The part I like most in Village By The Sea would be the ending as it is a happy ending. It makes others feel happy and relief after reading it.
Firstly, Hari is back to his hometown after gaining some watch mending skills and experiences of going to Bombay. He is the first in Thul to open a watch mending shop and a poultry farm. With these sources, Hari earned a lot of money and led his family an easy life. Bela and Kamal can also buy their textbooks now because they are richer.
Hari’s mother is cured of anaemia with the help of the De Silvas. After she is cured, Hari and Lila need not be as busy as she can already take over the household chores. Their life became relaxed as they only have to take care of a job. Hari’s mother will do the cleaning; Lila will be in charge of the poultry farm while Hari will be working in his watch mending shop.
After the incident that Hari’s mother is hospitalized, Hari’s father decided to give up drinking. Hari’s father never drink after that and will maybe find a job to increase the family’s income. Everybody in the family is living happily after all, that’s why I like the ending part the most.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
I rather be a city rat than a country rat
I think the statement “ I rather be the city rat than the country rat “ is merely a personal preference, there is no right or wrong. Reason I say so is after assessing the advantages and disadvantages of being a city rat and a country rat.
In a city, city rat would have a better chance to expose to better education system whereby education is fundamental for development of one. In city, more advanced technology is easily available, such as higher speed broadband connection, as a result, receiving world wide news is only in seconds, and always able to keep up to date with the happening in this world, which is essential in facilitate decision making especially in business world. Secondly, moving from one place to another is also much more convenient with the well developed transportation system, as such has shorten global distance, so visiting friends or family or even business customer , this has reduce the traveling time. In city, one also get to indulge in good foods compared to living in country which might not even get to fill up her stomach. Accessing to good food is also so convenient as there are so many quality restaurants or food stores that are easily accessible. In the city, there are also more job opportunities because offices and factories are mostly based in city. However, as a city rat, she has to live at a fast pace to keep up with the changes as life is very dynamic and things changes very quickly. As such, she need to constantly improve herself to face the fierce competition to prevent being eliminated. So life could be stressful.
As a country rat, she can lives at it’s own pace as life in country side is simpler and relaxed because there are lesser economic activities. Due to this, there are more time for leisure activities and slacking. Living in country also gets to enjoy fresh air, because there are less pollution in country. Clean environment is essential for health. There are less crime and robberies in country, so it is safer and security is not a big concern here. However, living in countryside will have its disadvantages too. Unfortunately, higher education opportunities is not developed here, where it caused many illiterate. Insufficient infrastructure for example, water and electricity supply, less developed transportation system will make country life less comfortable and could be challenging. Usually healthcare services does not get attention in country, that makes medical support a challenge at times. Due to lack of technology support, exposure to external world will be limited.
After comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the two lifestyles, I can conclude that it is really up to individual’s choice.
For me personally, I choose to support ‘ I rather be the city rat than the country rat ‘, reason being although being a city rat is more challenging, I can enjoy all advantages in city which can make me a better person if I know how to balance my lifestyle .
What about you?
In a city, city rat would have a better chance to expose to better education system whereby education is fundamental for development of one. In city, more advanced technology is easily available, such as higher speed broadband connection, as a result, receiving world wide news is only in seconds, and always able to keep up to date with the happening in this world, which is essential in facilitate decision making especially in business world. Secondly, moving from one place to another is also much more convenient with the well developed transportation system, as such has shorten global distance, so visiting friends or family or even business customer , this has reduce the traveling time. In city, one also get to indulge in good foods compared to living in country which might not even get to fill up her stomach. Accessing to good food is also so convenient as there are so many quality restaurants or food stores that are easily accessible. In the city, there are also more job opportunities because offices and factories are mostly based in city. However, as a city rat, she has to live at a fast pace to keep up with the changes as life is very dynamic and things changes very quickly. As such, she need to constantly improve herself to face the fierce competition to prevent being eliminated. So life could be stressful.
As a country rat, she can lives at it’s own pace as life in country side is simpler and relaxed because there are lesser economic activities. Due to this, there are more time for leisure activities and slacking. Living in country also gets to enjoy fresh air, because there are less pollution in country. Clean environment is essential for health. There are less crime and robberies in country, so it is safer and security is not a big concern here. However, living in countryside will have its disadvantages too. Unfortunately, higher education opportunities is not developed here, where it caused many illiterate. Insufficient infrastructure for example, water and electricity supply, less developed transportation system will make country life less comfortable and could be challenging. Usually healthcare services does not get attention in country, that makes medical support a challenge at times. Due to lack of technology support, exposure to external world will be limited.
After comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the two lifestyles, I can conclude that it is really up to individual’s choice.
For me personally, I choose to support ‘ I rather be the city rat than the country rat ‘, reason being although being a city rat is more challenging, I can enjoy all advantages in city which can make me a better person if I know how to balance my lifestyle .
What about you?
Friday, June 19, 2009
The book that made an impact on my parent's life
One of the blog prompts among 6 is 'The book that made an impact on my parents' life'. This blog post includes getting the parents’ involvement by interviewing them. After a series of interview, I found out that the book that made an impact on my father's life is a book written by the author, John C. Maxwell entitled "TEAM-The 17 indisputable laws of teamwork". It did not take him long time to recall this interesting book.
