Fahri and Naeem

They are totally different. Physically and psychologically. If you meet them playing together at a playground, you will have a hard time to believe that they are brothers, biologically. But one thing is for sure, Fahri has his papa's look while Naeem has my look, we believe. I am so happy now they always have each other to play with, even though sometimes they couldn't get along and competing with each other to get our attention. I am happy because I know, if my hubby and I are busy and can not be with them at times, they won't feel lonely. Because they have each other. It is tiring to raise them both at the same time because their small age gap (2 years gap). Both couldn't really take care of their own self, both needs attention, both needs us to do lots of things...still. It is enough if you can imagine both of them is screaming, throwing tantrum, crying, wanted to be hold, when you hug and comfort one of them, the other one will scream and wanted the same thing! All you need is SUPER patience, energy, and emotionally well. However, their presence in our life is always meaningful and remarkable. What a wonderful journey and gift that we have. Thank you Allah s.w.t.

We even celebrated their birthday on the same day.  Fahri is a September baby while Naeem is an August baby.

Hmm.. I wonder..will I end up like the Beckhams? 3 boys and one last girl? haha..nak samakan dgn Beckhams jugak kan..

Fahri's latest!

Apart from Naeem's long hiatus here, I also have not posted any latest news and pictures of Fahri. Abg Fahri is 3 years old now. Big boy already. He is more behaved now. Love watching Upin and Boboiboy so much. He could memorize ABC, 123 and Alif Ba Ta already. He loves to scream. He talked a lot (in his own language) and you can understand him most of the times. Mama and papa's sweetheart forever.

Naeem's milestones

Each time I log on to my blog, I feel bad because I left this blog for quite sometimes due to my never-ending task, I did not update Naeem's milestones or at least, his latest pictures here, like what I did for Fahri. I didn't have time, was so busy with my work back then and I would say I was frustrated with few things that happened in my life. Yes, back then. But, I was never feeling regret about it. It makes me stronger and I appreciate life more than before. Anyway, I would like to dedicate this post to my second son, Naeem. He is 1 year and 2 months old now. I would describe Naeem as: impatient (haha), smart (all mommies would claim kot), senang sakit perut (masuk angin), lovable, friendly, food lover (especially rice), heavy, big eyes, haha..ntah pape ntah description mama ni..anyway...I love u baby!

Home Made Dim Sum

Assalam...I was browsing around my pictures' folder just now and found these how-to-make-dim-sum photos. This was way back then when my mom came to my house, paying a visit and accompanying me taking care of my sons who were affected by HFMD, at that time. I think it was in the early of this year. I love my mom and she is super genius when it comes to cooking. Just with one taste, she will know how to cook any particular dish requested by us. My mom and of course my sis, Mira are big fans of Korean series. So, dim sum is a common dish that we can see in the series- where the actors and actresses eat and enjoy their dim sum. My sis felt tempted to taste it so she asked my parents to get her dim sum in Kuantan. They managed to find it and love the taste. Like a magic, with one attempt, my mom successfully made her own version of dim sum, deliciously! Of course, she did refer to Mr Google's recipe as a guideline. Thus, when she was preparing dim sum at my house, I found it very interesting and took pictures of the steps and posted them to Instagram. Then, I received feedback from my friends, asking about the recipe. Now, I remember that I have not given them the recipe yet and indeed, I guess Instagram is not the right place to post a recipe! So, here, today, I would like to share my mom's recipe of Dim Sum.

Ingredients:

The filling:

~500g mincemeat

~ 1/3 cup green shallots, finely chopped
~ 1 tbsp. soy sauce
~ 2 tsp. cooking oil
~ 2 tsp. fine raw sugar
~ 3 tsp. cornstarch
~ 1 egg, lightly beaten
  ~ Soy Sauce for dipping

The home made wrapper:

 - 500g plain flour

- 1 cup slightly warm water
- 1 tsp oil
- 1/2 tsp salt

-1 oz coloring paste- green

Yields about 800g of dough

Recipe of wrapper:

 1. Add salt and oil to the warm water. Stir till the salt has dissolved completely.

2. In a deep bowl, pour in plain flour. Add the warm water mixture slowly and stir. Add 1 oz of green coloring-paste into the mixture. Add a little water each time so that you can judge how wet or dry the dough is. Stop when it looks slightly sticky. Just continue stirring (or using your hands when it gets too sticky) till the dough comes together in a large, clumpy ball.

