Goodbye 2024, welcome aboard 2025!

Hello,

Today is the last day of 2024. I feel compelled to commemorate this moment somehow. It just feels right. :)

2024 has been incredibly kind to me. I almost wish I could freeze this moment in time and savor it forever. But of course, life moves on. I anticipate that 2025 might present some challenges. However, I'm confident and all ready to face them head-on.

 I don't typically make formal New Year's resolutions. I find writing them down a bit daunting. However, I do have some personal goals that I'm quietly working towards. I am determined to set my motivation straight and achieve my goals successfully.

So, today concludes the final page of this chapter: 2024. I am ready to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new. I wish for 2025 to be a year filled with greater meaning and purpose.

Goodbye! :)

Back to Normalcy

Hi,

I'm already back in Penang. We went back a little earlier than initially planned. We made a stop in Kuala Lumpur to visit some relatives before continuing our journey back to Penang. Traffic has been smooth northbound despite some on and off heavy rain throughout Perak.

Thank you Acu for inviting us to your humble abode.

We share the teaching profession. She is a faculty member at UIA.

My son has a mild fever right now. He's been having so much fun playing outdoors these past few days, and now that it's over, he's come down with a fever. Hospital and clinic visits have become a frequent part of my routine in recent weeks. It began with my sister's surgery, followed by my daughter's checkups, and now I'm tending to my son's fever. 😅

Getting back into the routine after a trip can be a bit daunting. There's a mountain of laundry waiting for me, and I need to unpack my suitcase quickly before it becomes a permanent fixture in the corner. Better get started on sorting things out! 😁

It's alright, I have the entire Sunday to complete it. Then, I'll start preparing for the remaining weeks of school before the holiday begins in the third week of January.

Okay, I have to go now. 

I'll be back soon, hopefully before the New Year.

😊

When Students Remember

Hello, I'm back :),

In my previous post, I shared how teaching MAT223 has been incredibly rewarding, particularly in demonstrating the practical applications of mathematics in students' everyday lives. Coincidentally, today I received an email from a former student I taught during the pandemic in 2020.

I taught Jason in MAT223 nearly five years ago, during which we had numerous engaging discussions via Webex. I'm proud to recall how I was able to address most of his questions and cultivate his curiosity. Today, he reached out to me, requesting that I serve as a referee for his postgraduate application. It's truly delighting to receive such a humble request.😇

Given his application to the University of Oxford, I am eager to support his aspirations. While I have always admired Oxford, the opportunity to contribute to a student's application to such a prestigious institution is truly rewarding.

Bodleian Library, University of Oxford. Source: Facebook. 

A place I have always dreamed of visiting. 😊

You know what's the best part of my job? 

Hearing how my teaching has impacted my students. 

It's truly gratifying.

Equations of My Life : Teaching at USM

Hi,

I am finalizing some assessments and notes, and I realized I have a lot to complete in the remaining four teaching weeks. By the way, I haven't introduced you to the courses I teach at the School of Mathematical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. I'm the primary course owner for MAT 223 - Differential Equations 1, which I teach in the first semester. I also co-teach MSG 328 - Introduction to Modelling with another colleague in the alternate semesters.

MSG328 - One of the most enjoyable courses I've ever taught in USM.

These two courses are my favourites because their content perfectly aligns with my interest in applied mathematics. My expertise lies in this area, and I find immense satisfaction in solving application problems that connect to real-world scenarios. Even though teaching the courses focuses primarily on theoretical approaches, I thoroughly enjoy incorporating interesting applications of mathematics to real-world problems. Witnessing the 'wow' moments from my students is incredibly rewarding.

And I believe due to that, MAT223 is consistently becoming one of the most popular courses in our school. Enrollment numbers continue to grow each year, attracting students from various schools within USM. Some even choose this course as their elective. Hence, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to ensure that all my students enjoy the learning experience in my lectures and ultimately gain valuable knowledge and skills that they cannot acquire elsewhere. 😇

So, regarding my current teaching responsibilities, I need to finalize the date for Test 2 within the next few weeks. Due to the large class size, I'll likely need to schedule it as a night session to accommodate everyone's availability. I aim to conduct the test sometime in Week 14. This will give me ample time to complete the marking before the final exams begin, allowing students to receive their coursework grades before the exam.

