Ross’ blog helped me decide what to write about today. Buses. I don’t like them. Trains, hurrah and huzzah for trains! Maybe it’s because I grew up in the ‘head, maybe it’s because we used to get the train to Belfast when we were little and it was an adventure, but there just something about them that if you have to travel with strangers in close proximity is better.
Now I am decidedly car-less, public transport is the way forward, literally. Singapore has a underground system called the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit). But alas, I can’t really use it for my transportation needs as they don’t have a station where I live or where I work. So it’s the bus for me.
Buses are hard for me to work out. First of all there’s the worry that I have just missed one, then that the next one might not arrive for three days, then when one does arrive I have a panic that I might have got on the wrong one. Then when I do get on, chances are I won’t get a seat. I have to watch for my stop and I always have the fear that I'll my stop incase. Even when I do see it coming I'm scared the bus driver won’t stop.
On my first day of proper teaching I thought I got off at the right stop, but no. Then, in my naivety I thought it was the next stop so I walked. Nope not that one either. Eventually I realised that the only thing for it was to admit defeat and get back on the next lucky bus 75 that came my way. Twenty minutes later I was stepping on that bus. Stress doesn’t even cover it. I barely made it in before the announcements in assembly. An auspicious start I think you’ll agree.
But I have discovered something that makes bus rides better. This morning, to celebrate my return to the world wide web, I listened to the Chris Moyles podcast. I tried in vain to hide my undulating shoulders as I laughed (nearly out loud) at the fake local radio interviews with bad sound. I actually think Dominc Bryne is hilarious. Go here to listen to it, about 20 minutes in.
It's coming up to the big hour of eleven o’clock. Bed time for me, I have to get up early for the ruddy bus.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
All quiet on the eastern front
I had a forced absence from blogging. Due to the aforementioned restricted access in school and other things going on in the evening I was unable to use tinternet in the hotel. But I am back. And I bring you tidings of great joy.
I no longer live in a hotel. Oh no no. The planets aligned together to provide an apartment that was available immediately. I also managed to get my employment pass (critical to getting an apartment I discovered) in the nick of time. The apartment was not too much over my budget and I was the successful bidder. I moved in on Saturday and yet spent a considerable amount of time in Ikea. Saturday was my very first trip, but the novelty wore off by Sunday.
The great news for you is that my apartment has two bedrooms so if you are headed Singapore way, you may be allowed to lay your head on my spare bed. Today I got my tenancy agreement and so could get my mobile, digital TV and yes, tinternet. It was all instantaneous. None of this waiting around for the connection to be made, no no. By the time I made it home (with bagfuls of equipment) and plugged it all in, it was connected to the rest of the world again.
In the shop I had to pick all the different channels I wanted. I have the best of both worlds, with American and British channels. I ummed and ahhed a bit deciding between HBO and Sports. I plumped for the sports option. When I came home I discovered that I have all the channels. It reminds me of the episode in Friends where Chandler and Joey get free porn. Except that I get free cartoons. I imagine it is an oversight at this point and one day when I come home to watch Bear in the Big Blue House I’ll be sorely disappointed.
Anyway, it is now game on with emails, blogs and skype!
I no longer live in a hotel. Oh no no. The planets aligned together to provide an apartment that was available immediately. I also managed to get my employment pass (critical to getting an apartment I discovered) in the nick of time. The apartment was not too much over my budget and I was the successful bidder. I moved in on Saturday and yet spent a considerable amount of time in Ikea. Saturday was my very first trip, but the novelty wore off by Sunday.
The great news for you is that my apartment has two bedrooms so if you are headed Singapore way, you may be allowed to lay your head on my spare bed. Today I got my tenancy agreement and so could get my mobile, digital TV and yes, tinternet. It was all instantaneous. None of this waiting around for the connection to be made, no no. By the time I made it home (with bagfuls of equipment) and plugged it all in, it was connected to the rest of the world again.
