The greatest pleasure

Mon morning I had an appointment to see a BODYCOMBAT trainee in his clearance class. Honestly I did not put much expectation in the trainee coz the last time he team taught with me 2 weeks ago, he had a very big issue with timing. And I was very honest with him, and I told him that he would really need to work on the timing if he were to stand any chance of clearing.



Spoke with his mentor as well and she also said the same thing about his track presentations. So today I was sort of expecting at best, an average presentation in the class. However, 2 weeks' of hard work sure did wonders for this guy. He taught a very energetic class!



The morning ladies in IOI Mall were certainly pleased with him and I was excited as well. Halfway passed the class, I text his mentor that if he continued his form, he will surely cleared the assessment.



Sure, there were a few spots where he lost the beat, but somehow he managed to get back on the beat without losing control of the class. And at the end of the class, after the feedback time, I gave him the good news.



I think the happiest person to hear the news of his clearance(besides him) is probably his mentor, because if I had a trainee under me who excels, I would be too. And based of the SMS between us, I can feel her joy and pride in seeing this new trainee succeed.



To think about it, when I first started teaching, the greatest joy was definitely being able to stand in front of the members and teach one heck of a class. Seeing another instructor teaching an awesome class would spur me to try to outdo the instructor, in a positive manner. Then, something happened: I became the headteacher.



Suddenly the focus was shifted. Instead of thinking of myself and my ego, I began to think about the whole team. When launch time, it's no longer about showcasing my ability. If the members prefer certain insturctors, then that's what they'll get. I will be equally happy to teach in a smaller clubs, as long as I get to contribute to the experience of the members.



Even in huge events like our annual Miracle charity event, there were times that I consciously chose to step aside and let the other instructors teach the tracks. As long as the launch was successful, it doesn't matter whether I teach or not. The team is more important than any individual instructor.



But today, after exchanging SMSes with the trainee's mentor, it just dawned upon me why the great pleasure for any instructor should be the success/grooming of another new instructor. As instructors, the joy of teaching an awesome class lasts only 1 class, even for a new release. After that, it's gone and you'll have to start all over again with another class. But when you successfully groomed a new instructor, the joy lasts so much longer... Seeing the person when he/she first started, how insecure and lost on stage teaching a track for the very first time.... till the day he/she can finally conduct the class alone.

Yup, nothing beats grooming new instructors!

Mandela, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr... and Zambry?

Have you read Zambry's latest blog entry?

Menegakkan kebenaran bukanlah satu tanggungjawab yang mudah. Ia memerlukan pengorbanan dan kegigihan.

Nelson Mandela misalnya mengorbankan kebebasannya selama 27 tahun demi membebaskan rakyat Afrika Selatan dari cengkaman “apartheid”.

Mahatma Ghandi pula mengorbankan nyawanya untuk memastikan kemerdekaan India serta rakyatnya dapat hidup aman tanpa sempadan kasta dan agama. Perjuangan menegakkan keberanian ini memerlukan “keberanian”.

Mandela pernah berkata : “Saya mempelajari bahawa keberanian bukanlah bermakna tidak punya perasaan takut, tetapi Berjaya mengatasinya. Mereka yang berani bukanlah mereka yang tidak punya perasaan takut tetapi mereka yang mampu menakluki rasa takut itu. (I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. )....

....Memetik kata Martin Luther King Jr, kegelapan tidak akan mengatasi kegelapan. Kebencian tidak akan menghapuskan kebencian, hanya kasih sayang mampu mengubahnya. (Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.)

OK, so the guy's identifying with Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

Let's see what these guys' struggles were, according to Wikipedia:


-a former President of South Africa, the first to be elected in a fully representative democratic election, who held office from 1994–99.

-an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of the African National Congress's armed wing Umkhonto we Sizwe.

-convicted of sabotage, as well as other crimes committed and spent 27 years in prison.

-a celebrated elder statesman who continues to voice his opinion on topical issues.

-1993 Nobel Peace Prize winner.

- pre-eminent political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement.

- pioneer of satyagraha—resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience, firmly founded upon ahimsa or total non-violence—which led India to independence and inspired movements for civil rights and freedom across the world.

- Honoured in India as the Father of the Nation

- Birthday on 2 October, is commemorated worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence.

- led Indians in the Non-cooperation movement in 1922 and in protesting the British-imposed salt tax with the 400 km (249 mi) Dandi Salt March in 1930,

- imprisoned for many years, on numerous occasions, in both South Africa and India.

- sworn to speak the truth, and advocated that others do the same.

- killed on 30 January 1948 while having his nightly public walk on the grounds of the Birla Bhavan(Birla House) in New Delhi.



- an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African-American civil rights movement.

- led the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957, serving as its first president.

- famous "I Have a Dream" speech raised public consciousness of the civil rights movement.

- 1964 Nobel Peace Prize winner for work to end racial segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.

- assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Very impressive achievements and legacies. Now, let's look at our boy's struggle:


- Did not follow proper procedure to be appointed Menteri Besar of Perak on 6 Feb 2009.

- Caused constitutional crisis in Perak.

- Giving BN a public relations nightmare to clean up BN's battered image.

- Desperately tries to stay in power in Perak by all means neccessary, except through a snap election.

- Dare not face the people of Perak in a snap election to obtain the mandate to lead a new government.

Somehow I don't see any similarity between him and any of the three people he mentioned.

Which leads to my question....

"What have you been smoking, Zambry?"

