I am a swimmer BUT I nearly drowned

Bismillah, Assalamualaikum

Yesterday, Saturday, 4th April 2009 will forever be etched in my memory because so many things happened and so many experiences I have gained good and bad that I will want to forever keep in my heart and soul

My coursemates and I went to Baling in Kedah for a one day getaway and of course to swim in Lata Bayu, also in Baling. So what are the MOST SIGNIFICANT events that happened?

Too many so I'll start from the beginning:

It wasn't the 1st time that I went to Baling and to one of my coursemate's house, Gda.
[THANK YOU GDA FOR EVERYTHING!]

For breakfast, it was the FIRST TIME that I ate pulut nasi with sambal tumis anchovies + pekasam fish cooked crispy with rice grains + onions and chillies, yummyyyyyy!!

For lunch, I had 2 big fat BBQ chickens with rice + sambal tumis + kerabu mangga taken from the many mangoes at the back of Gda's house + sambal belacan with fish innit + ulam.

For dinner, it was the leftover rice fried to perfection (and as I am writing this now, majority of us had diarrhea, huhu)


Lata Bayu was terrific and soooo much fun especially that we cooked up a BBQ!

Lata Bayu has this super cool waterfall where I could slide down!

and Lata Bayu was also where it happened...


Jom main itik-itik!
Jom!
Jom!
I was in front, T second, M third.
Quack Quack Quack happily~
T moves with her feet on the sands underneath the water but M puts her feet up to feel being moved without moving, huhu
Both of them had faith that a swimmer was taking the lead

Eh Maddy, dah dalam ni, kaki aku tak rasa tanah dah!
Okay, I'm gonna reverse now -
AAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!
T pulled the 2 of us under!
I went under the water
Ya Allah, it is DEEP! But stay calm coz I can do trading [taking rapid breaths underwater using my mouth]

Just I was about to ascend from below the water, M hoist herself up panicking and waving her hands up in alarm...but she couldn't scream...and in the process of pulling herself up, she pushed me right to the bottom of the water!

Ya Allah, be calm, be calm, don't panic [between mouthful of waters because I felt some sort of terror strike me as I couldn't get up]

and then I tried again pulling myself again to rise above the waters...

and AGAIN, M pushed me right under the water!!!

NOOOOOO!!!! This time I really was alarmed because I had begun to swallow too much water, I close my eyes, Ya Allah, please...

and then I felt someone taking my hand and pulling me upwards...


It was a kid but he was big in size so I felt his weight pulled me up and then I took even breaths and swam slowly to the shore but clearly shaken~

and reunited with T and M and hugged and...LAUGHED!!

I know it may seems WHAT! YOU GUYS LAUGHED IT OFF!!! But the thing is, we were so relieved, actually more than relief, wayyyy beyond that!!! T actually hugged a guy who saved her and M held onto the kid scared to death.

I. was. just. relieved.


We caught up on what happened and T said she panicked first and went under pulling us for support and then a guy saved her. M said that she actually had a thought that she was going to die as she said a prayer when she was underneath and she said that she tried to scream but the cry never came out and she was terrified as she only could wave her hands from the surface of the water.

2 of my friends saw this from the rocks and one screamed while the other was in shock gaping at the whole incident.

I wanted to laugh again but some of my friends were really angry at us for being soooo careless and we deserved that but then again, how could we know that we were going to enter a deep end as some streams have the same depths.

and how could we have foreseen that this would have happened?!

and how could I, as the swimmer, couldn't even save them as I couldn't even see them and I couldn't even emerge from above the water????!!!!


Yes, it was SCARY and actually it made us realize and think of how easily people could actually drown as when you're panic, you think of nothing but the fear that builds up inside of you and that you just don't want to die, not yet anyway...


The lesson has been learned and I promised never to main itik itik with non-swimmers, LOL


"Korang main itik itik macam comel tau tapi sekarang aku sakit hati bile teringat kejadian tu dan aku dah tak suka dengar main itik itik dah"
Telling-off from a friend.

TalenTime

Bismillah, Assalamualaikum


I rarely watch Malay Movies and I don't care what people say or think but it's just not appealing.

I don't even want to watch let alone have any desire to watch previous movies from this one celebrated director because I disagree on much of her principles and issues that she has weaved into her movies. But I don't deny that she is creative, innovative, intelligent and I love her English but sadly to say, I don't wanna support her much...

But as circumstance have it, I watched one of her most recent movie and I was smitten!


First of all, I love her English and the language that was for most part of the movie was so beautiful, moving and touching as well as entertaining!

