Santa Claus

On this CHRISTMAS, I do receive many blessing sms from friends. But, one of the friend's sms is quite special for me. He reminds me about a story...... He hopes that I can make wishes in time so that Santa Claus can help me to realise all the wishes that I have made.

Yes, it is all about the story of Santa Claus......

When I was still a child, I used to place my stocking next to me on my bed in the night of CHRISTMAS. Actually, I was told to do so by my father. According to him, a man with sacks named 'Santa Claus' would come to me and place a small gift in my stocking in the midnight of CHRISTMAS. I believed in him. So, I followed what he said. He was true! I found a small gift next to me on my bed when I wake up in the next morning. Since after that, I placed my stocking next to me on the bed for every CHRISTMAS night. But, when I checked for the gift in the next morning, there was nothing inside or outside my stocking. Where was the Santa Claus? He had forgotten me? How could it be? Where did he live? I wanted to find him... All those thoughts kept crossing in my mind.

Till one day, the truth about Santa Claus was revealed...

Santa Claus is based on a real person named St Nicholas. He was a Christian leader from Myra in the 4th century AD. He was very shy and wanted to give money to poor people without letting them knowing about it. It is said that one day, he climbed the roof of a house and dropped a purse of money down the chimney. It landed in the stocking which a girl had put to dry by the fire! This may explain the belief that Santa Claus comes down the chimney and places gifts in children's stockings.

Ohh... My father is that Santa Claus. He is my Father Christmas.

A Precious Gift

Surprise......

Fruit tarts? They are homemade ones from a special friend...

A special friend? Yes, she is Bao Shan, a Form 5  girl studying in Foon Yew Chinese High School Johor Bahru. Today, she dropped by my house to learn more about SPM exam format. At the same time, I gave her some of my previous notes which I found very useful for subjects like BM, Sejarah and Pendidikan Moral. She showed me her gratitude by making the fruit tarts for me on her own. She is quite a thoughtful girl. I am very touched by such a precious gift especially in this Silent Night.

Wow! A total of 6 fruit tarts... Yeah, she has promised to teach me on making these fruit tarts in the future! 



Yummy,yummy! It is fit for a King! Haha><

The Call

Before this, I still had a glimmer of hope, hoping that I could teach at my previous primary school - SJK (C) New Kota, Kota Tinggi temporarily. In fact, I would like to refresh my childhood's school days. After answering a call from Jabatan Pelajaran negeri Johor this afternoon, what I have hoped can now only be a pipe dream. Unluckily, there are only vacancies for temporary teachers at schools in Pengerang. Oh my god! Pengerang is not just a stone's throw away from my house. To reach there, I have to travel at least an hour. It's Hobson's choice - either I accept the offer by teaching in Pengerang, or I reject it and plan for the next step. Finally, I reject it. The next step is ....... ???

Winter Solstice

Chinese celebrate Winter Solstice (冬至) on 22nd of December every year. Of course, there is no exception for today. According to Chinese belief, this is the day which has the longest night length throughout the whole year. During Winter Solstice, Chinese families have to make sticky rice ball. Some elder people even say that the number of rice ball consumed represents one's age. For example, if you are 33 years old, you have to eat 33 rice ball on this day. However, I always eat more rice ball when compared to my age. Haha...><

My mother cooked the sticky rice ball for us this morning.

Roads

Attending the FSI Education Roadshow 2010, I realise that there are many roads for me to travel in order to further my studies. I'm wondering "Which road should I take?" ......

This replays a poem in my head - The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost :

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Splashing of foamy waves on the shore keeps on echoeing in my mind......

Wow, today, my family and I make a whole day trip to famous beaches in Kota Tinggi, i.e. Tanjung Balau and Desaru. It's fantastic! The most interesting part of today's trip is the visit to Lotus Desaru Beach Resort. Have you been there before? There, the resort offers appartments suites. Facilities like swimming pool, gymnasium, water park and others are available. To me, the special feature of this resort is the 'Tilting Coconut' found in the water park. Last but not least, a white sandy beach is always there for us to stroll along and have water activities.

How amazing the 'Tilting Coconut' is ......

Water fills in the coconut up there.

Notice! "Beware Of Falling Coconut"?......

The water-filled coconut starts to tilt. Water is going to pour down.

Look, people down there stand by already. Haha......

Wow! I could also feel the down pouring of water even though I was not inside the water park.

Water in the coconut is emptied. The coconut will be filled by water and tilted again.

Sweet memories at the Lotus Desaru Beach Resort:

Hi! I am Jasmine ><

Jasmine and mother (right).

Look, my father! He was enjoying the breathtaking view at the beach.

