So, It’s The New School Guys!

This entry was drafted on 27th September 2011, a day after lapor diri in SK Parit Jawa. I didn’t manage to post it then because………. Well, I can’t remember why I didn’t post it, but hey, I’m posting it now, so here you go.
Owh, anyways, while you’re reading it, I’ll be writing second entry about this school from three-weeks-of-me-being-here perspective. See if there is any difference with this my-first-day-owh-i-like-the-school entry.

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Yesterday, was the first day of me being in Johor, or to be exact Muar, for work purpose. Even though this was not the first time of me being in Muar, but I was still nervous. This is different. I’m actually WORKING here now. Instead of just visiting my husband, this , I guess, would be permanent. I work here, I live here. Wow. I’m orang Muar now? Heh, no. I’m orang Sabak Bernam, I just live in Muar.

Anyways, back to the main point here, I actually wanna talk about my new school. Owh. before that, I went to PPD to collect reposting letter and I met our TESL senior there, Fauzi. Or should I say, Encik Fauzi? Haha. He’s now working in PPD as an officer. He was actually an IPBArian but he didn’t recognize me. Hm, why am I not surprised? Haha

Okay, so the school is called, SK Parit Jawa. It’s not very rural I would say, it’s in the heart of the town of Parit Jawa. It’s by the main road and it is actually quite a big school. I’ve spoken to the GPK Kurikulum, Puan Noraini, she said there are about 50-60 teachers, and 600 students all together.

First thing I asked her about the students performance in English. She said, ‘Biase lah Mimi (that’s what she called me, never mind, I haven’t told her that people actually call me, Emy. haha), sekolah mcm ni, ade la budak boleh, ade yang x boleh.’ Then, I asked her about the number of English teachers at that school. Well, there is only ONE English teacher (optionist) and two more English teachers who are actually non-optionist. So, when she told me they are really in serious need of English teachers, I felt relieved. I was afraid that my presence here was not welcomed because they have enough English teachers. Thank God I was wrong about that.

There were not many teachers when I came to the staffroom, but I found one important person. Hehe. The only TESL teacher in that school, Kak Qilah. She was sooooo friendly and nice to me. She said she was happy that I’m now in their English team. Back in SKTJ, I was given responsibility to teach 32 periods per week and here, Kak Qilah was given the same responsibility. I know how tiring it was, especially when you have to teach 8 periods straight from morning till afternoon, only had 30 minute-break in the middle. So here in SKPJ, I guess we could help each other to balance the workload.

I would say, that I’m gonna love the school. I don’t really care about the students, because you know, kids will be kids, (naughty, attention seeker, rebellious), mane2 pon same jer, but the teacher, so far those who I have met, are very very very nice. But hey, it’s only my first day, it’s still early to tell actually. Maybe true colours are gonna start showing in 2 weeks time. Or less than that (Or, is it my own true colours that I am talking about? HAHAHA)?

Every Beginning Has An Ending, And Every Ending Is A New Beginning

It feels like yesterday that I came to SKTJ for the first time to report duty, [click] and today, I’m already in somewhere else, leaving the school.

It had been what….? 1 year and 9 months?  Not even two years and I had to leave. I honestly didn’t see this coming. I mean, it was too soon. I was planning to apply for EG-Tukar for Pertukaran Sesi January 2012, but before I was able to do that, I was called by the JPNS in August, to consider this Pertukaran Negeri [click]. Okay, I’m not gonna talk about me going to Muar, instead, I’m gonna talk about me, leaving SKTJ.

A week before I left the school, I was always not in the mood. I felt so anxious about everything. About going to new school, about leaving the school, about having new friends, about teaching new students, about living far from family, even about being away from my cats, yeah, like I said, EVERYTHING. I actually didn’t want to tell my students that I was leaving because I knew, there would be questions, and I guess you guys know, questions that coming from kids are mostly hard to answer. But one week before UPSR, I felt like I had to tell my Year 6 kids that I am not gonna be there when the results come out. I wanted them to do the best during the examination. I wanted them to make me proud. I still do. That’s when the first tear dropped. I couldn’t control it, but I still wanted them to know that whatever they did to me, or whatever things that I said to them during class, it still wouldn’t break the love that I had for them.

Well, not just them, but all students in SKTJ, from pre-school kids until Year 6. From these seven classes, I taught four of them (Year 1, 4, 5 and 6) so I knew more than half of the students in this school. I know their backgrounds, their families, and some of them know my family too. It’s a small school, everybody knows everybody. We were like one big family. It didn’t take me long to get used to this school when I first arrived, coz they were very friendly. Besides, I was at own place, my town. What could be more comfortable rather than being at your own home?