In the shop I had to pick all the different channels I wanted. I have the best of both worlds, with American and British channels. I ummed and ahhed a bit deciding between HBO and Sports. I plumped for the sports option. When I came home I discovered that I have all the channels. It reminds me of the episode in Friends where Chandler and Joey get free porn. Except that I get free cartoons. I imagine it is an oversight at this point and one day when I come home to watch Bear in the Big Blue House I’ll be sorely disappointed.
Anyway, it is now game on with emails, blogs and skype!
Monday, January 22, 2007
TV
I have two English channels in my hotel. Channel News Asia, a 24 hours news channel, it's no BBC News 24 I can tell you. The other channel is Channel 5, a curious mix of American and Singaporean programmes. They are showing American Idol (welcome back Simon) at the minute, along with Ellen, Prison Break, Grey's Anatomy amongst others. The signature music of any Singaporean programme is all the warning you need to turn off. Although last week, I watched something called 'The Arena', which should be called 'Debate Idol'. Teams from local schools debate some motion or other and a team of judges award points. Last week a Methodist Girls' School demolished the opposition on whether Singaporean teens are motivated by self-centredness alone (they rightly concentrated on the alone part of the question, just in case you are interested).
Although there is no British television programme per se, I have got my own little bit of home right there on the screen. There are evidently less ads here than in the US, so rather than start the next programme before the hour mark, they fill the five or ten minutes with that NI based 'Just for Laughs' show. I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw it, right there in front of me in a hotel room is Singapore was Botanic Avenue, the Centra where you get nice sandwiches and an old woman dropping a present which is then magnetised to the ground. Ho ho ho. Strangely, I have actually laughed more at it now than I ever did at home. It must be heat. But still the best reason to watch is for people you know. I swear I saw a girl I used to go to school with.
Although there is no British television programme per se, I have got my own little bit of home right there on the screen. There are evidently less ads here than in the US, so rather than start the next programme before the hour mark, they fill the five or ten minutes with that NI based 'Just for Laughs' show. I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw it, right there in front of me in a hotel room is Singapore was Botanic Avenue, the Centra where you get nice sandwiches and an old woman dropping a present which is then magnetised to the ground. Ho ho ho. Strangely, I have actually laughed more at it now than I ever did at home. It must be heat. But still the best reason to watch is for people you know. I swear I saw a girl I used to go to school with.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Eager Beaver Parents
This was my third weekend here and my second one where it required me to go to some school function or other. Somebody thought it would be a good idea for a First Year Parents' Briefing to happen on a Saturday afternoon. I'd like to meet that person.
As I am a first year form teacher, I had to be there so there was lots of hand shaking and smiling. Parents here seem like a different kettle of fish to those at home. We take a much more relaxed view to the whole thing. Not here though. Parents wanted me to assess after a handful of lessons how their child was doing, was going to do and how they were responding to secondary school life.
It was round robin affair where the parents were grouped into their child's form class. I was in the humanities department, with the Geography teacher. Despite not really knowing what I was supposed to present on (come to think about it, nobody told me I would be presenting anything) I bluffed my way through a little speech and obviously gave them enough information not to ask me too many more questions. We saw four groups and more or less said the same things four times. I think the Geography teacher felt as stupid as I did, repeating ourselves with the other hearing it each time. When was starting the fourth class, he turned to me and said ‘this is the fourth time of saying this!’ Little did we know the trouble that would bring in the question and answer part of the presentation:
‘You said that this was your fourth time doing this talk. How do you deal with that in the classroom when you have to repeat lessons. Do you get fatigued teaching the same thing?’
Other questions we got asked included:
‘Which chapters in the textbook are you going to cover?’
and
‘Can you give us dates now of when all the end of topic tests are going to be?’
Like I said, a different kettle of fish out here. But I am slightly scared about the results my students get, because judging from these parents it'll be 100% my fault and 0% theirs.
So I must go and prepare my Ancient China intro class for tomorrow. And who says History is dull?!
As I am a first year form teacher, I had to be there so there was lots of hand shaking and smiling. Parents here seem like a different kettle of fish to those at home. We take a much more relaxed view to the whole thing. Not here though. Parents wanted me to assess after a handful of lessons how their child was doing, was going to do and how they were responding to secondary school life.
