LIFE-LONG LEARNING, that's the 3 L's I meant. One NEVER stops learning since one squeals out from Mom's secure womb into this uncertain world . . . until one's last breath, I suppose. So it is with me. Especially after one is retired from the 'official' working world, one should not stop getting new challenges so that the mind will not remain stagnant. As for me, after I took optional retirement at the age of 50, I turned my direction right-about turn 180 degrees from being an Art teacher . . to pursue my favourite hobby i.e. learning a foreign language. While still working, I had dabbled in French, Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin all to of no avail. Mainly because I did not practice the language learnt. I had no one to practice them with. So the language just disappeared. Then I took up Arabic - now that's very useful. Firstly, I use Arabic everyday, five times a day in my solat (prayers). Secondly, I read the Quran - I want to know the meaning of the words without referring to a dictionary or translation all the time. I want to make my recitation of the Quran more meaningful. Next, I want to understand what the Imam in Makkah / Madinah (when I perform my Umrah/Haj) says in his sermons, why he's always in tears at some parts. I want to understand my 'doa', what I'm asking from Allah. And so it goes . . many reasons why I MUST know Arabic. So since 10 years from first learning the language, with Allah's grace and barakah, I'm given the ability to pass my knowledge to my friends especially the Senior citizens group. Yet I still feel insufficient and not yet proficient. Thus I take the next step in my dream to pursue an intensif Arabic course in an Arab-speaking country. Dear friends, I'll be away in Jordan for 1 month, stationed at the Language Centre at the University of the Middle East. So I won't be updating this blog for a while. God willing, I'll be back after a month with lots of experiences to share here. Below are some pictures of my 'students' from several classes, intensely following my steps . . . NEVER STOP LEARNING!
The Klebang group
Sitting on the floor also can do . . .
Here's Kak Timah, my 70-something friend, never gives up!
Kak Asmah and Nas busy copying from the board
Kak Eton, the eldest in my group
. . . and Sharifah Nor, among those I share my knowledge with
Until then, ma'a salamah wa illal li qa'
(Good-bye, until we meet again)
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