No news yet....

I have not heard any news from my brother. I have not seen him online for a couple of days. Well, he could be busy looking for ways to get the frustration out of him. Frustration that comes from living in such a family. The only way I can help him is to get a flat as soon as I get back so that he can move in with us. It is not a permanent solution but at least, he gets some breathing space for the next three years. I am sorry that my actions to lead my life has added some stress onto him too.

I can only pray that he learns to take things in his stride and that he can grow stronger and hang on while I work towards a new home.

Sharing my photos with the hope of sharing my joy

I have just sent the link to my birthday photos to some of my close friends and my bro (real one). Everytime I look at the photos, i am filled with joy and warmth. I am still in the state where I am trying to understand if all that has happened is real or not. Reason is that I never thought that anyone would bake me a cake for my birthday. All my birthdays have been spent at restaurants with my friends and Matt, separately of course.

Perhaps because it has been such a routine, I no longer felt that my birthday was special, I no longer felt that I was special as a person. Until a few days ago. SUddenly, I seemed to have found light again. I am still touched by the fact that someone would bake a cake for me and spend time with me. These are people whom I barely know for less than a year. Yet, they readily accepted me into their circle of friends and we spend every weekend together, doing anything from cooking to shopping. Honestly, I finally feel like I am in a real family, part of a family. I have never felt this way for the past 26 years. The past 26 years have been lonely and aimless for me, despite the fact the somehow, I managed to make it through the education system and end up with a partner.

I am still very happy and I hope that the people who see my photos are somehow able to feel that joy that I felt too.

Three weeks aniversary

IN a few more hours, it would be exactly three weeks after my interview at MOE. I guess, whoever is reading this blog must think that I am crazy to keep pondering over the results of the interview. But this blog is one way which I can get the thoughts out of my mind and get on with daily life. I am hoping and praying that soon, I will hear some good news.

Dear Lord

I pray that I will receive good news from MOE soon!

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Am I alone?

"People have this need to improve their lives, to try to understand the mysteries of the world. People want to feel there's something more to life than there is on the surface, and this is reflected by their reading across the board, whether its The Road or Harry Potter."

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I am a believer of the above para. I want to discover life. I want to know what is beneath the surface. I want to look at the world around me with a different perspective, through a different window. I do not want to go through life's routine without understanding the meaning of life. Life on Earth should be celebrated because it gives us a chance to do things and create experiences unique to each individual. The path that we each take is unique and special. And because each of us has unique experiences, we learn different things. To make our lives richer, all we need to do is to share our unique experiences. We learn from one another through sharing. We can broaden our perspectives and create new windows with which we can view the world.

But somehow, I feel that I am alone. Not many people subscribe to my point of view. Many people are happy just earning more and more money and living a life of riches and achieving more and more "successes" in life. Especially in the country that I grew up in, life is all about results. There is academic results, career results and so on. The question is how much do the people understand about life? What do they think about compassion? What are their views about international issues such as poverty, education and security? Are they doing much to help others who are less fortunate? Or at least are they reading about world issues and understanding how the world is revolving around them? I am not sure about that...

My 26th Birthday in Denmark....

Yesterday was the 27 th September 2005. I celebrated my 26th birthday right here in Denmark with some of the most wonderful people I have ever known. The day went by very simply. We woke up, watched tv, had lunch at home, watched tv again and then went out for dinner. Dinner took place at one of the restaurants here where they served ribs. But both of us felt like having steak instead. Hence we ordered Sirloin Steak and a Coke to share. The steak was alright. But I loved the baked potato the most. Afterall, potato is my favourite, especially baked potatoes...:)

After dinner, we took a walk along the Stroget and headed in the direction of Lex's house. ALong the way, we walked past Stadium and we went in for a look. And definitely, we came out with some purchases. As we walked along the streets, the wind was blowing. It was cold, but I felt warm. It is a wonderful feeling walking peacefully along the streets, which is not crowded, with a person whom you feel comfortable with. Guess I never felt the intensity of such feelings till last night.

On the way, we passed Fakta and we went in to buy sugar for Ming.

