Another 2 more days before our Easter Holidays start....... another 2 more days I have to fully utilize my time at home completing my Multiply website. Will I be able to make it? With my Prague album and the visit of Ee Ping & Mum in Berlin? Not including our usual monthly activities photos.......
Sometimes I wish time can be stretched a tad bit more.... ^^
ღ♥ Wedding Anniversary ღ♥
ღ♥ My precious baby girl ღ♥
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Happy April´s Fools Day! =)
Happy April´s Fools Day everyone!
Another month has just come and gone, and today starts another month!
March has been a good and exciting month, with our first trip to Prague, the city with many history - I think almost everywhere in Europe is historical as they have been part of many wars in the past, then there was the exciting week with my friend and her mum - their visit was indeed great!, and not forgetting my little girl turned 5 also during that month together with my dad turning 62 (Happy Belated birthday once again dad!) a day before my daughter turned 5 :) Not only that, I celebrated my first wedding anniversary with hubby in March also. Seriously can´t believe how much time has flown!
With that, the start of April begins. First of, with Happy April Fools Day! Miss those funky pranks we play on friends while in high school or during my working years in ADT and Esprit..... but those were the days........ First day of April, on a Sunday, is kinda lazy. The weather is still cranky as ever, flowing from being moderately hot with alot of sunshine to gloomy gloomy "London" times :P However, the temperature has dropped alot these few days. It even went to 0 degrees yesterday and we weren´t able to go out, as per my plan... *shucks* But then again, hubby did warned..... that although Calendar wise it´s spring, the weather is immensely wacky in April!
Wonder what April will bring to us.....
This coming weekend is Easter Weekend, my family and myself will be taking a trip to Tönning, this time, to celebrate our 2nd Easter with Thomas in Tönning. We will be leaving on Thursday afternoon, after hubby´s work shift, and the journey would be about approximately 5 hours or so long. We will be going there by train (apparently, people around here travel alot by train - and.... it´s even more cheaper than travelling by air within Europe! xD). Amelia is rather excited about being able to meet up with Uncle Thomas once again, while for myself, I am curious as to what Tönning has to offer as it´s quite north of Germany and..... it´s even more nearer to the seas compared to my In Laws place in Kiel!
My new multiply website is coming along fine...... after 3 long months, I can finally see the end of all the uploads, and hopefully, before end of April, the website will be on par with the current day!
Amelia will be going to Vorschule this Summer, next year I will be finally seeing her entering Primary School.... feels so old all of the sudden, seeing my little baby all grown up! Seriously felt like just yesterday I was carrying her in my arms and breastfeeding her milk and all........ Now, she is still my little ever baby. Every night, mummy has to curl up in to her tiny bed and hug her to sleep. Until today, even after turning 5, she still needs to have my arms tightly wrapped around her before she can even fall asleep! Although she has her own room now, sometimes, she still comes into my room in the middle of the night and try curling up with hubby and me. Though..... I try to stay awake and then carry her back into her bed....... don´t have a King size bed to fit all 3 of us.... and as hubby isn´t the slender shape men but the muscular and huge kind, the queen size bed is definitely not enough of space for all 3 of us without me falling off the bed ;)
Nevertheless, I thank God for the life we are having at the moment, although thru all these, we still have our usual ups and downs. But then again....... which family doesn´t ? ^^
Cheers to all and happy pranking!
Another month has just come and gone, and today starts another month!
With that, the start of April begins. First of, with Happy April Fools Day! Miss those funky pranks we play on friends while in high school or during my working years in ADT and Esprit..... but those were the days........ First day of April, on a Sunday, is kinda lazy. The weather is still cranky as ever, flowing from being moderately hot with alot of sunshine to gloomy gloomy "London" times :P However, the temperature has dropped alot these few days. It even went to 0 degrees yesterday and we weren´t able to go out, as per my plan... *shucks* But then again, hubby did warned..... that although Calendar wise it´s spring, the weather is immensely wacky in April!
Wonder what April will bring to us.....
This coming weekend is Easter Weekend, my family and myself will be taking a trip to Tönning, this time, to celebrate our 2nd Easter with Thomas in Tönning. We will be leaving on Thursday afternoon, after hubby´s work shift, and the journey would be about approximately 5 hours or so long. We will be going there by train (apparently, people around here travel alot by train - and.... it´s even more cheaper than travelling by air within Europe! xD). Amelia is rather excited about being able to meet up with Uncle Thomas once again, while for myself, I am curious as to what Tönning has to offer as it´s quite north of Germany and..... it´s even more nearer to the seas compared to my In Laws place in Kiel!
My new multiply website is coming along fine...... after 3 long months, I can finally see the end of all the uploads, and hopefully, before end of April, the website will be on par with the current day!
Amelia will be going to Vorschule this Summer, next year I will be finally seeing her entering Primary School.... feels so old all of the sudden, seeing my little baby all grown up! Seriously felt like just yesterday I was carrying her in my arms and breastfeeding her milk and all........ Now, she is still my little ever baby. Every night, mummy has to curl up in to her tiny bed and hug her to sleep. Until today, even after turning 5, she still needs to have my arms tightly wrapped around her before she can even fall asleep! Although she has her own room now, sometimes, she still comes into my room in the middle of the night and try curling up with hubby and me. Though..... I try to stay awake and then carry her back into her bed....... don´t have a King size bed to fit all 3 of us.... and as hubby isn´t the slender shape men but the muscular and huge kind, the queen size bed is definitely not enough of space for all 3 of us without me falling off the bed ;)
Nevertheless, I thank God for the life we are having at the moment, although thru all these, we still have our usual ups and downs. But then again....... which family doesn´t ? ^^
Cheers to all and happy pranking!
