Kuala Lampur, May 24 -- PETALING JAYA, May 24 - Sometimes it takes a fresh set of eyes to show you something you've been missing, especially when it's been right under your nose the entire time.

I've lived my entire life next to the neighbourhood of Taman Mayang Jaya in Petaling Jaya, and almost every Sunday morning, my parents and I would drive through it to head to St. Ignatius for mass when I was a kid.

And twice a week on weekdays, I'd go to a house for my dreaded maths tuition, kicking (denial), screaming (anger) and dragging my feet (bargaining) on the way in, where depression and eventually acceptance waited for me in the form of algebra and linear equations.

My teacher was a lovely lady, but I can still remember the oppressive ...