We reached Ming's home and they were having dinner. As usual, we sat down for a drink and helped ourselves to the food. After dinner, we had cake. Orange Chiffon Cake made by Ming herself. No one has ever made a cake for me my whole life. I helped Ming with the cake, sieving the sugar. Ming decorated the cake with orange icing and slices of orange. Together, Ming, Boon Chuong, Lex and Matt sang a birthday song for me and Lex helped me to blow out the candles. After that, we settled down to enjoy the cake and some Champagne which I popped accidentally.

We chatted till about ten plus when everyone was red in the face due to the alcohol and Lex has already fallen asleep. Matt and I then left and headed home. On our way home, it started to drizzle and rain. So, instead of walking, we took the bus instead. While waiting at the bus-stop, there was a drunkard peeing along the street and he moved towards us as we were the only two human beings around the area. He spoke Danish which we definitely did not understand. A while later, the bus came and we headed home.

The day was simple but I felt happy and warm. It seemed like I had finally found warmth and happiness.

Dear Lord

Thank you for the day. I pray that you bless the wonderful people who have made it possible. I pray for a miracle that I can become a teacher. I pray for strength and courage to live my days ahead in a way that I can bring happiness to Matt and myself. I pray for my wonderful friends who sent me greeting via other channels for they remember and they make the efforts to tell me that they love me.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

It has been two weeks after my interview at MOE to be a teacher. I am still waiting for their reply as to whether I am successful or not. THe wait is killing me. Thoughts of being a teacher, conducting lessons, correcting the homework of the students, being angry at the students for not behaving in class and so on. Any possible thoughts and experiences of a being a teacher keep running through my mind. Last night, amidst my cough and sore throat, I dreamt that I was not accepted into the teaching profession. In my dream, I felt sad. This morning, I wake to the cloudy skies. The first thing that came to my mind was whether I would hear news about my application. The pining for acceptance into the teaching profession is really testing my patience.

Dear Lord

I pray for a miracle. I pray that I can realise my dream of becoming a teacher. I pray that I can be given a chance to show the young ones what the world has to offer. I want to be there to encourage them and show them that there is still hope. WHen they need someone to talk to, I want to be there for them. When they need encouragement amidst obstacles, I want to be there to support them. When they want to achieve success, I want to be there to help them along the way. When they want to know how beautiful and how big the world is, I want to be there to show them what I have seen.

I may not have been a good girl all my life to deserve this opportunity. But I pray that I can make it up by giving love, care and concern so that the young ones will not have to go through what I went through. I want them to grow up knowing that there is love and hope in this world after all.

This is all I ask for.

Hope

It has been a few days since I wrote in the blog. The past few days were terrible. Constant pangs of headache attacks, stomach cramps and so on as a result of a female body's reactions to the monthly cycle.

While all these are going on, there were other things going on in my life too. THe decisions that have been made and the other considerations that come along with them. SUddenly I was overwhelmed with the fact that I would be tied down to a certain extent because of money. And the only way that I can get out of it is to earn as much as I can. But how much can a teacher earn? I am not saying that a teacher's job is not good. It is a rewarding career and I very much like to go into that profession. Acknowledging my destiny of being a traveller, I need the resources and means to be able to travel. MOney is one main aspect. While I would be able to obtain a steady income and perhaps a little more if I give tuition, it would take me some time before I can move out of the country. And with the debts that I will have to incur with the new home and furnishings that come along with it, it would take even longer.

Nothing comes free....Freedom comes with a price. ANd that for me would be a few more years in that country before I can move on to the next....

Dear Lord

I pray for your blessings that I would be able to teach. Thereafter, I pray for your blessings that I would be able to travel and teach in as many different countries as possible to bring knowledge and hope to children. TO show them that there is much more to life and to encourage them to view life from a different perspective.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

How should I manage my wedding?

So, it has come to a stage whereby I have to go through the entire wedding banquet. I have more of less accepted the fact that I cannot run away from that. The only thing now is that I want the entire night to proceed without any hiccups. And I do not want to see certain people at the dinner. Deep down, I think I still carry some of the burden of the past. I should learn to let go. Maybe I can still invite certain people but I need not be so friendly to them. Or I can just ignore them.

