Keepin' the Pace.

There's a striking difference in HK when you have to keep up the pace with so many things – happenings, events, meet ups, trips. Life is just so much faster in this part of the world. People walk, eat, talk faster and the list goes on.

So in this "fast pace" part of the world there's just way to little time to reflect, think, compose yourself. It's odd I guess, now to think back, "How did I deal with it before?" The simple answer, I conformed and kept up with it.

This time around, I have the goal of sitting back. I actually have to do it.

Hello 852

Flight Shmight, traveling for 23 hours was tiring but I guess well worth it since I'm not on the plane forever. That's not really too interesting anyway. 

I guess there's many happenings in life since getting back to the 852. It's a lot of organizing of meet ups, hanging out with family, seeing people that you haven't seen for ages, and yea just lots going on. Within the span of a week, I had the opportunity to: 

Gotta love the Fam.

I guess I could the best of the worlds of siblings, well over the last two weeks anyway. Having the two parents, an older brother and sister then a younger sister was definitely one packed house. Although the brother was only here on the weekends and the the older sister being here for the first week and the second weekend – it was still overwhelming in terms of number compared to the only child situation I have.

It's definitely been a good experience to have most of the better aspects of having siblings. Scaring the younger one in the dark. Just chatting in the car with the older ones. Larger family dinners. Skipped the fighting.

I'm so grateful for what I was provided with. Such hospitality shown towards me; in fact integrating me in their daily lives. There's nothing more I can say but thank you over and over again, and give thanks for whom who provides. Opening up your home, is not an easy thing. They took on the responsibility and made me feel a part of their family.

Thank you, give glory back to Him. Of course, I'm going to miss the atmosphere of having a large family but it's also time to return to the life as an only child and head home. (:

Week Two

Two field trips, track meet, two days in class later, I've never thought that I could learn and miss everything so much. The last two weeks have really confirmed why I really want to pursue the life of a teacher, it's something I'm truly passionate about.

To see children understand, live, love and just be themselves around you. Grade four is a mighty grade where its an age where there are still no worries of academics, just living life to the fullest. I've come in contact with a variety of children and they have really opened my eyes to a lot of things. 

There may be politics underlying every profession whether it be with other colleagues, with the administrators or with the union. Ultimately, the fact of the matter that we're here to educate children gets lost in that jumble of things. It's sad, but I can say now with experience as a teacher that I would make a difference in someone's life. Little beings are mighty fine at picking up what really goes on. We can only do our best as individuals and in an ideal world it would be great to think that my future colleagues shared the same point of view, mais c'est la vie and I've gotta live with what I'm dealt with. 

Loved the children and I'll miss them dearly. I will be back, soon enough -- there's great things waiting for you guys out there. 

Week 1 - Accomplished

All in all a wonderful week and had a blast in a pretty awesome classroom. So much to share but I guess highlights of my week is using different coloured pens to mark all the things I did do. Given the opportunity to have an eye widening experience with 75% of the class being ELL, ESL or with an identified learning disability. Definitely took a lot away from this week. Among all the cool things I did, I'm so grateful for such a loving host teacher. Oh yea, I forget to mention – I got grade 7s and 8s this week. One would also assume they are that age where they can much out of hand, but proven by the strong disciplining yet lovely teacher they can but such sweet hearts. 

Part from the marking, the errands that I run and the bs I sometimes have to deal with from one of the secretaries it was a really fun time. Get the laughs, the gags, be engaged, engaging others, helping others, teaching others. All in all, words cannot describe how the week was. Somethings that I've noted for next year. Always have great class management. Be flexible and accommodating, both things I knew about but seeing 'em in action. 

I think the funniest part of this entire experience is the fact that 99% of the teachers including the administration believe, or very much thought that I was in my mid 20s ready to get out of teacher's college  and be seeking a job in the new term. Those who did finally ask or hinted on it (so I told 'em) I was truly only a student who has finished first year and it's my first practicum. Most of them took a step back to digest that material. I guess just because you dress for the occasion can make me look a lot older than I already am?

Another very interesting teacher I've met on the job was a long term occasional teacher. I was talking to her and I was taken aback when she told me, "I studied chemical engineering." In shock and awe, I replied, "woa". Teaching is a field of great diversity and to see many who have gone into the profession who heartedly you are awesome and probably under paid. For those who just did it because it is considered a stable job, you're just cray. I have no idea how you sit there in front of a class 9-3 and not actually enjoy what you are doing. 

Interesting things go on in life. I'm grateful for all that I've been given the opportunity to do this week. 

Alrighty

In a nut shell, there has been a lot of happenings. So the usual I'll just take the liberty of sharing in a form of a list. 

• If I ever move out of my house now, I'm going to find some friends with a car. 
• Moving was a huge chore, but it's done. 
• I love my landlord, even though it was at first really hard communicating with her. I'm not complaining now since she's doing a lot of "freshenin' up" around the house. 
• Lovin' the fact that previous tenants have left a crap load of things. 
• I now own: 
• A Gamecube
• A foosball table
• A microwave that cost my ziltch
• A lot of kitchen stuff – a curse and a blessing
• We're pretty awesome, scored a $25 BBQ. Sweet stuff. 
• Kingston was pretty good, it wasn't actually that lonely when you have friends around to:
• Watch movies
• Watch more movies and have dinner
• Have BBQs
• I'm in Toronto, and I'm staying with a pretty awesome family. 
• Well the fact that I met them yesterday. It's a pretty rowdy house with the 2 parents, the older son who actually just left back to Waterloo this evening, a niece who's in 3rd year hoping to study @ Richard Ivey, then the younger daughter studying l'immersion français in grade 8. 
• It's odd after spending an entire week alone. 
• Blessed this family who has opened up their home, shown so much hospitality and essentially treat me as one of their own. So I'm very thankful for that. 
• Practicum is fast approaching which is exciting, not so much the fact that I have to start summer school but then that can be again counter balanced by the fact that I'm going back to HK! 

ciao.