Friday, February 29, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
And you thought teaching is very boring and mundane...
The following pics which you are about to see are actually uniformed personnel disguised as teachers at Edgefield Primary School...a few of us were specially selected to don the various uniform at the Total Defence Day which was commemorated nationwide in schools on the 17th February, two Fridays ago.
I was dressing up as an "Inspector" and had so much fun... even went to the Net and searched specifically for the ranks of the Singapore Police Force to find out what it means! Teaching does has its perks. We stationed around the school and simulated wartime Singapore with bomb blasts and all, then us the uniformed ppl will run out and alert the pupils to go to the hall for activities. There, the Total Defence Day message was read after a siren was heard all over Singapore at 12:25pm that day.
The kids had a chance to witness how all the Uniformed Personnel in Singapore played a part in Total Defence and Racial Harmony was promoted. The kids went hyper with laughter I tell you when they saw us...the following pics which you see are really painstaking efforts put in by us...
I could fit in the Police uniform! hahah..check out my "chiong" baton..
The HOME Team! Azhari as Policeman, me, and KX as Civil Defence
KX - the PE teacher also known now as "Halim" We all spot different name tags!
Eugene one of the P6 teachers
David - our Discipline Master
Azmadi
Haril with his aim at the "gun" - we even got cool look alike props
The "pout" after the whole thing
That crazy candid shot with all the NE-SS teachers who put in the hard work!
I was dressing up as an "Inspector" and had so much fun... even went to the Net and searched specifically for the ranks of the Singapore Police Force to find out what it means! Teaching does has its perks. We stationed around the school and simulated wartime Singapore with bomb blasts and all, then us the uniformed ppl will run out and alert the pupils to go to the hall for activities. There, the Total Defence Day message was read after a siren was heard all over Singapore at 12:25pm that day.
The kids had a chance to witness how all the Uniformed Personnel in Singapore played a part in Total Defence and Racial Harmony was promoted. The kids went hyper with laughter I tell you when they saw us...the following pics which you see are really painstaking efforts put in by us...
I could fit in the Police uniform! hahah..check out my "chiong" baton..
The HOME Team! Azhari as Policeman, me, and KX as Civil Defence
KX - the PE teacher also known now as "Halim" We all spot different name tags!
Eugene one of the P6 teachers
David - our Discipline Master
Azmadi
Haril with his aim at the "gun" - we even got cool look alike props
The "pout" after the whole thing
That crazy candid shot with all the NE-SS teachers who put in the hard work!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Valentine's Day
Ah the most asked question that people starts asking when you go back to work on Friday is ,"So, how's your Valentine's Day?"
I had promptly made a loud comment on Thursday, 14th Feb after the nth time that question of "What's your plans tonight?" was asked by another colleague. "I have no date. It's okay!!"
My school is not without the feeling of love, teachers are constantly called down to the general office mind you, to receive sweet flowers and balloons as announced over the staff room PA system. I think this year has gotta be different for me too. I had not felt so much peace and joy in a long time. I giggled at my previous years' tantrums of having no special "one" to spend the time with over this particular day...Realised now...Joy must come from the Lord first and His love must first reside in my heart. If I am with the one who truly loves me and I really love, EVERYDAY is a V-day!
Lotsa chocolate exchange today...teachers brandishing their new year cookies and chocolates and giving them out. I too dish out pretty pink wrappers filled with Cadbury chocolates for my close friends in the school. Nope still no flowers.
Wednesdays thru to Fridays are what I call "Mad Rush Days" for me. I have full timetables, lotsa stuff to do, CCA stuff to handle. Have to stay in school to at least 430pm after dancing with the children. Actually I came to school today without much expectations, if it comes it will come...no need to worry...God will take care of that "ONE" the special one for me. Got a few encouraging and heartwarming sms-es and realise that ..hey its not that bad after all. Got a very spontaneous last minute arrangement to meet up my two lovely younger sistas for a crazy night out....
Braved the crazy CTE traffic for a good one hour plus jam along Eu Tong Sen Street.
