最幸福的事

听完这首歌后，我哭了......可能是“老”了，常会为了一点小事而落下眼泪。不禁问起自己，最幸福的事是什么？

Wishes

When I was young, every New Year, Christmas and birthdays, I would wish for a lot of things. However, as I grow older, what I ask and hope for become very standard everytime. I wish and pray for good health for my loved ones. That's are I pray for and that's all I asked for.

Just thoughts

Back in Singapore again. Sigh. Don't get me wrong, I am a loyal Singapore citizen who loves my country a lot, but I do enjoy the fun and excitement of travelling overseas. I enjoy learning new culture, meeting new people and mostly importantly, exploring the world with my hubby. Planning where to go for next holiday liao. =)

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Saw one of my ex-pupils on Channel U last night. Nearly fell off my sofa! She has signed herself up for Campus Superstar 3 and has managed to "fight" her way thru to the 3rd round. Good for her. Taught her for a few years. Remembered that she loves to sing a lot. Shocked to see how much she has changed though. She was a very sweet, innocent girl. Now, she is a bit too "wild". Oversized sch uniform, torned socks and messy long hair, with make up on. Sigh. Hope she will change her image. People usually vote for those who looks wholesome, take a look at the past winners, both were decent-looking teenagers.

Hubby

Whenever I am down, I can also count on my close ones to cheer me up. My hubby is one of them. When I get to cocky, he is the one that will drag me back to earth. When I feel down, he will cheer me up. When I can feel angry and frustrated, he is the one that can calm me down. He puts up with my tantrums, with my outbursts, and sometimes eccentric behaviours. I am grateful and thankful for that.

Fair

吃饭时，跟老公“汇报”学校发生了什么事。真为一位同事感到不值，随口说了一句“ Not fair lo”。老公看我越说越激动，便对我说了一句“the fact that you are sitting down here, having dinner with me, is something that is unfair. Some people are born without hands and legs, some do not have enough food to eat or a roof over their heads. Some are not even aware of their own existence. "Fairness" do not exist at all. Accept this fact or you will be miserable."......

虽然我同意他的说法，但是我还是认为，有一些事是人为的，必须靠自己去争取。我认为一个人的命运是掌握在自己的手里的。我不喜欢向命运低头。

people......

The world is filled with all kinds of people.
Some people received high pay but have a mindset of a factory worker.
Some slogged away their youth but get peanuts for their pay.
Some have a heck care attiude but likes to complaint that others are not doing a good job.
Some can't be bothered and expect others to behave like them......

As for me, I do what I can do, and in return, I hope to get (or fight to get) what I deserve.

PSLE Marking days......

I always enjoy PSLE marking days. It's the time of the year whereby I can mingle with old friends and catch up with the latest gossip in other schools. (^-^) For the past two years, I am lucky enough to be in the company of fun-loving people, and I thanked god for that. Can't imagine going thru marking days without such "nice nice" people. Those who know me well would know that I can get really excited at times and forget about my age and "image". That was what happened this afternoon. One of my sch colleagues said that I looked happier during marking days and even called me " Xiao gin na" (hokkien for "crazy kid"). I was quite offended by the nickname, think it was rather rude of them to do so. What's wrong with smiling happily? But can't be bothered to "retaliate".

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Noticed a few teachers wearing super short skirts, all-dressed up as if they are going to the party. A few with dyed hair that are very obvious. Saw one wearing a pair of jeans so low that when she sat down, I can see half of butt and her 股沟......
I believe in the need to uphold certain level of professional image. All these teachers, they can wear what they like outside working hours, that is their freedom. However, when they turn up for work-related events, they should wear appropriately. Have you ever see a doctor in mini skirt? Or an engineer who turns up wearing high heels, short frocks or dresses? Common sense would tell us that we should not, and should dressed according to the function and occasion. A friend revealed that when her daughter was in pri 4, every day, she would tell my friend what was the colour of the under garments of her English teacher. As a result, my friend called up the school and spoke to the principal regarding the teacher's dress code.

Gokusen Theme Song

Seigi no Mikata Theme Song

教书

教师的工作很琐碎。 我们不只是得教书，也得策划课外活动等等。也就因为这样，常会听见一些牢骚。多数时候，我会坐在那儿静静地听。对于这一切，我已经习以为常。我心想：我们的薪水都是纳税人的血汗钱，如果薪水高，当然得做多一点咯，责任重一点，不是吗？在私人企业里不也是这样吗？一些对外人来说是浪费时间的活动，其实对孩子们来说是“有用”的。例如，一些课外活动可以培养他们的团队精神，培养孩子们的耐力、体力， 价值观等。到学校来不只是吸收知识，更重要的是学会如何与人沟通，如何与他人相处。 为了达到这些目的，教师的工作当然也不限于教书、批改作业等等。

My favorite Teachers' Day present

Received a handmade card from one of my P6 girls. Quite plain, nothing fanciful but it is my favorite present for this year. What she wrote inside warmed my heart。

“一路上有您的教导，我才没有迷失方向。您教了我很多，什么是对，什么是错。谢谢您，老师！”


那孩子很懂事，上课时很专心，很积极。她送我礼物时，还提醒我一定要记得看卡片。 虽然只是短短的几句话，但是我觉得这份礼物比什么都来得珍贵。

Incentives

The government has came up with a lot of new added incentives to encourage marriage couples to have babies. I belong to that group of people that needed the "persuasion". However, if you ask me if I would consider having a baby because of all these added incentives, my answer is no. I believe in fate and I will let nature takes its course. I would make any extra efforts or go through all kinds of troubles to have a baby just because of those added bonuses. I leave everything to god. What will be will be, having a baby will be good, but that does not mean I am worse off just because I do not have one.

