Dangerous minds/ My life as a teacher…

Hmm this is not really a movie review. It was a movie i heard about many years back and never really got the chance to watch it. Yesterday i finally managed to get my hands on the movie. Film style wise i can say its very 90’s hollywood. But what really touched me was the story. Its about a high school teacher making a difference on students lives.

This story reminded me alot of the time i spent teaching technical students. Its not that high school kids from other countries are worse off. Its smtg like my sis said. Society. You give them guns and drugs…Singaporean teens would be as bad as them. There are no real difference between youngsters from different countries,

I had always hated our education system that labels and classify students ability basing on their PSLE results at a tender age of 12? Where they are labelled for life…and everything is pretty much planned for them by the ministry of education.

When i was in secondary school, i never had much contact with anyone from the techical side. I only got to know them when i was teaching for a period of 1 to 2 years. Many teachers looked down upon them, dont bother to teach them…and tell them to their face that they are gonna be blue collar workers.

Technical kids are not stupid. But i do agree they dont think like us. My elder sis still teaches them and she says she sees a difference. Maybe because all their life they have been labelled hopeless and they dont think for themselves anymore? Its the same pattern in every school. The teacher doesnt even conduct lessons.

I worked closely with this techical student, Alisha. She used to give me the same complaints. And i realise just like this film…i kind of used the same methods as the teacher. Anyways this movie is based on a true story… The actual teacher even wrote a book “My posse don’t do homework”.

The problem with them is…you have to grab their attention. One of the teachers call it “Edutainment”. You have to be them..to teach them. That requires you to be as “cool” as them. Even if its saying vulgarities..better not let the principal know this…

I didnt use vulgarities…but i had my own methods. Stories…jokes…smtimes unique ways to teach them…even if its a little sexual. Its like packaging information in the most entertaining ways. Like “what is stronger…iron or steel” So i created a story on the “iron man” and the “steel man”. It helped them remmeber. Or why north poles of a magnet…can NEVER attract. Sometimes it scares you when you realise these guys cant read at all. And you have to be really dedicated to help these guys. You cant shout over them…scream at them.They have dignity. You have to be “friends” with them.

Then there is this politics among teachers…where some assholes dont like your efforts..They expect you to give “worksheets”. Seriously…fuck your worksheets. Cos this kids aint  gonna do dem. You have to teach them visually and they learn visually. And these “assholes” have to interfere and tell you how to teach. Dudes…did your methods work? The kids listen to me! Not you!

Truly enough the teacher in this film faced the same issue as well. I gave them “express” stuff to do. I didnt tell them i was giving “express” stuff to do. Cos express to dem is sooo high up there. N sadly “express” students look down upon them…like they are alien or smtg. I told them…they are not any different.

1stly, i had to be like them. I had to joke around. Dont worry…the class is never quiet. Its alright. They dont get alot of basic stuff. Even proper grammer in English. Dont be disheartened. They will improve over time. Get them to like you! They need to feel safe with you.

Dont scream shout or make them look small. They are only gonna be harder to work with, Sometimes they sound rude..not because they want to be rude…they dont know how to talk. Many of them either have a problem with their brain (honestly) or they are from dysfunctional families.

Praise them. I did that with Alisha. I told her she was intelligent. These kids never get praised all their lives. Saying “Good”, excellent…mean alot to them. They feel encouraged and they want to impress you more…so they will take efforts. Alisha told me that her teachers thot she was hopeless…and i told her “Na…its they who are hopeless”..I bitched about her teachers with her. Bitching helps…it makes you “their” friend. When they talk about problems…listen to them.

Candies.I bring sweets always with me..whether its preschoolers…primary or secodary. Those 1 dollar sweets make a huge difference in their lives. When they make effort…i throw them a sweet…and they find it mor fun to partcipate in class. Dont get upset when you see some of them sleeping in class…after some time they will join in the fun.

Ghost stories. It always works. The more gory the better…and if its about their school…even better. I would ask them to switch off the lights…close the windows to create the “atmosphere”.

 I dont like saying sexual jokes. I rather  stick on the horror side. Sharing with them personal stuff help as well.

I try to avoid telling them my age…cos im pretty young to teach…i was a contract teacher during the time i was handling them. N among all three streams…technical was my favorite. Cos they are grateful creatures. They remmeber you and they will love you. Unlike express kids. These guys smtimes want to sit with for lunch or even help you carry books. The scary factor is these guys are big..and its pretty scary to seem them jumping around…but they are actually kids in heart.