It was round robin affair where the parents were grouped into their child's form class. I was in the humanities department, with the Geography teacher. Despite not really knowing what I was supposed to present on (come to think about it, nobody told me I would be presenting anything) I bluffed my way through a little speech and obviously gave them enough information not to ask me too many more questions. We saw four groups and more or less said the same things four times. I think the Geography teacher felt as stupid as I did, repeating ourselves with the other hearing it each time. When was starting the fourth class, he turned to me and said ‘this is the fourth time of saying this!’ Little did we know the trouble that would bring in the question and answer part of the presentation:
‘You said that this was your fourth time doing this talk. How do you deal with that in the classroom when you have to repeat lessons. Do you get fatigued teaching the same thing?’
Other questions we got asked included:
‘Which chapters in the textbook are you going to cover?’
and
‘Can you give us dates now of when all the end of topic tests are going to be?’
Like I said, a different kettle of fish out here. But I am slightly scared about the results my students get, because judging from these parents it'll be 100% my fault and 0% theirs.
So I must go and prepare my Ancient China intro class for tomorrow. And who says History is dull?!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Technology is in the eye of the beholder
When I came to Singapore I was expecting a world of high technology, one where imagination knew no bounds. A world where TVs would know instantly what I wanted to watch by scanning my fingerprint as I pressed the remote, or one where toilets would know how much water had been displaced and instantly flush with the required strength.
I did not expect ooohs and ahhhs (not unlike those heard at a firework displays) and actual, genuine applause over refillable whiteboard pens as was heard in our staff meeting on Monday morning.
Having said that however, I was on this escalator the other day and I thought it was pretty cool.
It went in a circle! Now that's more like it!
I did not expect ooohs and ahhhs (not unlike those heard at a firework displays) and actual, genuine applause over refillable whiteboard pens as was heard in our staff meeting on Monday morning.
Having said that however, I was on this escalator the other day and I thought it was pretty cool.
It went in a circle! Now that's more like it!
C2K: now worldwide
There has been a disaster in school. Classroom 2000 or C2K, bane of every student and teacher’s happy dossing on tinternet has reached Singapore. For those of you who simply remember school computers as BBC computers with that cat and mouse game, or Pod, or that thing in the corner of the library where you had to type in a million commands to get it to even print one thing, let me explain. Classroom 2000, is the network that NI school computers runs on. And with that comes a web marshall thing that prevents you from accessing anything untoward. Fair enough you say, school is not the place for porn! I quite agree. But it often means that the most harmless of sites is inaccessible, such as the National Farmers’ Union. It also means that you can’t look at things at home and expect to be able to use them in school.
Well, it seems that not only can I not get onto the Radio 1 website in school (I miss Chris Moyles!) I can no longer access Blogspot! Gutted! What am I to do in my free periods now if I can’t blog?!
Anyway, here is something I tried to put on on Monday.
Well, it seems that not only can I not get onto the Radio 1 website in school (I miss Chris Moyles!) I can no longer access Blogspot! Gutted! What am I to do in my free periods now if I can’t blog?!
Anyway, here is something I tried to put on on Monday.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Salubrious isn’t the word
I moved to a hotel this weekend. Not the most luxurious of places. Apparently it is very close to being torn down so they haven’t spent any money on it in, oooh, the last thirty years. But at least it is my own space.
The view from my balcony. You need to show your Typhoid immunisation certificate to be allowed to swim in the pool. Note the antique paintwork too.
The water feature on my corridor.
With the move to the hotel I am getting to experience more of Singaporean life than before with visits to a supermarket and a hawker centre. The supermarket was fun, although there was a limit to what I could buy with only a tiny hotel fridge. But the food was quite cheap and I came across some interesting items.
Green cauliflower.
On one of those TV programmes where they laugh about what domestic products or words are abroad, our Marigolds would get a big laugh.
They also have 7Elevens here! And Slurpees!
A hawker centre is a bit like a food court. There were stalls selling all sorts of asian food, drinks and fruit. The food is pretty cheap but tasty. I am not very adventurous when it comes to food but I have a feeling all that is about to change.