I have a lot of bittersweet memories here. I bought my own first car when I was working here [click], I changed my single status to married [click], I threatened my GPK for my own benefit (no link to this point because this was a regular routine, and I think I WASN’T the only one who did that, haha), my first fight with the headmaster ([click] this was actually ‘sweet’ because I managed to stand for what I believe in front of him), my first fight with a parent because I taught his son a lesson for calling me ‘Babi’ [click], my SPP process ([click]now sudah sah dalam perkhidmatan yaw! Thanks KakGee). This is only a few. I’m too lazy to dig back all the entries. Ah.. Memories!

Last Friday, when we had Majlis Khatam Al-Quran dan Jamuan Raya, they actually gave me a chance to deliver a speech. A farewell speech. I was quite shocked when KakMimi (the MC) suddenly called out my name. At first I didn’t want to because the truth, I knew I would cry. Again. But since everybody was looking at me, seeing those eyes of the students, I surrendered.

Then……….. As expected, it was a very short speech, with ‘looooooong emotional’ pauses. I abruptly finished the speech and walked out of the hall, to the ladies room. God, only He knew how I felt.

Some of the pictures taken on my last day in SKTJ. Credits to KakShimah.

My Year 4 kids..

My Year 5 kids..

........

So sweeeett.... :'-)

From one of my Year 5 kids.. I'll miss you too..

The presents I got from the students.. Thank you all. Price doesn't matter, it's the thoughts that counts.

my sayangs... in 10 years, i might forget your name, but i'll keep this moment close to my heart. :'-)

I won’t forget this school. Though it’s less than two years being at this school, I think I have learnt a lot, improved myself a lot. I can’t really list down what are the things that have been improved but, I would say, I am proud of myself. I now know things better, know people better, and appreciate both of them better. And I think, even it’s not much, all the things that we’ve been through together in SKTJ, helps to make me a better person.

Thank you SKTJ.

Let’s Do Some Catchin-Up #20

Source

For this Catchin-Up series, I try to make it less wordy, and more pictures.

#1. Stuff I did..

Spent time in Muar with hubby, and these 'budak keciks'.

Budak keciks were about to send to the vet. Kena kurung. ;-p

Renew roadtax..

Went to Majlis Sambutan Hari Raya at my village. Haha

Darling and Aneeq were also there.

Darling seronok dapat duit rayaaa! Sape bagi? Ketua kampung aka beloved Atuk! Hehe

Went to Midvalley to celebrate Ayu's birthday at Amarin Heavenly Thai.

Mahfodz, the birthday girl Ayu, darling girlfriend Mdm Teh, and I.

That Red Velvet Cake!

Sooooooo rich!! Yummmy!

Brought my sudent, Syafiqah to SK Seri Makmur for Story-Telling Competition.

Even though she didn't win, but she did great on the stage. Congratulations.

Owh, met a friend. His name is Syahrul.

On the other hand, my other student, Thalith was the champion for Public Speaking Competition in SK Seri Mawar. Congratulations! Glad that I contributed something to the school.

#2. Stuff I bought…

Bought a headphone. PINK rules.

Also bought these two novels by Madeline Wickham. Currently reading #SleepingArrangement

Again, spent some money on these accessories..

Bought new bedsheet. English style la kunun.

This Charles & Keith stuff for mom's birthday (that I actually forgot!)

#3. Stuff I got..

Raya card from Eqa

Raya card from husband..

Surat Pengesahan Dalam Perkhidmatan. Yeay me!

Surat Pertukaran Antara Negeri. Yeay me too!

Farewell present, from girlfriend, Mdm.Teh.

Farewell present from the kids at school..

That’s all. Thank you. *graceful bow*

A Little Bit Of Here And There

Yeah, blogging again!

Lately, I keep blogging. Why? Coz I love my new layout so I’m in high spirit updating my blog. So, if any of you are getting tired of it, you can always surf away. It’s that simple.

Okay. It’s now the twentieth day of Ramadhan for us, Moslems. How is everyone doing? I’ve already had my MC for almost a week, sooo I guess I am doing good. Haha. It’s now getting nearer to raya. This is going to be my first raya as a wife. I’m kind of excited and already finished doing major shopping (like shoes, handbags, dresses, baju melayu, scarves etc) for both of us. Our raya theme is purple+pink. I actually wanted some turqoise but I couldn’t say no to the purple baju kurung moden that I saw in Tangkak with Mr.Gonzales. But we’re planning to peek at some last-minute shopping too. Maybe I could catch a few more…? And this time turqoise?? Let’s see. Owh, almost forgot! I haven’t bought any raya brooch yet! Okay, put that in the list.

Some of this actually not for raya, for example that scarf. It's for casual outings. Bought it coz.... I love it?