Changes with Blogger?
I came to the realization that there are some changes done by blogger? Apparently, instead of ending with blogger.com, my blog site is now ourjourneysteps.blogger.de! Could it be because they did a detection and found that I am residing in Germany and that my IP is now in Germany? Or.... *shrugs* ........ Other than that, today, I had a problem loading the page of my blog... hmmmmmmm what´s going on?!
Monday, 26 March 2012
Visitors from Abroad ^^
After a nice short weekend in Prague, we came back to Berlin, to have a couple of days rest before Ee Ping and her mum arrived in Germany from UK to stay for 5 days. ^^
Ee Ping was a fellow friend of mine from Malaysia, Jo Lynn´s friend, who is currently residing in Loughborough, UK furthering her studies there. Her mum came to UK to visit and they were planning to tour as much of Europe and the world, and Germany was one of her stops ^^ We are happy to have her and her mum in Germany, and we took them touring abit around Berlin during their few days stay here
Amelia was even more happier to find and meet up with Aunty Ee Ping once again, after their first encounter in Jo´s car on our way to dinner few years ago before we migrated down! The two of them together....... disasterous! Lolx.... although Amelia had a few behaviour swings (natural of kids) when they were around, trying to push her boundaries around as we had guests (normal of kids). In fact I am amazed that my daughter remembered her after so many years.... because the first time they met, she was only 3 then. And it is like 2 years now since they last met, and wow..... she remembered her well enough!
Ee Ping and her mum touched down on the 21st of March 2012 in the evening. We, the whole family, went to meet her at Schönfeld Airport after I picked Amelia up from Kindergarten, and hubby from work. By the time we reached back to our place, it was already past 6pm. We had our dinner out that night - plans to cook all dashed due to the late arrival home... nevertheless, wasn´t gone to waste. We took them to taste nice German Cuisine nearby our home before settling in for the night. Amelia..... was extremely excited to even get her to bed, but..... as soon the pillow touches her head, she instantly snoozes! *amazing* hahahahahaWith their visit down here, they get to be part of Amelia´s 5th birthday on the 22nd of March. We didn´t have such a big celebration. The morning part, with Amelia in Kindergarten, I took Ee Ping and Mum touring around before meeting up with hubby and baby at the Reischtag for our guided tour there. We had a nice early dinner at Amelia´s favourite Restaurant - Ha Long Bay, where everyone was completely stuffed. And.... later in the night, the cutting of her cake and the opening of her presents, which she was completely joyous about! A Hello Kitty birthday cake, a nice hello kitty winter hat from Aunty Winnee, which she gotten when we went to Prague, 2 beautiful necklaces from Aunty Ee Ping, a big pink kimono Hello Kitty plush Toy from Grandaunt Amy (Ee Ping´s mum), 2 big boxes of Lego from mummy and papa and some others that haven´t arrived from post yet xD
Anyways, we had great fun taking them around the past 5 days. Amelia, having even more fun, going bananas with Ee Ping and......she found another Lego partner in Ee Ping. xD
Well, as Ee Ping and mum travels forth to Frankfurt, Paris and then to New York, we sincerely hoped their stay here was at least satisfactory :)
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Happy 5th birthday my little Angel!
On this date, this year - 2012, my daughter turned 5! Can´t believe that it is already 5 years now that I am a mother. It just seems like yesterday when I was pregnant with her, getting tortured by the "morning sickness" of nauseaness. I still remember so clearly how I spend my morning every day at work, from 8am till 11am sitting in the toilet just vomitting my head off for 3 months! And then came the food craving of raw salmon - my poor colleague had to accompany me eat Sushi almost every other day because I was craving Salmon like crazy during my pregnancy.
I also remember so clearly the complications I had during my pregnancy, and not forgetting the labor I went thru just getting her out. Remembering how she looked like the instant she was born, the feeling was extremely unforgettable! But now....... after 5 years, after going through so many ups and downs together with mummy, her birth to her learning to turn and then learning to sit, talk and walk to the separation of my husband and me; my little girl has indeed gone through many ups and downs a little 5 year old has ever encountered. And yet, here we are today, 10,000km away from our birth country, starting life anew - for 1 year odd now - in the land of the Europeans, celebrating her 2nd birthday in Germany. =)
I can´t believe how proud I am, well other than the usual blood vomitting (occasions) and "she´s driving me insane" mummy, I am extremely proud of my beautiful smart and wonderful daughter that has just turned 5! She is learning so much nowadays in kindergarten, other than being able to speak a new foreign language, she also has learnt so much about nature, science, and even rules and regulations when being on the street! Things that no young toddler will get to learn in Kindergarten in Malaysia =(
Anyways........
Happy blessed 5th birthday Mein Schatz, my wonderful beautiful little angel! Thank you for these wonderful years....... Mummy loves you ever ever so much!
Sunday, 18 March 2012
A weekend in Prague
Our journey started with a slightly teary goodbye, especially from baby to papa, as hubby won´t be travelling along with us this time around. Amelia was really reluctant to leave him behind, stating her fears that he too would run away by the time we come back from our Prague holiday. Did take us some time to convince her that Papa ain´t going anywhere and that he will be waiting for us at the station on Sunday to pick us up!
