Summerhill May 21, 2009

I’ve been engrossed with a book written by A. S. Neill for the past couple of days. Since my lips are still swelling from my eating spicy foods, I decided to skip going to the college and stay home until my lips do not look lepriously chapped! (Have made appointment to see the dermatologist tomorrow about this).

Anyway, back to Summerhill. It’s an old book, written in 1960 regarding an exceptional and peculiar school that  does not follow the norm of schools during those days.  A progressive or free school, educationalists call it. And free it is. For pupils are free to be themselves and not be confined to what parents, society or teachers want them to be. And most significantly, growing up in the absence of fear. In some ways it is a controversial way of raising up a kid but according to the author it is because of the restrictions (in the name of guidance and propriety)  we put on children when they were growing up that they develop some kind of incurable neurosis (of varying degrees) as adults. And because of that, according to Neill, the reason why we have a society that is filled with lunatics, sadists, self-centered and egoistical grown-ups. Read more about Summerhill school here. Yes, indeed, his school still lives today.

I don’t know what constitute good parenting. I’m no parent and I don’t know if I’ll ever be one but I agree with the author on one thing. All children should be happy. All children deserve a happy childhood. I read somewhere that the most crucial passage in a child’s life is the first five years. This is where the child will form her/his basic perspective and attitude towards the world. And function with such attitude from then on. So the notion is if so-and-so appear pakked-up, blame it on some deprived, unhappy childhood. (Wasn’t that the excuse Michael Jackson told the court when he was accussed of child molestation?)

Anyway, I have yet to finish the rest of the book. It has been an interesting read and I’m noting down things worth remembering when I have my share of kids in the classroom later on.

Stuff May 13, 2009

1. Sky is still breathing fire between 11AM-6PM.

2. I’m having my own “quantum of solace” for at least 3 weeks :)

3. New apartment is getting use to my presence. But the ever-flying dust continues to be like a naughty hard-to-control toddler. Can’t help especially when the main (dusty) road is just a peek down from the window. Every two days I have to wipe the floor with wet cloth. Broom alone won’t do…. Sigh.

4. Classes only begins sometime after June 19. Have at least one month to defy boredom and maybe do a mini-trip somewhere nearby. Current project which should finish in a week is helping someone type a dissertation, and figure out how to arrange the meager book collection at the media centre. Anyone wants to donate? Books especially on education, teaching, learning, psychology. Contact me. I’m serious.

5.  Admitting rather sheepishly that yes, I prolly need to go to a club and meet new people. (But why do men look terrifying to me? Eeeh.)

6. Someone offered to buy one of my songs. Heeh. Naturally am flattered. Even got me daydreaming in the toilet and I forgot to wipe my pee.

7. Had a pleasant conversation with a guy with no eyelashes today. I tried not to stare but hey my mind is another thing. It said, probably he’s hairless all over too :D If he talks to me again I’ll…

8. Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet shades on the heel that crushed it (Mark Twain). So take your chances D and make a difference in your life and the lives of others.

9. Talked to the folks recently. They still occupy their time with people, church, and occassionally parangs in their hands while clearing unwanted vegetation (probably taller than themselves) in their precious lands. The last feat worries me but I know they get some kind of happiness exerting their energies like that…

10. Been sleeping 2AM for the past one week. I looked in the mirror today and saw stuff that I think shouldn’t show yet. Not at least another 5 years or so. Unless I’m a buhangkut. And I’m not one. (Sorry, I don’t know what is buhangkut in English).

11. Girls, please take care of yourself for yourself. Use sun screen – there is a better way to die than of skin cancer. Also, don’t eat too much of either oily, salty, or very spicy food. You know darn well, they contribute to ugly complexion – unless you have plans to look like a buhangkut. (There goes the word again!) Keep a simple and neat hairstyle. Use of some make-up won’t hurt (unless you don’t wash them off before sleeping at night).

12. There is a reason why people need to sleep before 12 midnite. My mind roams and talks non-stop even while my mouth is shut.

Still May 8, 2009

(Yes, Ben. I’m still melting from the heat!)

Other than that I have nothing new to write about. Been spending my days like a little rodent distracted by the sweltering heat and scurring from one hole to another looking for a cooler shelter. Alas none to be found. Altho I heard it’s cooler 6 feet underground :)

We’re still having summer vacation till mid-June and I lazily bring myself to the college trying to start my writing project which I told everyone the reason why I’m back in India earlier. Ha! I’m still nowhere near Chapter 1. Even having a proper topic is an illusion. But at least I vowed to be serious about my reading more academic books. Well, I did bring some books home yesterday. One was titled Entrepreneurs are Made not Born (Lloyd E. Sheesky) and the other Without Feathers (Woody Allen). Nothing academic about both though… Hehehe.

Well, will see. Maybe by next week I’ll be more disciplined.

(Says, the unrepentent procastinator.)

Bah, have a flu-free weekend.

What Heat? May 1, 2009

I’m back in India. Rather reluctantly I left my beautiful Sabah expecting a harsh summer heat upon arrival. I wasn’t disappointed. For the past two nights, I’ve been sleeping like a basking seal on a sunny beach. What to do… The current house we’re occupying is poorly-ventilated and without any fans. But tomorrow night, we’re moving to a new apartment with more windows and better rooms. It’s also nearer by 15 minutes (walk) to the College.

Everyone says the heat during the day is unbearable. In fact the city recorded a high 41 degree Celsius three days ago. So fearing the worst, I stayed indoors as much as possible. But nevertheless, ever the curious nincompoop I went out at 3:30PM this afternoon just to check if I would slightly die in the sun. By that time the heat probably had subsided just slightly. For 20 minutes I purposely walked under the sun sheltered only by my lavender monsoon umbrella. There were other pedestrians and motorists on the streets but not as many as other days during the same time. But I was the only one with an umbrella. Hehe.

Another five more minutes walk and the wind started to blow bringing intense heat like that from the kitchen of a busy Chinese restaurant. Luckily it lasted only for a few seconds. My umbrella couldn’t do anything to shield me as the heat was engulfing and surrounding rather than fire-spotting me from the sky. After a while, I began to get use to the fiery air, fortunately without any ill-effect even afterwards. The only discomfort was from the usual menace – the dust.

Later, I stayed a little longer at the air-conditioned bookstore a little over yonder and waited until the sun sets a bit before I started back to the house again. Hmmm, how I wish that roads would be lined with shady trees again. They do much better service than the umbrellas in our hands. Isn’t it sad that every time a road-widening effort takes place trees would be destroyed with no replanting in sight? And isn’t it sad that every time you hear a Go Green campaign in your city it turns out to be just another popular phrase?

Well, after today, I think the stay-indoors-until-the-sun-sets advice isn’t too bad to heed.