While blogging, I’m also downloading Daughtry’s songs. I’m planning to burn those awesome songs into a CD and put it in my car. So whenever Hitz.fm is playing suckie songs, I can always play this. Erm, not just Daughtry actually, I’m also downloading Lifehouse’s. I love this kinda bands you know, Daughtry, Lifehouse, Nickelback, Rascal Flatts, I used to like 3 Doors Down too (please note, I didn’t mention Westlife coz that was the band I used to like in my TEENAGE years). But my favourite would be Daughtry, Chris Daughtry. I believe he has the manliest voice ever on Earth!

How I wish I can play guitar.. No, I’m too lazy to learn. I want it to magically happens. Boleh? #LikeABoss

Hmm.. What else to ramble here? Owh, here’s this funy+sweet story about my Year 5 students. I was mad, like really mad at them on last two Friday. I was so mad that I walked out of the class just like that even though it wasn’t really time yet. Then, when I was in the staffroom, this Year 3 boy came to me and gave me something. It was a letter. He said, ‘Cher, ni budak2 darjah 5 bagi.’ It surprised me a little bit, so I asked, ‘Budak darjah 5 tu sape?’ and he said ‘Tah, budak2 lelaki’. I said thanks to the boy, and read the letter. Yes, it was an apology letter. Too bad I already threw it out otherwise I can put the picture here. I was not convinced by their apology. On the next Monday, I was still mad, so I didn’t enter the class. I just gave them work to finish. I did the same thing on Tuesday. Wednesday was on off day due to Nuzul Quran, so on Thursday, I decided to enter the class. Enough la merajuk with kids. Hmm… I didn’t mention anything about the Friday incident, I straight away went on with my Literature lesson. Well… I guess they behaved better this time. When I walked out of the class, these two girls came to me, and handed me something. It was presents. I asked them,’What for?’ One of them said, ‘Kitorang tak tau birthday teacher bile, so kitorg bagi je la..’ I laughed and said, ‘My birthday bulan April. Dah lame lepas..’ ‘Takpe la teacher.. Ambik je..’ I was touched. I think I knew why they gave me the ‘birthday presents’. I smiled and thanked the sweet girls. As I opened the box, owh I love it!!! This handphone string that has my name on it, and this very cute little house, full of red and green flower petals in it. I thought they were very cute. And, they were RED, my favourite colour! I told Mr.Gonzales about it, and he was soo jealous that I have such sweet students. Hehe

Look at that handphone string. Lovely!

The little house. I put this on my car's dashboard.

Okay, speaking about Mr.Gonzales, I have something to clarify here. In the last entry, when I said I was really mad about him coz he was being too nice, some have misunderstood what I was trying to say. Some have claimed that I’m not being grateful for what I have? Maybe because of my poor writing that the message was not well delivered. But if you read carefully, it was actually a compliment I wrote for him. What I meant was, he is the only one who can put up with me at my worst. He is the only one who could be that patient with me. And it actually works well for our relationship. If you asked me, do I want someone who’s as stubborn as me, as bad-tempered as me, as mean as me, HELL NO! I am sure our house will be torn apart. What I am saying is, yes, he’s so patient, always gives in, always takes whatever bullets I shoot at him and hardly shoot them back at me, that at some points I find it boring and no challenges at all, but thank you God, it works that way, because if it didn’t we wouldn’t get to this point. We wouldn’t get married to each other. He teaches me to be a better person in his own way, even though so.far.it.doesn’t.really.succeed.coz.i’m.still.bad.tempered.as.ever but my point is, unlike any other men, he is able to handle me. I feel like he’s the only man who can do that. I appreciate him. I’m grateful that I have him in my life. I won’t trade him for anything in this world, even if Michael Owen or Jensen Ackles get in the way. Okay. Full stop.

The luckiest or not-so-luckiest man in the world<- My beloved husband.

Okay, I’ve rambled quite a lot already. I think that’s all for this time. Pray I won’t be blogging again for the next 24 hours.

Bye.

Excellent Timing, Mister!

Year 1 classroom, 12:15 p.m

While we were singing happily in class,

There is one cat walking down,
Walking down, walking down,
There is one cat walking down,
Down the busy lane.

There are two cats walking down,
Walking down, walking down,
There are two cats walking down,
Down the busy lane.

There is one cat walking down,

Walking down, walking down

 

… suddenly, someone came in to visit.

 

U called??

I smell something FISHy!

"Sorry Mr.Cat. Ticer kite suruh kite letak awak kat luar, sbb nnti awak kencing kat bag kitee.."

Glad that I had an unexpected realia in my class. Guess he knew we were singing about him. Haha