Happy Teacher's Day

To all my teacher-friends

I salute you for you are one who continue the fight to bring light to the children's heart

Teaching is a wonderful profession with a huge meaning

I realised it when I left

Happy Teacher's Day

THE CREATION OF THE TEACHER

Author Unknown

The Good Lord was creating teachers. It was His sixth day of 'overtime' and He knew that this was a tremendous responsibility for teachers would touch the lives of so many impressionable young children.

An angel appeared to Him and said, "You are taking a long time to figure this one out."

"Yes," said the Lord, " but have you read the specs on this order?"

TEACHER:

…must stand above all students, yet be on their level

... must be able to do 180 things not connected with the subject being taught

... must run on coffee and leftovers,

... must communicate vital knowledge to all students daily and be right most of the time

... must have more time for others than for herself/himself

... must have a smile that can endure through pay cuts, problematic children, and worried parents

... must go on teaching when parents question every move and others are not supportive

... must have 6 pair of hands.

"Six pair of hands, " said the angel, "that's impossible"

"Well, " said the Lord, " it is not the hands that are the problem. It is the three pairs of eyes that are presenting the most difficulty!"

The angel looked incredulous, " Three pairs of eyes...on a standard model?"

The Lord nodded His head, " One pair can see a student for what he is and not what others have labeled him as. Another pair of eyes is in the back of the teacher's head to see what should not be seen, but what must be known. The eyes in the front are only to look at the child as he/she 'acts out' in order to reflect, " I understand and I still believe in you", without so much as saying a word to the child."

"Lord, " said the angel, " this is a very large project and I think you should work on it tomorrow".

"I can't," said the Lord, " for I have come very close to creating something much like Myself. I have one that comes to work when he/she is sick.....teaches a class of children that do not want to learn....has a special place in his/her heart for children who are not his/her own.....understands the struggles of those who have difficulty....never takes the students for granted..."

The angel looked closely at the model the Lord was creating."It is too soft-hearted, " said the angel.

"Yes," said the Lord, " but also tough, You can not imagine what this teacher can endure or do, if necessary".

"Can this teacher think?" asked the angel."Not only think," said the Lord,. "but reason and compromise."

The angel came closer to have a better look at the model and ran his finger over the teacher's cheek.

"Well, Lord, " said the angel, your job looks fine but there is a leak. I told you that you were putting too much into this model. You can not imagine the stress that will be placed upon the teacher."

The Lord moved in closer and lifted the drop of moisture from the teacher's cheek. It shone and glistened in the light.

"It is not a leak," He said, "It is a tear."

"A tear? What is that?" asked the angel, "What is a tear for?"

The Lord replied with great thought, " It is for the joy and pride of seeing a child accomplish even the smallest task. It is for the loneliness of children who have a hard time to fit in and it is for compassion for the feelings of their parents. It comes from the pain of not being able to reach some children and the disappointment those children feel in themselves. It comes often when a teacher has been with a class for a year and must say good-bye to those students and get ready to welcome a new class."

"My, " said the angel, " The tear thing is a great idea...You are a genius!!"

The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."

Psalms 56:8 (NASB)

My man and we

He is a small build guy, who is tanned and skinny. His initial is TPK, which explains why my email address is tpktpl (please say you know what tpl is...) He is of average height, under 1.7 m (I think) and to some people, you may think that he is short.. I once asked him this question but he replied to say, "When you lean over, the height is just nice, it is more comfortable for you." And we were strolling along the East Coast beach at night :)

Correction - TPK says he is 1.72m.. he is angry when I say he is 1.70m.. for the man's ego, please 'delete' the previous information...