I really wish MOE does away with their streaming. Many boys arent very matured at 12…and they screw up their exams. Technical kids need really dedicated teachers an they are NOT HOPELESS. Many of them were suprised that they were doing “express” maths and they started trusting their abilities more.

This film kind of confirmed the same methods i used. I managed to help Alisha top her stream. And she topped really well. Her marks were excellent and she surprised her other teachers as well. I couldnt help everyone. In reality, its impossible. There were a few which were sadly beyond hope.Sometimes you wish you could do smtg for them

I wasnt NIE trained. I was a contract teacher with little training. What really matters is dedication. It takes alot of energy to work with them..but once you start loving them…you really apreciate them for who they are.

In the indian lagauge there is a saying “Mata (mother), Pita (Dad), Guru (Teacher), Deivam (God)”. The teacher ranks the 3rd….giving us a very high position. N we shld never abuse our position by discouraging them or labelling them. What we say…matters to them alot. I had a terrible experience with a primary 5 teacher…and i told myself if i evr teach…i wont be like her. N im proud to say…im definitely a better teacher than her. Alhamdullilah.

You should watch this movie. Its excellent and lets you think … It available on youtube in 10 parts. Flo i recommend you to watch it…maybe we can discuss abt it

A montage of me made by Pawn1787 (John)

This montage was made by John. Well i have to really thank you. I think that was really sweet of you to send me this. You made my day!

A Honest post

Today i am in a mood to pour my heart out. I have friends who tell me not to tell too much on a blog. But i cant help being honest. Ive nothing to pretend or hide about. I guess everyone feels the same way i do. We are all human after all. Today after John sent me this video, i started thinking to myself. Ive got various reactions from people when they know about my blog.

I started this blog mainly because i loved bellydance a little too much. Ive even got a friend who tells me that i am expressing my frustrations through art. Bellydance gave me freedom to explore and experiment. Maybe its my nature to dwell into things people forbid or have a dim view of. The moment you tell people you are a bellydancer, you have people thinking, “stripper?”.

There were times when i wake up in the morning and think what i am doing with myself. Or sometimes i wonder what people think about this indian girl who comes from a conservative culture and religion dancing on the web. Do people think sexually about the whole thing.  There were even times i thought of taking down the videos. Each time i feel like that, i recieve an email from a bellydancing sister or fan of bellydance telling me how much it means to them. The main reason why i started all this was because i didnt have a teacher. And i ended up with the wrong teachers in the beginning. I dont want people to have the passion but not the opportunity to learn. Maybe learning from videos isnt as effective as learning in a class. But atleast you learn and share something.

All the stuff you guys do for me, i really appreciate it. The emails, comments and the videos. It makes me think i am in the right path. It makes me feel a little better of myself. When people talk about what i do, i am honestly shy about it. I try to avoid the subject. Cos deep inside my heart, i had been afraid of what people think of me. I am not the sort of person that wants attention or want people to mistake what i do as sexual. Those who are with me, i have to thank all of you that none of you think like that. I am also glad that ive managed to be a form of help to all of you.

Another thing ive to thank all of you guys for are the comments and suggestions. By listening to your comments ive managed to correct my mistakes. By researching your questions, ive learnt alot more about this artform. I am also glad that the people who are with me have a great impression of bellydance. Ive heard from so many men who loves belydancing more than women. Ive seen John’s page and the time he spends compiling floorwork bellydance videos. http://www.youtube.com/user/Pawn1787

I will post more videos. And do keep sending me your questions. I might be a little late in answering them. Its great to share knowledge, you learn alot more that way. Thanks alot.

 

Sabreena

When knowledge hangs as chains rather than pearls on your neck…

Yesterday they came and told me my time is running out…

I knew that deep inside my heart

I waited for a sign to do what i was destined to do

Time seem to have frozen

Probably to mock those who hadnt cleaned after their mistakes

Now that time seems to be moving again

Faster and as a reminder

telling me my time is up

I am granted to do all i want to do

till the last bell rings

Today i felt how is to be dead

You cant feel the tenderness of a simple breeze

Or the warmth of the sun

You soul is there

But you feel nothing

Ive been told im different

The sqaure among the circles

Now i know why

I am the one to go

My time is really short

I want to learn and know everything before i go

But how much can i learn

In such a short time

The knowledge i have are truly pearls

But sometimes they burden me like chains

Reminding me of the ticking clock

Will heaven be a better place?