Dear Johanna, remember that there are factors which you can influence and factors which you cannot. YOu can influence the people whom you want to invite to your wedding. You can talk yourself into not being affected by the emotions of the people around you and go through everything. You can learn to put your trust in a few people and get their assistance like what Clarissa said.

Dear Lord

I know it is not right to harbour feelings of dislike or hatred. BUt somehow, I do dislike certain people in my family and I do dislike their behavior. Lord, teach me to be forgiving, teach me to accept things which I cannot change. Lord, teach me to be kind.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Growing Up....

I have to get this out of my chest! It was unbelievable! I was on my way back. The scene took place on the bus. A family comprising, I guess, of the mother, father, two young daughters and two other family members boarded the bus. The two young girls are approximately aged five and two. The older girl boarded the bus but had no idea which direction she should proceed. Should she move ahead to the rear of the deck or should she take the stairs up to the upper deck? While her brain is processing this information and trying to come to a conclusion with all the knowledge that she has, her mother and aunt scolded her for being stupid (in dialect) and urged her to move to the rear of the deck. The entire process of giving the instructions was vulgar, fierce and unloving. The poor little girl moved with the hand of her mother pushing her on the back. KNowing that she has angered her mother by being slow and"stupid", she obediently moved and took a seat.

After the group has taken their seats, the mother and aunt continued to scold and make nasty comments about the girl for being slow. The little girl sat with her face down, trying to look as innocent as possible so that other strangers around her would not stare and give her an accusing look. I can empathise with the girl's feelings. My life has been filled with similar experiences.

HOnestly, I am appalled by the type of parenting that has taken place. Perhaps the parents and relatives have not been well-advised on how to bring up a child in a positive and conducive environment. Listening to the way they speak and their behaviour, I deduce that they do not have high educational levels.

I feel sad for the little girls. Hopefully, when they grow up, they will have have such a strong element of vulgarities in their lives. Hopefully, they will gain more insights and understanding and knowledge to be wise people.

Cinderella Man

Cinderella Man is a true story about a man named James J Braddock. His life took place in the United States of America right in the heart of New York City. He became a heavyweight boxing champion after starting out as a local fighter. To some people, the story may seem like any other inspirational one. Someone who has gone through some form of hardships and thereafter developed the willpower and determination and achieved something great. TO me, it brought back ideas and thoughts of many qualities which many of us lack in today's pampered society. HOpe, courage, determination, love, integrity, passion, belief, faith, respect, trust, appreciation of others. These are the messages I received once more from the movie.

HOpe: With the belief that things will always get better. Being hungry today does not mean that you will be hungry forever.

Courage: Courage to face the challenges in life. Courage to work hard. Courage to face the difficulties that Lord has set for you.

Determination: Determination to hold on and work one's way through hunger, poverty and disappointments. Determination to keep the family together despite what life brings forth.

Love: LOve for your family.

Integrity: That no matter what happens, we should always uphold our integrity as responsible human beings.

Passion: Passion for life. Passion for the things that give you meaning. Passion for your profession.

Belief: Belief that each obstacle/challenge stenghtens you. Belief that you will find the answer that you are looking for.

Faith: Faith in the Lord. Faith in the belief that the Lord helps those who help themselves.

Respect: Respect for the people around you. Respect for the profession that you have chosen. Respect the decisions that you have made.

Trust: Trust in the people that have come into your life for a reason.

I sensed a strong element of love and support for the main character from the family. This has been built on communication, understanding and love for one another. (Something which has been lacking in my life since young). Despite what has happened, I am moving on. Moving on to set up my life with someone whom I love and someone whom I care about. Moving on to a new career which gives me meaning and fun and satisfaction.

Dear Lord

Thank you for all that has happened in my life. I do not seek hate or revenge. All I seek is love and peace. I have put behind what has happened in my life and I want to move on. MOve on to offer my love to the young ones so that they do not feel lonely and lost like I was. Move on to set up a family and home with the man destined to share my life. MOve on to seek new experiences in life by travelling all over the world. I can feel that this is my calling. A life full of adventures so that I can inspire and share with the young ones. To show them and tell them that there is more to life that just what they see here. TO understand and be aligned with MOther Nature.

