A Closure of Sorts..

Today signalled the end of the road for this boys as we rounded off our basketball campaign with a win over Xinmin with a score of 26-14. It was a good feeling to see this boys ending the tournament with 2 wins under their belt.

Not a basketball person, i was tasked to take the CCA by my HOD. I did it and also played and trained with the boys and their coach. It was tiring and fun at the same time. Im glad they took back some life's lessons from this few months of training. Little things like being focused and serious when there's a task at hand and also to show character by fighting back when things dont go your way. Cool stuff. =)

anyways principal approved my leave and im going to NOLS! CANT WAIT man. and also cant wait to go into PESS.. Can stay in hall and room with JVR. Can drive his car too. hee.

Good Night.

Finally.. a win!

Today went for the north zone basketball match against woodgrove.. i thought again a lost is on the cards, thankfully the boys restored some pride for our school. They fell behind 7-10 in the first quarter and even further in the 2nd quarter. Then they displayed character by fighting back to lead in the 3rd quarter and finally winning 43-33. A gutsy win indeed. Quite happy and proud of them.

Reflections

So.. i have settled the NOLS issue. i am GOING! yeah.. after much soul-searching i affirmed my intentions for going this course and found that it is beneficial to go.

Friday..

Went dinner with double G, JVR and fredo at outram park temporary market. Food was superb as we had bean paste fish head and claypot rice.. had a great time of fellowship as we adjourned to TPRS for teh-ping. Here's a nice pic of someone drinking guiness...

No prizes for guessing who's the person with such a hulk-ing presence (in the words of a pony)

Saturday: Two of my tuition kids were late. Then i flared at them.. haa.. think they wont ever dare to be late again. But the tuition as a whole went well.. think they benefitted and we chatted about school life and told them how to organize their time well so that they will use their time wisely.

Met jam for lunch and we chatted the whole afternoon about funds and everything else which was another good time of catch up.

Ran with Hammy and fredo.. and then dinner at crazy ang-mo..

Food's not bad... =)

Sunday: Svc was reflective and good as usual.. Today a friend prayed for me and God reminded me of the reason why i am where i am doing what im doing. Often when the going gets tough and we get drained and burned out.. we question why we are there.. but today i was brought back to the origin where God called me to impact lives and placed me where he wanted me to be. Thank God that he gave me this word from the friend. =) Not that im not tired all of a sudden. But now i have renewed purpose and i know why im doing this for.

I can now smile at 6pm even though im super tired. Praise God.

A Maligned person

Juz ended 2 coversations which really left me wondering what kind of person i am. The former left me agonising and the latter made me articulate out my reasons to explain myself.





Like those 2 pictures above where i was seen agonising in pain. This is exactly how i feel RIGHT now. The person that i trusted most has accused me of something that i feel has totally no relation to what im doing.



The background: AA wants to go for a course in the states. An outdoor educator's course for 24 days. Will clash with school coz need to take leave. Met objection in school. So AA asked his most trusted person what to do.


So MTP told AA to re-evaluate himself.. saying that AA is prideful by trying to bypass ophir to climb everest. That mayb AA would appreciate it if he went when he's older.

Well.. What if AA gets ladened with more responsibilities in future? like settling down.. getting a family and stabilising career. You never know what may happen in life.. why shouldnt AA grasp the chance at hand to learn more?


I mean.. is learning a prideful thing? a friend asked AA why he's so worked up when MTP said he's prideful.. is that true then? AA's worked up because he was wrongfully accused. I mean what sense is there to say learning new skills is something negative just because the person is young now and may lead to the person being arrogant upon being equipped with the skills.

AA is someone that has met with BIG failures in life before. Friends can attest that he's not one
to boast around..


Thats the story about AA..


Back to me.. I feel quite sad for AA.. I mean this thought never surfaced to him about showboating his latest rock-climbing skills and all upon completion of the course. I didnt know that wanting to upgrade one's skills in a specific area would draw so much flak. He told AA that AA might take it for a leisure trip and that the value of the course may not be felt as greatly as a middle-aged participant.


That i truely agree. a 40 yr old would definitely have more things to draw on upon reflection than a 21 yr old. But does that mean to say the 21 yr old is undeserving to attend the course?
Can one say for sure that if he passes a chance in his/her life now will certainly get the same exact opportunity a few years later?