 

When Art becomes business

Thats my dance at my school in front of muttons of the midnight. I think i gave the best i could. I smiled alot. I didnt freeze, forget any step. I guess the more you perform the more comfortable you would be in dancing in public. When i am dancing alone, i tend to smile less cos i am only dancing in front of a camera. I guess my motivation is my audience. Enjoy!

Well i guess some of you who had been tuning in to my blog would be very sad that some of these videos are gone. Well, my teacher didnt quite like the idea of me putting up videos of fellow dancers. I cant blame them. I should have seek proper permission. But it was something naive i didnt had any intention to do any harm. Two of the video techniques too had been removed. Well i still cant blame anyone as she claims its her techniques.

I had to reflect about something which had been in my mind for a very long time. I respect the line of teaching very much. When i was a kid, i used to observe teachers who would call students “stupid” just because they couldnt get a math problem right. I have touched this topic before on my blog. Whatever you say to a child really matters to him or her. So when i became a teacher, i was very careful with my students. Even if they are in the “Wanted” list in the teachers room. To me, i respect art alot. Its in my blood. Its in every malayalee. But for one moment, i thought to myself, art has been passed down over many generations. And its alive because it has been passed on, taught over and over again. Can art be copyrighted? Films are different totally. Copying an idea or a storyline can be considered infringing copy right. But can a special camera angle or movement be considered copyright?

I believe when we start teaching we should let it all flow free. Let everyone see and learn and spread the art everywhere you see, so it wont die. Like look whats happening in Egypt? Egypt claims that zills are boring. Lesser and lesser dancers are doing zills. That move is in great peril of being wiped out.

I guess this is just my opinion. I usually learn from observation. From hearing and seeing. So i take videos. I guess a teacher should let a student learn in whatever method he or she likes. A teacher should never be the obstacle of learning. But then again, who am i to say that? She might just be very uncomfortable at the idea. It really is up to the individual. Art to me cant be copyrighted. Its meant to be imitated, innovated and spread around to keep it alive. Bellydance has alot of misconceptions around it. Isnt this an opportunity to let everyone know its the most feminine art?

I cant help but say i am a little hurt. I am not writing this to hurt anyone. This is only my opinion. And i need a place to throw it out and this is it. I make a promise to myself, if i ever were to teach, i would let it open all free like i do in my videos. Maybe its my nature. Recieving all the msgs from women has only made me happy, that somewhere in the world someone is learning and benifiting from it.

I will tell all you girls one thing. You do not need the best teacher to teach you. As long as you have the determination to learn, you will be the best you can be. I always thought a teacher matters. But what matters more is the individual. The fiery passion to learn.

I will continue my journey of learning this art form even if it takes a thousand obstacles. I am planning to visit my friend in egypt and take some workshops there and i promise to share it.

Talking about teachers, i respect my audio lecturer the most. When this incdient happened, i couldnt help remmebering my audio lecturer. We wanted to record a very soft dailing tone and i remmebered how my lecturer sacrificed his lunch time. Even when we gaf up the idea nd told him its impossible. He kept changing the mics until he managed to record the sound. Now to me, thats a true teacher. Selfless just to make sure the student learns no matter what it takes. I have seen many teachers who say they are busy or just cant be bothered for the extra time and effort. Thats why i nominated him. I appreciate him alot more after this incident. He never feels tired of explaining and re explaining what we dont understand. He is so passionate about audio that he practically drowns us with knowledge. Its hard to fine true teachers like him. And i hope our radio ad will be a super sucess.

Sucess tastes more sweet when there are obstacles. Like the shooting for my school project, we screwed it up big time. I could see the pain in Eugene’s face. I didnt want to gif up and hurt the old guy. I could only rely on my creativity and i did something extremely unique. I will upload that soon. I could have given up and handed up a crappy project. But take risks people. Life is a gamble. If you are gonna be cliche, then you would never make it in movie business. I dont know and i dont care if my lecturer doesnt like the idea. What matters is, i tried. That goes for everything, even dancing. I hope this blog is an inspiration to all of you who are dying to learn.

Again no name has been mentioned in this blog, and no one knows where i am learning from. So your privacy is protected. This is just a venue where i throw what i feel. And its only what i think. I have nothing against anyone. I hope you understand. And this might in turn be a positive feedback for you.

10 RULES IN INDIAN FILM MAKING

1.      Two brothers separated in childhood will always grow up on different sides of the law. The law-breaker, however, will suddenly turn over a new leaf before the end, bash up the villain (who is the *real* bad guy), and be pardoned for all his sins before the last-scene family reunion. (This is possible only if he has a heroine – see rule 2 below).