Lord, I pray that I can be a teacher. An inspiring and energetic teacher. A loving and understanding wife.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

http://www.jamesjbraddock.com/ - About James Braddock

http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/depression/about.htm - About the Great Depression

The path ahead

Dear Lord

I understand that things do not always proceed smoothly for everyone all their lives. YOu have placed challenges in everyone's lives so that we could grow stronger and be wiser with each step that we take.

My life so far has been blessed with minimal calamities. The necessary elements required to grow a human being has been provided to me and they have worked, albeit this does not take into account the emotional aspect.

I have come to a point where there is a need to make a decision which will compromise my objectives of being a teacher, a good teacher. The most critical factor is money. Money to me is a requirement for survival. It is also a means to freedom. It allows me to travel all over the world and experience things which gives me the inspiration. It allows me to pursue further education to develop myself so that I can bring benefits to the young ones. I heard the calling to be a teacher. I know that despite the hardship, this is one career path which will take me into my years of joy.

There are so many aspects of my life now that invovles money. One of which is housing. What should I do? Should I sink in all my money into a flat and delay my dreams of becoming a teacher? Or should I delay the desire to have a flat and pursue my dreams of becoming a teacher first? Or should I suffer in silence and live together with his parents?

Dear Lord, guide me and teach me what I should be learnt.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Respect for other people's decisions

Respect for other people's decisions

This topic came to me after I visited my ex-colleagues today. While many were glad to see me, some were not. I wonder if I have offended them in the past. Well, even if I have, I hope that they can put it behind. After all, what is past is history. There is no point brooding over it.

With reference to PK, I think he is still not over the fact that I left the organization so early. Perhaps he is angry at the fact that all the team resignations took place at a time when I was there. Perhaps he is thinking that I instigated them to do so. And he has probably blacklisted me already.

If we view the entire situation objectively, we could see that each of our decision was motivated by different factors. AS much as we hope that sometimes, the people whom we need can stay and help us, we have to recognize that they need to move on with their lives too. So why can't we respect that people have the rights to make decisions that impact their own lives and give them our support?

Have we been so preoccupied with our own priorities and selfish needs that we overlook the fact that other people have their rights to their own lives and decisions too?

Prayer

Dear Lord

Thank you for all that you have arranged in my life. To think of it, I consider myself lucky that I have had a comfotable life so far. I have been well-fed and well-taken care of.

It is time I give back to mankind using the gifts that have been bestowed upon my by the mighty one.

I pray that I would be able to join the teacher profession and, in whatever ways possible, help the young ones in their journey through life. I pray that I can pursue further education in the field of Linguistics and Psychology to increase my understanding of the world and the beings living on this planet. I hope that I can inspire others in my quest for knowledge.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Fears

I hope that I will be able to embark on the career path of teaching. Somehow, deep inside my heart, it is a new challenge which will present many obstacles. But I know that the obstacles are learning opportunities which will help me grow and become a better person. At this point in time, I have many shadows in me. There are fears lurking in dark areas which have yet to see the light.

For example, although I want to live with Matt, I am fearful and resistant to the fact that I would have to move in with his parents. I have the perspective that there are unspoken and unseen physical and behavioural boundaries drawn and that my invasion would be disastrous.

Therefore, should I move in with his parents, my movements and actions would be restricted very much. Being someone who need lots of space and freedom, I am wary and afraid of that day coming.

I love the time that I have with him in Denmark. We have our own space where we can show our affections for each other freely. There is no need to concern ourselves whether there is anyone else in the living quarters. There is no one else to please.

Communication with each other takes place freely without anybody’s else’s interference.

Yet, I know that when the time comes, I have to transform myself into another person. A zombie who has to behave according to their rules. A zombie with no brains of her own. A robot which has to act based on information fed into the chip embedded in the body.

This is one reason why I wish that the wedding will never take place. The later it drags, the higher the chances that I have the time and opportunity to leave this place, the higher the chances of such torture not taking place.

