Today, we finally met the new teacher for our department. Ms. R. is very young, very friendly, and is a new teacher, just like me.
She is really smart because she is doing a masters degree in American History of the Slavery period. Juggling school and first year of teaching is a very daunting thought.
My colleague, F., is very happy that we finally have another teacher to help teach the lower level students in the Family Studies course. Over-sized classes and small classrooms make it very hard for the teacher to teach, as well as the students to learn.
I hope the students will come to like their new teacher, and I hope that Ms. R. will find her new teaching job as pleasurable as I find mine, if not more! :D
Congrats to Ms. R.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Birthdays This Week
Over the past 3 days, I've celebrated 3 birthdays.
Today, my family celebrated my dad's birthday. He's now 65, and he's retiring. YAY!
Mum made us wonton noodle soup, crab steamed with scallions, and oyster pancakes. It was so yummy! Auntie Nellie ordered a durian cake for us. It was most delicious!
I bought dad an outdoor waterproof vest. Clint and Tammy got him a 3-month subscription to the World Daily newspaper. Aunt Le and Nellie got him a very nice Italian shirt, with matching tie, tie clip and a set of...cuff button things.
On Friday night, I went out with Eddie, Clare, Thai and Jack to celebrate E. and C.'s birthdays. We had dinner at China King Buffet on Yonge and Major Mack. The food was alright, but too much MSG. Afterwards, went to play minigolf. It was so much fun! My team lost, though. At one hole, it took me 7 swings because I kept hitting the ball too hard and it kept going past the hole. Ugh!!! That was hilarious! On my 2nd last hole, I got the ball in on the first attempt, but that was a total fluke, LOL.
I got Eddie the same waterproof vest as I did for my dad, and I got Clare a necklace by Jones New York, and a pair of earrings by Guess. They both seemed to like their gifts. =)
Today, my family celebrated my dad's birthday. He's now 65, and he's retiring. YAY!
Mum made us wonton noodle soup, crab steamed with scallions, and oyster pancakes. It was so yummy! Auntie Nellie ordered a durian cake for us. It was most delicious!
I bought dad an outdoor waterproof vest. Clint and Tammy got him a 3-month subscription to the World Daily newspaper. Aunt Le and Nellie got him a very nice Italian shirt, with matching tie, tie clip and a set of...cuff button things.
On Friday night, I went out with Eddie, Clare, Thai and Jack to celebrate E. and C.'s birthdays. We had dinner at China King Buffet on Yonge and Major Mack. The food was alright, but too much MSG. Afterwards, went to play minigolf. It was so much fun! My team lost, though. At one hole, it took me 7 swings because I kept hitting the ball too hard and it kept going past the hole. Ugh!!! That was hilarious! On my 2nd last hole, I got the ball in on the first attempt, but that was a total fluke, LOL.
I got Eddie the same waterproof vest as I did for my dad, and I got Clare a necklace by Jones New York, and a pair of earrings by Guess. They both seemed to like their gifts. =)
Pioneer Village Trip a Success
The trip to Pioneer Village was a pleasant one. Most students were very well-behaved.
When we got there, the students were divided up into 3 groups of 20. My tour guide was Alexandra. She took us to the tinsmith's shop. There, I learned about how they made lanterns with an extremely inticate pattern of stars and flowers. These patterns are make from holes that are punched through the tin, to let the light through. This was called a barn lantern, for the windy and rainy nights when a farmer has to go into the barn to tend to the animals, and no matter how hard the wind blows on the lantern, the holes will not permit the flame to be blown out. It was so fascinating! And beautiful, of course!
That was my fave part of the trip, learning about this amazing lantern.
When we got there, the students were divided up into 3 groups of 20. My tour guide was Alexandra. She took us to the tinsmith's shop. There, I learned about how they made lanterns with an extremely inticate pattern of stars and flowers. These patterns are make from holes that are punched through the tin, to let the light through. This was called a barn lantern, for the windy and rainy nights when a farmer has to go into the barn to tend to the animals, and no matter how hard the wind blows on the lantern, the holes will not permit the flame to be blown out. It was so fascinating! And beautiful, of course!
That was my fave part of the trip, learning about this amazing lantern.
Friday, October 14, 2005
Another Week Gone By
Boy does time fly! I still remember the week just before school started, when I was trying to get the last minute wedding decorations done for Zemuppet and Chiquita. I had just been hired to teach ESL, and I was dazzled and frazzled. I was so nervous. I wasn't sure if I could do it...I mean, really teach, every day!
Now, it's been over 6 weeks, and I'm no longer nervous. In fact, I stopped being nervous several weeks ago. I don't know when I got used to it.
This week was a mixture of ups and downs. Ups include the successful poetry lessons I've done with my ESLEO class. Downs include some troublesome students.
On Monday, I'm taking the students to Black Creek Pioneer Village. Fortunately, we'll be on a school bus, and not riding the TTC. During rush hour, with 72 adolescents riding the TTC is very frightening thought. Wish me luck!
Now, it's been over 6 weeks, and I'm no longer nervous. In fact, I stopped being nervous several weeks ago. I don't know when I got used to it.
