Travelling

So, I've been thinking...

Travel is fun! Not exactly a relaxing thing to do - and, it doesn't need to be!

I want to travel to quite a few places near Singapore. A bit ashamed to admit this, but I've only recently looked at the map and have visually defined where Singapore is in relation to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

Thailand is so close, and it's closer to fly to Vietname than the Hong Kong!?!?!

I've been to one place: Bali, Indonesia.

Next up on the schedule is: an island in Malaysia

There are a few places that are a 45 min ferry ride away from Singapore (Bintan, Batam) but I'd prefer to go to few other places, in no particular order:

Thailand:
Beach: Krabi or Koh Samui. Prefer Krabi, less touristy.
City: Chiang Mai. I think I'd choose to come here more than Krabi... as much as I love the beaches, culture and history, and elephant parks is something that I want to experience.

Vietnam:
city: Saigon aka. Ho Chi Minh


Malaysia:
don't really have any preference. Though, the beaches would be nice.

Laos:
Don't know why, but I'm just not pulled to go visit.

Indonesia:
city: Jakarta to be squished in with the other 18 million people in the city.

Cambodia:
no clue. need to do more research


Any thoughts on where else to go, what to do in South East Asia?

Today

Heading over to register for a club membership :) that way, I'll be able to go swim!! :)

Ran with a colleague today, did the 2km without stopping!! It was good! Feel refreshed!
Sent via BlackBerry from SingTel!

Restless

It's hard not to be! I'll be getting about 14x30 exams to mark tomorrow, but there are so many things to look forward to!!

I went running yesterday evening, and I did a full 2K without stopping, was gasping for air and had to force my legs to keep moving so they don't collaspe under me, but the running was great! I went again today, haven't had a run this late before, the sun was already almost down - 7:05pm, but I made the 2K again, and this time it wasn't that painful!! So, I want to do it again: tomorrow and thursday. See if I can do it a few days in a row and improve my stamina!!

And. Of course only until Thursday, because friday, I have an F1 event to go to!!! My very first Formula One event!! Will need to remember to charge the camera and have a free 2GB Memory stick! It'll be a lot of fun with my fab ladies!

I've finished writing something for work, which makes me feel great!!! And, without classes this week, I should have much more time to study at home!!! I did some extra studying this weekend. I'm hoping to get in at least an extra two sessions in these two weeks :) I'll let you know how it goes.

So, if I can keep up with this sort of running, I'll need to get a new pair of runners and another tank and pair of running shorts. But, we'll see how it goes!! If anything, that will need to wait til next month. Speaking of exercise and such, I'm thinking of joining a club that's not too far from where I live! It's great that I get a really wicked deal for the membership since it's affiliated with my company. So, if everything works out, I'll have access to a 50m swimming pool. Hopefully go for a swim every other weekend or something like that!

An looking forward to the hang of things. Things will turn out alright.
Sent via BlackBerry from SingTel!

St James Power Station

It's been a long time since I've gone to bed so late in the night. Reminded me of the song: 4 in the morning.

The power station was quite awesome. I learned from my cabbie that the power station's quite busy on the weekends, even the non-holiday weekends, and even on sunday evening!

The station had quite a number of rooms, each playing a different kind of music. I gotta admit, the best room was the first room we went into: the salsa room. I wish we'd stayed there longer!! and of course, we also went to DragonFly, since that's where the ladies' night was!

It was great to have a few more people there. One of the gals brought her roommate plus roommate's sister! :)

It was a lot of fun!! Will def go back if I get the chance, and next time, not in stilettos.

Sent via BlackBerry from SingTel!

My first Travel Trip here

This coming week is the holidays, and I'll be going off to Indonesia!!!

Bali.

Kuta.

Can't wait to go for a spa/massage and soak up the sun.

With lots of sunscreen on, of course.


Probably won't be blogging during my stay there - but will write about it when i get back!

Heading Home from Chinatown

My plan went a bit wonky today. I've always planned to have my Sundays to be my working day - a day dedicated for me to do work related work, and my own self-studying work. I usually begin by making breakfast, and starting off with some marking. I like to give myself a block of 3-4 hours to just study, straight. Usually, the only time that fits such a large chunk of time is after lunch. So, about now.

Managed to look over a few things and do a bit if planning for my classes when I see them.

I've come to Chinatown to exchange some monies for my little trip to Indonesia. Really need to work on sticking to my planned budget.

Can't wait, I take off tomorrow evening!

Sent via BlackBerry from SingTel!

Sept 1, Teacher's Day

There's a Celebration day that grants students, teachers and teaching staff a holiday from school: Teacher's Day.

The celebration, usually takes place the day before Teacher's Day, is an event for students to pay tribute to their teachers. It's such a heart-warming event/occasion.

