Railway Children's theatre

While I had to direct and act in our drama class, I was also assigned to act in our school play -_- as if everything is not tiring enough. 

This time, we had to work with our seniors, the second year and third year to present the Form 3 novel, Railway Children. The script and storyline were easy peasy... what's not easy was..us. It's complicated to arrange our meetings for practice as all of us aren't from the same year. In the end, we had to practice till past midnight or during the weekends. And not to mention, this semester I have 3 subjects with 100% coursework and all of them are begging for my attention :'(

Last week, after a few times practicing, it finally came to an end as we had our photo-shoot for the poster , and bammmm d-day quickly followed three days after. 

Syamim semangat and so gigih being a mermaid

okay here's a decent one just in case you need one

Penat Syamim menonggeng sini sana, last2 pakai gambar skema ni hahahahhaha

It was a private occasion attended by a few ministers and principals from schools all over Malaysia. Thank God it ended already ! phew

However ,,,, 

I just received a bad news from Syud our director, that Dr Lin wants us to perform a drama again next semester -_- 

so technically we're still on the endless journey.

luckily this team is filled with funny people

These past few days had been crazy I barely get enough sleep. Yesterday, I was sick and oh also today for the program,  I had to recite poem with the opposite character of the drama character -_-. Macam orang gila rushing tukar baju and make up.

After the program ended, my babies quickly dragged me for a short 'calm-down-woman' moment to sip a large cup of green tea. 

Haikal busy dok ber photo-shoot while I savoured my few hours break before I get back to my other assignments. 

 

80s Drama Night 'Blast from The Past'

So our drama has officially ended last night !!!! Alhamdulillah for everything . 

Even though there're some glitches here and there, I'm just glad it finally ended. At last ! 

As soon as our team bowed on the stage, I felt like the whole burden were lifted away from my shoulders ; seriously never felt as free as that.

IT IS FINALLY OVER !

Class with our dearest Dr. K posited nearly impossible goals to the extent of having to perform a musical drama from the 1980's; because acting only is apparently not challenging enough. Though obvious when the oeuvre has finally completed, such demands had actually taught us needed antidote to the term of 'capable teacher' ,,, yet the journey was not one in which I would wish to go through again. Thanks but no thanks. Kissing my goodbye to PET102. 

It was tiring because of the workload behind the scene. People kept expecting this and that and they only knew how to ask. Never sign me up to be a director. Ever again. I'm so done. 

Plus, the clerical tasks that we had to do in order to ensure the event run smoothly was the worst nightmare. Dealing with university admin is the worst nightmare. I know I've said this last semester, and I'm going to say it again, "It's. the. worst."
With little cooperation given by the administrations and some people in the office, we were like puppets; do as what they pointed us to. 

"Go here, ask for Mr. bla bla bla."

"No I'm not in charge. Try asking this bla bla bla office."

"Our department can't let you do this."

Took us months just to secure a venue! And that's just a venue. Don't get me started on other things. 

Yeah. I know it's not good for me to whine but we've been through this for 2 semesters. They're just repeating the same patterns. It is 'running here and there' all over again. But well, of course 1st semester was much worse for us, beginners. Thank God we started early.

As for my own drama team, our group failed in the first practice, was personally requested by Dr. Hardy to reconsider the play, and rewrite the plot.

Not to mention we argued about the scripts and plots, a lot.

We also had problems with the music and dancing teams, 

our main actor was VERY degil (he insisted on going to hockey practice) that he injured himself the day BEFORE the performance (he blamed my mulut masin pffft and I blamed his thickheaded act).

and many more countless issues that we encountered as a team. 

Nevertheless, team is like family. Quarrel as you may, you're still a unit. Attached to one another.
As a team, we compete together ; win or lose as a team, and rise or fall, also as a team. Indeed, we argued a lot but it was because each of us wanted Guns N' Roses  to be the best team, not because of abhorrence

and I am proud to say that 

I LOVE MY TEAM VERY MUCH, 

all thanks to the passion that had driven them to such a wonderful work. 

Guns N Roses :) Urgh those vibrant colours of 80's costumes.

