Antics

After reading Christine and Ruth's blogs, I feel inspired to blog about the antics i've seen so far. Haha, so here goes.

Scenario 1

Me: Where is Sunny?

A certain student: (falsely points to a Malay classmate) There!

Me: Yeah right. Sunny is outside in the sky. (points out of windows)

Scenario 2

Me: How do you say 'I hope you like the food' in your recipe?

Student: Use your mouth lah!

Scenario 3

Me: Good morning, class! (Class remains rowdy)

Student 1: OOOOOIIIIIII! SHUDDUP LAH! GOT TEACHER!

Student 2: OOOOOIIII! KEEP QUIET! (faces Student 1) I CAN SHOUT LOUDER THAN YOU, SEE?

Student 3: OOOOOIIIII! SHUDDUP LAH! YOU WANT ME TO PUMP YOU IS IT?!

(A few NCC and NPCC kids start doing pushups in front of the classroom.)

Scenario 4

Student: Whoa, teacher you so good ah! Give us 'Excellent' grade for class behaviour. First time leh!

Me: Yeah of course. You all were very quiet today, because you had a test haha.

Scenario 5

(I enter the classroom.)

Student: TEACHER! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(Starts decorating my pencilcase with a cute yellow furry wire)

Scenario 6

Student's recipe test answer goes: 'Next, take the eggs and smash it.'

Scenario 7

Another answer goes: 'This recipe is healthy and delicious.'

Scenario 8

Student: 'cher, (points to my earstuds) the roses real one ah?

Me: Yeah, do you want? I can sell them to you at $10 each.

Student: Whoa so expensive. Don't want anymore.

Haha, so cute.

Singing

As a singer, I've learnt to become much more imaginative. I've been taught so many analogies and comparisons people use to help them sing better. They are very interesting and amusing, I must admit, but they are really effective! Here, I've compiled a handful.

Low-register notes

1. Beat your chest as if you're King Kong to help you sing low notes.
2. Gulp down cold water when you wake up in the morning and blast your lowest note.
3. Sing like a BK Mushroom Swiss Double, not a KFC Shrooms burger.
4. Sing like fatty pork, not lean pork.
5. Do not sing as if you're struggling to walk across a bog.

High-register notes

1. Place your voice on the mezzanine level of the bungalow, not the ground level one, which is cheap and has no scenery to look at.
2. Let your voice be like a feather that is buoyant in the breeze.
3. Imagine you are holding a lit candle in front of you like Sarah Brightman. When you sing, the candle flame should not flicker violently.
4. Sing with your centre of gravity pinned at the bottom of the pelvis (crudely but truthfully, in between the legs).
5. Tuck in/squeeze your buttock muscles to sing a very high note.

Transition

1. Let your voice turn into a pole-vaulter who gracefully glides over the beam.
2. Sing as if you are a jockey, riding a horse to leap over fences.
3. Sing as if you are putting a slab of char siew pork through the hook.
4. Sing like a Chinese dancer waving her long ribbons around.
5. Sing like a ballet dancer leaping across the stage.

Tone

1. Your voice should be the mellow colour of maroon, royal blue or burnt sienna, not bubblegum pink or pastel blue.
2. Sing like the Cantonese porridge, not like the Teochew porridge.
3. Do not sing like a secondary school chorister, a Taiwanese female singer, Mary Poppins or an 80-year old ah-mah.
4. Sing with an 'OO' in your 'A' (ah) and 'I' (as in 'in').
5. Sing as if you have an apple/fishball in your mouth.
6. Sing as if you have an ice-cream stick pressed down on your tongue.
7. Do not sing as if you are a happy little girl eating a lollipop while skippety-hopping in the playground.
8. Do not sing like a vacuum that reverses the way it works and gives out too much air.
9. Do not let your voice remind others of a zipper.

Movement
1. Sing like the currents that flow past you when you swim.
2. Sing like the leaves swirling in the winds.
3. Sing like a bouncey spring.
4. Let your voice become a hand that is repeatedly stroking the body of a cat.

