Yeah time flies.
2 teachers came back today after finally ending their maternity leave. Why am I talking abt them? Cos today some students mentioned them to me.
Students: cher, mdm masrena came back oredi
Me: Aren't u all so happy to see her back?
Students: Of course lah...
Me: This is must tell her. That you all are so excited to see her back.
Students: Yah lah ... That Ms ( can't recall the name) is like another TAS.
Me: What? ( totally shocked)
Thus it brings back memories to the person mentioned. So what does it take for students to appreciate us teachers? Go missing for a few weeks, leave them stranded then they be thankful for what they have. But I believe it will only be short term.
Sis in law came with her hubby and son to show us their new Avante. I really like the colour. It those maroonish kind of colour that I always see on a Camry. Which I always wanted but didn't get. Been discussing with my hubby abt changing our Grandis also. Big car with little passenger most of the time. Only full for the weekend routine. At times became a target for others as a means of transport for their personal holiday. Blatanly thick skinned and this I find too tiresome to tell them NO. A bit too much wouldn't you say. But also because the high cost of petrol is becoming too tiring for us to meet up. Bn goin across the border just to fill up. To battle with other singaporeans who are also doin the same thing. So probably a smaller car wld be better. But of course there are other factors to consider too. Need to really do our calculations.
Lessons
I realise that I've not bn updating for quite some time. Basically I'm just tired. Tired of everything. Let me update abt. work. O level results was release last week. The comment from those who cross my path was like Mdm.. 100% passes. You must be happy with the results. Of course I am delighted with the FN results. Both above nat. for 4E & 5N. But I share the same sentiment as some other teachers. Its that time of the year again where we waited eagerly for the results of our whole year's work. The tension, the stress. As one teacher put it. Mdm Im very tired of doing this every year. I really need a break. A breather? I ask. Yeah. But if not us then who? We've bn doing this year in year out. So he finally said.. Mdm I need counselling. Poor us. Can you imagine what its like to wait for the O level results every year. To worry for students like they are our own children. Every time the results were release, we got to shake hands with those who have done well and then again to just provide a shoulder for some others to cry one. Its really very straining. So am I happy with the results? As the person taking charge of C&T shd I be happy? I welcome the results with mixed feelings. Though some of teachers tell me that they will need to do a self reflection, I know I have to also. I need to do more. Much more. Its so heart wrenching to hear comments from other heads abt my dept. These are my teachers u are talking abt. I know them. Do you know them enough to make such uncalled remarks? Ssh. Congratulations to those who have achieved good results both students and teachers. But do remember that there must be humility in us. People will know our worth without us having to GLOAT on it. You lost your worth when you start to brag abt how good you are. To others, we will continue to work hard and not give up on these students. Students who have not done well, I am confident that our education system will not deprive any students from taking the next step further in their pursuit of their dreams. My 2008 batch of students were also eagerly waiting for the results. But I am so worried for this year. I am taking the whole of the express classes. This is not what I really want. But I look at it as there is no other choice. The constraints that I am facing this year wrt deployment. Can you imgine doing three rounds of coursework. Everytime I do coursework in the lab, some of these students are really testing my patience. Some of them really I feel need to review their options. You think that its so easy to get 100% pass when everytime u go to the lab, you choose to talk and laugh loudly. Mind you some of you shd not even be in sec 4. But you never learn from your mistake. And the constant remark like I left my thumbdrive at home, my thumbdrive with my fren blah blah... Then there are those who choose to refer to their fren's Cw when here I am just going through the exact work. Retarded rt? I can only think of one teacher who wld agree. Doing Cw can be really testing.. 2 hours of just cracking your brains on wt to write. However I hope my 4Es will persevere. Those who did not hv now left the class and are congregating either in the lib or the ram. I really hope they will utilise their time well. For those who hv decided not to drop these subjects, I do hope that you give your time and effort to the subject. As I saw my students today peeping at the countdown board..254 days to Os. Is there fear I see in you as the numbers get smaller or is it just a short knock on the head as you loose to the temptation of the internet as you work in the lab?
This week was also a busy week for the lower sec express classes as they are down for CIP. Busy making cookies for the old folks home. My poor teachers and Mani my kitchen aide was also tied up in the kitchen till almost 4.30 everyday. We've become professional prooduction line.