Well, our drama was about a boy who wanna avenge his father's death. He planned it by inviting his rivals to an isolated island through a mysterious phone call. They ended being stuck in the island with no boats and landlines until the next few days , and had to face one after another murder. No one was to be trusted any longer. They started to suspect each other. When there's only a few of them left on the island, the crime was finally revealed. And, the last person anyone would have guessed, was the master mind. 

First scene; flashback to 15 years ago.

Last scene, where Iskandar performed a monologue of a mentally disturbed man, while being tied.

Rehearsal was waay better, I would say. Still, it was an enjoyable experience working with these people :) And, we all had fun , didn't we :) :) :)

Nana's and Allia's groups performance were funny!

p/s :  After having dinner, I went back to the room, plonked on my bed and was unconscious till this afternoon. Haha. Didn't even wipe the make up off. After months of having my life in storm, I could finally have a good rest. The sleep was good. 

Our Poem Recitation

As you may or may not know, our lecturer for Oral Class is very strict. We were warned about him since the very first semester by the seniors. 

Okay now forget about the boring mundane first sem. Now we're in second sem and here we are , dancing , singing and monkeying around in front of Subaidah pave-walk for our Wednesday class. Literall. Because those are our tasks for this sem. To perform weekly in front of the busiest restaurant in USM.

Two weeks ago, we're given a title for an individual monologue and had to perform it on the spot. God. Dr.K really knows how to test his students' limits, doesn't he ? Urghhh 

Mine was, 

"You are stucked in an abandoned nuclear plant in Chernobyl." and after 5 seconds , "Action."

-__________________________- 

mega facepalm, right there in front of Dr. K. 

I swear even the performance art students won't be able to think of a scene or script within the time given. 

It was a total disaster. I prefer not to recall it.

And then last week, his task was, 

'Perform an original poem of yours within 90 seconds. No less, no more or I will straight away give a B' 

Always play his 'B card' , guys. All the time. And yes, it worked on us, somehow. Hahaha. 

As usual, this pathetic student of his (me of course) went back to Kelantan for her weekend and only prepared the poem the night before. Thank God the timing was extraordinarily perfect although I didn't even memorize the whole thing. haha. Who cares.

Okay forget about it. 

The thing is, our class is like a BIIIIIG melting pot of drama and adventure, so a 'live' weekly drama is a must . 

The tinge of 'drama drama drama' for last week was, we had to redo the recitation. 

 Dr. K was very furious at us last week (said we didn't prepared much, take things lightly, not fitted to be English teachers and so on blablabla all those excuses) , 

and he just canceled the class. 

Pooffff. Begone.

So this week, here we are ... semangat as hell. haha

(this class has really burned my whole pocket, I tell you)

Not to mention it's only 5% of the paper's coursework. 

*muka bulan, muka bulan, muka bulan*

Mayra is begging for more mark apparently haha and I'm just giving up on this class, nothing in particular. Thanks for asking.

Muka desperate markah  

nenek kebayan 

another beggar haha

my personal favourite poem recitation !
sumpah best and creepy gila.
and i think dr liked it too. kudos syuhaida !

I am sooo done with this semester. Still, need to survive ! Lusa dah nak kena perform dramaaaaa

p/s : Thanks for singing me birthday song in front of the restaurant :') so sweet of you guys. Thanks

Update: 3 students were chosen to recite poem and represent USM in an event with the ministers and I don't know how and why but somehow, I was one of them hahahahaha.
I was already a part of the drama team with the seniors (same event) and my costume for that part was the opposite. My role for that one was to look girly. Lol. Someone needs a make up assistant that can do the job quickly.

Working my way through

Assalamualaikum :) 

Well , I have MUET exam in a few days and this is my second attempt trying to answer the past year question. For the time being, I honestly don't have the mood to write. Leaving my draft here. Just in case I feel like continuing it.

