Finished packing.
Today, at 7pm, all boxes will be transported to Putrajaya. I cant wait to work in the new office. Right now the mover is busy bubblewrapping everything. I just packed my last box.
Monday, July 25, 2011
What is IMO?
I wanted to log about this for a long time but I didnt know where to start or perhaps, I dont know how to explain. Since my brother posted an entry on this, I just copy and paste it here but in different order...
My brother has represented Malaysia three times in this competition (in Romania, 1999; Taejon, Korea, 2000; and Washington DC, USA, 2001) and since 2006 (after he graduated for the MIT, Boston), he has been training Malaysian team to the IMO. He has been appointed as a jury (the youngest, perhaps) for the competition. He had attended the IMO every year that was held in different countries - German, Spain, Kazakhstan and right now he is in Netherlands as the leader of Malaysian team.
The IMO (International Mathematical Olympiad) is an annual global mathematical contest which is considered the most prestigious academic competition in the world. Started in 1959, the IMO has produced a number of top mathematicians including winners of the Fields Medals, the “Nobel equivalent” of mathematics. In the 50 years of its existence, IMO has created a tremendous impact in mathematical education around the world, specifically on the development of talented students. IMO is the oldest, largest and most prestigious of the Science Olympiads.
At the IMO, students sit for two tests on two consecutive days, where each test consists of three problems to be solved in 4.5 hours. Students write their solutions individually. The problems are original and created specifically for this competition by mathematicians around the world. The level of difficulty of the problems is so high that a geometry problem in the paper was only solved completely by 6 students.
The Malaysia IMO training program, organized by the Malaysian Mathematical Sciences Society (PERSAMA), is a year long program to identify, shortlist, and train potential students for the IMO (More details at http://suhaimiramly.wordpress.com/imo). This program is run under the patronage of the Ministry of Education.
At the IMO, students sit for two tests on two consecutive days, where each test consists of three problems to be solved in 4.5 hours. Students write their solutions individually. The problems are original and created specifically for this competition by mathematicians around the world. The level of difficulty of the problems is so high that a geometry problem in the paper was only solved completely by 6 students.
The Malaysia IMO training program, organized by the Malaysian Mathematical Sciences Society (PERSAMA), is a year long program to identify, shortlist, and train potential students for the IMO (More details at http://suhaimiramly.wordpress.com/imo). This program is run under the patronage of the Ministry of Education.
Malaysia won our first International Mathematical Olympiad Gold medal at the IMO 2011 in Amsterdam. Congratulations to How Si Yu, Form 4 student at SMK USJ12. He managed to rank #25 overall among 564 top math students from 101 countries.
His identical twin, How Si Wei who is also in Form 4 at SMK USJ12, won a Silver Medal. Tham Ying Hong, Form 5 at SMJK Katholik PJ, bagged a Bronze Medal. This is Ying Hong’s third IMO (he won a Silver Medal in IMO 2010 in Kazakhstan). Two members of the team, Anzo Teh Zhao Yang from SMJK Chung Ling Butterworth and Justin Lim Kai Ze from SMK Tinggi Kluang, both in Form 3, won Honorable Mention award. HMs are given to participants which do not make the cutoff points for medals but able to solve a problem completely. Another member of the Malaysian team is Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin, an A-Level student at INTEC Shah Alam, and former student at SM Sains Teluk Intan.
More about my brother :
Utusan Malaysia & Kosmo!. I have no time to search for more (yes, there are actually more), just dig up his blog. you'll find it.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Moving in : Part 11 - Pop Kitchen
Earlier, I wanted our kitchen to look modern (& monotonous) with grey wall, white tiles and black, silver & white kitchen utensils. We went through such an agonising time searching for modern /chic silver, black and white ONLY utensils. OMG, it was so hard considering our tight budget. One day, I was just gave up. This one was a minor gave up over the kitchen utensils. I rarely gave up on something - maybe once in ten years.
