memorable moments with 5D

Memories are made up of the good and the bad. However, when we talk about something memorable, I would like to think of the nice and wonderful things although sometimes, I really do not know whether to laugh or to cry. It has been half a year with you and there are many memorable moments indeed.

In the beginning…

I lost my voice and I had to type in order to communicate with you. I was impressed that you did not take advantage of the situation. Instead, you were quiet and paid full attention to every instruction. I felt cared for and respected. That was really how I felt.

I also love how you are so enthusiastic about decorating the class. Ideas poured in. The effort that you put in just to beautify our second home is tremendous. There are many budding talents among you. However, more and above that artistic talent, I see something beautiful that is happening, you are beginning to learn to work with others who may be different from you to achieve the same goal. It was just the beginning.

Then…

There was the ‘Nemo’ voice-over project. Yes, it took a lot of time and some squabbles among some groups. Some groups did better than others but ultimately, what turned out well was that every one gave it a shot no matter how unprepared they were. The three musketeers were of course the most persevering of all. They fought all the way to the end and displayed the never-say-die spirit.

Showing concern for Nicole

The show of concern towards your classmate touched my heart. The letters and notes of encouragement showed me what a nice, loving and caring class you are.

Prepared speech

It was really nice to be listening to you instead of hearing my own voice every day =j All of you have the ability to speak. Just speak from your heart and you will do fine. I am looking forward to the impromptu speech.

Inspirational corner

I realise that many of you are wiser than you think. You have contributed so many quotes of wisdom that serve as wonderful reminders of the positive attitudes and the mindsets that we should have. Many times when I was in the empty classroom at the end of a day, I looked at the wall and my heart smiled.  I hope that we will live up to at least one or two of these wise quotes. May I share one quote that I live by – People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. This quote is by John C Maxwell and it reminds me to always care about how others feel.

Little angels

From term 2 onwards and even from the end of term 1, I noticed that there were things that quite a lot of you did for the class without me asking. They are simply countless – putting up the roster, cleaning the whiteboard, sweeping the floor, tidying things up, and so on. Wow! I feel very blessed indeed to be your teacher and I am so very proud of you. Many of you did not do it for the reward. You did it because it is the right and nice thing to do and that you enjoy it. I like that.

Improvements

One thing that really makes me happy is when you show the determination to improve either in your behaviour or in your work or both! When you put your promises into actions, it shows that you are someone who mean just what you say.

Appreciation

Every time you show your sincere appreciation, whether verbally or with a written note, it makes me glad that I am teaching children who know how to be thankful. A heart full of gratitude will always be a happy one.

Fun

Of course, I also enjoy the times when we laughed together! Cheeky class. Well, sometimes =j Like I said before, I like happy children and I aspire to be a happy teacher. You can help me to be one by being nice, obedient and thoughtful.  Won't you? =j

There you go. I hope you have enjoyed reading my journal. Just to let you know, I have always enjoyed reading yours and that’s the highlight for me on days when I feel really tired. After reading, I don’t feel so tired any more =j

p/s : I believe there are more chapters I can add to my journal about 5D =j

Ms Jermaine Tan

July 2013

dad's culinary treats

fast forward

Subconsciously, I fast forwarded the week. I lived my Tuesday as if it was Wednesday.

Morning. Lesson would be in 10 mins, I thought to myself. Next came a call. "Ms Tan, it's your lesson now." The voice belonged to my class prefect. Shucks! I was looking at the wrong day on the timetable. Missed a period. (Just when I was actually having one. Pun intended.) I rushed up. Snapped back to reality.

Evening. Home. Stopped surfing on the Internet and switched on the TV for the usual 8pm wednesday show I catch. 5 mins passed and no sign of it. Shucks! It's Tues. I guess reality didn't hit me hard enough.

comfort food

Whenever I'm home for the weekend, I can always expect to find my comfort food on the table when I wake up in the morning. Nice. Thanks Dad. I tell him.

granny's chicken soup for the soul

1st post for the 1st day of the new year.

piping hot from the pot.

granny says there's soup for me.

chicken soup for the soul.

bittersweet.

it tasted herby bitter but

sweetened by my granny's care.

a love that went beyond words

attended a wedding. right next to a temple. religious. indian. deaf. the union of 2 persons who are passionate about life and people. i felt privileged to have been invited. i nearly walked into the temple though. just beside the temple, a flight of staircase led me to the hall where the wedding was taking place. there were shoe racks but shoes dotted the ground instead. i took mine off before ascending the stairs.

sat next to my friend and her twin daughters, leonie chen yitong and alicia chen jing. cute! they were curious as to why i wasn't wearing my shoes. i looked around me and realised that everyone had theirs! it wasn't mandatory to take shoes off. i didn't know :P i felt comfortable being barefoot though but i responded to the urging of another friend. went down, found my shoes and slipped my feet into them.

the bride's entry - her look was one of iron certainty as she walked towards her life's destiny. she was going to be anchored in her husband's love.

although i'm a hearing person, it was ironic that i understood the signed language somewhat rather than the spoken. see, i knew sign language but i didn't know the language of my friends' native tongue.

deep rich colours. glittery jewelleries. sweet scent of flowers. everyone watched as the ceremony took place with the accompaniment of 'live' religious music. after the indication from the sign interpreter that the couple was then 'officially' married, a line formed that snaked its way to the stage so that everyone could shake the couple's hands and offer blessings. that was also when one's 'red' packet could be given. before attending the wedding, i asked my indian friend if there was a special envelope i could use. he said that a simple white envelope could do the job as well. i decided to use the traditional chinese red packet. after all, it had the chinese character on it that meant blessings. i thought it would be perfect!

i felt excited as my turn came. in fact, i had 2 turns because i didn't take a picture with the couple the first time around and so i decided to line up again :) the look in the couple's eyes were sincere, gentle and full of gratitude. a love that went beyond mere words.

my life experience had certainly been enriched.

simple but nice

out of the blue, my granny brought in a bowl of man tous (plain steamed buns) which i couldn't capture a good shot of. my granny loves them. i'm quite proud of myself that i bought a pack from ntuc 2 days ago. so that she could steam and eat them.

anyway, when it comes to those pickled vegetables, i never knew there were 2 kinds, until my granny told me to get them. i failed in my first attempt, didn't manage to get the sourish one. so i tried to make it up by making another trip to suptermarket the next day. and still, it's not exactly the one, i had bought the salted sourish one, as in the combination type. they are called pickled mustard...? ok, am i hopeless or what? my granny was gracious enough to accept it.

咸菜汤 (xian cai tang) or salted vegetable soup is what we've always had for chinese new year. and interestingly, my granny always says that my brother has a sharp taste bud as he will always be able to taste the difference should an ingredient go missing to make the soup less tasty.

as for the mushroom porridge, yeah, it's just mushrooms and porridge, as you see it. but boy, was it yummy :) fish. those slim ones? i think they are the kuning fish variety, i dunno about the other one though. i just know my granny eats them often. simple but nice.