We had a very early journey.... our train ride from Berlin main station to Prague main station starts at 645am. Hence, we all had to leave the house by 530am *yawns* to go to the main station. Hubby accompanied us there..... with a 4 hour 40 mins ride train, I managed to get more winks on the train, while....... my daughter, overly excited about her train ride didn´t really sleep at all!We reached Prague just on time! 1130am and the most interesting part was there wasn´t any immigration checks like the airports, so no funky nice stamp to put into me and Amelia´s passport from travelling around! :( But nevertheless, it was a good trip. We met with Win Nee at the train station and then made our way to the hotel, which seriously was just a 5 mins walk away from the IP Palvola metro station! *Cools*
We didn´t do much on our first night there, well firstly because I caught the bug and came down with high fever that night. Though we managed to go for some small sights to the Museum, Starbucks, Old Square, the opposite side of Charles Bridge, the Emperor´s summer palace and etc, I kinda knocked out early together with Amelia (who was also recovering from slight fever after her operation) in the hotel while WinNee toured the place on her own *shucks* Guess it´s even more a reason to go back to Prague with hubby in the near future ^^
Maybe cos Prague is a place filled with too many historical sights and barely any sights for kids to have fun with... don´t know.... Even Amelia was finding it somewhat boring in certain aspects, especially when we stay at one place for too long. We visited the old Palace - we have the choice of choosing 8 different sights to see in the palace or 4. We took the 4 one as we were worried it would take too long in there as according to the ticket guy, the 8 sights normally took about 2 days, which we don´t have the time for. But nevertheless, even 4 sights was long enough! By the time we are done with it, it was almost 5pm. We had to make our way down all the way from the hilltop, rest awhile at the riverside before making our way to Charles bridge for the beautiful sunset view on the bridge! The view is remarkable I tell you!
There are alot of photos for me to upload, which I still haven´t been able to upload in my Multiply website, except on Facebook. My multiply webpage is still not up-to-date with the newest photos. But then again, I am hopeful. I have already uploaded right up till 2011, and there is only the day trips made in 2011 and the holidays we had back to Kiel, which there are a few killer albums where the amount of photos are tremendously alot. But I am hopeful that I would be able to finish completing my entire Multiply webpage up-to-date before the end of April!
Other than sightseeing in Prague, this weekend to Prague was indeed good and resourceful. I found out alot of things about my ex husband, more than I ever know before, things that could just make me faint out of horror! I can never imagine the things going behind my back that he has done and said. True, after learning the facts and truth from her, my initial reaction and feeling was shocked, hurt and slightly angry. After all that we have been through for the past 12 years, all the help not only myself but my own parents have given to him and his family, I cannot imagine he would go and stoop till such low levels to gain trust and respect and etc from others by creating such stories. But then...... after some time, and alot of advicing from her, I told her the truth. Initially... after hearing her tell all these to me from not only her but other of his ex colleagues, I am truly angry hurt and sad. But then again, it has been so many years, and also its been 5 years now. Our little girl is already 5. I don´t see a point of being angry or hurt with him anymore. Because for me, I know and he knows, what truly happened between the two of us. I myself know what really happened and what didn´t. I answer to no one human but to God. God Himself can see what we all have done. So there is no point in getting pissed and angry about it. All has passed. We all have moved on. I will just take my past as a very strong learning curve. I will not clarify with him, nor will I clear my name with the people whom he has tarnished it so bad. Instead, like my daughter every night does, I will say a prayer, that God will still take care and protect him irregardless of where he is. For me, I love everyone - after the time of hurt and pain has crossed, and the time of thinking has crossed, I will still continue to love even the ones who hurt me so bad. And, for the sake of our growing daughter, who is already now living a new life 10,000km away from her birth land, I just wish for her to grow up into a beautiful successful and loving woman. The rest is of no concern. We are all mankind, growing old and dying eventually. I put my faith and love in God, just like how my parents have taught my daughter to do. I will do the same with her.
Thank you for this nice trip to Prague together with you, my dear friend. It was indeed nice bonding with you, although in such circumstances. I appreciate all your advice and info (even if it is like many years too late, but... like the saying says, better late than never ;) ) but you need not fear. The past is indeed behind both me and Amelia. We are now living the present and making the most out of it together with the people around us who loves us.
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
13th March 2012 - The Scary Day
Now, I know many of you readers, upon reading that said statement above will be thinking... WTF?! at the age of 4 and 11 out of her 20 teeth she is having needs to be replaced and repaired? How the F did that happened? Did the mother give her too many sweets or something? Well, then let me explain to you. Amelia had caries on her teeth, most of it. And this does not come out from pure eating chocolates, sweets or improper brushing or even not brushing her teeth at all.
Mind you, she brushes every day, morning before going to school and after every meal she has in a day and also before going to bed. I really meant it when I said people here are kinda "health freaks" for a reason.... but anyways, no side tracking...... she was taught like this from the day she started going to Kindergarten last year. Initially, like every - ok, majority - people do, she brushes twice. Once, in the morning after waking up and then the last will be before going to bed at night. However, this changed after attending kindergarten and the teacher actually taught her brushing her teeth, and also when to do so. Hence, she does it every time she eats. Normally on weekdays its only twice - when she wakes up in the morning and night before going to bed. The rest of the times, she brushes in school when the teacher brings them to eat.
