MY MEMORIES OF MALAYSIA ON MERDEKA DAY!

Yesterday, some secondary school classmates and I were reminiscing about our friendship. Since we re-established contact (thanks to Facebook!) in late 2008, we are always in constant touch.

It made me realize – there is just something about being childhood schoolmates that creates a great and long lasting bond of friendship. Many of us now live in different cities and even countries; we had not kept in touch once we went on for our higher studies – mainly overseas. But amazingly…it is JUST like before! We joke, laugh and just have girl chatter on Facebook nearly every day! We are of different races - Chinese, Malay and Indian and of different faiths – Buddhist, Muslim and Christians. The best part is we are great friends and nothing else matters!

Dr. Sia Ah Hiok

I remember Malaysians were like that when I was growing up – we did not look at each other and think what race or faith we were. We just looked at each other and saw a person. Unfortunately due to race and religion being used in Malaysian politics, the mood and what I read in the papers seem to show we are losing the spirit of being first and foremost Malaysians! I am apolitical. Frankly, I just do not like ANY politicians – they seem a whole different species to me invading earth! Yet, I am aware that if more like-minded Malaysians do not step up to the plate and speak up, the Malaysia that we grew up in will disappear altogether. It is why I have the outmost respect for my childhood friend, Dr. Sia Ah Hiok, Director of Student Services, who is in the forefront in the education of our Malaysian youth at INTI International University College. She is a wonderful human being – full of zest, enthusiasm, fun and intelligence. So I continue to have faith there must be more unsung heroes like her around doing a great service for our nation.

I miss the days of multi-cultural spirit of sharing and living as Malaysians. “Muhibbah” – “Goodwill” was real. The joy we had as all of us would meet up as a group to help celebrate our classmates’ Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Deepavali and Christmas were the highlight of our childhood friendships. Imagine all the wonderful Malaysian food our Mums’ prepared for all the visitors who dropped by. That was truly a Malaysian concept – Open House! Anyone could visit and be fed a sumptuous lunch. There were some people whom we never saw except for Christmas lunch! I never gave much thought about it then. But that was true neighbourly love at its best! To think of how much cooking had to be done – using my family as an example, there was my dad’s work friends, my parents’ friends, and the classmates/workmates of the 8 Alexander kids! It’s like feeding an army of hungry creatures who seemed to have worked out their arrivals with clockwork precision – when one group left, the other group turned up. The best part was we had no mobile phones or internet then.

Malaysia is 53!

Today, Malaysia is 53 years old! It is still a beautiful country and Malaysians are generally a very warm, friendly and caring people. We need to forget about racial and religious politics and do what is best for EVERY Malaysian. We cannot survive without the talents and sacrifices made by every community towards what has made Malaysia what it is today…In fact, we will definitely miss each other! All Malaysia needs is people who have genuine love for every citizen. Unfortunately I have to admit, I love Malaysia when I am away but I actually find it really hard to live in Malaysia. Guess we all have to love our Malaysia the way St. Paul best describes love!

Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or

arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable

or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the

truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures

all things. Love never ends….And now faith, hope, and love abide,

these three; and the greatest of these is love.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-8,13)

I Love Cartoons!

There are some things in life that just put me in a good mood – even today! One of it is watching my favourite cartoons. It is why I actually enjoy watching a Disney movie over most other movies.

Perhaps it is because cartoons remind me of my happy childhood. I am from a big family of 8 kids. I was the No. 6.

I remember days of climbing rambutan and guava trees, climbing up the poles of the swing in my house, hanging from the top or sliding down the poles and of riding bikes at full speed down a slope and trying not to crash into neighbours’ front gates! Initially, I used to end up in the drain across my house and proudly showed off my multi-coloured bruises! In fact, When I was 6-7 years old, I distinctly recall climbing up the guava tree, plucking the guavas, then getting on to the roof of the garage and from there jumping down to the ground thinking I was Superman! Well, for some reason, I never pictured myself as Supergirl or Wonder Woman. Probably because it boggled my mind to wear what I saw in comic books that Wonder Woman wore every day! I was a great tomboy throughout my schooldays and dressed permanently in t-shirts and shorts except to go to school or church.

There were always cartoons on TV in the evenings after school and on the weekends. I especially love Flintstones and Scooby Doo. In fact, up to my working days in Hong Kong, I would still catch episodes of these cartoons whenever I could! I watched it every day while in college.