One of the stalls and people I don’t know.
The view from my balcony. You need to show your Typhoid immunisation certificate to be allowed to swim in the pool. Note the antique paintwork too.
The water feature on my corridor.
With the move to the hotel I am getting to experience more of Singaporean life than before with visits to a supermarket and a hawker centre. The supermarket was fun, although there was a limit to what I could buy with only a tiny hotel fridge. But the food was quite cheap and I came across some interesting items.
Green cauliflower.
On one of those TV programmes where they laugh about what domestic products or words are abroad, our Marigolds would get a big laugh.
They also have 7Elevens here! And Slurpees!
A hawker centre is a bit like a food court. There were stalls selling all sorts of asian food, drinks and fruit. The food is pretty cheap but tasty. I am not very adventurous when it comes to food but I have a feeling all that is about to change.
One of the stalls and people I don’t know.
Back to school tomorrow and I have classes to prepare.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Coincidently I'm wearing my Monsoon skirt
So since yesterday, I promise you it has not stopped raining. It's a torrential downpour. Apparently it's monsoon season. I prefer the clothes.
So my first week is over. It went ok. I am still trying to remember how to teach and what not, but I am thankful for a good timetable and my own classroom to work in. The students here are on the whole well behaved and conscientious which makes my job easier. I hate, absolutely hate, teaching ancient civilisations and cannot think of a duller topic in History to teach. It's a real pain that each lesson I have of it I have to do three times! No major funny stories, lots of me winging classes and thinking on my feet, especially when eager students ask me things like how many ice ages there were.
It's officially the weekend now. Not really sure what I'll get up to, but no doubt I'll be able to busy myself with schemes of work and lesson plans. Woo hoo.
So my first week is over. It went ok. I am still trying to remember how to teach and what not, but I am thankful for a good timetable and my own classroom to work in. The students here are on the whole well behaved and conscientious which makes my job easier. I hate, absolutely hate, teaching ancient civilisations and cannot think of a duller topic in History to teach. It's a real pain that each lesson I have of it I have to do three times! No major funny stories, lots of me winging classes and thinking on my feet, especially when eager students ask me things like how many ice ages there were.
It's officially the weekend now. Not really sure what I'll get up to, but no doubt I'll be able to busy myself with schemes of work and lesson plans. Woo hoo.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
It can rain a bit here
Agh! I just had a post but somehow when I went to post it, it went! Arse! Anyway the highlights were thus:
- it rained today. A lot.
- I looked at an apartment last night. It was lovely but waaaaaay over budget.
- I just taught my 'bridging' class for students who need to improve their English but I looked like the one with language issues as I couldn't pronouce places names in the history of South East Asia like Srivijaya and Majapahit. They could and I still can't.
- About to watch a video on the First World War.
It's all go my end!
- it rained today. A lot.
- I looked at an apartment last night. It was lovely but waaaaaay over budget.
- I just taught my 'bridging' class for students who need to improve their English but I looked like the one with language issues as I couldn't pronouce places names in the history of South East Asia like Srivijaya and Majapahit. They could and I still can't.
- About to watch a video on the First World War.
It's all go my end!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
The search for an apartment reaches crisis levels
Last night I got in from my second day as a professional teacher and was met with a madhouse (this should be the collective noun) of children and a brash Australian.
Larry's (may as well have been called Bruce) opener to me was, and I quote, 'Geez, I didn't think they made them that big in Ireland!' He then followed this up with commenting on what my mum gave me to eat that made me grow. I told him it was the same thing that she gave my brother, and obviously the same thing my granny gave my dad.
Sensing that he wasn't on to an winner of a conversation, he moved onto 'So what colour are you? Orange or green?' When I gave a non committal answer, he didn't let go. No, no, he asked what football team I supported.
Geez Larry I didn't think they made them that culturally unaware in Australia!