Dedicated to Dr Zambry and his illegitmate excos...

Everybody sing now!!!!



OK, please pack your things and leave the office for the legitimate Menteri Besar, Thank you!

Wedding Dinner - Take 2!

After our wedding in March, we went back recently to Penang to have another dinner for our relatives there.


Of course, I also extended the invitation to my friends from Church and FF Island Plaza.

With PCC friends

If not mistaken, mom-in-law's friends

We actually wore back our wedding clothes in March, as we bought them instead of renting- one of those things I learned from a show on E! channel.... Buy instead of rent for the most important day of your life.

Somehow I was distracted


At the entrance


With FF Island Plaza friends

Guess what? I'm now related to Dato' Lee Kar Choon!

Picture with my new uncle :)

Time on the invitation card stated dinner at 7pm but we only started at 8pm- not that bad, considering that the next day we attended my cousin's wedding dinner which started at 8.30pm.

We did the same opening in KL, with the video and singing. This time, the sound system was definitely better as we had rented the sound system.

Singing "A Whole New World"



Opening prayer by Pastor Lydia, one of the pastors from my home church Penang Christian Centre


At the table

The wedding in Penang was kinda packed with the traditional tea ceremony.










As I had about 20 tables of relatives, wife actually had quite a lot of people to serve tea to.



exhausting time!



On the other hand, she only had 4 tables so it was quite a breeze for me. I think it took me less than 10 minutes to settle her side while she around 45 minutes.


I was quite glad to have the ceremony done.



Daryl, the brother I never had

The first performance of the night, not counting our entrance song, was from my parents-in-law. Being professionals, they actually brought their own DVD to dinner for singing.

Grinning while I was introducing them


Singing 爱的路上只有我和你(old song, not that recent one)

Based on their singing, you can probably guess where wife got her talents from.


My 17-yr-old niece, Janine

After singing, it was the cake cutting and wine pouring time.


Deja vu



飲.........胜！

After which, I gave my "Part of my world" speech. Wife opted out as her "Finally" speech was not applicable in the Penang wedding.


All I'm saying... Thank you for being... Part of our world....

Finally came the long awaited first dance in Penang.


Started slow with Rod Stewart's "Till There Was You"

Just like in KL, there was a slight change of tempo halfway through.

"And I'm losing control..."



"Coz the power you're supplying...



"You're the one that I want... ooh, ooh, ooh.. Honey!"

That was the last performance from us. We didn't do the finale in KL as our dance crew were not with us.

As substitute, first I had my eldest bro singing.



The interesting thing about this wedding is I really had a difficult time addressing my relatives. Most of them I hardly see them at all, not even during CNY but are my mom and dad's cousins and uncles-aunties.
I honestly dunno who these people are


Anyway, we went back to the tea ceremony again but this time we were being served.


We missed our my sis-in-law in KL's tea ceremony

Finally, the highlight of the night was my mom singing 夜来香. Truth be told, my mom used to have a very good voice, but that was way before she had 4 children.

Now?

See my reaction.



Anyhow, mom did her thing and bro and niece decided to have a impromptu dance.


Doing the cha-cha


Mom still has her fans in the form of her cousins


Timing and pitch was good, just the quality of voice is not what it used to be

There was another last min performance from an uncle, at mom's request but timing was a bit out. Fortunately by then, we had reach the end of the dinner.

Overall if felt more like a wedding for us as we were in our wedding clothes the whole night, as opposed to KL where we changed to smart casual for our finale performance.


I think that was a kiss of relief

Is this necessary?

How the West was won... the BN way

Fast forward to 5:00 to view how the Speaker was "gently" removed from the assembly.

Video - FAMILY

1BlackMalaysia: Democracy First, By-election Now

Apparently tomorrow 7 May 2009 is a good day to wear black. Why? Coz it's a sad day for Malaysian democracy.

If you have't figured out, I played a part in knocking BN out of the Penang government last year. So far, based on what I've read and seen in Penang, I think I made the right choice. Besides, no matter how bad the current Pg government is, it can never be as bad as the one before:)

However, that doesn't mean I will always agree with whatever the PR coalition. For example, I am against the idea of assemblyman resigning to force a by-election. I am against the idea of frogs jumping to PR to force a change of federal government.

Which is why, I am not that happy with the situation in Perak.


Over the last few months since becoming the "2nd Mentri Besar of Perak", Dr Zambry is trying very hard to convince the Perakians that he is their legitimate Mentri Besar and not Datuk Nizar. If I were a reporter interviweing him, this will be my first question, "Legally, it is possible that your appointment is valid- we will leave it to the high court to decide but the more important question is...Morally, do you think what you are doing is right?"

My next question:

"Do you think the people in the state of Perak will respect you for the manner you seize control?"

To certain extent, can't really fault him for the mess in Perak. After all, he answers to a "higher authority". Had that person been smarter, the person should have been more patient. Show some work and serve the people of Perak well, even as the opposition party. Earn back the trust of the people and maybe in the next election, BN could win back the state. After all, they lost only by 3 seats last year.

But not, that person is so eager to start the year with a bang, to show how brilliant he is.

Can you trust a person like this to lead your country? Cakap tak serupa bikin. Kononnya "People First, Performance Now", tapi buat hal-hal yang mengelirukan. You want to take back Perak now, then let the PEOPLE decide.

As for me, I'm gonna wear black tomorrow to teach my classes for 1BlackMalaysia: Democracy First, By-election Now.