoWriMo event every year a ‘classy’ and ‘high class’ event, where there would be fund-raising and parties at bars and pubs, but definitely failed to make NaNoWriMo’s ORIGINAL purpose (which is to EDUCATE) to be really known to the public as there are no attempts made to approach the media to advertise such activities. They just can’t get a grip at it that the whole thing is about encouraging people, adults, teenagers and children alike to be involved in writing line and reading more.

Cleffairy: I really do hope NaNoWriMo in Malaysia region could change for the better and stick to the original purpose which is encourage people to read and write, but I guess I am hoping too much out of Malaysians. Another thing that ‘Tak Boleh’ in Malaysia is asking people to stop bitching around and start educating and learning.

Ps: I may have won NaNoWriMo 2008 challenge, but in truth, I have not won my own challenge, which is to complete the whole novel. Hitting 50,000 words is very easy, but finishing a novel is not. Wish me luck.

And special message to Aunt Iris who is so concern for my health. Don’t worry Aunt Iris, give me a few days, and I will be as right as rain. I’m not sure if you received my second email or not, because your jaring mailbox is full. So just a short note to let you know that I’m all right. Will keep in touch with you, so you take care too.

😀

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