My interview with MOE

My Interview with MOE

Simple, efficient and short. These are probably the words I can use to describe the entire interview session today. My interview was scheduled at 1530 hours. In the letter, I was informed to arrive fifteen minutes earlier so that the personnel could verify my certificates. I was there early but when I reached the counter, they told me to wait. I asked if they needed my certificates. They said that the verification process only takes place after the interview.

And so I waited for my turn.

I walked into the interview room. The room was sufficiently equipped with two tables formed in a L-shape. In there sat a gentleman and two ladies. The gentleman was the chairman while the other two ladies were the members of the interview panel.

The panel welcomed me and invited me to sit down. I returned the courtesies and sat down, ready to be bombarded by the questions that they might have. As usual, they started off asking me to describe myself and why I made the decision to be a teacher. I told them my story. They were pretty convinced.

I told them about my experience in Norway with the little ones. I told them about what I like in my previous two jobs. I told them about my motivators, that fame, money and authority are not the things that would make me tick. In fact, it is the softer aspects of life like satisfaction and happiness that keeps me going.

The chairman then suggested that he play the devil’s advocate. And I responded, “Sure. Go ahead!”

The chairman asked me how I would deal with a situation in which I have a class of lower performing students and students who are disruptive. In such a situation, I would group the students into different groups based on what is causing them to behave or perform poorly. Then, based on the causes, I would sort out strategies to help them get on track. And of course, throughout the entire process, I should consult senior teachers who have more experience. They would be able to provide constructive feedback. Of course, the scenario is only for a class. I brought up the aspect that a teacher manages a few classes at the same time. I would have to apply the same approach for all classes. In the process, I would have to learn to prioritize so that I can get things done. I also mentioned the importance of discipline. Class discipline is a very important aspect of teaching. A teacher may have the most effective lesson plan, but all goes down the drain if the teacher is not able to maintain discipline in the classroom.

From the body language of the panel, it seems like they are happy with my answers and they could somehow see that I am passionate about my decision. I know what I am doing and what I want out of a teaching career.

One of the members did ask if I am aware of the bond that comes with the teaching position. This is in relation to the reason why I quit my last job in order to be with my fiancé. I replied that I am aware and this aspect has been taken care of. I have agreement from my fiancé that I will have to stay in Singapore for the next few years an not follow him should he be expatriated.

On the whole, I was able to articulate my ideas and messages quite eloquently. At the same time, the way I spoke conveyed confidence as well.

The interview lasted about twenty minutes.

I have done whatever I could. The rest is up to the Almighty one up there to determine if I should be in a position to influence the young ones and whether I am up to the job.

Space of my own

I had dinner at his parent's place today. It was a stressful one. I wonder if the stress was real or was it created by myself.

From the moment I step into the house, there was nothing I could do except to go to the toilet, watch tv and walk into his room. His sister's room is out of bounds, so is the kitchen. I always had this feeling there is an unspoken rule that I would not be able to go into his sister's room because she owns it. It is still hers even though she has moved out. Afterall, she has lived there for God knows how many years. To his parents, I believe that I could never take the place of their daughter in their hearts as well as in the physical environment that they live in. Likewise, the kitchen is the mother's territory. Touch any of the utensils other than your own glass and you have created the opportunity for ignition.

The dinner was also a challenge because I did not have much appetite. It is challenging trying to get used to the food in Singapore after some time abroad eating healthily. I feel sick. I can feel the oil sticking to the lining of my blood vessels. I can feel my lungs working harder to function. I can feel the pores on my face squeezing as much oil as possible out of my body system.

I think I have to get back to sandwiches and lettuce very soon.....

Norwegians lead happier and healthier lifestyles.....

I came across the following article on BBC news and found it quite interesting. Being a developed country, Norway and her citizens have matured to the extent that their life becomes more meaningful, as the article suggests. I believe in it.

Nevertheless, like another fact of life, there is always a downside to it. Nothing is perfect.

My experience has shown me that while life is good for the Norwegians, they do have some problems such as high percentage of divorce rates. Poor little ones. But they have learnt to cope with it and it has come to be a fact of life like eating. Should I feel sad for the little ones? Or should I be happy that despite the true fact of life happening to them, they have learnt to incorporate it in their lives and move on?