Anyways, bout a month ago, the health ministry came to do an inspection in the kindergarten - yea, they have health people coming to check the kids in all the schools and kindergartens once every 6 months. And well... the dentist came and checked her and we have a nice "love letter" recommending us to go to the dentist - which we were about to go as she needed the doctor´s recommendation letter to go to Pre School this year in August (Yea, here they have to do medical and dental check up every time before going to school No letter of recommendation / letter of approval from the doctor, the kid can´t go). So our trip was "fast forwarded" thanks to this letter.She has caries. Dental Caries is something which is not only caused by eating too much candy sweets and not brushing teeth. If you actually read it up, it has many causes including dental hygiene and many other tiny problems. ** Being a parent sure ain´t easy... every time I need to do alot of research on behalf of my daughter ** So, we brought her to the Kids Dentist (Kids and Adults have their separate doctors, normally rarely you can go to the same one for adult and kid), which was about 1/2 hr away from our home... that was the nearest. The dentists there, not only they were friendly, they actually know how to do their job in calming the kid and persuading them to open their mouth to let them check. And.... most interesting part of all.... they actually have a TV hanging from the ceiling for the patient to be able to watch CARTOONS while being checked by the dentist!!!!
Lolx..... Super cool technology man! xD
Operation day.... Today!
Had to wake up at 530am, her last meal must be before 6am, and making her eat breakfast.... guess today must be the most best day for her... being able to watch TV at 6am in the morning till 9am (couldn´t afford to have her fall asleep again and not wake up). Our operation time was even brought forward - and told last minute (definitely not appreciated, as from our home to the Operation hospital is a whole 1 hour and slightly more train ride!) at 9am to be exact!
But arriving at the operation room at 1030am, Amelia´s courage was slowly failing her. Hubby was great, actually purposely took a day off from work to accompany her there - upon her request - and was encouraging her and telling her that she can do it.... even when changing her operation gown, she was nearly in tears, but....... we managed to make her smile, and..... also took a few photos together =)
The painful part, for me that is, was when I walked her into the operation theatre and when they wanted her to lie on the bed... all hell broke loose!
You know, being a mother isn´t easy..... I don´t know how some mothers can don´t cry and have no feelings whatsoever when their kids are in the operation theatre etc, but.... every time my baby gets sick and even when going for her immunisation jabs, when she cries, I cry. I don´t like my baby in pain. I don´t like my baby being hurt.... be it physically or emotionally.
But eventually, as the narcosis works its wonders, she fell asleep, and I had to leave the room.
Her operation was 2 hours long, but after operation, she slept and was kept there till 3pm. Her teeth now are all shining white. She has 4 teeth replaced with nice metal crowns. Brushing teeth now is a harder task as first we need to polish those nice metal pieces in her mouth (lucky not gold ones also :-s) and then also to take care of all the other teeth that was cleaned (seriously not even 1 stain of black in her mouth at all anymore).
So my baby´s teeth is all cleared and taken care of, rest assured for those of you who knows bout it and is worried sick bout it.
Technology here is indeed advance. Somehow, I seriously don´t understand why people back in Malaysia makes a fuss hearing she is going for Ops or doc...... Hell, they don´t bombard us with medications or rubbish the way docs back in Malaysia do. Here, even if you go to the doc with a minor cold and such, you don´t get medication for it..... for them, curing naturally is the best way of cure instead of medication! Well, for people like us, who came from a background and growing up knowing every little thing there is a medication for it... it may not sound right. But, after being here for 1 year, and encountering all the weather changes and the usual sickness that accompanies the various weather change, I can say Amelia is slightly more better off than how she was in Malaysia!
The doctors only gives medication when you are seriously critically ill. If not, there is no need to.
But, for my fellow family and etc, yes, we do have a mini medication cupboard - and its still growing - of medication not only for the adults but also for Amelia. So, the next time if you webcam with us or talk to anyone of us.... and you see Amelia sniffling, please don´t blow your top. We are more worried bout you than you are. And Amelia knows... I will not let anything happen to her.
Though I find the thought hubby always sleeping in the couch when Amelia is sick - so she can sleep with me in the big bed - very heartwarming..... His concerns, love and care over her is greatly shown in vast measures.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Another 1st Year Mark
10th of March 2012 marks yet another 1st year mark.....
Today, I celebrate my 1st year anniversary together with Sven.
Can´t imagine that it has been 1 year we have been married.... together with all the ups and downs, the tights and loose, the happy and sad times.
Can´t imagine that so much that my daughter and I have gone through the past 1 year, really felt like 1 year! Somehow, it felt longer.... especially the part of us gradually settling down here in Germany.
But now, today, after 1 year being in the land of 4 seasons... I am proud to say.... my daughter has integrated herself perfectly in the society of the western world... wasn´t that hard for her to blend in actually.... I guess the harder part was getting used to the different climates here than the society....
In this 1 year...... not only my daughter but myself and hubby have grown to learn and adapt to one another...... us to adapt to the western world and hubby to adapt to our asian culture... Yeapssss..... we are practicing half asian and half german upbringing in our family. :)
But nevertheless,
Happy 1st Anniversary to my hubby.... and many more to come!
Today, I celebrate my 1st year anniversary together with Sven.
Can´t imagine that it has been 1 year we have been married.... together with all the ups and downs, the tights and loose, the happy and sad times.
Can´t imagine that so much that my daughter and I have gone through the past 1 year, really felt like 1 year! Somehow, it felt longer.... especially the part of us gradually settling down here in Germany.
But now, today, after 1 year being in the land of 4 seasons... I am proud to say.... my daughter has integrated herself perfectly in the society of the western world... wasn´t that hard for her to blend in actually.... I guess the harder part was getting used to the different climates here than the society....
