Life of Pi.

A very interesting yet deep movie, I would say.

The plot moves quite slow, so this movie is definitely not aimed to those who can't wait. I almost fell asleep hahahaha. Nevertheless, in between being a sleepyhead and the love I have for literature, there are few things I'd noticed that I feel I need to share.

The very first thing that captured my attention was when Pi's dad said something (more or less, I can't remember the exact lines) - you can't practice many religions (beliefs). Having too many means you believe nothing. To me, it means that you can't decide what's best for you therefore you need more than one to assure or as a backup if something doesn't work. And it shows that this kind of people, who don't really explore a religion may feel that it is not sufficient to feed their hunger for knowledge or curiosity. That one religion is not complete. However, if we look closely, I notice something else. It shows how a boy - an innocent boy feels like all religions are the same. It's about love that all these gods teach him. When we were just kids, we were so innocent and we thought of nothing complicated. Life was so easy and straight forward then; but as time passes by we started to be shaped by what we see, listen etc, and this starts to look and be complicated and we start to think so much over something; and confusion is everywhere. How people can really change over time. 

When Pi stranded on the ocean with Richard Parker, it reminds me of some friends I had in my life. Pi was upset when Richard Parker left without looking back at him, that he didn't feel the same way as Pi did - Pi felt thankful for Richard Parker as because of him he could stay sane and alive, and he thought somehow, perhaps Richard Parker would consider him as a 'friend' but he was just another tiger. A tiger is a tiger, and Pi was not more than just someone who fed him while they were together. A friend with benefit, I would say. I started to reflect, that Richard Parker is a good example of friends who would be there just because they need you, and would just leave when you no longer feed the purpose. I have many of that, how about you?

The moment when another storm hit them, and Pi had almost lost his patience - I was so sad for that as I could imagine how despair I would be if I were in his shoes. I understand his resentment as he was tested one after another. Many of us always wonder, why we are tested with so and so - but that just makes us having more faith in God. He questioned why him, and why God did this to him - typical questions we always ask to Him, don't you think? Soon after the storm, he landed on an island - it was so beautiful until Pi decided - this is it. That he would stay and live on it. That God had given him what he wanted. But he was wrong. Although that was what he wanted, and God gave him just that - it wasn't the best for him. The island is carnivorous and it kills. What a great message being told in this scene. We ask from Him this and that, He may grant our wishes but sometimes, it may not be the best for us. When things didn't go the way we want them to be, we become angry and we question Him; we feel abandoned, that God is unjust but we forget:

Sahih International

Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.

Allahuakbar. Shame on me for being easily ungrateful.

While watching it, I was actively thinking despite being sleepy. In the very beginning of the story, the writer looked for Pi because he was told that Pi could make him believe in God. When Pi told the story of his journey to the investigators and they didn't believe him because they thought it was absurd so he then described the event in a more logic way. Therefore two stories exist - the truth but seemingly unreal, and the second when it was a made up story but easily accepted. Pi asked the Canadian write which one he would prefer to believe and he picked the one with Richard Parker. If I'm not mistaken, Pi then answered "And so it goes with God". I saw this as a form of realization, that certain things may not be logical to the eyes and ears of humans - however:

Sahih International

His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.

Everything is possible if He says so. MasyaAllah.

I learned a lot from this movie, but my point of view and the way I reflect can be different. You can read more on the reviews and analysis for the book and you may come upon something else. But like I said, this is just my two cents - my most honest opinion. 

.والله أعلمُ بالـصـواب

the challenge to educate.

Pardon me, I'll be writing in two languages in this entry.

Wohaaa. It has been a while since my last entry. I've been tied up with so many things - mostly with my studies and work. Although my last entry was my rage on students, nevertheless it never ends there. Each and every semester, there will be more challenges coming. 

It's never an easy task to educate children. I refer my students as children (though they are older) because in a way, I honestly feel like I'm responsible towards their future. I want them to have better lives, and I want them to be able to survive.

The world is cruel, and boy if they aren't well prepared they will definitely be drowning. Yet, life has so much to offer and they have to realize that despite the evilness, there are beauties in it. Ish apalah yang I merepek ni hahahaha.

Up to one point, when I expect too much I tend to be heartbroken because they are just behaving like children. Students, they lie to your face. And sometimes even rude. Questioning and giving statements that may hurt your pride and heart. But what can I do? They are just humans. How I wish they would be more sensible before they do things and say things. But I myself was once young, and stupid. 

I may not be religious in the eyes of my students, but I mean no harm to them. Takkan ada guru yang dengan sengaja mahu menyesatkan anak didiknya. I may not use the right method or perhaps my way of teaching differs than others - but that's just me.

As much as it is unfair to ask them to accept me the way I am while I'm declining to accept them the way they are, so I'm offering my humblest apology to all my students that I was so furious at yesterday.

But again, please be reminded that I am different and I teach differently. I may be graduated in TESL, but my journey and aim do not revolve around that matter only. I want students to have broad mindset, and be practical. Life is so much more than what you learn from the textbooks.

To begin with, you must learn how to respect people. Bagus jika awak berniat untuk menegur, untuk menjadikan kehidupan lebih baik. Tapi biar berhemah caranya. Mempersoalkan sesuatu, atau menyatakan pendapat tanpa mendengar keseluruhan hujah pada saya cetek orangnya. Before you can basically judge people, give them a chance to defend or make things clear. 

Dunia seorang pelajar matlamatnya pelbagai. Selain menimba ilmu berkaitan subjek yang diambil, pelajar juga perlu membina jati diri sebagai pertahanan diri yang kuat. Pelajar harus didedahkan dengan persekitaran yang mencabar sebagai persiapan untuk dunia yang semakin hari semakin mencabar. 

Kita minta awak kerja dalam kumpulan ada wanita, ada lelaki bukan sebab kita nak awak bergaul bebas. Bukan sebab kita nak suruh awak berzina. Kita nak awak belajar bagaimana mengawal diri bila persekitaran begitu wujud nanti. Kita nak ajar awak macam mana nak guna bahasa tubuh. Nak ajar awak bagaimana komunikasi berlaku hanya dengan tubuh badan. 

Pemikiran kita jangan disingkatkan. Benar, semua pun sepatutnya mengaji al-Quran dan patut mengamalkan, memahami segala isi di dalamnya. Awak hebat, saya akui. Saya pun tak sebagus awak sebab saya cuma mengajar Bahasa Inggeris. Tapi kita orang Islam; Islam itu agama indah. Jangan dicemarkan dengan sikap terus menghukum tanpa penilaian yang mendalam.

Puas saya berfikir dari semalam - sayakah yang tersilap? atau awak? Tapi hari ini saya dapat jawapannya. Kita dua ada pendapat masing-masing. Saya hormatkan pendapat awak. Awak cuma anak muda yang masih jauh perjalanannya. Masih banyak kena belajar. But all that I ask, is for you to begin with respecting others. And seek for more knowledge. 

Dan saya, mungkin patut belajar terima pemikiran awak tu. A bit hard, but still doable. May you get whatever you wish in life, boy.

Sebagai seorang pendidik, there's nothing more we could ask than seeing our students happy and be successful.