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Norway's formula for a happy life

By Lars Bevanger BBC, Norway

The UN has ranked Norway as the most prosperous country in the world for the fifth year running. But, as Lars Bevanger suggests, there is always a downside to paradise.

Norway is the third largest oil exporter in the world

The election official from the governing conservative party looked a bit bewildered.
I had just asked him why his party was trailing in the opinion polls a few days ahead of the general election here, when everything in this country is going so well.
His blue eyes searched the cloudless sky for a possible answer.

"Unemployment is low," I prompted him, "interest rates are at a record low, the UN keeps telling us we live in the best country in the world. Yet people say they want the Labour party back in power?"

When the heavens failed to provide him with an adequate answer, he looked back down, shrugged his shoulders and said: "Well, maybe people just want a change."
I do not think anyone can possibly understand how boring a general election in the world's best country really is.

Petrol prices

There simply is not much left here to fix and, for one tedious moment earlier this week, it seemed the main debate between the political left and right would be the price of petrol, which is higher than normal in this country, too, these days.

It is, of course, somewhat paradoxical when people here complain that petrol is too expensive. After all, it is the unusually high price of oil that contributes to Norway's prosperity.
We are the third largest oil exporter in the world, topped only by Saudi Arabia and Russia.
But the North Sea oil bonanza is not squandered on paying for people's transport.
Most of it is saved and invested in a fund for the day when the oil eventually runs out. This nest egg is now worth £103bn ($189bn).

That works out at £22,000 each for me and every other citizen in Norway.

The oil wealth only goes so far to explain why this country keeps coming out top of the United Nations' ranking of countries.

Equality

After all, Saudi Arabia only makes it to number 72, just ahead of Ukraine.

The Norwegian welfare state - another reason we come out top - has developed over decades, mostly well before we hit oil in the North Sea. It started soon after the end of World War II.
Sometimes it can be hard to explain how we make our money last until pay day
After five years of German occupation, people here were keen to avoid divisions. An egalitarian society was the way to go.

To me it is that equality in Norwegian society which makes it so pleasant for the vast majority of people to live here. Very few are immensely rich.

In fact extreme wealth is frowned upon by many.

And even fewer are desperately poor.

There is remarkably little difference between the amount of money a factory worker or bus driver takes home and the pay cheque of a medical doctor.

Both earn just over £2,000 a month.

Cost of living

Sometimes though, it can be hard to explain how we make our money last until pay day.

Norway has a population of 4.6 million

"How on earth can you afford to live here?" a colleague visiting from the UK spluttered once.
She had just paid £5 for a pint and was wondering whether she could afford to order a pizza.

I patiently tried to explain that the waiter probably made as much money as her and that the cost of producing that beer was higher than in any other European country.

It did little to ease her outrage.

I should have pointed out what people do not have to spend their money on here, money they can put into their pints if they want to.

Generally people do not have to pay for private pension schemes, private health insurance or private schooling.

For most people, the state pension will do. Public schooling is the norm and most public schools are as good as the few private ones.

Health service

Of course there is room for improvement. When it comes to our health care system, there are still queues and at times there are staffing problems.

But it could have been much worse, especially if we were less healthy here than we actually are.
Perhaps it is all the salmon we eat, which is by far the cheapest fish you can buy in this world capital of salmon farming.

It could also be the 38-hour working week and people's strong desire to keep work and leisure time strictly separated.

An English friend, who started work as a doctor here a few years ago, was shocked at the number of perfectly healthy octogenarians who came to see her.

"They come in," she complained, "just for a check-up and a prescription, and I rarely find anything wrong with them."

Cross-country skiing

She was not used to people over 80 visiting her surgery, she said, let alone perfectly healthy ones.

"And then," she sighed, "these Norwegians tell me they haven't got much time, as they are off for their daily cross-country skiing run."

For all the good things about Norway, I did once leave to live in London.

I often wondered why, especially when I was stuck in traffic on the M25 motorway and some financial adviser on the radio was telling me I should really consider that private pension fund.