We did not started the usual way that many people do... in fact, before we got together as an item, we had exchanged less than ten sentences face-to-face, never gone out together except for a lunch which a mutual friend arranged. We dated online, via icq and then moved on to msn. He was in UK doing his student exchange programme while I was in Singapore studying for my last exam in NUS.. We were separated by almost 12 h and I would always informed him of how lovely the moon looked like and he would go and see the same moon 12 h later at his side. Because it is expensive to talk via IDD call, I had to scout around for the most worth it IDD calling card, $20 for 300min and this card couldn't be found at most money-changer.. I first found it at Clementi Town Centre and I had to take almost 1.5h to go and buy the card. Luckily, I managed to find another money-changer in Chinatown which sold the same card and the journey took 40min.

We would talk on the phone when the situation permits, ie when I have the card because it is free incoming calls for him at his UK hostel. He could call over but it will be very expensive because one pound is about S$3.00. But when we talked, it will be really late in sg time and it will be really early at his side, just before he go for his morning lectures.

I remembered there was one night when I had a really bad nightmare and I smsed him in the middle of the night. He called and asked me if I was ok and I was so touched... I could feel his concern even through the phone.. that was the first few sweetest things he did...

Then he would sms me every night before he go to sleep so that when I opened my eyes, the first thing I see would be his sms greeting me. They lit up the morning in a bright sunshine way and taking the 50min bus ride to NUS on bus 10 seemed such an enjoyable experience everyday.

When he went around touring in UK, looking for all the Hard Rock Cafes, I would stay by my Nokia 8210 and jumped whenever the sms came in. Because, I told him, your sms is the only way I can be sure you are still safe at the other side of the world. He was travelling isn't it so he had no access to Internet and so no communications at all. I had heard of so many stories of road accidents and I was worried that something will happen to him.

So throughout our 3 months (I think so) of sms dating, when he came back to Singapore, his phone bill was a whopping S$800-900. Haha. But not bad la, he won over a sweet and caring gf, who is yours sincerely... :D

So for the past 4 years, we communicated via sms and msn more than over phone. We don't call each other unless it is really urgent. But, we will always sms each other.

He is a down-to-earth man, very disciplined and very hardworking. In front of me and his sister, he is like a small boy who will 'teh' to us. In front of his mother, he is fierce. In front of his friends, he is a joyful and spontaneous person. Because he belongs to the 'permanent head damage' club (PhD), sometimes he talked to his friends about politics and other highly intellectual topics. But he will still be sweet and make sure that I don't feel bored occasionally by turning and looking at me ;)

He may seemed dull but I know I am really fortunate that he is mine. Of course there are times when I really hate him to the core but most of the time, I still love him.. Haha..

He had a female friend who was bullied by her bf's friends and she called and cried to him. He was so angry with that bf. I asked him what if his friends bullied me too. He said he will protect me and scold them for me... ;)

He brought light sticks once when we went for a holiday. When I came out of shower, I saw the words 'I love U' on the floor, formed by the light sticks...

We even sat in the car, eating Mac nuggets and fries while we watched the rain poured outside at the West Coast MacDonald car park...

There was once when he had to brake his car because of the red light at the traffic camera junction. Due to inertia, I jerked forward and he used his hand to break my jerk. He turned and said sorry... Such a simple gesture, but I was so moved, because I knew he will protect me.

Whenever he drives me home, I will turn and look at him occasionally. Funny, even if it is just a small tilt of my head, he will be able to detect and he will make a funny face at me. He will change to another funny face when I turned over a second time, a third or even a forth... If I sat the the back of the car when his mother is in the front passenger seat, we will steal occasional glances at each other too. Haha.

Last year's Christmas Eve, we were in Orchard with my family. There were many people and with a twist of time and place, we ended up in bus 36. There was the unmistaken jam in Orchard but the bus was empty, only with the few of us plus less than three other people. When the clock struck 12midnight, we saw the cheering from the party crowds outside and inside the bus, it was a peaceful Christmas. We kissed and said Merry Christmas and really, there aren't any better Christmas than last year's. Peaceful and heart-warming, with your loved ones just beside you...