Breathing

1. Your pelvic muscles is your bank, and your diaphragm is your ATM.
2. Breathe as if you are sniffing a flower.
3. Breathe through your nose and let the air flow into the part between your brows while breathing out. (???)
4. Let your breath be a liquid that is poured to fill the bottle fully.
5. Breathing = noteless singing

Haha.

What Makes Me Happy

All that endless bus-riding to different places of Singapore without Geography or Economics notes has given me much time to reflect on random matters. One of these is the things that make me happy. I thought I might note it down so I can be reminded to be happy in the future.

I love the tweetering of birds at the window in the morning at seven. All that melodious chirping reminds me of those kids in Enid Blyton's books who live in beautiful secret forests. It reminds me that life goes on, and I should be happily free and simple like the birds. God will take care of us. He takes care of the sparrows that do not reap nor sow. Thus He would take even greater care of us, who are served and protected by His angels.

I love giving it all when I play sports. The feeling of heavy perspiration against my neck, arms and legs tells me I've played hard enough for the day. I feel untangled from the clasps of life's hustle and bustle, as if I can jump high enough to reach the sky! if I could. What's more, I get a good night's sleep. : )

I love playing well during violin practices when my teacher, Miss Quah, plays duet pieces with me. The music that resonates in my mind often leaves me laughing and skipping along the way home. I could have screamed in excitement if I wanted to! There's this feeling of having butterflies in your stomach and your heart skips a beat or a two.

I love lying down on the ground and looking at stars on a quiet night, with only the croaking of frogs and screeching of crickets looking for mates. The starriest sky that I have seen in Singapore was 3 years back, during the Youth Fellowship camp in Tengah BP. The stars remind me of God's inexplicably wonderful plan for Abraham. He showed Abraham the stars and promised to make him the Father of All Nations, with generations of children that are as many as the stars in the sky and the sand in the beach. Joy fills my heart because God has proven His faithfulness unto thousands of generations.

I love my bed, my blankie, my bolsters, my pillow and my 4-year old buddy, Xiao Bai, a white turned-greyish teddy dog. They are always there when I drift off to sleep either in tears or in smiles, making me feel safe. I am happy because I have a proper bed to sleep. Not everyone has the luxury of a bed, not even baby Jesus when He descended for me. I can't imagine sleeping in a manger! Hay-filled or otherwise, I would suppose that it stinks of animal food, not to mention the musky, mixed animal smells in the barn.

I am also happy when people whom I love shows reciprocral love for me. A simple pat on the back just to say goodbye or a passionate hug makes my heart equally happy. I have to agree with Morries from Mitch Albom's Tuesdays With Morries that humans enjoy human contact. This is synonymous with the social needs of needing each other when we are babies, half-wasted old folks, and even when we are healthy, independent teenagers and adults. Or, a text message of concern or gratitude makes my day too!

That's all I have thought of so far. I believe there are other things that make me happy, and I, with plenty of time whilst travelling, will ponder over them and not let my brain cells wither as fast. Haha. Goodnight!

Comments

My apologies. If you aren't a blogger and you couldn't post comments, now you can. I just changed it after forgetting about it for months. Haha.

This entry is especially for MR BRANDON LIU's attention. Haha.

Simple Gifts

'Tis' the gift to be simple,

Tis' the gift to be free'

Simple Gifts (1848), Joseph Brackett, Jr

My first encounter with this song was during the college's open house day last year. The ACJC choir sang it and had it recorded as a number in her album, 'Little Things'. Simple Gifts is also a set piece for the Grade 2 violin practical examinations this year, but I chose an alternative that looked easier to play instead.

While I was having my quiet time with God today, I realised how God has been using me and blessing me with more gifts for His benefit and mine. To think of the gifts that I've been blessed with humbles my heart with joy and gratitude.

