Dinner at Marina with JWSS ex-students (10th Aug)

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Damn, brought my camera there and then it says low batt. Anyway it was sheer sin to indulge in so much food and I felt that all my efforts to cut down on my intake was wasted. But oh well it was fun to join them and heartwarming to see them all grown up. Do hope that Zuomin can join next time so I won't be the only teacher around. Oh but coincidentally we ran into a bunch of JWSS seniors, think they were the very first batch (Tan Chuan's batch) eating at the very same place. After that was arcade and LAN gaming and I went straight home, forgoing a date cuz it was really late. Guess probably will go on a date the next day (which I did). Well the long weekend is coming to an end!!!! ARGH!!!

Late posting for 28th July

This day I went back to visit my former students and the few friends I made at Bukit Panjang Government High. I must admit I miss the students whom I built a rapport with within 6 months and they really brigthened up to me when I went to watch their drama at UCC (University Culural Centre).

I took as many pictures as I could with 2 of my former class/schoomates of JJC and my students. And also watched the performance they put up for their Chinese drama called 'A Huangmei-style Opera: Romance of the Cyprinus Carpio', where many of the students I taught formerly took part.

The only thing I guessed I was peeved about was when some students and I went to the former 'Fong Seng' to eat our orders came half an hour late! By then which the students actually have to rush back to UCC and I had to drive 2 trips to send them there otherwise they will be late - they're student helpers. Sigh... (will be uploading photos at another time)

Israel - Birth of a Nation thru Photos

Went with sis on a Saturday on the 21st of July to see an exhibition by a famous photographer - a war photographer who took pictures during the time of conflict Israel had with her neighbouring Arab countries. What suprised me was the photographer himself was there. The most interesting aspect of the whole thing was to watch him (back in 1998) search for the very people he took pictures of years ago. It was both a touching and sad story he told us. And like him, I hope for peace in Israel and was really sad with Rabin's death. Can't say I might emphatise with the Jews of Israel but the Chinese did not fair well in the early decades of the 20th century too. The only difference is we had a country while the Israelis had to (re)carve it out themselves.

1st: An Israel mother and her 2 children's house was destroyed in an attack, if I remember correctly it was the Lebanons. 2nd: An Israeli female fighter chooses to take on the job of caring for the wounded. 3rd: A paper with a song of peace that Rabin sang and put in his pocket and was smeared with his blood when he got assassinated by the radical young Jew.

4th: 3 paratroophers watched in awe when they took over the last standing wall in Jerusalem (yes somehow I can't remember its name) 5th: The people of Israel celebrates on an armoured vehicle as it parades through the streets 6th: A poor girl looks forlorn after Israel troops destroy her home for housing arms fo the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation).

Events for the Past Week 25-29th

This past few days have been a week of reminscine and memories. Now I am moving on to another new place and new environment. It was kind of hard to leave of cuz, but I think I have to move on for my own life. I'll miss the students whom I've created a bond for the past few months.


27th: The very first English class I taught at JWSS - 1T1 - all of them have grown up. It was so much fun meeting them after all these years. Kinda feel bad I threw tables and chairs and scolded them when I was younger. I must've been so hot headed then. We still laughed and had fun, of cuz lah, only teachers they like get called down. Stacey and Roland also came with Jadeyn and Anastasia. Its both weird and heartwarming to talk to these big kids now. Rox, thanks for inviting me down, but dint get to see Firdaus and Xiang En.








For the BPGHians I'm leaving, I have to admit I do miss them and feel bad about it at the same time. Even though the time with them was shorter than that at JWSS, the bond wasn't any weaker with some of them. 3B was one of the more friendly and high EQ class I've taught. Some other kids from 3P3 and 3P2, 3L1 and 3M1 I've also made friends with somehow. Yeah I know, I'm supposed to be their teacher. But that's my character, I'm a teacher but I am a friendly person. What to do? To the BPGHians I've known and taught for a short time, you rock! Stay great and enjoy your school life ok?

Past few days

Been too busy to look at my blog or do any updating, not that there's much to update. But some small things that make me happy is my 3 god-daugthers msging me Happy Fathers' Day and receiving gifts from them. From Vera it came in the form of a card, I suspect Fanny will be giving me something tomorrow but she just don't wanna say anything.

