It has become an annual activity to get my family members and close friends a gift for Ramadan. Nowadays, it has become easier for me as I just need to select them from Shopee and have them delivered to their homes. This year the PKS theme is healthy fruits and nuts as opposed to the Tiffins last year.
I also ordered my favourite cookies from an online baker. These cookies are for my siblings, in-laws and neighbours. I even put money packets inside for those who are celebrating Eid outside Melaka next week.
I went to Jonker Street last weekend and got 50 boxes of Beryl cookies. Those are for my relatives and random people in my thoughts. For example, our security guard at the workplace and at my kid’s school. I think I spent just above RM500 at Beryl’s. Parking at Jonker is a nightmare.
I have also been getting a few Ramadan gifts as well. For example, the Medjool dates that I look forward to every year from my bestie Mimie. Then there was a cute mug set from Waniraul and a Mahnaz gift box from Lily Tensai. I love Ramadan because of this. Connecting with old friends and family just to tell them that they are in my thoughts forever.
Just two weeks into his registration, the students of KPPN were allowed to have an Iftar outing with their families. Since Ee’s roommates were living nearby, they were already going home by 9am on the day. Ee had to wait for us till we arrived from Melaka. We told him that we would leave the house just after Asar. We reached there by 6pm and as a safe choice, we had our Iftar at the nearby Pizza Hut. We are to send him back before 930pm but we got him onto campus earlier. He needed time for Maghrib and wanted to join the congregational Isyak/Terawih prayers.
While waiting for us, he visited his friends in other rooms, mainly non-Muslims who were not going out for Iftar. I am glad that there are no reports of bullying and that the Aras 1 students are getting along well with their Aras 2 seniors. I asked him what he had for Sahur and the menu sounded good. Much better than the ones I prepare at home. There were also days when he woke up late and only had cookies and water for Sahur.
They were sitting for an exam the day before the Iftar outing. It is an assessment to determine whether these students will be joining the Pure Science or the Digital Innovator Programme (DIP). Ee is in the DIP programme. To be honest, we have yet to understand what the DIP stream encompasses but it should be an interesting learning curve for both Ee and us as parents. He has already received his textbooks and there is a very early leap into studying Chemistry and Physics at Form 4 & 5 level. There will be lots of group work and presentations in class. Therefore, Mr Husband has bought him a new laptop for his use.
An Aras 2 senior sharing knowledge and experience with the Aras 1 juniors.
Ee seems to demonstrate an interest in being part of the committee members and I am surprised that he volunteered to become the Imam for the Terawih prayers. Each imam gets to lead 2 rakaats. That to me, is a sign that he is happy and can flourish in such an environment.
Earlier on, KPPN was clear that there would be no second intake. So when our son was not in the initial line listing, we accepted the decision wholeheartedly. As parents, we geared him up ahead for the other allocated boarding school. After all, we were thinking, that surely everyone who gets a place at KPPN would accept the offer. It turns out, a few students (?parents) had a change of heart and decided to turn down the placement. And so our son and other kids whom he knew, were invited to fill in those empty seats.
Crash course on how to iron clothes and others..
In a way, KPPN was still right. This is not a second intake as they are registering on the same day.
What happened?
The call to us parents was made on Friday evening – I was reviewing fundus images and the phone line at the clinic was not stable, so I missed the call. Another call came through while I was driving and I couldn’t pick that up either. My husband also received 2 missed calls and managed to pick up the 3rd call. That was when he got to know about the news. Mr Husband conveyed the news to our son and his face immediately glowed with happiness. We asked him about his decision and without hesitance, he chose KPPN.
To be honest, I was equally pleased with his decision because it was a place that he was already familiar with because of PPCS a few weeks before. He already knew the system and the layout of the place. He knew some of the teachers which is good as well. Plus, he already has a few ‘start-up’ friends. He can find more. At least, I have no worries about the hostel part.
There were several forms to fill out and fees to pay according to income groups. Kumpulan 1 is for students with a total household income of more than RM5K. Kumpulan 2 is for those less than RM4999K and Kumpulan 3 is for students from Sabah and Sarawak. We are in Kumpulan 1. Without subsidy, the total payment is RM 4850.00 per year but after applying subsidy across all groups, Kumpulan 1 students pay RM 2155.00.
Kumpulan 2 RM 5350.00 >>>>> RM 1655.00
Kumpulan 3 RM 5600.00 >>>>> RM 1405.00
The fees can be paid in instalments.
Since I have already taken leave to send my daughter on her first day of school the week before, this time Mr Husband took leave to send our son Ee to his. Interestingly the charming daughter of our Malaysian astronaut, Bella, is also enrolled at the same centre.
Ee is in a room with two other students. I have yet to know their names. I hope they get along well together. There are a few plus points that I like about KPPN so far.
Students are allowed to bring their handphones. It is a must after all in today’s world. However, they could only have access to it over the weekends. I thought that was lenient enough and shouldn’t invite any complaints.
I saw the meal menu KPPN sent to their WA group. To me, the food they served for their students was so much better than what I tend to serve at home. Ha ha. I imagine Ee would enjoy his meals very much.
I liked that KPPN has provided their ‘takwim’ so that parents and students can plan their holidays/leaves.
KPPN is very family-friendly as there is at least a monthly schedule where students can choose to go back home for a sleepover. While this is not feasible for students who live far away, I like that the option is there. Family plays a part in ensuring that the student’s emotional tank is filled and geared up for the next study session.
InsyaAllah we will be seeing Ee this weekend. Parents are given permission to bring their children out for Iftar and return them to college at the agreed time. I am using hashtag Ee at Permata to document our experience, especially his, during his studies at Permata.
I received my usual Kurma box from one of my best buddies – Mimie last week and I was thrilled. Ever since she made this an ‘annual gift’ I have stopped buying kurma for myself because the ones she got me are much more delicious. She is one of the people in my duas and I pray that she will be rewarded greatly for giving food to people who are breaking fast.
Kurma has been getting a lot of attention nowadays. It has gone viral in Malaysia for Kurma Butter and in the international scene, content creators are making Kurma Barks. Mr Husband tried out the Kurma Butter and he seemed to love it. I, on the other hand, am consuming Kurma with Pistachio spread. I believe that Kurma paired with any nut-based spread will Insya-Allah taste nice including peanut butter.
I bought this Pistachio spread from Shopee. Back then, I was simply craving for it but I did not want to get the sweet ones from the bakery store or from Llao Llao. It’s a local brand Love Earth and the price is RM29.90 for 175g. 1 TBS is 93.6kcal with 1.17g of sugar. I tend to use only half of TBS for my Kurma and take only 1. I am still on my calorie deficit programme but I needed to fulfil part of my cravings for sugar.
I am planning to make a Kurma Bark later, probably towards Eid as I still have lots of other desserts to finish in the fridge. Ramadan Kareem everyone.
Ticketing details have yet to be announced. I hope the seating arrangements are good. And the price of course. I hate having to stand – prefer a seated seat high above. And then I’ll get a new Samsung phone too.
Minci Moss 