Circumstances and situations change.. im sure AA wont want to live with regrets.. but right now i think he really needs to sort his thoughts out.. think i'll go give him a hand.

Count your blessings.. name them one by one

My pastor has been having the worship team to sing this song the for the past few sundays already. I was doing qt and it struck me that i should really do that. Though i whined about my school being this and that. Actually im very blessed to be in a school where i can focus on my PE and to be exposed in being in-charge of a CCA... I have gd frenz there and a strong PE dept.. Thank God for placing me here.

Today i really did the UNTHINKABLE.

Ask around and my friends will all tell you that im a quiet person and the last one on earth that you would turn to to Ra-Ra a group ala OGL style.
But guess what?! today during contact time the HOD suddenly told all the CTs to go to the hall to "maintain discipline" whilst the rest of the teachers continue.. i was wondering.. are CTs 2nd class? not needed at the mtg? i dont know. anyway.. we went to the hall and we had half an hour to ra-ra the kids.. my gosh.

The other CTs also conveniently siam-ed the mike.. and it ended up in my hands..
Gosh. i started talking SEL stuff to them.. talking about their dreams and also what to expect this year until i really ran out of ideas and i taught them cheers and claps.. in the HALL...Crazy!

But response was good lah. not that i did it to show im zai or what. but somebody had to step up i guess.. Nowadays very busy with settling the basketball team issues and Outdoor camp stuff.

Ciaoz.

Same old wrongs resurfaced =s

The things that have resurfaced-

1. Female students with attitude problems during PE lesson

2.Last-minute ad-hoc assignments that come to you that is due in less than 24hours.

3.Thrust with new duties outside your job scope without guidance.

Haha.. what's new? you may think.. well for those who think im whining.. i cant stop you. I guess i am.

The first point- Once again the girls of the older classes are giving me problems due to their attitude in class and their level of participation, or the lack thereof. Refusal to follow syllabus is seen as an outright challenge of my authority. This revokes bad memories of a netballer in last year's school team perpetually giving me problems by refusing to cooperate and instigating others to not participate during lessons unless its her favourite netball or captain's ball. And there was nothing i could do but speak to her and explain to her my rationale. Well, it was futile as she had grown too big for her shoes.. So today when this basketball girl showed me signs of diva-esque attitude, i did not hesitate to give her a piece of my mind. I was not about to let this matter pass. Another one refused tuck in her shirt despite repeated calls. Another deserving candidate of the hairdryer treatment. I mean.. if i dont give it to them now, when they grow up what kind of monster will they become? I really am not relishing that thought.

Point2 - Given a last minute assignment to go pick some fixtures for my school at some faraway land in the northeast. Thought initially to be given to other teachers to attend the meeting. I found robin hood hitting a bullseye at my back to attend it with less then 20 hrs to the meeting. What can i say? suck thumb? yes thats what i did.. so im still going there nonetheless.. Last minute things are unavoidable at times, so they say, but is that really the case? with planning.. i dont think this would have happened.. and now im missing my class for the whole day.

Point 3- haha.. this one really tickles me.. i kena-ed some funny committee that even most closest friends would agree that this is so NOT-me. but still i was tasked to do it.. worse still, there are no guidelines as to what to do in my role and its up to my own discretion of how to perform the role to the best of my ability. If you do it well-thats called having initiative.
If you screwed it up-thats called geh-kiang.. haha..

Well thats working life for you.. i'll take it with a pinch of salt. Enjoy my job and the company with the kids- thats whats important. Take some time to sort it out lah.. Maybe it'll fall into place if you pray. I should. Nite.

A whistle-trotting PE teacher

What a week this has been! Trying to adjust to the normal sleeping pattern again has been tough.. think it'll take awhile for me to adjust.. still sleeping at late hours like 12plus or 1am.. Cant be helped i guess.. brought forward from the hols.

This is the first week where official lessons were carried out. I went into this week fully prepared with my lesson plans and rules expecting to begin the year with a bang. Just to set the record straight.. PE teachers are a misunderstood lot.. People always think that we are slack just because we have lesser academic subjects and hence lesser marking. Well I have always thought that those who harbour such thoughts are truly shallow. I mean this is our specialisation and we also have to be equipped with the necessary skills to deliver proper lessons that benefit the students. Not just throw a ball and say go and play... then what kind of value-adding are you talking about? I have 11 PE classes.. and all the equipment that i have to prepare for each lesson is different and im in the sun the whole day. So i dont know why the other educators are making noise that we are free. if they are so unhappy.. why not switch to PE? haha.. Maybe thats why they say that the grass is always greener on the other side.

well.. a PE teacher.. a whistle-trotting one..