Of course, not to mention, we are the happy parents to many animals. From Phant Phant, Nessie, Hardy, Giraffe, Ah-Bian, Baby, Mao Mao, Xiao Pang, Xiao Fei, Eeyore, Monkey to Xiao Ding Dang, Ding Ding, Dang Dang, Xiao Fei Fei, Da Tou, another Giraffe, Washy, Monty, Smiley, Ohoh, Xiao Mao, Xiao Fen, Nemo. They are taking up so much space on our beds that we are really fighting for space! He even said he wants to build a house for all animals to stay in next time we have a house =.=! speechless!! Our smses are also in animal language... normal people won't understand our lingo ;)

Sometimes, even though we had spent the weekend together, I will still not bear to see him go home. Somehow, time is never enough being with him. Why?

Maybe then that is what people call love.......

To those who are in love, we are the fortunate ones. Cherish our partner and create fond and heart warming memories together. Small gestures and words may look and sound silly at that split second, but when looked from a different perspective, it is another way of him/her telling you he/she loves you and cares about you.

To those who are still looking for love, love comes knocking on your door at weird timing and way. God never leaves out anyone.

Disappointment is an understatement

Sigh............

It is my 4th driving lesson today and for the first time ever since I started driving, I felt disappointed in my performance.

Strictly speaking, this is the second time I felt disappointed with myself in two days.

The first was yesterday. I had a training session which ended around 1130am. 15 minutes later, I arranged to have lunch with Bao Bei. When I put down the phone, CL gave me a piece of work and said he wanted it ready by 3pm. 'But it is almost lunch time and we have a meeting at 2pm. Do I have to go for that meeting?" I asked. He replied,"Yes, you have to be there so that you will understand what is going to happen. Get this done by 2pm then."

Big SIGH... He stole away my precious lunchtime with my Bao Bei and nonchalently said the work can be done very fast. As if lor! You are not the one doing it, of course you will say that it can be done very fast. He instructed me of how to do the work and seriously, I do not know if it is because I did not take the initiative to see the macro view of the project we are doing or is it his fault that he is mixing up me and my colleague's role again. Come on, whatever he told me to do wasn't my scope at all and he told me to do what my colleague was supposed to do!! Then he said, "You must learn to learn things fast." Wa. First blow. I was already trying very hard to put together what he wanted me to do, considering the fact that that was the first time that I set eyes on the document.

In the end, I did not have lunch until 7pm. Did not finished the work too. And, I took it home to do.

Today. 4th driving lesson. The car's engine died 4 times. My instructor said we will drive to Changi but in the end, I drove around Kebangan and Eunos. When there was no car, I could drive the car quite well but when the traffic increased, I panicked. Really panicked. My feet couldn't follow the instructions from the instructor. It started when we were driving in those small lanes in Kebangan. There was this car approaching mine and I thought I was supposed to stop at the side and let it go pass me (we were in a two lanes road outside a row of bungalows and cars were parked along one side so that leaves one lane for two directions of cars to drive past).

Instructor told me to accelerate because he predicted that the approaching car would stop for me to pass. Bastard driver thought that me, L-plate driver, should stop and let him pass. So, in the end, two cars stuck face to face on a single lane. Never mind, we gave in and so I had to reverse the car. Simi another BMW car suddenly appeared and came closer to my car. Imagine, front and back, there were cars... Naturally I panicked. Simi clutch, stop, accelerator, brake, I don't understand and couldn't undertand and simply couldn't follow. Instructor kept on reassured me that it is ok, "Relax. Do it slowly, I am here to help you."

BUT I REALLY COULDN'T FOLLOW WHAT HE SAID.

It got worse when my car suddenly vibrated so violently. O no, O dear.. I don't know what I did wrong, the car wasn't supposed to vibrate at all! What's wrong? Then, the car died! Recall: I am still between two cars, one in front and one at the rear.

Finally, we managed to get out of the mess when he helped me to drive and flee into another lane. Close shave, I couldn't recall what I did during those less than 5 minutes span of time. REALLY. It is like a loss of memory. I can't remember what I did...