2.      If the number of heroes is not equal to the number of heroines, the excess heroes/heroines will a) die b) join the Red Cross and take off to Switzerland before the end of the movie.

3.      If there are 2 heroes in a movie, they will fight each other savagely for at least 5 minutes (10 if they are brothers).

4.      Any court scene will have the dialogue “Objection milord”. If it is said by the hero, or his lawyer, it will be overruled. Else, it will be sustained.

5.      The hero’s sister will usually marry the hero’s best friend (i.e. the second hero). Else, she will be raped by the villain within the 1st 30 minutes, and commit suicide.

6.      In a chase, the hero will always overtake the villain, even on a bullock-cart, or on foot.

7.      When the hero fires at the villain(s), he will never 
a) miss 
b) run out of bullets. When the villain fires at the hero, he will always miss (unless the hero is required to die, as in rule 2).

8.      Any fight sequence shall take place in the vicinity of a stack of a) pots b) barrels c) glass bottles, which will be smashed to pieces.

9.      Any movie involving lost and found brothers will have a song sung by 
a) the brothers 
b) their blind mother (but of course, she has to be blind in order to regain her sight in the climax) 
c) the family dog/cat.

10. Police inspectors (when not played by the hero) come in two categories:
a) Scrupulously honest, probably the hero’s father – killedby the villain before the titles.
b) Honest, but always chasing the anti-hero (as in Rule 1), saying “Tum kanoon se bach nahin sakte”, only to pat him in the back in reel 23. Usually, this inspector’s daughter is in love with the anti-hero.
c) The corrupt inspector, (usually the real villain’s sidekick) unceremoniously knocked about by the hero(s) in the climax

Well i really found that interesting and very true in fact. Indian movies really run full of crap. That doesnt make hollywood any better. It runs with the crap too. But with more special effects

Updates…

I am going to Kerala in God’s grace next semester’s holiday. I have to take care of my brother’s mother. If there is anyone that can restore the smile on their faces, i guess it can only be me. Its not easy. But that’s my duty.

I am contnuing my course in bellydancing. We are covering veils in the next section. Veil dancing is a very egyptian practise. Most egyptian dancers enter the stage with a veil. I have also been practising my spinning alot lately. I believe i can spin longer now without losing my balance. But i cant wait for the section of drum solos.

I am trying to experiment playing zills to a cat steven’s song. I know it sounds odd. But i realise adding zills makes it inetresting. And its Cat Steven’s song that makes me sleep nowdays. Playing zills help me forget the memories of my brother. I have also decided to collect all the footage i have of my brother. It sucks to know that i cant lean on a shoulder anymore. But what has happened has happned. It all happens 4 a reason. I cant argue with God. I can only make do with what i am left with. My goal is to fulfill all the desires anas had 4 his mother. And ive decided to forgive Anas’s brother as well for whatever he did in the past. I just hope this trip doesnt affect my bellydancing course.

Its very hard to be in my position. I was forced to grow up in an age when everyone else was enjoying. Now the only shooulder i could lean on is gone as well. But i have to keep making myself rise up. Thats all i have to say for now…

Stepping into the role of my brother Anas..

It always feels good to have an older brother protecting you and loving you. Maybe i had been motherly to everyone, but Anas is the only one i had been a child to. I am very much shaken by everything still. Hoping in my heart to avoid Kerala, so that i wont have to wake u to the reality he isnt there.

Anasikka had alot of dreams. Alot. Especially to live a normal life and make his mother happy. Maybe even get married. He used to love everyone alot. Maybe its no point brooding over the fact he is gone. He never belonged to this world to start with it. Nobody belongs to this world.

Maybe i was too naive to understand that he too had dreams like all young people. I cant help crying when i look at his videos, he had everything a young guy needed. Good looks, sense of humour but not a healthy heart. I was explaning to my dad that it wasnt his fault that his family wasnt as well off as the others. They could have saved him if not for his stupid father’s side. He was born with a hole in the heart. And the Aunt hid the issue from the family for whatever reason!! When he was an adult, he fainted once and the doctor told him this problem. He hid it for some time from his own family. Maybe cos he didnt want to be a burden to everyone.

And now after 5 years of suffering he is gone. Maybe he is released from his suffering. But i lost a brother. And he brought all the happiness with him. Now, i have to do something. Maybe i could never fulfill what Anas wants, or he isnt there to see it. Its very strange he told me my mother, “When we have wealth, i wouldnt be able to enjoy it.”

I guess i have to go there and take care of all my little cousins. They arent small anymore as i remmeber them 5 years ago. And his mother will be like my mother from now on. I have that gratitude she brought a nice playmate for me for atleast for a few years.

