Monday, December 03, 2007

Anastassia's School Trip to Penang

Last week was Anastassia's school trip to Penang.

They started their journey early Tuesday morning, and it got me worried as it was drizzling. Yela, naik bas untuk jalan jauh satu hal.... wet and slipepry roads is another thing. The wheather sort of put the kids in a solemn mood, and I didnt take any pictures because semua orang macam boring jer.....

But I was told that they became hyper the minute they boarded the bus..... hehe...

Actually std 5 students were supposed to go to Malacca. But Anastassia was one of the "privileged ten', a teacher said - 10 std 5 students, all prefects were chosen to join the std 6 girls for a 3-day trip to Penang.....


Anastassia is the second from the right, with her fellow classmates.


Anastassia enjoying the sea breeze with her friends.


The girls getting ready to hit the sack at Grand Continental Hotel in Penang.



Last day of school


Anastassia bidding farewell to a std 6 friend. Tengokla baju putih budak tu, habis kena coreng.... hehe

Anastassia together with some of her good buddies.....

"Anastassia....." I called her.

"You called me, Mama?" she asked.

"Have you done your tuition homework?" I asked, entering the study room.

"Ala, mama.... petang nanti la...." Anastassia merengek.

"La.... tak buat lagi ke..... " I sighed. "UPSR tahun depan tau..." I reminded her.

"Petang nanti, kita janji ok........ kita online ni....." Anastassia looking at me with those hopeful eyes of hers.

Mmm..... my Anastassia will always be the Anastassia that she is...... my hope is that she studies hard and give her all for her UPSR next year. I know she can...... its just whether she wants to or not. So far she has improved later in the year. And I have to make sure that she keeps that momentum.

Before penning off, just want to share here how much Anastassia has helped me at home, now that I'm maidless. She knows what to do, what is expected of her. Thanks kerana ringankan sikit beban mama. It means a lot to me to know that I can depend on you.....

34 comments:

Mama Rock said...

well helena, time for the kids to jalan-jalan with tehir firends pulka kan...i ni selalu macam susah nak lepaskan tapi bagi jugak le permission pergi. karang kata mama ni tak sporting lak!

jimi said...

bagus ada anak cam tu. moga dia tak lupa mamanya.

MAMAMIA said...

Dah lama nya tak pergi Penang...

Bila tak ada maid, every little help counts...

Helena said...

mama rock, I'm not the type to let the kids go off on their own, I'm a bit strict on that. Tapi kalau bab sekolah, I'm all for it. Infact, I encourage them to join whatever activities there are at school, esp activities that bring them out of the State.

Yela.... tapi risau tu tetap ada kan... in your case, mmg la kena give them permission, is not dia kata mama tak rock! hehe

Helena said...

jimi, among my kids yg ringan tulang, is my youngest/only son. But since takde maid ni, baru realize tat Anastassia does her house chores without a peep. And willingly too....

Now for me to make sure Mia does MORE in the house, more than Anastassia tat is, considering that she's the eldest and also Anastassia nak UPSR, so she shud get exempted from house chores yg berat2 la.... and well, Puteri is the princess that she is.... susah nak suruh dia menolong. But baru2 ni, I told her how tired I was, and I asked her whether she loves me.... Tengok2 lepas tu adalah perubahan sikit.....

Helena said...

mamamia, helena pun dah lama tak gi penang. Hubby ada ajak tis hols, tapi I dont think it will materialize.

After having a maid for 14 years, terasa penat jugak bila jadi maidless ni. House chores yg helena kasi anak2 sebenarnya tak berat.... utk lepas pengurusan harian diri masing2 aje....

afsi said...

Dear Helena

Wow, you are a brave mom to let your kids go to school trips especially one that is out of state...

I dont have the guts to let them go on a trip like that.....

Helena said...

afsi... eh ye ke...

In my case, the kids dah standby masa std 4 lagi, tats when opportunity comes knocking. Tapi std 5 la yg paling banyak trips jauh2..... std 6 takleh, kena prepare for UPSR....

