Work & Life Hanging in the Balance

It’s 5pm, officially the end of the working day. Time to recharge, relax, reconnect with family. It’s 7pm and my smartphone pings. School sends a meeting reminder for the next morning. 9pm and another beep goes off, it’s the extracurricular head wanting to know if the online posters for a Language Carnival are ready. 9.30pm and an emergency Google Meet is called with the head of clubs to delegate duties before a school meeting the following week. 11pm, and a feeble apology precedes an all-important question about the contents of one online brochure. At 11.30pm, I find myself at the laptop, editing a series of silly looking flyers to be sent via Telegram for immediate approval. The faulty and erratic air-conditioning abruptly turns on, sending fresh chills through my body. The next day even the slightest buzz notification on my phone is enough to set off a panic attack.

            For most, home used to mean detaching oneself from work and retiring to your own life and family. A chance to relax, unwind and most importantly, allow the brain to rest and recuperate. The pandemic, however, has brought about a huge shift which has resulted in us not just bringing our work home, but working from home while living at home, with people from home in the confines of home. “Home” has lost its special all-important separateness. Work stress is now experienced live at the kitchen table. Disagreements about office matters are handled professionally while pacing in the living room. Suddenly, we find ourselves simultaneously juggling work and everyday life, without a functioning power button. Just like my erratic air-con unit, work functioned in the same unpredictable manner, blasting out cold, unfeeling work emails and announcements round the clock. 

Before the advent of distance learning in Malaysian secondary schools, teaching and admin duties were strictly communicated and carried out within working hours which means if it was not finished by the final bell, we’d pick it up the next day. In recent months, with everything available and communicable online, the boundaries have somehow become increasingly blurred. Schools at times assume to have the right to your immediate attention 24/7.  In an effort to close the gap between parent–student-admin, teachers’ phone numbers have become “public property”. Class WhatsApp and Telegram groups are mandatory to disseminate information, to share important messages, to be observed and monitored. To add to that, at least 10 admin-related groups exist to coordinate e-activities, schedule e-meetings and e-competitions. On the one hand, communication has never been more efficient, organised and time saving. On the other, in embracing this new normal, we have forgotten the most important ground rule of respectful communication.

Timing is everything.

Inspiration hits people at different times and that’s okay. What is NOT okay is to go on a texting spree, at 2 in the morning just because you are super charged and fired up about a project. In fact, sending out your rapid-fire messages at odd hours and expecting immediate responses is both cruel and absurd. If you are in a senior or more authoritative role, it puts the recipient in a very awkward position of either feeling like they are directly disrespecting you by not replying immediately, or less proactive because they are not responding with the same level of speed and enthusiasm you are. Contrary to the expectation of increased productivity, this expectation of on-demand replies can actually have adverse effects on the overall efficacy of the unit, as illustrated in the following paragraph.

To begin with, staying connected to work after hours can lead to a very overwhelmed and stressed-out staff. The reason is simple. If one is meant to respond ASAP, regardless of the time, then no hour is “safe enough” to relax, to truly be at home, the term after work ceases to hold any meaning. Instead, it’s a constant feeling of high alert whenever a project is around the corner, or a meeting is due. Never being able to just silence your phone for fear of being accused as “uncontactable” or “unavailable”, we have conditioned ourselves to check every text, email, notification and broadcast message. As a result, home activities like dinner, or conversing with family members, take a backseat as we remain tethered to work, unable to disconnect, disable and destress.

For the most part, this letter is calling for stricter observations of after work communication policies or erecting some if none. It is a plea to schools (and any organizations for that matter) to start prioritising work-life balance of their staff. Now more than ever, as we have brought work home, there is a need to establish clear non-negotiable boundaries between work and home life. As it can directly affect mental health and performance of any group, stability between the two cannot be taken lightly. Many employees have become so accustomed to this way of life, that it is second nature to them to “quickly deal with it” irrespective of the ungodly hour work might rear its ugly head.