I managed to get some time to go swimming last week with my regular swimming cliques. I find these get-away sessions help me to relax and not to think so much of school. Really appreciate the people and the time we really put for each other to just chill. Last week , I was also at West Coast Park for the 'paint-a-litter-bin' competition. Was there with the art teachers and art students. Very very interesting. I like the way the students painted all the litter bins to give it the new look. Really innovative. Meet Mr Shawal there and we managed to catch up quite a bit. He looked bigger and he is now a father of three kids. His eldest will be in Pr 1 next year. Really..how time flies. It seem only like yesterday that we was still the VP of ZSS. Now P of JVS.
Second floor has been hectic for the past week. I've hd to endure alot of 'unexpected comments'. Sometimes I wonder if I am a good judge of character. Certain people whom I thought were my frens sometime somehow did not turn out as I expected them to be. And mind you this is not the first time that I've bn played out by frens.. or ple who I thought were my frens. Someone used to say this to me. 'Why you so old still kena played out'. Yah wt to do? I may be a bit too shallow and cant seem to see ple true colours. Then you know there are 'frens' who wld only look for me when they want something from me. Like sms-ing to ask for .. you got SOW for ....this and that. Maybe its just me. As the second floor is filled with more ple, you are exposed to more characters that makes you open your eyes and to ponder .. so these are the people that makes up the world. True life drama unreeling.
At home, hubby's activity has subsided as the Surabaya team left for home. So naturally he took off to be part of the sending off party. I managed to meet Ibu Nyai and the entourage the Tuesday before they left. They keep asking me if I willl go to Surabaya in March. Ive never got the chance to go before as the events that are happening there do not fall during a school holiday. Again feeling pissed. How to? Its not the school holiday. Can I go and leave my classes unattended. Do we teachers get to apply for leave apart from the school holidays? NO. So people if u think that you want to join the teaching profession, bear in mind. You don't have annual leave. Your leave is only the school holiday and that is also NOT the whole holiday. Because there will definitely be activities going on during the holidays which require you to be around. So you want to be a teacher?Make sure its because of your PASSION. But this time round, not as many ple are going for the annual visit. Not sure why. I also doubt if hubby is going. Stillwaiting for confirmation. In the meant time its back to normal routine. Religious classes on Monday as per normal. Nowadays I have the habit of asking him extreme questions. Questions that somehow annoys him. But he gives me annoying answers. Today I showed Nadia a new phone that I got thro some purchases that I've made. She looked at the home and give me that shocked look and say .. wt's wrong with u? why r u using this pathetic phone? I cldn't help but to laugh cos truly I feel so cheapo using a phone with no brand name. Oh sorry got brand. The brand is called bluetooth. Funny rt? Actually just to check her reaction.. so like OK this will be abt the same reaction I'm goin to get from others. Standard check lah. So immediately upon reaching school I immediately changed back to my normal NOKIA pink phone. Cheap thrill early Wed morning. Then today, my girls also told me that their frens found it wierd that when they are talking on the phone with me,that they are addressing their mother as YOU and they as I. But why so wierd? Thats the way we talk. Their frens always have this impression that they are talking to their boyfrens when actually they are talking to me. But is it so wierd when this is the way we addressed ourself. Not sure. Too casual maybe?
Today is also Sara Leana Joehann Aung's birthday Happy 7 years old. Auntie Jatt will try to get you a gift before you fly off to Myanmar. If not ..after that. Must remember.. Gift for SARA.
This week was also a busy week for the lower sec express classes as they are down for CIP. Busy making cookies for the old folks home. My poor teachers and Mani my kitchen aide was also tied up in the kitchen till almost 4.30 everyday. We've become professional prooduction line.
I managed to get some time to go swimming last week with my regular swimming cliques. I find these get-away sessions help me to relax and not to think so much of school. Really appreciate the people and the time we really put for each other to just chill. Last week , I was also at West Coast Park for the 'paint-a-litter-bin' competition. Was there with the art teachers and art students. Very very interesting. I like the way the students painted all the litter bins to give it the new look. Really innovative. Meet Mr Shawal there and we managed to catch up quite a bit. He looked bigger and he is now a father of three kids. His eldest will be in Pr 1 next year. Really..how time flies. It seem only like yesterday that we was still the VP of ZSS. Now P of JVS.