Saying of the Moment:

"If you want me to forget her, I will but teach my heart on how to forget her because it doesn't know how"
-Mahesh using sign language to his mother as rephrased by me-


Word of the Moment:

'Grovelter'
In Malay- Kaki Ampu


Apart from the English language uttered in the movie, I also loved the Original Soundtracks because it was catchy, bubbly and witty and who would have thought that most of the songs come from this guy named Aizat of AF fame [NOTE: I DO NOT SUPPORT AF] but I do have to give credit to a talented singer cum songwriter for succeeding in making the song absolutely cool!

Another thing would be the issues that she has inserted tacitly into the storyline of the movie and not everyone is aware so it's really great that she is not only making a movie for the sake of entertainment but she's also getting lots of messages across and she has indeed accomplish that in me and most of my friends because some of the issues are universal and related to the majority of all of us as there are normal everyday Malaysian issues with spice and zest.


I am not ashamed to praise her because even though I never did watched any of her movies before this, I have read many of her writings and I do so love her words and just how she manages to inspire and touch others even me.


However, it is sad to say that some of the messages in the movie are just not right..

I love that one of the message in the movie is that every muslim is obliged to pray BUT the thing is, YOU CAN'T JUST PRAY 5 TIMES A DAY and then do things that are forbidden in Islam, for instance, not covering your aurat, sleeping in the same room with a guy (although the real actors are in fact not muslims) and the parents are supposedly 'sporting' enough to actually blanketed their daughter while she was sleeping sharing a pillow with her love interest! Yeah, I know its supposed to be sweet, aaawww kinda thing but in Islam, that's a BIG NO NO as it encourages zina:

Allaah tabarak wa ta'ala has said : 'O you who believe, indeed Allaah subhanahu wa ta'ala has sent down upon you a garment that will cover your modesty and He has given you a leash which is something other than from the standard covering. And indeed from the greatest of things that will make the honour of the Muslim corrupt whether they are male or whether they are female and indeed it is that which is referred to or known as 'zina.'

And indeed Allaah tabarak wa ta'ala has said, '.. and do not come close to zina. Indeed it is something that is lewd and it is an evil way.'

All in all, I don't regret watching it because there are many moral values for every race and religion to be taken into account and I am grateful to God for giving me the wisdom to know what's right and wrong.


Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me and reject not faith.
Al-Baqara [2:152]

Project Paper has FINISHED!

Bismillah, Assalamualaikum


So my project paper has finished, all 120 pages of 'em, that would be:

1. Cover page
2. Acknowledgement
3. Abstract
4. Table of Contents
5. List of Tables, Figures, Appendices
6. Chapter 1 - 5
7. References
8. Appendices A - F


My project paper is some sort of mini thesis to wrap up the whole degree program of 6 years [yes, believe it or not, it has been 6 years!].

and since I am so into literature, therefore I wanted to do on something literature-y, hehe

and one of the contemporary approaches in teaching and learning literature in the English Language Classroom is Readers Theatre. Now what is Readers Theatre?

Go and find it on the internet! :p


There's TONS of information but basically Readers Theatre is...

Readers Theater is just what it sounds like: theatre for readers. This basically means that any book read in the classroom can be turned into a theatre piece acted out by students. This concept will open a whole new world to students about reading and the lessons learned within the pages of books. Consider book choice, practice time and production of the readers theatre in the classroom.

Readers Theatre is an activity in which students participate in acting out a piece of literature they have read, through the use of a script and repeated practice.

Readers Theatre is an excellent way to increase fluency, involve readers at all levels and create energy and excitement about reading!


Get it?


Literary texts (poetry, short stories, novels) - make it into a script - group the students - get them reading recurrently and for them to practice often - perform! - feedback!

oh wait! I left something out - the students get to perform WITH THE SCRIPT! yes, Readers Theatre do not need props, costumes or anything at all except perhaps a background that would make students feel excited. what's most important is that the students need to perform while reading the script and make full use of their gestures and expressions. and they can even insert in their own actions.

wish you had these kind of activity when you were in school huh? ;)

*squeak*

Bismillah, Assalamualaikum



This is the 2nd time this year that I have lost my voice.


It always start with coming to Sungai Petani taking the late night bus and arriving the next morning.

and then comes the sore throat.

what with project paper...

as a result, my voice becomes hoarse


BUT THAT'S ALL OVER NOW!


Project Paper has finished!

