I did a little shopping yesterday and today. I had lunch with my church friends at Swensens Thomson Plaza, and shopped a bit on my own in the afternoon. I met them again at dinner time at Junction 8's Sakae Sushi. A waitress there recognized me as she was ex-VJC. Later, we watched the new Jack Neo betting movie.

I must enjoy my holiday more... It doesn't seem like a holiday.

I was on course at NUS yesterday and today. It was an H3 Modern Physics bridging course for JC teachers, although there were a number of secondary school teachers too.

The content was really chim! More like university Year 1 to Year 3 work! And VJC did not send any teachers! That is really not a good idea...

It's the holidays finally!

I had invigilation on Monday and lessons on Tuesday. I still have lots of work to be done actually, but I try to leave school latest by 3 pm during the holidays. I have to rest and relax. I'm on whole day course at NUS tomorrow and Friday, and I have lessons and NCC on Saturday. Not much of a holiday this week except today... And I have 8 Computer Club sessions this hols, and a camp or two...

What I want to do this hols...

1. I want to exercise more this hols as I've been quite inactive this year. I want to slim down too.
   
2. I need to do lots of personal admin, tidying up my room, etc. I normally leave these to the long holidays.
   
3. I want to shop a bit.
   
4. I want to socialize a bit with my friends. I seldom have the time to do so during term time.
   
5. I need to send my car for the final free servicing, as well as Tuff Kote and SoundClad. I also feel like changing my plates to the message type.

I did a bit of tidying and exercising today. And I did something good today. I helped to remove some thorny mimosa weeds downstairs. I remember a long time ago when mimosa was the scourge of the estate, and they declared war on the weed. So when I saw 3 patches of thorns today when I sent my paper waste for recycling, I decided to do something about it. What if some children get hurt by the thorns? So I went to my car to get my shears. (I keep it accessible so that I can cut the seat belt in an accident.) I managed to cut up the 3 patches of thorns. I did not dig them up, but I guess they won't regrow, because I cut them up well and good! Let's see if they regrow next week...

I also met my church friends for dinner today after my afternoon nap. I will be able to go for BS next week as it is the hols. I know I should go for BS even during term time, but I am a teacher and I need my rest and sleep.

We recently had a teacher who actually did not mark his exam scripts and did not come to school for a day or two. He probably felt a bit stressed, I guess. Well, I think one has to be ready to take a lot of stress if one wants to be a teacher.

I've encountered one breakdown case in BNSS, one slightly psycho case in VJC, and one of my friends who broke down while at NIE and failed the practicum. There must be a lot of psycho teacher cases in Singapore. That's what they said last time: teachers constitute a sizeable proportion of patients at IMH and Adam Road.

I've been too busy in recent months. Recent developments in my life...

I watched Kill Bill Vol. 2. I've been looking forward to it, although I know the story already.

I changed my car wheels from the stock 14" steels to 15" lightweight alloy wheels. I am quite happy with my purchase. I got 5.2 kg Advanti rims with Falken 512 tyres at $832 only! (And my brother spent $1600 on 6 kg rims!) My Advanti rims look like one of the Rays Volks racing wheels. The ride comfort decreased a little as expected, but the increase in performance and safety is noticeable.

I'm on course these few days, so I'm feeling a lot happier. Then again, I know that when I go back, there will be a lot of work waiting for me!

I realise that many secondary school teachers aren't very good in their Physics content! But I did not see any teachers from good schools -- perhaps they are better. Luckily I was a JC teacher last year, so my content is still there. I wonder how they would guide the new teachers going to their schools if their content was poor... I sure hope I don't become like them!

You know, the government always says that the leadership of the country is important. That we should concentrate all resources on the leadership of the country for they are the ones responsible for the success of the nation in the future. But I guess they have simply forgotten about the rest -- the majority of the country who ARE the future of the nation. Can you imagine that these students who don't want to learn or develop their thinking are the ones who will be the main workforce of the country? These students who can't even do the simple O levels now. No wonder the country is going downhill. And the government's current solution is to depend on foreigners. I think that is not the solution. If the quality of our people are not good enough, we should do something about it!

The problem is also caused by poor parenting, I guess.

I have been very busy in school recently, as can be seen from the date of my post! I leave school before 7 pm everyday, which is actually earlier compared with my average day at VJC (10.00 pm). But back at VJC, we do read the papers everyday. We do have 25 minute lunches and 1.5 hour dinners. And we do take a nap to rest as and when required. And we do have 1.5 hour exercise sessions. And we work long hours at VJC, but at a moderate intensity.

But here at Damai, I work a solid day from 7.25 am to 6.30 pm. 10 minute lunches are the norm. I try not to do any work at home as usual -- but I usually do half an hour of low-key work just not to feel guilty. I have very little time -- I would like to do more for my students but I really don't have the time. In any case, they're not good students anyway -- little discipline to do their homework or to revise their work. English marking saps up whatever free time that I have... As a combat reservist, I am supposed to exercise 3 times a week, but I simply don't have the time!

No wonder teacher recruitment is so high -- the turnover is high too. It is a job that is simply not worth the pay -- you have got to have some passion to work 55 to 59 hours a week. The average grad civil servant works 40 hours a week. Why do you think we have longer holidays? Not that long actually. On paper, teachers have 12 weeks of holiday a year, but realistically, it is just 6 to 7 weeks, or 30 to 35 days.

I sure hope my passion lasts...