Monday, May 25, 2009

Liberation! Aching!

Ok, it's been a long time since I last posted.
So much has happened; the good, the bad, they come as a package!
Treading through, i felt a sense of growth and improvement in myself, though I cant really pinpoint where i've grown.

Assignments are finally over, as of last week. "Kawabanggga," I would say.

I've been posted to Fajar Sec for my practicum, but the school does not offer one of the subject I teach. Will be calling MOE, so I'll probably be reposted to another school.
I just hope they don't post me somewhere inaccessible!

Have been dancing nonstop ever since last week, practically everyday, and now my body feels 60-years-old. Backaches, stiff necks, etc.

The next few months will be physically and mentally torturing. I've four performance, two of which I'm superbly low in confidence.

What boggles me are The Big Groove (TBG) and Brooklyn's Rock (I think that's how you spell it).

Performing for the latter two is an honour frankly. TBG is an annual Asia Hip Hop convention and the finale concert showcases 2.5 hours of performances from various parts of Asia , as well as Singapore. Call me a big fat liar if I say I'm least than afraid.

The immense pressure of performing on the same stage as titans if uncalled for. Carrying Danzpeople's name fuels the fear even more. What if I screw up? I'm so prone to screwing up. No, I can't screw up! I'll be skinned alive; that's considered merciful.

Then there's the extreme sense of inferiority performing on the same stage with Xiao, Erwin, Ahmad, Becky and Lina. They've had tons of experience compared to poor lil me. Sigh, I'm really fearful of letting everyone down.

I guess Yvonne & Zi Li (I think tt's how you spell her name) feels the same pressure under the shadow of Becky and Lina.


Caught this on my first try at the new mall in Bugis, Iluma. So damn cute! And best of all, it's wearing a green top. Unlike the conventional poohbear, its face looks bear-ish, if you know what I mean. haha!

Xiao said something which strikes me. He said I need to focus more on my lines. I've always thought my main problem was my sense of musicality. Maybe I've been too caught up with catching the beat that I compromised on my lines. Perhaps I should feel the music instead of trying to make sense of it with my mind.



" jOzACh want to learn to dance from the heart and not the mind"

Posted by jOzACh at 10:10 AM

Monday, February 16, 2009

EMCC + Assignments + PA + Priscilia's Bday

Alright, it's been a rather eventful past week.

First off, DANCE!

JDC concert is coming in March, so practises with NIE Dancefuzion will get more intense I guess. Went for BLAST! Exxonmobil Campus Concert last wednesday and the performance turned out to be surprisingly good. Felt great to be back in NUS again.

The whitehoods did funny stunts between intervals and the stunts turned out very entertaining. BLAST! never ceased to surprise me with creative ideas, such novelty in them. Watching them dance, I reminisce over the good old days and I can't wait for BLAST! to resume. Rock on BLASTards!

Good seats: Chris, myself, I'dil, Seok & Seok's bf

Donk crew from Shut Up & Dance '08


BLAST photo (I'm so gonna kill Daryl for the photo quality)

Next up, assignments has begun to set in. So far so good, but things are only getting more hectic. Elements of Business Skills (EBS) began today, and the first assignment is out: marketing kit. My group of 7 members are required to come up with an introductory presentation to trigger interest in the subject. It's gonna be fun, but time-consuming.

Oh, by the way, I met up with a few of my JC mates last Sunday. We had dinner in IMM, to celebrate Way Champ's 25th birthday. It was great seeing them again, but they look stressed out. Sigh, I guess that's what people say growing up will turn out to be. Champ says I've changed, and got over my dark days, but I think I'm still the same.

Instead, I'm more worried about them. The pursue of career is making life rather sour for them. At least, that's what I feel. So my new mission for the rest of this year is to meet up with them as much as possible and lend a listening ear.

My dear friends, I hope we'll still be good friends when our hair are all grey and wrinkles carve our face.

Myself, Chris, Champ & Gladys

My dance days have now increased from three days a week to four days a week. I've been wanting to join PA dance but lack the courage to show face. But now, I'm officially attending it. I gotta say that it was very tough. Pat taught 12 eights in two hours and I was losing strength and concentration towards the end.

