Jason Mraz - Lucky

I like the tune...


"Lucky" Official Video With Colbie Caillat

Jason Mraz | MySpace Music Videos

Sorry

According to The Free Dictionary, the word "sorry" has THREE meanings:

1. Feeling or expressing sympathy, pity, or regret: I'm sorry I'm late.

2. Worthless or inferior; paltry: a sorry excuse.

3. Causing sorrow, grief, or misfortune; grievous: a sorry development.

But in Malaysia, you probably will find the FOURTH meaning.

Now let me tell you an encounter I had this evening which describes this particular definition of the word "sorry".

Location: W Store in 1Borneo, Workers A & B of W store and me.
Me: Excuse me, do you have any more stock of this (referring to Colgate toothpaste which has special discount, buy 2 twin packs for RM16, and there is only one twin pack left on the display shelf)?
Worker A: Umm... It's out of stock (after worker B checked out the store).
Me: It's alright then.

Disappointed, I decided to pick up my usual Fresh 'n' White toothpaste which can last me long enough until I go to Servay to pick up my twin packs (I'm an economist when it comes to buying toiletries).

While waiting to pay at the counter, Worker D decided to pay for her purchase (the exact same twin pack which I was looking for). Very loudly, here's what I could hear while standing behind her.
Worker D: Sorry ler, sorry ler. Apa boleh buat? Lambat. (Translate to: What to do? Late.)
Worker A: Dia tedi sedang cari tu (refering to the twin packs that Worker D was paying for // Translate to: She was looking for it just now).
Worker D: Sorry ler, sorry ler...
(In order to avoid direct unpleasant circumstance with that loud Worker D, I walked off to the other paying counter of Worker C).

Me: Umm... Lain kali minta pekerja kamurang jangan cakap macam itu, very impolite. (Translate to: Next time please ask your workers not to talk like that.)
Worker C: Ya... Ok...
Me: Seriously, it will ruin the image of W store. It is actually really very rude.
(I walked off from W store with my paid item after thanking Worker C feeling ridiculous at the ill-behaviour Malaysian workers are displaying to their paying customers. I know it is unfair that Worker C had to listen to my complaint about this, but I hope she will help to "correct" this kind of behaviour in her workplace)

That's how the word "sorry" is used in Malaysia by some of those individuals who felt smug by outwitting others in purchasing discounted products. It is definitely a victorious moment to be the last to get the special discounts, but it is bad for company's image if you happen to be wearing company's uniform and act like a smug in your own workplace in front of a customer, chiding the customer.

I am really disappointed with the ill-behaviours of Malaysian employees in many service outlets. FYI, I've decided to "assist" in the improvement of the W store by filing a proper complaint via their webpage.

I'm not angry, just felt ridiculous how people can use the word "sorry" to act like some ridiculous, uncivilized people from the jungle, just because of two twin packs of toothpaste with the cost of RM16. I pray that the company will do something to train their staffs to be more aware of their behaviours which may improve or deteriorate the business of the company which pays their bills at home (indirectly).

Puppies vs. Fireworks

This picture is pretty self-explanatory, but I'd like to add an anecdote to it.

Instead of A puppy, currently I am dealing with FOUR puppies (Panda, Betsy, Baby Gal and Toodoo). Though born of stray mother, we had been looking after them in terms of food and play and shelter since last month. And I finally gotten the sole responsibility of ensuring they get enough of the minimum three criteria this week. Thank God they all are somehow toilet-trained naturally. Only poop and pee on soil/grassy ground.

In conjunction with Chinese New Year celebration, fireworks have been colouring the night sky since the day my housemates left for their respective hometowns. The puppies, I believe, had been enduring the crazily loud (as defined in the puppy's world) firecrackers and fireworks since CNY eve. I've been observing their behaviour since then, and noticed that they displayed fear and disorientation regularly when there is a release of fireworks into the night air.

As the current co-owner of the puppies, I'm highly concerned of their well-being. A search on Google brought me to a website about fear aggression in dog or puppy. Now, this part of the article explained why they all disappeared after breakfast this morning, causing me to fret over it the whole day as I had to go out for the whole day. When I arrived home just now, only Panda was at home, in some sort of fear though. I finally found the other three and their mother a few houses from mine.

Some puppy dogs react and get extremely frightened and panic at the sound of lightening, thunder, or fireworks and there is no real reason they should. Some cases will cause fear aggression in the dog. These types of fears have caused many dogs to even run away from their homes in panic and disoriented, and unfortunately in some cases some have even been hit by a car due to running out into the road, and others have had difficulty finding their way home etc.

Whereas this part of the article explains why I find my puppies retreating to under the car, and not responsive when I called after them at times, to the extend of backing off when I went near one of them, and running from home.

When a puppy is scared it becomes very evident in the way he begins to behave and the way he looks. Some puppies start walking form one side of the room to the other, looking for somewhere to hide and if there is an open door, some will run out without giving any warning to the owner.