Second floor has been hectic for the past week. I've hd to endure alot of 'unexpected comments'. Sometimes I wonder if I am a good judge of character. Certain people whom I thought were my frens sometime somehow did not turn out as I expected them to be. And mind you this is not the first time that I've bn played out by frens.. or ple who I thought were my frens. Someone used to say this to me. 'Why you so old still kena played out'. Yah wt to do? I may be a bit too shallow and cant seem to see ple true colours. Then you know there are 'frens' who wld only look for me when they want something from me. Like sms-ing to ask for .. you got SOW for ....this and that. Maybe its just me. As the second floor is filled with more ple, you are exposed to more characters that makes you open your eyes and to ponder .. so these are the people that makes up the world. True life drama unreeling.
At home, hubby's activity has subsided as the Surabaya team left for home. So naturally he took off to be part of the sending off party. I managed to meet Ibu Nyai and the entourage the Tuesday before they left. They keep asking me if I willl go to Surabaya in March. Ive never got the chance to go before as the events that are happening there do not fall during a school holiday. Again feeling pissed. How to? Its not the school holiday. Can I go and leave my classes unattended. Do we teachers get to apply for leave apart from the school holidays? NO. So people if u think that you want to join the teaching profession, bear in mind. You don't have annual leave. Your leave is only the school holiday and that is also NOT the whole holiday. Because there will definitely be activities going on during the holidays which require you to be around. So you want to be a teacher?Make sure its because of your PASSION. But this time round, not as many ple are going for the annual visit. Not sure why. I also doubt if hubby is going. Stillwaiting for confirmation. In the meant time its back to normal routine. Religious classes on Monday as per normal. Nowadays I have the habit of asking him extreme questions. Questions that somehow annoys him. But he gives me annoying answers. Today I showed Nadia a new phone that I got thro some purchases that I've made. She looked at the home and give me that shocked look and say .. wt's wrong with u? why r u using this pathetic phone? I cldn't help but to laugh cos truly I feel so cheapo using a phone with no brand name. Oh sorry got brand. The brand is called bluetooth. Funny rt? Actually just to check her reaction.. so like OK this will be abt the same reaction I'm goin to get from others. Standard check lah. So immediately upon reaching school I immediately changed back to my normal NOKIA pink phone. Cheap thrill early Wed morning. Then today, my girls also told me that their frens found it wierd that when they are talking on the phone with me,that they are addressing their mother as YOU and they as I. But why so wierd? Thats the way we talk. Their frens always have this impression that they are talking to their boyfrens when actually they are talking to me. But is it so wierd when this is the way we addressed ourself. Not sure. Too casual maybe?
Today is also Sara Leana Joehann Aung's birthday Happy 7 years old. Auntie Jatt will try to get you a gift before you fly off to Myanmar. If not ..after that. Must remember.. Gift for SARA.
Unhappy Weekend
It had been a busy weekend. I was at the airport early morning on Sat to welcome 2 parties back from haj. Initially it was supposed to be my brother first then my sisters-in-law. But not surprisingly, the Saudis flight change. So it became the reverse. Meaning that with the coming back of my sisters-in-law, my nephew who has been with us for abt a month will be returning home to his dear mum. So basically its back to just us 5 not 6 anymore. It had been an eventful experience having 4 big kids at home for the duration of the holidays. They are always always hungry. Instead of having a normal 1 midnite monster I hv 4. The kitchen is the busiest place. The fridge is the most utilised household equipment. I've always wanted 4 kids so this is what God gave me for a short period of time. I like having 2 boys and 2 girls. Nice number with a good balance. But I guess if I were really to hv another one, don't think I can cope. Anywaes, it wont happen. So after the inlaws have nicely landed and are ready to go back, time to move on to another belt to welcome my brother. So can you imagine 2 full aeroplanes loads of passengers back from haj. 1 couple welcomed by children, brothers, sisters, mother, father,uncles, aunties dan yang sewaktu dgn nya. Thus the welcoming parties had really occupied the whole of the arrival level of Terminal 1. Really really pack. I see the policeman also give up on crowd control. Then had to head down to Ngee Ann city where husband had to attend a company function. While he was there we were at Paragon. I finally managed to get my Crumpler. A lap-top bag. Then back to inlaws hse cos many unsettled issues which husband needs to settled. Poor him. He himself admits to being stressed. Husband needs to get ready to go to Melaka - KL early Sunday morning. The ritual to Pulau Besar. This time I'm not goin. Actually I really wanted to go. But I hate the fact that if I do go, I will have to travel back without him and fit myself in some other people's car. I hate that he was the chosen one to go to KL. I hate that I dont hv a choice of the car that I want to back with. I hate this week end. So basically this weekend has been a 'pissed' one. Then with no car, its on the bus to school on Monday morning. I hate it. Its not that I'm spoilt. I always carry a lot of things. So my bag quite heavy. Then take bus, take train then walk. I sound so naggy. Its just that I dont like my husband to go. He will be back late tonite.
