July End Varia

Last Friday was the final exam of both subjects that I have taught. The exam was held in the LY3 Exam Hall, a distant away from the five faculty and admin blocks. In the week before up to the exam day, I was struggling to finish the assignment marking. Serves me right for earlier procrastination and making each assignment lengthy; during the teaching week, I had to prioritise teaching preparation and we had the midterm exam scripts to mark and thus, I put less priority to the assignment. The lengthier assignment is mainly because I would like to get the students to do a variety of problems from each main topic. With no tutors to help (unlike the other subject) and the marking has to be made electronically on my laptop (assignments being submitted through Moodle), te marking was terribly slow.

Feeling very tired from all the work, I had my other half and son to drive me to campus on the exam day. After the exam, I waited for them to pick me up. While waiting, took the photos below for memories sake.

The largest block is where the President's office (admin building together with the library) is. All the five blocks are connected through the basement parkin and the ground floor.

The day after, we have a wedding to attend in KL. Here are some photos

I was not that well that day and had dozed off several times during the event probably due to the drowsy pain killer. We were there quite early hoping to beat the possible massive jam, since the day coincided with a planned demonstration by the opposition party. Despite the country's economy is improving, the political atmosphere does not seem to mature as it should, driven by distrust and emotive hate politics, which is rather disappointing. As religious scholars remind us, we are living in the age of fitan.

Final Classes

Last week was the final week of the semester. I had scheduled many replacement classes during the week and had a 5-day working week (note: I'm part-time and I don't have to be in campus if there are no classes). Last Thursday, was in fact a full day for me, stretching from 9 am in the morning for a replacement lecture until 6 pm for a replacement tutorial, extending an hour after the final tutorial that day. Had to bring my youngest son (together with my other half and eldest son) that day to help me carry exam scripts for the students to look at. They left me in campus thereafter and picked me up after 6 pm. While I was there, I stayed mainly in the library, the surau and public spaces near the class venue.

Being the final week, I decided to take photos after my final class for each lecture or tutorial. It probably looked silly to the students but in my mind, it would probably be final semester there (que sera sera). So here are the photos.

That Friday (the last day of the semester before the study week), I have my replacement tutorial classes. When I arrived at the venue, I was surprised that they had given me a large lecture theatre.

Perhaps everyone else had finished their classes and that most venue are free. Unfortunately, only four students came, probably they have gone 'home'. In the photo below are three of the students (one left midway).

Actually, sometimes I do feel one goes unappreciated when we do all the teaching. I don't pretend to be an ideal teacher (in fact I apologize for any shortcomings to the students). Preparing for teaching often goes invisible; the long hours that goes into it (even for basic subjects) is largely unknown to many. My other half can attest to the number of hours I put into preparing the lecture and particularly tutorials (with scores of problems to solve). At times, I can feel the jeer or cheekiness of students, thinking probably that I don't know things until I had to say something beyond what they see in the notes or books. In any case, it is fine for me if I've been looked down upon or even despised; I have been there many times before. I still have 'nightmares' how many looked at me with such despise body language. Nevertheless, I still work and do what I know best.

Having aged, I tire easily nowadays. Withstanding the almost constant backpain, saps my energy. Occasionally, I will take up pain killers like Tramadol. I was also given Gabapentin and Pregabalin for neuropathic pain. Perhaps being concerned about my kidneys or simply tired of me complaining about my pain, my other half signed me up for physiotherapy sessions in Senawang. So far, I've been avoiding this since I know it can cost substantially and I would prefer to save that money for food of my family etc. Anyway, I have gone through three sessions already and tomorrow will be the fourth one.

Cometh Juli: The Next Half?

Next week will be the final teaching week for me. I had it packed with replacement lecture and tutorials due to all the public holidays during the semester. After next week, it will be just the exams and I will be just marking exam scripts. Note that without classes, there will be no 'salary', nevertheless I need to finish the associated duties with all my classes. This week itself, I had a class in which students leaving midway and one even slammed the door behind him. As much as I can ignore this, it still disturb me. Immediately after, I thought of the following book.

Finally, I have also expressed that I wil not be available for part-time teaching next semester. Que sera sera.

I'm still thankful with whatever I have. Things could have been worse. When I attended the wedding previous week, some form of sadness came over me. None of my kids are married yet and in a way, I have to worry for this. Also, my youngest son will be continuing with his BSc studies this coming September (God willing). Given as such, I hope to continue to work in some way hopefully.

Last weekend, we went to my third son's new place of stay in Shah Alam (DK Impian, I think). The 'studio apartment' will cost him RM900 per month, which will take a substantial amount from his income. Luckily, it was fully furnished that includes even a washing machine. The room is as big as our master bedroom and thus space is rather limited but for a single person, it is comfortable enough. For me, what is important, is that he does not have to travel so far to work (all the stress, energy, money and time wasted). A downside is that he did not have a parking space and for now, he parks his car at the roadside.

Yesterday, we went to a new eatery place to have our breakfast. We were told about this place by our son in JB after knowing the viral news about it.

I had my first taste of lontong darat there. 

The food is good (though a bit spicy that what I'm used to). The place is certainly packed and had people queuing up to get a table. The place is in Rasah Kemayan and is probably hidden to many,