1.5 post teaching

Hello there!

How have you all been doing? =) I hope everyone is doing well!
Today I just don't feel like doing anything about school and students (marking/preparing material/studying)!
So I decided to update this journal!

It's been around 1.5 months after I officially started working! So far so good! The senior teachers are very knowledgeable, approachable and friendly! Colleagues are very genuine and nice (true friends material!) and the students are simply adorable! :)

I just love their attitude! how they judge a person based on personality rather than ability to do something. Well, maybe I assumed too quickly, but how could you make a teacher your favorite, when the teacher did not do an awesome job in teaching? I didn't believe it as well! If I were in the student's position, I would have lost my respect straight away, and judged him/her as a bad teacher. But these students, most of them I would say, don't judge like that.

http://lowres.jantoo.com/training-education-insulting-rudeness-naughty-bad_behaviour-insult-16434572_low.jpg

I could confirm this simply because I was the 'bad' teacher! It happened during my first few days when I had to take over several tutorial classes on my own. I couldn't even remember basic/simple matrices principles as I had not revised the material! I felt so embarrassed and super bad as I hate being an unreliable teacher! (cuz I hate having one too!) I thought to myself that they must have disliked me! Ugh!

http://www.mi2f.com/m/algebra/images/matrix-inverse-2x2.gif

But to my surprise, they don't.
We are learning together instead. =)

It's so beautiful how they don't see me just as a teacher, but as a complete human-being.
They care about my feelings. We don't just talk about the school subjects, but other stuff too, music, places where we came from, pets, relationship, future plan, jokes, mistakes, etc.
Some of them are just so friendly that they hug me every time they see me.
How beautiful! =)

When I think back, I felt like a horrible human being, overlooking weak teachers without knowing all their potential and power! Ugh, I was horrible! I'm sorry! u_u

Right! For the updates, now I'm taking Maths Intensive Class, teaching primary 6 students once a week for 7 weeks! It's pretty fun! will talk about it in the next post! =)

Good night, people!
May you be well and happy always!

PS. Thank you students, for your patience for all great teachers in the making,
      Thank you for your positive attitude towards imperfections!
      You all are so lovely!

http://www.interestingfactss.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/flower-meadow-20392-20902-hd-wallpapers.jpg

My turn to savour my last weekend... jobless!

Yay! The visa has finally been 1 step away from being ready! yoohoo! I'm gonna teach soon!
It's a mixed feeling between exciting and frightening.

It is exciting because I'm gonna see the students! the kids! ahhh, and make new friends! =) Isn't it wonderful knowing that you take part in building a person's personality and skills? especially in their young age, when guidance is really necessary. Oh! I just can't wait to start! =D I hope I can be their friend and teacher at the same time! =)

However another part of me is frightened. Well, a lot of challenges are foreseen.
First and foremost challenge is waking up early, and sleeping early everyday. It is a challenge for a night owl like me! I can't afford to be late now! >.<

Next challenge will be commuting to school. I need to build up my arms strength to carry myself up through a wall hurdle on our way! For now, I'm still counting on bf to help me up! Haha! xD By the end of the year, I shall have no problem in push ups! yay! Hahaha!

And most of all is the students themselves.
Are they gonna like me?
Will they understand what I'm gonna teach?
Will they find my teaching method interesting?
Will they even listen to me?
What if I can't control the class?
...
...
... and it goes on and on...
Well, I'm about to find out!
I heard that the students here are more 'difficult' to handle than those in government/chinese school, but somehow I have a good feeling about this! Well, let's keep it this way! =)
I shall do my best to guide them, my children! =)

This mixed feeling reminds me of a song titled "I have Confidence" from The Sound of Music. Maria (Julie Andrews) sang this when she was on her way to Von Trapp family's residence. She is going to be a nanny for the captain's 7 children who are notorious for being so 'difficult' to handle. Enjoy this song, sang by the gorgeous Sierra Boggess!

Lyrics:
What will this day be like? I wonder.
What will my future be? I wonder.
It could be so exciting to be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure
To do the things I've never dared
And here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared

A captain with seven children
What's so fearsome about that?

Oh, I must stop these doubts, all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack

The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I'm worthy
And while I show them 
I'll show me

So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best!!!
I have confidence they'll put me to the test
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me

And mind me with each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn't lie in numbers
Strength doesn't lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up -- WAKE UP!

It tells me all I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone
(Oh help!)

I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see I have confidence in me!

Happy singing! =)

Sex: two sides of a coin

Hello everyone! How are you doing?