3. Pre heat a pan and start kneading. Knead the each ball onto the pan. You will notice that the dough no longer looks as lumpy and dry. As you knead, it will become elastic and shiny.

5. The dough is ready to be rolled into wrappers as soon as it is smooth and pliable.

Recipe of dim sum:

1. Place the mincemeat, shallots, soy sauce, oil, sugar and egg into a large bowl and combine with hands or spoon.
2. Add in the cornstarch and mix until it incorporated with other ingredients.
3. Spread out Dim Sum wrappers on a clean surface. Add a tsp. of the filling to each wrapper.
4. Using a pastry brush, brush the edges of the wrapper lightly with water.
5. Bring the sides of the wrappers together with the filling in the middle and pinch together so the filling is hidden inside. 
6. Steam over lightly bubbling water for 5-7 minutes until the Dim Sum go slightly transparent and are cooked through.
7. You can serve the dim sum with soy sauce or as simple as chili sauce!

the mincemeat filling together with the green shallots

added with cornstarch

Add green coloring-paste if you like more colors on it.

Knead the small balls of dough onto a frying pan.

the look of the wrappers.

ok. this step requires creativity and talent!

tadaaaaa! cantik and tempting kan...

my mom's delicious homemade dim sum.

Happy trying!

Students' compliments

Assalam,
When you become a lecturer, you will always have a second thought when receiving compliments from the students. At the beginning, you will be over the moon but 5 minutes later, you will doubt their sensibility. I was also a student few years ago. All of us used to walk in this so called students-life. Even though you do not like the lecturers/teachers, but you will always smile and saying something nice especially when you are in a conversation with them. True enough?

This year remarks the seventh year my contribution towards teaching line. I graduated from BTESL, UiTM Shah Alam in 2007. I started teaching when I have not even gotten my scroll, in UiTM Seri Iskandar, Perak ( I consider this place as the best place that I've ever worked for) as a part time/full time lecturer, for one meaningful year. I have never stopped teaching since. And the irony part is, teaching was never came into my mind and was never listed onto my list of dream job when I was in schools. I couldn't remember that I did opt TESL as one of the selections in UPU form 13 years ago but my mom could. She said she was the one who asked me to choose TESL and it was my last choice. All I can remember is that, I opted IT courses because I love IT so much, I love the technology, I spent most of my times at home surfing the internet ( I still remember some of my neighbours called me yana-the anti social girl when I was in Form 4 & 5). I just love it. I wanted to take IT courses because I imagined myself in front of the pc / laptop for 24 hours, browsing websites for 24 hours, every single day! See.. that's the way how we used to think. Too selfish. Immature. However, Allah SWT always knows what is the best for us, along with my mom's doas, I have been offered to do TESL.

Along this 7 years, I have learned so many things. I fell. I cried. I smiled. I worked harder. I dreamt. I did not give up. I believe this is the right career for me. In UiTM Seri Iskandar, I used to receive complains from the senior lecturers on my language, my broken-English... It was really embarrassing. But, I took it positively. I kept learning and improving myself. I moved to KL to further my masters while working with a private college in PJ. Then, I couldn't stand my new boss, I quitted. I looked for another teaching job. I accepted the offer from MSU and was serving there for almost 5 years. I disagreed with lots of issues there, I resigned for the second time. I was not happy. Inside and out. And now, Alhamdulillah, I am loving the new place.

I used to receive positive feedbacks from my students about what they love about me. I appreciate that. And it is impossible to please and satisfy each of every students in class. Some of them will love your lesson and some will complain. It is normal. As a lecturer, I take all the compliments as my biggest motivation to deliever well in class and I don't feel upset with negative feedback but it challenges my very self to improve lesson/teaching ( sbnrnye dalam hati mmg terbakoorrrrr je kan hikhik).