In this 1 year...... not only my daughter but myself and hubby have grown to learn and adapt to one another...... us to adapt to the western world and hubby to adapt to our asian culture... Yeapssss..... we are practicing half asian and half german upbringing in our family. :)
But nevertheless,
Happy 1st Anniversary to my hubby.... and many more to come!
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Sex, Babies and books
Lately, there are some interesting vibes and views going on in Malaysia regarding a book, a kids book entitled "Where did I come from?" by Peter Mayle. Apparently according to them that the book is entirely wrong for the children, and that it is only appropriate, if ever, within the country of the author and not for the children and the people in Malaysia. Are you trying to indicate then that Malaysians are weirder? or just "special" that they cannot accept such books? How long more will Malaysia be hiding "under the rock"? Will they really condemn their entire future generation of Malaysia to the mentality and thinking of someone from the stone ages?
I hope, with this article, someone could really knock some senses into the heads of those trying to ban good books from Malaysia. People should be given a choice, irregardless of what others think
By RASHVINJEET S.BEDI
Many parents dread it when their young ones ask them where they came from. Some parents relied on a children's sex education book aptly titled Where Did I Come From? but the book has since been banned for its graphic content.
MUMMY, where did I come from?” When her daughter asks this question, says a freelance copywriter who wishes to be known only as Suet, she will be prepared with the right answer.
“I will talk about sex with my daughter as soon as she starts asking questions,” says Suet, 29.
“I would rather my child learned about sex from me than from other sources such as the media.”
Too
graphic: Khairun believes there is a distinction between children’s sex
educational books and pornography and he believes the book Where Did I
Come From? is of the latter category. — Bernama
But there is one source that she would not mind learning from, and it is a book that has been recently banned in Malaysia.
Suet says she only heard of the book titled Where Did I Come From? when the controversy surrounding it first emerged.
This naturally piqued her interest and she has managed to get a PDF version of the book from the Internet.
“I can't speak for all parents but I think it has been tastefully done in an educational way,” she says.
She also admits to having ordered the book online and is keeping her fingers crossed that it would arrive soon.
It is a fact that many parents still dread hearing these questions from their young ones, and many would probably fob off the question by saying a baby was a special delivery by a stork or that they were found in the hospital.
It was to help parents explain such things that inspired British writer Peter Mayle to write the book, which is described on its cover as the facts of life without any nonsense and with illustrations.
The book which Mayle dedicated to parents everywhere has been sold in Malaysia for quite a while, and many have used it to educate their children about the “birds and the bees”.
Education or pornography?
But when Umno Youth Community Complaints Bureau chief Datuk Muhd Khairun Aseh received complaints about the book, he felt duty-bound to investigate.
Upon going through it, Khairun says he was shocked that such a book could be available freely in major bookstores in Malaysia.
What was more shocking was that it was placed in the children's section, he adds.
The book, which was first published in 1973, describes the reproductive process in simple and humorous language accompanied with cartoon illustrations and drawings of naked male and female bodies complete with genitalia.
Khairun believes there is a distinction between children's sex educational books and pornography and he believes the book is of the latter category.
“The book might fit the values of where the author comes from, but not Malaysian values,” says Khairun, who submitted a copy of the bureau's complaints to the Home Ministry's Al-Quran Text and Publishing Control section.
After the contents were scrutinised, it was banned on grounds that it contained elements that could be detrimental to society's morals and public interest.
The ban was in accordance with the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which, among others, states that anyone convicted of circulating and distributing the book could be fined no more than RM20,000, or jailed three years or less, or both.
Many have criticised the ban, which they say has made Malaysia a laughing stock on the international stage.
News of the ban was also reported all over the world.
Mother-of-three Daphne Lee feels the ban is unnecessary, saying that the book is written for children and it explains how babies are conceived in a straightforward and gentle way between two people in a loving relationship.
“It's presented as two people in love and happy together having a child,” she says.
She believes that those who oppose the sale of the book might attach a sexual significance to everything they see.
“They might not view breastfeeding as a nourishment to the child but as something sexual. It reflects what's going through their minds,” she says, adding that the book can't be said to be pornographic as it does not stimulate sexual desire.
She believes that many look at the fundamental human activity of sex in a very prurient way.
“But there is nothing dirty about it. We wouldn't be here if our parents didn't have sex. It's a normal and healthy activity,” she says.
Lee says she has read the book to her eldest child and found that it was a good introduction to the subject.
She would rather expose the facts of life to her kids than have them find out from another source such as their friends.
“As a parent, I owe it to them to give them the facts,” she says.
She also believes that as a result of their exposure to sex education, her sons don't have a weird fascination with nudity.
Seeing a girl in a bikini, for instance, they would not connect it with sex, she explains.
Part-time lecturer and mother-of-three Yew Su Fong, 40, recalls her mum giving her the book when she was in primary school.
“I thought it was a useful and educational book. I'm glad that I had it at that age because one would want to know where one came from,” she says, adding that the content was presented very well.
She has passed the book on to her two eldest children, both girls, aged seven and 10.
“I'm surprised it's still around in the first place. I would be very sad if it was banned because many parents find it useful in educating kids about the facts of life,” she says, but adds that she would understand if anyone views it as offensive.
Initiating a talk about sex is difficult and the book might be useful in overcoming this first stage, Yew says.