After PA, I rushed down to Priscilia's birthday in Chevron. Met a lot of ex-Westwoodians. Bought hamsters for her, and I fear for their life expectancy. She's very much terrified by them. The girl's call 'Priscy' but the boy has yet to be named. Should I call it 'Luffy?'


Happy 17th Birthday Priscilia!!!

Melissa, Priscilia, Deborah, myself & the hamsters we bought for her.


Dancepointe with Hello Kitty cake

Posted by jOzACh at 5:24 PM

Friday, February 6, 2009

Dauntless good? Nagging good?

NIE is beginning to get more hectic! Assignments are piling up, and I'm rather laid back. Am I procrastinating?

ICT e-learning Assignment 10% (13 Feb 09)
ICT Individual Assignment 40% (23 Feb 09)
ICT Group Assignment 40% (23 Mar 09)

Ed Psych Forum 0% (15 Feb 09)
Ed Psych e-learning Assignment 0% (19 Feb 09)
Ed Psych Individual Assignment 60% (13 Apr 09)
Ed Psych Group Assignment 40% (26 Mar 09)

Language Studies Podcast (???)
Pedagogical Grammar Test (5 March 09)

EBS Assigments?

Went back WWSS to see 4Desperados today. Finally gave out the stickers after holding it for so long. They might be 4Dauntless now, but I still prefer 4 Desperados. I would rather believe that they're desperate to do well in their O-level.

Dauntless might dictate fearlessness, but if fearlessness means them not worried about their studies, I detest that name. The bible has a saying, that 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.' I'm not a believer, but I do believe that fear makes a person wiser. Only when you've experienced fear do you truly reflect on your actions and mistakes.

If you've lost a love one, or on the brink of losing one, that's when you start to appreciate what you have. I never did appreciate my k-pa when he was alive, always finding him annoying and disturbing, but when he fell sick and changed, I missed his old-self. And when he passed away, it hurts very deeply, and every now and then, when I think of him, my heart weeps and I fear losing my k-ma.

My dear 4Dauntless, do you not worry for your future? Have you thought through how you'll reach for your ambition? If you wait until the very last minute to panick, it might all be too late. And then what? I see potential in many of you, but if you don't harness them, what will become of them?

Frankly, I feel rather helpless sometimes. I joined the teaching profession because I want to change lives and make a difference. Many people would probably find that a model answer, but that is what I really want to do. But having gone through contract teaching for half a year, or less, I struggled to do so. It is so difficult to translate my care and concern for the students, when they don't seem to understand what I'm worrying about. And along the way, I've become a naggy fella; nagging endlessly.

It was then that I understood nagging is form of love language, so to speak. Just as parents nagged because they're worried about us, I nagged my students, because I'm worried about them. Funny huh?

Posted by jOzACh at 2:13 AM

Friday, January 30, 2009

CNY '09 in Kuching

Went back Kuching for CNY last Saturday.

Had open house on the first day. Dad catered from one of his Malay colleagues, and the food turned out extremely tasty. I can still taste the juicy beef cubes in my mouth.
It's been years and we've grown, in many ways. haha! Still, I miss the good old days we spent in St Thomas Secondary School.


Fellow Thomians
The best surprise of the day for me was the appearance of Madam Cynthia Maria Zehnder, my secondary school teacher, and one of the great teachers who've been there for me, during my down times. She's in her sixties, and she's still her bubbly old self. Her mum, whose a 'datin' is not very well unfortunately and she has to attend to her needs, rendering little sleep and loads of worries.

Mdm Cynthia & her grandchildren

How well, things were rather busy with only few days to celebrate. Rushing from one visit to another, switching between groups of friends, and wishing holidays were longer.

Got back last Saturday and classes resume as per normal. There are a number of deadlines due in February and I think I should start reading up. Haha!

Posted by jOzACh at 3:03 PM

Friday, January 23, 2009

Quest for HTC Touch Diamond/Pro

Had ICT lesson in the morning, after which some of the Bond members went for a game of squash. Played a game with Ben and lost. Haha! Treated him to Mega Mac lunch. Felt great playing squash again after so long.