Test 1 at DUP C. Test 2 is going to be somewhere here too.

Speaking of which, the final exam schedule is finally out, and MAT223 is set for Friday, 3-5pm. I can already anticipate potential issues that might arise. I've been dealing with cheating issues for the past two years, and resolving them often takes an extra hour after exams. With Friday traffic being prominently bad, I'm already foreseeing a hectic day. So please be calm as always, Amirah. 😇

An unexpected advantage

Hi,

It's Christmas break today, and I'm taking the kids back to their other hometown in Jasin. Whenever we have the chance, I will ensure they get to experience the true 'kampung' life that they don't get to enjoy in Penang.

The first thing I needed to do upon arriving here was to make fruit and vegetable juice for my daughter. She was diagnosed with severe constipation, and I needed to help alleviate it before our next doctor's appointment in early January.

We discovered this problem in January 2023. My daughter accidentally swallowed a plastic button from her toys. We went to see Dr. Hema, a pediatrician in Pantai Hospital Sungai Petani. An abdominal X-ray was performed, but the button wasn't found. However, the X-ray revealed that she had constipation.

3rd January 2023. Almost two years ago. Omg, she's still very small here.

Nearly two years later, one night, she woke me up complaining of leg pain in both legs. I tried to alleviate the discomfort with hot and cold compresses and warm oil massages, but the pain persisted. Worried, I took her to the doctor. Suspecting a recurrence of the constipation issue, the doctor ordered another abdominal X-ray, which confirmed her suspicions.

December 2024. Look how much she's grown in just two years! At this rate, she'll be taller than me in no time.

She was prescribed Forlax by the doctor, this time for a longer duration, to help her clear her colon. In addition, I need to ensure she's consuming a sufficient amount of fruits and vegetables three times a day. The easiest way to do this might be to make her a fruit and vegetable juice and encourage (sometimes forcing needed) her to drink it all.

Today's combination.

I've been doing this for almost two weeks now, and I'm determined to keep it up as long as I can. As moms say, 'You do what you gotta do.' Nothing brings me more joy than seeing my children free from pain.

Look at the colors! It tasted amazing, too.

I find it very therapeutic to experiment with different combinations of fruits and vegetables in my juices. I love playing with the colors and flavors, trying to find the perfect blend. At this rate, I might just open a small juice stall next to Boost! 😁

That's pretty much it. I'll be spending the next few days here, just a typical routine. I will still have lectures tomorrow and a few student meetings. I'm mostly focused on making sure the kids have a wonderful time with family before we head back to Penang.

Till then, see you next time! 

Dreaming of Escape

Hi!

It's already Sunday, and I've so far finished watching two movies this weekend! I watched 'The Maltese Holiday' while running, and then took the kids to see 'Mufasa: The Lion King' at the cinema.

I try to make it a point to run for 30 minutes indoors a few times a week as it helps me to stay in shape and to keep an eye on my heart rate. Finding the time can be a struggle, but I'll do my best to stick to my routine. To keep the motivation going, I always watch a movie while I'm at it. 

Almost the end of 2024. I am planning to do better in 2025.

So yesterday, I watched 'The Maltese Holiday' and I was glued to the screen for the whole time. This movie tells the story of Shea, facing a solo travel adventure to Malta. The storyline highlights the importance of embracing unexpected opportunities in life. I totally relate to Shea's character. I could easily imagine myself doing exactly what she does in the movie.

Beautiful landscape, isn't it?

And most importantly, through the movie I can see that Malta is truly amazing! Stunning beaches, serene vineyards, and captivating ancient history, creating a truly romantic atmosphere everywhere you turn. Now I feel like Malta is calling me! 😁 I'm seriously considering booking a flight and embarking on my own adventure there. ✈️ Err sorry, not yet for now. One day okay, one day.