Can u imagine my tired look as I finally parked the car at Maxwell Market and walked to Chinatown Square for a Swensons' meal...boy was I ready to collapse!
Us 3, me, my youngest sis - Jiaxin, Second one - Yunxin (Kerri)
Here's some suggested tips to deal with your V Day flowers if you find them a chore:-
Things to do with your flowers (1)
Things to do with your flowers (2)
How to pass your time while waiting extremely long for your food - Check the utensils are in good working order ala Ariel the Mermaid
JN warned me about the thin line between nonchalence and acceptance towards being single. Don't give up hope! heheheh... Not yet wor!
I prayed to the Lord today, Lord Jesus, Today YOU are my Valentine! No date beats You today and You are simply awesome and a wonderful lover first and foremost! :D
It will come...soon...:)
I had promptly made a loud comment on Thursday, 14th Feb after the nth time that question of "What's your plans tonight?" was asked by another colleague. "I have no date. It's okay!!"
My school is not without the feeling of love, teachers are constantly called down to the general office mind you, to receive sweet flowers and balloons as announced over the staff room PA system. I think this year has gotta be different for me too. I had not felt so much peace and joy in a long time. I giggled at my previous years' tantrums of having no special "one" to spend the time with over this particular day...Realised now...Joy must come from the Lord first and His love must first reside in my heart. If I am with the one who truly loves me and I really love, EVERYDAY is a V-day!
Lotsa chocolate exchange today...teachers brandishing their new year cookies and chocolates and giving them out. I too dish out pretty pink wrappers filled with Cadbury chocolates for my close friends in the school. Nope still no flowers.
Wednesdays thru to Fridays are what I call "Mad Rush Days" for me. I have full timetables, lotsa stuff to do, CCA stuff to handle. Have to stay in school to at least 430pm after dancing with the children. Actually I came to school today without much expectations, if it comes it will come...no need to worry...God will take care of that "ONE" the special one for me. Got a few encouraging and heartwarming sms-es and realise that ..hey its not that bad after all. Got a very spontaneous last minute arrangement to meet up my two lovely younger sistas for a crazy night out....
Braved the crazy CTE traffic for a good one hour plus jam along Eu Tong Sen Street.
Can u imagine my tired look as I finally parked the car at Maxwell Market and walked to Chinatown Square for a Swensons' meal...boy was I ready to collapse!
Us 3, me, my youngest sis - Jiaxin, Second one - Yunxin (Kerri)
Here's some suggested tips to deal with your V Day flowers if you find them a chore:-
Things to do with your flowers (1)
Things to do with your flowers (2)
How to pass your time while waiting extremely long for your food - Check the utensils are in good working order ala Ariel the Mermaid
JN warned me about the thin line between nonchalence and acceptance towards being single. Don't give up hope! heheheh... Not yet wor!
I prayed to the Lord today, Lord Jesus, Today YOU are my Valentine! No date beats You today and You are simply awesome and a wonderful lover first and foremost! :D
It will come...soon...:)
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
My father's one true love
Must quickly do some posting otherwise the next time I would have at least 2 girls who are so crazed up over the song "This Never Happened Before" by Paul McCartney. Two girls who always visit my site and click the link to watch the YouTube video over and over again...I think I am going crazy...zhuZhu can testify...that I have been playing the song and video countless times over the last 3 days..."50 TIMES!!" my youngest sis made sure I kept count.
Must snap out of it! Can't believe that these emotions seep through in my life again so easy like a thief in the night. This year's Chinese New Year is really different. Heeded the Pastor's call to spend more time with my family and praying and I really gained a lot of more insight than I ever imagined. Normally my sisters and me would scoot off on the 1st day of CNY to hide ourselves at some cinemas with some shows that we do not really wanna watch...but somehow this year's different. We actually sat there and spent quality time talking and playing with my cousins! I finally got to know them much better and it was so meaningful as compared to putting my agenda before others.
I knew the meaning of family
On the 2nd day of CNY, I started to fume at my mum for something that she had said that really hurt me. I went on and on until my dad just smiled and told me "Truth about marriages my dear? It's about putting up with each other in love."
