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Islam is the light which shone from the dawn of humanity. To bring humanity into the right guidance. To know what is right and what is wrong - Yusuf Islam          The Muslims Have got Islam as a legacy; hence they fail to recognize its value - Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall          We need spirited, energetic and strong young people whose hearts are filled with life, enthusiasm, zeal and dynamism; whose souls are full of ambition, aspiration and vigour and have great goals, rising and aspiring to reach them until they eventually arrive at their destination - Hasan al-Banna          Love cannot fully express itself without hatred for its enemy and our hatred of falsehood must be proportionate to our love for the truth - Maryam Jameelah           We must begin looking at each other as brothers and sisters…..and not walking brochures. We must see each other’s strengths and encourage those strengths…..We must see each other’s weaknesses and be patient with those weaknesses…..sometimes even look beyond what we see as weaknesses and move on with compassion and love and respect. That takes true faith - Dawud Wharnsby Ali          Those who know they do not know, know that, to know is to know what they do not know - Ibn Sina          Education is our Passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today - Malcolm X          I looked at all friends, but did not find a better friend than safeguarding the tongue. I thought about all dresses, but did not find a better dress than piety. I thought of all types of wealth, but did not find a better wealth than contentment in little. I thought of all types of good deeds, but did not find a better deed than offering good advice. I looked at all types of sustenance, but did not find a better sustenance than patience - Umar bin Khattab (R)        

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Ekta gese out of the way….

Yesterday I was interviewed by the Department of Education and Training, as would be all those who are graduating with a teaching degree this year. Boy oh boy, was it nerve-wrecking! Let me give you an account.

Being the procrastinator I am, I was preparing the paperwork and writing down possible responses until the last minute. At 9:00, I said ‘Enough’ and shoved all papers inside my bag.

Now to get ready. My abayya hadn’t dried on account of having it washed at 5 pm the previous day. That’s because when I went to uni wearing the grey abbay that day, it suddenly occurred to me that this would be the best to wear for the interview, because it is the most sophisticated and professional looking as far as my drab abayyas are concerned. So when I came home at 5 and tore it off my body and washed it and predictably it as still wet.

Don’t worry; procrastinators have to have a back-up plan as I did. My back-up plan was to go in beige. Beige abayya, beige pants, beige jacket, beige scarf and beige bag. (this looks more brown, doesn't it?) Boy was I colour coordinated (with the exception of my black shoes on account of not having any beige ones!) Anyways, since it was such a momentous occasion, I decided to wear the gold pin Ema gave me. But it wouldn’t go through the jacket! I was triumphant after a few minutes of collective struggle involving Radia and ammu.

Then I asked for ammu’s blessings and everyone else’s (even Radia’s!) before stepping out of the house. I was trying to visualize what the interview might be like. And by the time I reached Werrington station on foot, I was totally clammy: not sure if it was from the physical exertion or a case of nerve attack.

The venue was NSW Department of Ed and Training Blacktown main office and my interview was at 10:50#. I stepped out of Blacktown station at about 10:30. The main street being Main Street was pretty easy to locate except I walked right past my destination all the way to building 60, then realized I left 22 right at the foot of the station and so retraced my steps.

Having gotten into the building at about 10:40, I reported to the reception and then turned around to take a seat. There was an Indian looking lady in shelwar kamis and head-scarf (that’s another Muslim teacher I happily assumed) and I just about opened my mouth to talk to her when my eyes fell on the other occupant in the reception. T’ was Lish! Wow! Just made my day to have someone from my honours class! So we talked until we were off to our separate rooms. I felt quite slack for not talking to the other lady *sigh*

We were told from before that the interview panel will be made up of two principals. I had a male and a female principal. They were quite nice in a vague sort of way. And though the questions were predictable, my answers were not as I had prepared. Though the interviewers where quite relaxed and informal, I still got nervous and kept tripping over my own words. I was asked questions about why I wanted to be a teacher, how would I teach literacy, how would I manage behaviour, my best and worst lessons on prac, my knowledge about the child protection policy etc. The thing that worried me was how they kept nodding and agreeing with everything I said….what did it mean…..good or bad????

It felt like the interview took a total of 15 minutes! I spent more time traveling and nearly as much time waiting! Anyways, I’m just glad it’s over!

Friday, July 08, 2005

fotua

salams ppl...........on monday...........after 6 hours of sewing......cutting, tanatani, hachra hachri, chirachiri...........angule shuch futaye..........i finally finished making this fotua..alhamdulillah......well, ammu helped me, she taught me how to sew properly this time, so congratulate me!!!!!!!!!

Monday, July 04, 2005

To those friends for visiting me, ifafa & uknowho (mou included)


Sunday, July 03, 2005

FUN on FRIDAY....fun, fun, fun, fun...

Read an account (in Flynn's words) of Friday July 1. No doubt mou has been treated to a live excerptv p.s. ppl will probably go crazy over flynn's blog but make some comments here too.