But my voice is still raspy

MAD

Bismillah, Assalamulaikum


I don't like Ne-yo but the lyrics of his latest song, Mad attracted me because of the saying:

'No I don't wanna go to bed
(Mad at you)
And I don't want you to go to bed
(Mad at me)'






When I listen to this song, I think of FRIENDSHIP and TIES.

Is it WORTH it to be friends with someone so difficult and always want their way?

and is it WORTH it to sleep through the pain losing a friend like that?


Islam does not ignore human nature and its vulnerability to changing emotions. For this reason, Islam has defined the length of time during which anger may subside. This time is considered to be three days. After this time has passed, it is forbidden for the two conflicting parties to refuse to seek a reconciliation. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

"It is not permissible for a Muslim to be estranged from his brother for more than three days, both of them turning away from one another when they meet. The better of them is the one who is first to greet the other."


'Learn to write your hurts in the sand and to carve your gratitude in stone.'

Let this be a lesson for me and for all, Wallahualam :)

Now the lesson's learned, I touched and I was burned.

Bismillah, Assalamualaikum



It is of great TRAGIC that I had to be there as I made a tragic flaw and a fatal error in judgment and it is of my weakness of character that leads directly to my downfall.

I can be such a TRAGIC HERO that ultimately makes me come to an unhappy and miserable end. A tragic hero would meet doom with courage and dignity but spare me that as I do not deserve any of it at all.

Yes, outside forces have contributed to my downfall and the series of causally related events lead inevitably to the catastrophe and my TRAGIC RESOLUTION but I did not do anything to prevent it.

I had recognize my own TRAGIC FLAW but I do not seek to gain anyone's sympathy.



And it was of even GREATER TRAGEDY that I was weak to succumb to such shame.


So when do TRAGIC MISTAKES turn into a tragedy?

Tragic and unexpected consequences are part and parcel of chaotic human experience. Tragedies seem to last for ever. Tragedies are made up of unintended and uncontrollable consequences. Inability and inaction to do something to do about such consequences when there was opportunity is the central irony of a tragedy.



" . . . we are often held to be below tragedy--or tragedy below us . . . (tragedy is) fit only for the highly placed . . . and where this admission is not made in so many words it is most often implied."
-Arthur Miller states in his essay, "Tragedy and the Common Man-





Do the right things, not because of any rewards, but rather to prevent any regrets.
- Advice to a young Samurai.


You live you learn
You love you learn
You cry you learn
You lose you learn
You bleed you learn
You scream you learn

You grieve you learn
You choke you learn
You laugh you learn
You choose you learn
You pray you learn
You ask you learn
YOU LIVE YOU LEARN

-Alanis Morissette-

I should be at HOME NOW! :'(

Bismillah, Assalamualaikum


Some people say that;

too much of a good thing is...emm...

well, whatever it is, I think that I am having the all too much of a good thing and I am ready to give it up but I can't and I feel sad and I'm old enough not to feel sad but I do and I just wanna go back to home and family and I think I have had enough but there's no turning back and life is full of choices and I chose this so I have to just brace the storm and I don't want to sound ungrateful so I will just have to get through this and I will and I know that later on I will look back and say that I am glad I did it because I know this feeling is temporary and that its just here now and will go away but I hate this feeling and its turning me into a crybaby and I don't wanna feel this way, this just sucks but I know I will make it through and that I have to make it through!



In Malay;

"Kesibukan kamu berdasarkan apa yg kamu agendakan".

I deserve this and whatever happens, I have to be grateful!


And remember! your Lord caused to be declared (publicly): "If ye are grateful, I will add more (favours) unto you; but if ye show ingratitude, truly My punishment is terrible indeed."

Ibrahim [14:7]


Congratulations to lil sis! I miss you and even though I don't cry at nights missing you but my heart aches more than you know, hehe, love you [and this goes for the rest of my beloved family] ^_^

As Long As I Perform!

Bismillah, Assalamualaikum


I have been swimming since I was small and it was compulsory back in the school days in England and I continued taking lessons in UiTM Shah Alam but I never actually train to be a professional. It was the knowledge and the practise that counts.

When my friend found out about the institute recruiting an all female swimming team comprising 5 girls who can and want to swim, my friend automatically put my name. I was shell shocked but excited at the thought that my friend thought of me as well as the thought that I will be in a swimming tournament exclusively for women!

I backed out a bit when I heard that few girls from the sports science course was going to join but Nani persuaded me and we even reckoned that even if we didn't join, we could still swim for free at that particular time.

and then 2 girls from the sports science course quit leaving Nani and I, TESL students, a math student but she's the best as she can do all the swimming styles fast! and 1 sports science student who's just as good.

