Kingsley and Animal Musicians

In the days of hundred years ago, there was a poor but kind young man called Kingsley who lived in a small village with his parents. They worked as farmers. One days, they allowed an old beggar (secretly the musical performer of the palace) to take refreshments in their home. Kingsley longs for a chance to sing and would be content even if he was given a minute to sing every day after he helped his parents in doing works.

Amused buy this notion, the musical performer who actually knew the spell method, casted a spell which resulted in changing Kingsley’s voice into a super beautiful singing voice that will attracted people.

Kingsley really was a teen who enjoyed singing. On one occasion he sings in the street of town. Accidentally, he fell into a tank. On another, he was nearly bitten by a dog while singing on the way headed home from town at night.

He was very hardworking in helping his parents to deliver fresh vegetables into palace. Engaged in a chance working in palace, Kingsley worked very hard to earn a good living for his parents. He had an ambition of hoping to be a singing performer in the palace.

One day, The King made a grand feast in palace. There were many guests invited to the feast. When he saw that his precious daughter, The Princess did nothing but to mock the people, and despised all the guests who were gathered there, The King was very angry.

Kingsley who worked in the kitchen preparing the various types of delicacies for the feast, sang beneath the windows, trying to get some entertainment while working. When the King heard Kingsley’s attractive singing, he said, “Let him come up.” So Kingsley came in and sang n front of The King and his daughter.

The King said, “Your song has pleased me so well that I will employ you as a member of my musician who come my palace to perform a song every day. I will reward you a plenty of money.”

After the day, Kingsley’s singing skills improved day by day. Charmed by the beautiful singing voice, The King gave Kingsley a lot of prizes. Kingsley’s singing voice even attracted the colorful butterflies to the palace, dancing around the palace. The palace full of vitality!

Soon, Kingsley won the King’s favour. This made one of the Minister of the palace jealous of Kingsley’s talent.

One day, when Kingsley was on the way headed home from the palace. The Minister employed a man to abduct Kingsley. Kingsley tried many ways to escape from the small hunt that captive him. He attempted to escape on a passing butterfly but in caught and imprisoned in the hunt again. Again Kingsley tried many time but failed, he had to mind to give up. At that moment, he sang his favourite songs suddenly.

Surprisingly, his amazing singing voice attracted a cat, a donkey and a cock, which were lived far from the hunt. So they made their way to the hunt where the beautiful singing voice was, and soon heard the voice clearer, until they came to a well-lighted hunt. The donkey, as the biggest, went to the window and looked in.

“What do you see?” asked the cat.

“A young man who was being tied, sitting at one corner inside the hunt and a man sitting as he enjoys himself with good things to eat and drink.” answered the donkey.

The three animals loved music so much. When they heard Kingsley’s attractive singing, then they tool counsel together how they should manage to drive away the kidnapper, and at last they thought of a plan. The donkey was to place himself with his fore-feet upon the window-ledge, the cat was to climb up on the donkey and the cock was to fly up and perch upon the head of the cat.

When everything was prepared, at a given signal, they began to perform their music together: the donkey brayed, the cat mewed and the cock crowed; then they burst through the window into the room, so that the glass clattered!

At this horrible din, the kidnapper sprang up, thinking no otherwise that that a ghost had come in. He then fled in a great fright out in the forest.

Lastly, Kingsley is fled by the animals. He was very attracted by the beautiful performance of them. “That’s was a nice performance,” said Kingsley, “I am going back to my place and shall be palace-singer again there; go with me and engage yourself also as musician. I will sing the song, and you all shall conduct the music and rhythms.

“Because I am now getting old, and my teeth are worn to stumps, my mistress wanted to drown me, so I ran away. That shall be a good opportunity for me to engage in music life!” answered the cat.

The animals agreed and all four went on together. They could not, however, reach the city in one day, so they came to a forest to rest. The enjoyed the music of they own all the way they went to palace.

After exposure the Minister’s wrong doings, Kingsley and the three brave animals perform their talents of music for the King again.

Clinical observation

I tried to be alert yet doze over a boring book. It was almost 10.00 o’clock in the morning of 20^th of December and there was still no sign of a patient. As a second year student of Speech Pathology, I have the opportunity to observe the condition of third year senior dealing with the patients. It was the first clinical session after Hari Raya holidays.

Almost moments after I came back from the toilet, I took a magazine from the bookshelf of the clinical room and read it loudly in the observation room since there was nobody inside there. That was the things I had done before the patients came.

As the time flies, the first patient came at 11.30am. We all were getting ready for our tasks. The senior who is the student clinician and her assistant entered the therapy room, so then we started our observation on the therapy session.

The patient was quite cooperative while the whole session was well organized. Under the support of the patient’s mum, the child had made the session well controlled. The child blossomed under the senior constant encouragement for doing the arranged activities with the modeling of his mother. The senior spent hour completely to carry out the therapy with the child.

