Saturday, January 10, 2009

Rush Hour Weekend


I look forward to weekends because the pace of life slows down for at least two days before the whole mad cycle starts all over again at work... in life here.

Today was exceptional. It was a mad rush for the most part of the day but the weekend life as I know it slowly crepe in towards the evening. The day was nevertheless full of wonderful events all the way tonight...

It started with an early morning wake-up call for breakfast. Then all three of us made a rush to Sonny's new religious school for first year students' Parents & Students Orientation at YKI Changi Road.

The YKI or Young Khulafa's Institute is a weekend Madrasah of sorts under FMSA or Fellowship of Muslim Students Association umbrella.

This private institution to learning Islamic religion is regulated and registered under MUIS - a government's branch for Muslim Affairs in Singapore.

Since Sonny has now reached the age of young adulthood, Wifey and I felt that he has more than old enough to embrace the knowledge of Islamic teachings to be a whole, responsible human being who strives to be successful in life with God's blessings. A practicing Muslim.

Started at 10:30AM, there were lots of parents, mostly English speaking parents who, just like us were drawn by the lessons taught in English rather than the traditional Malay language.

There is a new generation of young Malay children in Singapore who mostly converse in English at home and in school replacing their mother tongue language. Sonny is no exception.

Coming from English educated parents, young children now come from English-speaking families. They loose the articulation of the Malay language and have nowadays regard it has one of the subjects in school to pass exams in, unfortunately.

All the religious classes that Sonny ever attended previously since he was small were stopped short when he kept complaining of not able to under each lessons as those were conducted in Malay.

So it is heartening that this institution conducts all lessons in English with contemporary approach in its lessons and curriculum, understanding the youth psyche while engaging them in modern times and settings.

So it is a impressive to know that all the religious teachers there are all qualified and registered under MUIS, licensed to teach the mainstream Islamic religion. These are the teachers who have excelled both in circular academics as well as religious universities from Egypt and Malaysia.

The orientation ended promptly two hours later. It left us rushing to grab some lunch before we zipped-off to our next appointment that was suppose to start at 1:30PM.

We even had to give the DSP event at Sonny school at 2:00PM, a miss. DSP group was meeting the new Secondary One parents and inviting them to join the group for the school.

Sonny changed into his Dunman Secondary School uniform once we reached home and we rushed to attend an MOE's Edusave Scholarship and Merit Award Ceremony for being top 10% in the east zone for good exam results for Secondary One level.

This year, the whole multipurpose hall at the community centre was packed with students with only standing room for parents at the sides and back of the hall. This year, the government was giving out more bursary awards for academic excellence as well as non-academic achievements like sports.

Fortunately, as each row of pupils queued to receive their awards from Minister for Tampines GRO Mr. Sin Boon Ann, respective parents were allowed to go right in front of the stage to take photos of their child's special moment.

The whole event was over in one hour. There was another session for another group of children at 4:00PM. The government is really helping the people in this challenging financial times.

Sonny was happy to receive S$300.00 for his hard work last year. He accumulated S$800.00 in total so far for his savings since the new year since getting some bonus money from me from my 13th month AWS.

Our day was then free for us to do whatever we wanted as a family.

Predictable as we are, we left for Changi Beach Park for dinner celebration out at the hawker centre and then just relaxing at the beach on a mat to enjoy the fresh air and the happy vibes there.

Wifey and I as always, could not help ourselves but be children for a few moments playing on the sea-saw and swings. Being children is so much fun... but the crackling of the bones reminded us that our hearts were willing, but not these old bodies.

We left the beach at 8:00PM. Not knowing there was a night market at the village near Changi Beach Hotel, we were already in the cab before we realized it. It would have been fun to be at the market than coming back home while the night was still young.

Young... it sure is good to be young, especially on a Saturday night.















18 comments:

  1. We all need to be children once in awhile!

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  2. SO glad you had such a good time. Hope you have a wonderful week ahead, and lots of love to you and yours. And even though I'm 21...I feel it when I'm running after Emmy....

    Jess

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  3. Sounds like you all had a very busy day. At least you had some fun time in it. Thanks for your comment in my blog. Your pictures are great especially of you and your family. Helen

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  4. I'm happy everyone had such a nice day.... I enjoyed all the beautiful pictures too.
    Sandra

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  5. What a beautiful family, your wife is so beautiful and what a good looking son.

    I'm glad you had such a wonderful day. And hey I still go on the slides at the park. hahahahaha

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  6. I love days like that.
    The photo of the beach- oh how I wish I was there!!