“Children at a young age will want to know these sort of things. The book might be graphic but in no way is it pornographic.”
Among other things, the book which has been described as a first-aid for parents explains the physical differences between a male and a female, the process of making love, and pregnancy. The characters are slightly elderly and overweight.
The book has an average rating of four stars from 157 reviews on Amazon.com.
Most reviewers found the book, intended for children between four and eight, useful and tasteful although there was a minority who said it was not appropriate and was too graphic.
Khairun points out that in one of the pages, the author wrote that the process of making love involved the man pushing his penis up and down inside the woman's vagina.
He says he was shocked by sentences like this, and the graphic level of nudity.
“It's never too late to rectify things. How it reached the shelf is another question and I urge the authorities to look into it,” he adds.
He accepts that children have to be exposed to sex education but argues that the degree and level have to be done in tandem with Malaysian values and culture.
“I'm not against sex education but it's too adult in this case.”
Too much for kids
Faiz Al-Shabab, a consultant with digital portal E-Sentral, agrees with Khairun, saying that while the book is presumably not offensive in liberal countries such as Norway or Sweden, it might not be suitable for children here.
“It is a subjective thing but I would not show my child the book,” he says. “There are more Asian or subtle ways of describing things like this.”
Faiz, who says he would probably talk about the facts of life with his son when he hits puberty, at about 12 or 13, feels a big deal shouldn't have been made about the book as it would attract more attention.
“They should have just banned the book and moved on. All this uproar is an advertisement for the book,” he says, pointing out that many of his colleagues have tried to look for it.
Faiz believes many would attempt to download the e-book version, and that the PDF version could probably be found on file-sharing websites.
The point he wants to make, and most Malaysian agree, is that if you really want it, you can get it.
When it comes to talking about sex with our young children, we can't maintain a third world mentality and say the stork brought the baby down, Suet stresses.
“If you want to explain what sex is all about, then you will have to know about conception, pregnancy and all the body parts.
“(In the book) it is not drawn in such a way that is obscene. You might giggle but that's all,” she says, pointing out that many unwanted pregnancies were probably caused by lack of sex education.
Engineer Kumar, 27, however, finds the images of naked people even in illustrations disturbing for children.
“I'm not sure how kids would react to it but I figure there are other ways to teach sex education,” he says.
Kumar, who is single, says children would eventually learn about sex. “You grow older and it comes naturally. I'm quite sure I figured it out without having people to tell me,” he says.
But while Kumar feels it is not appropriate, he doesn't support the ban.
“If anybody wants to use the book to teach their children about sex and how babies are made, it should be up to them. People should have a choice,” he says.
I hope, with this article, someone could really knock some senses into the heads of those trying to ban good books from Malaysia. People should be given a choice, irregardless of what others think
Sunday February 26, 2012
Sex, babies and books
By RASHVINJEET S.BEDI
rashvin@thestar.com.my
Many parents dread it when their young ones ask them where they came from. Some parents relied on a children's sex education book aptly titled Where Did I Come From? but the book has since been banned for its graphic content.
MUMMY, where did I come from?” When her daughter asks this question, says a freelance copywriter who wishes to be known only as Suet, she will be prepared with the right answer.
“I will talk about sex with my daughter as soon as she starts asking questions,” says Suet, 29.
“I would rather my child learned about sex from me than from other sources such as the media.”
Too
graphic: Khairun believes there is a distinction between children’s sex
educational books and pornography and he believes the book Where Did I
Come From? is of the latter category. — Bernama Suet says she only heard of the book titled Where Did I Come From? when the controversy surrounding it first emerged.
This naturally piqued her interest and she has managed to get a PDF version of the book from the Internet.
“I can't speak for all parents but I think it has been tastefully done in an educational way,” she says.
She also admits to having ordered the book online and is keeping her fingers crossed that it would arrive soon.
It is a fact that many parents still dread hearing these questions from their young ones, and many would probably fob off the question by saying a baby was a special delivery by a stork or that they were found in the hospital.
It was to help parents explain such things that inspired British writer Peter Mayle to write the book, which is described on its cover as the facts of life without any nonsense and with illustrations.
The book which Mayle dedicated to parents everywhere has been sold in Malaysia for quite a while, and many have used it to educate their children about the “birds and the bees”.
Education or pornography?
But when Umno Youth Community Complaints Bureau chief Datuk Muhd Khairun Aseh received complaints about the book, he felt duty-bound to investigate.
Upon going through it, Khairun says he was shocked that such a book could be available freely in major bookstores in Malaysia.
What was more shocking was that it was placed in the children's section, he adds.
The book, which was first published in 1973, describes the reproductive process in simple and humorous language accompanied with cartoon illustrations and drawings of naked male and female bodies complete with genitalia.
Khairun believes there is a distinction between children's sex educational books and pornography and he believes the book is of the latter category.
“The book might fit the values of where the author comes from, but not Malaysian values,” says Khairun, who submitted a copy of the bureau's complaints to the Home Ministry's Al-Quran Text and Publishing Control section.
After the contents were scrutinised, it was banned on grounds that it contained elements that could be detrimental to society's morals and public interest.
The ban was in accordance with the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which, among others, states that anyone convicted of circulating and distributing the book could be fined no more than RM20,000, or jailed three years or less, or both.
Many have criticised the ban, which they say has made Malaysia a laughing stock on the international stage.
News of the ban was also reported all over the world.
Mother-of-three Daphne Lee feels the ban is unnecessary, saying that the book is written for children and it explains how babies are conceived in a straightforward and gentle way between two people in a loving relationship.
