May the sun bring you new energy by day.

May the moon restore you by night.

May the rain wash away your worries.

May the breeze blow new strength into your being.

May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.

Madness

It's been a crazy December so far. I've just started my new job at Tweedle Wink. It's a right brain program, not a day care, not a nursery; more of an enrichment program. So anyway the program is awesome. But, wow the hours are crazy (cos now I'm full time and supposed to work 48 hours a week).

Warning: Ramblings ahead ;)

The thing is I haven't finished my studies yet, so how am I gonna commit 48 hours a week? Good question. I admit my situation is very complicated: I have 3 more months of studies and 3 more months of teaching practice. I guess I'm lucky to have 2 great bosses who are willing to accomodate to my needs.. But there are some sacrifices I have to make as well. I really feel bad; like I've caused a lot of...problems because of my "situation".

So for these 6 months it's gonna be CRAZY, CRAZY, CRAZY. From Jan to March, I'll be working in the morning and going to class in the afternoon and going to work after class on the day my class ends earlier and I will work full day 9 to 9 on the day I don't have class and I'll work on Saturdays and a few hours on Sundays. Awesome pawsome. And from April to June, I will work in TW in the morning and go for the TP in another kindy in the afternoon and come back to TW at night! (Sat and Sun remains)

I guess I do have to work harder next year. Hopefully I can cope with everything. Actually, I am aware of the troubles I might face even before I signed the contract. But...I dunno, I really wanted to work here. It is such an amazing opportunity and I have learnt so much here..I work with great ppl, I've learnt so much from Pamela, I gain new experiences handling admin/management stuff and also conducting workshops for parents, briefing parents. There's still so much more to learn.

Well, since I'm the one who chose it, I have no choice but to do it. What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger =) I keep challenging myself and pushing myself to do more. And I'm confident I can do it; and do it well. When I first started studying, I taught tuition 4 hours a week. Then, Tumble Tots, 4 hours a day (plus working in college for the stupid sholarship). Next, 6 hours a day in Sri Johan. Now its, well, as much time as I can put in!

Well, good luck to me! ;)

3 ways of falling asleep

I quote my sister Su Yen
"There are three ways of making me sleep. The first is, count money. The second is, read storybook. And the third is, Koko tell story."
So I ask her, Why? Cos he tell very boring?
"Ya. Cos he always tell me about economics"

Great sisters think alike. =)

Random-ness

So the plan for Sunday was to go watch the orchestra in the MPO in KLCC with Randall. That was planned way earlier in the month. The plan changed because there was a ladies fellowship meeting on Sunday and I had to prepare my VBS lesson.

Then, I decided to just go to GM to get gifts for the VBS and prepare my lesson and rest cos I was tired.

But, in the end, we (me, Randall, Daryl, Joel, Win  Win and Boon Chin) went out to celebrate Jodie's birthday in Kenny Rogers (Joel Berjaya, so he got discount). Randall so bising wanna play badminton, and BC mentioned something about the Kota Kemuning club so yup, there we went to play badminton and swim.

I didnt get the presents or rest or prepare my lesson in the end.

Random-ing is fun. We should do it more often. Haha.

Emo

Being a teacher sucks. You love them so much, with all your heart. And then you have to leave them. Or they leave you.

It sucks.

Life, as of late

Life has been, fulfilling. I have been busy working,going for training, going to college,doing assignments, doing some stuffs for the VBS, hanging out with my boy. Oh, and I've been kinda addicted to How I Met Your Mother. Awesome show. It is Legendary.

I've been looking forward to December. Then I finally quit my job and I'm closer to finishing my college life! I'll only have one more sem to endure. It's funny how I hate college so much. I used to be psyched about learning. But it just got so unproductive after awhile. I wasn't learning anything new, I could ace my tests without actually listening in class..so yeah, for me going to class is purely a waste of time. I do my assignments in class or read in class. If I don't, I feel extremely uncomfortable andfeellike I just wasted time. Lol.

People say enjoy your studying life, when you're working, it's gonna be worse. I say, Come on lah, I am working and studying. Working is better, because 1, At work, I get to see children. 2. At work, I get paid. 3. Studying, I have to pay (A lot). 4. After work, I can do what I want. I can read, watch movies, hang out, shop. 5. Studying, I have to come home and rush assignments and study for tests. Which is better?

Well, in December, it's gonna be a new chapter in my life. Gonna start a new job! (Shall not disclose where) I've been waiting for the moment to quit the job. Why? Because...I am not happy with the system, it's too teacher-directed. I don't like the boss and certain colleagues. Basically that's it. Life is too short for me to stick in a job I do not like too long. I mean, the sky is my limit, There's so much I can do, so much I want to do, so many new things to try..Why stay? There's nothing to motivate me there.But the sad thing is, I'm so gonna miss all the children. Gonna be all emo again when I say goodbye. Sighs.