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  7. Wow what a wonderful day had by all..I love all the photo's with it's radiance on all faces... You had asked me to post pics but I'm hard pressed to show any as it has be dark outside for weeks like night so no really good pics in this lighting or darkening...Kinda an Oxymoron...I hope Sonny is happy at his new school and Azi is sooo pretty and you so handsome....I loved the photo of bike rental with the fruit tree... wow what a beautiful tree what kind of fruit on the tree...I'd love a photo of the tree in that night lightning..Wow.. Thanks for coming by..We are waiting to see if God willing we are honored by selection to meet an American Famous Photographers decendant (son) and wife who are CEO's of the Gallery Google 2 people listed below to see who they are.. we will know after the 15th prayers are welcomed..
    Ansel Adams..................American Photograher
    Art Wolfe.... Located in Seattle will judge the photo's..let me know if you see it..

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  8. Congratulations to you and your son on his academic achievements. It's good that he'll be going to a good school for his religious education. :o)

    Hope you're having a good week and your Dad is doing well, Muhd.

    Love and hugs,

    Diane

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  9. perhaps u shld hire malay teacher to teach yr son malay language, its so sad to see new generation of young Malay children in Singapore cant speak proper malay. I wonder what happen to malay generation here in spore in 2020!

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  10. Hello Everyone.

    So happy that you can stop by and leave messages.

    Donna | I agree. That feeling is one of the most happiest one could ever get once in a long while.

    Jess | I think the young one like Emmy makes us come more alive than we ever can. Precious little one. Those eyes. Mesmerizing.

    Helen | Family is wonderful. I am blessed to have my family and always remind myself not to take it for granted.

    Sandra | I took so many pictures whenever we go out. Wish I could share more without slowing down my page download.

    Burfica | It was spontaneous for us to get on it when we past by it. The inner child instinct took over us both. Guess it's less obscure and embarrassing at night.

    Andrew | Sunny days like this is what I look forward to too. The need to be outdoors and in wide open spaces after being cramped in a cubicle for 5 days...

    Anne | It is so interesting as it is terrifying to have that type of weather for so long. Hoping that your entries are chosen. You have a fan all the way from Singapore!

    Diane | Sonny's a great kid and we're proud of him as parents. Dad is doing very well and I am so grateful to all the prayers.

    Anonymous | That was exactly what we did since he was grappling with the language in Primary school. We finally found the best one at Kembangan called ECC when the tuition teacher pulled his grade to A* for his PSLE. A total shocker for us all, including his teachers.

    Then again, the mentality now is taking the language as a subject instead of a necessity to communicate here.

    Like many Malay people, I am worried too in general the future of the language in 2020. The circular culture here does not seem to place such importance similarly the affects the Chinese language has undergone earlier too in earning a living in mainstream Singapore... unlike maybe, living and working in Malaysia or China respectively.


    Have a great week ahead, everyone.

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  11. Thanks for your comments recently on my blog, Muhd. Also, you should be very proud of your son and Wifey ... you have a wonderful family. And I am sure they are very proud of you. You are a kind and sincere person and it shows everywhere. Sending you lots of calm and peace ... and would you like some snow and zero degrees Fahrenheit? We have lots to send you, if you would like to "chill out" ;oD
    SisSTAR Kyle

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  12. Good Morning! Handsome son and beautiful wife.
    Yes that park is so fun to relax and play at! And good food.
    Your son is doing quite well in school.
    Yes my husband loves construction and we missed that when we lived in our apart. in Singapore.
    Thanks for visiting me today.
    Mim

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  13. It just amazes me that so many of the children soon to be adults are now mostly speaking English there in Singapore! I did not know that.

    A good day was had by all..and your wifey on the swing..well you tell her I said she has the right idea. I got to a park here and at times when not many around I get on the larger swings and "swing my cares away".

    Blessings to you and your family,

    Rhi

    Blessings,

    Rhi

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  14. P.S. I hope I did not offend you about the pussycat dolls video song I posted. I read your comment and responded to it in that post.

    Rhi

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  15. Wow...you manage to pack so much in to a week-end by you. Those bones can't be all that creaky!!!
    I love the pics of wifey. She looks so well.
    My daughter Becky has a new bike as her other was too small so hopefully we will be able to have some week-end pics to share soon.
    Hope you enjoy the rest of your week-end.
    Smiles.

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Hello Everyone,

Thank you for stopping by and leaving me your messages. I will also try to answer any questions you may have for me.

Thanks again and have a good day.

Regards,
Muhd Imran
PAL Blogger