Lightning struck, that's my dad talking about his one true love for you.
Was so touched. "There are many things that we do not see in courtship that can only surface in marriage and its all about choice to love.." Did we all not learn that something back in the Relationship Seminar? There I have a real time drama playing in front of me and I was so touched by this valuable lesson in love.
In conflict management, do I tend to be the "Critic" that constantly puts others down, the "Aggressive" which uses mean words to hurt and lobby support to my side? I wander. Certainly do not want to progress into "Manipulative" controllers who use words to get things my way...How much more to learn about love and respecting each other in a relationship? Loads....
I learnt about my father's one true love...
On the 3rd day I decided to come back to the house and help out ....have not done that in years since I started visiting my friends' houses and the 3rd day is always the OPEN HOUSE for my family where we would cook and wash and clean and clear and do that all over again...came back early and was soaked in the spirit of togetherness, felt so good...power of presence and working togther...its been 6 long years that God took to let me learn these lessons of appreciating your family more and I am glad that I made that first footstep homeward bound after all..Lord I am ready...help me be ready...:)Let Your will be done...
I learnt about family togetherness
Wow thank You Lord!
Me with my Edgefield Ballroom (Dancesport) Dancers
With Wan Yi and Dehua
with the cousins 1st Day of CNY :)
Monday, February 04, 2008
This Never Happened Before - Paul McCartney
This song got stuck in my head ever since CN and Christine's wedding.. from the movie "The Lake House" starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock...:P Guess I am in one of those melancholy moods again...when will I face up to my true self?
Do enjoy it with me...its very romantic :)
Do enjoy it with me...its very romantic :)
Sunday, February 03, 2008
My "28th Dress"
Watched the movie finally yesterday with ZhuZhu...good movie and good clean fun...totally enjoyed it cos it speaks to me about how the main character dons out dresses and accepts the requests of her friends who asks her to help out despite the fact that she may not look good in those dresses....Learn to say 'NO' :) Sometimes, it is an obedience to God to not succumb yourself to things which you cannot fulfill out of your heart...:)
Took the quiz at the website and this supposed to my results?! Dun be fooled - it should say "classy and conservative" really...
Took the quiz at the website and this supposed to my results?! Dun be fooled - it should say "classy and conservative" really...
Friday, February 01, 2008
He will wipe away every tear from your eye...
Thurs 31st Jan 2008
Took a break off clearing of "condos" of worksheets and compositions to post this.
This has got to be a very difficult day in my stint at a teacher. My class just got crazier to handle. It started off way in the morning while I was taking the pupils to the science Lab. There you have Boy J spitting at Boy B who promptly hit him with a pencil case and Boy F did a ala "Chun Li" kick at the boy J on the floor.
It happened so fast. If you ask me its really gangsterism at its worst. I have such a hard time controlling this class that everyday, I am so besot with anger that my soul hurts. I pray and fast for this class every single day and sometimes, I am really drained. Chasing after homework, consent forms, calling parents who do not seem to care...Its tough when you have a huge number of pupils with behavioural and academic problems all in one class. I have to constantly call the DM to come in to help.
I have a huge headache. Lessons are behind time cos everyday I have been spending time scolding the children and lecturing them for at least one, two periods everyday. This is really another blow to the soul. I told the Lord, please don't quench my zeal for teaching so early in my career. This is my calling, I firmly believe that I heard it from You 3 years ago. Thank God for the girls in the class who are sweet and really my saving grace.
I broke down and cried after remedial lessons at 3pm today. I cannot take it already. 8-9 boys disappeared during their lunch break and went to cycle on the main road out of the school. They arrived so late when the class had already started 30 mins and demanded still to be released early. I was so hopping mad that I screamed at the kids. Very hurt already. This is really more hurting to the soul then it has on the kids. I told myself, should I just focus on the kids who really want to learn? My heart was really torn....