So that leaves the 4 of us and we're just average because we have not yet met the target time and its frustrating as our coach is super nice and supportive and she has already stated that its not about winning but about exposure and that she believes in us!

But even until now, a shadow of doubt is above me as I don't really have that much faith in my own self in spite of me being optimistic! Yes, I am a +ve thinker but as I keep thinking of sacrifices, project paper, storytelling performance, stamina, endurance and speed...
I cannot stay 100% confident that I am going to make it!


So a hero comes along, a leader in my life, giving me facts of life, for me to listen well and stay focus:

This is what I have to do, ultimately what I need to foresee and motivate me...

The knowledge of KPI.


What is KPI?

A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a business metric used to evaluate factors that are crucial to the success of an organization.

Its similar with my case at present time as I am training intensively for swimming KAGUM which is a sports event amongst Teaching Institutes around the whole Malaysia and this year's will be at Johore on the 14th until 18th March -- this-is-my-break...*squeak*

Before KPIs can be identified, the following requirements must be met:

• A predefined organizational process.
• Clear objectives for the process.
• Quantitative and qualitative measurements.
• An active approach to finding and remedying variances.

So the thing is, I need to predefined:

I am specializing in breaststroke and the time to reach is 52 seconds. As of now, my best time is 1 minute 18 seconds [do not laugh!]

The objective:

52 seconds or at least just above a bit from 52 seconds, less than a minute.

Quantitative or Qualitative Measures:

[I am not good in maths!]
I have a week to practise so that would be 2 seconds less per day? Please count for me pretty please :p

An active approach to finding and remedying the situation:

Hardwork + Determination + Mind over Matter but most of all = DISCIPLINE!

KPIs are above all else, a set of indicators to measure data against, a sort-of success gauge. Ultimately, they help an organization assess progress toward declared goals.

GOAL:

To at least be better as the days go by and NOT getting worse! I can't afford to deteriorate!!




Motivation will almost always beat mere talent.
- Norman R. Augustine

Unless a man undertakes more than he possibly can do, he will never do all that he can.
- Henry Drummond

Quote of the Moment!

Bismillah, Assalamualaikum



Albaqa' lillah (Yang Kekal hanya bagi Allah)


How would you translate this?

I got this saying from a person who has great Arabic knowledge responding to a news that someone had died.

and I find that this is the best saying ever that you could say to someone who experience loss and I am cracking my head on the best way to translate this as of my love for the English language ;)


Don't you ever find yourself struggling for words when someone is going through a passing of someone or even something so dear?

I do and no matter what you say, it's never the same and the only thing you could actually do is be there~

and remind that person that everything comes from God and goes back to God.

That's LIFE.

and even when life pushes you to the brink, everything still comes from God and goes back to God.

even when you have that feeling of giving up, sob :'(

Nay seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and prayer: it is indeed hard, except to those who are humble.
Al-Baqara [2:45]

Tagging Time because Assignments are so Many!

Bismillah, Assalamualaikum


It is ironic that when your brain is so stuffed with assignments, you tend to escape by doing tags!

Apparently, that is what is happening!

But I don't mind as tagging have recently become positive, hehe :p

So here's one from Nani-jang-level 3-neighbour:

Name Initial Matters!

Rules:
It's harder than it looks! Copy to your own note, erase my answers, enter yours, and tag some people. Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real . . . nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

1. What is your name: Maddy [nickname]
2. A four Letter Word: Miss
3. A boy's Name: Mikhail
4. A girl's Name: Mawaddah
5. An occupation: Manager
6. A color: Magenta
7. Something you wear: Momoe
8. A food: Meat
9. Something found in the bathroom: Mirror
10. A place: Maldives
11. A reason for being late: My cat ate my homework :p
12. Something you shout: Moo Moo!
13. A movie title: My Sister's Keeper Coming Soon 2009
14. Something you drink: Milkshake
15. A musical group: Matchbox 20
16. An animal: Moose
17. A street name: Meeny Miny Mo
18. A type of car: Mazda
19. The title of a song: Me, Myself and I by Vitamin C

Sorry for only doing the 1st one coz I have done the 2nd one a looong time ago in my friendster blog and I'm not in the mood to think so pensively for the 3rd one, actually I already copy paste the whole lot and was just about to blabber making no sense but decided nah...got to much work, hehe so here it is and now I tag:

anyone who wants to have a go! this one tag is pretty cool, makes you scratched your head anyway!