I need to run my kitchen and I need to run it RIGHT NOW! No time to go around looking for some WHITE / SILVER / BLACK kitchen utensils that fit my strict specifications. White chic scoop for scooping rice, black ladle for frying - so it is not obvious if it burnt, all containers should be glass (transparent) & silver...
So I started to buy a few pieces in different colours because those were the only colours available on the display shelves that time. Later on, I found out that adding a pop of colours here and there made our kitchen more interesting, well, at least for me who spend most of my time in the kitchen. Colours make me smile. Sometimes, putting a stop to a nonsense is a very good start for something better.
Thanks, BIL
My bro-in-law just came back from a short trip to London today. He brought us these. Thanks!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Family : Port Dickson, July 2011
We let the kids play with the sand by the beach at night, in their pyjamas. But, Nazran hates SANDY beach. He hates sand. We dont know why.
He clinged to me like a joey (read - baby koala).
He refuse to stand on the sand at all. Everytime I put him down, he will stand on my Crocs.
Until I gave him a pen and ask him to draw a cat on the sand. Using the pen.
At last! Phew!
The next day, it happened all over again. He refuse to took off his pair of slippers. He doesnt want leave the grassy area. I have to go through the same battle with the baby koala again... Oh, Nazran!
Dating
It felt so good to be able to hang out once in a while, sipping our favourite cappucino (frappe & italiano) and talk for hours at Cafe Barbera, KLIA. Just the two of us.
Another photographer in the house - Nabil
Last time I'd posted an entry on Nabil's interest in photography (here). Lately, since we bought a 60D, we gave him a chance to play around with our 1000D (and of course, the 60D) once in a while (for those who are not familiar, they are the models of Canon DSLR).
Earlier this week we went to Port Dickson. Papa taught him some lessons on capturing photos of flower and birds while waiting for sunset (Mama was busy running around with another two in our hotel room). When they came back and Nabil showed me his photos, I was so proud! Not bad for a 5 years old, eh?
Nabil in action.
I hope you'll become a famous photographer in the future. I will be here to support you all the way.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
LED Watch
This is my not-so-new LED Watch. You know I just can’t say NO to anything WHITE. It comes in many shapes but as usual, I opted for square wristwatch. It is covered with two-way mirror and all I have to do is push the upper button and voila, the time will appear in a bright red LED lights. After a few seconds, it turn back to mirror. I can touch up my make up anytime.
Owh, I am feeling so Retro right now (LED watch was introduced in 1970s). I can even check my teeth after a meal at the table without excusing myself to the powder/restroom (before I can smile and converse confidently), every time. LOL.
For a cool white gadget like this, YES, it is cheap.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
My sons are in ohdeedoh....
I was a silent reader of ohdeedoh for a couple of years now. I was hoping to post some photos of our new house or enter any ohdeedoh contest in the future. Last month they were having a Reader Survey titled What's The Weirdest Place Your Kids Have Napped?
I posted two links at the comment section and to my surprise, on 11th July 2011, they published the result / entry related to the above topic with the title - Your Kids Sleep In The Darndest Place. I was jumping up and down when I saw my sons' photos! It is among the funniests! Yay!
(From ohdeedoh)
From stairs to hallways, from furniture to hands in jars, your kids truly fall asleep in the darndest places!
Photos above are from the following folks:
• Life In Motion Photography
• Cherlyn Wagner
• Julianne Hudgins Marcellus
• My Convertible Life
• Flickr member Tetê Carneiro
• Flickr member giozi
• Flickr member NannersP
• Garlic and Butter
When children are tired their batteries run out and they power down in some of the funniest places. Did you miss the boat and forget to leave us a link? Don't be shy and leave us one below!
(HURRY!!! Submit your link @ ohdeedoh!!)
Another artist in the house - Nazreen + Pop Art
There was one point of time that I really into pop art, a movement pioneered by Andy Warhol. This is an example of pop art (via net).
A couple of week ago, I bought Nazreen a colouring book and I was so excited to see his work - very POP ART-y and very different from Nabil's work. He used a lot of colours but it doesnt overlap as if he has already drew invisible boundaries within the object. Not bad for a 3 years old, huh?
