Month: March 2009

My Sister(s) Have a Weird Habit

I don’t understand why. I believe this is an isolated case and its not the case with all women, but I don’t know though. I have not met with enough women yet to make a judgement. And of course, I am secretly hoping that this is truly an isolated case.

Ummairah;

Me: Merah, sebelum tidur, pasang ubat nyamuk. Nanti kena denggi macam mak susah.

Merah: (ignore me, pura2 masuk bilik tidur terus)

I know with all my sister(s), there is no use to coax or rationalize to them to do something that they don’t wanto. They will never listen. So, I let her sleep first. I will wake her up at 11 pm and disturb and nag her continuosly UNTIL she lights up the mosquito coil. She know I wont stop until she go and lights up the mosquito coil (NO, of course I can’t do that FOR her, it’s my RESPONSIBILITY as the big bro to show her that she MUST take care of herself and not be too dependent on others-hehe– but of course, don’t worry. I wont do this to my wifey-to be. :p ).

I thought she has done so, but apparently not. The story below is relayed to me by Kak Ana (Sabriza) who are at the living room at that time.

What this Ummairah bertuah will do is, she goes out and sit at the living room for 5 minutes before she went back to her room (she still don’t lights up the mosquito coil though). Kak Ana asked her, what are you doing here? (as she was asleep before). She said, “Abang suruh pasang ubat nyamuk”.

Lah. She went out just to fool me, so that I think she spent the 5 minutes to light up the mosquito coil.

She was more willing to waste 5 minutes sitting at the living room doing nothing before resuming her sleep than pasang ubat nyamuk which also take 5 minutes and guarantee a more comfortable sleep.

I went back to my hometown this weekend, and she pulled the same antic when my mom asked her to buy nasi minyak for both of us while she get ready before sending her to school.

And when I see Ummairah attitude, I remember Kak. Ana.

For obvious reason that she and her friends is reading this blog, so I shall spare her the embarassment. But let it be known that my sister(s) share this weird trait.

You just cannot argue or try to rationalize with them. They wont listen to you.

Denggi, hunger, gastric even death maybe can’t make them change their mind. :p

Ummar is much better. We men can change our decision if there is a rational reason.

(padan muka kak ana! serve you right! Cerita pasal siput & basikal tu)

Lessons on Love

By Sabri

In Lessons on Love

My mom always remind us (my siblings) this:

“Bercinta boleh, tetapi jangan beri 100% hati kita sebab nanti kalau tak jadi, merana.”

Saya tahu kata-kata seorang ibu itu ada kebenarannya, lebih-lebih lagi memandangkan beliau lebih dulu makan garam dari kita. Dan, memang terbukti kebenarannya pun kerana saya turut mengalaminya.

Walaupun begitu, saya tetap tidak bersetuju 100% dengan kenyataan di atas.

Pada saya jika seseorang itu wanita, ya. Saya amat cadangkan supaya wanita tidak memberikan hatinya dan apa sahaja sekali pun secara 100% kepada mana-mana lelaki sebelum berkahwin. (because my sis is reading. Tak sure dia nak mumayyiz ke belum, jadi kena guna statement camnih.. ahaxz)

Namun, bagi seseorang lelaki saya percaya mereka perlu memberikan 100% hati mereka.

Dan walaupun saya katakan tidak apa untuk mereka (wanita) tidak memberikan 100% dari hati mereka, tetapi mereka wajar memberi 100% usaha dan komitmen untuk menjayakan hubungan mereka.

Here why:

Saya khuatir, jika kita tidak memberi 100% kepada hubungan tersebut kerana bimbang hubungan tersebut akan berakhir, hubungan tersebut akan betul-betul berakhir kerana kita tidak memberi 100%!

Agak berbelit, tetapi cuba anda fahamkan betul-betul.