We also had a Teacher's Day Dinner, organized by the school for the staff to get together and have dinner. It was great - a good time to get to know the other teachers and speak with a few of the deputies.

:)

Will write again. Trying to post pictures up on facebook, but the Internet is not being cooperative. Will try again later.

Sent via BlackBerry from SingTel!
Reply

Forward

Testing

Just trying out this email to blog feature - I think I'll really boost my posting frequency.

Made a morning trip to the grocers. Now, heading out to mall to pick up a few books a ordered a week ago (really glad that I'm able to pick up the books now - a week earlier than I had anticipated!!)


I need to write about last night. My first time out to an art musuem, and it was a lot of fun!! It was my first experience with an "art museum" and it was interactive.
I loved the "vertical submarine" exhibition. You got to go into this closet (guarded by two black hooded/masked men - they looked like robbers in guard clothing). The closet led into another room. It was great! Standing inside the exhibit, you would see "people coming out of the closet". Literally. It was quite a clever, ingenious and funny way to get people to be a part of the art. Loved it. Another part of the exhibit had people make art. This artist had her background in education, and her work revolves around her interaction with people/children/adults/older adults, etc. She would record conversations and video what people were doing, how they interacted with each other. Their art was her art. It was fantastic. I ended up pastelling an amoeba.

Fun times.

Sent via BlackBerry from SingTel!

a little late

It's been two months already?!

It has been two months!

My sincere apologies for not updating you sooner. Life overseas is quite the experience.
The food. Oh, the food. I can talk about food for a long time.
The culture, the students, the work. Things have been going quite smoothly.

The transition from Toronto to Singapore has been a rather smooth one.

Though, i owe much. two months worth of photos, and e-mails. A bit pathetic, I admit. I'll get to it this weekend.

A few weeks ago, I decided to pick up jogging. Looking at my jogging patterns for the last three weeks, it has been rather... sporadic. I ran 3 times/week, then twice a week, and I haven't jogged since Sunday for this week, and Friday is already around the corner.



I want to talk to you about a movie that I've seen lately: GIA.
It is a very good drama. I highly recommend it if you are a Jolie admirer, or are up for a good drama. A warning though, the content is mature and is not suitable for children/young adults.

a game of D & D

My first time playing a RPG, and it was lots of fun.

Thanks to kenny for taking the time to think of the plot, and the story development.

I also learned a lot about myself tonight. That i still learning to think about the bigger picture, learning to make sense of everything. Learning.... learning....

Packing and things

I don't know why I'm such a slow packer!!
I find myself just sitting there thinking of what and how I should pack instead of just crakcing down to it, and to get a moving!!!

Got me a few suitcases.. so the things will be getting into the the luggage sacks.

Leaving for SG

that i am, that i am!!

I'll be leaving June 7th. It'll be in three weeks form tomorrow. I was talking to Ju yesterday, and it seems so close, but so far away.

There are so many things I want to do before I go, so many things to do, like pack and things. But, there's so little time!

I am starting to appreciate time. To appreciative thinking about what I need to do. Appreciative of planning. I think, that the last week was the first time where every morning, I'd thinking about the things that i needed to do that day, and then every night, i'd think about all the things that i needed to do the next day, and a few days ahead. I'm working on it.

Lots of things to do.

MD school is a thought that is lurking at the back of my mind. i'll explore it more when I'm in SG.

Staying on top of things...

someone is not really on the ball with things.

I need an organizer.

I carry too many things. too many redundant things.

we talked about a few things - getting an organizer that i carry with me everywhere - one of those with a pen attached so I will always have something to write in. And then, contemplating investing in a blackberry. So, i will have everything in one. not a separate pda or a calender and contacts, a seaprate phone, a separate music player. I wonder if i can get the blackberry to do a google calender function: to email me all the events that I have that week.

anywho. maybe i'll talk to hei about it tmr.

Internship

This has been the first week of my internship, and it's been going great!!!

I've been working with students on the robotics project, where students build robots from lego parts and program the robots to move down a path and go to different stations. The first station is the food and water station, where students need to program their bot to go to the station and then head back to the safe base. The food and water station is the closest station away from the 'safety' zone that they are in. Then, they try to get their bots to the radio station where it's a bit further away, and they program the bot to talk, like its speaking on the radio. And finally, they try to get their bot to reach the rescue station, where everyone upon reaching, everyone is safe!!!

Really neat and cool project!! I can't believe that I got a chance to work on it, it's such a privilege!!

re: Battling

After reading a friend's post...

do i agree.

We are our own greatest opponent. And, I daresay, greatest enemy.

Let there be no self-defeat.

decisions, decisions.

what can i say... decisions....

Thanks for the good night

Thank you for coming out last night!!!

