Another Day in Paradise...

With exception of my creaking knee joints, life so far at NTU or code name NUT is fine. Our hostel room is done up comfortably and is very cosy and spacious. (hope they dun find out that we shifted the furniture and force us to move it back) Things are still slack at the moment which is ALL fine by me, being somewhat influenced by Rincewind with his 'boredom is fine' attitude.

So far we had been exploring around campus to find the lifts so that we dont have to find our knees creaking, or my knees doing so. Found the gym which is open on weekdays, free and open until very late. So finally I can work out after 4 weeks. Time to lose those fats.

I have ordered a lap top and am currently waiting for it to be available so that I can surf the net from the room. But its good enough there is a computer room in the hall, but no printing facilities. Still waiting to 'discover' the laundry room tomorrow and maybe do some cooking in the kitchen. But all this climbing up and down really puts me off from leaving the room. Even the toilet is at the end of the corridor, and you have to imput a code to enter. Wonder what happens to the joker who is very urgent and couldnt open the toilet cos they changed the code. Ouch...

Nothing much for the moment, except find out more about the wireless lan card for tab and check out the location of atms on campus, maybe also figure out the bus routes, which is direction A and B? For now I am contented to laze around. Night jogging anyone?

Hi to all!

This is Hellbound Yenn reporting 'live' from the one of the furtherest corners of Spore. Yep. Now I am living with Tab in a hostel on NTU campus and commuting daily to NIE. So far we had just spent an evening at the hall after moving in on Sunday evening with the help of Quetzal. (Thanks a lot!) Heheheh... took photos and video of Tab doing housework. She doesnt seemed very well-trained... Hall life hopefully will make her a 'better' housewife.

We had to check-in on sunday evening cos there is an orientation event this morning at 8.15am. Well games and stuff to get you to team bond. Interesting enough and it ended around 12.30pm then we went to look for laptop deals. By the time we returned, it was around 4, then Tab left for her thing, leaving me very comfortably in the room sleeping. Just had my dinner at the hall canteen. Pretty decent, nicer than NIE canteen. But since Tab cannot join me for dinner for Mon, Wed and Thurs, I am available for dinner on these days. Otherwise its just me, eating alone at the canteen. Sabishi ne.

This week will be an orientation week and I saw my time-table, no free days, and 2 morning classes, 2 evening classes and one light so far. Hope that is the final one and no more modules are added. Am very glad that I am in a hall now.

Farewell... and a fresh start

The DAY has finally arrived, the last day of work and I will be heading down instead to NIE. A short break, a change before being a full-fledged educator stuck for years in a school.

Ever since the new term began, my intense relief duties began, lasting all the way until today. Actually I was not feeling well the night before, but since I had to pack my stuff, say good-bye to friends, collegues and students, I didnt take MC. I had bought some tibits and repacked them to 50 packs for students from my class and my cca.

Well, expectedly there was to be no rest, cos there is full day relief again. I wrote an announcement for the cca students to meet me and distributed the stuff to them. Luckily the last period was free. Then I can go up to the class to give them the stuff.

After a long long time, finally it was the last period. Reliefing a P2 class and they were giving me a run for the money. The heat and boredom of doing worksheets got to them and they started making noise. Had to shout and scold. Finally it was over.

I grabbed the bag and went to class. I motioned to my mentor to let me speak to the class for a while. I just plainly announced that it is my last day today with them. And I have something for them. Remember to pay attention and study hard. Then I went around to let them pick from the bag I was holding. The shocking part was while I was going around, many started to cry, tearing and red noses, sniffing. Huh? I thought they dont listen much, play a fool around, make me shout and shout and look bored during my lessons. I had thought that the class didnt really like me. But for that moment, most will miss me. Well I had tried to teach as best as I could. So after giving out the stuff, I went down to pack.

To cut the long story short, later on took some pictures of a few students with my newly-bought Sinn and then made my way to collect the hostel room keys where I dumped all my stuff there. Then headed down to Harbourfront to collect the free gift for Sinn. 128Mb SD card and 4 rechargeable batteries and charger.

At first I wanted to celebrate the end of 10 months of contract teaching with Tab by going for a good dinner but my stomache didnt feel good so I cancelled it. See whether Tab's date manifest after the Jap test tomorrow.

*Groans* I have been so exhausted by the daily relief, cca, running around and feeling unwell that I havent finished studying. So I got to go now and try to finish. 3 more chapters... nemui....

My Newest and Most Expensive Purchase... A canon A520 digital camera. Shall name it as 'Sinn'. Somehow I like single-syllabus names. Grey, now Sinn. Nice family.  

The weekend felt very brief cos of the half day event on Sat but still had a Great Sunday outing with the CosFest 2005, but will blog about it later when Tab's pics are up and when i am in better health.

Yep I started the Monday with a sore throat that soon manifest into a cough and slight fever. To top it off, another P1 collegue is on mc so AGAIN, I have another full day relief. (it seems within 2 short weeks, all the P1 educators have taken one day mc each. Leaving me to take on full day relief for all three classes) :(

So tried my best to exert control but couldnt give my fullest and I ended up shouting again and again even with the microphone to control them. The kids dun freaking give a damn and have to be put down, albeit with a lot of shouting and scolding. My throat.... Kept on downing water, lozenges and whatever tea and cold tea to sooth the throat.

Then today slated to do remedial lesson relief also. Luckily just supposed to sit in with the mock exam paper. But had to exert my vocals to get the class to concentrate and attempt the paper. The heat and after-lunch effect made both me and the students sleepy. Had to encourage them, psycho them, tell them to stand up and stretch, breathe deeply and drink water to wake up and continue.

