Kak Dibah and Hayat: A beautiful wedding!

20th January was a special day for all of us in the family- Adibah, my only daughter got married to Hayat. Both of them have moved to KL now and the house is very quiet...hubby was teasing me all the time about the quietness. From now on I will have to go places alone or with my other half. It still hasn't really sunk that my daughter is married! I was sure I heard her call me "Mama" as I was about to sleep last night. I pass by her room everyday as it's opposite mine so it's not easy. She will be coming back this CNY hols to take the rest of her things. Alhamdulillah...her wedding was a beautiful one despite the drizzle.

On the wedding day and as early as 11 a.m. a good friend (Normala) from Seremban was already at the hall. From then on, it was a busy day for mom and dad as the guests thickened. Most of them I asked, praised the food (Dzan Catering, Batu Pahat) and the unique dais (Dedaun Bridal, Batu Pahat). You can look them up in FB in case you want to use them. Imam Jamal (a friend of hubby) was very punctual, making his presence felt at 9 a.m. sharp. The exchange of vows ceremony was slightly late because we had to wait for Hayat's side. Hayat confidently read the vow once and they were man and wife. Shortly after the nikah, I choked with emotions when I had to read something to my daughter following the Sakinah Module adopted in Johor. Trust me not to be dramatic :) 

No wedding is complete without the guests. Hubby and I were pleased with the guests turnout. I now understand how it feels when you hope for guests to turn up. Dear hubby and I will do our best to attend all wedding invitations from now on. We have missed a few, unintentionally of course. The Malays have this saying "kita tunaikan hajat orang lain, mudah-mudahan orang akan tunaikan pula hajat kita". Alhamdulillah, I never expected such a crowd. Between welcoming the guests and thanking them, I managed quick peeks into the hall and was pleased to see the guests enjoying themselves and having animated conversations with old and new found friends. Thanks all for making time. I truly appreciate your presence!

To Adibah and Hayat: 

Wishing you the best of life today and in the days to come.

 May you always feel as close as you do this day. May your lives be graced 

with good health. May you always find happiness in your home, and may it 

 be a refuge from the storms of life. May your love grow ever stronger as you 

share your lives together, and may your future be even more wonderful

 than you dreamed possible.

All's well that ends well. The knee pain and tiredness have all gone. I'm truly blessed Ya Rabb. Thank you for everything! 

The Thinking Teacher

Kak Dibah is getting married!

This Sunday, my only daughter, Adibah, and my eldest is getting married! And I will be a mother-in-law to Hayat, a young man who works in an IT company in Cyberjaya and hails from Pahang. If you're a mother of an only daughter, you will probably be able to relate to this posting. After slightly more than a year's engagement, she is finally getting married! Is it wrong for me to say that I'm not sure how to be a mother-in-law? How should I act? The only people who have called me 'mama' are my two children :) And knowing me, I will probably be fumbling with words to speak to my future son-in-law :) It will need some getting used to I guess...

 

My feelings flip-flopped several times over the course of the year... between feeling embarrassed for acting like my daughter was only 18 and leaving home for the first time, to feeling joyful that she'd found her soul-mate...I haven't talked to anyone about my feelings. There's no one to talk to in school- the majority are young teachers the same age as my daughter and my close friends are all miles away. My heart aches out of happiness and sadness. Happiness because she is marrying the man she loves and will build a life of her own. Sadness because my only Kak Dibah is leaving...This house will be empty with only me and my other half. I don't know if I can get use to this to be honest.

 

With Kak Dibah everything is a first! I remember sending her to the kindergarten and how she took some time to get used to kindergarten. Soon after, it was her primary school. I wanted her to go to the best school in town badly- SK Tunku Mahmud (1), but I missed the deadline and so she ended up in SK Perempuan Bandar, an all girls school. This incident taught me a valuable lesson- not to miss the registration for her brother, Rasyad. Yours truly registered Rasyad a year earlier and he got to go to SK Tunku Mahmud (1). Now, her wedding is also my first!

Our trip to Bandung last year

I will miss our trips to Tebrau City (our favourite shopping place) and the tom yam lunch we usually have in Black Canyon, one of our favourite hang outs. Her favourite is tom yam fussili and she used to joke "You silly!" at me.  Last December was renovation and wedding preparations month. We went everywhere together- the furniture shop to discuss choice of cabinet ( I must say she has good taste!), Nilai 2, Ayer Hitam for hantaran things etc. etc. etc. Although my knees were a real challenge sometimes, we managed to get everything for her wedding amidst my marking the SPM and the renovation. I'm no super lady but the fact that I managed to handle everything from day one is God's blessings. Alhamdulillah...It's now only a matter of days before her dad gives her away to the man she loves. I'm excited and at the same time anxious. The exchange of vows will take place in the morning and the wedding reception in the afternoon on the same day. I truly hope everything will be smooth-sailing and that she will have a happy and memorable wedding.

  

With her only brother, Rasyad

Yes, we've had plenty of quarrels too-sometimes bitter ones but I guess this is normal between a mother and daughter. Through it all we have bonded and become closer. I've given the best that I knew how to her- education, love and care, attention. Lately she's been joking, "nanti dibah takde mama jangan nangis.." Well, I'm crying already...I just want her to be happy and successful in her married life and be granted good health always. Some friends teased that I will soon be a grandmother. Hey! I look forward to that day actually and I'm sure I will enjoy it to the fullest. I imagine myself to be a sporting grandmother and a doting one too :) In the meantime, I pray to God that her wedding will be joyous and blessed. Ameen.

 

May happiness be yours Kak Dibah!

Perhaps the wedding photos will comfort me when she's gone :)

 

The Thinking Teacher

English Diagnostic Test for Form 1

Date: 9 Jan 2013 (Monday)
Venue: Khalifah Hall, SM Sains Sembrong, Kluang

115 Form 1 students who registered in SASEM last Monday sat for the Form 1 Diagnostic Test this morning. Fariha, Syamsul, Azhar, Rozila (HOP) and I were there to oversee the administration of the test. We hope to finish marking the test by next Monday so we can assess the student's performance and take follow-up steps. I hope I can meet the deadline because my daughter's wedding is very soon and the renovation is still on!

The Thinking Teacher

Ist Lesson in 2013...

Date: Jan 2th 2013
Venue: 5 Bukhari

After a long stretch of holiday, I can imagine my students' English going rusty and all. So what better way to start the class with an ice-breaking activity! The activity is called 'My Circle of Friends' to encourage listening and speaking. Oh my! Did I hear all sorts of things? You bet, Bahasa Melayu was used in abundance, mispronunciations and all but lots of giggles. One student ( I think it was Hafiz) started with "Melaka, Melaka!!" in the style of a taxi driver looking for passengers!! It was an absolutely noisy and crazy market! However, some students were still shy and afraid to use English confidently. I timed the activity for 10 minutes and then asked for feedback from the students. The lesson proper ensued after this activity.

Here's the handout for My Circle of Friends.

This year I also hope to carry out at least two five-minute activities that focus on listening-speaking skills in a week before the lesson proper begins. I'm using the following book as it gives me plenty of ideas. As a matter of fact, I've posted about this book before here.

Happy teaching :)

The Thinking Teacher