In fact, I enjoyed the smile of those children patients every time. Although they are intelligible challenged children, the offered very pleasant smile and lovely facial expression which are refreshing change from their condition. What those children lack of is a normal childhood development; they live up with the lack of interaction with this society.

Pretty soon, the next patient came with his mother and brother. After he entered the therapy room, he discovered that his brother did not follow him to enter the room together. As the student clinician was talking with the patient’s mum, the patient leave the room to find his brother. Soon, they entered the room together. I was find out the patient loved to be together with his brother and he was enjoyed the arranged activities happily with the modeling of his mum and brother.

The things had worked out well during the whole observation.

THE SIMPLE SMILE

During the days in secondary school, when I was being asked by friends, “What is your ambition? What you want to do when you grow up?” My answer was, I want to be a volunteer or a social worker. At first, the volunteer and social work as we know and are familiar with now, is a work that individuals cannot get any fixed compensation for service. I was always totally stucked by the words giving from one of my best friends. “How do you want to live if you are going to be a volunteer or a social worker?  There is no fat salary for you. Even though doing as a social worker, the salary that you get will be much little, it sure doesn’t enough for you to support your life.” Her words really came into my mind as her mother was a well experienced counseling teacher in my secondary school. I was convinced that she sure will not want to be in such career.

                The reasons for me to give such an answer were varied. I do hope that I will have pleasant experience of witnessing the brilliant radiance of expression and a beautiful smile from those intellectually challenged children, as I know that rich properties cannot ensure a well being life. If you experienced of loved ones who passed away , then you should know no matter how rich you are, you also cannot avoid the King of Death took his/her life from this planet. These were the thinking that made me to be involving in the volunteer work. Therefore, I appreciate every single chance of helping in welfare centre as a volunteer.

                The experiences that I gained in early intervention centre, can be described as quite nice! I found that the expression in one’s eyes can reflect many emotions. In other words, the expression in one’s eyes can be varied. I could tell by the parents there that they were helpless. The parents ‘face turned strict in the learning session as they glared at the teachers’ face with full attention. I could tell that they do hope their children who were sitting in front of them learn something from the lesson. Every beautiful smile from the teachers as well as the parents reflects the satisfaction of their effort once the children were able to do even a simple task.

                In some cases, there were parents who were not realizing the intention of their children for having certain behavior. They were panicked when they discovered that their children were doing something that was dangerous for them. Wanting to be a good guardian for their children, the parents naturally questioned the teachers as to why the behavior of children occurred. 

               One in a thousand times, the children there were be given a chance to perform on stage in the annual charity show. The purpose of their performances was to provide a stage for them to express their lovely smile in front of audiences and parents. These children will express their happiness with a smile from the beginning until the end of performance. No amount of cosmetics or flashing clothes can produce a person who smiles, yet a child’s smile is so simple and beautiful!

                For those intellectually challenged children, every single behavior is important in their parents’ eyes. They are emotional, sensitive and easily hurt. These children need love, care and attention to give them assurance to face life. Despite the presence of financial problems in some families, the parents were still trying to work extremely hard to earn extra money and buying their children the best clothes and books. We can hardy to see beautiful smile on the parents’ face, yet the parents do hope to see beautiful smile from their children.

                Volunteer work is learning how things grow and appreciating the relationship of one another. It can be described as a experience about being aware of who I am and what I do. The knowledge and skills that gained instructs me to conduct myself well in the presence of other life forms on this planet. It also helps me to learn to see colors with my eyes and appreciate smile with my heart.

A Surprise to My Good Friend

The one who wear specs is my good friend
- Hui Fang.




  During these two weeks holidays, all of my good friends are coming back to our lovely hometown, Batu Pahat. The first day of the holidays, I was hanging out with my two best friends, Wan Cheng and Jun Qin, then when we came out an idea for surprising our friend, Hui Fang. As Hui Fang’s birthday will be fall on 29^th of September, the day we all sure already busy ourselves in the bump of books in our campus. Then we decided to celebrate Hui Fang’s birthday earlier so that we can gather all dearest friends together. Jun Qin suggested we all treat her a lunch for celebration. I was silent at that moment, wondering how we can do to give her a big surprise that really will be an unforgettable memory for her.

                There were some memories alerting me at that critical moment, when they asked for my opinion. I still remember Hui Fang’s mom will always invite me go to her house for lunch every time I came back for holidays. Her mom is a pleasant and friendly person who always welcoming friends to visit her. So there we decided to organize a birthday celebration for Hui Fang in her house after discuss with Hui Fang’s mom and brother. But there was one condition, the target cannot be informed and everyone who is invited must kept this celebration as a secret. This celebration would be held on 15^th of September.