Here is the sandy beach of the resort. The foamy waves splashed gently on the shore.

We wish you a Merry Christmas!!!

It's really memorable... Do drop by the Lotus Desaru Beach Resort. I'm sure you will fall in love with this place at first sight ><

Grade 8 Piano

I was forced to stop attending music class due to heavy school works. Today, I went back to Riverside Music Centre to meet with my piano teacher. I am very happy because I will be able to continue my piano lesson in January 2011. Since there are 2 more weeks before the class starts, teacher has selected 2 songs for me to practise at home first.

The first song is Beethoven's Rondo Third Movement from Sonata in C minor, Op.13 which comprises of 7 pages. The edited version of this song would be the well-known Korean Drama - Beethoven Virus OST. But, I'm going to play the original version of this song.

The second song is Mozart's Allegro First Movement from Sonata in D, K.284/205b which comprises of 8 pages.

These two songs are for me to deal with Grade 8 Piano Practical Exam. Maybe I will take the exam this year, maybe not. It all depends on situation. Even though I may not take the exam, I still enjoy to play these two songs especially the first song, my favourite song. Indeed, it is quite challenging at the same time because need to pay attention to the song's tempo, dynamic... and need to express out the feeling of the song. It's not easy......

Beethoven - Rondo Third Movement from Sonata in C minor, Op.13

Public Speaking Memories

The competition was held at Goodhope Hotel, Skudai, Johor Bahru on 29-30 September 2009.

I (Jasmine) was receiving my prizes for the 3rd place in the competition.

Chin Ee Wern (left) from Muar, the First-runner up;

Shakti Kaur Khalsa (middle) from J.B., the Champion;

Jasmine Ong Hui Min (right) from Kota Tinggi, the Second-runner up.

Puan Vasanthi

She is my 伯乐 - the person who discovers and is willing to polish my talent in public speaking. It all started four years ago......

When I was in Form 3, I was selected to present syarahan in BM during school assembly in conjunction with Minggu Membaca. Since I was too short to stand on the platform, I had to stand on 'something' to make me even higher to be seen by others on the floor. As a result, big laughs from students and even some teachers broke into the atmosphere of the school hall. However, I didn't feel shy at all. Instead, I continued to present my talk with powerful voice and full of confidence. Finally, I managed to convince them of my talent by having a great applause from everyone in the hall at the end of my talk. Since after that, Pn. Vasanthi approached me and praised for my courage. And, she intended to train me for participating in public speaking competition. She even had once brought me to English College Johor Bahru for learning the speaking skills from the state level public speakers. After waiting the chances for two years, I was finally selected to represent school for English Public Speaking in conjunction with Karnival Pra-Universiti Daerah Kota Tinggi 2009. Being guided by Pn.Vasanthi, I won the 1st place. After that, I was given another chance to represent Daerah Kota Tinggi for Pertandingan Pidato Pencegahan Rasuah Prauniversiti ( BI ) Piala Y.A.B. Menteri Besar Johor Peringkat Negeri Johor 2009. Again, Pn.Vasanthi put in a lot of effort to prepare script and polish my public speaking skills and I won the 3rd place. Later, she selected me again to participate in writing English Short Story in conjunction with Teacher's Day 2010 and I won the 1st place at district level.
 

Thank you, Pn. Vasanthi. My teacher, you have given me a lot of golden opportunities to let me prove myself. Without you, I won't have achieved success. I will always remember what you have told me "Participating actively in public speaking competition is not to burden yourself ; is not only to win the competition, but also to gain valuable experience of speaking in the public which others don't have."Yes, teacher, I know this will stand me in good stead in the future.

Pn.Vasanthi (left) and Jasmine (right)

'Jasmine'

Frankly speaking, I seldom use this name. Most of my friends recognise me Hui Min, thats all HAHAHA Jasmine'? Common, isnt it?  But mummy said when you speak it as a whole together with my actual name  'Jasmine Ong Hui Min', it will sound like so called 有压韵. Possibly a nice name though.

Myself

Speaking sweetly and clearly in front of the others with no fear, confidence is my greatest asset in no doubt. Thus, seeing me to have the people on the floor to "walk" with me as I share my thoughts,ideas and opinions with them, you would know who I am. I, Jasmine Ong Hui Min, a pre-university student studying at  SMK Tun Habab. In spite of all 19 years of age, I am still small in size, my height is a meagre three feet five inches and I do not look as my age. Being not a good company on all occasions, I do not have a wealth of friends naturally. However, I am not actually the one whom finds hard to get along with. It is just because I looked more serious than be friendly. In fact, I am witty and have a great sense of humour. Thus, don't judge me by my appearance.