Its very hard to juggle my studies with a heavy heart. And my eyes are always puffed up. I look like i had a bad night’s sleep. Its good i have the support of my T1B2 children. I am trying not to think about what happened. The long hours at school and the long journey is really killing me. But i have to go through this test from God. Sometimes strangely it would be better i leave the world soon, cos i find alot of people who sincerely loved me over the other side. I am not the sort that commit sucides, no one needs to worry of that. I have some duties in this world, after ive finished with them, i know deep down inside i would have to go…

globalization and shampoos

Globalization does have many positive effects. I totally agree to that. But to meet people’s needs, many businesses are substituting harmful chemicals in their products just because its cheaper. Shampoos and soaps are one of the common items people buy. They pay about 5 to 6 dollars for a normal shampoo. But they have no idea what sort of harmful chemicals sit on their head probably causing the all the possible health problems they have been experiencing.

SLS a common ingredient in your soap and shampoos

If you still find it hard to believe. Take a walk to your nearest supermarket and read the labels off the shampoos. And you would find sodium lauryl sulfate as the 2nd most prominent ingredient after water.

So what is there is SLS?

(Found in a website)

Both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and its close relative Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) are commonly used in many soaps, shampoos, detergents, toothpastes and other products that we expect to “foam up”. Both chemicals are very effective foaming agents, chemically known as surfactants.

So why is a dangerous chemical like sodium lauryl sulfate used in our soaps and shampoos?

The answer is simple – it is cheap. The sodium lauryl sulfate found in our soaps is exactly the same as you would find in a car wash or even a garage, where it is used to degrease car engines.

In the same way as it dissolves the grease on car engines, sodium lauryl sulfate also dissolves the oils on your skin, which can cause a drying effect. It is also well documented that it denatures skin proteins, which causes not only irritation, but also allows environmental contaminants easier access to the lower, sensitive layers of the skin.

Perhaps most worryingly, SLS is also absorbed into the body from skin application. Once it has been absorbed, one of the main effects of sodium lauryl sulfate is to mimic the activity of the hormone Oestrogen. This has many health implications and may be responsible for a variety of health problems from PMS and Menopausal symptoms to dropping male fertility and increasing female cancers such as breast cancer, where oestrogen levels are known to be involved.

What is the world coming to?

I believe in one thing very firmly. If you do a business, your customer trusts you and your product and pays his hard earned money, and the most just thing to do is to make sure your service or product is of good quality. It is even worse when it causes danger to the person who trusts you. Well to put it in harsh terms. This is what i call HYPOCRISY. And a real BETRAYEL OF TRUST!!!

You might think i am overreacting. This chemical is found in baby shampoos as well and it does have potential harmful effects on the baby. Globalization may be great in meeting the needs of millions and in developing countries. My argument here is not whether globalization is good or bad. I know the debate can go on for eons. I have no objection against Globalization. The main ingredient you need in your business is humanity. If you are going to produce a product in large scale, make sure its off good quality. Just because its cheap, it doesnt have to cost a person’s life. You are dealing with people here. The only thing i ever wanted is Globalization with a little humanity.

Macdonalds fries doesnt decompose?

I saw this video on youtube.  Why doesnt that fries rot? What could be inside it? Plastic? What does it do to us?

So our shampoos arent natural….our food isnt even foood? What do they gain from this?

There are so many things that need to be changed in this world. Our world isnt perfect at all. If you think im crazy to even take this seriously, im sorry im only human. I cant imagine how many people’s lives is going to be in danger. Especially children.

As for shampoos?

It doesnt mean you to not use shampoos anymore. Buy organic shampoos. Dont worry about the price. Cos i got Giovanni tea tree triple treat for TWELVE DOLLARS!! Just 12 dollars. You can get a big sized bottle of drugstore shampoo for 10 bucks. And you can get equally big organic shampoos for 12 BUCKS! Drugstore shampoos isnt that cheap after all. Isnt it? And yet they feed us with Sodium Laurthyh Sulfate.

Hmm bonus bad news

Your toothpaste has SLS too. So happy brushing

By the way meet my new toothbrush

I am not kidding. Its a herbal twig. You bite and your brush your teeth. And your mouth will be healtheir than using a toilet cleaning detergent in your toothpaste? Which is better? TWIG OR TOILET CLEANER?