If you find yourself a swamped and often burnt out victim of these invasive tech-“friendly” times, it’s time you took a step back and put yourself first. Whether it is as extreme as turning off data and Wi-Fi or simply muting certain job-related groups, you will begin to value and furiously guard your right to separation from work after hours. Just remember, unless it is a matter of life and death, you don’t owe anyone a response if a “ping!” drops in the middle of the night.

Morning Meanders

Hi reader, what’s been going on in your life? Hope all is well!

I just got my pink bracelet removed yesterday. If you are wondering what that could possibly mean, it’s in reference to a tiny plastic bracelet that I had to wear for a number of days due to possible exposure to someone who had caught the Covid-19 virus. The bracelet was given out by the healthcare officials the same day that I got a swab test for myself and was removed a couple of days after the test showed a negative result. 

During those days of quarantine, I had to forego my morning walks and daily dose of fresh air, so this simple pleasure was what I looked forward to the most, the minute the band was snipped off. I took an extra long walk today, soaking up the warm rays of the sunrise, savouring each minute that I could be outside. You may think this is all a bit dramatic, but it’s true! I suppose you never know how much you miss something until it’s taken away from you.

When I first started the habit of taking these brisk strolls back in March, I used to play music on my Spotify app. The songs were usually from the Malaysian or American top 50 English Hits, and after a few rounds, my favourites would be on repeat. However, soon I realised that these songs weren’t really doing it for me anymore. I noticed that instead of finding calmness and pleasure in the physical act of walking, I was constantly preoccupied with choosing the next song, skipping one I didn’t like, or searching through the list to ensure the following tune was queued up in time. My head, which was supposed to be at peace, was on constant alert for the silly reason of guaranteeing an entertaining soundtrack to my exercise. My brain was forced to play conductor of this symphony, that failed to harmonise the body and mind. Again, a bit theatrical but bear with me.  Very quickly, it became a chore to drag myself out of bed at daybreak. The workout wasn’t ….working out.  

One day I decided to ditch the pop and opted for a podcast instead. There was a plethora of choices available to me, but I gravitated towards social commentary on life and everyday issues. Some podcasts that I enjoyed tuning in to were ones by Michael Knowles, Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh. They spoke on American politics, and social matters plaguing modern society. The channels were organised into headers with introductions which enabled the listener to get an idea of what they were going to hear. I picked thought-provoking topics that I thought relevant to my life. What a change indeed! My brain was finally unmuted and allowed to think! I found myself reflecting on the many topics discussed and horrified at some issues dissected. A few days of this new routine was enough to bring back the joy to this daytime recreation of mine, which allowed my body to relish in the energising movement and my brain to contently ponder along as well.

At times, when I didn’t feel like hearing about another worldly predicament, I would turn on reflection podcasts and listen to the musings on self-awareness and self-improvement. Fr. Mike Schmitz or Bishop Barron offered some great content on different struggles and conflicts one may go through as well as the Christian perspective on those dilemmas. I occasionally tuned in to Jordan Peterson to hear his ruminations on taking responsibility in life. To conclude the morning outing, I immersed myself in church hymns for the last 15 minutes on the way home. Hymns, though they involved music, differed from pop songs, because the lyrics were meaningful to me, and the tunes, timeless as I had grown up singing them for years. Between motivational talks, social discussions, hymns and religion, I had plenty to choose from. They were not all successes, however. For a time, I tried to listen to familiar prayers while on the walk but decided against it in the end because prayer required absolute concentration. This was not something I could spare as I crossed roads, dodged stray branches and avoided cat poop. Perhaps prayer was better said in the quiet of my room. 

Well, this has been my routine since.

Overall, my mornings have taken a turn for the better. I have started waking up earlier, 6.30am, sometimes 6am to get longer walking sessions. On the physical front, Google fitness app has proved to be a useful companion to calculate the steps taken and distance covered. It helps me keep track of the calories I burn and step goal for the day through something called “heart points” (still don’t quite get that). Contrary to what some might think, far from being lethargic and fatigued in school later on, I feel quite the opposite. I feel that getting in some physical activity in the morning gives my heart and body a head start, so that by the time I go to school, we’re already pumping and geared up for a full day. Another positive outcome of this is that you are sufficiently tired at bedtime, which ensures a restful slumber at night.