Currently slacking in NIE library! Everyone is dreading the long gap between lessons. Here's a peak of what's going on now:

Ben doodling on CangXuan's paper.

Reuben sleeping soundly

Waiting to attend GESL lecture later in the evening. After that, my quest for my new phone commences. I'm not stuck between HTC Touch Diamond or HTC Touch Pro. All thanks to Dad who insist Pro is better than Touch; the price is better too unfortunately! Hopefully, I'll end up with a reliable gadget.

Will be flying back tomorrow night for CNY. Hope it'll be a fun trip back, catching up with family and friends. Sadly, I'll only be back for a short trip. How well, better than nothing I guess.

Officially started tuition with Elaine and Aaron. Quite an enlightening session, I learn new things along the way, especially about dyslexia.

Posted by jOzACh at 3:17 PM

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Tiring day!

Here's a picture of Zhemin, Angela, GuiLian and me. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
p/s Zhemin dislikes taking photos with flashes! Good way to irritate her!

Taa daa! My new GREEN specs! Beautiful! Magnificient!
Still, there were scratches on some part of the rims, and they've agreed to change the frame for me when stock comes in.


Rushed down to get my HTC Touch Diamond, but apparently, there wasn't any stock. Hence, I need to wait till this Friday.

Zoomed over to Orchard to find my hungry sisters, who're patiently waiting for me. Went to Chinatown after that, and the place was crowded. Picture of my Big Sis, whom I respect a lot.

Mother of two sons, she's the Financial Comptroller of Hilton Hotel, Kuching branch. Among all my other foster siblings, I'm closest to her. She's not as square-minded like others her age, which is why I can talk about my dreams without the fear of being put down or criticized.

Aaron came over and practised maths with Elaine today. Wasn't around, so I don't know the progress. I'm really curious at what sparks his sudden interest in studying. hmm...

Chatting with Reuben, my fellow GESL groupmate, and he's one funny fella. Extremely easy to irritate and tease. Haha! Ben pulled a prank on him last Friday, and he took it for real. I was rolling in tears and he still didn't realise Ben was putting up a show.

Alright! It's late and I've got a class tomorrow.

Posted by jOzACh at 12:09 AM

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

HTC Touch Diamond

Stuck in NIE, waiting for GuiLian, Zhemin and Angela to finish their NIE graduation. Sigh, needed to get 'Educational Psychology' book from GuiLian. take some photos with them also of course. Cam-whores!

Then I'll head out to town to hopefully get my new phone. May I not be so fickle-minded! The Sony Ericsson W902 walkman is so cheap now, but my heart has swayed for a smartphone. So far, I'm eyeing HTC Touch Diamond, but I want to have a feel of the phone first before deciding.

HTC Touch Diamond

Once I'm done, I'll go look for Big Sis, who is in town for a meeting. Third sis is staying over with her in Hilton tonight, but I'm not keen. I've got classes tomorrow, sadly.

Aaron called me to tutor him Algebra yesterday. Haha! Feels kinda adorable in some way, to receive a call out of the blue, and being asked to teach him algebra. haha! Maybe he's finally come to his senses.

Wish 4 Desperados would be more serious! Went back school yet again, but still unable to see them as a class. From the feedback I get, they're still fooling around a lot and complaining a lot. WAKE UP! Must you wait till O-level is around the corner, then panicked?

Had an idea yesterday to ask P to follow me back and share with 4Desperados her feelings and takings from O-level the year before. Maybe I can get B to help out as well. Nothings beats real life sharing from fellow peers. But I'll leave that till March or April.

I'm kinda happy that I'm fitting in with my QUE513 Pedagogical Grammar class lately. Besides Wanru, been feeling rather intimidated to be put in a class filled with Literature majors. Haha! They're a fun bunch I must say, though sometimes they talk about literature stuff, which I'm not very familiar with.

*** Oh oh, I forgot I'm supposed to collect my GREEN specs later from Spectacle Hut. Muahahaha!

Posted by jOzACh at 2:52 PM