Supaya cinta itu kekal, kita perlu beri komitmen yang tinggi.
Jika kita tidak memberi komitmen yang tinggi, cinta pasti tidak akan kekal.
Tetapi kita tidak mahu pula memberi komitmen yang tinggi selagi kita tidak yakin cinta itu akan kekal.

It’s a catch 22 situation.

Pada saya, I give my all in a relationship. I don’t care if the other person will stay or not. Apa yang penting, jika ada sesuatu yang terjadi kemudian hari dalam hidup saya, saya boleh berpaling kembali dan berkata,

“Saya tidak menyesal because I have given it my all. ”

Saya tidak mahu nanti saya masih menyimpan harapan, dan isteri saya pada ketika itu tersiksa sebab suaminya masih simpan harapan pada kekasih lama sebab asyik terfikir, “Kalau lah.. Kalau lah”.

Pada saya, kalau ada lelaki yang tidak memberi sepenuh komitmen dalam perhubungan, lebih baik stay single. Sebab ia akan menyusahkan dan melukakan hati orang lain yang tidak bersalah.

Jika wanita, saya dapat terima. Mereka lebih fragile dan hati mereka lebih emosional. Jadi mereka dimaafkan jika tidak dapat memberi 100%

Hernan Cortes membakar kapalnya supaya tenteranya yang kecil tidak berfikir untuk berundur dan akhirnya dapat menewaskan bala tentera Montezuma yang lebih jauh besar dan dikatakan kebal. Itu mindset untuk berjaya dalam apa juga yang kita buat dalam hidup.

Kalau kita banyak beri alasan dalam hidup, selamanya lah kita jadi average. Mungkin ada orang yang tidak kisah jadi average. But its pathetic actually. Tuhan jadikan kita sebagai khalifah di dunia sebab Dia nak kita jadi hebat. Sebab itu dia jadikan kita Khalifah. Kalau dia nak kita jadi biasa, average, dia akan jadikan kita salah satu pokok di hutan. Good is the enemy of great. Bukan semua orang perlu jadi Perdana Menteri. Bukan semua orang perlu jadi angkasawan. Bukan semua orang perlu panjat gunung Everest. Tetapi semua orang perlu jadi hebat in their own little way. Semua orang perlu step up to the plate and do something.

Living is a team sport. In team sport, everybody need to participate. Tidak ada pasukan yang boleh menang jika ada ahli pasukannya yang jadi penumpang dan hanya melihat. Ketamadunan manusia tidak akan berkembang jika semua kita hanya mahu jadi average.

Lelaki, kita mungkin dikecewakan juga tetapi, “So what? Big deal.”. Bukannya kita tidak ada kekuatan untuk bangun balik. Tambahan pula, saya lelaki. Saya tahu bagaimana dan apa yang lelaki fikirkan. Women should be wary of guys who did not give 100%, especially among the younger ones. There are no reason not to.

Maybe, I was hurt once.

Maybe, my mom is true.

But I knew deep inside. What I believe is right. There’s no joy in receiving without giving, at least for me. Maybe that’s because I have a lot to give.

To punish others for one ungrateful person, for me its not fair. I know the world is full of wonderful people.

I will still give my all.

Gracefully Written,

His Awesomeness Sabri,

Kenangan Silam (Yang Manis)

By Sabri

On March 18, 2009

In Memory Lane

Saya baru balik dari menonton Sirah Junjungan: Tahajud Cinta di Istana Budaya.

Sebenarnya untuk cover kempunan menonton Puteri Gunung Ledang. Saya bercadang untuk menontonnya pada Sabtu lepas, hari terakhir yang agak free. Namun, ketika itu penyanyi jemputannya Jamal Abdillah. Jamal Abdillah memang penyanyi yanga bervokal menarik, namun pull factornya pada saya tak begitu hebat sangat. hehe..

Ingatkan melepas lagi kesempatan ini.

