Letters / A Letter from Papa Bird to its Baby Birds [3]

Recently I have produced a work which I hope there're somebody helping me to check the grammar.

A Letter from Papa Bird to its Baby Birds

"In response to the theme of Living a Live with Dignity, I convey my messages via an allegory which late Papa bird sends a letter to teach his three little birds about life."- Anna

My three lovely baby birds,
It's been a year since I left your mama bird and you. I'm now formless but I enjoy being in the sea. I follow the flow of the sea and meet a lot of fishes here.

Since the time I left you, have you three learned to be more open-minded in learning? Tweety, life is about learning. There're so many things waiting for us to explore. In the past, I used to think that the skies that we always flew is the whole world, but now I realize that there are other mountains, seas, forests except the skies I used to teach you to fly. Birdy, you must enjoy learning and not to be too stressed if you can't learn everything. Chicky, I know you have experienced a lot of obstacles and are disappointed with the reality that stops you to pursue your dream. But life is also about action. Instead of waiting for miracles, it should be you to create the miracles.

One thing I feel regretful is that I can't wait for your success, but I believe your mama bird can do so. So, three of you must take good care of your mama bird. She is not as strong as she used to be in the past. When she feels bored, bring her to the beautiful forest that I have brought you there before. Tweety, your mama bird always encourages you to befriend with other birds. From there, you will hear more and make wise judgment though what you hear is not always the truth. Birdy, I know it is a big blow to you when you saw me leave without telling you when you were in another forest, but I know this is going to make your more independent and more mature in analyzing each problem. Chicky, I know you may be busy with entertaining and socializing with your bird friends, but sometimes you must go home early and try to talk to your mama bird about your future.

In the past, I used to know what kinds of trees were better to build our warm nests, but now it's your time to know how to choose a good tree for your nest. I know three of you always have dreams. But do the dreams gradually fade away? Do the dreams still exist in your hearts? "Hope is far greater wealth than that of any other kind. There's no progress or victory for people, who, for instance, possess every else, but lack hope and the strength to live. This cannot be called a human way of living, nor is it in which happiness can be found." Also, determination means something. You live your life once. Whether you fight till the end and create your own value or just give up when you face death, disappointment, and desperation all depend on your decision.

Care for your friends and don't always think of getting benefits from them. I always believe that good birds will eventually receive the most beautiful and fruitful outcome. We don't fight for those that are meaningless. Your Mama Bird will not always accompany you, and life is something that you know how you can live on. It's like writing your own story. But when you tell people about your story, it must not be boring but very interesting and inspiring. Though I leave, I can always become your mental support. Live in present as it is always a gift for you to achieve something today. We can't know what will happen tomorrow but we still have today to continue.

"Everyone dies eventually. Almost none of us here nor the planet at this moment will still be alive a hundred years from now. This is a stern reality that nothing can change. When we deeply recognize this truth, it becomes impossible for us to squander our lives." Papa Bird does not have chance to live again. If I could live my life once again, I would not fight with Mama Bird and I would always accompany you and see you grow. Family unity is so important to me now, but it's too late. So, my dear baby birds, I want you to make yourself and your mother happy every day.

Take care, my dear baby birds and Mama Bird! Love you!
Yours sincerely,
Papa Bird

Writing Feedback / Life is wonderful. Isn't it? [5]

***I think it's because of sincerity. His mother asked her son to continue learning from me. And she herself also wants to become one of my students.***

Today. after I finished my first part-teaching at 3.15pm, I received a piece of bad news from the mother of one of my students. She told me her son doesn't want to learn anymore because he can't learn things from me. Hmmn, I feel extremely disappointed. It's not because I can't earn money from them anymore. It's just because he doesn't want to explore knowledge anymore. During last month, I thought of various ways of teaching him, letting him try whatever he wants to improve his English. Eventually, he told his mum he can't learn things from me.