And for the next movie, the kids absolutely loved 'Mufasa: The Lion King'! I enjoyed it too. It was fun imagining myself living peacefully with the animals in Melele, the mythical land Mufasa rules. And I also thought Mufasa was incredibly handsome as king. 🦁😄

It's officially the Christmas season around the world! The holiday spirit is definitely in the air. And it seems to be snowing everywhere too. I'm itching to travel right now! If you are having yours, hope you enjoy your holiday! 😄

Bye!

Rekindling Old Friendships Through Work

Hello!

Here I am again. Seems like I'm back to my blogging era! It feels great to be able to express myself here. As many of you know, I'm generally friendly, but I'm quite selective about sharing personal details. This blog is the perfect place for me to freely share my thoughts and feelings. :)

Okay, today I'd like to tell you about how my work has enabled me to reconnect with old friends. A few weeks ago, my department organized the latest series of MathTech conference. I was in the pioneering team for MathTech18 and MathTech20. Next, I was trusted to anchor MathTech22. And then, for MathTech24, I decided to take a step back but still contributed as part of the editorial team.

Through this event, I managed to reconnect with my room mate in Kolej Rahman Putra, UTM Skudai. She was invited as one of the workshop instructors. Meeting her brought back all the good memories we had when we stayed together for a few years in Skudai, Johor.

Meet my very best friend in UTM, Wan Nor Munirah.

Despite of being just a room mate, we were incredibly close to each other. We shared the same FYP Supervisor, Prof. Dr. Shaharuddin Salleh, and also MSc. Supervisor, AP. Dr. Ong Chee Tiong. We even competed for the Best Presenter award, and both of us won! I still couldn't believe the kind of competition we had back then. 😅 But we really did it by empowering each other. 🎉 We both attended a few job interviews together and received multiple offers. However, I ultimately accepted USM's ASTS offer, while Wan chose to pursue an opportunity at UNIMAP and then to UTHM as she currently is now. That's when we went our separate ways, but MathTech 24 brought us together! 

Glad to see you in Penang, Wan!

And then earlier today, I had the pleasure of being involved in a viva session for a Masters by Research student from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. It was wonderful reconnecting with an old friend also from UTM, Anne. I fondly remember her as the ‘pretty girl next door.’ I admired her not only for her intelligence but also for her politeness and charm. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to be the external examiner for her student.

Panels for today's viva. Completed my task as the external examiner for the candidate. Another panel is Kak Fatimah Noor, senior from UOW, and USM alumni. What a small world.

I still remember traveling all the way from Australia to the UK in 2012, specifically to Loughborough University, to attend a conference and stay with Anne. Luckily, I shared a post on my visit to Lboro HERE. Back then, solo travel was my forte. Crossing half the globe alone was no biggie. I wonder if I could still pull that off today. I’d probably be a mess! 😂

So, that's about it. I'm really happy to have had the chance to reconnect with my best buddies from our UTM days through work. I believe that as I continue on this path, more doors will open, and I'll have even more opportunities to reconnect with people who are important to me.

Till then. 

See you again next time. 

Bye for now!

A long, draining day

Hi,

I just got back home. It's 9.00 pm while I'm writing this. I am now sitting down with the kids while waiting for their bedtime. Drained and sleepy.

Today was somewhat a gruelling day for me. I started my morning rush at 5 AM, only to encounter a major traffic delay due to an accident. It took me nearly two hours to reach USM, just in time for a departmental board meeting. I managed to join the meeting while simultaneously finalizing a viva report. 😁

At 2:30 PM, I was involved in a PhD viva session as an internal examiner. Before the session began, the Chairman jokingly said that he thought it would finish before 7:30 PM. It seems he wasn't joking! 😂 The session concluded at 7 PM, after a solid 4 hours and 30 minutes. 