                After confirmed the time available for Hui Fang’s mom, then I informed and invited all dearest friends to support this surprise. On that morning, I prepared a lot of nice delicacies including fries, fried bihun, jelly, green bean shop and hotdog. On that day, Jun Qin was telling a lie to Hui Fang that no one friend is free to accompany her to buy a present, so asked Hui Fang to accompany her go shopping. This lie would give us opportunity to go to her house preparing everything. Jun Qin was asked to fetch her at 1.30pm while we all would arrive at Hui Fang’s house at about 2pm.

                The most important moment that we expected lastly, the time Jun Qin informed me that they were on the day going back to Hui Fang’s house, we all were getting ready for the surprise. Ah Boon was asked to hold the cake and we all hide behind the door up to the staircase. When we heard Jun Qin’s voice and their footstep was near, we all were getting more and more excited and smile at each other, wondering how was Hui Fang’s reaction later. My friend, Su Hui shouted when she saw Hui Fang appeared in front of her, and then we sang the Happy Birthday song immediately. Our surprise target was shocked of the things happen in front of her. We achieved our goal as the happiness was written on her face at that enjoyable moment. She was not expected that we would have a earlier birthday celebration for her.

               We enjoyed the day very much as we hardly can meet up with each other. They enjoyed my home made food also.

My dearest friends~

Working as a Tuition Teacher

The drive home was, as usual, dull. The deejays from the radio were talking about a career of teaching. As I listened to the radio, there were some memories in my mind that made me think of one of my working experiences.

 It was Friday, in the month of June 2010. Work was over and after saying goodbye to my students and my colleagues and I headed home as usual. It was the last day I worked before going back to my campus.

                I worked as a tuition teacher in a tuition centre for the holidays. As I approached for the job from the director of the centre when I just came back hometown for holidays, I decided to take a part-time teaching job where I had been worked in this tuition centre before for over five months after finished my STPM examination.

                There was a quite nice experience for me to work as a tuition teacher. During the days there, I enjoyed the moments with my students as my students were lovely and made the lessons interesting without boredom. Having a daily full attendance by me in the centre was not an indication of how effective a teacher is. However, I tried my best to inculcate a keen interest among my students in their studies.

                In fact, I enjoyed the most the moments with my students before my class started. I enjoyed chatting with them while they had their lunch in the classroom before class started. The way we communicate with each other made the atmosphere worthwhile for it was relaxing.

                Chatting with the lovely students, I could tell some of them were so stressed of their studies. For me, the state of a child’s emotional and mental health is important to develop a well-being childhood. Therefore, I always motivate them to enjoy the studies so that that could lead a stress-free life which in turn develops a positive outlook in their life. Well, I was still on the way to further my studies.

                Although the days I worked there were short, I still hope I could bring some useful things and enjoyable moments for them.

Boon

A kin is a boon all the way,

The way expression of smile;

Keep our music playing for whole the day,

Concern the thee for more a while.

The many cares are boons to my land,

Standing beside the guiding star;

Truly my heart is touch and with hand,

Draw the distance closer from very far.

Time is a boon to seasons and flowers,

Chances given to bloom and rest;

Memories become a bridal shower,

Keep in the mind for all the best.

The many hopes are boons to my wing,

Paint the life for everything;

Be used to the lovely songs thee sing,

Attach to the colour of my living.

Being a volunteer ~The days in PPIA

“If the child cannot learn in the way we teach, we must teach in a way the child can learn……”

“PPIA is a duly registered non-profit, charitable organization, committed to serving children and youths with intellectual challenges in and around the town of Batu Pahat, irrespective of race and religion. PPIA hopes to change the lives of children and youths with intellectual challenges through education and training, which will help them to progress in life.”


PPIA is the organization that I joined as a volunteer starting from the May of 2010. I spent my two months holidays there as I gained lot experiences through the activities in PPIA. There are four centres of PPIA: Day Training Centre (DTC), Production Workshop(PW), Early Intervention Centre (EIP) and Job Training Centre( JTC). The centre that I went to help out is the Early Intervention Centre (EIP).

EIP is the centre which caters for intellectually challenged children between 0 to 6 years old. The reason why I decided to join this organization is that I hoped I can contribute something meaningful for my holidays, and I personally believe that it is a labor of love, if one puts in selfless dedication of time, energy and knowledge in helping these children, there is always a hope for every one of them, as well as for their families.

By faith, I took up this volunteer work. I went to help out for every weekday. I learnt a lot from the teachers and the supervisor in how to handle and care for these children. There are five activities for morning section as well as for noon section in EIP that provide chances for these children which will help them to progress in their childhood life. My first memory of the EIP is when I was introduced by the supervisor about the activity of the centre. I remember sitting on one side, observing the one-to-one teaching, participating the art& craft, story time and singing session. Besides that, I would spend hours preparing the teaching aids with other volunteer and helping out with administrative work there. Each activity I enjoyed well with the children there. I really enjoy myself the moments with the children. The nature and trueness of these children really attracted my attention towards them.

As a volunteer in PPIA for over two months, I found the work challenging. I hope I will get the chance again to help put there once I go back to my hometown for holidays. As I miss the days in PPIA~