I have been back in Norway now for three years. Will I move again?

Well, maybe when I have had enough of politicians arguing over the price of petrol or the queues of baby prams belonging to mothers enjoying their 10-month, full-pay maternity leave.

For now though, I am enjoying my extremely expensive pint and, like a typical journalist, hoping someone might uncover a political scandal in time for Monday's parliamentary election.

An Apple a Day: 'Teachers, Be of Good Courage'
Inspiring thoughts for teachers at the start of the new school year.
By Vicki Caruana

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.Joshua 1:9


We frequently experience changes in leadership in the field of education. New principals often worry that not all the teachers will follow their lead. In fact, many teachers leave a school along with an exiting principal. And it is discouraging. Teachers often experience feelings of inadequacy. I excelled in my teacher preparation program and learned alongside some of the best supervising teachers during my internship, but I remember how painfully inadequate and unprepared I felt when I was assigned my first class. It was what I wanted. It was what I was trained to do. To me, having my own classroom was the “promised land.” Yet I trembled in anticipation of it.


In those times, when the land seems alien and we are called to lead, we can remember that God is with us. Each day we face new challenges, troubled students, and difficult parents. Be not afraid. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Joshua 1:5).


I admit that there is much to fear in our country today. It is not at all like in the days of our own fathers. Yet God is the same. The promise is the same. And with Him we can conquer many of life’s challenges.


Today you may be standing on the hillside overlooking the “promised land,” wondering if it is safe to enter. Changing schools, teaching a new subject, or becoming a teacher for the very first time can sometimes make you feel ill-equipped, insignificant, and even unable. The truth is, you are prepared, you are of pivotal importance, and you are able—with God you are all that and more. Focus on the truth and follow God’s command. Be not afraid nor dismayed!


Seven Affirmations of Teachers

These seven affirmations are provided by the Daily Apples website. I have added one of my own to the beginning of this list that I encourage you to remember before anything else:God is with me!

1. I am proud to be a teacher.
2. Teaching is one of the most honorable and noble of all professions.
3. I love what I do and know that my enthusiasm is contagious.
4. I bring knowledge, dedication, and understanding to my classroom.
5. I make a positive difference in my students’ lives.
6. My students will be better people because of me, and I will be a better person because of them.
7. I know what I give to my students will come back to me in many wonderful and unexpected ways.

Service or Services?

"There is no more train service to A, B and C," announced the station master.

Immediately, it struck me as to whether the sentence is grammatically correct. Do we define the train service as singular or plural? There are three lines which are affected. So should the plural form be used?

I brought this up to Norman and Nic. And we all have differing views. Ultimately,the question boils down to how we define the word "service". Is it an all-encompassing word which takes into account that service is not countable? Or do we define it by the number of routes?

Imposing this idea onto life, how do we define happiness? It is subjective.

As long as people understand the English that you are speaking, all is well.

As long as we smile and exude happiness, all is well.

Choices for Comparison

Clarissa said this to me, " You are so lucky to have the chance to live in Europe. Hence, you have an alternative for comparison. And this is giving you a little bit of stress."

It is true. Having lived in Europe for a while, I have unconsciously formed the habit of comparing the life in Singapore to the life in Europe, or Denmark in specific. While Copenhagen does not have that much variety of food or shopping malls, there is contentment and a good pace of life. Singapore has so much variety to offer, but it lacks the environment which encourages peace, maturity and tolerance.

I am facing the challenge of trying to get used to the life in Singapore. The way people bahave, they expectations that people have, the unspoken rules in public and so on. Suddenly, everything has become foreign to me. I have to learn everything from pit bottom.

The only consolation perhaps is that my ties with Daphne and Nic is still going strong. We are still able to chat and have fun like before. They provide me with a comfort net which holds me and prevents me from falling into a crevasse of depression, dear and negativity.

Honestly, I have fear. Fear that I would not be able to accept the kind of life here. Fear that I would not be able to follow up with the pace of life here. Fear that depression would engulf me in its fiery flames and turn me into ash.

I know that I would have to fight these thoughts and emotions. The question is how to do it and do it right. I hope that somehow, I would be able to find the way.