“Women make better leaders than men”

Main Idea

-For peace to prevail. (world history suggests that violence and conflicts were more evident under male leadership than under female leadership )

-great leaders have great communication skills. (women prefer to communicate directly. Ask big-picture question about their work and its value . And they listen to others’)

-more sensitive towards the need of society . and most women are more meticulous and detailed . (look for minor details)

Draft 1

              Apropos of this statement, I am in consummate accord with it; women make better leaders than men. Observing this issue from some perspectives, I believe that a leader is like a helmsman of a sailing ship. It may seem like a rather simple and easy task:- to steer the vessel and conduct the whole crew to arrive at the desired destination but the responsibilities are huge. The team are wholly reliant on the sacrosanct ability of their leader; one small mistake and the whole ship sink. Nevertheless, despite the capability that a leader should possess, many of us still keep bringing up the issue of who have the potential to be greater leader, men or women? We have not only seen this debate between genders for these past few years but since time immemorial. In my humble opinion, it is rather a more accurate notion to agree that women make better leaders due to their creativity in solving problems, sensitivity towards the society need and ability to communicate directly.

             To begin with, women do prefer to solve the problems in a more creative way, unlike men whom mostly preferred to end any confrontation with violence.  As far as we can submerge ourselves in the world of history, we see wars, power struggles, conflicts and violent competitions between humans as the revolutions stroke. Predominantly dominated by male rulers and leaders, the tendency in prevailing peace always ended in vain or else, vie. As the ruling powers relegated from men to women since these past few years, only then people start living in amity.

Google : Hatshepsut … queen victoria….bloody marry, record their approach towards war vs other kings.

Continue later ….

Disputing: 

Have wars BUT...

Even though most of the women who are known to be great till date, e.g. Queen Isabella of Spain, Queens Marry, a.k.a. Bloody Marry, Victoria, and Elizabeth of Britain, all have ruled over vast spectrums of power. And they often have done so ruthlessly, achieving goals with an iron hand. They have waged wars that are barely comparable to only few of those devised by men. These women are not anomalies of history, but examples from numerous others, who went beyond the boundaries of gender in the path of prevailing in power while expending peace whenever they deemed it to be expendable.

Concluding paragraph ?

              The two greatest wars of modern history, World Wars I & II, have taught us that wars are impersonal. Race, religion, nationality, sex are only pretence to the universally human lust for power. During both the global conflicts men were in the rulers’ thrones. 

It will also be foolish to ignore that Margaret Thatcher, the famed Iron Lady who spared no rod against a minnow enemy in the war of Falkland, whom has prevented a larger scale of war (compare with: how the greats Winston Churchill and Franklyn D. Roosevelt had been tackling the Axis of Hitler). A deeper perspective always reveals to historians that conflict is a generic tendency of humans. So peace being disturbed is not the liability of men only, but humans in general, and a power shift, from men to women, is destined to be fruitful in prevailing peace.

Argument for male leaders: 

The gender issue is only a determinant in the battle of the sexes, not the battles among nations and peoples. It is therefore impertinent, if not irrational, to conclude that world conflicts result from the rule of a particular gender and the finer sex would do a better job at prevailing peace if selectively put at the helm of human nations….. OR .

* I should read more. At time like this, I started to realize how important it is to read :'( 

The myth behind vampirism, a definition essay

Written by : Anis Fakhira bt. Mohd. Khirzani and Siti Hajar Bt. Idris . 

Vampirism : The Myth behind it

   Vampires. We often perceive about this undead creature who feed on the blood of the living. Albeit the tales about vampires might have been recorded in many cultures through the prehistoric times, the term vampire was not widely used until the early 18^th century. Known by different names at the areas where vampire legends are numerous, such as Balkans and Eastern Europe (vrykolakas in Greece and strigoi in Romania), topics regarding vampires had become frequent, especially after an influx of vampire superstition into Western Europe. Due to this increasing level of vampire superstition in Europe, hysteria and cases resulted in corpses were being staked – even the innocent people were accused of vampirism. Then, people started to make a big fuss about vampire. Strong, mortal, can command the evils ; as Bram Stoker had written in his book, Dracula, we cannot argue more but to believe how great the vampires are. Nonetheless, this essay will give you further explanations regarding this creature, comprising the characteristics, strengths and weaknesses.