I hope I start working soon! I feel so unworthy when I don't do any work! :)
Anyway, me and my friend are preparing aerobic dance for charity this saturday to help raise awareness for children with learning disabilities. Wheeee, I'm so happy being involved in doing good things! :) It's 3.25 pm now, in about half an hour, bf will come back from work! Yay, I'm so happy to see him. :)

Okay, I just spent a good 2 hours to surf the internet and find out that it is scary how sex can be heavenly beautiful on one hand, and can be disastrously immorally ugly on the other hand. You might wonder why I suddenly bring up this topic. Well, growing up in a conservative asian culture, I have a very poor knowledge about sex. Believe it or not, the more you hide something from a kid, the more he will try to find out, and so I slowly find out about this through reading, movies that I come accross, internet, and other improper learning media without guidance.

At my age (yeah, not so young anymore), I'm lucky enough that I can judge wiser than kids or teens far younger than me. Imagine, if I was much younger and naive, and I was exposed to these kinds of things without any guidance of sex education from school or parents, it would be such a dangerous thing!

In my country, well during my time, students are not equipped with any sex education besides a unit from biology called Reproductive System. That is sad.

Male and Female Reproductive System for kids
http://edjudo.com/wordpress_livedec10/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/kidshealth.jpg

Well lucky thing for me that I took Pharmacy which educated me with hell lots of sexual health. I still remember I was in 2nd year that time and I asked a friend of mine how intercourse could have possibly happened even a male and a female stay so close to each other. I have no idea that penis will erect, go up, and so be able to penetrate the vagina. -.-

Well, my point is sex ed is important! I can see my friends who are taught proper sex education before are more well-informed about it. And what's important is that they know about safe sex, the consequences of unhealthy sex and I can see that they are more capable in filtering the information about it from media.

Just to share with you what I found today from my superficial search in internet about sex. Sex can be heavenly beautiful when it is done by two people in love, well described by poetic narration, romantic lyrics, beautiful love scene from movies. However, it can also be very immoral! It is shown by rape, any type of rape, anything that is done without consent. This thing makes me wanna puke! How horrible human can be! It is really heart wrenching and breaking knowing that rape is happening at other side of the world.
My heart goes to all rape victims. I pray that this thing shall stop. :(

:(
:(
:(

Ah, I'm so sad right now.
It's 4.40pm! I got a go!

Breathe in the positivity!

I won't give up!

Dear bloggers,

I know I will start working soon, and a lot of things need adjustment quite a little or much. And I think the most difficult challenge I will am facing is to change my sleeping pattern.

I don't know about other people, but these days well almost 2 months, the amount of sleep I need to fully charge myself is 10 hours. 10! TEN! or the least amount I need so that I could operate without feeling fatigue is 8 hours! Okay then, let's settle with 8 hours.

Strategies:
1. Lights off 11pm, wake up 7am.
2. Conserve energy, wear comfy clothes and footwear cuz u will be walking for roughly 1 hour a day.
3. When feeling tired, stretch instead of napping.
4. Strictly no instagram, facebook, browsing 10 pm onwards.
5. A cup of coffee if needed or small nap on couch.
6. Be prepared: Read Physics book - Target: finish by mid August.
7. Plan-Write-DON'T waste your TIME worrying - worrying promotes wakefulness!
8. Be POSITIVE, have a Growth mindset, instead of a Fixed mindset.

Yes! That's about it! Let's do this! =)))))

Let's go!

Cancer kills...fast

I have always known that life is short,

I have always acknowledged that life is short,

I have always realized that life is short,

here... *pointing to my head*

But, it has never struck me really hard,

here... *pointing to my beating heart*

until I have seen death myself in front of my eyes

of dear ones,

of friends,

of relatives,

of ancestors,

or maybe one day of myself...

~11th June 2014

I saw my mom's friend suffered and fought from ovarian cancer.

It was really a heartbreaking scene to see friends saying goodbye and talking for the last time.

There were so much tears, regrets, and sacrifice.

Today, the brave friend passed away.

We all prayed may she be free from her sufferings and may she rest in peace.

How cancer kills, and it kills F.A.S.T from the point one starts to 'feel' sick.

It's just within months the last time she 'looked' healthy.

So please, do not underestimate cancer, treat it F.A.S.T, from the first sign and symptoms of it.

Do NOT wait until you feel significantly sick.

It can be cured, though I have witnessed deaths from cancer, I have witnessed survivors too.

Don't give up! and T.I.M.E is really a big factor, treat it as soon as possible.

The same prayers go to our former maid who passed away due to breast cancer.

It's such a shame that she did not take any action or tell anybody about it until it causes her great discomfort.

When she's finally wanted to take the treatment after so many advice and pestering, it was too late.

Dear friends,

Let's create awareness that cancer needs a proper and timely treatment.

DO NOT WAIT until you feel really sick, TREAT it NOW!

May all cancer victims who had fought bravely rest in peace.

May all cancer fighters stay positive and be healthy.