MP block visit

National Day is round the corner. Every year, at around this time, we will get to see our MP's face - MP will visit us. Before each visit, the floors will be washed clean, the plants pruned and vandalised tables will be repainted. But if I ever have a chance to talk to him, I will say, " Please visit us more often." The reason is very simple. If he visits us more often, our estate will always be littered free and be in tip-top condition.

Jap influence

When I was a teenager, I loved to watch Japanese dramas and listen to Japanese songs. In fact, till now, I still enjoy watching Japanese dramas. I am greatly influenced by this sub-culture. That explains why I love to visit Japan and had learned their language when I was younger. Must e getting old. Love to think of the past these days.... Below are some of the songs that I loved to listen. By the way, Onizuka is my favorite character! Guess he was the one that inspired me to be a teacher!

RHD

Today is Racial Harmony Day. A long day for me but I am happy. Cos I am doing something I strongly believe in. All the coordinating and organizing energized me. After all the excitement, its back to marking books. (^-^)

Our loved ones......

My father-in-law was hospitalised suddenly yesterday. We were told by the docs that his intestines might have ruptured and what is the worst scenario we could expect. A surgery was inevitable. Like all surgeries, it has its risks...... We were worried sick, but there was nothing much we could do except to pray and hope for the best. Luckily, the operation was a success and hopefully my father-in-law could recover without any complications.

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While in the hospital this afternoon, I received a shocking news from my colleague. One of my ex-pupils' mother had passed away yesterday. She had three wonderful girls. I have the privilege to teach two of the girls and though the youngest one was not taught by me, I know her quite well too, as she loves to tag along with her two older siblings when they came to my house. Nancy(the parent) was one of the nicest parents whom I have met. Beautiful lady with great love for her family. She listened to teachers' opinions and really cared about her children's studies as well as well-being......

I rushed down from SGH upon hearing the news. I know the family quite well and would like to pay my last respect to her. I was afraid that I might break down in front of the girls. I did not know what to say, for I know whatever I said could not make up for the sudden lost. I wanted to hug the youngest girl, she looked okay and was strong for her age. However, I am afraid that might trigger off an avalanche of emotions......

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When I was 13, my grandmother fell and hurt herself while she was having a shower. Nobody knew about this until hours later when she did not turn up for dinner at my house. She was hospitalised and within two days she passed away. She was closest to me and doted on me. But I was not there when she left. I was in school. Nobody told me about her death until she was all sealed up in the coffin. I did not have a chance to say goodbye. I remembered clearly the "numbness" I felt. Everything seemed so unreal. I looked brave in front of others for I believed that was what my grandma would want me to be - brave, but at night when everyone fell asleep, I would cried myself to sleep.

After the funeral, when everything settled down, I felt as if a big part of me was gone. The smiling face that used to greet me when I woke up was no longer there. The hot coffee that greeted me every morning was no longer the same(since then I do not drink coffee anymore).I could not forgive myself. I blamed myself for not spending more time with my grandma. Everyday, I sang the song "The end of the world" again and again. To me, it really felt like the end of the world then. The song somehow made me feel better. It was a way for me to say "Ah ma, I really missed you, I am sorry for not being there when you needed me" without making my parents worried about me. It took me quite a number of years to get over the sudden lost of my grandma.

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I wanted to tell Nancy's girls (if you ever read this), cry if you must, tears are okay. It is not something you should feel ashamed about. It is okay to be sad, to mourn the death of your loved one. Do not bottled up your feelings. Although your mummy is no longer around physically, the love and memories she had created are still here. Remember her teachings, remember her ways, let her continue to live in your heart. In that way, she will always be around. And remember, you would never be alone......

眼睛

一位好久不见的老同学写了这首诗：

眼睛，黑白分明。
告诉我们，
黑白，要分得清。

好话、坏话

谎话，我不会说。好听的话，我不会说。我自小性格直率，想什么说什么。妈妈经常说我有时说话没有经过大脑，该说的说，不该说的也照说。
踏入社会后，我这“优点”成了我的绊脚石。我不会“做人”，不会说奉承的话，有时更掩盖不了自己的情绪。就因为如此，我不时在不知不觉中得罪了人也不晓得。虽然说几句“好听”的话，我的“路”会更平坦，更“光明”，但是我却坚持自己的信念。对就是对，错就是错，好就是好，不好就是不好，何必睁着眼睛说瞎话呢！至于得罪别人，我一向不怎么在乎这一点。 要小心翼翼才能维持的关系 —— 我不需要。

Turkey - jewel of the Asian and European Continent.

I have never been to Turkey before and before this trip, I do not know much about this country except that Turkey tried hard to get into EU but was rejected (I read this somewhere). After going there, I am glad I chose Turkey as my holiday destination.
Turkey has a bit of almost everything. Turkey is rich in its history and culture. It has a unique blend of eastern and western culture. It is a Muslim country but it is not ruled by Muslim law. It has mosques that are more than thousand years old, ruins from the Greek as well as churches, caves and underground city that was bulit way before Christ. Mesmerizing, is the one word that can describe Turkey. The standard of living there is almost the same as in Singapore, but the salary which the people are getting can be quite miserable. The pay of a teacher is around 1000YTL ( around $1000 ) and an engineer is 1500YTL. The locals are extremely friendly, especially the children. They are always eager to help and happy to chat. Although most of their time, we have to guess what they are trying to say, we can sensed that sincerity and friendship. These are the people who are poor in the pockets but rich in the hearts......

I am back!!!

I am back from Turkey! Will upload pics and tell more later on. As for now, I just wanted to have a good night sleep......