School
Started on the coursework. Not that easy. Some of the students who planned to drop the subject are reconsidering. Thats good for them but I hope they will really put in the effort. Coursework is NOT an easy task. However those who are determined to drop have already started slacking. Not using the time fruitfully. I lost for words for them already. I will be giving ALL my 4E classes a test next week on Digestion and Enzymes. I hope they will really study.
School
Started on the coursework. Not that easy. Some of the students who planned to drop the subject are reconsidering. Thats good for them but I hope they will really put in the effort. Coursework is NOT an easy task. However those who are determined to drop have already started slacking. Not using the time fruitfully. I lost for words for them already. I will be giving ALL my 4E classes a test next week on Digestion and Enzymes. I hope they will really study.
Let me..
Its only the second day of the second week. I'm seriously dying. I'm having a hard time trying to remember all the relevant codes for the various subjects which I think I'm expected to know. You ask me abt FN, by my fingertips I can tell u. U ask me abt the others like subject codes for DT, Art I will be like .. huh... wait.. let me check... Then again, I wonder. Old syllabus? New syllabus? Then questions like repeat students? Juz too many to remember. Thus a lot of confusion. Thus the issues of ..I should hv checked. Yes I know. But then again such confusion don't happen last year. I know wt to do. I did the job fine last year. So can some ple juz let me do my job. Sigh. You are not helping. You are juz making things go haywire. Sshhish.
So I was just watching this Malay programme on TV abt marriage together with hubby and Nadia. They had a quiz and I got all questions right. The first question was; what was the first movie we watch together. I clearly remember the place. It was at Jade near Beach Road. The movie took a few minutes more to remember. 'An Officer and a Gentleman' Old..old show with Richard Gere. That was so so eighties..
I've bn watching lots of tv series during the school holidays on youtube..the whole season so its like right now none of the tv programme are interesting enough for re-runs.
BTW: Been thinking abt getting fit. Been thinking abt going for runs. Been thinking abt goin to the gym. Shd juz stop thinking abt it and juz do it.I also need to get a new school bag desperately. Not sure if I shd get another crumpler since mine is so old and dirty.
So I was just watching this Malay programme on TV abt marriage together with hubby and Nadia. They had a quiz and I got all questions right. The first question was; what was the first movie we watch together. I clearly remember the place. It was at Jade near Beach Road. The movie took a few minutes more to remember. 'An Officer and a Gentleman' Old..old show with Richard Gere. That was so so eighties..
I've bn watching lots of tv series during the school holidays on youtube..the whole season so its like right now none of the tv programme are interesting enough for re-runs.
BTW: Been thinking abt getting fit. Been thinking abt going for runs. Been thinking abt goin to the gym. Shd juz stop thinking abt it and juz do it.I also need to get a new school bag desperately. Not sure if I shd get another crumpler since mine is so old and dirty.