It was great to see you there to celebrate yet another year of my life.

you guys are so thoughtful.

The cheesecake, was amazing!!!! thank you chris! ^^

untitled

It hasn't dawned on me yet, how life will be, as a lone individual, placed in a country where I have no connections, no friends. In an environment where I have never set foot on before.

I am, I know, nervous of this experience, yet both excited an interested at the same time.

There is so much for me to learn There is so much that I can build upon.
I know that the field of teaching, is not a job that you do perfect in day one. Rather, it is a profession where your skills can be refined over the years, as gold is refined through the fire. Of course, only if the gold is willing to be refined.

How did things happen so fast?

It seemed like only yesterday, and it is likely that within two short months, I will be on my way to the other side of the world.

What will I do to keep in touch with my friends here? What can I do to keep the relationships running? I know that for some, time and space does not move or sway, or lessen the relationship, but without communication, there is no understanging. And, where are we if there is no understanding?

I must confess that it is I who is lacking contributing with time and effort. I know that I have said this bfore, but have also failed to perform any substantial actions to better strengthen and build those relationships. And, if these are people who are so close to me, who live jus down the street, who live just a 15 minute drive away.... how will I fare when I am 4,000 kilometeres, a 14 hour plane flight away? It will take that much more time and effort on my part to make up those contributions.

I know that perhaps I am being more worrisome than things really are. I have freinds who I don't see that often, and we can hang out for the weekend (bow)!!

If things do happen... this will be my first time out and away. As in really being on my own.

Let's keep in touch.

there is time....

I've found the time to post a blog. More like, decided to use my time to post a blog.

Things have been moving! swell!

They are on the improving!

We did a soil lab today, and I think the students enjoyed that portion of the lab. It was probably the most engaging part, because the students got to go 'investigate' the pH of the soil!

I'm also doing a lab tomorrow. Acid Rain, and planting seeds. I really hope that things work out!
*fingers crossed*

Planning

Is training!

Definitely a way that helps me stay focused and on task. Only, some parts are easier than others. Of course, there's no free lunch. And, i do think that what i put into it, is what i will get out of it.


Let the planning marathon continue!

i need hearts!!!

Anyone know where I can find cow, pig, sheep hearts?

oh, how we try for education.

away from home?

as in, many, many miles away?

think I could do that? Perhaps for a new experience or for the prospects of having a job...

the job hunt does continue, and how far am I willing ot go to have my hands on one?

It is possible that I will have an offer to work overseas.

It's time for me to really consider.

meeting someone new

So, I've me someone new, someone that I've never come across before in my life.

Someone, that I think carries with them a lot of experiences, humiliation, roughness, being scorned and of course to be who they are, they are tough.

she's really tall. gets clothes from tall girls.

somehow, i feel that i admire her and at the same time, have a whole surge of other feelings... pity? sadness? wanting to reach out and share a bit of my heart?

I'm not too sure.



Today was a really good day. I had a chance to have somewhat of a heart-to-heart talk with my teach. Having faith, and having a purpose. For the little smaller things to count more than the huge grand ending/grand purpose.


And most of all, i thank you.
You helped me get through my roughest days. Adding on that bit of oil that i need to smoothen out the rough patches. You remind me that this is a practice session, and well, in order to practice, of course i need to make mistakes, and i need to learn from them!
I know that i need to look at failure in a positive light. And, of course, if I don't fail, how can i learn? If I don't think that I'm not doing well, how can I actually improve?


And, another thing: for me to take the time to realize what I really enjoy doing, what I really want to do in life. I want to become more than I already am. I want to get off my lazy ass and become that person who is responsible and lives up to my expectations.

Anyways, needt o get back to work. ciao.

a few quotes

Right now, these quotes are so heart warming:


"you need to add oil.

both figurtively and actually

there is no rough patch which some good old WD40 can't smoothen.

tigres are the king of the forests. don't get scared of the little bunnies"
-Lz
09.03.09

"Tests alone can't evaluate teachers."

(Gerald Bracey, researcher/writer in education matters)

"Correction does much, but encouragement does more."

(Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe)

"Never fail to know that if you are doing all the talking, you are boring somebody."

(Helen Gurley Brown) [From Sanderson Smith, via Rex Boggs]

"To succeed, you must first improve; to improve, you must first practice; to practice, you must first learn; to learn, you must first fail"

(Wesley Woo) [From Sanderson Smith, via Rex Boggs and Jonathan Lundell]


"Fail again. Fail better."

(Jonathan Lundell)


---------
Most of these quotes just cut straight to the chase, right through to the heart.

Learning encouragement. I want to learn encouragement.

Giving second chances. If I believe in giving second chances, then I must act it.

day one

So, today was my first day....

it was exhausting....

hope for a new day!!