God has blessed me with the gift of music. He has given me a healthy body that can function as a soundbox for singing. He has blessed me with a voice that can touch people's hearts. I understand His purpose for making me one who can sing, which is to serve in the church choral ministry and sing to prepare the congregation for God's messages. The opportunity given to me to join the ACJC choir is greatly relished and thanked for, because I would not have improved in being a better servant if not for the training underwent and musicality attained. How wonderful it is! that while others can speak of God's glory, I can do likewise, but in a melodious way.

Speaking of music, God has also blessed me with the interest and ability to play the violin. While I'm still learning how to play it, I know that if I work hard, I can expand my musical abilities available for God's ministry. A plus point is that my hearing has become more acute and that helps in keeping musical consistencies in singing.

God has also blessed me with the gift of drawing. I profess that I'm not as good as those learned in Art, haha. Nonetheless, His gift has enabled me to help out in the Fellowship's and church choir's care ministry. I can also draw and colour etc to make little things to people that I love, to show them that I care and love them. One advantage that I have with this gift from God is that I can teach my classes through pictures, as some are totally not interested in English AND writing.

God has also blessed me with the gift of speech, that I may lead and encourage people with what God wants me to say.

He has also blessed me with the gift of health, which is something I am really thankful for. I can run, swim, jump, walk, play squash, sit down and sleep without pain, and without difficulties. God has shaped me, this vessel for His use. in way that I am durable and trustworthy for His use. The love for sports, especially running, helps keep me in good condition so God can use me more intensively.

The Holy Spirit endows every one with different gifts, 'as He will' (I Corinthians 12:11), meaning that our gifts are given to us as He prefers and likes. (Oh die! I just realised I have a Trojan in my computer. AHHH) God's mercy is again shown to us as He also blesses non-believers with His gifts for their pleasure.

These gifts are simple and the arrogant may smirk at them, but it is the simplicity of God's gifts that allows us to be free. We are free from worries and woes of competition for worldly achievements. We are free from the fear of the unexpected. We are free from the fear of death. This freedom reminds us that since we are free from the worldly struggles for fame, security and affluence, we can appreciate the essence of God's simple gifts. This appreciation will instinctively encompass reciprocration through letting God use the gifts for His benefit.

All of us are familiar with the Parable of the Talents. Let us all not be like the 'wicked and slothful' servant, who did not use the talents his master gave him for the latter's benefit. Our gifts are like the talents - God 'lends' us His gifts so we can give Him glory and praise through working for Him. When the Lord finds us faithful, He will reward us with the joy of being His children, and bless more gifts with us and use us more. (Just think of how a boss would promote an employee and give him more responsibilities while giving him a higher pay, haha.)

Thank God for His simple gifts. Let me quote from the parable to as an encouragement for us to reconginise our gifts and use them well.

'For unto everyone that hath shall be given,

and he shall have abundance:

but from him that hath not shall be taken away

even that which he hath.'

Matthew 25:29

God bless!

My Heart Grows Fonder II

Hi Miss Joyce Koor,

I gave you two miss koors today. Wanted to tell you how bored I was, but never mind. I thought it was heartwarming enough to know that you're having fun with those bloomers-wearing kids who race each other to the toilet. So, I've decided not to bother you by koor-ing you during curriculum time again.

And my apologies for missing you out. I knew I was missing someone out, but I couldn't recall! Sorry, sorry! And what I want to thank you for, is the Koor joke, which gives me another thing to laugh and be happy about when I think of the joyous you!

Not bad eh? I dedicated this entry to you alone. Treat me to kopi next time. ;)

Good Money

If you know what work I did today, on my first day of relief teaching, you'd agree with me that i'm earning good money. Because the only effort I pitched in was the energy for metabolism, trips to the commode and the canteen, and for reading my Social Studies textbook, the part about Singapore's road to independence. How's that? Haha.

