Teacher vs Mother

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Friends and family know that I love kids. During secondary school time, I used to babysit my cousins during chinese new year or any family events. I played with them, bathed them, fed them and prepared them to bed. Besides cooking, this is another task that I enjoy doing. So, I told myself, the best job for me will be a HOUSEWIFE:)

But, due to my outgoing and hyperactive nature, I will surely be bored to death if I stay at home 24/7. So, TEACHER is the next perfect option!!

** Since I'm staying in boarding, I'm not only a teacher but also a mother of 18 daughters:)

Last year, I prepared 16 portions of brekafast to my "daughters" during the exam weeks. They surely enjoyed the food and felt the love.

Today is the first day of the exam, I preared 40 sets of tuna and egg sandwiches - my "daughters" + my ex-mentees + my "ex-daughters". I woke up at about 345am and in about 1 hour time, I realised that I have not enough filling. Thus, I drove out to the nearest 24 hours supermarket to buy 2 cans of tuna and rushed home quckily to prepare the filling and continue to make sandwiches!! Luckily, I managed to deliver all 40 sandwiches to my "sons and daugthers" doorsteps by 630am.

Although tired, is wonderful to know that the kids are going to the battle field aka exam hall with a warm tummy that full of my love:)

ALL THE BEST IN EXAM

Last Day for Tax E-Filing

Friday evening over the dinner table, darling told me that his colleague reminded him regarding tax filing. I was shocked to learn that I need to settle it by this weekends as I didn't receive any letter from Inland Revenue or reminder from my HR.

Anyway, after dinner, we log into the website.

PROBLEM!!!
I forgotten my password?! I have to wait for 5 working days for them to send me the password by post. In other words, I will be FINED!!!!

Please...please...please...I hope the amount is not huge:(

Tight Schedule

Busy..... Busy..... p
All teachers will face the issue at the end of each semester: Setting and marking exam paper, tidying up all continuous assessments, writting subject and mentor remarks etc etc
On top of this routine, I also need to prepare for Open house, Singapore Junior Chemistry Olympiad, Singapore International Mathematical Challenge and Post exam activities....

Surprisingly darling is even busier than me!!
He has been flying very often - yesterday Indonesia, today Vietnam, tomorrow Malaysia...
His work schedule has been planned till early June. Believe it or not, I only spent less than 24 hours with him since last week:(

While I'm writing this blog, he is on the way flying home:)

...Pampering...

Am I not productive or there are just too many deadlines to meet?? It seems that I have less timefor myself/family, don't even mention about blogging!! I have so much to share but so little time to write. Anyway, I have decided to pen down a few highlights that come into my life during the past months...

ONE

After a long thought and much discussion with darling, I paid $800 for the leg massager (usual price $1388) during Ogawa roadshow in IMM. We have been shopping around for leg massager after I have a taste of it during Chinese New Year in my 3rd uncle's place. My legs and I felt so relax after 15 - 30min a day on the messager during Chinese New Year. However, due to $$$ constraint, I didn't buy any. During the roadshow, there was this powerful power that control my mind, telling me that the massager is good for my Achilles heels and is important for teachers who stand for long hours. Also, this will serve as a present for myself being so hardworking for the past year and not forgetting the most caring teacher awards:) Now, I spend 15 - 30min a day after work for a I, Me & Myself moment...

TWO

Last Saturday, Mrs Wong and I were invited to a cooking session from our chef friend. When we arrived at the show kitchen, we were impressed by the pretty set up and hope that one day our kitchen will be likr that as well. There were 13 of us during that session and the lesson was conducted by Chef Sunny and Chef Thomas.