To conclude, if you’ve been considering starting off with something non-stressful to add to your fitness routine, I highly recommend an early morning walk. There is no better time to be alone with your thoughts and prepare your body for the work that lies ahead in a leisurely yet energising manner. An amble a day, keeps the doctor away!

The Transfer Window

Hello there reader, hope you are happy and content in life right now.

My school has just informed me that applications for transfer are now open. I like to refer to it as the great transfer window (yes like in EPL); a short space of time, during which you might be able to get a new placement. If you miss out, you have to wait till the next transfer window opens up.

I have been applying since 2017 to be transferred out of Johor back to Klang. I have been unsuccessful thus far.

The Misunderstanding ...

Do not get me wrong. Life in Kulai, Johor is not at fault here. In fact, it has been a blessing in so many ways. I am surrounded by lovely people who provide me with comfort and care. I belong to a school where I am able to get along with all my co-workers, have great superiors, and many opportunities to grow. I have never felt isolated by the community in my midst; whether professional or the church family. Even the room I rent is from a family I know from church. When I sit and reflect on all these positives, it seems absurd, almost ungrateful to want to give it all up, for a chance at the unknown. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, after all.

The Reason …

While I try to be grateful for all that I am blessed with, I also carry a small prayer; to eventually be able to work close to home, to have my family nearby and to be allowed to think of settling down closer to where I grew up. Some people yearn to spread their wings elsewhere, have adventures overseas and explore greener pastures of better opportunities. As much as I have thought about this alternative, for me, there is really no place like home. Cliché, as it sounds, it would give me so much joy to live out my coming years in the comfort of close family.

The Challenge…

Having said that, securing the golden ticket back to Klang is no easy task. Thousands of teachers all around Malaysia try to achieve the same outcome of being sent to the state of their choice. Those who take the normal route, try to alter their explanations for wanting a transfer each year. It helps your case if the justification is deemed good enough. There are even blogs sharing “popular excuses” to cite in your transfer papers, for a higher chance of success. 

Others who have contact with people at higher levels might desperately try their luck at calling in a favour. This is called “using your cables”. I’ve heard rumours that people are willing to pay through their nose for a guaranteed green light. I assume the money is sucked down to the sewers of the country, a dark and slimy place that rarely gets cleaned out.

At the end of the day, the hundreds who are not successful, suck in a deep disappointed breath and carry on.

The Silver Lining…

The way I see it, I don’t even have the right to get upset. The reason is simple. Fate and purpose. These are two mysteries that we are simply not privileged to know or understand in our lifetime. While it isn’t wrong to ask for something, or pray for a desired outcome, please do so, understanding that things happen on a timeline that is very different from ours. Make preparations if you must, attend interviews, plan your years ahead but, *cliché alert* only when the time is right will things start to happen.

Every time I get the dreaded rejection notice, it reminds me that I still have an important purpose to serve here in Kulai. There may still be people to meet and affect, lessons to learn and experiences to live through. You may get impatient thinking you are ready for the next step. Newsflash, you’re staring at the wrong clock! Some say it is all written in the stars, but I like to believe that God has noticed you standing patiently in the queue, and so your moment will surely come. Take a step back, make plans for your future but don’t forget to live out your purpose in the present.

The End

 

Navigating the Seas of Educating Online

As I write this, I am reminded of the fable I read as a child.

A father and son duo walk a new donkey home from the market. At first the people nearby comment that they are not making use of the donkey by allowing it to walk bare-backed and free. So, the son gets on the donkey. Soon the bystanders note how cruel he is to make his aged father hobble along. After that, they switch places and the father rides the animal instead. Soon the villagers begin to pity the young boy made to trudge on in the sun by his cruel father. In response to the remarks, the pair both sit on the animal’s back and go on their way. Alas, this happiness is short-lived as people turn their attention to the overworked donkey. Finally, in frustration, they tie the donkey’s legs, and carry it between the both of them. Lo and behold, people point out what fools they are for carrying the beast of burden instead of using it.  