Pray that either the firecrackers and fireworks will stop soon, or that my puppies will grow out of the fear.

P/S: I have no idea why I'm naming them what I named them (especially Baby Gal and Toodoo), except for Panda, which has two black patches over his eyes. Basically they are rarely responsive towards the name given though. By next week, all will leave home to their foster families. Shall snap some pics and upload them soon!

We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

Nobody really discovers that I like music by Jason Mraz. Perhaps it was my pride which made me kept this from people, since there was a particular occasion where someone made fun of me when I said out loud that I like his songs. Those who have my Maxis number, and actually made it a point to call me, would realize that his song "I'm Yours" had been my caller ringtone for the past one year. Umm... Nope, I'm not exactly a CD-buyer, but I'm seriously considering buying his 2008 album (title mentioned on my blog post) because of his unique vocal and his music is really to my likings.

Here's the official MV of "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. Enjoy!

Where is God? by Dr. John Townsend

I finally received my copy of "Where is God?" on 25 January 2010 after a long one-month wait from Thomas Nelson Publisher. It is always beautiful to finally receive after a long wait and this book did not disappoint me! Dr. John Townsend had written a concise copy of book assuring the reader where God is when we are in difficult times and this is a book one must grab when in doubts and struggling with the big question of "WHERE IS GOD?". Besides being assuring of His holy presence in our lives even when we see Him not, feel Him not, this book also breaks down God's characteristics so that we can understand Him better, and love Him more.

Like all his other books, Dr. John Townsend had written the book with an objective point of view of a God-believing psychologist. I enjoyed the "as-a-matter-of-fact" way of presentation which kept me returning to the book chapter after chapter. It helped to comfort my weary heart as I was in the darkness due to some internal struggle with hope. This struggle led me start doubting the God who loves me, and this book steered my way back to God as I start seeing the Light of Christ as I continued reading. There are recommendations of what we can do in the dark as we seek the Lord. And I truly learned that God is with me when I am facing difficulties and struggles in life.

In this modern world where people are struggling with individualism and materialism, this book brought us back to the understanding of having safe and loving community to support and encourage one another. I experience it myself the importance of having safe relationships which I can fall back on when things become difficult and God seems so distant. He is there, only our minds are bogged down and blinded. Thus we need people to affirm us of His presence.

Bravo, Dr. John Townsend!

A Hectic Week and an Inflamed Throat

Who would guess that I'd be having an inflamed throat two days prior to Chinese New Year! Blame it on my eating habit~ LOL! I haven't blogged for zillion years, and I find my writing skills a bit blunt. Need to sharpen it back.

Life, oh life! Let's see what was on my tight schedule... These days I seemed to be occupied with my work, also my very own mission with regards to reaching out to the youth. I find God is so kind to me, giving me an opportunity to re-form myself, and definitely to learn how to interact with the younger youth better. Sometimes I wonder if I'm at the right place. I'm being so convicted and want to do so much, but I had no choice but to "discipline" them because of the impossible and rather unacceptable behaviour in "classroom" context. It is never easy to link to the people whom I had no choice but to address them as my "students". Sometimes I really hope that my position can be named as "youth coordinator" rather than "RK teacher". Oh well, keep my fingers cross and wait for God to decide.

I know I'm still green when it comes to loving discipline method. I only learned from what I observed all these years. Not bearing an education cert may be a good thing, and a bad thing after all. Perhaps more training may help. Smiles... Let's see what the upcoming teachers' camp will do for us all. Another of my pet project - to make it happen!

Besides that, I have Youth Alpha as my main pet project. Many hiccups, but thank God for His grace and mercy on this pour servant of His. I really do appreciate that SHC is willing to send in two teams of Youth Alpha facilitators for the Form Fours and Fives. And I'm glad to get to know Jon Tse, the national Youth Alpha coordinator, who also agreed to assist this newbie (me!) for other forms. Now I'll just have to stop my mind working and allow God to transform all these into His miracle. Hopefully there will be sparks for the sake of the youth in MN as we (all who are involved in YA of MN) work together to build God's Kingdom on earth. We sow the seeds, and may the harvest be great in time to come.

I still have stuffs undone and my throat is inflamed. Hopefully I can still talk tomorrow morning when I wake up. If not, I shall stay at home, with the puppies, not going anywhere.

Have a blessed Chinese New Year, friends.

God bless!

P/S: Question for you to ponder about me -- do I have a life??

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

It's been a while since I last blogged. Never really had much on my mind these days, besides procrastinating things which I was supposed to get done. I was checking out the blog of Jonathan Tse (someone recommended him when I told this someone that my school is introducing Youth Alpha to the RK classes), and I found this particular hymn ministering to me in the midst of my workplace at the moment. And I hope that you too will be ministered by this hymn. I pray that our eyes will turn back upon Jesus and receive sight again after being blinded by the things of the world. God bless!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim
in the light of His glory and grace