Few days ago, one of my students sent a private message through my uni portal jus to say hye and told me how he and his classmates appreciate my lesson and it was very informative. I was so happy (sampai upload kat Instagram kau..kau ade? ;p ). But then, I was thinking maybe it is just him and maybe he just wanted to have a good relationship with me. But today, this morning, after the quiz, I asked them 'how was the quiz? It's really easy cheezy..just like ABC right'...Some of them were smiling with my sarcastic question because the quiz questions were not that easy. Then one of them said something that makes me feel so appreciated "Mam, the questions are not easy. They are difficult. But you had made them easier for us. It is totally not an ABC question. You delivered your lesson well. And that's why we could answer it." Oh.. I was so touched. Now I guess the first student was being really sincere sending me the message. I said to them 'Thank you very much. I am really happy if the lesson's objective is achieved." Then, I ended the class with endless smile =)

Survivor story 1

As the blog's url is misssurvive, I have one survivor story today. I woke up late today...around 6.50 am...usually I wake up at 530..Luckily my husband managed to wake up from our deep slumber and he said 'honey, you're late, rite? my shirt, have u ironed it?' I was like 'ok...blame it to my mobile phone...out of battery' ( so yeah..it was my fault. I didn't charge my phone battery last night). Then I said 'it's ok...u go and take your shower first..i'll settle your shirts, socks, pants everything'. While ironing, i kept thinking about my class which shall start at 830..but I have not prepared the materials yet! which I have promised my students yesterday to have a reading class.

Last night, I told myself, it's ok..I'll wake up early the next morning and go to office early to do the xerox process. But look who's talking!!!! Then.. I was done with ironing and went to take my shower as quick as I can (people know me as a miss-forever-in-a-bathroom). Then I performed my Subuh and quickly running down stairs to kiss my MIL and FIL's hands and headed to office. Duhhhh! It was a bad crawling today from Kota Kemuning toll all the way to LKSA..The route which usually takes only 15 minutes to arrive Section 9, has gotten me 35 minutes today.

I reached office at 8.10 am... and was hoping the photocopy machine will not give me hard time today as it did yesterday. I have 15 minutes left to go to class...I had so many plans in my mind as alternatives if the photocopy machine won't cooperate with me today.

Plan B: Give each student a copy of newspaper cutting (which I bought last month). Risk and disadvantage: they will not have a same text to read. It's going to be out of control. The lesson objective won't be achieved.

Plan C: Bring them to the lab and provide them a link to a website where they can read one particular text. Risk and disadvantage: Most of labs are fulled and occupied at level 14. and I know this lab at level 8 but I am not sure about the condition of the internet connection, the pcs, etc. I need extra time to prepare for it. And I know my students. They will have other better things to do if I let them use the pc- facebook, twitter etc..

Thus, I went to the machine, recited bismillah for few times together with akak cleaner (she always knows I am having this love-hate relationship with the machine) and the miracle begins. It worked! I managed to make copies of the reading text and exercises (around 90 pages in total) in amazingly 3 minutes! I am in love again with the machine! mwah mwah mwah (over plak). Then 8.25 am, without wasting time, I headed to level 14, went to the classroom and of course I was the first to enter (as usual, my students loooveeee to come late to class). I smiled and knew it, I am a survivor.

As a happy ending it may sound, I managed to get a very good piece of reading text and exercise. It is not too difficult, not too easy. They love it. I am sure they did learn so much today on the comprehension, vocabulary, giving solutions and opinions, critical thinking skill and a lil juice of subject verb agreement towards the end. And, most importantly, out of the rush-hour I had this morning, I managed to put on a very comfortable and lovely outfit (in my eyes, at least) ;)

Long Hiatus

Alhamdulillah, it has been two weeks that I am here – working with a new organization, somewhere closer to home (10 mins closer i guess haha), in fact closer to a lot of places that I usually go to, and guess what, it is located inside my favorite mall where I usually hunt for dresses and hijabs!