In the recent months, teaching and learning has seen tremendous shift. In the wake of the health pandemic, very abruptly, educators were forced to take teaching and learning wholly online. While we grappled with certain aspects of organisation in the beginning of the COVID-19 season, year 2021 saw us a little more prepared.

Schools devised timetables for online learning. New students were registered online and sorted into their classes. All information, speeches, introductory content had to be disseminated online via social media and communication apps like WhatsApp and Telegram. Teachers created groups or platforms for their subjects. These were separate from official Class Groups. Teachers were told that teaching had to be online and accessible by all students. We were ready.

Immediately, Google Meets or Zoom classes were scheduled. Three weeks in, and the attendance started to dwindle. There were complaints that Google Meet was difficult because there were not enough devices at home for all children to join at the same time. Understandable. A video conferencing session also took up a lot of data. Many homes did not have strong enough Wi-Fi connections, if at all, to cope with the demands of these live sessions. Yes, we know.

To cater to this, we reduced Google Meet sessions and added other forms of learning like quizzes and online worksheets with links that could be completed at any time. “Gamification” of learning is a buzzword of 21^st century learning. Students who completed quizzes and tasks scored points and topped leader boards. We are on the right track now, we thought.

This was soon criticised as a lazy form of teaching. In a scathing Facebook post, a user opined that schoolteachers were taking the easy way out. “Students cannot depend on links and quizzes half the time. Where is the teaching?” The sharing, that garnered a lot of online attention, urged teachers to take a leaf out of lecturers’ books and record video lessons to be shared with students instead. This, the writer stressed, was the best method of reaching all students and had been the practice of many in tertiary education.

Again, many teachers then scrambled to appease in response. Society was the judge with a gavel in its hands.

Deep down it bothered us that this “non-interactive, lecturing style” was recommended to educate school children. In university, mass lectures were the norm. However, this practice was heavily frowned upon in schools, where questions, re-explanations and two-way communication were encouraged instead. But we kept pandering. Lessons were recorded on platforms like YouTube. Videos were accompanied by slides from PowerPoint teaching grammatical structures and vocabulary.

Alas, parents soon began to grumble about the “lack of teacher guidance.” It seemed that this university-approved method was also deemed a short cut to actual teaching. “How can my child learn and ask questions to a video? Then, you expect her to do homework. Where is the teaching?” Concerned parents took to the class groups to share their frustrations.

Judge’s verdict: STILL GUILTY

If you feel slightly burnt out by February, you are not alone. Parallels to the father-son-donkey fable seem quite apparent now.

At the end of the day, I believe it is important to stand by the saying “there is no pleasing everyone.” As educators the best we can do is try to tailor our teaching to the students’ needs. While some may mix up their methods, others might prefer to utilise only one or two if their students can manage them. Taking into consideration different students' backgrounds and accessibility to the Internet, we may wish to decide what is best to get the lessons across. 

THOUGHTS: 

We were always headed in the direction of online technology in education, business, and many other sectors, but this pandemic has indeed accelerated that shift. Adapting is vital to moving forward. 

 

Are first impressions of people always right?

A first impression is often said to be a lasting one. To define the phrase, a first impression of someone is the immediate judgement of character or personality we often bestow upon people after initially encountering them. We often construct these opinions from the way a person carries themselves or through their opinions and speech. Whether at a formal job interview, or more laid back occasions like a party, it is hard to come away without forming a general view of another person. However, the perennial question of the social world is: are first impressions always right? In my opinion, while first impressions may sometimes correctly reflect the nature of a person, they are by no means a foolproof way of determining a person's characteristics. This is due to the factors of circumstance, time and nature of the initial meeting. Therefore, it is my belief that at times, first impressions can be grossly inaccurate.