I love Cat stevens as much as I love Yusuf Islam :D

Well, after a long time of only writing about bellydance. I have decided to write about a singer which i really love, admire and wish to be like him someday. Thats none other than Cat Stevens a.k.a Yusuf Islam

Among all his looks, i like this nice hairy one with beard and moustache. I knew him first as Yusuf Islam. A very religious and peaceful person who was a singer back in the seventies. Thats all i knew about him. I listened to some of his new songs nowdays and really admire the way he evolved. Two days back, Yannick sends me two songs of Cat Stevens. “I love my dog” and “Matthew and son”.

Thats was the first time, i am hearing how Yusuf Islam sounded when he was Cat Stevens. I fell in love with the simple lyrics and music and decided to learn more about Cat Stevens. There was a documentary on Youtube about Brother Yusuf.

It made me admire him so much. He had a great love for music and arts and at the peak of singing career, he abandons everything. What i love about this man is that he actually reflects to himself. When he was down with TB, he was looking at spiritual side. He looked at Christianity, Buddhism and even tarot cards. It is strange to know he realised, money fame and women didnt give him peace. And when he almost drowned, he made a promise to God that he will serve him. His brother, when returning from a trip to Jerusalem, passes him a “Quran”. Reading the chapter Joseph, he found peace in it and later declares himself as a Muslim. He abandons his career to help and serve the poor.

What really touched me was when he gave the respect to his mother to find him a bride. He brought a few home and asked his mother. And actually married the one his mom asked him to.

And now he is still happily married with 5 children. Serving poor people and helping around. Even though, alot hate him for the fact he is a Muslim. I respect the way he threw everytg superficial to help those who are in need. And he wasnt very old to realise that. At the age of 19, he was researching and finding answers. How many youngsters do that .

I believe i must be very much into the arts even though i never really wanted to do anything in arts. Most of my relatives are into medicine, engineering or business. I kind of considered being in the arts field not very priestigious. But that isnt true. What is most important is that you live life the way you feel it should be. I had always loved writing, drawing, singing or dancing. I discovered i could dance only after taking up bellydancing. In fact, i am more of a singer. For some reason, i left singing in primary school itself due to the lack of opportunity. Maybe in the future, i will look into indian classical music. But for now, i want to really understand bellydancing. It still captivates me with all those mysterious movements.

I love this man’s music so much. I was never a fan of fast paced western Music. Listening to this man, made me feel much better. The simple background music and his voice. His lyrics were not obscene but simple and touching to the heart. My favorite is “I love my dog” which was his first song. And i think the meaning is really true. Its the same way i feel about my rabbits. Its like he brings something so “everyday” into music.  Maybe my taste in music is a little old fashioned. As a child, i loved all the old songs my dad played. “Child” was my favorite, but God knows who was the singer.

Yusuf Islam taught me something really important. He realised that singing can have positive effects. That made me feel that maybe my dancing isnt such a bad thing after all. Even though people look at it sexually. I wish to help many women out there. Like the old ones in my class. And i do wish to be like him and lead my life the way i really want, no matter what others might think or say. And i do wish to adopt a child from a war country or a really poor country. I also wish to adopt many abandoned rabbits. Just to keep you updated, i adopted a rabbit lately. Her name is Zills. She is a one year old lop rabbit.

i shall add something i read about him in a webpage along with the documentary.

