|
Saturday, February 28, 2004, 10:24 p.m.
|
Went to visit my cousin who has just given birth to a baby boy... The baby is so cute! It is a pity that he may grow up without the love of his father - my cousin is now separated from her husband as she found him to be unfaithful to her...
Here is a list of movies I want to watch: Monster, Mystic River, Big Fish, Lost In Translation and Leaving Me Loving You (Da Cheng Xiao Shi). Initially intended to go on a movie marathon after my Sakae Sushi lunch with sis, but Irene sms-ed just in time to tell me she wants to watch those movies too and she's free today to join me to the movies... Couldn't expect her to join me in the marathon, so we only watched Da Cheng Xiao Shi. The movie was just okay... Without Faye Wong, the movie won't be worth watching though. Then we had dinner at MOS Burger, where she asked if she could go to my house every Sunday for dinner... Hmm. Found the request quite weird and I told her exactly that. She seemed quite disappointed and went on to tell me how it isn't weird at all... Weird, weird, weird.
|
Friday, February 27, 2004, 07:08 p.m.
|
My last lesson with Elena today. Gave her a thank-you card for building up my violin basics. Hmm... should have taken a picture with her.
Been quite busy lately in school, but I would start thinking about violin whenever I have a little bit of free time. Ordered a Mach One shoulder rest and other accessories over the internet (couldn't find Mach One anywhere in Singapore) and I am now thinking of getting a nice handmade violin from Synwin... Hmm...
|
Tuesday, February 24, 2004, 07:52 p.m.
|
Was approached by the VP and asked whether I mind being a cooperating teacher (CT) for the NIE trainees who will be coming to our school for Practicum next week. (The CT basically lets trainees sit in for a few weeks for them to hopefully learn some things from it, then the trainees will be given classes and the CT is to guide and monitor their teaching.) I said I don't mind though I doubt I have little for them to learn from me, but the VP said he has been walking around recently and when he passed my classrooms, he always found my class to be very engaged in my lessons as I have been able to make my lessons rather interactive and interesting. I found the comment very flattering (but then again, he might have said that so that I would not reject his request). Later, when I talked to Jim and Gek Hong, they told me I must be the youngest teacher to be appointed as a CT (with only about 3 months of actual teaching?) and I am moving up The Ladder very fast. I sincerely didn't think of the implications and significance of this appointment when the VP approached me. But I guess I am going to enjoy imparting what I know to the new NIE trainees (I MUST make them feel and share my passion in teaching)!
|
Saturday, February 21, 2004, 11:01 p.m.
|
Just back from an outing with Irene, Wenjie and Ho Ming. Watched
Hua Hao Yue Yuan (Elixir of Love) and then accompanied the boys to arcade and watched them dance and play games.
|
Thursday, February 19, 2004, 11:00 p.m.
|
Angeline told me a girl in her 2E2 class has a crush on me. I didn't ask for the student's name - didn't want to know. I don't even teach 2E2! Angeline said it's cos I have many periods with 2E1 (which is just beside 2E2) so the girl always gets the chance to steal glances at me whenever I pass by. Don't exactly feel flattered cos I'm attracting people of the wrong age-group. In fact I feel rather amused. Hmm.
|
Tuesday, February 17, 2004, 10:53 p.m.
|
More homework today on my second Edvox violin lesson. Confirmed that I
am taking Grade 2 this year. Went through my first Grade 2 piece
Fain would I wed today, also the scales of A minor, D minor, G minor, F major and G major, and the arpeggios of G major, G minor and A minor. Found the arpeggios rather difficult, especially when I tried doing the three-note slurred arpeggios. But very fulfilling.
Have a feeling Michelle is not very confident in theory herself as she hesitated many times when going through Grade 1 theory with me. Her violin skills are credible though, fortunately (at least from my low-level point of view).
|
Tuesday, February 17, 2004, 06:29 p.m.
|
Yesterday's drama with my form class continues. Derek spouted the LJ vulgarity when Mr Goh told him to wash down his spiky hair, Wei Sheng had been so perpetually late that even the P knew him and she went to speak to him personally, and some students continued to leave their books under the table despite my repeated warnings... Scolded them during Pastoral Care, set down a few strict rules that will lead to detention if they continue to disobey, and told them that they will never see me smile in their class anymore until I see an improvement in them. Had to do this before they go out of hand.
Later in the day when I saw them again for Math, the whole class remained standing after greeting me and echoed in unison, "Sorry, Mr Tan." Told them a simple sorry will not be enough if they do not show that they're truly sorry by changing their behavior. Li Ling even wrote a four-page letter of apology to say sorry on behalf of the class. Okay, all of this may sound cliched and over-dramatic, but deep down inside I do appreciate all of it - at least they bother to apologise.
