If I'm being honest...

January 15th, 2014

It goes without saying from the title, but we are typically taught that honesty is the best policy.  I have to then admit to you, that I'm not being 100% honest in all of these blog posts, and today my eyes were opened to that fact.  Today my eyes were opened to many things; things that I want to be able to share, want to be able to post about on my blog... things I want to be able to change.  But I can't, or can't yet, and I just wanted to let you all know that.

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14/01/14

Highlight of Tuesday: Got to do a lab practical with my 1D students - how to use a Bunsen burner.  They were so excited to finally get hands on; some of them were scared to light it, others jumped at the opportunity to light theirs, and everyone else's around them.  It was a really fun lesson with them, and I'm really excited to start my experimental design unit with them on Thursday! 3 lessons straight that I've planned out, the last one in which they design their own experiment! :) 

Tuesday I also got to observe a math class, and an english class (to all my TEPers reading, I'm spreading my observations far and wide for you! I'm hoping to hit all subjects!!) They were really great to see, much different from science, but not much different from observations I've made at home of these subjects.  

The students and staff are still so nice, welcoming and accommodating, even as I enter my 2nd week here.  Everyone greets me in the hall, "Good morning, Ma'am." And students are constantly coming up to me to ask questions, say hello, ask if I know Taylor Swift, the usual.  It's really nice to be welcomed so whole-heartedly into their school community.

At the CCA fair last Saturday, two students toured me around to all of the different booths.  Since then, I've seen them about 5 different times on campus, and every time they ask, "Ma'am!! Are you coming to netball practice this week?! Please come!" I'm really looking forward to getting the chance to watch them, and am excited to actually know some students by name and recognize some familiar faces.  Netball also fascinates me, I've never heard of it before! Do we have it in the states?! I'll have to find out. SBHS - maybe I'll start a netball team! ;)

Tuesday night Katie and I went to de-stress at a local mall by no better way but eating and shopping!! I got two great new things to wear to school, and some athletic shorts for Rev Up tomorrow! (and ate some delicious sushi) 

There are pretty horses everywhere for the Chinese New Year coming up! The year of the horse!

15/01/14

Today's long day started off wonderfully... I arrived to school at 7am, just in time to make a few copies for my lessons tomorrow and run downstairs for the first Rev Up day at Westwood! It felt a little strange going to school in athletic clothes, but I wasn't complaining about getting to wear running shoes all day - much better than heels. 

Rev Up was great to see... here's how it was divided up:

• Sec 1's - Pushball*
• Sec 2's - Road Run
• Sec 3's - Vertical Run*
• Sec 4/5's - Aerobic Kickboxing*

* = the events I was fortunate enough to observe 

See my post about Rev Up, for more details about what it entails ;) 

To add to that however, it was better than I would've expected.  The whole campus is energized, (most) students are excited to participate, teachers were involved - it's just a really great way to promote healthy living and keeping an active lifestyle. There were some discipline and time management aspects that I think could've been rehashed to make it more efficient, however over all it was a great start to the day. 

After Rev Up, I was able to observe a Chemistry class, and a Geography class (yay!! again, to hitting all my other SST's out there!) Chemistry was great, Ms. Tay was hilarious, and great with her students. She's also been very welcoming to me during my time here, she always offers to help with anything I need, etc.  

Geography was a whole new experience for me - Mr. Mueller, from Texas, is the teacher I mentioned previously, that everyone was so anxious for me to meet my first day here.  "Another teacher from the states!" everyone says.  Observing his class was really interesting, like a combination of my two worlds.  He started off by introducing me to the class, saying, "You're in for a special treat today! Not just one ______ (slang word for white person) but two _______s.  (class laughs) No just kidding, I really just wanted to show you all that not all Americans are old and ugly like me."  The lesson proceeded with him finishing up discussing the San Andreas Fault, and different types of faults across the world. It really made me miss home, but also made me the topic of conversation quite a bit of the lecture.  

Mr. Mueller retired from teaching after 30 years in Texas, got bored, and decided to apply for a teaching job in Singapore.  We're supposed to have lunch sometime this week or next, to talk about the differences and similarities we've both seen, but also because he, "hasn't talked to someone from the U.S. in over 3 years."  He seems like a really amazing man, so I'm looking forward to that conversation. 

After observations, I made my way to the main hall for another In-Touch presentation (Wednesday's are such fun-filled days) although this one was only with the Sec 2's - it was a debriefing for their level camp that takes place next week - that I get to go on!! The Sec 2's will be camping at Sembawang Park Campsite, from Wednesday to Friday next week! I'm just going to go Wed. - Thurs., but I'm really looking forward to it, it should be a great time! 

The day was only partially over when we made our way to the staff meeting that went from 3-6pm.  Let me tell you, staff meetings here are much different than any sort of meeting I've observed at home.  This one included food (which was great, and delicious), but also covered so many different topics and made excellent use of the extended period of time.  

We covered everything from introduction of new staff (including me, I was a little shy), to level camps, to Chinese New Year celebration, to faculty leave policies to the MOE (Ministry of Education) changes for the 2014 school year.  I have to say, being honest again, that I can't be honest about everything that was discussed in that meeting.  This is where my change of heart occurred, and this is where my eyes were opened to something that I never thought I'd experience -  I don't even really know how to finish the post, or the paragraph, but I have to.  I have to finish the program too.  I have to go back and teach two lessons tomorrow.  I'm so thankful and grateful for this opportunity, and getting to experience an exchange program like this is truly a once in a lifetime experience.  However, there are some major factors that were unexpected, and although they are shining new lights into my life, I am thankful for the life I left behind at home.  I want to be able to change lives and offer new perspectives to the people I'm meeting here as well, so I hope I can do that during the rest of my time here.   

To end on a nice note, my CT wrote me this cute little card today during the faculty meeting - I'm very thankful to have her as my cooperating teacher, she has taught me, and will continue to teach me so much!