Steve Georgiou BORN: July 21, 1947, London, EnglandMy father was a Greek Cypriot and my mother was Swedish, but for some reason they decided to send me to a Roman Catholic school. I suppose that was the first anomaly of my life. Born Steven Demetre Georgiou, I was brought up Greek Orthodox, so didn抰 take part in the religious rituals at school; you could say it meant I started out life as an observer.My family weren抰 at all strict, but they did want me to have a good moral grounding – hence their reasons for sending me to a Catholic school. I learned about good and bad, and about morality in general, and religion definitely left a strong impression on me. When a friend of mine refused to kneel at prayer because he didn抰 want to spoil the crease in his trousers, it caused a fracture in our friendship. I must only have been about seven at the time!Ironically, considering I have now converted to Islam (and am now called Yusuf Islam (Bio)), my upbringing was very anti-Muslim. Essentially, the Greeks and Turks were enemies, so I adopted the stance of my Greek Cypriot father and hated everything about the Turks, including their religion: ‘Islam’, whatever that meant.There was a Muslim family living near us and, although we never hurled abuse at them or anything like that, we did keep our distance. I grew up in the West End of London. My parents ran a busy restaurant in the upper part of Shaftesbury Avenue and so the atmosphere I was born into was exciting. Life was all lights, hurried people and black taxis. We were close to the theatres and that is definitely where I picked up my interest in the entertainment industry. I was the youngest of three, and I抦 sure my brother and sister would say I was very spoiled as a result, but I certainly did my fair share of hard work. By the time I was 10, I was already working as a waiter in the shop, clearing away and mopping up, so I suppose that抯 when I first learned how to serve people. Sometimes, I turned the kebabs, but normally things went quite well and, because I was so young, I got lots of tips from the customers. Being a mixed-race child wasn抰 difficult. The part of London I grew up in was so cosmopolitan that I didn抰 stand out at all. But it was an interesting situation at home. The hot and cold of my parents?different personalities meant I learned to maintain a kind of balance throughout my life. I loved the emotions of my father and the fact that he was so very strong-willed, active and smart. But his temper was sometimes a bit much for some of us. Our mother, on the other hand, was very cool and collected, and always found time to listen. But I do remember a bit of shouting in our household. I must have been about eight when my parents decided to break up. It was an unusual separation because they both remained in the house. We all lived above the restaurant, with my father taking a first floor room, while my mother took another. We all shared a single living room but the real centre of activity was the shop, where my parents both continued to work. The only difficulty was the sleeping arrangements. Occasionally, I would become the object of a tug-of-war between them. Because my father usually won, I would end up sleeping in his room most of the time. Strangely, though, I was always closer to my mother. After they separated, she tried to set up home in Sweden, and I found myself going to school there for about six months. I was the only dark-haired, dark-eyed, olive-skinned boy in the whole blond- haired, blue-eyed school. At play time, I was the centre of attention. I had a section of the playground for myself where all the boys could come to take a look at me. This way, I got to choose who would be my friends that day, but it increased my sense of being an observer. I was always a sensitive child and tended to look rather closely at life for someone so young. I was quite an introvert and was forever thinking. I can抰 remember a time as a child when I wasn抰 thinking about something. Once, I tried not thinking, while I was on my way to school, but I couldn抰 manage it. When we returned to my father in London, I found myself always trying to patch up things between my parents. I felt I had to be a bridge between them. Later, when I became famous, my success was a great source of pride to both of them. In a way, I think that helped to keep us all together. I showed my artistic ability at a very young age, and it was my mum who encouraged me. I would often draw late into the evenings, but instead of telling me to stop and go to bed, she would leave me to get on with it. My interest spread to music, which gave me a way of expressing all those thoughts. We had a grand piano at home, and I soon learned how to play it. Later, I switched to the guitar and started writing songs which I recorded on to a demo tape in a studio just down the road. Once I had changed my name to Cat Stevens (Bio), I was on my way. I had my first hit when I was 18, with a song called 慖 Love My Dog (Song)? All that fame led to a big change of lifestyle. I was being interviewed, photographed and chased by girls. Although I抎 love to say none of that actually changed me, it did have an effect. Rather than worrying about being too young for this success, I thought I had left it too late, my expectations were so high. I had grown up in Soho and was pretty streetwise. I suppose I was quite naughty when I was young, trying to see what reaction I would get from my parents. I smoked and went off to art school at 17, and that exposed me to lots of ideas and new customs. Although I lived life fast, I was always searching for answers. I was aware that there was something I had to achieve in life. At first I thought that if I had luxuries, that would answer all my problems, but it didn抰. At 19, I contracted tuberculosis and was whisked off to hospital. It was a very scary time – I came face-to-face with my own mortality. It sparked off my first earnest search for a way forward. The thoughts which I developed during that teenage period of illness helped me to reflect on things, and paved the way for the life I now lead as a Muslim.

BELLY ROLLS!!! ZILLS AND MY LESSON 4/ updating my life again

After a long time, i finally have mustered courage to post a belly roll video. And i was too lazy to practise. But i guess belly rolls can only be mastered by making friends with your stomach muscle. I still am not in good terms with my lower muscles.

LESSON 4

I am covering chest drop, chest circle, 3 step turn, normal turn, pivot turn,

You can try them step by step.

THE CHOREOGRAPHY WITH ZILLS

I have a way of naming all my tools, as i mentioned in my previous blog entry i named them zohra and zia. Yes they are twins! I dont know who is who by the way! I didnt have enough practise. I decided to use zills in the last minute. If you listen carefully you will notice many mistakes.

THE BEAT IS BELEDI BEAT!

Beledi is arabic means City. So this is a city a beat lol It sound like

DUM DUM-COFFEE SHOP-DUM-COFFEESHOP

RL-RLR-R-RLR

R -right, L- left.