Keeping my fingers crossed while waiting to see the change in their attitude and behavior.
|
Monday, February 16, 2004, 09:21 p.m.
|
Flared up in my form class today as many of them walked around and made noise when I let them do homework in class. Told them that since they took their privileges for granted, they shall not receive such privileges anymore. After the incident, many of them sms-ed/msn-ed me to apologise on behalf of the class. I told them to prove their sincerity through their actions.
Went to the Everbloom mushroom farm with Mariamah, Daniel, Azman and some Sec 3 students. That must have been the shortest excursion I'd ever had - we were merely brought into two aircon rooms that cultivate mushrooms, then we had some samples of cooked mushrooms, and then that's it. It didn't even take an hour.
|
Saturday, February 14, 2004, 10:42 p.m.
|
Just watched
The Last Samurai with Irene and my form class students Ho Ming, Wei Hao and Victor. Great drama, soundtrack and cinematography. The guys kept pestering me to buy a rose for Irene as it was Valentine's Day, and they kept looking at Irene and I during the movie. On the taxi ride home, Ho Ming seized every chance to push me at the bends so that I would lean on Irene. These kids... ;)
|
Friday, February 13, 2004, 09:37 p.m.
|
My first Edvox lesson with Michelle, after attending my class at Yamaha. It was very fruitful, and I had to learn a new way of holding the bow as Michelle said this new way will prove to be better especially at higher grades. Unlike my Yamaha sessions, the 30 minutes were very well-spent. I was asked to sight-read several pieces and 2 minor scales, and I was also given two pages of theory homework to do. It also seemed that Michelle intends to let me take Grade 2 this year... So glad that I'm finally moving towards a goal rather than just wasting time...
By the way, Michelle didn't look like a violin teacher at all - just a regular thin woman in her late twenties. To make things worse, she had crumbs on her face that I felt would be too inappropriate for me to point out on our first lesson.
|
Thursday, February 12, 2004, 08:51 p.m.
|
Had a long talk with my HOD today. She told me she has a very high opinion of me and she hopes that I can maximise my potentials and produce results with my classes this year... She said that I should at least ensure 100% pass in all classes (which, I think it will be difficult for a class like 3E4, where half the class can't be bothered to learn at all) and 100% distinction in the good classes (which is achieveable but depends largely on the students' exam luck as well). She also told me that she'd spoke highly of me in front of the P and VP, and they'd probably be calling me up to speak to me and assign some important tasks for me to prove myself in order to qualify for a quick promotion. Hmmm... feel rather pressured. I have only started teaching for a few months and I am still learning - no doubt her intentions are good - my HOD is really a very kind and understanding woman (not the hypocritical kind) - but I really hope I won't disappoint her too much. And I am not really eyeing for a "quick promotion" anyway... sigh.
Finally signed up with Edvox. Lessons start tomorrow. So I will be going to Yamaha first then Edvox - two violin lessons in a row. Will be terminating my Yamaha group class since it's not really productive.
Been feeling nauseous every morning for the past few weeks. It started with me feeling nauseous whenever I walked by a block of flats near my school in the morning, so I thought it must have been the bad fengshui that made me feel uncomfortable. But lately I began to feel nauseous just about anywhere and the feeling would come anytime... think something must be wrong with my body already, but I am not doing anything about it as yet. Writing this down here so that you people will know why if you hear about my sudden death. ;)
|
happy people living in usa
|
|
Tuesday, February 10, 2004, 10:23 p.m.
|
The science common test must have been too easy for Kenneth (a student in my form class). He drew the picture below on his test paper. Personally found it rather amusing. ;)
(Erm. This picture may be too small. Please click HERE if you wish to see the details in this intricate masterpiece.)
|
Sunday, February 8, 2004, 08:50 a.m.
|
Timestretched - Divine Comedy
There's not enough hours in the day
to say all that I want to say.
There's not enough days in the week
and weeks go by quicker than drunks knock back liquor.
There's not enough weeks in the month
to do all that needs to be done.
There's not enough months in the year
and years disappear like the bubbles in my beer.
Timestretched.
There's not enough lines on the stave
to capture the music I crave.
There's not enough strings to my bow
and even the barmen know extracts from Carmen.
There's not enough notes in this scale
it feels like I'm chasing my tail.