Teared all the way to the staff room..Thank God for Deb who lent a listening ear to my woes. She being the form teacher of that class when they were in P3. Went to hug her for comfort...She understood how exactly I felt. We teachers face very strict scrutiny by the school and we certainly do not want the label of being "unable to control class" or "unable to produce results" being slapped on our backs. Was so stressed already with all the portfolio given to me this year.
Thank God for you sending a good friend like KX too in my life. Cannot imagine starting off this teaching career as a full fledged teacher without someone like him. You ask yourself why you need friends...sometimes its not what they say that we have friends just because they are just there to help you, you need friends as mutual support, as motivators, as "road checks" on the blind spots in your path and really offer spiritual covering in your race in life. Its a job full of hard knocks. KX really is one awesome guy like that, really comforting me when I am down. Thank God for you!! :D Who says we need to fight the race alone? God is with us! God the ulimate source of Comfort!
Then I begin to wonder myself, why did I cry? Was it this pride issue that was in me that caused me to unable to surrender this part to God? You see, I always portray myself as very independent and in control. When stuff happens, and this is one tough situation, I really cannot handle and start to yield under pressure. I thank God for this experience too that taught me to hang on more to God for my dear life.
The race is not easy. I still love children, I still want to see hope in those I can make an impact on. Not yet Lord, Not throwing in the towel yet...
Took a break off clearing of "condos" of worksheets and compositions to post this.
This has got to be a very difficult day in my stint at a teacher. My class just got crazier to handle. It started off way in the morning while I was taking the pupils to the science Lab. There you have Boy J spitting at Boy B who promptly hit him with a pencil case and Boy F did a ala "Chun Li" kick at the boy J on the floor.
It happened so fast. If you ask me its really gangsterism at its worst. I have such a hard time controlling this class that everyday, I am so besot with anger that my soul hurts. I pray and fast for this class every single day and sometimes, I am really drained. Chasing after homework, consent forms, calling parents who do not seem to care...Its tough when you have a huge number of pupils with behavioural and academic problems all in one class. I have to constantly call the DM to come in to help.
I have a huge headache. Lessons are behind time cos everyday I have been spending time scolding the children and lecturing them for at least one, two periods everyday. This is really another blow to the soul. I told the Lord, please don't quench my zeal for teaching so early in my career. This is my calling, I firmly believe that I heard it from You 3 years ago. Thank God for the girls in the class who are sweet and really my saving grace.
I broke down and cried after remedial lessons at 3pm today. I cannot take it already. 8-9 boys disappeared during their lunch break and went to cycle on the main road out of the school. They arrived so late when the class had already started 30 mins and demanded still to be released early. I was so hopping mad that I screamed at the kids. Very hurt already. This is really more hurting to the soul then it has on the kids. I told myself, should I just focus on the kids who really want to learn? My heart was really torn....
Teared all the way to the staff room..Thank God for Deb who lent a listening ear to my woes. She being the form teacher of that class when they were in P3. Went to hug her for comfort...She understood how exactly I felt. We teachers face very strict scrutiny by the school and we certainly do not want the label of being "unable to control class" or "unable to produce results" being slapped on our backs. Was so stressed already with all the portfolio given to me this year.
Thank God for you sending a good friend like KX too in my life. Cannot imagine starting off this teaching career as a full fledged teacher without someone like him. You ask yourself why you need friends...sometimes its not what they say that we have friends just because they are just there to help you, you need friends as mutual support, as motivators, as "road checks" on the blind spots in your path and really offer spiritual covering in your race in life. Its a job full of hard knocks. KX really is one awesome guy like that, really comforting me when I am down. Thank God for you!! :D Who says we need to fight the race alone? God is with us! God the ulimate source of Comfort!
Then I begin to wonder myself, why did I cry? Was it this pride issue that was in me that caused me to unable to surrender this part to God? You see, I always portray myself as very independent and in control. When stuff happens, and this is one tough situation, I really cannot handle and start to yield under pressure. I thank God for this experience too that taught me to hang on more to God for my dear life.
The race is not easy. I still love children, I still want to see hope in those I can make an impact on. Not yet Lord, Not throwing in the towel yet...
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