Stir Fried Golden Fragrant Chicken with Curry Leaves

Braised and Baked BBQ Spare RibsPan Fried Salmon Fish with Orange Cheese Sauce
Deep Fried Crispy Egg Plant with Chicken Floss and Chili Padi
and
Steamed Winter Melon with White Fungus and Red Dates
(sorry, forgotten to take picture)

This is my first (maybe last?) proper cooking lesson in such a nice kitchen and good chef. Beside the food, I also enjoy the experience:)

THREE

Yesterday, we went to this super nice restaurant to celebrate Mr Wong's birthday. The owner of this restaurant, Chef Peter is Mr & Mrs Wong's friend (Yup, they know plenty of important people in Singapore & I'm glad to know them). Chef Peter purposely came to work (suppose to be his off day) and prepare us surprises (the meals are not from the menu and we didn't place any order)!!!

Bread with olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar

Pear Salad with Blue Cheese

(sorry,forgotten to take picture of these two)

Bruschetta
Green Mussels (just flew in from New Zealand) with Corriander White Wine Sauce
Fish with Spanish Anchovies Sauce

Deep Fried Taufu

Pork Belly with Japanese Lemon Cream Sauce

Spagetti with Sundried Tomatoes and Mushroom

Cappuccino and Apple Pudding

Yummy birthday cake for the Special "boy"

* the name of the food items are their real names

So far, this is the best restaurant darling and I have tried in Singapore. The food is delicious, the ambient is nice (sorry, no picture) and the price is reasonable. We will definitely come here again to try the ala carte menu with our family and friends:)

House Carnival 12th March 2010

HOORAY!!! House Carnival 2010 is successfully carried out last Friday.

I received many positive comments from colleagues and not forgetting plenty of laughters from the students. Whenever a collegue came to me and prasied me for the good job, I will like a proud mum and told them is my wonderful children that plan and done all the work:) Although there are still room for improvement, but I'm really happy & proud that the students have done an excellent job:)

After few late nights, plenty of stress, lots of excitement..... I'm down with fever, terrible headache and bodyache since last Friday.

No matter who win, the most importantly, all of us have fun!!!
See you all again in Sports day:)

GO NOBEL!!

Caring Teacher Award 2010

Thank you very miuch for those who nominated & voted for me:) I'm so happy that I won this in 2008 & now 2010:)

"Started in 1996, the Caring Teacher Awards (CTA) is organised by the National Institute of Education, Singapore (NIE) in partnership with ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd and with support of the Ministry of Education.

The CTA aims to highlight school teachers who exemplify the values of caring, sharing and concern for the academic, moral, social, emotional and mental welfare of their students. More importantly, this award creates an opportunity for pupils to show their appreciation to their teachers, which is the greatest acknowledgement of the teachers’ hard work.

This award is held once every two years. One teacher each from a primary school, secondary school and junior college/centralised institute will be honoured at the CTA 2010 award ceremony. These awards will be used for the teachers' personal and professional development."
http://www.cta.nie.edu.sg/

Thank you very much for your support and compliments. I promise that I will continue to nurture my students, shower them with plenty of tender loving care. I will surely do my best for the benefit of all children as I still believe that the main purpose God send me to the world is for me to educate the next generation.

Where is Bambz?!

Long time didn't hear from me?
Why?

Busy with work... Busy forming bonds with my new batch of students... Busy preparing teaching materials... Busy setting challenging questions and practicals...
*time flies, term 1 will soon end

Busy saying "hello" to the Tiger... Busy shopping for gift for family and friends (yup, I didn't buy anything for myself)... Busy meeting family and friends... Busy giving ang pau (didn't really receive much this year)... Busy organising party for friends and my "daughters"...
* I didn't eat much as i enjoy spending time with chatting with family & friends rather than eating

Busy thinking of ways to cure my Archilles heels... Busy thinking of ways to stop me being so hyperactive and rest my feet more...
*my heels, especially the right side have been aching since CNY, it got from bad to worse, soon worst!!

Busy supporting darling so that he can cope well between work + mba... Busy supporting my students who are juggling very well between academic and organising school events...
* I cant do much except giving you my 110% of moral support

Busy... Busy... Busy...

Many things happened during this period, both happy:) and sad:(
I need sometimes to manage my ups and downs before I can start writing in my blog again. Please give me some time!!!!