Allow me to tell you that I am now working with an international university, a Malaysian branch.  specifically is surrounded with Middle East environment which its nature of work seemed more or less the same than what I have done before. The only, perhaps the main difference is that, the areas of English language are confined to a more specific purpose. Oh, and guess what, I am loving it! It has been a long time since I felt happy waking up in the morning to go to work!

Did I mention that I had an agreement with my husband that I ought to find a new job within a month or two post-resigning? Yes, the process begins here.

After I resigned, I listed say, about 10 possible institutions for me to apply. I did it regularly. They included a wide range of organizations – universities (of course), learning centre, editing, you name it. I even applied for some positions via Job Street. But deep in my heart, this place where I’m in right now is the place that I had my interest most. Not only that it is located in Shah Alam (yes this was my primary concern) but also the career progression that I am able to obtain here is wider or greater, in my humble opinion. It required me to apply online, then to show my keen interest in joining this organization, I sent a hard copy resumé coupled with a cover letter. I remembered I sent my application online twice.

The next thing I know, I received a call, asking me to come for an interview for the position that I wanted.  I actually received numbers of calls asking for interview and I did attend all the interviews scheduled and I could declare myself as 'Ratu Interview'. Just imagine, in those 3 months hybernating jobless, I did attend almost 20 interviews haha... and out of that number, I got 3 job offers only haha! but those 3 calls were either for the position that I was not interested in, or it is too far or the pay offered was too low. . So when I finally got ‘that’ call, I was excited yet so nervous.

Then the interview day came.The first interview began before a panel of 2. It was not that formal because they were really looking for a lecturer so particularly they were asking me 'when can I start'. It went well, if I may say, Alhamdulillah. So I was hoping to get through to the next stage.

Little did I know that the second interview was as soon as the following day.  2^nd stage interview was done by an internal management panels. There were 4 of them, one Malay man (the vice academic), the other three men are from Sudan, Iran and Nigeria.  As easy as that, I called them two days after the interview to know the result (being me, i am so impatient type of person) and the hr lady said 'yes, I was about to call you and asking you when can you start?' Then, here I am, already two weeks here, teaching and experiencing new environment with different academic ambience.

I reported duty on 17th September 2013 and so far, I’m loving this place. The place is beautiful, the people here are so friendly, no senior-junior shiz, more respects etc. The work is do-able, though I may have to do a lot of reading still. I’ve never felt this ‘useful’ day in day out for a long time and though it has only been two weeks, I have been exposed to a lot of things.

What do I like about this uni:

1) it's office-hours starts from 8.30 to 5.30. So, i do not really have to crawl in a massive traffic jam as most of working people in Shah Alam go back at 6 pm

2) Honestly, I have always prayed and wanted to become a better muslimah and Alhamdulillah Allah is answering my prayer by placing me here. Here, the dresscode is totally different from what I used to wear in my previous workplace. Here, the working attire is influenced and guided by Middle East Culture. You have to cover your aurat. But, as usual, I'll wear what I feel most comfortable with, I don't really wear abaya, I wear somethings those I used to wear before, but added with inners, wider shawl and a pair of socks! And Alhamdulillah... I hope this will be my attire till jannah :) InsyaAllah

3) I just need to teach, teach, teach and doing a lecturer's works! Full stop. No more admin, event, marketing, outstation, weekend tasks like I used to have. Yippeeee

4) I am teaching proficiency subjects which I feel more competent and confident with.

5) Parking is very easy because usually I reach office very early.

6) Most of the teaching materials are ready. You just need to go to class and teach!

7) Since it is an international university and 60% of people (staff and students) here are foreigners, English is a must. I love it. Definitelly I have to converse using this language and keep improving my accent and structure. Remember, practice makes perfect.

8) So far, I don't really have so many works sto do. Thus, i rarely feel tired when I reach home and I even can entertain my kids up until midnight!

9) I always love my colleagues in previous place and they are like my sisters and can not live without them. However, my new colleagues are the people that are so close to Islam and Alhamdulillah, I am so blessed.

This place challenges me to better myself. I can feel it. Let’s just hope that this feeling will last long cause I may have spoken too soon haha!