Namun petang tadi di pejabat tiba-tiba terfikir. Eh sempat lagi ni kalau balik awal dan pergi Istana Budaya. Lagi pula, Siti Nurhaliza penyanyi jemputan nih. Walaupun sibuk, tapi kalau Siti berbaloi lagi pergi nih. Dan secara spontannya saya buat keputusan untuk pergi memandangkan malam ini, malam yang paling kurang sibuk di antara malam-malam yang sibuk yang bakal mendatang.

Jadi saya pun pergi. Ngam ngam sampai beli tiket, duduk dan persembahan start.

Kalau nak komen pasal teater ni, saya bukanlah pakar sangat. Namun adalah pengalaman picisan waktu kat sekolah dulu, dan selalu dengar Cikgu Hani (Nurhani) memberi komen mengenai persembahan drama dan teater. Kebetulan pula ketika di SEMASHUR dulu, pernahlah 2 kali ke Istana Budaya.

Kudos kepada pencerita. Sangat bagus dan berjaya membawa tone yang pelbagai dan emosi ke dalam cerita. Tahniah juga kepada jalan cerita yang baik dan digarap dengan bagus. Walaupun audio mungkin ada sedikit cacat cela, terutamanya ketika pelakon menjerit, tapi oklah. Masih boleh “bergegar” juga feel dia.

Tetapi dari segi koreografi tarian mungkin perlu latihan lagi untuk koordinasi dan lakonan mungkin di sesetengah part agak over.

Tapi not badlah.

Experience saya di Istana Budaya still masih enjoy dan belum tercemar. 🙂

Now, back to memory lane.

Kali pertama saya ke Istana Budaya, saya menonton teater muzikal Tanggang. Tiket di beri oleh Cikgu Saipuddin. Saya bersama empat orang lain. Saya masih ingat Faizal dan mungkin Helmi. Saya tak pasti 2 yang lain, mungkin Hood dan Zaid. Mungkin, saya dah lupa.

Kali kedua saya menonton teater Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka! Kali ini dengan classmate 5 Amal.

Perbezaan yang saya terasa ketika duduk tadi adalah, “Wah, kecil rupanya Istana Budaya ni”.

Sebab seingat saya ketika saya datang dulu, saya terasa “kebesaran” dan keluasannya. Boleh seram sejuk jugalah kalau kena buat persembahan kot. Namun tadi terasa kecil pula ruangnya. Pentas pun terasa lebih dekat. (hehe… maybe sebelum ini tiket free, jadi seatnya seat belakang)

Walaupun tidak puas mendengar Siti menyanyi (kurang dari 5 lagu rasanya), tetapi 2 lagunya sangat dekat di hati. Pernah saya nyanyikan secara berkumpulan dalam pertandingan nasyid di SEMASHUR. Lagu “Nabi Anak Yatim”, dan lagu “Alangkah Indahnya Hidup Ini”

Waktu itu saya masih ingat memang sumbang sungguh suara kami. Namun suara apeng untuk vokal “Alangkahnya hidup ini, andai dapat, kutatap wajah mu”, syahdu sungguh. Mungkin lebih syahdu dari suara Siti.

Dalam teater ini juga saya rasa keyakinan dan kepercayaan kepada Ayu (codename) itu tinggi. Masanya akan tiba, orangnya akan tiba. Mungkin cuma sekarang saya yang masih belum tahu. Tak apa, kad nama dah di approve dan on the way. Lepas tu saya boleh mengorak langkah lebih panjang.

Saya juga mencongak dalam kepala. Kali terakhir saya berada di panggung sari sebagai seorang pelajar. SPM pun belum ambil. Sudah hampir pasti hala tuju hidup, tetapi keputusan SPM tidak pasti lagi. Kali pertama datang, pening-pening kepala pasal politik lagi. Kali kedua datang, pening-pening kepala pasal cinta lagi.

Kali ini datang, pening-pening itu sudah hilang (dan mungkin sedang kembali).