Then I called his mum and told his mum that i still blessed him and I hope that he will become a better person in the future. I told his mum I don't really want to earn your money. If I want to be calculative, what I teach him is already more than how much she pays. Then she asked me to go to meet her again today.

After that, we had a GREAT discussion about some of her son's problems. I analyzed his problems to his mother.

1) This child is truely very intelligent and lucky. His mother selects the best international school for him to study. But his mother told me her child likes to escape from problems. Once he faces problems, he chooses to change his school and he chooses not to speak to those people he doesn't like.

2) He only learns things that he has already known. Every time I ask him to think of what he wants to learn, then he says he just wants to have more exercises in grammar and tenses. He refuses to learn things that are beyond his abilities.

3) He seldom has interest in learning new things. And he told his mum what I teach him is either too difficult or too hard. I teach them how to present a product and I give him to do online grammar and tenses exercises. I even asked him to do translation. Furthermore, I asked him to be more critical when he writes. There must be counter-arguements for his writings.

Hahaha~then these are too new for him to learn. Eventually, he can't stand. Then, I gave solutions to his mother.

1) His mother is totally very receptive. She is very open-minded. I told her that her son is very lucky and her son should treasure what her mother has arranged for him. Coz I still have a lot of students who don't even have chances to study, then I said I prefer to teach those that treasure learning opportunities. His mother then told her son to treasure such a good teacher (means "me" la). She said it's really hard to find a teacher who really cares about the future of people.

2) I told her I look at the long-term effects rather than short-term effects. Of course, I can just go there every time and prepare all the tenses and grammar for him to learn. But this is not teaching. This is just wasting my time. Eventually, he doesn't learn and it wastes my time too. What I focus on is the exploration of different knowledge. Ay me! Malaysian students are very "machine". They just want to learn things according to the books. They can't accept things more than the books tell them. I also told his mother this problem.

3) Of course, his mother knows how I feel because we can only experience all these things after we work. Lots of my students are working or perhaps doing business. Then, if we only knew the importance of a language after we work, it was too late. Of course, it is not too late if we put efforts.

4) I also told his mother I learn from her son most of the time. Because of her son, I search a lot of information and this eventually makes me improve too. I like to challenge myself with things that I don't know. Then, his mother also knows learning is a continuous journey. There's no way for us to call "stop".

I think it's because of sincerity, his mother asked her son to continue learning from me. And she herself also wants to become one of my students. Hahaha! I hope I could have more time to pass all the good knowledge to people. Unfortunately, I am fully occupied with a full-time job.

Recently, I have heard of another good story from one of my students too.

She is 31. She always laughs happily in my class. Last time our topic was family. Then, she suddenly said she didn't want to talk about her family. She even joked with me and said that I would probably need tissue after I heard her story. Hahaah! Truely, I almost needed a piece of tissue. She always told me she wants to go to Australia and work there. But she said she can't probably fulfill her dream now because of her 13-year-old child. I was shocked when she said she has 13-year-old child coz she is just 31. Then, she told me she has divorced with her husband because of her child. Unfortunately, her child is an autistic plus hyperactive child. In addition, her child has a very rare illness which causes half of his face "whiter" than another half. Last week, her child got bullied by his classmates. She told me she has helped her child to change a lot of schools but her child still gets bullied. Then, she has to take care of her child now and she can't get rid of the reality. Of course, one more thing that makes her feel troubled is her mother always asks for money from her. That's why they always quarrel. This is such an unfortunate family. And I told her I respect her from the bottom of my heart because it's not easy to be a single-parent.

I always said that she is a brave woman who can still face her life strongly. You know what? If she didn't tell me this story, I wouldn't know there are still a lot of families who need our concerns and help. But she doesn't ask for help from me. She just told me this is about "life". She can't escape and she said we won't know how hurtful she feels.

I know I am lucky. When I'm still troubled with a lot of problems, there're a lot more people who still face hunger and coldness. So, why should we blame our parents or people around us? I am fortunate. I still have my family and friends who support me no matter where I go.

Life is wonderful. Isn't it?