I guess i dont blow the whistle as hard as the dude in the picture. Well my kids are cute la.Very cute in fact. They love running very much and simple games can make them happy. I have been teaching track and field for this term and simple things like starts and baton exchange.. they seem very happy! and im glad..

What im not pleased about is all the administration and meetings.. They are all very DETAILED ( this is a polite way of putting it) And i feel that im wasting my time sitting in all these meetings because im not involved at all.. haiz.. its a stronger endurance test than any marathon i tell you. Now i know how those ADHD kids feel...haha

My science class also brought my teaching to a new level. ive a kid that cant speak and write english. So i had to speak to him in malay.. for the uninitiated, i can speak proper malay. Its really tough, sometimes i wonder what the parents are doing.. Quite a sad case you know.. cant help him much..got to handle 39 others also.. Must Pray..=) Also brought my Basketball boys out for two friendlies.. though we lost both matches, they improved and showed greater tactical awareness by the time the 2nd friendly came. hmm. i feel kinda alone in school once again. not many ppl that i can really confide in. Maybe i placed too much expectations on others to sustain the friendship? i think so. Otherwise i wouldnt feel like that. Should relax abit and let it be la.

All in all i want to thank God for this academic week because i've picked up some good pointers and sharpened as a teacher and person.

A Happening Weekend

By saying its happening i mean its really been packed with fun-filled events that would otherwise have been another mundane saturday and sunday..

Anyway i have decided to not go for the sabah adventure challenge.. well hammy and energiser also agreed that its was too short a time to train for it..

tmr's my first lesson with my PE classes!! really excited!! i want to go in and start building up rapport with them and hopefully influence them to want to learn and pick skills with an intrinsic motivation. Tough i know, but i'll still try...

Michael Jordan once said: I can accept failure, everyone fails at something, but i cant accept not trying.

Started my saturday visiting my dentist Dr Oh, a really nice chap that throws in freebies everytime i go and charges me a minimum.. whoever wants to visit him let me know.. a Great dentist..

Then went gym with hammy and he let me in to the true art of being a hamster.. we ran on treadmills! he does that daily in his cage.. well..

After that came the highlight.. we went to meet a group of church friends and went to botak jones for dinner.. It was a massive group we had abt 18 to 20 ppl? and a small group of myself, mich, hammy and Derfla Nal ordered to share a jug of mango margerita. . That was it... The GP Derfla went berserk and downed 2 cups in quick succession as if he was some drought survivor from nairobi.. Thinking that it suited his mantra of "VALUE FOR MONEY" he drank as though there was no tmr.. well at that rate he almost couldnt see tmr... his face was flushed and had bloodshot eyes.. Derfla was DRUNK! serious.. he started wielding his china-bought wuxia sword-umbrella -ellla -ella and started poking hammy for no reason. Large squeals of laughter soon followed and derfla was high.. he started talking nonsense and started asking G.Ho who's in the house.. omigosh.. luckily we stopped him from drinking further and G.ho bought him a cup of hot tea.. Gosh i didnt know he cant hold his liquor..

Then we got him to pose with his wuxia umbrella.. and a farmer's hat..

He couldnt even open his eyes.. gdness.. DRUNK Derfla Nal...

Remember.. please declare in future that you cant drink.. and dont GP just to get your value for money.

Should I Go ?

In Life I guess we always have to make tough decisions and live by them. But somehow im rather cautious as i really want to weigh my options before making a choice. Two new terms i learnt from a wise sage- ROI (return of investment) and RAMS (risk adversity management system) ..For the ROI, when we invest our time in something, are we going to get back the returns that we hoped for? and for RAMS.. how much am I willing to put at risk?

For those who are lost.. im talking about whether to join the sabah adventure challenge race. Its and adventure race held in sabah.. crazily shiong.. its 18okm in 3 days.. and im factoring in my other commitments to see if i should go ahead with it.

1. Driving.. not completed yet.

2. My tuition kid.. another commitment.

3. Sch Outdoor Camp in march- thats my main project b4 i leave the sch.

4. Sundown marathon 31st may

5. NOLS summer course in Washington

what are the pros of the race?