         A person who died violently, committed a suicide or was wrongly accused and killed, were told to have the power to avoid death by becoming a vampire. Various stories were told during that time about dead people ; they might come again and suck their friends blood or they will transform their family into vampires too. Of course, who would not be afraid of this haunting creature? Described to have a pair of red flaring eyes that will send shivers down humans’ veins, this creature somehow only have a slight different from the human. They might appear to look like human but they are not.

         This pallid face creature or sometimes known as the blood sucker, cannot live without blood. As blood is the elixir of life, it gives them energy, power and also replenishes their
body - blood is the key of mortality. Since the blood will only circulate in their body for a short time period, they do not suffer mental disorder or any other real humans’ diseases. The bloods that they drink only act as the oxygen supplier. Thus, it is impossible for them to die due to the infections. However, some might not know that vampire can be killed, which means their mortality can be ended. There are many ways that can lead towards their deaths such as burn them, remove their brain or just simply stab their heart by wood. Some said that they can be killed by using religious symbol but this method is not yet approved.

          As the intriguing stories about vampire were told from one generation towards other, we learned that they definitely have a lot of unnatural power. Not only peculiarly strong, vampirism also increases ones speed to superhuman levels, complete with surpassing grace of werewolves for vampires live beyond mortal time - they can travel from one place to another through a small amount of time, allowing them to move quicker than what the human eyes can notice.  They often appear to be much faster than they truly are; they can across a room in what seems like an eye-blink. In fact, the speed will keep increasing as they survive longer. Thus, tempering with time, the vampires can grow stronger.

           To have the ability to shape-shift into certain animal like bats, rats, cats, raven, and wolves, vampires definitely gain the power to control the animals like their puppets. Thus, it is possible for them to be able to call the animals; each vampire usually can call an animal only – one vampire could call bats and another could call wolves, for example. However, not all vampires have an animal to call. Hence, being able to call more than one animal is even rarer since it will be considered as a prime power, yet it is only effective for related animals such as leopards and lions or bats and rats. To call both snake and bear at the same time is impossible, hence. These animals will protect the vampires, act as servants and sometimes can kill the masters if they use the power for something improper and against the ability of the animals.

          Despite all the inhumanly great powers and strengths, vampires definitely have a long list of weaknesses too. Some accounts from the folklore indicated that vampires live in their graves during the day and rise during the night. It was quite a mystery back then before they finally figured out that it was all due to the sunlight. Vampire cannot endure the pulsing beams of the sunlight. To avoid the unrelenting rays, they only appear to be active at night; hunting and quenching the thirst for blood. Since vampirism turns people into a creature of evil, it is not an unusual occurrence that they restrain from sunlight:- sunlight represents good or in other way , it means that sunlight signifies God. Sure it is, even the vampires are afraid of the power of God.

         Other than the beaming rays of the sun, vampires are also vulnerable to the garlics. We often read from the myth, which vampire is an ancient metaphor for the horrible and unexplainable epidemic diseases (at that time). Then, how does this story of garlic circulate?  Infections like the plague and cholera that killed thousands of people coming without any visible cause, had caused the people to bring out the ‘garlic stories’- due to the benefit that the garlics provide; to kill germs. Another concept is, garlic is also a known insect repellent which reportedly works well against mosquitoes as vampirism can be seen as the symbolic of mosquito bites. While the origins of the myth cannot be confirmed, we can be sure that Dracula must have had a really bad breath. This would fit well with the vampire folklore and gothic fiction.

            Vampires have haunted our dreams for ages. Most are scared because of their appearance, dark, predatory, and some may even say, devilish. While others were wary of them because of their abilities, the idea of having overhyped supernatural abilities like flying, transforming and immortality boggles and fascinates the human mind because of their illogical nature. Only by placing these tempting and illogical thoughts to illusive creatures like the vampire can we find solace and peace to sleep at night. And if they do turn up to be true, we have quite a few ways to kill them, be it beheading them, staking and burn their hearts or stuffing the poor vampire’s mouth with garlic. Even though the origins to the myth of vampires can roughly be traced to the ancient time, the human mind will forever remain entwined with the idea of the immortal blood sucking creatures and constantly evolve the legend, adding more characteristics and abilities.