Week 1 complete
First week of school completed. Trying to get overdue work into the relevant ple. who have been kind enough to juz let me off with continual reminders. Been to 4E4 nd 4E3. So far OK. Managed to get some theory lessons done. I want to finish off with them so that can juz focus on the coursework. HOD room now has an extension wing. The balcony which we once use for meeting and small grp discussion has bn converted to fit more middle managers there. So we hv more ple in the room now. The SHs have moved down making more room avaliable for teachers on the 3rd floor. We used to hv problem trying to fit the trainees and the reliefs cos there is just not enough tables. Hopefully this problem is rectified. Although there are more people, conversations that are going on between cubicles still remain somewhat similar as b4. Still the same people talking loud enough for other to hear and feel that they are part of the conversation and to juz join in. Had a good first weekend for 2008. Spent time at home juz feeling relax and free. No routines. Later part of the evening headed off to JB. Singapore cars are packing the petrol kiosk. Can't blame us. The price of petrol is sky rocketing. You pay the same amt juz in different currency. So definitely cheaper across the causeway. Nevermind the jam and the long wait. Managed to get some household stuffs also. And enjoy the cheap food there. Sunday was spent at mother's hse. Probably the nephew's last visit to Punggol b4 his mum came back from Mecca. Still waiting for flight confirmation.
A New Day
2007 gone... however the memories of things that hit me still lingers. 2007 had bn an eventful year. Be it for work or family. So much happened that changed relationship between me and people around me. As I transfer all my data from 2007 diary to 2008, every month brings back memories of things that happened. My portfolio changed from SH to HOD and I recall how my scope of work suddenly changed when there was a regrouping. It is also this year that I finally completed my Degree programme. I can still remember how I struggled to balance my multiple roles of sch.ldrs, student, teacher, wife and mum not forgetting daughter. But alhamdullillah, I managed. Then there was also that once in a 'blue' moon holiday to Turkey with the whole family plus mum. I really spent a 'BOMB'. But I felt that it was worth it. I wonder if I wld ever get the opportunity to travel like such. On the other hand, things has not bn that rosy on the family front. Things happened between me and my in-laws. More unpleasant than pleasant. Naturally these events will hv its repercussion on my relationship with my dearest. After all they are his family. I hold to the belief that you can forgive but you cannot forget things that happened. Thus you learn through these experiences and you become wiser if I can say so. Your outlook in life changed especially in realtionship. As I flip through the pages of 2007 diary, there was an entry that says ' go in laws hse. FIL purposely not home'. Why? Nobody knows. All these unpleasant events. So childish and terlalu emoism. I remember feeling trapped and you juz want to get out.
Imagine you being in a cold environment that you juz sit there to fill space. So u become silent, lonely and start to be aloof. All these things that happened made me become a more cautious person. I reach a point that I dont want to give a damn. So much frustrations pent up that I am full of anger. Sarcasm became a part of my daily comments to things. Being cycnical was the new me. I was a changed person in 2007. But somehow, I toned down.. alot I shd say. Comes 2008, as I opened my msn, I wrote..A new beginning,start positive. I am determined to be POSITIVELY positive.
So I welcome 2008 with a big bang. I was at Vivo for the countdown. Not a bad show. Managed to bump into some familiar faces..ZSS students.
I start school feeling good but drained at the end of the day. I miss my 'old old students'. All the previous batches. This year 3 graduating classes. So far, the toughest lot. But I will persevere. I will try to live up to my motto: Do Not Procrastinate. Finish ASAP.
BTW: I think I want to change my blogskin. Must find time to do it.
Imagine you being in a cold environment that you juz sit there to fill space. So u become silent, lonely and start to be aloof. All these things that happened made me become a more cautious person. I reach a point that I dont want to give a damn. So much frustrations pent up that I am full of anger. Sarcasm became a part of my daily comments to things. Being cycnical was the new me. I was a changed person in 2007. But somehow, I toned down.. alot I shd say. Comes 2008, as I opened my msn, I wrote..A new beginning,start positive. I am determined to be POSITIVELY positive.
So I welcome 2008 with a big bang. I was at Vivo for the countdown. Not a bad show. Managed to bump into some familiar faces..ZSS students.
I start school feeling good but drained at the end of the day. I miss my 'old old students'. All the previous batches. This year 3 graduating classes. So far, the toughest lot. But I will persevere. I will try to live up to my motto: Do Not Procrastinate. Finish ASAP.
BTW: I think I want to change my blogskin. Must find time to do it.
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