I only teach Secondary One kids on Wednesdays, and it just so happens that today is their first day of orientation. So, I had nothing to do the whole day. LOL. The only consolation is the salary. Nonetheless, I thank God for His gracious and merciful plan. Merciful because I get to learn from feedback and comments my fellow relief teachers gave after returning from their first lessons with the classes. Merciful because He knows I am a workaholic like my dad, especially when I get scared or stressed. Gracious because you know...the pay for today. Haha. Gracious because my colleagues are so humble and helpful. Gracious because the expressway makes the journey to school last for under 45 minutes for me to get home.

Serious teaching will commence tomorrow, but I'd still say the salary is good money, because what comes with it is a priceless teaching experience.

My Heart Grows Fonder

I ushered in the new year with tears of worries that seemed unnecessary, yet inevitable because what I fear may be eventually realised. And I couldn't fight the tears back when I left for home after our class lunch. Is it just the PMS that's accentuating all my feelings? Nonetheless, absence makes my heart grow fonder. Having to meet and part again today made me all the more sadder than before.

Please meet up, class! I miss all of you so much: Amos, JT, Arina, Haz, Sher, Adiba, Ches, Simin, Grace, Joyce, Ivan, Sam, Olie, Si, Mel, Ank, Reks, Steph and last but not least, Kenneth. Please try not to be absent to the extent that we can distinguish the 'usual' attendees and the 'usual' absentees. I can draw flowers for all of you every day if you would come for a reunion! Oh! if only we could see each other every day like in the past. Which reality forbids and beckons me to move on with life.

Which I will. How can I face tomorrow? I hope I will embrace change, which I usually try to avoid, with help from the Lord.

----------------

Thanks Olie, for a fellow latecomer and being sensitive of my feelings as always. Thanks Si, for being always dependable and for your salmon pink shirt that ensured I WAS on the right track. Thanks Reks, for your quiet presence, though I wished you laughed your special laughter. Thanks Ches, for the Apple Green Tea bottle that you brought and the amusing violence demonstrated in preparation for child-rearing. LOL. Thanks Simin, for being willing to spend your time with us despite your busy schedule. Thanks JT, for the finger-lickin' good chicken wings you ordered. Thanks Kenneth, for your jokes that always crack me up and the psychedelic and white drawings.

Let's meet up soon, I miss all of you very VERY much :(

My New Year Resolution

The New Year resolutions.

They are beneficial, right? They aid in giving us a general direction for the year. Over many years, we would have achieved many things, corrected many faults if we keep to our resolutions in a cumulative manner. I started believing in the efficacy of resolutions 3 years ago, and here's mine for the year 2007.

MY RESOLUTION FOR 2007

1. (CONFIDENTIAL)

2. HAVE QT DAILY.

3. LOVE MY ENEMIES.

If any snoopiness in you prompts you to want to find out my #1 clause is, let your hopes die. I have never told any human being on earth anything about it. Only God knows! Muahaha.

I recently realised that all that hanging out with the alumni choir, church and class people makes me drained of any energy or desire to have QT after I get home late at night. So, thank God, I see it as a warning, like a beacon that beckons me to stay away from rocky shores and treacherous shoals, for the year, should I continue to be distracted.

Having a daily quiet time with God for me would mean having an opening prayer, reading the Biblical passage allocated, lightly annotating my Bible and penning down my understanding of it in a notebook. Then I'd read the QT guidebook and write some more, before a closing prayer.

Through QT, I attain two things. Firstly, I gain knowledge of the Bible and wisdom from God, which is the 'theory' of my 'practical', the living of the Word. Secondly, I gain more peace and joy by being close to my Shepherd, having more of His protection, empathy and mercy at all times than before. And hopefully, I will give Him pleasure by being close to Him and be blessed with a 'yes' to my prayer.

Then, I want to live out what I learn in church and during QT, specifically by loving my enemies. Applying to real life, the enemy is an euphemism for those unloveable by human nature, as I've shared before. I want to love my brother, even when he talks back at me, the less fortunate who beg or sell tissue for long hours, the uncles that smell of sweat and urine on the bus, churchmates who like to fan the fire and play politics, and colleagues who might bully me into doing more work because I'm a newcomer.

God give us strength to fulfill our resolutions!