Dee

Things to do while awaiting for visa

I have more or less around 2 months before my visa application will be approved. In the mean time there are so many things I can do!

The best of all, I can have enough amount of sleep EVERY DAY! How awesome it is! If you don't think so, sure you will understand once you start working, especially if you are a night owl like me! Haha!

Night Owl
(http://callyjanestudio.blogspot.com/2012/09/night-owls.html)

I'm trying my very very best to fix my biological clock. I wish to wake up at 7 am so that I can get ready for class at 8.30am. I can't be late anymore since I am the teacher this time! aaaargghh! and my best record until now is still 10am T.T ughhh this sucks! Keep calm, we still have 1.5 months to change this! I CAN DO THIS! Do you have any tips to be an early bird? Share with me! ;)

Besides sleeping, here are several things I'm currently on while waiting for the visa to get approved,

1. Being a part-time English teacher. I think it is a good idea to brush up my English and teaching skill before I get to my real long term classes.
2. Being a part-time cashier. I'm helping my mom to replace the cashier working for us so that he can take some rest. I quite enjoy it, the colleagues are nice, like family! I laugh a lot with these people!
3. Blogging. I shall write again to brush up my language and communication skills, and especially English! Oh gosh, It deteriorates so much from the first time I start uni I guess! *face palm
4. Stretching, stretching, and stretching my legs! I challenge myself to be able to split, be it middle split or side splits.
5. Dancing, stretching my back u-uh, can't do, I have back injury which has not recovered fully T.T
6. Knitting. I never knew that my mom knit! and she knits well! I asked her to teach me yesterday, it's pretty fun though my left hand cramped a little because I was not used to it!
7. Cooking. I failed once, twice. >.< I shall try again!
8. Preparing my teaching aids and materials. All my secondary notebooks (my precious) had been recycled when my sis was about to get married. So I have to re-do again! and maybe try a different approach.
9. Catching up with some friends in this town.
10. Dresses hunting. I'm currently checking on prices of dresses to be sent to my friends.
11. Present hunting. A friend of mine will celebrate her birthday soon! I shall prepare something for her! ^^
12. Pharmacist? I just got a phone call from a friend who is working in a hospital in town to help out with the pharmacy department, but not sure yet

Wow, I didn't see that I have a lot of things to do until I had listed it! Good luck!
This shall be my motivation to wake up early in the morning!
Got to wake up, night owl!

Let's end this post with the quote of the day below.

Special thanks to Alex who lent me this precious Life's Little Instruction Book!

Wishing you a great weekend ahead! and for Monashians, happy swot vac! =)

Dee

A New Beginning

Hello everyone! Do you like the new template of this blog?
Honestly, I'm not a fan of pink colour, but I thought of trying something new! So I just pick any colour that makes me happy and pink it is! (shockingly!)

As the title suggests, it is a new beginning of my life. For the past 4.5 years, I had been preparing myself to be a great pharmacist! But due to complication issues that I have with pursuing this ambition, I decided to let it go. Well, it is not easy to begin with, I cried a lot, A LOT!, I became bitter about this pharmacy field, about the people, the institutions, about the rules and everything. It is not a nice thing. I can go on and on...

...but, it is history...

I'm proud to say that I can make peace within myself, and let go. Something stroke me and "BANG! hey, it is not so bad after all!" Besides, it gives me a chance to be whatever I wanna be rather than constricting myself to only 1 field. And tell you, I have so many dreams, m.a.n.y. d.r.e.a.m.s! so Horrayy! It's time for me to pursue those dreams!

Through a lot of good testimonials and recommendations, I applied for a job to this company. I'm soooo happy that I am accepted, as teacher! ^^ and so my journey as a young teacher shall begin!
Now I'm waiting for my visa to be granted. Wish me luck! =)
I'm soooo excited! In my head, I can imagine myself with the students. The first words that I will be speaking to my first batch of students keep repeating in my head. Though it is not very clear, It sounds so real in my head! Haha! (crazy!)

People say you shall start teaching and you will realize it is not as exciting as you are thinking now. Haha, maybe it is true, but it doesn't hurt to feel this joy and excitement! heeeee! =D

Anyway, I'm so excited for this new beginning! and I couldn't be more happier that my family and friends are happy for me too! =') Thank you for always be beside me no matter what!

I will not totally delete Pharmacy from my life, after all it has played a part to shape me as who I am today, and it makes me more aware about medicines in general! (Very important! Drugs can kill you if you are not careful!) I will still share with you my experience and inspiring stories about pharmacy world! So juniors and fellow friends who are soon becoming pre-registered pharmacists, let's keep sharing our stories! =) Though now I have moved on to other profession, I will treasure this precious knowledge that I learned. =)

With this, I welcome myself back to A B C Dee! A journal of a (soon-to-be) young teacher! =)