This week was a mixture of ups and downs. Ups include the successful poetry lessons I've done with my ESLEO class. Downs include some troublesome students.
On Monday, I'm taking the students to Black Creek Pioneer Village. Fortunately, we'll be on a school bus, and not riding the TTC. During rush hour, with 72 adolescents riding the TTC is very frightening thought. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Fatigue
The only thing that is keeping me awake right now is looking forward to watching the 9pm Chinese crime-comedy, "The Catch the Uncatcheble."
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Food, Food, and More Food
On Sunday, my family celebrated the Sept. 9th festival, "Chung-yeung." For this celebration, we went into Missassauga to visit the tombstones of my paternal grandparents. We laid down a pot of mums and chrysanthemums in front of the tombstones. After that, we paid our respects to them, and then we went home. At home, we had a dinner after venerating our grandparents and ancestors.
On Monday, I was planning on finishing up the marking and doing some grammar homework. At 2:30 pm, my best friend called me up.
Best Friend: C---? I'm coming to pick you up in 2 hours, okay?
C---: For dinner?
BF: Yes. You are coming to the dinner, right?
C---: I guess.
BF: J-- told you about the dinner, right? He said he told you about it.
C---: No, what dinner?
BF: The Thanksgiving dinner!
C---: OH!!!! Yes, I remember now!
So, I did end up having some turkey on Thanksgiving Day, thanks to J--. I also have to be thankful that I have a very caring family. Since I started my new job, I've found very little time to do house chores. My mum has been helping me out a great deal. Dad is driving to work more often so that he can give me a ride, which means I don't have to wait for the bus. I am extremely fortunate. In addition, I have to be thankful for having such a great 1st Teaching Job. The teachers in my dept. are so helpful, so considerate, and so generous with their time and expertise. I am truly very fortunate. I thank the Lord for surrounding me with these wonderful individuals, giving me the support I need right now.
Tonight, after work, I went out with the WTFF Club. That's not the "what the flying f---" club. That's the "we'll teach for food" club. We went to I Cook
Buffet for hotpot. It was a lot of fun cause the conversation was so hilarious and entertaining. Thanks to TT for organizing it, and MA for inviting me to join this club.
That ends this entry, and now you know why I gave it the title, "Food, Food and more Food." :P
On Monday, I was planning on finishing up the marking and doing some grammar homework. At 2:30 pm, my best friend called me up.
Best Friend: C---? I'm coming to pick you up in 2 hours, okay?
C---: For dinner?
BF: Yes. You are coming to the dinner, right?
C---: I guess.
BF: J-- told you about the dinner, right? He said he told you about it.
C---: No, what dinner?
BF: The Thanksgiving dinner!
C---: OH!!!! Yes, I remember now!
So, I did end up having some turkey on Thanksgiving Day, thanks to J--. I also have to be thankful that I have a very caring family. Since I started my new job, I've found very little time to do house chores. My mum has been helping me out a great deal. Dad is driving to work more often so that he can give me a ride, which means I don't have to wait for the bus. I am extremely fortunate. In addition, I have to be thankful for having such a great 1st Teaching Job. The teachers in my dept. are so helpful, so considerate, and so generous with their time and expertise. I am truly very fortunate. I thank the Lord for surrounding me with these wonderful individuals, giving me the support I need right now.
Tonight, after work, I went out with the WTFF Club. That's not the "what the flying f---" club. That's the "we'll teach for food" club. We went to I Cook
Buffet for hotpot. It was a lot of fun cause the conversation was so hilarious and entertaining. Thanks to TT for organizing it, and MA for inviting me to join this club.
That ends this entry, and now you know why I gave it the title, "Food, Food and more Food." :P
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Happy Thanksgiving!
I wish everyone a happy long weekend. Eat lots, and work out later! :D
My family isn't going to have a turkey thanksgiving this weekend. Muzpuppet and Chiquita are out of town, and we're also celebrating Chung-yeung festival today. If we have a turkey dinner tomorrow, then it's way, way, way too much fowl in two days.
Instead, we're going to have lasagna tomorrow, with a salad. The only thing I wish I could have is pumpkin pie. I love the Farmer's Market ones they sell at Loblaws.
This afternoon, both my family and Uncle Frank's family are going into Mississauga to visit the tombstones of my paternal grandparents. After that, they're coming over for dinner. Mum has made coconut curry chicken, salty roast chicken and soya sauce roast chicken. See? I said we were having a lot of fowl this weekend.
Okay, gotta go get ready.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
My family isn't going to have a turkey thanksgiving this weekend. Muzpuppet and Chiquita are out of town, and we're also celebrating Chung-yeung festival today. If we have a turkey dinner tomorrow, then it's way, way, way too much fowl in two days.
Instead, we're going to have lasagna tomorrow, with a salad. The only thing I wish I could have is pumpkin pie. I love the Farmer's Market ones they sell at Loblaws.
This afternoon, both my family and Uncle Frank's family are going into Mississauga to visit the tombstones of my paternal grandparents. After that, they're coming over for dinner. Mum has made coconut curry chicken, salty roast chicken and soya sauce roast chicken. See? I said we were having a lot of fowl this weekend.
Okay, gotta go get ready.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
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