Photos of the Camp

Pupils listening to the guide during the Sungei Buloh trip.












Picture taken during the camp fire.












Part of the class during the canoeing programme.











Pupils have a great time having lunch after their nice canoeing activity











Boys having a good time at the Camp Fire.

The BIG Camp!

Time check: 4.05am
I can't fall asleep at all in school. After marking some projects, I thought I would knock out but I am so wrong. Now, I am mentally and physically tired and yet can't sleep. Tried sleeping head down on the table but I fear that my neck might 'break' or my spine might 'snap'. All the recliners are taken up by my colleagues and even my sleeping bag is with another colleague who needs a back rest.

I am imagining my dark circles getting darker and darker every second and my skin getting drier and drier in this cold staff room with thunder and lightning looming outside. Sounds kind of sad, right?

Nay! Actually I am secretly enjoying myself, listening to the radio online and typing my blog. Have always liked the sound of rain and hence I have no complains about it. Though I am a little worried about how we are going to survive the trip to Sungei Buloh in a few hours' time. The staffroom is really still except for the sound of my typing (Poor Agnes! She is fidgeting and I think it is partly due to my typing...oops!)

I guess I must be pretty excited. Afterall it has beena while since I last stayed overnight in a camp. Makes me feel kind of young. Hmmmm...where has my youth gone to?

The past, present and the future...

Went on a trip with the Sec 1s to the Civic District today. I am totally washed out, exhausted and drained. At the end of the day, I can't help but to feel amazed at myself! Not bragging at all. To handle 26 super active and highy-easily-distracted bunch of 12 / 13 year-olds, you really need to be at tip-top condition! Thankfully I was at least 75% there or else I think I will really collapse!

One of the pupils immediately pointed out when there saw this scene on the bus. "Teacher! UFO!" Well, this is definitely an interesting contrast. The old Supreme court against the new Supreme Court. I can't help but to feel a little dismay at the sight. I have always liked the architecture of the Old Supreme court but with the new Supreme Court as the backdrop, somehow the skyline is no longer that pretty to look at.

The bum boat ride was something new for me. It

was my first time on the boat and I was a little apprehensive about it. Indeed, when we headed out to Esplanade, the waves got a little choppy and the boat really shaking. All my worries about the pupils misbehaving on the boat were dashed as they too were a little shaken by the waves. Nevertheless, I felt really happy that they really enjoyed themselves on the ride.

Actually also got to know a few interesting facts during the trip! I mean how many of you really know the real intentions behind the design of the Esplanade? Hee hee...I know it! Ask me presonally if you want to find out. Also, is the Botero statue of the bird in front of UOB at Raffles place really a bird or something else is intended?

On the whole, I did enjoy myself on the trip. Not too sure if the kids learnt anything from the trip, I definitely learnt a lot more about Singapore especially after all the changes that are made to the Civic District, one can't help but to feel amaze (a little dismay) at the speed at which we are all changing.

The story about hair

Can't believe that a simple wish to cut my hair can result in frustration and irritation! I had wanted to get my hair cut at Tampines Kimage thinking that the one at Telepark is closed for renovation. Turned out that the branch was packed with customers and was unable to accept anymore bookings. Luckily, I found out from the lady there that the Kimage at Telepark has already opened for business. Happily, I called up the Telepark branch but to find out that they too are fully booked for the day! So, I decided to try out at PHASE which was recommended by Jules (near Kimage Tampines) and to my dismay, Wednesday is their rest day. Knowing that today is a BAD day to have my hair cut, I decided to call up Kimage at Funan and guess what? The stylist I asked for is also fully booked for the entire day!

Thanks to the above episode, I have a few conclusions about today.

1. Today is a bad day to have my hair cut.
2. After trying your luck at the 1st 3 options that resulted negatively, forget about trying a 4th option either it won't work or it might turn out badly.
3. Kimage's business is really good today. And I guess we can conclude that they have good hairstylists.

Most importantly, I think all these happened for a reason. I think these are signs warning me NOT to get a haircut today. Can you imagine? If I had insisted on having that haircut today, I could have been given a disastrous haircut or worse, a cut on my face? Well...shouldn't be that extreme. Just trying to think of something good and not feel horrible about it.

Hmmm...this also allows me more time to think about what kind of hairstyle should I get? Any suggestions?

A brand new start!

Check out the quote above on happiness. How many of us truely follow that? I am guilty of chasing for happiness, perhaps that's why I haven't been happy. Looking back at my previous blog also makes me realise how miserable I have been and as a result, I was blinded to the small little things that had made me happy. It is time to start a new blog, perhaps. To share but not to grouse as grouses can be found everywhere in every nook and corner of Singapore.

As what a true teacher will always do, state objectives!! I will TRY to dedicate this blog to the sharing of thoughts on issues, movies, music, pictures and any other things that interest me and inspire me to give my own perspective. In a sense, it is training for me to learn to look at things differently afterall it is time for me to OPEN MY EYES and stop being blinded to things.

I will be looking forward to see how this blog will turn out. Sincerely hope that this one will be more inspiring to read.

The mountain that broke our spectacles

I am sure many of you (those more than 21 years old) would have encountered this question more than once in recent weeks, 'Have you seen Brokeback Mountain?' If your answer is 'yes', the question that follows will be, 'How did you find it?' Or 'Do you like it?' I know this because I happen to be one of those who will ask these questions and people, too, will ask me the same questions.

So, what would be my responses? Yes, I have seen the film. As too whether I like it or not, I have not quite decided but I think I do not like it more than I like it. Why? To be honest, I haven't been able to sit down (like in the past) to write down thoughts about movies due to my busy schedule and hence haven't been able to give this a serious thought.

However, with more flaks given to the Oscar for snubbing Brokeback in the Best Picture award, I guess I dislike the movie more than I like it probably because of the theme butI am not anti-homosexuality. I am just a little uncomfortable with the idea yet at the same time curious about why people choose this path. Another possible reason why I dislike it more is perhaps because I am a female, I will probably prefer to see the development of a relationship to be more romantic - boy like girl and makes effort to win the heart - while this movie has crafted a relationship that is much more intense and physical. As a result, I started to question 'why did they fall for each other in the first place?'

Compare this movie with another German movie, 'Summer Storm' (left). Now, that movie shows the romantics of a relationship although it is between people of the same gender. It is about the realisation of one's preference to love. It also talks about unrequited love unlike Brokeback which was a two-way relationship. However, both movies do have the same impact on me towards the end - Heart-breaking. For Brokeback, I am sure many sentimental fools, like me, will forever remember the two scenes on how the shirts of Jack and Ennis were hung and placed. I thought that was really beautiful. As for Summer Storm, those who have watched it will remember the rejection faced by the boy and how his life changed. Who says that only women are capable of feeling and more irrational when it comes to relationships.