Amazing!

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

One of my fellow Rainie fans from Canada drew this picture of Rainie's 2nd album cover using Tinkerbell crayons from the 99c store. Take a look... It's amazing! And she's only 18 years old.



She also drew this of the latest picture posted on Rainie's blog of her dog Yumi & her latest album [半熟宣言].



It's so great to find such talent out there. Another of my friends living in Taiwan is also an artist. I just can't stop staring at her drawings. Most of them she duplicates from pictures, and there's some she takes down from her imagination.



Click for more pictures

You Are My All In All

Saturday, October 11, 2008

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up, I'd be a fool
You are my all in all

Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your name
Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your name

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame
Rising again, I bless Your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down, You pick me up
When I am dry, You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Frustrated!!!

Friday, October 10, 2008

I'm so frustrated with all this Chinese school/After school stuff. I've been pointed out that my class is too noisy. In my mind, I'm thinking, we have the quietest line when we walk to our class and the youngest kids too. How is it that you can tell kindergarteners to be quiet for 1 hour or so? It's not possible. Also, if I did something wrong or did not follow the way it's supposed to be, let me know. I'm told I did it wrong. What was it? How was it wrong? How can I fix my method? Dude, it's frustrating when I go to these teacher meetings and I don't get anything out of it. We sit there and spend 2 hours talking/arguing about getting materials, copies, etc instead of what the meeting's actually about... the lesson plan for next week. Instead, 15 minutes is spent on the actual goal and the rest of the time is lost in argument. That messes up all of our time. Everything's supposed to be finished at 2pm, instead most of us leave at 3 or 5.

I always say I don't want to work at a place where all the employees are Chinese. Just by my experience, as shown above as 1 example, it's a waste of time for everyone to be arguing around you. They don't follow the order of status for getting supplies. Don't all come telling me! I'm not the person that buys all the stuff. It's like it's a waste of breath with these teachers. The more time I spend with them, the more I find them annoying. If I ever end up working with a bunch of Chinese people for my career, hit me upside my head.

My frustration has gotten to the point where I burst. I said I didn't want to continue with this teaching position anymore (I said it at home, not before anyone else). What I told my mom, I feel like I'm working with a bunch of complainers and chasing a bunch of butterflies. Come spend a day with me and you'll know what I'm blabbering about.

Getting tired

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

It's been such a long week. I thought it would never reach the weekend. I'm already tired out. The program coordinator came to see my class the 2nd time in a row. She first came on Monday to see how we were all doing. At that time, I was told that my I was doing okay. Then she came again today. Everything was a mess. I was told that I wasn't following the lesson plan, what was taught at the summer workshop, etc. I'm so bummed out. It's so difficult to do all these plus get the lesson taught. As what I heard, most classes have already begun teaching lesson 1, but then others say that in the first week not much will be taught other than the class rules. Yea, I got the message! I'm also supposed to pre-assess all the students chinese level. How was I supposed to do that when my TA wasn't there yesterday to help me?? Anyway, my emotions are all over the place.

All over the place

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

It's been 2 days and all my materials are all over the house. I've basically conquered my mom's drawing table in the sunroom, the kitchen table, and the family room. Haiz~ Need to find a place to do all this stuff other than the sunroom. Here's a illustration: When you enter the kitchen, you will find a couple piles of paper, and a cutting board. Then cross over to the sunroom and find worksheets spread all over the table and chairs, then add on the huge pull box I carry in and out all the time. Is that a mess?? ^___^ I promise, if another room is provided, I will fill that room up too. Oh, did I mention? My room is like a storage place for all my teaching materials over the years. I wonder how I sleep every night....@______@

First day on the battle field

Monday, October 6, 2008

It was the first day getting a feel of everything. I tell you, this was crazier than I thought. At our site, there's only 2 classes. At other sites, there are 3 classes, even 5 classes.

Turns out, 2 more kids were added to my group, so now I have 24. "Please don't add anymore." The limit to each class is 25. And plus there's not enough seats for all of them to sit. Now, I need to figure out a seating arrangement, test their proficiency, review classroom rules and manners, and teach lesson 1. Yea, that's a whole lot to get through in an hour and a half.

The kindergarteners are way too cute. They sit and work quitely on their own. I had my class write their names on flash cards and draw what they like to eat or do (just to take up time). The 1st graders are a bit talkative, but we will work things out. Whew! It feels like a lot to do, but it's the least of tasks. This is going to be a hectic week.

Oh yea, I forgot to mention... I have to make my own visual aids. Word cards and picture cards take the longest. I just wish there's a projector to use in the classroom. But no can do... everything in the classroom is off limits other than the blank spaces on the white board. Boo~

It finally hit me

Friday, October 3, 2008

Still cannot believe I'm an official teacher. I've been imprinting it in my mind for the entire week. Not until today, has it REALLY hit me.

All the teachers received their pull box and supplies today. Also during our meeting was the presentation of the first week's lesson. There were so many handouts/worksheets that I had to make copies of all of them. It ended up me carrying home a 12 inch pile of papers and the pull box.

It finally hit me, I'm TEACHING! But by spirit is still a bit hesitant whether I want to do this or not. It so far has taken so much of my time and energy that I feel that I want to faint. Anyway, it's time to take a deep breath (or a few) and start preparing. Don't really know what to do on the first day, but I'm praying that I will manage. I need all the prayers possible. Hope that I can make it through 12 weeks of munchkin-ness.

Me!? Teaching???

Monday, September 29, 2008

Just found out that I'll be teaching Chinese for the after school language program. When I checked my email this morning, there was the student roster for the school site I'm placed at, but I didn't download the attachment. When we met up with the Board President, he said I have to 加油 (he always says that to me.), but then he added in I'm the main teacher. So that means I'll be teaching Chinese?! So many things going through my mind. 'How come I didn't know? No one told me anything.' Then I went home and opened the attachment, finding my name on the roster under 'teacher'. Goodness gracious! What will I do?? Am I ready? I don't want 23 Evans. (By the way, I have K-2nd graders.) Hopefully I'll be able to cope with all this. Please pray for me.

"Not So Easy Afterall" - Training

Monday, August 25, 2008

This morning was the first session of training of the Language After School Program. I thought I could just sit there and briefly listen to what the program's about, but there's so much more work behind it. We are now broken down into groups and we have to come up with a unit plan (not lesson plan), which will be given to the site supervisors and we will be teaching it. Goodness, there's so much work, even more than the ones I do for my credential classes. I've got to do some research and all the tech preparations quick since our presentation would be Thursday. Plus, it's going to be done in Chinese, so... even more difficult for me. Haiz... Better get cracking!

New Beginning, New Look

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Hey! I finally managed to put up a new layout. I chose this layout because it looks so tranquil and peaceful. I feel that I'm at a new start of a point in my life. After spending all the time thinking over everything, I am finally ready for a revival.

This layout is made by Maple@Chocolate Peach Designs. Her description of the theme is "the revival of learning and culture after failures." Thanks Maple for such a great layout.

The featured song is one of my favorites from the Taiwanese drama "轉角*遇到愛" called "小星星 (Little Star)". I fell in love with it when 心蕾 & 藤楓 played it in the concert hall.

Hope you all enjoy the look. I bring you the new beginning of Mimi.

♥♥ to All!