“It's presented as two people in love and happy together having a child,” she says.
She believes that those who oppose the sale of the book might attach a sexual significance to everything they see.
“They might not view breastfeeding as a nourishment to the child but as something sexual. It reflects what's going through their minds,” she says, adding that the book can't be said to be pornographic as it does not stimulate sexual desire.
She believes that many look at the fundamental human activity of sex in a very prurient way.
“But there is nothing dirty about it. We wouldn't be here if our parents didn't have sex. It's a normal and healthy activity,” she says.
Lee says she has read the book to her eldest child and found that it was a good introduction to the subject.
She would rather expose the facts of life to her kids than have them find out from another source such as their friends.
“As a parent, I owe it to them to give them the facts,” she says.
She also believes that as a result of their exposure to sex education, her sons don't have a weird fascination with nudity.
Seeing a girl in a bikini, for instance, they would not connect it with sex, she explains.
Part-time lecturer and mother-of-three Yew Su Fong, 40, recalls her mum giving her the book when she was in primary school.
“I thought it was a useful and educational book. I'm glad that I had it at that age because one would want to know where one came from,” she says, adding that the content was presented very well.
She has passed the book on to her two eldest children, both girls, aged seven and 10.
“I'm surprised it's still around in the first place. I would be very sad if it was banned because many parents find it useful in educating kids about the facts of life,” she says, but adds that she would understand if anyone views it as offensive.
Initiating a talk about sex is difficult and the book might be useful in overcoming this first stage, Yew says.
“Children at a young age will want to know these sort of things. The book might be graphic but in no way is it pornographic.”
Among other things, the book which has been described as a first-aid for parents explains the physical differences between a male and a female, the process of making love, and pregnancy. The characters are slightly elderly and overweight.
The book has an average rating of four stars from 157 reviews on Amazon.com.
Most reviewers found the book, intended for children between four and eight, useful and tasteful although there was a minority who said it was not appropriate and was too graphic.
Khairun points out that in one of the pages, the author wrote that the process of making love involved the man pushing his penis up and down inside the woman's vagina.
He says he was shocked by sentences like this, and the graphic level of nudity.
“It's never too late to rectify things. How it reached the shelf is another question and I urge the authorities to look into it,” he adds.
He accepts that children have to be exposed to sex education but argues that the degree and level have to be done in tandem with Malaysian values and culture.
“I'm not against sex education but it's too adult in this case.”
Too much for kids
Faiz Al-Shabab, a consultant with digital portal E-Sentral, agrees with Khairun, saying that while the book is presumably not offensive in liberal countries such as Norway or Sweden, it might not be suitable for children here.
“It is a subjective thing but I would not show my child the book,” he says. “There are more Asian or subtle ways of describing things like this.”
Faiz, who says he would probably talk about the facts of life with his son when he hits puberty, at about 12 or 13, feels a big deal shouldn't have been made about the book as it would attract more attention.
“They should have just banned the book and moved on. All this uproar is an advertisement for the book,” he says, pointing out that many of his colleagues have tried to look for it.
Faiz believes many would attempt to download the e-book version, and that the PDF version could probably be found on file-sharing websites.
The point he wants to make, and most Malaysian agree, is that if you really want it, you can get it.
When it comes to talking about sex with our young children, we can't maintain a third world mentality and say the stork brought the baby down, Suet stresses.
“If you want to explain what sex is all about, then you will have to know about conception, pregnancy and all the body parts.
“(In the book) it is not drawn in such a way that is obscene. You might giggle but that's all,” she says, pointing out that many unwanted pregnancies were probably caused by lack of sex education.
Engineer Kumar, 27, however, finds the images of naked people even in illustrations disturbing for children.
“I'm not sure how kids would react to it but I figure there are other ways to teach sex education,” he says.
Kumar, who is single, says children would eventually learn about sex. “You grow older and it comes naturally. I'm quite sure I figured it out without having people to tell me,” he says.
But while Kumar feels it is not appropriate, he doesn't support the ban.
“If anybody wants to use the book to teach their children about sex and how babies are made, it should be up to them. People should have a choice,” he says.
Monday, 20 February 2012
ღ♥ The end of Winter and beginning of Spring? ღ♥
Can´t believe how time flies......
In a glimpse of an eye, February is coming to an end and March will be starting in like another 1 1/2 weeks more. My little girl will be turning 5 this year, in March. Can´t believe that it´s already 5 years...... can´t believe that I have been a mother for 5 years now..... with all the hardships that myself and also my little girl has been through all these years!
