Today was a mixed day of sorts. It was a continuation of yesterday. About a week ago I had a misunderstanding with a long time friend and although the friend has since forgiven me( i think) the friendship is still a little strained. It upset me a lot thinking about it as I was afraid it is yet another one of the many close friendships I have that may end. And at my age you dont make many good friends easily. So you keep the old ones although u have drifted apart or your wavelength has changed. When a disagreement happens and you try to be honest about your feelings you only succeed in hurting another's feelings. Yet you can't bring yourself to apologize coz you feel that it is right to express that you are upset and why. So at this moment that friendship is on the line.
What happened today though helped me have faith again in friends again. Was thinking of another friend today and really wanted to talk to her but my laptop was down so couldnt go online. Just now I just got online and who do I see? its Her. And talking to her has really made me feel so much better.
A few days ago in class I was doing a passage on lilliput and my class was very lost until I read out the story to them. One kid asked if there were really little people like that. So cute. Anyway I was a little shocked to find out only one kid had heard of Gulliver's travels. I was thinking of showing them this series I had seen on TV with Ted Danson which I thought was real real good - but where do I get it ? its not even a movie.
Today I had gone to Carrefour to do my weekly marketing and just decided to chk out the dvd shop above for latest movies. Guess what was the first dvd I saw on their rack? Gulliver's Travels! I had forgotten all about it until I saw it. So now my class will get to see it. We are doing the topic on fantasy stories right now and they are supposed to act out a drama based on the story. Ooh they are so excited about it and the story outline they came out with is quite good. So i shall wait for their dramas next.
Saturday, January 31, 2004
My Bloody Valentine- All The Time In The
World
Your theme song is mellow and spirited, perfect for
a long day of relaxing. You know how to slow
down and enjoy life for what it is, without
getting stuck on the past or worrying about the
future - good for you! Sometimes people may see
you as lazy, but they'll never get the same
pleasures out of life as you do.
What's Your Theme Song?
brought to you by Quizilla
Friday, January 30, 2004
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
Term started and i dont know where 10 days have gone - almost in whoosh. From getting adjusted to a new timetable to 2 new classes to getting ready for prelims its back to running around. The Canadian in my department got fired as he didnt turn up for work for 3 days and didnt inform anybody. That created a split in views with some saying that he should be given another chance and others saying he shouldnt be. When he finally came to school it was like no big deal - he had broken off with his girlfriend and was undergoing depression so he just decided not to show up. Meanwhile there were parents on that last day of school waiting to talk to the teacher and he was nowhere!
Well anyway because of all that i got one new s2 geog class - one of the classes i taught in sec1. So when i walked in they were very happy. It was the next day that i was ambushed by another class outside the door to ask why i didnt take their class too - hai what to do - i only have so many periods.
The school has moved the teacher's room to a floor below so it was a bit chaotic with us packing and teaching at the same time. We finally moved down and I really like my place - a nice corner. Today the photocopier was moved away to the teacher's resource room and 5 min later it came back. Its one of these huge industrial type machines and they wheeled it to the other room and then realised that it couldnt go through the doorway so its here to stay at the teacher's room.
Today in class I made the class do a chinese lantern or what was supposed to be one but it turned out to be a round ball - well they enjoyed themselves so that was good. ( i think!)
I finally got to see "School of Rock". I thought it was a good film but didnt always agree with what he was doing as a teacher in the class - eg getting the kids to talk back/ That led to a debate with my husband who felt that the kids in that class had zero learning - which I disagreed with - they did learn something - some life skills like organising and coming up with a programme and stuff - but to do that in isolation was wrong.
Well anyway because of all that i got one new s2 geog class - one of the classes i taught in sec1. So when i walked in they were very happy. It was the next day that i was ambushed by another class outside the door to ask why i didnt take their class too - hai what to do - i only have so many periods.
The school has moved the teacher's room to a floor below so it was a bit chaotic with us packing and teaching at the same time. We finally moved down and I really like my place - a nice corner. Today the photocopier was moved away to the teacher's resource room and 5 min later it came back. Its one of these huge industrial type machines and they wheeled it to the other room and then realised that it couldnt go through the doorway so its here to stay at the teacher's room.
Today in class I made the class do a chinese lantern or what was supposed to be one but it turned out to be a round ball - well they enjoyed themselves so that was good. ( i think!)
I finally got to see "School of Rock". I thought it was a good film but didnt always agree with what he was doing as a teacher in the class - eg getting the kids to talk back/ That led to a debate with my husband who felt that the kids in that class had zero learning - which I disagreed with - they did learn something - some life skills like organising and coming up with a programme and stuff - but to do that in isolation was wrong.
Sunday, January 11, 2004
Well havent been blogging for a bit. Have been on holiday and really this time was real fun meeting up with pple - more on that when i have time. The photos will also take some time. Sorry to all those I promised.
Once I got back I had to to for a two and a half day workshop at a villa like place some 2 hours from Jakarta with all the staff at school. It went quite well and had oodles of fun. We went to stay in this place that’s like a huge bungalow with an adjoining hall. I expected the worst but it was ok – quite clean and comfortable beds. We had sessions on setting standards for the school and also on coming up with mission statement and core values. That was quite boring as people would get hung out the most minute of details like “what is the difference between perseverance and determination”. But the rest of the time where we spent with doing things like going for walks, staying up late to chat, playing games like taboo was fun. On the last night – we learnt a song from Irian from the others and sang it at the barbeque. We also learnt a folk dance – “poci poci” . At one time here in Jakarta it was like the Macarena. Got to learn in a group so not paiseh la. Shocked a few pple in the process though coz quite a few pple have this impression I am very serious and dull person who is not very sporting. We have some Filipino teachers and one of them is a real great dancer so we learnt a Spanish dance as well. Cool huh.
Then we wanted to go to this snacks shop and had to go in the school car. What started out as a trip for 3 became a trip for 10 as more pple wanted to come. 10 of us squeezed into the car and off we went. It was a great 2 days as we really got to hang loose before we start school tomoro.
Once I got back I had to to for a two and a half day workshop at a villa like place some 2 hours from Jakarta with all the staff at school. It went quite well and had oodles of fun. We went to stay in this place that’s like a huge bungalow with an adjoining hall. I expected the worst but it was ok – quite clean and comfortable beds. We had sessions on setting standards for the school and also on coming up with mission statement and core values. That was quite boring as people would get hung out the most minute of details like “what is the difference between perseverance and determination”. But the rest of the time where we spent with doing things like going for walks, staying up late to chat, playing games like taboo was fun. On the last night – we learnt a song from Irian from the others and sang it at the barbeque. We also learnt a folk dance – “poci poci” . At one time here in Jakarta it was like the Macarena. Got to learn in a group so not paiseh la. Shocked a few pple in the process though coz quite a few pple have this impression I am very serious and dull person who is not very sporting. We have some Filipino teachers and one of them is a real great dancer so we learnt a Spanish dance as well. Cool huh.
Then we wanted to go to this snacks shop and had to go in the school car. What started out as a trip for 3 became a trip for 10 as more pple wanted to come. 10 of us squeezed into the car and off we went. It was a great 2 days as we really got to hang loose before we start school tomoro.