An assessment of someone’s demeanor can prove to be erroneous based on the circumstance that the meeting takes place. I recall meeting a young man at a social gathering and thinking him to be extremely dull, rather morose and lacking a sense of humor. As I callously aired my views, I found out that he had in fact lost his grandmother to cancer the week before and was probably in no mood for cheerful banter that night. People often act, respond and express themselves reflecting the situation they are in. For example, someone who has just been laid off their job may not be in the most optimistic mood if you struck up conversation on the train. Likewise, if you have had a long, strenuous day at work, it might be an uphill task to muster your usual bubbly smile to the lady on the bus ride home. In fact, to her you are in danger of seeming cold, curt and uninterested. Therefore, while first impressions can’t be avoided, circumstances of the meeting often prove our judgements to be false.  

In addition, we may fail at correctly determining a person’s persona when the time we have spent together does not suffice. In this crime thriller analogy, the villain places a threatening call to investigators and they immediately activate call tracing. However, there is a catch. This high-tech device requires the call to be ongoing for at least 30 seconds before it can accurately judge the location of the caller. Similarly, in social situations, if our appraisal of a person is made within too short a time frame, it may prove to be misleading in the end. An example of this is knocking into someone at the supermarket. While they may offer to help you pick up groceries scattered around you within the next 30 seconds, it hardly guarantees a benevolent, selfless heart which you may be inclined to believe of them. Undeniably the plotline in many romantic comedies, it can hardly be a course to emulate in real life. In short, first impressions if made in a short space of time often can lead to an oversight in preliminary character analysis.

Finally, the nature of a meeting can always render a first impression useless. To elaborate, people are often their sincerest selves in informal settings with low social pressure. While people can be trained to present themselves in a certain way at a formal job interview or meeting, it may not be reflective of their real attributes or shortcomings. To illustrate the point, at an interview for a managerial post, a candidate might falsely relate an impressive experience to appear proactive and able to take charge and conveniently leave out the fact that he was merely following the orders of a superior. In this scenario, the interviewer is forced to form an impression in order to make an important decision for the company without the benefit of knowing the speaker’s background. Hence, this shows that although first impressions are unavoidable, they may not be a projection of a person’s actual disposition.

In conclusion, it is hard to argue a case for the accuracy of a first impression. There are many factors that affect an impression you create for yourself, whether it is the circumstance you are in, the length or the nature of the interaction. Due to these aspects, the inevitable truth is that not all first impressions are right.

How my Health has been affected by the MCO 2020

Hello reader, hope your hair isn't falling about all over the floor. It isn't? great! I'd like to record how certain aspects of my health have been affected since the Movement Control Order (MCO), so if you're here for it, read on. 

In terms of weight, I don't think I've gained much during the MCO just because every day it's the basic three meals (sometimes breakfast blends into lunch) plus a tea time snack. No one is really buying things to snack on throughout the day like crisps or anything apart from the occasional KitKat or payasam (ready made mix). 

I realise I was more prone to piling on the kilos while working because food was everywhere; at work (staffroom snacks) or very easily available in restaurants or food stalls in the area. With the restricted movement order now, we mostly eat what we cook, and if no one cooks, food is ordered specifically for meal times. Hence, it doesn't allow for excess consumption or over eating. That is a plus. 

As for activity, any regular physical movement of any kind has significantly reduced. I say regular because, occasional cleaning and cooking forces you to break a sweat, but this is not sustained or constant and I'm sure some physical changes like the rapid development of a flabby tummy is a result of this. At the moment, there has not been any motivation to improve on the exercise management. Will work on that. 

My skin is in a rather new predicament that I'm trying to resolve. Recently, (after a change in facial products) I experienced some good skin and enjoyed it for about 3 weeks until I came home to find myself breaking out in painful red acne all over my T-zone. I tried to maintain the product-use, but realised quickly that there had to be another factor making it worse. At first I thought it was the water. However, none of my other family members seemed to be suffering facial issues. Next, I thought it was a symptom of PMS, but my face never quite cleared up when it should have. Earlier today, I remembered, that I had been a vegetarian (90% of the time) before coming home, and since being in Klang I have basically become a meat eater again. 

