Really intense!

Had my first good night's sleeps since the start of the year last night. Been up till late every night since the start of the school year. Prayer works wonders. 

Well, have harsh decisions to make in the next few months. As it is, I've already clocked up a lot of "extra-curricular activities". 

It's been terribly exciting so far.  I really wonder what else can be thrown my way this year. 

Baptism of fire

Well, that's what I was thinking this afternoon. Not by chance that another teacher said exactly the same thing to me later in the day. Got a big decision to make in the next few days; a tough one that will affect me much in the next few years. 

Hard to imagine a year ago I was preparing for practicum. Harder to imagine it was just one and a half years ago when I started my NIE training and wrote that post about rediscovering the call. Sometimes its good to read old posts, to remind yourself of your purpose in this life. 

"It's a different burden", that's what one of the Senior Teachers at TMS told those first few days. He was referring to producing all the As. But yes, reading that old post was a good reminder that it is a different burden. 

The point of difference. That was my post just as I left practicum. I wrote, "I will be praying that I will remember why I do this and that I will never lose that call to be the difference". Yeah, that's what I need to be praying about. 

I've only ever been for one AnnTIC. That was a traumatic event for me. It was the wilderness experience. I wrote that in my practicum journal, coming out from the wilderness and (literally) to the mountain top. Reading that was a good reminder as well. 

It's been a baptism of fire the past few days. There is an instinctive need in me to be different, yet there is a need to balance and temper that with tough love. Its a struggle (on both sides of the classroom) that I wish for no one. 

So Lord, open my eyes that I may see the work of Your hands. 

Strange...

It's strange how you appreciate something only when it is gone. Like how my former Form Class has suddenly changed their nicks to be so similar on MSN.

1st day...

Been warned by the more experienced teachers that your voice really needs to warm up. True enough, had a tough time projecting my voice today; totally not warmed up. Now I know why they tell me that you'd get a sore throat every time a new semester starts. 

Just came back from TRACkers opening service. Felt really refreshed myself after that. I think I must somehow try wake up at 4.30am and go cycling again. 

Happy Teachers' Day 2007

I usually dedicate a post every Teachers' Day. This year is really different, as I am actually comemorating this day as a teacher. Last year, I was still in NIE, and it wasn't exactly a fantastic one due to salary adjustment annoucement. I wasn't affected, but plenty of my collegues were. Anyway, that was last year.

Well, this year, has a been a real learning year for me. Even teachers have teachers and this post is dedicated to my coorperating teachers at Temasek Secondary School, Mrs Lim Swu Yun, Mrs Rebecca Loke and Mr Toh Wee Kwang who really helped me a lot in the first half of this year.

Back online...

Spent the last few days formatting my laptop, now it's back in a decent working condition with a few new modifications. Was acting strange and could not shut down properly, due to having about 60 different thumbdrives inserted into it within a two week period in July. Hopefully I've added another year of life into it. My other 5 year old laptop is still in working order, so I'm sure this one can last a little longer. Will format it again in a year's time.

It sure feels like school is supposed to reopen tomorrow, but in reality its Friday! So two more days of break... or rather marking.

Here's a nice shot of the whole school.


More good food!

This is the Japanese restaurant at East Coast Park. Interestingly, after living in the east for so many years (basically my whole life), I've only stepped into this place twice. The first time to meet up with my primary school mates, but I didn't eat anything then. The second time was 2 days ago, and I can foresee that that won't be the last time.

Out of this world presentation!


Out of this world portions!




Don't be fooled by the size of the bowl though. The amount of food isn't any more than other restaurants. It's just an optical illusion, but a damn good one.

tag-board replies

This is only the second time ever that I am replying tag-board entries via a full length post. I will only reply personal matters, class matters will be dealt with in class!

First of all... hi to all, thanks for visiting. I cannot change the colour of this blog as some of my reguar readers will know, there are actually a lot of hidden messages that are the same colour as the background. They will appear very prominently if I change the colour. Happy hunting if you want to read those hidden messages.

Manjing: So sorry, I don't link anyone to my blog anymore, with the exception of my church Cell Group members. Yes, I do have an expensive guitar. I literally starved to get it. Maybe I should get some more often!

Maggie: Yup, it is photoshop. I learnt how to use it in NS.

To the 1A students: Asked and answered in class.

To everyone else: Thanks for visting! Do give me some time to warm up and yes, I do enjoy teaching all of you!

So it begins...

Been waiting for tomorrow for quite a while now. Don't feel as much apprehension as one year ago when I reported to Temasek. Last year, I really did not know what to expect. This year is different, I'm not reporting entirely fresh, but no doubt inexperienced. Well, let the Lord show His way. The journey really begins.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honour him. - John 12 :24-26

Ignition!

The last few days of camp were great! Actually they were fantastic! A lot more uplifting than the NIE courses and lectures I had to attend during the camp! But anyway... (to quote Nat) if I were younger I would devote a whole post to the camp. But no... this is not a camp post... it is instead about the future! Truly... today was Ignition... because I reported to Anglican High for duty.

Well, finally got to see how to school looks like (on the inside anyway), the hill isn't THAT bad... can definitely walk up the slope much less cycle up the slope. Have yet to receive my timetable yet... all I know is that I will most likely be teaching lower secondary Mathematics AND English. So, Lydia, Gloria and Kelyn and my former students at TMS... please don't ask me who or what class I am teaching... I really don't know!!!!! All I know is that it will be *INTENSE* ...

A week ago, met up with some of my NIECF friends and I knew that there was no respite for me all the way till September at least. Since January, I've been busy, NIE course, followed by practicum, followed by induction programme and this week is burnt. So no holidays for me. My prayer last week was for Spiritual Rest during the camp. I knew I won't be able to sleep much, but yes, I have found some Spiritual rest and feel ignited to last the next few months!

Well... today is certainly the beginning, the ignition of a (hopefully) long career. My prayer is still the same as before I entered NIE and one that is more relevant especially after the camp.