We survived the 270 minutes of discussion. Good job everyone! 😄

As soon as the session ended, I hurried home, drenched and exhausted, after navigating through another chaotic traffic and heavy rain. Arriving at 8:30 PM, I quickly grabbed a bite to eat. Now, as I rest, I'm reflecting on the incredibly long and challenging day I've had.

I have yet to make preparations for my role as an external examiner for tomorrow's viva session. Yes, panelling two viva sessions for two days in a row is no joke. 😵‍💫

But I figured I needed a breather to clear my head before diving back in. So, I decided to take a break to rest and recharge while reflecting at these simple moments, these quiet nights, that make life feel truly worthwhile.

Keep being strong dear self. 

You can do it. 💪

What I have been busying myself with?

Hi there, I'm back. :)

I've been struggling to adjust to a sudden change recently. :( A very tough one. To cope, I've found that maintaining a very structured and busy schedule helps me. It helps, even if only slightly. And I hope to be better each day.

My days are now incredibly full. I squeeze in as many things as possible, especially meetings with my students. I'm closely monitoring their research and hoping for their timely graduation. I am currently supervising nine PhD students in diverse areas as their primary supervisor, along with five undergraduate projects. Reading their work has taken a considerable toll on my daily schedule. It's no wonder my life has become quite hectic. But I am embracing it.

Among all of my academic responsibilities, supervision remains my most fulfilling role. Having studied abroad independently, I deeply understand the unique challenges and anxieties students face. I consistently strive to empathize with their perspectives and motivations, always treating them with respect to foster a mutually respectful and productive working relationship.

But at the same time, I also encourage them to take ownership of their research and make independent decisions. For their growth, I will push them to step outside their comfort zones and tackle challenging research questions.

I would like to introduce some of my current students whom I meet regularly. Many others are based in their home countries, so our interactions primarily occur through virtual platforms like Webex.

Tariq Azzam from Jordan. Young and energetic chap. Finishing soon. Hoping for GOT.

Li and Zhou from China. Hubby and wifey doing PhD together. So cute! This journey is going to be a memorable one for both of them.

Azhar and Hanis. Also husband and wife. Finished. Considering them as my co-researchers in upcoming projects.

And not forgetting my undergraduate students Aiman, Elya and Hafiz. Selalu kena berletiaq. Sorry kids, I promise you it's for your best.

Hmm, I'm now feeling the need for some new experiences and a change of pace. After years of complacency, it's time to identify and improve my aptitudes. Wish me luck!

Music and Mathematics

Hello,

Happy December! It's the last month of the year, and for most people, it's holiday time! And whenever December comes, I always imagine myself to be somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere for winter solstice. Perfect for a romantic getaway, isn't it? :)

But sadly no, I'm currently living in the realm of being a dedicated mother and a passionate educator. Juggling the demands of motherhood with my academic responsibilities, I need to be that multi-tasking marvel. 🦸‍♀️ High five fellow mothers who's reading this. We're all in this together, and we're going to rock it! 💪

Anyway, just a short sharing today. Some people find that listening to music while doing math can be helpful, I am included. During my high school years, a small red radio was my constant companion. When I started boarding school, my father generously gifted me a Walkman player. And throughout my university years, I always curated various playlists on my YouTube account to accompany me through different phases of my studies. That's how much I rely on good music while studying.

Until now, I’ve always found it helpful to listen to music while doing math and to seek out calming background noise that blocks out distractions. The first time I encountered the idea that music could enhance my mathematical solving abilities, I was intrigued.

Music and mathematics are two seemingly disparate worlds. How do they intersect?  Curious me would wonder, imagining music as a secret elixir that could transform my math skills from average to outstanding. 😁

And from there, I am now interested to look for the answer of the following questions:

• Does music truly have the power to improve math performance? 
• If so, what specific brain regions are responsible for this connection? 
• And how does music stimulate the brain to foster mathematical thinking?

Okay that's it for now. I might come back to share more about the answers to the above questions later. When? One day when all my questions are answered. Anyway, here's a newly found magic potion that has been on repeat for days. Thought of keeping it here for memories. Enjoy! 😊