The morning after long flight....

Thankfully the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Abu Dhabi went smoothly with no turbulence. As we arrived right on time, I didn't realized how short the path was from exiting the plane all the way to getting into our ride to the hotel.

I came along with six other Teach For Malaysia (TFM) alumni, some were on connecting flights from Sarawak which includes Jane, Nadhirah, Puteri Nazatul, Adzrul, Anders, and Gabriel (whom I helped to cultivate about the TFM Fellowship before he joiend the programme).

From left to right behind me: Adzrul, Anders, , Puteri Nazatul, Nadhirah, Gabriel, Jane

Another TFM alumnus who also has the chance to participate in this Forum is Soonufat, who is also going to be one of the panels in the many sessions on Saturday. He arrived in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, which makes him the first to arrive.

What impressed me the most is how the orgarnizers are tip top to assist all participants of the Qudwa Global Teachers' Forum. They put up reasonably size signage (not too big, but small enough to catch the attention), that led us to their logistics team. We just had to inform them our name (I had to show my passport due to my long name), and once confirmed, we proceed to outside to our rides to the Hotel.

The seven of us split into two limosines (one was the Lexus, while the other was the BMW), and my diver, Abdul, gave us whatever information we inquired (especially on the prayer schedule).

That's Abdul in the driver's seat (the driver sits on the left side). 

By the time we reached at Jumeirah Hotel in Etihad Towers, we got ourselves registered with the organizers. We were briefed about housekeeping rules and the agenda for the day. Later then, we went to the Reception Counter to collect our room keys, which all of us occupying individually in one of the many rooms.

Before we all head up to our respective rooms, Nadzhirah and Puteri were chatting about exploring the city which I chipped in and asked for their assistance to look for that special gift for my number one fan, my wife. We connnected to the internet via the hotel's wifi, and look for whatever information we need. Once agreed to the plans, it was time to freshen up and continue on to the next part of the journey.

The TV in room has my name in it. How COOL is that?! 

I'm leaving on a jet plane.

Tonight marks the first time in 14 years that I am flying out of Malaysia. The last time, I was pursuing further studies in the field of medicine in Karachi, Pakistan, but I failed in the end.

Fast forward to 2017, I am now heading out to Qudwa Global Teachers' Forum that is going to be held at Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, over the weekend.

I wasn't confident that I'll get the chance to go as I know there are many Teach For Malaysia alumni who shines brighter than me in their respective communities and expertise. Fortunately, I have been given the chance to attend this event to learn more on what educatora across the globe have done within their schools.

I can't thank enough to my dear wife, Shakirin Binti Shaik Rahmat, who has been supportive of me and my number one cheerleader.

Through the years of our marriage, I'm always the one to send her off to the airport. Now that the role has reversed, it does feel a bit unnatural. Thank you, sayang, and I love you.

Back again with a purpose...

It's been ages since I last blog, and the time has come as I'll be using this platform to keep records of my journey to Qudwa Global Teachers' Forum 2017 over in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

You may go to www.qudwa.com to find out more about this event.

After one year with the Fellowship, what I aim for 2013...

It's one day before we all welcome the Year of the Water Snake, and I'm still on my teacher duty at Institut Latihan Perindustrian (ILP) Kuala Langat for the Malaysian Red Crescent workshop for the students of primary and secondary education within the Kuala Langat district. Being here sure is a blessing in disguise (others teachers can't make it due to their holiday plans), and I'm also happy that I'm not stuck in any road traffic heading back to the hometown. Right now it's the breaktime, and thinking back, it has been a year, a month and a week since my first official day of teaching in class, and sure a lot has happened, but I'm just lucky to be part of this awesome movement. 

A few things that I'm really happy about teaching in 2013: i) new principal who is very transformational; ii) being the head teacher advisor (yes!!!) of the Kelab Pencinta Alam (the club members have yet to agree on my proposed English name for the club, which is the 'Nature at Heart Society'); and iii) being class teacher to Form 4 students. 

The stepping stones of my final year in the Fellowship has been very progressing to the extent that not I can see the developments, but so are the students that involved with my community development project. As a marine biologist, I'm very concerned about the state of the coastline, and folks at Tanjong Sepat are blessed to have mangroves in their area. However, human activities are affecting the health of these mangroves that for some avid photographers, the dead mangroves are always included in their shots. Raising awareness may seem to be the obvious answer, but for me, I want to do more than just raising awareness. I want the students to take self initiatives to learn how their actions can impact the environment. That they need to work with each other, tolerate one another, putting aside the differences among themselves and see the urgency to think creatively and critically on how they can live in harmony with nature. 

Having said, I hope to post more on my developments about my community project in Tanjong Sepat with the help of other stakeholders as well. Being at Tanjong Sepat truly have taught me about the challenges in our education systems that are tackled by multiple factors, but at the same time, to be blessed with the rewards that comes in being a teacher.