Si Nian

Si nian shi yi zhong hen xuan de dong xi
ru ying, sui xing . . .

This is one of my favourite songs by Faye Wong.
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Last Thursday, 2 of my girls from Xinghua came to Fernvale to visit me. I was so looking forward to their visit the whole day, and when I finally saw them, I was really very happy.

As mentioned earlier in my previous blog, I really miss my pupils. Cerella's batch graduated in 2002, and the group of them still visit me (until last year, dunno about this year). 6A1 is my second batch of graduates, and those 2 years I had with my 5A1 and 6A1 are really very dear to me. No language is this world is powerful enough to express what I feel for them.

The little chat we had brought back a flood of memories. I suppose good old days will always remain as good old days.

Missing someone is a magical feeling
Like a shadow, it follows you around . . .

A Little Kindness

I went on a trip to Korea in Dec last year. In our tour group, there was a family of four with 2 young kids. Sometime during the second last day, the younger boy fell ill. His parents were worried sick as they suspected that it was fever, but couldn't be certain as they didn't have a thermometer with them. I had one with me then (I always make it a point to bring one, esp after SARS) and offered it to them. The parents were grateful.

The family extended their stay (it was pre-planned) and so we came back to Singapore without them. They still needed the thermometer as the elder girl also fell ill. I told them that it was okay and insisted that they keep the thermometer.

Today, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a card from the mother, saying thank you for the loan of the thermometer. It really made me very happy, not because I was thanked, but because others have benefitted from a little help from me. It's a very good feeling to enjoy.

A little kindness does go a long way.

Adjustment

I've got lots to adjust to.

1: New working environment.
2: New set of colleagues.
3. New responsibilities.
4. New expectations.
5. New batch of kids.
6. New things to learn.
7. New textbooks, new syllabus.
8. New way of doing things.

I shall stop listing.

You know, my strength is also my weakness. I have high expectations of myself, and in the process of doing so, I sometimes (okay, all of the times) inflict stress on myself. Yes, the verb I used is INFLICT.

Last week, being first week of school, I felt a bit stressed. I blame it on PMS.
This week, second week, I felt more stressed. I think it must be PMS too.
One is pre, the other one is post.

Haha, there's no end to it.

I wish I can take things easy. Someone teach me how!

Ong Kye Ting

This is Kye Ting from Pr 1-4 of Fernvale Primary. She has down syndrome, but she amazes me with her optimism and zest for life. She is a living example of a celebration of life. Whenever I see her, I think of Jessica Lee En Jie of Xinghua Primary. Although Jessica is not down, I see a lot of resemblance between the 2 of them. Jessica would have been 14 if she is still alive. She will always live in my heart.
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A Silent Prayer

Let those who have lost their homes, rebuild their homes.
Let those who have perished, rest in peace.
Let those who are lost out there, find their way home.
Let those who have lost their loved ones, be comforted.
Let the sick, be healed.
Let the hungry, be fed.
Let the underpriviledged, be blessed.
Let the weak, find strength.
Let the world, find peace.
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A new virus found its way across continents, and took many lives.
Nicoll Highway collapsed, and killed many heroes.
Earth became angry, and blew its top.
Huge amounts of water poured onto our lands.
More people died.
Besides following the news and watching the death toll escalate, there's really nothing I can do to help.
I donate whatever I can.
With a saddened heart, I say a silent prayer.

First Day of School

Last night, hubby and I were so "excited" (a mixture of nervousness and some other weird feelings that I can't put my finger on) that we actually couldn't sleep. SERIOUS! I mean, we are not first timers, and yet, we still have to go through this pre-school jittery stuff. We vowed to go to bed at 11pm but only climbed under the blankets at 12.30am. Plus all the couldn't sleep nonsense, managed to reach slumberland at perhaps 2 plus?

Just when we just fell asleep, the alarm clock had to ring.

The whole day in school went pretty well. 200 odd students can't be too difficult to handle. I'm pleasantly surprised to see our AM, AE and even TA hanging around the canteen and hall to supervise and help out. This is something that I have not observed in my previous school. Because we are small, everyone just falls into place like a nice family. I think it's a good start.

I went into my P3 class for an hour and did some talking with them. I allowed 10 free and easy questions, and the questions that they asked were quite strange. "What's your favourite colour?" "What food do you like to eat?", just to name 2. I wonder how such info will help them. I forgot. They are barely 9 years old. If I allow my 6A1 to ask F&E questions, my goodness, God knows how many secrets I have to spill!

I wonder how my 6A1 class is now. Wonder how their first day at school had been. I miss them. Xinghua 6A1 2004, if you are reading this, HI!!!!!!!!!!!

It will take some time before I fall in love with my 3-1, but I will, as I always do. The girls are actually quite sweet. Some boys are quite restless. I have a pair of twins! I love twins. Wonder if I can have twins of my own in future to make up for ....

Ended the session in class with a song "If You Are Happy". I had fun.

Okay. New year. New Class.

Gan Batte Kudasai!!!