It is mainly about the importance of team connection, countability and mutual trust. There were 17 laws of teamwork in brief :-
1) Law of significance
2) Law of the big picture
3) Law of the Niche
4) Law of Mount Everest
5) Law of the Chain
6) Law of the Catalyst
7) Law of the Compass
8) Law of the Bad Apple
9) Law of Countability
10) Law of the Price Tag
11) Law of the Scoreboard
12) Law of the Bench
13) Law of Identity
14) Law of Communication
15) Law of the Edge
16) Law of High Morale
17) Law of Dividends
My father had shared with me 3 of them and I would also like to share the law of significance with you. Most of us in fact know that there are no problem we cannot solve together and very few that we can solve by ourselves alone. It means to remember that oneself should not only use all the wisdom and knowledge he/she has but also considering and accepting other's opinion that may be benefiting. We would actually benefit a lot especially when having helpful peers who support cross learning and sharing.
After this sharing from my father, I've broadened the horizon to share, interact and participate, listening to voices particularly from my family, teachers and trusted group of friends. I think this is really a perfect book to learn to teamwork and I would like to introduce this book to all book-lovers.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
My favourite character in Village By The Sea
That's the topic which I want to share with all of you today - my favourite character in Village By The Sea. Firstly, I shortlisted two of the characters from the story, Lila and Hari. After some consideration, I had chosen Hari.
It did not take me long to choose Hari, the protagonist of the story as my favourite character in this story. I also believe that most of you would have the same choice as me.
Hari's mother was sick due to malnourishment and needed constant care while his father was a drunkard. As both of his parents were not performing their roles, Hari had to take over their roles despite being at such a young age. Hari decided to discontinue schooling in order to earn money for a living for his whole family. Hari worked hard and being frugal as he was eating dry breads and 'chapati' all day.
After failing to earn enough money in Thul, he decided to go to Bombay to look for the De Silvas to work as a car-cleaner as they promised Hari when they visited Thul before. Hari then was brought to Jagu, the proprietor of Sri Krishna Eating House after knowing that the De Silvas had went to Thul. Jagu offered Hari a job and paid him a rupee a day.
One day, Mr Panwallah, a watchmender of Ding Dong Watchworks located beside Sri Krishna Eating House offered Hari as an apprentice in his shop. Hari was patient listening to the lectures of various topics by Mr Panwallah. As a quick learner, those watches were not a challenge for Hari. Working two shifts of totally different occupations just to take home some money for his family was a great quality in Hari. He saved every rupee he earned and did not indulge on himself, just to improve the living standard of his family.
When he went back to Thul, he made good use of his watchmending skills and was a successful businessman in Thul. Hence, I chose Hari as my favourite character in this story.
It did not take me long to choose Hari, the protagonist of the story as my favourite character in this story. I also believe that most of you would have the same choice as me.
Hari's mother was sick due to malnourishment and needed constant care while his father was a drunkard. As both of his parents were not performing their roles, Hari had to take over their roles despite being at such a young age. Hari decided to discontinue schooling in order to earn money for a living for his whole family. Hari worked hard and being frugal as he was eating dry breads and 'chapati' all day.
After failing to earn enough money in Thul, he decided to go to Bombay to look for the De Silvas to work as a car-cleaner as they promised Hari when they visited Thul before. Hari then was brought to Jagu, the proprietor of Sri Krishna Eating House after knowing that the De Silvas had went to Thul. Jagu offered Hari a job and paid him a rupee a day.
One day, Mr Panwallah, a watchmender of Ding Dong Watchworks located beside Sri Krishna Eating House offered Hari as an apprentice in his shop. Hari was patient listening to the lectures of various topics by Mr Panwallah. As a quick learner, those watches were not a challenge for Hari. Working two shifts of totally different occupations just to take home some money for his family was a great quality in Hari. He saved every rupee he earned and did not indulge on himself, just to improve the living standard of his family.
When he went back to Thul, he made good use of his watchmending skills and was a successful businessman in Thul. Hence, I chose Hari as my favourite character in this story.
Confessions of a foreign student
When I arrived at Manchester Secondary School as a first year student six months ago, I was amongst 20 foreign students being offered the study scholarship, I was excited and looking forward for it and I know exactly I have a mission to accomplish.
Coming from a low waged family with three daughters and a boy, that’s me. I am the youngest yet I still need to work hard and help out my parents in their hawker store alongside with my three siblings. Of course, I still enjoy good privilege like having the best as my sisters always share and play with me.
My parents got to work for long hours to earn a living. Yet, my parents never fail to coach, guide and groom us on our study and impart the right human and social values despite all the hardship they faced each day. As a result, all the four of us have to learn to be well-behaved children, study very hard and not to disappoint our parents.
During my primary school days, I used the “school loan-able” secondhand textbooks and old uniforms that are worn by my sisters, but that never deter me from study hard and to excel in certain sports and musical activities. I was a member in the school soccer team, a poom-belted player in taekwondo and a table tennis player. In study, I did well in Mathematic, Chinese Language and Science. I was weak at History and English but I do put in a lot of effort to improve these subjects. As a result, I scored a perfect result in the local level’s primary school examinations.