Tetapi yang pentingnya 7 tahun kemudian saya kembali ke dalam dewan itu, sebagai seorang dewasa. SPM sudah selesai, alhamdulillah lebih baik dari target. Hidup pun secara umumnya lebih baik dari jangkaan saya dan saya bersyukur dengan apa yang dikurniakan dan pengalaman yang dilalui.

Tujuh tahun terasa lama. Dulu hidup saya, survival hari demi hari. Fikiran sedikit terbelenggu. Imaginasi terbatas. Cita-cita pun ada dan tidak sahaja.

Sekarang, memang ada aspek hidup yang saya harap boleh jadi lebih baik, tetapi secara umumnya saya bersyukur dengan jalan yang dilalui dan tidak akan menukarnya dengan lain-lain jalan.

Saya terfikir (ketika masih di dalam dewan), adakah 7 tahun lagi saya akan datang dalam keadaan yang berbeza juga? Ketika itu saya akan berumur lebih kurang 31 tahun. Ya, pasti akan sedikit berbeza. Harapan saya semoga ia juga lebih gemilang dan saya tidak lagi akan datang seorang! 🙂

Aarghh… I Have to Resist This

By Sabri

In Adventures

This is so not me.

But I am craving for either of this item (or both of it you can say). Right now, I am still strong enough to resist them with my self dicipline, but I am sure when the defence wall crumble and I got one, there is really nothing that will stop me from getting the other one too.

The question now is, which one first?

Apple iPhone or

Dell Netbooks/cuter netbooks.

The problem is, its just my want, not needs. Saya cuma suka tengok dan betapa indahnya perasaan kalau turut memilikinya.

I already have Zune. Not the best but I think its very similar in functionality with iPod & iPhone (which mean, its not very good)
I had Creative Zen (this is the best. If I am purchasing a music/video player, it should be Creative, not Apple)
I am already using 2 laptops. (one is under utilized)
I already has 2 phones, (very simple and basic functions). I will have the 3rd one (a better one with WiFi) in July when my sister is back from UK.

Aargh… I don’t need this…

…..

…

(but they are so cool…) :'(

Setiap Sesuatu Yang Terjadi Ada Hikmahnya?

By Sabri

In Adventures

I have a lot of stories to tell and share.

But maybe now is not the right time.

I like fairy tale. A fairy tale will not become a fairy tale if its told too early. For example when the hero/heroin is dying or struggling. Same here.

Let me wait for a moment.

Let the hero thrive and rescue the damsel in distress first, then I promise you I will share a worthy story worth your wait. 😉

A side note: Everything that happened in this world can either be black or white. Its your choice to see it as either black or white.

Granted, I like and I want to see everything as white.

But what is the fine line between seing all white and having a denial sindrom?

Whatever it is, I strive to see the world in white. For now.

Tribute To My English Teachers

By Sabri

On March 10, 2009

In Memory Lane

I am a Malay born in the East Coast of Malaysia. For people who share my background, usually their English are below average. My English is not that excellent, but its okay. Its comprehensible. And I do quite well for English during high school, performing even better than some KL students.

And when I compare myself with my youngest sister (std 6) when I am at her level, I feel very grateful.

A lot of my classmates in school and uni don’t believe this, but I am actually performed very badly in English when I am in std 4. My vocabulary was very limited, I can only read English books that have a lot of pictures and during exam, I will just answer according to my intuition. Ikut sedap mulut as they say it in Malay.

But starting std 5, my English improved tremendously.

From a D student to an A student in a matter of months.

I would like to tribute these 3 most important people:

Ms Yong– my std 5 English teacher. She is very patient and firm. She used to be a class teacher for students in “Kelas Pemulihan”, so she definitely has experience teaching “slow” students. I learned to put up a proper sentence in English during this time. If I am not mistaken, she teach us to create a simple sentence with four words first. And then when I am able to do that she will guide me to construct a sentence with 5 words, and then 6 and so on. I remember her husband was an avid photographer. I bought a picture of Hale-Bopp comet from him. I misplace the picture soon after that. 🙂

Ms Shamala-my std 6 teacher, she is witty and make English very enjoyable. My grammar improve here and during this time only I truly understand tenses in English and be able to use it correctly.