This is how the artist keep his coloured pencil before he went to sleep.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Nabil's FIRST Report Card Day
Actually, it was my FIRST too.
The teacher gave a good remark on Nabil and we were quite relieved, knowing how playful he could be at home. We need to double the effort to make sure Nabil could read, write, draw, colour and speak in English well before he enter Standard One next year. (Sarah, my niece, on the right was having a fever that time)
Nabil bought some books and some plastic springs for his brothers, using my money, of course. How thoughtful.
Happy Father's Day
All 12 of us celebrated Father's Day (for three superb fathers in our big family) at Middle East Restaurant : Sawarabina @ Titiwangsa. Yummy. The kids were having fun with the masks and bubbles.
(Sawarabina means We grew up together in Syrian - as being told by the cashier)
Ultraman
It is getting hard when Nazran thinks he is really an Ultraman whenever he put on the mask. It was weird when he seems not interested with bubbles like everyone else (at the back) does.
He ran here and there, kicked (and of course, fell down a few times after "being kicked" by an invisible monster), shoot everyone who are in his way fighting forces of evil on earth.
And boy oh boy, he was getting very serious when he bumped into another boy with an Ultraman mask! He just felt the urge to fight because there cant be two identical Ultramans on earth!! The other one must be a poser and has to be destroyed!!
I dont capture the rest of the drama (where he shoot the boy - Ultraman-style) because I was laughing out loud and I couldnt hold the camera still.
Designer in the making
When Mama got a lot of work to do...
I dont mind clearing up the mess, as long as I can do my work peacefully, for a couple of hours.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Moving in : Part 10 - TV Area
Our TV Area have a very special natural daylight that penetrates through a transparent roof tile. I love it so much because we don't have to switch on the light inside the house during the day. BUT it is bright alright and we need to apply sunscreen to watch TV in our own house. LOL.
I pity the children who always find a way to avoid the glaring hot sunlight, and the heat - which hit directly on the sofa in front of the TV. Yes, it is HOT especially between 12.01pm to 2.30pm. They have choices whether to sit on the floor or other sofa or the other part of the sofa, but, the middle part of this sofa is the best spot for watching TV. We fought for it all the times. LOL. Sometimes they wear their caps and some other times, they uses umbrella while watching TV. Dramatic, yes?
This will help you to get the better picture of the HOT SPOT in our TV area.
We did a lot of sketches of all possible solutions and we end up with the simplest, fastest [and cheapest] measure, for the time being. We hang three huge Japanese rice paper lanterns. The lanterns diffuse [and absorb] the sunlight and solve the problem that was haunting the kids for quite a while. It look nice too.
We were thinking to hang a few smaller RED lantern to make it more outstanding. For the time being, the lanterns are sort of blend with the wall and ceiling.
More on our MOVING IN Adventures! Click here.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Moving in : Part 09 - Moving stuff with a lorry
I would like to thank a very nice neighbour of ours - ARIL, a 20yo gentleman who live across the street - for always been there for us. He helped us a lot in clearing out the house since April, taking care of our kids, paint some part of the house, be the first one to arrive whenever I had an encounter with ugly pests (and scream) and recently, he rented a lorry, drove it and move all furniture from my parent's to our new habitat, together with us. He never complaint. In fact he sings for us all the time.
This was the kids' first ride on a lorry. They were extremely excited. First trip - carry Atuk's sofa, a few cupboards and book shelves to our new habitat. Only 2km apart.
Although they are handful most of the time but they are very helpful when it comes to teamwork. (They were carrying their book shelves).
Second trip - carry quite a number of potted plants to Atuk's house. Nabil sat with his favourite Abang Aril, while others remained at the back of the lorry with the plants.
Third trip - another sofa and other small stuff. Atuk also gave us a huge frame of Quranic verses as a present. Nazreen joined Nabil and Aril at the front. The rest traveled by car.
It was tiring. We slept for the rest of the day. This was the most tiring moving in work so far, but we were satisfied to do all the work ourselves (of course with some help from Aril).
More on our MOVING IN Adventures! Click here.
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