Mia byk kali dapat keluar out of state... Anastassia kurang sikit, sebab dia tak seaktif Mia. However, Anastassia had the biggest break - masa dia std 3.... dapat gi Hong Kong, wakil Malaysia in Story Telling. Tapi masa tu... mak dia ikut sekali ... so kira tak aci la.... hehe

Even now Puteri dok tanya2, bila dia boleh pegi ikut wakil sekolah pegi mana2.... i told her, kena tonjolkan diri la.... barulah cikgu pilih utk wakil skolah....

So utk anak2 Helena, mmg I ask them to go.... Kalau risau ke apake... Helena ikut ajerla... hehe macam Helena ikut Anastassia tu....

WRA said...

Ha'ah...we as parents must learn to let go...I started when my eldest was 9 years old jugak...depa pegi Cameron Highlands masa tu...memang rasa risau jugak the first time tu, tambah2 depa kata kena tido dlm bas....tapi bila pikir balik, this is the time to teach them to be independent as well....
kita tidak selamanya akan bersama depa kan?

cikdinz said...

gambar kat tepi laut tuh sama lah dgn uncle punya. same location....heheheee....

dah nak jadi remaja buadak ni. so, treat them as a teenager ye mama...

Unknown said...

Hello Helena,

Of late I tak boleh dengar Penang..terus drool, sotong bakar, Gurney Drive..ha ha. Nasib baik someone is going this weekend, apa lagi, order terus lah.

So sweet, your Anastassia bantu mummy dia. Actually bila terpaksa out of love they would help us.

aNIe said...

Anak kak lady tu dulu pernah nak ikut serta pi rombongan ke Kelantan...tapi kak lady tak benarkan...sebab selagi diorang tak balik nanti akak takkan senang hati...

Alhamdulillah anak2 dah boleh menolong mamanya....Insyaallah Anastassia akan membanggakan helena nanti...

shafarina said...

She's such a brilliant kid, dia takkan hampakan her parents.

knv said...

haiii... dah besar dah anastassia! ermm, really need to ask this. macamana boleh dapat nama anastassia tu? russian princess eh? he he.. such a sweet name!

sherrina said...

bestnya budak2 zaman skrg. Bleh gi ikut rombongan skolah masa skolah rendah lagi. Sherrina dulu jangan harap le, paling jauh pun camping kat padang sekolah...huhu...bagus, beri mereka peluang untuk belajar berdikari.

wanshana said...

I have been without a maid for nearly 6 months now and it really drains me out. But, insya Allah my new one will be here next week.

My kids are quite independent and can manage on their own when it comes to their personal needs, but when it comes to chores around the house, kalau tak suruh, memang tak berbuat! Sigh...

Having said that, sometimes IF they help around the house, I tak puas hati and I would do everything again.

It's worse masa cuti sekolah ni...

NBK466 said...

Okey ler tuh..den masa primary school even dah nak masuk std 6 pun my parents tak kasi bagi ikut school trip...hu..hu..hu..

kakLuna said...

last week mmg ramainyaaaa sungguh la school trip pi penang :)

kalau la dah kenal anastassia mungkin boleh say hi atau mengusik dia. :)

Helena said...

alex, tidur dalam bas? wow lagi adventerous for the kids. 9 tahun pergi Camerons ye, bestnya.

yela, Helena pun tawakal ajer, niat di hati, I want them to learn to be independent. hati memang risau bagai nak rak, tapi kena control la.... hehe

Furtehrmore, kalau wakil sekolah and go out of state.... (compete kebangsaan level), sijil mahal tau.... esp for my kids yg mmg nak masuk boarding school.....

Helena said...

cik dinz, helena selalu lupa yg anastassia ni dah meningkat remaja. Sebab tingkah laku dia stil keanak2an.... hehe

she's definitely growing a lot taller this yr. Pertengahan tahun hari tu, I had to tempah baju sekolah dia, sebab kain dah senteng...

Helena said...

Hi Ruby, so you are into sotong bakar.... slurp..... sedapnya.... and to add kerang bakar too, wow.... I think i better go out for my breakfast now..... hehe...