Finally I went to visit VIVIO city and take a look at how it looks like. Its kinda interesting especially with its unique idea of a playground and park at the highest level. Since Mum had been there we went straight up to the highest storey to get food there. Its not cheap of course but at least we got to eat and enjoy ourselves. Haven't been out with Dad and Mum for a very long time, kinda like it actually. To think I abhor going out with them when I was a teenager! :oP

Today went back to BPGH to do duty for NPCC, to see the trees being cut down because, apparently, last week a tree fell down on one of the containers (the one for Digital Media Club) during a rainy day. So after some assessment they had to cut down many trees. Poor trees! The squirrels would probably disappear from the carpark and the carpark is going to be super hot!

Now I just wanna sit back and wait for the new semester to start. Looking to establish myself and get use to things and on to a less stress job.

Sister's Island 2 Day 1 Night

<-- Sisters' Island from a distance.

Finally the much awaited Sisters' Island trip was made. We went to the island on the left instead of the right (you see there are 2 isles). We went there amidst the rain, which subsided and got bigger and HEAVIER throughout our camp overnight there. However, it was quite an enjoyable trip. I managed to force myself not to think about work and just relax and eat.

Aside from the few of us who taught at BPGH, Yuxian and Arden invited 3 of their friends too. There were Hairi, Jack and Mark. Finding a place to have our things to put and possible BBQ pit was quite a chore. We weren't the only 'island goers' as it turned out. Getting snubbed by a rude boy from Boy's Brigade of (at this crucial juncture I just could not rememer the name of the school) was one of the uneventful things. Apart from that Jack and Yuxian got bitten by hornets when they went exploring up the hill of this island. The hornets' nest were on the ground. They also saw a tombstone on their way up there. Kat fell, etc.

Fadzly, Kat and I went over to a breakwater that was right smack in the middle between the lagoon in front of us and the sea. It was so shallow we could walk over. However there were many stones and I cut myself slightly but did not bleed. Unfortunately my camera ran out of batteries at this point and Jiahui did not manage to take pictures of us.

There was a nice Malay family and after they caught one huge Geroupa <-- is that how its name is spelt, we made friends already, like what Fadz said. It was really heavy and it took Arden a lot of effort to hold it up high.

Making food at night was much better. Apart from the ants getting to us (our BBQ pit had a bunch of rotting leaves behind it), making... or rather heating up our hot dogs and crab meat and nuggets was great. We had so much to eat we even forgot about our marshmellows.

That very night was a great historical event. Why? Finally, Yuxian's team - played the game pictionary and won. Before this, anyone in Yuxian's team just cannot win a game of pictionary. He broke the curse!

We managed to 'survive' the rainy night and the next morning the whole lagoon was practically dried out. We managed to explore around a bit to find crabs but only found a few sea anemone around.

Ford Factory Recky

Japanese Sword - probably from a surrendered Japanese Officer.


Today, as part of my upcoming job at ACS, I went on a field trip recky with Gavin and his mentor Greg. It was a nice place, to people who like history like me of course. Half wished the toys they were selling is not in 'half-pieces'. To give you an idea of what I am talking about - that means the toy hand grenade is half the shape - like half an apple. They fear people buying these items and using these to threaten people in public I guess.




Head of a poor P.O.W. being cut off by a Japanese Officer as other Japanese watched.


Ford Factory during World War Two, now converted into a museum for the younger generation (hopefully these efforts will pay off) is a good ground to teach history during the Japanese invasion and occupation. However the documentary has - to me, personally I feel there is some propaganda motive behind it... but for its for positive results.




I still learnt a few new things from this visit. Its really like some philosopher's saying:"The more you know the more you know you don't know". Guess if I tell students that most of them would throw away their books and tumble their chairs and say might as well don't learn.

Anyway Gavin got so tired from the whole expedition (I was tired too, but he really looked like he was shagged - by who I won't wanna know), so after some work at school we just scooted home. That very night I still troubled him to lend me his sleeping bag as I prepare for Sister's Island camp this coming weekend.