There's not enough beats in this bar
and bars get too busy with folks asking "is he?"
|
Saturday, February 7, 2004, 06:19 a.m.
|
Just came back from A&E cos sis had high fever in the middle of night coupled with sore joints and dizziness. Called the ambulance and she was sent to TTS immediately. Luckily it wasn't serious.
|
Friday, February 6, 2004, 12:08 a.m.
|
Finally bought a scanner - a Canon 3200F. Been wanting it so that I could scan in diagrams and drawings. With this scanner I can even develop photos from my old negatives! :) (Though it's a pity I missed the free mini-fridge with any Canon scanner purchase by only a few days... drats.)
Then spent six hours setting the Pure Physics progress test. Didn't know the deadline is tomorrow until today. Couldn't even make it for the BH annual meeting. Sigh.
|
Tuesday, February 3, 2004, 10:43 p.m.
|
Since young, I knew something is seriously wrong with my family. My dad has a temper that's so bad he tried to kill me when I was a baby. When I was a child, if I laughed out loud when I was playing, he would pull my hair and slap my face. When I left my toys lying around, he would throw them down the chute and cane me till I bled. I learnt that I should never enjoy myself too much.
My mom's so loud and outspoken that she has offended most of our relatives. She bears grudges with everyone and everyone finds her too bothersome. The reason why she's so loud is because she has suffered in silence under the tyranny of my grandma and dad for tens of years and now she's releasing all her grievances in the form of rebellion against her own family. She hates all who "bluffed" her into marrying my dad (especially my first aunt who was the matchmaker and who told her my dad was a kind person) as that was the start of her lifetime of misery.
Both my parents want to kill each other although they appear to be perfectly fine and friendly in front of outsiders.
Sometimes, opposites don't attract. They can repel to the point of destroying each other.
Yet everybody thinks we are a perfect family. How funny is that?
|
showerheads and gangsterism
|
|
Tuesday, February 3, 2004, 09:24 p.m.
|
Never knew what a good showerhead could do to me. Dad installed a new showerhead at my toilet that allows me to switch between NINE modes of showers - some are piercing while some have a gentle massaging effect. Spent a long time bathing today, trying out all the different modes, and I felt really rejuvenated after that.
It never hurts to show a little concern. Saw Kim Kok being unusually moody today so I asked him if he had any problems when I met him on MSN. He told me his family was experiencing a financial crisis. I comforted him and told him not to worry too much as worrying wouldn't help, and he should try his best to concentrate on his studies so as not to make his parents worry even more. He was very appreciative and thanked me after that.
One of the students in my class has been involved in some gang affairs. Apparently, a boy (from a good class) accused my student of punching him last time and he pushed my student to the wall at the toilet, causing a cut. I wasn't around when it happened and I only heard of it when my student was already sent home. Called him when I reached home. He told me his "friends" in the upper sec said they'll "settle the matter" with that guy who hurt him tomorrow. Told him to advise his friends not to do anything silly and blow up the matter. Hope the matter rests as it is...
|
Monday, February 2, 2004, 09:42 p.m.
|
Friday's violin lesson with Elena could probably be my last with her. At the start of the lesson, she told us we will be taking ABRSM Grade 1 this year (first disappointment - cos she told me before, that I can go for higher grades as I am progressing well, too bad that I am in a group class and she does not have time to give me individual lessons). But at the end, after hearing the whole class play some easy etudes, she said the class might not take the exams at all this year (double-triple-quadruple disappointments!) as it would be too stressful for her to train us to Grade 1 level. I totally understand her position because there is indeed a girl who can't even read the notes or differentiate between a crotchet and a quaver.
I nearly wanted to scream when she said that. I am not young anymore - if I were to delay my grades further, I'd probably not be able to clear the grades until I am at least 40. So I decided I shall reconsider Edvox - have sent them some questions through the email - waiting for their reply.
|
Sunday, February 1, 2004, 08:31 a.m.
|
All the Sec 2E classes are teasing Irene and me like we're a couple. As we're always having lunch together and we'd stand at the same place during flagraising, the students began to speculate and gossip among themselves. Whenever Irene walks past the classroom when I am teaching, the class will get very excited and point outside and shout, "Mr Tan! Miss Tay is outside!" If I react to that, they'd say, "Whoa, so protective..." Then if I give an unbothered look, they'd say, "Hey, Mr Tan, don't blush leh!"
And when we're "caught" eating together at the canteen, my form class students will smile and keep quiet and stand beside us, like they're trying to eavesdrop. The six musketeers in my class (Kailiang, Wenjie, Victor, Haoming, Yanhao, Derek) are even worse. When they see Irene walking alone, they will swarm to her and crowd around her to say good things about me.
After school, Irene and I will talk about all the funny things these students do and we'll laugh in exasperation. These nosey little matchmakers... ;)