Yes, it was a nice suprise that Anastassia is such a good helper. Once in a while she would complain... (who wouldnt?) but she still does it.... and she does it the way i teach her, itu yg bestnya....

Helena said...

Kak lady, yg paling Helena risau is the journey, paham2 la busses in the highway ni.... esp I myself have had a bad experience....

Kelantan? Dia tak frust ke? Mia dulu ada pergi Kelantan, or was it Trengganu for Choral Speaking Kebangsaan LEvel. Masa tu std5. Tak tidur malam Helena for 3 nites..... hehe.

Helena said...

wan, yes she's the most brilliant among her siblings... but the problem is she doesnt even want to crack the books....

I hope she'll change for the better. KEna selalu motivate.....

Last exam, dia follow my advice and baca buku science for a total of 2 hours aje. Terus dapat highest mark.... HElena kena psycho dia supaya dia ada kesedaran nak belajar. Walaupun just for a few hours.

Helena said...

anamirra, opsi whoopsi.... actually anastassia is not her name. I did mention in my earlier entry about the names of my kids here are not their real ones.

However, their names still ada kene mengena with them individually. Infact they were the one who selected their names to be used in the blog.

After delivering my no2, I wanted to name her either Anastassia or Annalisha. However, Anastassia seems a mouthful esp bila combine with her second name. When she got to know about this, she was bugging me day and night, saying she'd prefer the name Anastassia to her real name, and why didnt I stick to my 1st choice. hehe.

Helena said...

anamirra, mmm I dont think i answered yr question.

I used to have a list of mat salleh names that starts with A. (dont ask me why i wanted my childrens name to start with A. I pun tak tau)

My choice for Mia was Amanda. (a friends name is Siti Amanda)Tapi tak jadi. The name Anastassia came from a Disney movie kut..... hehe.

Helena said...

sherrina, yela, budak2 sekarang mmg byk peluang compared to kita. HElena pernahla sekali dapat gi jalan masa darjah 6. Itu pun sebab mini orchestra kitaorg menang 2nd place peringkat negeri.....

Helena said...

wan shana, my maid left for good in August, so its 4 months now for me.

After 2 cancellations, rasa macam tak perlu la pulak ada maid... tengoklah dulu macamana. The kids pun dah besar, maybe get a twice a week help dah cukup kut....

Let see first, I have yet to make a firm decision as yet....

But without the maid around, the kids mmg ada house chores la... dulu pun ada but selalu gak they all lepas tangan....

Last week, Helena suruh Anastassia ajar the younger 2 on how to wash school shoes and kapur properly.... hehe

Helena said...

nbk.... masa Helena kecik dulu2, selalu kena monitor with parents takleh keluar..... hehe.... and from tat experience, i make sure my own kids get the freedom that they deserve.

Tapi tak boleh lebih2 la.... hehe

Helena said...

kak luna, tats what i tot when i saw your pictures tu.... entah2 you all terserempak kat mana2.... hehe

tapi anastassia gi sampai penang jer, and singgah alor star.... kakluna gi sampai australia kan.... hehe

Minahsongeh said...

Rajin Anastassia tolong mama dia. She looks like she's enjoying her trip.

Lee said...

Hi Helena, your daughter has a beautiful name, reminds me of those Russian Royalty of long ago. Even a movie made with that name, but less one 's'.
I bet she had a fabulous time in Penang, one of my favourite cities. Last there wayyyyy back in 2002.
Here's hoping you in best of health...best regards, UL.

maklang said...

baguslah dia dah pandai tolong mama dia...ringan sikit kerja rumah tu...

IBU said...

Maidless? Oooooohhh... painful!

But an opportunity for the girls to get hands-on "home science" training.

Oh! Your girls are beauuuutiful!

Queen Of The House said...

My son nak pergi overnight camping on the school grounds pun I worry ... but we have to learn to let them go off and learn to be independent. I am sure our kids enjoy themselves A LOT when they go on school trips.