I am not 100% sure that this acne is a consequence of the abrupt change in diet, but since I'm eliminating factors, I've decided to get back on the vege-friendly menus with the hope that it will improve. Wish me luck. 

Water drinking is also upsettingly irregular. There are days when I make my personal goal of 2 litres and others when I end up cramming my water intake late at night just to make the quota and I'm sure it doesn't quite work that way. As a result, I've been suffering from incredibly dry and peeling (at times bleeding) lips. As an immediate remedy I've resorted to applying a delicious coconut oil lip balm over them to prevent myself from constantly biting at them (as strange as this sounds) 

Well, that's about it folks. Thanks for reading. May or may not do a part 2 to let you know if anything changes. 

April 2020

Hello everyone, I'm still writing from the comfortable confines of home. 

        The Movement Restriction order (MCO) has been extended to the 14th of April, and may be prolonged as the peak hit of the Virus outbreak is predicted to happen in the next two weeks. As I am able to stay safe and well fed during this time, I'm also forced to think about those to whom home is not a safe place and those who cannot afford not to be working or those who have no proper homes to shelter themselves. The government has given out aid in the form of money to individuals who fit certain criteria (see pics) and while this was met with joy by some, other parties, particularly business owners who were above the income category but faced zero revenue during the MCO, and could not afford to pay their employees were not too thrilled by the latest gov announcement. I believe there are some strategic plans available to provide some assistance to struggling businesses, however I am unable to explain them in detail. Here are the posters for the aid provided for the masses.

  












On a more personal scale, I have been spending a lot of quality time at home. I stress on the word quality because I feel that within this period, I have acquired new knowledge, and had meaningful conversations with my family members and just been more present in everything that I did. I'm glad to be participating in the family routines like helping to cook or to clean or do the grocery shopping. Bear in mind, I don't do these things like clockwork every day. It's normally motivated by a crazy plan to try a new recipe or buy necessary ingredients for said recipe. We have sat down as a family to play board games and have much needed family times. It's not always smiles and laughter though. Weeks of being cooped up together also mean that there is a higher risk of  getting annoyed or riled up at little things...familiarity busy breeding contempt and all that. Here are some of the experimental dishes that I've tried so far. 

Ayam masak lemak cili api. Was creamy enough but lacked the chillie factor

Random rasam. It's an easy dish to make if you throw in the right ingredients.

A random potato and brinjal thingy. I'm sure there was a recipe involved, but I remember it turning out to be too mushy. 

My taugeh (sprouts) that were lanky and greening. We made a really crunchy green vege dish out of it. 

Terung sambal that was wayyyyy to oily and not spicy enough. But it was alright. 

Wanted to try the Dalgona Coffee challenge. It was yummy but just not worth the trouble honestly. 

thairu, cucumbers, onions and chillies to complement a spicy chicken curry cooked by mum

A chicken recipe that I had gotten from somewhere. The chicken was really tender, and fresh. It was good. 

An attempt at cakoi. It was not as airy or salty as I would have liked so we sprinkled on cinnamon and sugar to convert into a random fried doughy desert. 

First attempt at thosai. Used a ready made mix. With a proper non stick pan, I think we'd have seen better results. 

Loved this tomato chutney recipe. No coconut was required! and it tasted so good in my opinion. 

We managed to eat together (all seven of us) video calling Marlene too. 

Loved learning how to make bread and experimenting with the types of flour and kneading time. Hot bread is always delicious though

Pat joined us for some board games as a family

In Money matters, the MCO has reduced mindless spending by A LOT (for me). I have ceased scrolling through online shopping sites like Lazada, Shopee and Zalora. I feel like I haven't spent much on anything unnecessary since coming home. Petrol is so cheap but we haven't been travelling much anyway. Looking at the way the economy is suffering (very basic knowledge of this), I've read a few financial bloggers who have predicted a huge economic crash that will affect our lives if we don't start saving up now, which includes NOT falling for the "sales" from websites encouraging us to splurge. CONTROL YOURSELF! 

Well, that's all from me folks. If you've stayed this far, congratulations, you're probably 1 of 5 people that have. Have a great day.