But man, when I reached home around five, I was exhausted. Laid down on the bed and concus to eight. Like this, how to study for jap test?

2 more weeks...

Another two more weeks, aka 10 more school days to NIE release. If you call cramping at least 13 modules into 4 mths, a release. Reckon its just from-a-frying-pan-into-the-fire-type of release. But hell, its better than to have nothing to look forward to. Been running around and worrying abt my mom, she was not well. So I dilligently rush home after work and help with the chores.

Another Event....

Today is the last of a series of events at my workplace to exhibit its offerings to would-be- parents-of-students. Basically my cca ended smack up as one of the main highlights again. SO the ass is on the line again. Sign. Yesterday stayed back to help set up the booths and today was spent running around to ensure all props, costumes, actors are around and ready. (Sounds like a prop-master)

Unlike the previous exhibit, this time I played around more. My other collegue took one of the display prop, an indian chief hat and wore it. She beckoned me to try something also. So I went ahead and put on the Phantom of the Opera mask. Had to take off my specs to do so and got alot of response from students and collegues alike. But it was hard to breathe under the mask. One of the student started saying "u look very different without specs... handsome..." and then started calling me "Mr XXX.. Mr XXX.." (err wait a min... I didnt mean for that effect... Oh well, I'll be leaving soon.) Later on, I saw my reflection in the mirror, not nice at all leh.. looked like monster cos of the mask!?!

Later rushed off for guitar then jap class. Of course by jap class time, I am tired again. Cannot respond properly to questions.

B#tch Back...

There was an unmarried, single collegue who retired before I started and I am sitting at her former table. Then just recently, this collegue, named b***h, came back on contractual basis. Since I am sitting there, she took another table.

On thurs, one HOD, L, an individual with questionable motive, asked b***h casually why she wasnt sitting at her OLD seat. To which b***h replied cos its occupied and she was waiting for it to be vacated. Then she followed saying that she's barely gone a year and her smell is still there...(these almost her exact words)

Excuse me but I was sitting in the staffroom and of course heard this exchange, as a number of others. I was disgusted with both of them. Purposely by L and b***h. What, I was here first. For those who know me, I am neutral to everyone. I rather not judge at face value but subsequent actions and words affect my judgement of the person.... so my rating and respect for both of them dropped to distrust. I am also disturbed.

On fri, while eating lunch with my ex-mentor and the usual gang of collegues, I told them what b***h said. One indignant collegue remarked "what she needs is a good Fuck! That will fix her." All of us were laughing loud over mouthfuls of rice. Another joined in "but since she's never fucked, just any Fuck will do." Man, we laughed and I felt better. Really its the people that is important. They can make work hell... or make hell bearable with humor. Thurs lunch was also enjoyable with a good laugh and twisted humor abt things at work. Cant recall what we were laughing about but I am very comfortable with these collegues. I can say what I feel and they guide me along and inject humor into things. I shall miss them when I leave.

These few days my mom is not feeling well. It seemed fairly serious. So it means I will be homebound. It means I will still be going for Jap, guitar and dance classes but going home straight after. For the coming cosplay, see how things go. If my sisters are home for that day, then I can go out. Dun want to let her be at home alone. Luckily its still holidays for my sisters.

THIF!! (Thank God It's Friday)

After a long week (at least it feels kinda long for me), the glorious weekend is upon us. The good news is that this is a long weekend cos Monday is youth day.

This week I am shagged, (no... I'm not doing "yeah baby yeah" type of shag) not from partying but from doing full-day relief from Wed to Fri, all different classes, P3, P5 and P1. Its the usual, five minutes before school starts, you get notice and off you go to fill up the 7-8 periods with activities and lessons to keep the monkeys seated, advert chaos. Today was the P1 full day relief. After I sat down at the seat in the hall, one of the P1 teacher looked at me and say

"I am unmotivated... have to dig inside to find the motivation." I agree with her.

"Its the PASSION... hang in there." I added.

To which she replied "I have passion for everything else except this." I have to agree with her.

But TGIF...

Later after surviving a 5-period slot with the P1 and dismissing them, I returned to the Staff room and saw the same collegue munching a Snickers bar. Hmm comfort food. I also want my Long Island Tea...

There was another exercise which all Educators in my workplace had to do. The meeting rooms were newly renovated and there was to be a naming exercise in order to 'foster' some sort of belonging. And everyone HAD to come up with names. Hence a slip of paper was handed to everyone, whereby you have to write down your name and suggested names.

My suggested names....

The Exco room, I called it 'The ONE Room' (remember LOTR, the ONE ring to RULE them all... sounds very very familiar) Meant to poke fun at the autocracy at my workplace. Well what's new anyway.

The rest were more decent names like fusion cove and shepard's lodge for the teacher's room and pastoral care room.

At least I had my five minutes of 'fun' after a long week.

Later when I reached home, found out that my mom didnt feel well and went to doctor's. Seemed serious and I got worried. So while she was out, I helped do some housework instead of falling asleep in bed. She had gone to see a sinseh after the western doctor and returned later feeling better. I will try to help out more at home *promise*

And of course being shagged... after my mom came back feeling better, I concussed on bed and slept until eight. Dmn the friday is almost over!!! No!!! Am not really motivated at this point to study for my impending Jap test. Argh... I feel unsettled and went out to run errands. I headed straight for the 7-11 but didnt find that brand of Long Island Tea that I liked. *Sign* Settled for a Crunchies ice cream bar instead. My comfort food. Its been kinda of long since I last ate something sweet for comfort.