It has also been some time since I last blogged..... upon checking was the eve of CNY was my last post. CNY here in Germany isn´t anything at all like in Malaysia. It´s as if like the festival itself is non-existent, probably because the majority race and religion here is Christianity. You´d find alot of holidays and festivals on the Christian holidays but rarely on the other holidays..... Our first CNY away from home was indeed extremely silent, not even the sounds of the endless fireworks (which you normally can hear in KL at night starting from the eve of CNY right up till the 15th day of CNY) bursting through the skies in the nights. We didn´t have much celebration, managed to get our CNY lunch and dinner at Ming Dynastie - 2 separate days, and managed to find this really round pomelo (in conjunction with the CNY celebrations). Other than that.... for us, it is just like any other ordinary day xD
Amelia and myself got our first encounter with snow within this month itself. Winter was indeed, and still is, cold. The lowest temperature we had - and encountered this year - was -20°. Extremely cold....... Wandering around in the morning was also unbearable. As although the sun was up and shining ever so bright in the skies, the temperature was freezing cold, plus together with the blowing wind..... *omg* Now I know why animals hibernate throughout winter xD But..... we managed our days like usual..... morning going to school - the both of us, and noon coming home and then the occasional shopping, although the weekend outings were cut down completely... as it was indeed too cold to do so. But, my little girl managed to have the experience of making her very first snow angel and also snow ball! Seeing the endless joy in my little girl´s eyes was remarkable throughout this winter season...... Although I have to say, her cold (aka flu) just won´t stop coming and going :-s
Valentines Day itself just came and go, some time last week. Our Valentine´s day was special. Hubby was on one week vacation - in conjunction with V Day also....... On that day itself, hubby cooked a very special meal for the both of us *aaawwwwww* Alright alright... feeling extremely pampered..... Amelia gotten herself a box of Lego - the Police edition for her V Day gift while.... myself I gotten heartshaped Milka for V Day! The day was indeed great! But anyways.... we managed to celebrate a post V Day celebration just last Friday with the Lovers Menu at Ming Dynastie, the entire family. So it was a double celebration for us.... and Amelia just thoroughly enjoyed herself.
The main highlights of the month.... ahaha all summarized up.
Oh.... I am still struggling with re-uploading my multiply, no thanks to a few certain someone. I am slacked behind time on my photos.... my parents and everyone else haven´t seen the latest pics of Amelia like how they normally do - unless if they are in my Path or Instagram. Feeling the frustration of the re-uploading process... but.... I am almost done.... 2010 almost complete... then would be left with a HUGE CHUNK of 2011 before I can even reach to 2012..... *sighs* Oh god....... *cries silently*
Anyways......
The weather has been changing once again drastically. The snow has completely melted, and now the skies are gloomy and cloudy and wet daily. Reminds me of Gloomy London whenever I looked out the window during the weekend........ I know Calender wise, Spring only begins on 21st of March.... but somehow, with the weather and such changing outside, I have the feeling spring has arrived...... even the trees and plants are slowly blooming once again......... How unpredictable the weather can get exactly?
In a glimpse of an eye, February is coming to an end and March will be starting in like another 1 1/2 weeks more. My little girl will be turning 5 this year, in March. Can´t believe that it´s already 5 years...... can´t believe that I have been a mother for 5 years now..... with all the hardships that myself and also my little girl has been through all these years!
It has also been some time since I last blogged..... upon checking was the eve of CNY was my last post. CNY here in Germany isn´t anything at all like in Malaysia. It´s as if like the festival itself is non-existent, probably because the majority race and religion here is Christianity. You´d find alot of holidays and festivals on the Christian holidays but rarely on the other holidays..... Our first CNY away from home was indeed extremely silent, not even the sounds of the endless fireworks (which you normally can hear in KL at night starting from the eve of CNY right up till the 15th day of CNY) bursting through the skies in the nights. We didn´t have much celebration, managed to get our CNY lunch and dinner at Ming Dynastie - 2 separate days, and managed to find this really round pomelo (in conjunction with the CNY celebrations). Other than that.... for us, it is just like any other ordinary day xD
Amelia and myself got our first encounter with snow within this month itself. Winter was indeed, and still is, cold. The lowest temperature we had - and encountered this year - was -20°. Extremely cold....... Wandering around in the morning was also unbearable. As although the sun was up and shining ever so bright in the skies, the temperature was freezing cold, plus together with the blowing wind..... *omg* Now I know why animals hibernate throughout winter xD But..... we managed our days like usual..... morning going to school - the both of us, and noon coming home and then the occasional shopping, although the weekend outings were cut down completely... as it was indeed too cold to do so. But, my little girl managed to have the experience of making her very first snow angel and also snow ball! Seeing the endless joy in my little girl´s eyes was remarkable throughout this winter season...... Although I have to say, her cold (aka flu) just won´t stop coming and going :-s
Valentines Day itself just came and go, some time last week. Our Valentine´s day was special. Hubby was on one week vacation - in conjunction with V Day also....... On that day itself, hubby cooked a very special meal for the both of us *aaawwwwww* Alright alright... feeling extremely pampered..... Amelia gotten herself a box of Lego - the Police edition for her V Day gift while.... myself I gotten heartshaped Milka for V Day! The day was indeed great! But anyways.... we managed to celebrate a post V Day celebration just last Friday with the Lovers Menu at Ming Dynastie, the entire family. So it was a double celebration for us.... and Amelia just thoroughly enjoyed herself.
The main highlights of the month.... ahaha all summarized up.
Oh.... I am still struggling with re-uploading my multiply, no thanks to a few certain someone. I am slacked behind time on my photos.... my parents and everyone else haven´t seen the latest pics of Amelia like how they normally do - unless if they are in my Path or Instagram. Feeling the frustration of the re-uploading process... but.... I am almost done.... 2010 almost complete... then would be left with a HUGE CHUNK of 2011 before I can even reach to 2012..... *sighs* Oh god....... *cries silently*
Anyways......
The weather has been changing once again drastically. The snow has completely melted, and now the skies are gloomy and cloudy and wet daily. Reminds me of Gloomy London whenever I looked out the window during the weekend........ I know Calender wise, Spring only begins on 21st of March.... but somehow, with the weather and such changing outside, I have the feeling spring has arrived...... even the trees and plants are slowly blooming once again......... How unpredictable the weather can get exactly?
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