Cartoons really helped mould us as kids in a fun way – because it is always about the good overcoming the bad. It actually taught us to be sorry when we do wrong things, to own up if we did something wrong, to be kind to others and to just value family and friends. Imagine all that just from cartoons! Well, that was how cartoons were when I was growing up. For some reason, I cannot relate to the cartoons on TV for children these days. It must be my age showing up! Now it is about war and inter-planet fighting and somehow they just do not look as warm and appealing cartoon characters.

Well, it’s Friday today – a time to just relax and feel good about life over the weekend. I think I shall try to remember one happy moment from my ‘growing up’ days at least once a month in my blog. For today, I leave you all with a YouTube video of Scooby Doo’s Theme Song. I hope you enjoy and recall your own happy memories of your childhood too. Share it over lemonade with your kids or over a cappuccino with friends – I am sure it will be a happy, bonding time…

11 Year Old Girl - Angel To The Homeless

A week ago, I came across an article of a few kids who were making a great charitable difference in the world. One child’s project really caught my attention – because it was so simple for anyone to do! Katie Stagliano, a 11-year old American girl has grown and donated over 4,000 pounds of vegetables to feed the homeless in her hometown of Summerville, South Carolina, USA. It all started with her one unselfish act to feed the homeless in 2008 after a cabbage plant she received in her 3rd grade program with Bonnie Plants grew to a 40-pound cabbage!

What truly touched me was how this wonderful child, Katie, was so inspired that a great dream was born in her heart and she has not looked back!

As Katie shares in her website (www.katieskrops.com) “In May of 2008 we brought my cabbage to Tri County Family Ministries. When I walked in I saw a huge line of people (275!) waiting for what might be the only meal they would have that day. The people who worked there and who were eating there were so friendly and nice. As I served my cabbage to the guests and they thanked me for helping to feed them, I knew I could and I should do more to help. That day at Tri County Family Ministries my dream was born. My dream is that there are no hungry people. I may only be 11 but I know I can do it.”

Katie has inspired her whole school body of students - from kindergarten to 12th grade! Her school donated a huge plot of land and every student is helping and the harvest is donated to feed the hungry people. As I read about Katie, I was thinking about the generosity of her heart and her concern for the poor. Great credit has to go to her parents for bringing up their children with good and loving values.

Katie is a very confident and articulate 11-year old. Even her email to me seemed filled with joy! In fact, she has the highest GPA of her class for the last 4 years! Besides her studies, Katie has swim practice and tennis matches to take part in besides her daily watering and tending of the gardens.

What Katie is doing certainly makes me reflect on what each person can do – if we set our mind and heart to it. I ask myself – have I been setting limits to what I can personally do to make this world a better place for the poor, the sick, the needy – all those who are struggling in life for one reason or another? I might be doing volunteer work for 6 years now but Katie has inspired me to do even more. Why? Simply because I know I can do more!

I am sure just doing a family charity project will help each of us to have more love in our hearts for those in urgent need. It will be a good idea for this coming Christmas as a start – a season of giving. Each of us has talents that God has given us. If I want to make a real difference, I can. A bible verse that often inspires me when I am doing something really difficult and gives me the needed energy to focus on the goal is - “This is impossible for man, but not for God; everything is possible for God.” (Mark 10:27) So I pray and persevere and the impossible have often become possible. A point I sometimes forget!

I am sure each of us can make a big difference in our community. The only question is – are we willing to do so?

My First Blog Post!

I have finally stopped just thinking about it! Over the years, friends have been asking me to write. Well, writing has always been therapeutic -It de-stresses me! Serving in a ministry, I have realized how often so many people are bogged down with troubles, they forget to be thankful for what they have - even me at times!

Yesterday I was speaking to a married lady and asked her when was the last time she did a romantic gesture to show her husband of 29 years that she loves him. She looked at me as if I had grown two heads! I was just giving some simple ideas that did not cost anything and she began looking very hopeful.Then I asked her if she had ever said sorry to him - and she told me, "No! - you know, Susan, I have never done that in all these years!" Now, that I know will make a huge difference! As we spoke more, her face lit up and she realized they actually both love each other. They were just not showing or recognizing it after all these years.

Well, her husband's birthday is apparently a few weeks from now. I am sure he is going to be thoroughly surprised! As far as I am concerned, we should never stinge on showing our love for those we care.

I am not waiting till my last breath to do so. I have often seen the joy in my loved ones when I write, express and show my love for them. It may not be in the words but from their faces, I know there is quiet joy in their hearts...and in mine!