What makes a lecturer happy?????

Today is a good day for me.

I had "lou sang" with my students.....during class (PLEASE don't let my boss know!)......why is it good? There are a few reasons:

1. Other than the fact that the "lou sang" "mixture" actually tasted quite yummy (it better be....it costed RM60+ per set!! We have two!!), the thing is, the whole noble idea actually came from a STUDENT, all for the sake of creating "happiness" (according to that student). Indeed everyone was laughing and joking, even the serious faced eased up a bit (from my perspective, at least).... i must say this whole event has caused me thinking....why didn't i even think of initiating such a thing in the first place? Have i secretly wondered as to why some students seemed so "distance" or "sub-dued" during class? Yes i have. Have i done anything to break the ice? Hmm....not really. There you go. It takes a student to "teach" me the lesson of being a "good teacher". Thank you. Small matter? Not to me...

2. During "lou sang", i was painstakingly "scooping" the mixture into a cup with my very "CANGGIH" chop-stick skill (you know, the "cross-over" type). All of a sudden, i saw this pair of chop stick throwing a nice slice of salmon into my cup....small matter you think? To me, it is heart-warming. Honestly, i didn't even manage to see who he or she was, but....thank you! You guys are a caring bunch! Small matter? Not to me...

3. After the "lou sang" (which can be really messy), the cleaning-up was really SOMETHING. Everyone knew exactly what to do. No instruction, no nagging, and such speed of cleaning up! The classroom was without a single trace of food (except for a pair of chop-stick....well, no one is perfect eh)!! These are MY students! Small matter? Not to me....

4. A student of mine sent me a letter through his friends today. "Huh?" was my first reaction. It wasn't a letter to tell me how good a teacher i am, and how grateful he is that i am his teacher, bla bla bla. It's just a few liner apologising to me for not being able to attend my class due to certain reasons. That really MAKES MY DAY!!!!! Small matter? Not to me...

So, what actually makes a lecturer happy? Is it the $ at the end of the month (P-LEASE, don't even mention that!!!) ? Is it the glamour (glamour??? what glamour???) Is it the grade?

For a "unique" (some may call it "weird") lecturer like me, are the "small matters". Small matters that allows me to learn from MY students, small matters that help me know MY students, small matters that show me their heart, small matters that reveals the positive attributes in them, small matters that show me the change in them (to the better).....

To my "lou sang" students, thank you for a good day today!

Note:
Lou Sang - a Malaysian chinese tradition during CNY where people will gather together tossing a mixture of "stuff" with raw fish inside. The higher you toss, the better, as it signifies the higher one will "rise" in whatever one does...something like that....i think.