Larry's (may as well have been called Bruce) opener to me was, and I quote, 'Geez, I didn't think they made them that big in Ireland!' He then followed this up with commenting on what my mum gave me to eat that made me grow. I told him it was the same thing that she gave my brother, and obviously the same thing my granny gave my dad.
Sensing that he wasn't on to an winner of a conversation, he moved onto 'So what colour are you? Orange or green?' When I gave a non committal answer, he didn't let go. No, no, he asked what football team I supported.
Geez Larry I didn't think they made them that culturally unaware in Australia!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Day one as a pro-teacher
Maybe a bit late, but here are some photos from the past week.
That'll be my plane!
The new students finished off their orientation with a campfire. Why? It's hot enough here thank you.
That'll be my plane!
The new students finished off their orientation with a campfire. Why? It's hot enough here thank you.
My school is part of a network of schools and on Saturday morning we had the joy of Staff Dedication Service. This is just the staff of the school, no guests or extras. Pretty big eh?
This is my classroom. You'll note the tidy desk, computer (sitting at it right now), sliding whiteboards with shelving in behind, and data projector. Just to the left of the projector is my best friend, the air con unit.
I'm on the 3rd floor and this is the view from the outside corridor outside my room. Look Dad, decking! The big building on the right is the admin building on the ground floor and the assembly building on the 1st floor. The admin building is where I have to pick up all my printing and I already resent having to walk that far to get it.
So there you go, other things I should mention are:
-yesterday I had to get the bus into school all by myself. This was the first time I had done it and of course it wasn't that simple. I got off about 5 stops too early, walked half a mile thinking school was closer than it really was, waited for another lucky bus number 75 and subsequently was about 20 minutes late for school. And I arrived like Sweaty Betty. An auspicious start I think you'll agree. I managed it today thankfully.
-fortunately the rest of the day went a lot better. I had my first classes and was pleased with how they went. The students are fairly well behaved. I didn't start into any actual work for fear that they might actually catch on to the fact I have no real clue what I'm doing. Don't think I can avoid work today though.
-I really need my own apartment. It is driving me mad not being able to unpack or feel settled. If you are the praying kind, do.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Praise the Lord
You cannot wipe the smile from my face right now, because (cue hallejuah music) MY CASE ARRIVED!!
So coming soon, photos of the place now I have my memory card adaptors and sticks, messages received and sent because I have my charger, and best of all an attempt at straight hair!
So coming soon, photos of the place now I have my memory card adaptors and sticks, messages received and sent because I have my charger, and best of all an attempt at straight hair!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
I feel very far away
I don't really have time for much on here today, it's all a bit crazy still.
- one of my bags still hasn't made it. This is making it difficult. My phone charger is in there, lots of my teacher clothes and shoes and mostly importantly my hair straightners (see below).
- it's bloody roasting here. They claim it to be 'winter'. Ha! It's all I can do to get to air conditioning when I have to go outside, but like in Korea it's the humidity that kills and it makes my hair like Monica's when she went to Barbados. I need my straightners.
- the above makes me feel homesick. I hate feeling homesick.
- my timetable is fairly good and I know I have my classroom keys and a computer, hence the blog.
Let us finish with the prayer of case tracing and returning to Tina. Otherwise known as Qantas pull the bloody finger out and get my case plea, or at least flipping well answer the phone!
Oh and wish me good luck as I try to navigate myself home all by myself.
- one of my bags still hasn't made it. This is making it difficult. My phone charger is in there, lots of my teacher clothes and shoes and mostly importantly my hair straightners (see below).
- it's bloody roasting here. They claim it to be 'winter'. Ha! It's all I can do to get to air conditioning when I have to go outside, but like in Korea it's the humidity that kills and it makes my hair like Monica's when she went to Barbados. I need my straightners.
- the above makes me feel homesick. I hate feeling homesick.
- my timetable is fairly good and I know I have my classroom keys and a computer, hence the blog.
Let us finish with the prayer of case tracing and returning to Tina. Otherwise known as Qantas pull the bloody finger out and get my case plea, or at least flipping well answer the phone!
Oh and wish me good luck as I try to navigate myself home all by myself.
Monday, January 01, 2007
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