Rejuvenate & Rejoice

Rewrote this essay for writing class :) and edited the ending . Kinda like the new ending . Hope you guys like it too !!!

The wind.
It came like spears, prickling her soul. The blanket was being too thin, it might be. As the maid saw her Madame twitching in shiver, she darted towards the other chamber to take another thick woollen blanket.

Lauren tried to inhale a great sum of air;- hoping the pain in her chest could be eased. Ah  She knew, her maid's endeavour would end in vain . Though she had added two ... no ... no ... three ... no ... it would still be insufficient. Lauren sighed and coughed again. She could feel a sharp pain in her chest ; like being submerged in water , deprived of oxygen. Her head was heavy and so was her eyes but she could not close them. Not yet.

Lauren rubbed the empty space beside her and it felt cold, like the room temperature, indicating her daughter was not there before. Curiosity began to subjugate her brain. Where was her daughter?

"Mummy. Dinner is ready."

She sighed as she realized there was a tiny hand pulling her left hand. What should she answer? She had no energy to eat and consume the food. All she could do was lying carelessly on the mattress, accompanied by a surfeit of queasy sensation patrolling by her uvular. But ... of course.

"You have last staged cancer."

The doctor's voice was still reverberated in her eardrums. She suffered bone cancer but she refused to be warded. Lauren knew that she would have to go sooner or later. She did not have much time left for her daughter , Aya .

Aya ...
Six years old Aya knew nothing . She was still young and gullible . Two weeks after she was born, her father died in a tragic car crash. Thinking about Aya's future, without no one to look after her , Lauren could not stop the tears from streaming down her cold and pallid cheek. Loving Aya was the greatest feeling she had ever had. However, she had to leave her daughter soon.

"Mummy . The dinner is ready." Her brain snapped into focus as Aya kept on repeating the statement for a few times while clasping her mother's wiry arm.

Lauren tried to curl her lips upward in a semblance of a smile , coughing really hard and only managed to nod consecutively. Aya looked satisfied by the nods and she replied with an angelic smile.
Kissing her mother's forehead , Aya's twinkling eyes then nailed to Lauren's mien before she dashed towards the door.
Lauren exhaled a long-deep heavy sigh.

The unforgiving winds wailed proudly as they struck despair down to her very core. Her time has came. She could not bear the pain any longer. Another gentle breeze caressed her skin and ruffled her messy hair. Her dull weak hand reached for her chest , trying to sooth the pain . The agony was killing her ;- as if the bones were slowly shattered into pieces.

"I have been waiting for you and you are still sleeping?" Her ears caught Aya's voice, startling her.

Lauren could detect that Aya was approaching her and climbed onto the bed as the bed made a squeaky sound. Aya crawled towards her mother, sat huddled and stroked Lauren's hair gently . Lauren's hair used to be in brunette and all shiny but it was quite dull lately. Curling up small beside Lauren, Aya rested her head against her mother while kissing Lauren's shoulder repeatedly. Maybe Mummy was tired. Very tired.

"Darling." Lauren called her daughter hoarsely.
"I will be sleeping for another thousand years." She uttered with an abated breathe. "Take..care...of yourself."

Aya twitched her eyebrow in bewilderment.

Suddenly , her already wide eyes flipped open broadly and the small mouth asked in wonder , "But it was a long time , Mummy. What should I do to wake you up ?" Lauren rendered speechless upon hearing the unanswered question.

Aya wrapped her hands around Lauren's arm tightly while her eyes were still transfixed to her mother. She did not care. She would still wait until another thousand years as long as they would eventually have dinner together. They would have their pasta and laughed again . Like before.

"I love you .You love me 

We're a happy family 

With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you. 

Won't you say you love me too"

Tears swam in Lauren's eyes as Aya sang her favourite rhymes. Aya caressed her mother's wrinkled eyes before kissing them. She yawned and she could feel her eyelids were heavy. She would love to sleep but she was afraid . What if Mummy wakes up and needs her help ? She yawned once again and finally closed her eyes while tightened her hug.