Oh well, I guess there will be more children for me to love in the future, so I'm looking forward to  that!

Cards

Some cards I whipped up using some present papers.

I like. 

♥

Books

I love reading. I guess it's obvious based on my blog title. I kept a list of books I've read. So far I've read 25 books this year.

1. Little Women 
I love classics. Pride & Prejudice is one of my all time favourites. I actually watched this movie when I was young and somehow it got stuck in my mind.


2. Chicken Soup for the Soul
I also love every chicken soup books there are. I bought this on discount from MPH. Brings me memories of borrowing every Taste Berries for Teens from the school library when in high school (the only good books the library had).

3. Diary of Ma Yan
About this school girl from China who wants to study but doesn't have the chance to study because of poverty.


4. Thomas Edison
Jodie lent this to me & its about, well, the life of Thomas Edison.


5. Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
6. Remember Me?
7. Shopaholic & Baby
Gick who hates shopping loves the shopaholic series. Ironic huh? I am indeed a fan of Sophie Kinsella. One of the best chick lits. 

8. The Tenth Circle
Written by Jodi Picoult. The storyline is good, but I don't really get her endings. Same with previous ones I read, Plain Truth & 19 Minutes.


9. Tales of Beedle the Bard
I grew up with Harry Potter. So when I saw it sold so cheap in Tesco I had to buy it. Not great as a storybook, but more for the collection since we have all the Harry Potter books.


10. The Last Song
Big fan of Nicholas Sparks. I have about 8 of his books now, but they get kinda predictable. Country love story, sad endings, someone has to die...


11. Handle with Care
Another Jodi Picoult, lent from Zara. This one I totally didn't get the story line at all. You want to sue your best friend/ gynae because she din tell you that your daughter is gonna have some medical condition & if you knew then you would have aborted the baby & you have to convince the jury that you wish your daughter was never born??

12. Dear John
Refer to no. 10.


13. The Bonesetter's Daughter
I love Amy Tan. Talks about life in China / life in America. Good book.


14. The Kite Runner
This is one of my favourite books of the year. Written by Khaled Hosseini. Set in Afghanistan, the book touches on war, loyalty, father's love. Great book. Two thumbs up!

15. Chicken Soup for Mothers & Daughters Soul
Yeah, I'm a fan of any chicken soup and every chicken soup. Collection of heart warming tales.


16. The Opposite of Fate
This is by Amy Tan, the first of many other non fictions I'm gonna read. It's interesting to listen to the story of the voice behind the tales, and you realise that there are many similarities between the author's life and the stories she write.

17. Are You Afraid of the Dark?
By Sidney Sheldon. Actually I've read this book before, and when I was reading it I was like, why is it so familiar? Halfway through only I confirmed, Oh yes, I've read it before. I guess it just wasn't that memorable? I guess I'm not a Sidney Sheldon fan.

18. Wild Swans
Another one of my favourites. Its non-fiction & tells of life in China during the communist times. Two thumbs up, too!


19. The Best Laid Plans
I kept trying to recall the story line but failed. =( I guess Sidney Sheldon is not my cup of tea. I find that it's irritating that the book does not seem continuous, but broken down into many segments of short stories. Get what I mean?


20. Angela's Ashes
This is also a good book by Frank McCourt. Talks about his childhood years in Brooklyn and Ireland.


21. Diary of a Wimpy Kid
22. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Rodrick Rules
23. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Dog Days 
I don't know if any of this should classify as a book, because it's half filled with pics! It is quite interesting. Not much of a storyline though. There's no plot: no exposition, climax etc. But it's an easy read. My sis loves it!


24. Saving Fish from Drowning
By Amy Tan, one of my fav authors (cos she's one of my mum's fav authors, hence having lots of her books). This is different from all her other books.. And, frankly, I didn't like it. My mum said she couldn't even get through the first chapter!

25. Eat Pray Love
My birthday present. Tells about her travel journeys to find pleasure, find God, meditate, find balance, experience love etc. It's a good book, but at parts when she rambles about her ex-lover and her divorce, it gets a bit too whiny.

That's all for now! Others on my To-Read-List are 'Tis by Frank McCourt, The Longest Trip Home by John Grogan, Glimpses by Adibah Amin, The Full Cupboard of Life by Alexander McCall Smith. Currently reading Jacky Daydream by Jacqueline Wilson.

Till then, Bye!!

My Tioman Scrapbook!

I finally finished my digital scrapbook for my Tioman trip! Almost 3 months later. Lol! But better late than never! I really wish I have more time to spend on my crafts. Even now, I'm actually supposed to be studying, exams in a weeks time! But, I procrastinate. =)

Enjoy!