This is a very famous zill rhytmn. The one i used in my previous video is I can dance- i can dance- i can really really dance. Its always better you say the words by heart while u play, you can keep to the rhythm.

CHOREOGRAPHY

 3 step turn chest drop drop lift lift x 2

normal turn

pivot turn

rib circle

omi

bicycle hip

shimmy to one side, shimmy to another

POSE

UPDATING MY LIFE

Ever since sundari passed away, panda is all alone. And lately he shows signs of middle ear infection which is worrying the hell out of me. I am still quite devastated over sundari’s demise. Maybe i sound childish. But these kiddies mean the world to me. I cant bear to see them leave me. I am also beginning to develop a fear of lonliness if panda were to leave me as well. i have lived all my life near rabbits. I understood death and birth from these buns. I never had my relatives near me, never felt a real human die. This animals mean alot to me. I realized yday that there are actually rabbit savy pets in singapore. I hope to throw money at them and not at some useless vets.

Observation on people

I am still quite fascinated at the idea that zodiac signs could be actually like archetypes in psychology. How come 2 people from the same zodiac share smiliarities or obvious traits? It still fascinates me , cos i dont believe that people can actually be generalized. Then again, when i read about love compatibility i really want to laugh my head off at what some zodiac gurus say. Since my ex and i were very compaitible according to them, and he was a number one jerk? How much can you actually trust these sources?

All i learnt is that our mind is really powerful and so is our body. We can do miracles. But we simply dont believe. And belief is the only root to power. Strange world isnt it? Try observing people born in same dates…you will be as astounded as i am

SIMPLE BELLYDANCE PERFORMANCE

Well, this is the first time i took atleast two days to properly choreograph this dance. And i sprained myself dancing cos i was trying to perfect my rib circles. I think i did this dance atleast 10 times before posting this video. Its like when i do it over and over again, i realise i become too tired and my dance lack energy and expression.

Music and the importance of it in BELLYDANCE

This is a lesson i learnt lately. Music. Bellydance is the only dance where you understand your body and move it according and very precisely to the music you hear. A good bellydancer will do that. Understand and feel and move according to the beats. And each time a drum “taks” and your hip shakes according to this “tak” sound, you cause a good impact. I also realise isolation is very important. Each movement is precise. One of this bellydancers told me she practised her rib circles 3 hours a day. I was shocked. I have no probs doing it, i always thought i dont need practise. But after hearing what she said, i decided to take all these steps seriously and began practising my rib circles. Making it move fster and slower according to the beat.

American bellydance

This is a dance that originated in northen california. It has alot of indian influence. Seeing their costumes reminded me of those women in india who danced with pots. The folk dancers. The costumes are considered gypsy type in india. And it isnt exactly pretty. I believe it has alot of southern indian influence. What i admire is their isolation. They NEVER move the whole body together. Its always one part, and then another. Example, hip, then ribs, then shoulder and then head. It looks great to me.

Egyptian bellydance

The most original form of bellydance. This has alot of fluid movements. They outlawed the floor works, where suddenly the dancer does a backbend. Personally, i feel its not my type as its really flowly.

Turkish belydance

This is my obsession. The turkish drum solos. How much they shake and move their body according to each drum beat. I have decided after my course in classic egyptian bellydance, i will take a short course for turkish drum solos and hopefully end up in turkey and marry Tarkan.

My new costume

I saw this bra set in thie place (I AM NOT TELLING YOU) its only 100 buck. (I AM NOT GONNA EVER TELL YOU) Its marvellous egyptian style and its SOOOO CHEAP!!!!. YES IT IS. Compared to the 400 and 800 buck costumes. Basically its a bra. And its golden. And it will suit my brown skin. And after i purchase it, i might have to get this turkish tailor guy to sew sleeves and get me a suitable skirt. I wanna have gypsy sleeves. Cos i cant dance in a bra, maybe for my husband! And i think the bra is full cup (hopefully). If its half cup, i will get the guy to cover the upper part and make it a full. I will only purchase this if i get a job (aNY JOB!!) So i can pay up for all the extra bellydance workshops i wish to enrol in the near future. I really think 100 bucks is expensive. I am not a spendrift. But comparitively to other rpices, this is mad. If i invest now, i dont have to buy the expensive ones. This is in gold man gold!!

The turkish tailor i met is a professional. Cos i just told him that i want a costume in red. I was testing him to see if he knows his trade well. He immediatly told me Gold. Even though the red was more expenive, instead of chucking the costume, he cared for his customer and said i should take gold. And a good tailor or costume designer always knows what colors suit his customer. Therefore, i respect him.