24 February 2011

Is It The End of The Tunnel - For Almanar ?

On 15th December last year I posted 'Do I call it a day or carry on?', a reflection of frustration and a sorry state of mind. The number of attendance for my classes had fallen to below fifty. Two months have passed and the situation is no better. But my gut feeling tells me something interesting will happen soon, and I hope to be able to draw a sigh of relief, and write about it.

In the meantime Pakcik will sit back, do whatever there is to do for the reduced number of pupils attending Almanar, and watch the sea from the verendah of my house,
NURI










The verendah to watch the sunrise and the sea from


The middle part of Nuri to watch the young coconut palms from

----------------------------


The question is why should ‘Nuri’ be the name given to a simple retirement home – after all, I once said in a sarcastic tone, what’s in a name? Insya Allah I will clarify this.


Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan

20 comments:

Awang Goneng said...

Abang Ngah,

Salaam!

Perhaps you should extend your horizon and take people outside your catchment area too if they want to come.

Children are loaded with extra-mural activities nowadays, from navel-gazing to marching around with fake arms (wooden guns I mean). They probably don't read a book in a week because of tiredness and minyak Cap Kapak (for the aching limbs). There are more children at school so there should be more demand for coaching.

And do I hear that some schools are suspicious of outsiders who are interested in teaching for nothing?

Hold on tight, use the free time to watch the coconut trees grow or paint dry or to listen to the kampung folk doing the ratib awor. Or you yourself can do the marhaban, after all, you have many cucus who need their heads shorn (cukur ppala).

And then, who knows, things may happen.

Al-Manar said...

AG,

Mi, thank you for your encouraging words. Abang Ngah will post a longer response later.

I read with great interest what you wrote in the Sunday Times of 16th January, even had it downloaded for future comments. Now you have given me the chance to do that.

Salaam to everyone at home.

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Dear Pakcik,
What's at the end of the tunnel? From your writing, it's as if you're expecting a ravine where you'll fall as soon as you exit the tunnel. However, there could also be light at the end of tunnel, so you can see clearly unlike the darkness of the tunnel. Don't give up. purrrr....meow!

Anonymous said...

Pak Cik, you once told me about 'Nuri'. I can not forget about it since I was first introduced to it. I am touched whenever I see Nuri's sign. What a simple word it is yet so meaningful,indeed.

~Azmiera~

Al-Manar said...

C-i-S,

A row of cat's eyes embedded in the middle of dark winding country roads, and in a dark tunnel, helps to purr one long, with the hope of seeing the light of day at the end. "Don't be sfraid and donn't be saddened. Allah is with us." You have been working on charity work; you know better than the stray ones getting knocked down in a tunnel.

Al-Manar said...

Azmiera,

Hope and pray you will do well thia semester. Can you make 4.5?
Then Pakcik and Makcik will give you a surprise.

Wan Sharif said...

It would not be like you to throw in the towel.. like you I am still hoping to see light at the end of my tunnel here..

Anonymous Googlianz said...

Life is just like tides. They rise and fall,naturally. We cannot expect our life to be bright all the day,as rain might falls in the middle. However Pak cik,dear,clouds may come, but clouds must go, and they all have a silver lining. For behind each cloud you know, the sun, or moon, is shining.According to you, you will be teaching the orphanage students, won't you? You don't have to feel frustrated or regret for all what happened as reasons hiding behind it are most unexpected. You know, I will always keep you dearly in my heart.

p/s : exam is around the corner. Wish me luck

idora

Al-Manar said...

Dear Ayah Wan,

Indeed, we just cannot throw in the towel that easily. Alang alang berdakwat biar hitam - betul ke ni?
You have to face the challenge as well. Good luck and pray hard.

Al-Manar said...

Idora,

Call over so that we can do something before you exam.

Thank you my dear.

Anonymous said...

Dear Pakcik

You call 50 students a small number? My ustaz (a Muslim convert with Masters from Azhar) said he would continue teaching even if there was one student left. Of the original big class in 1996 only two remain me included. But while some drop out others join and to this day the classes continue and have sufficient number of students.

So please Pakcik do not give up, more will join inshaallah. Moreover with less students you may be able to give them more attention.

Perhaps you can learn to mancing in addition to admiring the sea and the coconut trees with the extra time on your hands or help Makcik water the plants!!!

amimy01@littlereddot

nwar said...

During the torrid times grasping for 'reasons' to life's uncertainties, i've always been comforted by the words of a wise man; "out of one, into another. The end is always a beginning of another journey. Cherish life and do good, until it comes to the absolute end."

Reading this blog entry, i tell myself "ahh... HE's given the wise man a break, i can foresee a long tunnel ahead with the Orphans' complex coming to completion."

Have a break babah, there're 10 grandchildren yearning for attention.

Pakcik#2

Al-Manar said...

Amimy01,

Your words of encouragement are welcome. For sure I am not about to give up just for a sheer reduction in number.

Al-Manar said...

NWAR,

My No2, a wiser man had the following to say:

"IF
............
...........
If you cn wait and not be tired of waiting
..............
.............

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'
.............
..............

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - YOU'LL BE A MAN, MY SON!"

Do not worry. I have every confidence my grandchildren will be well-taken care of by their respective well-raised parents, insya Allah.

With love,
Babah

Sat Feb 26, 11:36:00 PM

Anonymous said...

Jangan risau pak cik,esok lebih bæk dr kemarin
szai zon

Al-Manar said...

Szai zon,

I like your optimism. Thank you. I am equally optimistic of your SPM. Honour me by making Pakcik among the first to know of your results which will be released any time now.

Unknown said...

dear pakchik, less students at almanar means there are more out there who need help but are not getting it. is that what is bothering you? take heart pakchik. you are doing tremendous good. but in the end, it's the boys and girls that have to get themselves the readily available help from you. let us hope and pray that they shall find the way to your doors.

Al-Manar said...

Nali

That is the philosophical approach which we all have no choice but to accept, however painful it is to see a lost opportunity to get something for free.

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