Well, as it's my first ever attempt at digital scrapbooking, it's far from perfect, but hopefully with more scrapbooks in the future, I'll improve!

=)

Daily Thoughts

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, what will I be
Will I be pretty, will I be rich
Here's what she said to me.

Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be.

As the song was sung in school, I pondered about the meaning. It's surprising that it is considered a children's song, given its deep meaning. And u know, what the song says is true. We try to plan our future, the goal being "success" or "happiness". And then we get frustrated when things do not go our way. We forget that though we can plan, the future is not in our hands.

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a  city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 

James 4:13-14

I've learnt that I should just take things one day at a time. Seize the day. Live in the present. Happiness is not the destination; it is the journey. =) We've just got to learn to accept that there are some things you can't control. But always TRY to make the best out of the situation.

One thing you can control is your emotions. Well, at least you can try to. People cannot make you angry. It's you who allow yourself to be angry.

But enough of all the philosophical stuffs.

Random fact: I get excited over new stationery. (Yeah, like a kid) I love buying notebooks and files and stuff. I have lots of pretty notebooks which I have no use for. And I have 4 notebooks permanently sitting in my handbag! Talk about obsession!

I really don't know how I'm going to cope. I know I will be able to do it somehow. But as mentioned earlier, I will just take things one day at a time.

Of Jobs

"Hi yenee, I guess u no more in tumble tots rite?

bcoz larra told me that she missing u so much during the "story telling" session wif me b4 she sleep last week and last nite..... u take care ok."

Larra's mum posted this on my wall in Facebook. And I feel so torn. On one hand I feel so..happy, because Larra remembers me. It makes me feel like I actually meant something to her. On the other hand, I am so sad because I miss her so much too ='( From the time she started, she would cry for her mummy, and I was the one singing songs to her and she got rather attached to me, and me attached to her. She got better as time passed, growing independent. I remember I once asked her what's her favourite song and she said "I Gotta Feeling". I remember that when I complimented that she is so cute, she said "I'm not cute! Heidi is cute. I am beautiful." I remember her looking at her reflection and saying, "I look like All the Single Ladies!"


Leaving the children was the hardest part of leaving my job. The first few days after I quit was spent reminiscing. I would look at the clock and think "oh, at this time, they will be arriving. At this time, they will be having their snack..." I would look at their pictures over and over again, trying to commit every face, every smile, every incident to memory.


I really miss the better days of the job. I actually woke up in the morning with a smile, "Yay, I am going to work. I can see my beloved children!" Have u ever had a job where when u leave u actually have 700+ photos of the job? Do u collect souvenirs from the job? I bought a couple of T-shirts (the biggest size which fit me), I collect their junk like old membership cards, I bought their car sticker... Most of all, I left with lots of unforgettable memories.


Nevertheless, I do not regret my decision to quit. Maybe I'm young, inexperienced, naive to quit just because of small trivial matters, but at that time, I really wasn't enjoying my job. I stopped waking up with a smile. I started complaining. A lot. And as a young, inexperienced teen, the main criteria for my job selection was enjoyment. 


Now, I've got a new job. May not exactly be my dream job, but I get to learn new things, meet new people, love new children. Only two weeks into my job and I've already fallen in love with the children =) Besides, I really like that I am surrounded by many "Christians".  In a way, they really encourage me in my faith. And of course, as a young, naive teen, pay is also quite important in my job selection and let's just say I'm pretty satisfied with the pay I'm getting now.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 

Colossians 3: 23-24

Bonjour!

Greetings people!


Well, this is my new bloggie.. My old one is kinda left to die. Don't know how many would read my blog anyway. But this is mostly for my self expression, to continue pursuing my minor interest in writing.


As my blog title suggests, my blog will be dedicated to my hobbies, that is, if i have time for them. Mostly craft stuffs, reading, and also stories of my mundane life. The address is inspired by a song from the Sound of Music 'These are some of my Favourite Things'. Unfortunately, in our busy lives, we don't have mch time for our favourite things. True? :(


My more 'professional' blog on early childhood education (a field i'm passionate about)
is www.teacher-to-teachers.blogspot.com. It was actually set up as an assignment and my dad has encouraged me to keep it going. Hopefully i have the time to.


Nowadays, i've been really busy. And i'm supposed to be on holiday :( I just started my job in fungates kota kemuning as an assistant teacher, and i'm still not used to the timing yet! Also, i'm having lots of transport problems as I can't really drive on my own yet. Thats why nowadays i don't really have a social life, and i miss my frens much. My life is mostly: Work-sleep-eat. I'm just so exhausted from waking up at six and i have no mood for anything else. Hopefully the pieces will fall together and my life will go back to a normal-er mode soon!


To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing; 
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8