Pollyana Cowgirl

Got through the week

What can I say? Except...

Congratulations to myself for getting through the week in one piece!

I suppose it is no big deal really... since teaching is not new to me, but, being away from home will never be easy. So, I have been keeping things in perspective and taking care of my physical and emotional well-being so that it will not affect my work.

After spending a week with my three new classes (including my new form class), I am starting to realise that kids or TEENAGERS will always share similar traits no matter which part of the world they are in.

My three new classes, for ease of classification are as follows: The Zoo, The Discovery Centre and The National Library. As diverse as hot chocolate, coffee and juice. I shall not even attempt describing the individuals in those three places of interest. Admitedly, I still do not know my students well, and I can not even remember their names (except for the few who either remind me of people I know and thus I have an easier task of remembering OR the ones that stand out of the crowd for reasons... good and bad).

My new form class is uncannily similar to 05S01, my first form class at TPJC! The students in the class are considered 'good' by other teachers (I do not know them yet... so 3rd party information is as reliable as it gets!) and my impression of them, based on my gut and my relatively sound Emotional Quotient Register is that they are a well-behaved bunch who are focused and want to do well academically. I feel comfortable with them, enough to lower my guard just that mili-centimetre less and I really hope things go well during the course of the year. Having a form class helps me to feel more involved with the school and it is always nice to have a group of people to 'take care' of. Motherly instinct ALERT!

I have been asking around, to see what the others around me are doing during the Chinese New Year holidays. There is no denying that I really want to fly home, but at the same time, I am trying to conserve capital and 'homesickness'. I reckon, if I return home too soon, I might be in a situation where I will want to return home again. So, perhaps it might be better to have a longer hiatus and then return home when I get a bit too dandy for my own good. In the meantime, I am staying occupied and looking forward to going out with my new colleagues this weekend to immerse myself in the local scene!

Now, for the update on the 'Running Timetable'. Countdown for the year`s BIG event! My 3rd Marathon. Yes yes, I know it is in Dec, but I plan to improve on my timing slowly and very steadily. I thought that my training regime will be severly affected by my move to Jakarta since I can not and will not jog around my area (am being a filial daughter and listening to Papa and Mummy!). To my delight there is a well-equipped gym in my condo and I have been tracking my progress. So far so good!

A long term challenging goal.. Where the mind is supposed to triumph over the body! Mr Scowler and I decided to attempt the marathon again this year though we are unable to train together this year, he is doing his own stamina and endurance training while I am doing mine over here. I hope it will be a 'tradition' of ours... running the marathon! For as long as my legs can carry me...

Running the race meant a lot to me last year... for a variety of reasons. Finishing it with him meant even more (erm... despite the fact that I snapped quite a few times during the runs because he kept going ahead of me! Hello mate! We are supposed to run together!). He might scowl often enough... and I am not the nicest smelling runner after 21km... but, thank you. Hee.

I have been keeping up with the news and I see another round of 'thank-yous' necessary at this juncture.

TT Durai, thanks for everything. (I am keeping it short and sweet. The poor man must have enough curses rained on him that he alone can halt the El Nino effect and droughts around the world single-handledly.)

I can imagine Papa and Mummy getting all upset about their lost dollars that were invested in the hospitality and welfare trust fund of the Durai Inc. Had fun in First Class Sir? Enjoy the rest of the journey... Beggars can not be choosers. Crisp and clear plain water?

posted by Poot @ 5:35 PM