We did not drive to Changi. Disappointed.

Then when we were approaching Eunos MRT, the car died the last time again. And this time, when I re-start the engine, I forgot to press the clutch down and the car wasn't reacting the correct way again. Panicked again because there were so many cars around me and I was in the bus lane, and so close to my destination.

Then when I was driving into the car-park, the car almost went up the kerb because I did not turn the steering wheel back in time. SIGH again...

AH!

This is a totally disappointing day!!!!!!!!! Big blow to my ego.

Before I went off, my instructor told me to go home and practise and observe how other people drive. I have been doing that lor... I always look at how Bao Bei drive but he is always so reckless. Then when I asked him why he drive in that way, he won't explain to me in the gentle way, always in that stern voice. I don't like it when he talked to me in a stern tone. I did looked at how my father drive but his car is auto not manual car..

Whatever, anything... I am just so disappointed with myself.

Blackout!

I walked into the office with a full bag of caution. As I dragged my feet closer to the entrance of the office, I tip-toed to steal a peek of whether my boss had come into office.

BIG SIGH!!!! Because he had reported for work earlier than me!!!!!!!

I pretended not to see him in the office although his door is less than 5 steps from my work-desk. I quietly went to the pantry to get my flask of water and again, dreaded the moment that I had to officially start my Monday.

Why must I be so quiet leh????

Because, my boss kinda scolded me over the email during the weekend. BUT, whatever he mentioned in the email wasn't directed at me. I hope he remembered that the mistake he mentioned wasn't done by me but my colleague. I was so good-hearted that I offered to send the email on her behalf because all of us were rushing home last Friday. WA LAU! ALL of them packed their bags so much last Friday lor!!!As if there was fire in the office and they were rushing for their lives... =.=! Left me in the office to pick up the ends, frantically packing up and also praying ultra hard that boss won't finish his meeting so fast.. Luckily, I dashed out before he walked in ah!!!!!!

Anyway, I was scared that I would be scolded by him. Actually, he won't scold.. Remember I said he said he hates to work with stupid people?? I hate people to doubt my intelligence, that is why I tried very hard to make myself work smart andraise smart questions. So stressed leh! More stressed than teaching with Mr J in the classroom.

Mmm.. I used all my cute charm (lol :D) and took great care when I walked into his office. Heng ah! He asked me if I want him to be nice or be angry. Of course nice right? Because it is Monday today hehe :p That was what I told him, hohoho.. I even told him to take a deep breadth and calm down before he start to 'shoot me down'. I can't believe I actually did that! Like not serious right? But, well.. I don't know what came over me.

In the end, I succeeded asking questions which he couldn't answer! Does that mean I am smart finally? Wink wink. I was really blunt, but who cares? He said words are cheap, and things can change every minute. I think he gave up in the end. And, I supposed we had been working on this irritating project for the past I don't know how many weeks, and he could be really tired of always back to square one when he thought we are approaching the end of the project. So, he said he will make the changes himself because it is faster that way rather than he explained to me what to do. Hmp.

I spent the rest of the day helping my colleague (the one who got scolded in the email on Saturday) check her work. Phew. I managed to finish it just before 5.30pm, otherwise it is dumb to stay back on the 1st day of 7th Lunar month to do some really dumb work.

Did I say that half way through the afternoon, my office went black-out? The first word that I uttered, "WIN!"

Luckily I wasn't making amendment on the PC, luckily I wasn't writing email, luckily I wasn't preparing any report... because who would constantly save their work??? I can't imagine what went through my boss' mind when the office had the black-out. He MUST be making the changes in the shared drive and I bet he did not save any work.

The office went to a standstill because practically all of them are dependent on the internet.

Seen Die Hard 4?

What if really one fine day, the internet would to be down? With so many of us all linked up by technology, how will your life be affected by a day without technology?

Anyway, ALL of us dashed off home at 5.30pm sharp again today. We had to leave the office because boss comes back from his meeting otherwise, we can't go home on time...