about the camp

Obviously, there wasn't any internet connection at the resort and there wasn't television too. I'm not complaining for at least that put us closer to nature and less reliant on technological conveniences and comfort. It's supposed to be called Rainforest Resort, so it's a pretty good excuse to exclude television from the list of resort room features. Ha ha..well at least there were powerpoints and a proper shower head.

I slept better there. Probably much earlier than the time I would sleep back home. I guess the beds and air conditioner helped quite a bit. There wasn't MSN to keep me awake too. Really quite a refreshing change from my nightly routine. I had long forgotten how sleeping and waking up early felt. However, now that I'm back in Singapore, I probably sleep late anyways.

Let's all not forget that I was there on a secondary 2 level camp, so the focus generally was on the sec 2s and not on how I enjoyed my escape from the city. I don't feel like elaborating on the details of the events or activities, mainly because I'm lazy and I don't want to bore you repeatedly on how this activity and that is a fantastic way to improve teamwork or simply overcome your fear of heights and building confidence blah blah.

Let's just say I was always constantly reminded of my own level camps back then, which I wasn't too pleased of and didn't particularly enjoy. I wasn't exactly the most outgoing kid and lacked quite a bit of self faith and overloading on cowardice. Being slightly pudgy didn't help things one bit. It wasn't really fun being me when you were in camps like these, which required huge doses of enthusiasm and some really thick skin sometimes.

Well, I was probably brimming with 'nostalgia' when the group I was in charge of attempted to carry me through a huge tyre and I guess that was the closest I could get to reliving the good ol' days. And I wasn't too happy about that either because they said I was heavy. Bah. Yeah, I'm sour. Haha.

The highest point of the camp was probably I going down to the lake for kayaking. Yep, paddling in a long, red kayak around a large, circular lake in circles, intentionally and unintentionally. I insist I was in control most of the time and my lowly 1 star badge in kayaking at least helped me stay afloat while I fiddled around with the paddle in a noobish fashion. Other times, I was just 'using the force' and ended up crashing into the sides a couple of times. Luckily I didn't capsize which would be extremely embarrasing. I also have a fear of capsizing, having broken the capsizing record when I was taking up the course.

I guess I've had enough talking about the camp. Not exactly a full fledged description of what exactly happened but I just decided to talk about stuff that I related to more. Overall, it was a really relaxing activity for me and I hope, an enriching one for my students.

Hmm, going to the airport later to send her off. Feeling a tad empty now. I guess 3 weeks is a rather long time for me in this situation and I'll truly miss her. But I'll make a trip down in the middle of the month though. Who's coming?

off to camp i go

Leaving for Kota Tinggi with the secondary 2s on their level camp tomorrow. Hence will be out of action until Sunday morning or so. I'm still wondering at this point of time whether I've left out anything in my pack list.

Had a pleasant surprise from 3DL yesterday. It was a small poster with a photo collage and some well wishes on it. Pretty nicely done. And then there were the personalised mini 'postcards' from each student placed neatly in a quaint, sweet-looking box.

I love what they had given me - something simple and creative, yet brimming with meaning and heart. That really made my day.

Today was kind of the last official day of lessons for me at least for this 5 month assignment so I gathered each secondary 3 class today to have some class photos taken. It's been a really enjoyable and meaningful time full of ups and downs but overall, saying the past months rock will be a severe understatement.

Ok, guess I've to check my items one more time before I find something missing tomorrow morning and fumble..

I'll sign off for now. If there is no internet connection over there, I hope to update on Sunday.

what have i been doing ..

Looks like I've been MIA for a while. Have been returning home late lately hence wasn't in the mood to do anything that required my brain. I'm not really implying that blogging consumes brain cells, just that I just felt like just chilling out in front of the comp and do some casual surfing and chatting. As always.

Anyways, what really happened in the past 2 weeks or so was the mid year examinations. No lessons but was really busy with the marking I had to do. First came the 120 scripts of English essays which I duly completed in about a week after which literature came in.

Well, literature marking tested my limits to say the least. Only 3 teachers marking the entire level, which left each with a section of the paper. 12 classes..an average of about 35 students per class and that meant I had to plough through about 700 scripts.

All to be done in slightly less than a week. Hence, a target of 2 classes a day was set. The task was daunting, but once the answers were programmed in your head, it wasn't as difficult as it seemed. It was just mentally taxing, and I forgot the number of incidences when I stared at a script and went blank.

