It's time to get back

It's been over a year since my last post and I can safely say nothing interesting has happened in my life in that year. Nothing. Part of the reason I stopped posting because I felt I didn't have time to post about my normal subjects (see below). I resisted posting about teaching and education but have come round to think it would be stupid not to shed some light on the profession that I am in now.

I guess it has taken me some time to accept what is my profession. It is education. I won't call myself a teacher as I think I deliver much more than that. I have discovered I enjoy teaching. I am good at teaching. I have ideas with regards to what makes a 'good' teacher. I'm not going to to reveal it all at once; it will unravel itself as I continue to blog, I hope.

So here is to my first post in 2011...

What Dreams?

Where Three Dreams Cross: 150 Years of Photography from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is the current exhibition at the Whitechapel Art Gallery. It claims to depict 150 years of photography from the subcontinent, of its people by its people. The exhibition is in most parts is not trying to show great photography but how photography has developed in the three countries.

Walking through the gallery it made uncomfortable viewing. It felt like yet another exhibition displaying of the other. In this case, watching how the other uses the camera. Although, this show was curated by Asian artists it did not feel as though their talents shone. They were merely performers depicted through the eye of the imperialists. (Sorry to get all political – but that’s how it made me feel!)

Most of the photographs looked like home albums that many of us Asians possess. There was nothing spectacular about them; what’s so fascinating about family albums of Southasian origin?

So there were portraits of some political leaders like Jinnah, Nehru, Gandhi etc. There were also, some bollywood and lollywood posters and photographs, stills of shows with Asian people in it, pictures of paddy fields and trains. Transvestites, prostitutes, acrobatics, to name others.

Nothing really took fancy to me, but what I found quirky was a selection of photographs of this young Indian boy, with mental health problems; who one day decided he was Mohammed Bin Qassam and converted to Islam, immigrated to Pakistan and rode on his horse in Arab gear. Other than that nothing much held my attention.

Also, I did not understand the title of the show, what was it supposed to mean? The three nations are not really crossing but merely stem from the same root, I just don't get what its suggesting. Perhaps you could have a stab at the meaning?

It's such a shame, I was really looking forward to this exhibition but its obvious that I am not its audience. I need to be white, (maybe) middle class and someone completely ignorant of the Asian culture to appreciate it because then, all the colours and paddy fields and sarees and women will look ever so "exotic", "powerful" and "in-terest-ing"...

I recommend keep your money for this exhibition. It was merely a tick-box situation, not one for showcasing talent.

Please Note: I am not an art critic (obvious from my review), merely relaying what I thought of the show as a lay person.

Tu Jaane Na...

Atif Aslam is probably the most famous Pakistani pop singer in current times. I've been following Atif for a while, have not seen him in concert, although did turn down the opportunity to do so. Would have been the perfect opportunity to have seen him in concert before he got mega mega big.

Tu Janne Na is a track from Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani written by Irshad Kamil sang by Atif. Atif as always delivers on voice, guess that's why his songs are so popular. Irshad also wrote a few of the songs in Chameli (good movie with a good soundtrack).

Funny Maths

ok so in maths i is known as an imaginary number (its is the square root of -1) and Pi is an irrational number since it goes on forever. Geddit? haha?

No time to blog and Teaching and etc.

Feels like I have been teaching forever when actual fact is I just finished my first official year. It's a depressing state when in full time employment, you feel so rigid, so restricted. I remember when I started my first year at the end of August 2008, it was Ramadan and it was the hardest Ramadan ever. Not only because iftar was late but the fact that I had to go through the whole day talking to a bunch of kids (who were not interested). Lack of water makes you thirsty but it doesn't help when you've been on verbal mode all day.


Ramadan last year was very weird also. Whilst Salat and Fast were maintained I was less connected with the experience. Work made me tired and it also made me super busy. Constantly thinking of lesson plans, planning homework and chasing students. Not to mention trying to get to grips with a new work environment, my first ever full-time work environment just to add. I was so immersed into this new experience that I had very little time to connect with the spiritual side of Ramadan. I feel that this year might be the same. I have become very nonchalant about the whole experience. Usually Ramadan is so fulfilling and a time where I would learn more things about my deen - I don't recall any of that last year and so far have not felt it this year.


I am due to start teaching in a few days, at a new place and I am just as apprehensive as last year in trying to think of the best lessons and learning about the new subjects I am going to teach. I am a maths teacher so you would think what is there that needs preparing? Well, maths comes in various different levels and sometimes it is the easy maths that throws you because it is so basic. Also, trying to keep with the exam board's brief can be a struggle because they are so vague and in maths there are many ways to do a calculation and you have to figure out which of these ways will the exam board give students marks for.


Teaching requires an extreme amount of creativity and time. It is a profession that it not credited enough I think. Admittedly I was a bit snobbish about this career before I got into it. Felt that anyone could get a PGCE and become a teacher. But having gone through the experience I credit anyone who passes their PGCE. It is such a gruelling and unsympathetic course. To write termly essays at masters level and have a full teaching timetable is enough to stretch anyone. I'm glad I went through it though. Most of the time I did cut corners but I guess the achievement was really keeping your head above water and making it to the end. Of course, it doesn't get any easier when you start teaching. I spent my first year overworked and with a constant migraine. Whilst there has been pockets of joy large amount was taken up by stress. I just hope this year is less stressful...