We had staff meeting today and quite a bit of drama. There is an orientation this wknd for new students and they told us today and said it was voluntary for teachers to stay overnight. I had heard abt it last week but just told would not spend the night - there are abt 4 showers and 60 kids and i m not abt to get a sleeping bag just for this. So anyway when they announced - one new Singaporean teacher put up her hand and said that u must give advanced notice and pple already may have plans. She made a valid point but I felt for the guy who was in charge. He is local Indonesian and there is this culture here abt how to talk to people -- like when we want to tell them off esp in public have to say in nice way and all so when she questioned - the look on his face was like he had lost face - hai . Anyway our new Vp stepped in and ya it was late and he would take the blame for it . Next time we would get advance notice -
So after the meeting I spoke to the Singaporean teacher and said ya she had a valid point but the way she said could have been misconstrued. SHe was quite nice and went to joke with the local teacher to lighten the situation. Then the others and I had to do damage control with the local guy by explaining the teacher didnt mean to be rude - just was being direct.
Later was speaking to the local teachers and one person said that in the first few days after we came bk - the new Singaporean teachers seemed very direct and rude. You know the funny part? the person who made the comment is an Australian Italian - she has been here for 14 years. I dont know when I have made the transition from looking at it from a Singaporean's viewpt to a local viewpt but it certainly helps as when i want to push suggestions through - generally pple are more accepting. Singaporeans have a bit of bad rep here as we are seen as impatient and too direct and rude.