Lauren gasped as another sharp pain hit her , the pain of her soul being taken. But no tears were coming out. Yes . She was ready to leave Aya.  Lauren inhaled the air , inhaled the smell of Aya's hair , and managed a smile .

Two hours later ...

"Mummy , wake up. Why are you so cold ?" Shaking her mother's arm for a few times, Aya uttered the question in panic. There was no reply however.

Her mother was lying breathlessly on the bed, not moving or even coughing . What had happened ?!

Aya jumped out of the bed and ran towards the maid's room. Pulling the maid's hand , she murmured , nearly cried ,"Mummy is cold. Put more blanket on her. Quick! "

The maid approached her Madame and leaned forward to check the pulse.

"Mummy is not cold , sweetie . She's only tired and needs some sleep. " Aya winced and exclaimed that her mother have to wake up no matter what. Lauren hadn't had her dinner yet . She would starve.
Nevertheless, the maid would only shook her head while trying to plaster a smile . She tried not to cry in front of Aya but it was really hard .

All of sudden , Aya sprinted towards the table beside her mother's bed and grabbed her mother's purse  and the car key. She immediately handed it to the maid.

"Quick . We must find a really BIIIIG alarm clock to wake Mummy up."

Tears were eventually coming out from the maid's eyes and she sobbed real hard, trying to stop them . Seeing Aya's big twinkling aqua eyes pleading to her , made her to torn between telling the truth and making wild flying lies. She held the innocent little child in her arms and muttered weakly under her breathe ,

"Mummy will wake up, dear. I promise you.”

Aya nailed her eyes onto her maid’s face, eyebrows twitched and mouth pouted , disappointed by the answer :- it was not what she expected. She needed the clock! Not a promise. Mummy must be very hungry. 

Her insisting gaze sent shivers of guilty into the maid’s spine.

“Can we buy the alarm clock tomorrow? The shopkeepers out there must be very sleepy. It’s already midnight, darling.” And she eventually nodded in frustration.

Aya could not sleep in peace, of course – thinking about Mummy would turn the night into a very long night.

She finally fell asleep while hoping that tomorrow would bring her good news.

She tried to open her eyes. But the unrelenting light was unbearable. Aya forced her eyes open though she felt like there were heavy stones on her eyelids. The rocking motion that carried her made her eyes immediately flipped open in curiosity. Where was she ?

Aya blinked her eyes for a few times, trying to comprehend the situation around her. Cold sprouted her body and her teeth gritted as she heard the ‘swoosh and swish’ of the rain. 

The maid was embracing her yet the warm gesture could not ease her worry. She ran her eyes around her only to see men and women in black, carrying umbrella in their hands. They looked sad. Some were even sobbing and Aya was pretty sure she saw a familiar old lady in a black cape and that lady was wailing real hard.

“Where are we?” the question was finally laboured from her mouth.

“At the cemetery.” Her maid replied in a forced gusto.

“What is cemetery ?” Curiosity bubbled inside her, she asked another question. "Why we're here?"

Mummy was going to somewhere really far. A better place: - she could watch Aya better from there. She could smile and laugh again if she goes there. “That is why we are here ; to send her.” The maid had told her and she explained more, “So you cannot cry or Mummy will not be happy again.”

Aya nodded repeatedly. Her mind considered the request. Crying was the only solution she could think of but in the meantime, she wanted Mummy to be happy again. It was okay not to cry. She knew she could do it.

With lump in her throat, Aya caressed her cold nose bridge, trying to stop the tears from coming out.

‘Please tears. For once. Please do not come out. Mummy has to be happy. She's sad enough lately.’ She whispered slowly, encouraging herself.

For the first time , Aya did not cry watching her Mummy going; unlike before when her Mummy left for outstation. 

In fact, she smiled. “Mummy, I hope you will be happy.”

But it was 12 years ago . . . When she knew nothing about death. Now she is mature enough to understand the life. 

Sometimes, she would wonder, why her Mummy had to go so early but then, a letter from Mummy for her 18^th birthday explained everything. She did not need another answer.

“The dying should be rejuvenated

and the living should be rejoiced

and continue the life

as He had planned everything.”

True. He had planned everything.