Now that the mid years and marking are over, it is also about time my contract ends. After this long weekend, it's only Tuesday and Wednesday of offical lessons before I join the secondary 2s on their level camp until Sunday. Contract officially ends on the 23rd May.

I've kinda grown to love the job and the people, especially all my students. It will be a cliche to say how time has flown over the past months but it's true. I believed I've told myself several times and I believe I've stated somewhere in this blog, that I'll persevere with this job no matter how tough it got. I'm glad I did. Oh well.

This assignment has also been a meaningful one. It is my first job and one big step from the confines of NS to the outside world. I have gone into the job hoping to improve my confidence and public speaking skills and I'm sure I have accomplished that. Teaching english and literature has also increased my exposure and interest towards the subjects and put me in the shoes of my mother. I have met new people and also got the chance to pass on my knowledge, no matter how limited it is/was.

Most importantly, it is through this job that I have met her. And that will make it as memorable and meaningful as it will be.

Well.. I'll be back in school for 1 week in July and it's off to uni I go. New phase, new people, yet how I wish I didn't have to leave this comfort zone.

am i just overwhelmed?

Too many things going on in my life right now. So many goals, yet effort put in always seems so minute when placed in comparison with the larger picture.

I think I'm quite daunted and overwhelmed by the whole university admission thing. This whole thing really scares me now that I think of it. Until a few days ago, I've just begun to question myself on the choice of course I've made. Is business course right for me?

I don't know where all these doubts are stemming from. My fear? Or my sudden change of perspectives in life? I'm guessing the comfort zone which I've just settled in has wrapped me in a nice, warm blanket which I refuse to leave. It almost seems like I've mellowed.

Guess I need to sit down and think properly because I might just be blowing things out of proportion and clouding my sense of reasoning. Highly possible. Maybe I just love to be a teacher so much and hope to remain status quo, hence my subconscious is playing the fool.

Oh well. I'm more than halfway through the marking. Had so much 'fun' reading the stories. Guess I really made a fantastic choice in requesting to mark the narratives rather than the discursives.

marking is in

It always feels nice to make people happy, especially the ones you love. Yesterday afternoon, I decided to drop by her student's tuition place to wait for her after lesson. With me was a tub of Ben & Jerry's. It was some chocolate flavour with brownies in it. She didn't know so I guess it was quite a pleasant surprise. Luckily I remembered to bring the spoons along. :P

Today was the start of the mid year exams and English was the first paper. I spent most of last night fielding questions from my students. Some needed advice while others encouragement. A couple irritated me by asking me things that I've gone through in class so many times.

Today was also my first time invigilating an exam. Many a times I have been part of the mass of students sitting in the hall feeling so nervous, as the invigilators prowled the isles. My students all seemed fine, or so I hope, as several of them finished more than half an hour before the end and were 'meditating'.

Scripts are in and already been divided. I can start on the 120 scripts anytime but I hope I can finish them before the literature scripts come in. Students don't bug me regarding your answers, I'm not marking any of the 2 classes. :)

must be a safer driver

Tailgating, unnecessary braking, cutting lanes without signalling, fast corners..these are just some of the bad driving habits I have. Sometimes I really get angry with myself for being so irresponsible.

I've already made a promise to her to be a safe driver. The last thing I want is passengers getting freaked out when they sit in my car, especially the ones closer to me. It's harder than I thought because I get my fair share of nonsense on the roads too. Well, it's time to take a huge step back and start mastering Highway Code once more.

On a side note, my best friend who just got his license for barely 2 months rented a 220 bhp Integra and went up to 160kph at Tuas. Sports cars are meant to be fast. However, not in the hands of a new driver in a high powered car he just laid his hands on. I admire his courage but am quite taken aback and slightly disappointed by how rash he was.

I don't think I would ever go at that speeds on Singapore roads. The license was way hard to get.

melted gummies

Gummy sweets do actually melt.

This is what I've learnt today. Left a small bag of sweets in the car this morning and went off to start the day. It was meant as a little surprise for her.

What started out as a quaint little collection of multi-coloured gummy sweets in an array of shapes and sizes was reduced to a slimy concoction under the intense, oven-like conditions in the cabin.

Let's just say that there was a good bit of humour when she received it. The whole package just ended up in the bin. 5 bucks down the drain. 5 bucks worth of gummies I've selected myself.

At this point, I'm still feeling particularly silly.