1. Great Scenery- get to cover mount kinabalu

2.Exposure to an expedition length race.

Cons :

1. Application of leave..

2.Money (its abt 500+)

3.Training time

I really think the odds are stacked against me now to do this race.

firstly we only have two months to condition our bodies.. to do a 180km race?! thats madness ppl normally take a year to do that.. and we want to get sponsorships.. how to get it done in time? everything's just to rush. i REALLY am interested in it. i mean AR is like the 2nd most impt thing that i live for.. im still kinda unsure.. Can i do this next time?

Would i be happier if i said i leave this till the next time this race comes along? or am i just shirking the chance to go for a bona fide race?

Confusing eh.. think i'll go give myself some time to think it thru..

I have raced in many races.. Loved each one of them..

Abit ego i know.. forgive me but i'll just list down my record anyways..

1. BBAQ 2003 Champion

2.NTU ODAC 2004 ATC 3rd

3.NTU X-Physique 2005 12th

4.BBAQ 2007 Champion

5. Punggol Picnic 2007 2nd

6.Adventure Singapore 2007 Champion

Team Born Again ( NTU ODAC ATC 2004 ) Praying before the race..

My 2nd team (team Xuper-Phat Attitude) Highly cohesive team that did great
Sadly.. Nat has gone down under to study, jam's heart not to gd and jem is busy studying. haiz

Thats me climbing at the race.

Thank God for his grace and blessing on this team.. really. we managed to get 2nd thanks to the Lord watching over us.. though this may never race togther again, I am contended that the Lord has given us an opportunity to have raced alongside each other.

Ubin Cycling Trip Dec '07

Thought i would post up some nice pics from the ubin cycling trip we went two weeks back.

At the jetty waiting for the bumboat.. look at yeti-ho's face.. haha

Highest point of ubin at 7 storeys high at chek jawa

Interesting Balance Beam: Both are quite light..

Nice Quarry Back Ground

Nice impersonation of Ah-tiong ge.



How can we forget our pouting friend? (Even though he was in china)

Take a Break : Have a 100 plus.

And the best pic for last: Me and James.. same top with nice backdrop.

It rhymes..

My Debut Post! (A brief Introduction)

Greetings to all and Happy new Year! This is my first post and most befittingly, at the start of the year 2008!

I really want to thank my friend Hammy(I'll get you nuts later for snacks) for bugging me to start a blog so that i can pen my thoughts down online.

Generally I am an educator that loves the outdoors, sports, AR and running. I also do food reviews for streetdirectory.com. and also a running ambassador for adidas singapore. I attend Revival Centre Church with some really mentally-needy friends..
Just to give you a brief intro of who I hang out with: here goes...

From Left-Right (Pout-er, Me and King)

On the left is my good friend since JC and Police days, his name is Pony Lan. He loves walking long distances and dislikes rice. An indication of unhappiness would be the gravity-defying moves of his lips.

On my right is his royal highness the King of Castle Green. He was from the armoured regiment of his royal troops and got best PT. He loves riding 2 wheels(bicycle) and also looking for good teh-ping. That explains why we tried to conquer sri-lanka for its superb tea-leaves in ceylon to get the best brew for his highness.

The next group is in the next picture:

Only the backrow: From left

Gavindersamy s/o Wang : They call him blur and detailed. well i have to agree having known him since JC.

Ho-ties Ho Kum Seng: He is a great chap, NUS clown and we're always in for a good show when he and hammy gets together.

Next one is Hammy! : Thanks for helping me to set up. Another NUS clown but good bro he's another super fitster man. Somehow he personifies all animals.. even a hornbill.

And the one wearing the same shirt as me is JVR!-energiser! My JC classmate he's really my shadow, we have been doing same things together since JC.. cool dude.. he has a caffeine pump in his heart put in by the Singaore cardio society.. that explains his hyperactivity. Others say he ADHD..

2007 has been a good year for me, want to thank God for his faithfulness and providence.

I believe he placed me in education for good reason and i want to thank him for giving me a purpose.

For 2008~

1. I want to be a good educator-fulfilling God's purpose in my life.

2.Know God himself better and draw closer to him!

3. Enter PESS-must work hard!

4.Write more food reviews and eat superb food!

5.Join AR and do Marathons!