How do I land here? It began with my form teacher who has recommended me to the school selection committee to sit for the entry tests conducted by Manchester Secondary during my last term of school. I was amongst the four who sat for the tests on intelligence quotient (IQ) and Mathematics tests. I passed the tests and was selected for the final interview. I did my best to make a good presentation and showed my keen interest and readiness to take up this offer. At last, I was chosen.
Now back to where I am, since I was on scholarship, the school management has arranged my boarding at a nearby hostel, I need not worry on my budget as I had monthly allowance issued by the government and I bought a handy electronic dictionary as I was weak on my English. I regularly use it for my English classes to check on difficult words. To catch up, I often communicate with my friends in English, do a lot of workbooks and read some English storybooks.
For extra-curriculars, being a grade 5 piano student, gave me the advantage to be chosen to the string orchestra and play the viola as I was very keen on it. As I love soccer, I will play it with my hostel mates when I'm free. In this new environment, I learnt to be self-disciplined and independent especially in the boarding school. Besides that, I do participate actively in team activities at school like project and research assignment and class debate activity. Nonetheless there are many assignments that demand a lot of energy and also time, I have adapted quite well to cope with it.
Here at Manchester, I met with many new friends not just from UK but also friends from around the world. It was clear to me that they were a perfect example of a friendship from different sides of the international divide. I learnt to be passionate and open-minded to the differences in style, characters and culture and live in harmony. It is also a great opportunity for me to embrace effective leadership, promote team spirit and great tolerance. I am very happy here as I am learning interesting and meaningful technology-based course cum the wonderful experience in human relationship.
One day, when I came home from my stint abroad, I know I will not just a better scholar, but a wiser leader with interest and enthusiasm.
Coming from a low waged family with three daughters and a boy, that’s me. I am the youngest yet I still need to work hard and help out my parents in their hawker store alongside with my three siblings. Of course, I still enjoy good privilege like having the best as my sisters always share and play with me.
My parents got to work for long hours to earn a living. Yet, my parents never fail to coach, guide and groom us on our study and impart the right human and social values despite all the hardship they faced each day. As a result, all the four of us have to learn to be well-behaved children, study very hard and not to disappoint our parents.
During my primary school days, I used the “school loan-able” secondhand textbooks and old uniforms that are worn by my sisters, but that never deter me from study hard and to excel in certain sports and musical activities. I was a member in the school soccer team, a poom-belted player in taekwondo and a table tennis player. In study, I did well in Mathematic, Chinese Language and Science. I was weak at History and English but I do put in a lot of effort to improve these subjects. As a result, I scored a perfect result in the local level’s primary school examinations.
How do I land here? It began with my form teacher who has recommended me to the school selection committee to sit for the entry tests conducted by Manchester Secondary during my last term of school. I was amongst the four who sat for the tests on intelligence quotient (IQ) and Mathematics tests. I passed the tests and was selected for the final interview. I did my best to make a good presentation and showed my keen interest and readiness to take up this offer. At last, I was chosen.
Now back to where I am, since I was on scholarship, the school management has arranged my boarding at a nearby hostel, I need not worry on my budget as I had monthly allowance issued by the government and I bought a handy electronic dictionary as I was weak on my English. I regularly use it for my English classes to check on difficult words. To catch up, I often communicate with my friends in English, do a lot of workbooks and read some English storybooks.
For extra-curriculars, being a grade 5 piano student, gave me the advantage to be chosen to the string orchestra and play the viola as I was very keen on it. As I love soccer, I will play it with my hostel mates when I'm free. In this new environment, I learnt to be self-disciplined and independent especially in the boarding school. Besides that, I do participate actively in team activities at school like project and research assignment and class debate activity. Nonetheless there are many assignments that demand a lot of energy and also time, I have adapted quite well to cope with it.
Here at Manchester, I met with many new friends not just from UK but also friends from around the world. It was clear to me that they were a perfect example of a friendship from different sides of the international divide. I learnt to be passionate and open-minded to the differences in style, characters and culture and live in harmony. It is also a great opportunity for me to embrace effective leadership, promote team spirit and great tolerance. I am very happy here as I am learning interesting and meaningful technology-based course cum the wonderful experience in human relationship.
One day, when I came home from my stint abroad, I know I will not just a better scholar, but a wiser leader with interest and enthusiasm.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A little humour......
A bear, a lion and a pig meet.
Bear says: "If I roar in the forest, the entire forest is shivering with fear."
Lion says: "If I roar in the jungle, the entire jungle is afraid of me."
Pig says: "Big deal.... I only have to cough, and the entire planet lives in fear.
Moral of the story: We must not underestimate others' stre
ngth.
Bear says: "If I roar in the forest, the entire forest is shivering with fear."
Lion says: "If I roar in the jungle, the entire jungle is afraid of me."
Pig says: "Big deal.... I only have to cough, and the entire planet lives in fear.
Moral of the story: We must not underestimate others' stre
ngth.
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