Last but not least is my dad. Since I am in std 4, he will buy me Star or NST during weekend. Now for some of you this is normal. But hear this. My dad cannot read English. Thus, he bought the paper ONLY so that I could read them. And, I think he knew at that time that I don’t read the papers. Saya hanya tengok gambar.

I am a kampung boy. Even the newspaper was too complicated for me. (remember, when I am in std 4, my English was very bad). But he bought it anyway. Every weeks without fail. And sometimes he did not buy his newspaper so that I can have mine.

Walaupun permulaanya saya cuma tengok gambar (sports), tapi bila dah masuk darjah 5, saya mula baca sikit-sikit.

Mula-mula baca sukan, lepas tu artikel-artikel menarik di bahagian tengah.

Saya rasa saya mula baca penuh bila masuk sekolah menengah. Itu pun saya skip business section (masuk Uni baru start baca).

When I reflect back, it touched my heart. Well, my dad is certainly not the best dad in the world. Not even for me (a lot of people claim theirs are the best). Not me. I think there are better dad out there.

But he certainly has tried his best. I admire him for that. This is one trait that I hope runs in my blood too.

I am eternally grateful for these people as they had opened a whole new world for me.

What I think of PPSMI?

Ummairah is the product of it. And I can say that I am not that satisfied with the result. I am all for improving students’ English, but I think there are better ways to do it.

Mencari Idealisme Yang Hilang

By Sabri

In Adventures

Welcome,

I was torn between using English/Malay for this site. I really don’t know. Because I have had so many blogs before, I know the perils of writing in either languages. Sticking to a set of standard will eventually kill the enthusiasm off. So for this one, I will use both. After all, I am Malaysians and Malaysian love rojak. 🙂

Mungkin ada yang tertanya-tanya, apa tujuan blog ini ya? Mungkin pelbagai teori sedang difikirkan. 🙂

Sebenarnya, there is no specific reason. I just want a place to talk about something else other than entrepreneurship and business (there’s SaifulSham.com) for it and a place where I can be myself.

Its so difficult to do it at SaifulSham, as it visitors varies. It attracts mainly entrepreneurs and wannabes, and as many of them are A type personalities, its not easy to accomodate the crowd. Some might say, don’t be a hypocrite just write what you want to write and be yourself.

But I beg to disagree.

I am a complex man with a simple requirement. If I can have my way, I WANT to go to the cinemas wearing kain pelekat. Now, if I want to be myself, I should. But really, should I do that? 😉

As I don’t plan to have so many strangers here, so I hope I can be more personal and candid here.

I aspire for SABRI.ME be something like a portfolio site with a contemporary look. But after a few weeks looking for the appropriate theme/template and still found no suitable themes, I decided to start with this one. Quite classic, not exactly what I have in mind but it should suffice for now.

The most important is, always take action.

“Bertangguh itu pencuri masa,” kata Cikgu Chee Ah Kow (nama sebenar), cikgu Sains SK Galing merangkap guru disiplin yang baik dan tidak ditakuti ketika itu. (hehe… Hope nobody mind the personal anecdotes. I need to write my personal memories now while I still remember them. These people are invaluable and they are the one who mould me into what I am today)

I will write more soon. 🙂

To an awesome life!

Sabri

p/s: Btw, have you met my sister? (Sabriza: Link kat blog abanglah!). Currently she’s the only one of my family who blogs (beside me), although Ummar & Ummairah do have Friendster.

p/p/s: Yeah, yeah I know. Her blog will fail any usability test and the colours might upset your eyes. She’s a geeky, witty chemist, if that explain.