School

Every year, this time of year, I get queries on my experience with Sri UCSI. As big K wraps up six years there, perhaps I can document my journey through that school.

When she started at that school in 2010, quite a few private schools offered the local syllabus still. There was demand for the local syllabus still -- mainly because, in my view, Maths and Science were taught in English. Sadly, that was the final year for such a policy. The following year's students had to study the two subjects in BM and English.

That, in my opinion, eroded the demand for local syllabus private school education. Many schools, including Sri Nobel, moved entirely to international syllabus for primary and secondary school. Sri KL had moved by 2010, if I'm not mistaken.

Sri UCSI wanted to do the same but pressure from parents with children doing local syllabus at the school led to two "streams" at the school. Sri UCSI proceeded to start an international school.

As I started my search for secondary school, albeit a little late in 2015, I realised the proliferation of private schools or learning centres over the past few years.

Many are small learning centres, a few are large and considered premium ones, such as Taylor's and Rafflesia.

Oddly enough, not all expensive schools work for the kids. I encountered one parent moving her son to Sri UCSI from Rafflesia. A few others withdrew from Sri UCSI for Taylor's and Sunway International.

My take? All schools will have their pluses and minuses. For me, the time spent commuting to school is equally important as the the type of school that suits the kids.

Big K is now in a school that she thoroughly enjoys though the hours are longer than what she had in Sri UCSI. So,  from grumbling about being home from school late, she now talks about missing school on weekends! Sure hope the feel-good factor lasts. 

The Run That Didn't Happen

As a kid in school, I never excelled in sports. I couldn't run fast enough, jump high enough or throw far enough to earn a medal. Cooper's Run I could complete but anything else was just not good enough.

This year, I eagerly awaited the start of 

registration for the Standard Chartered KL Marathon. I signed up within hours, for the 10 km Run for a Cause, which means I get to raise fund for a charity I pick. I chose Hospis Malaysia. I've always wanted to do more for Hospis. This organisation assisted Woan and I dedicated my first road run to my sister.

September came along, and less than a month before the run, we were engulfed in haze, smog from forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia.

Two days before the race, the race was declared still happening. I rushed to Dataran Merdeka after work Friday to collect running kits. The haze was so awful that I'd told myself I wouldn't turn up for the race. The following day, the race was declared off.

I'd spent that Saturday house cleaning, so the news arrived my end only when my work was done for the day.

I was still glad to have raised money for Hospis even though my first road run failed to take place. Next year then. And here's little K with the finisher medal that Big K said I "cheated" to obtain. Whoops. 

Running

Running was not my area at all. My legs, thighs would itch when I run. So I never ran. Hardly run. Avoided running.

A year ago, the gym closed for renovation. I'd just returned to the gym after I stopped breastfeeding Karen in April.

I couldn't just stop my workouts after a hiatus of 20 months for breastfeeding and the nine months of pregnancy. I'd just started working out!

I chose to run at the park then. It started with one loop in the park. About 1.3 km. then I put on my earphones, and achieved 3 loops or 4 km. I felt great!

By August, during a holiday in Penang, I had gone on to 5 km.

The running in the morning also meant I had to shower in the surau because the gym was unavailable for use.

In October, I reached 6 km and 8 km. and the 10 km milestone was achieved in December.

Somehow, along the way, I'd lost the sensation of itch on my legs and thighs. How very odd.

Today is also an achievement because I made 10 km on a treadmill. My first. 

It's odd to run because one will never run out of space to run. And I have this in mind when the running gets tough: Why walk when you can run.

Thank you, 2014

The year 2014 simply flew by. But which year didn't, eh? May be the year that Woan was diagnosed.

Last year was a year to be extremely thankful for, for the family.

I kept at nursing baby Karen till she was 20 months old. She adjusted well to formula when we started her on it at 17 months. After stopping breastfeeding, I went back to exercising.

Just as I was getting into the habit of hitting the gym, it was shut for an upgrade. Shucks.

I took to running, or rather, jogging and walking in the park and at home. That was in July. 

I got a boost in this activity when SF gave me a jawbone UP fitness band for my birthday.

He also gifted me an iPhone arm band for running.

Off I went. Half a year later, I've gone from being a total non-runner to a 10 km one. It's been hectic trying to squeeze in running when there's no gym to shower in and there's the school run in the morning. I could go on and on about the obstacles, couldn't I?

How things turned out is testament to a bit of willpower and a lot of God's blessing. I showered in the surau and made time for running before starting work.

This year, I've started yoga classes again to build core strength. Running isn't taking a back seat and I'll keep striving at it. I work at it to have better health -- physical and mental.

This is a year of Kayrin's first major exams. I'm anxious but I've also pushed her to better herself at her studies.

Challenges will be thrown at us, whenever and whatever we do. It's our will that will carry us through. Happy new year!