When I was a young boy, my parents used to bring me to the farm and hill paddy. You just name the sort of activities that we have in the kampung, I have gone through the experiences. I am so thankful to them for exposing me at my young age. It was indeed a very boring things to do when you have to follow your parents especially your father. I want freedom but I have to help my father in his works. He plants hill paddy. He brings me to find durian in the mountain. He also plants pepper. He brings me to tap rubber. He is good in wood works and he is the best in the kampung. Apart from that he is a well known black smith. I use to follow him to blow or heat the iron bar. Most of my afternoons after school are occupied accompanying him. I feel that our success in any fields depend on the support from your spouse or children. So, I feel that we should train our children to follow us to the farm or anyway we go. If we need to give them a rewards for the efforts well, I feel we should do it. The experience they gain is far more valuable than anything in the entire world. Maybe that's the things my father is trying to tell me. "Attitudes are caught not taught," "Nonverbal actions are picked up on. Kids don't attend to what adults say but to what they do. It's the saying, 'Actions speak louder than words.'"
The best thing parents can do when teaching their children about diversity is to check their own attitudes and beliefs, as children pick up on adults' nonverbal actions. We think we're open-minded, but oftentimes our actions and behaviors tell otherwise. "How accepting adults are of differences is what they model to children.
While there is not one best way to teach children about similarities and differences, young children learn best by hands-on activities. Children also do a lot of playing in their younger years, which is how they learn. Children are playing out life experiences, trying on different roles, "Who am I, what can I do?"
Learning about diversity is important because children need to learn to respect all people and understand that everyone is alike, but also different. Learning about diversity can also affect their social and emotional development. Learning to have respect for others is a lifetime social skill that positively impacts a child's developing sense of self. Teaching children to respect differences is also a beginning in the prevention of aggressive and violent behavior. When children can't be exposed to diversity naturally, I recommend reading books to them. If the books include images of different children, it will expose the child to diversity. Learning about diversity is also important for children because they now have more access to the world.
"We live in a global society," "Kids in preschool are much more aware of the world around them than the previous generation, through media, Internet, travel and computers. More access to the world introduces diversity."
Consequently, we do not really excel in our academic but most of us have achieved goals in our life. The diversity that we were exposed to have guided us to our present achievement. Though I am a government servant but I love to work and try what our parents have left for us. I am so happy to try something new. I have my fruit farm. I plant hill paddy. Though the outcomes is yet to show but I am happy to explore new things.
The pictures below show the latest development in me. My absent from my tennis is known to you. Sorry friend, whenever I play tennis, my knees will shake badly. At this moment it has recovered through lots of walking and on going nite activity. I am doing wet paddy with my brother. A lot kampug folks approached me saying that I should buy rice rather than to plant it myself. Frankly speaking I love to do my work and I am so happy to eat the new rice from our own efforts. It's really nice and I don't feel like to eat other types of rice. Anyway, almost every second of my free time, I would meditate and plan for farming activity and of course le tennis.
Come on lah Geoffery! you don't have to buy land to plant but buy fruit trees and I will plant. The end product will go back to you. He he he!
I always feel that I am handsome, am I? Yes when I was young and I am still now. It 's all depend on yr attitude towards yrself. Love and appreciate what God has created for us. Make full use of our time. One of those is planting paddy. Getting ready to go to paddy field. My brother, Anthony Aton and his wife.
On my way to the paddy field. It's a 10 minutes walk from the main road.
This is the outside view of our hut.
The interior of the hut.
The view of the paddy field with the long grass.
The small stream is the source of water. Right now the water level has increased after the down fall of rain almost everyday.
Another part of the field
The other part
The other part
Part of the field with the grass
This is my brother Anthony Aton clearing the land. Normally people spray it with paraquat but for us we try the traditional method that is cutting the grass with bush cutter. I remembered my parents used to have the long parang. Therefore, we are trying to modernize it a little bit. Furthermore, this is my first trial. That's why I invited my bro. Anthony as a partner and a mentor. In future, I plan to have it myself.
This is the part that we had cleared. It is not that big but maybe one and a half acre. It took us one and a half day to clear the whole field.
The view of the field at 3pm.
Some days later, this friend of mind come to help. He is clearing the place for putting the nursery. When you are that close, you will do anything for yr friend. I consider him as a friend coz he will help me whenever I need it.
