Yesterday was an incredibly long day, but also incredibly rewarding. I started working with the Drama club and I was blown away at the level of responsibility that the students show. The club is almost entirely student run and driven with student leaders running warm-ups and rehearsals. The club is currently preparing a short play for the SYF (Singapore Youth Festival) which they will be performing in two weeks at the competition (think Sears Fest in Canada). The students at my school are working on a play about gangs and they performed for myself and two other teachers and listened to our feedback.
This was a great chance for me to get plugged into the drama that is taking place at the school and I felt at home for the first time since arriving here when they started doing drama warmups and invited me to go with them. Vocal warm ups and physical warmups that we do in Canada were being run by students here in Singapore and I was overjoyed at the feeling of being home.
I worked with the students on a few stage fighting techniques as there is a stage slap in the play that was super awkward and so I got the chance to actually teach some drama stuff and the students had a riot learning how to fake slap each other. The kids were asking me questions about Canada (Do you know of Justin Bieber?!) and telling me that I have pretty eyes (I told them thank you, I grew them myself).
Today I am going with the drama club to the venue where they will be performing to work in the space and have a rehearsal. Yea, that's right, the school forks over the money for a bus AND a truck so that they can bring their set and their props to the place where they will be performing. And they get to go back one more time next week before the actual performance. I almost fainted when I heard about the level of funding that the arts are getting here to be able to do such a thing.
I also sat in on the rehearsal process yesterday for Synergy Night, which was a performance by the school's choirs and bands. It was really surreal to watch 40 students play "Don't Stop Believin'" on classical guitars. The students really impressed me with their performances and the Primary School's String Orchestra came to perform some peices which really blew me away. We're talking about 8 year olds that can rock out on violin. There was also a performance using handbells that was really cool and the band played "Poker Face". I took some videos during the performance on my iPhone and I will load them onto YouTube and post them on here in the next day or two.
After working with the Drama Club I was super energized and excited that I found a place where I can work with drama. The amazing thing about the students in the club is that they are all so self-directed and motivated, giving each other criticisms on performances and workshopping their peice all on their own. They respectfully worked on parts that are challenges and listened to their peers while they articulated parts of the performance that felt stilted. It was truly inspiring to see students working on such a level in the arts and with such dedication. I am excited to attend the performances and see our kids rock, and also to see the kind of performances that other schools will be putting up.
The rehearsal schedule in the upcoming weeks is going to be very vigorous for the students with us staying at school until 6pm on most nights but now is the perfect time to be working on it for me because I do not have a course load yet. I'm hoping that once the SYF is done I can possibly run some workshops with the kids to learn about different aspects of theatre and drama that I can pass on to them. Maybe some Improv?
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Weekend!
This weekend I got to escape Tampines and have the chance to explore some more of Singapore and visit with Michael and Iain, the other foreign teachers here who are my friends. Friday night I met Michael down in Geylang because we wanted to see us some hookers. We were very disappointed and suspect that were misdirected as to where the redlight district in fact is. After spending the week at our anal-retentitve, highly organized and regulated schools we were looking forward to seeing the seedy side of Singapore (say that ten times fast) but we were sadly not able to oggle. On the brightside, we did find some very tasty Satay (mutton and chicken) and we got some drinks. We headed back to the guy's flat and ended up having some beers with Iain and their neighbor Jafar who is a pilot. The giant sized beers got the best of me and I ended up just falling asleep on the couch until my Dad called me at 6am (love you Dad!).
In the morning Michael had to go to school so Iain and I went on an excursion to the mall. We keep joking about how bored we are and that I have to take him on outings so he can get out of the house and not go mad. I ended up finding some good work pants at the Esprit outlet (they have American size listings on their clothes so I was able to find pants that fit) and some new t-shirts. I also got to teach the Baristas of Singapore Starbucks how to make an Iced Double Shot. Reminded me of home and all my lovely baristas still slogging away in the green apron and making me proud.
Saturday afternoon Jafar's family was having a big party and relgious ceremony to do with house warming so we were invited over to enjoy some really good Malay food and meet his family. We talked a bit about the Muslim traditions that they have (I asked the pressing question I had: how do you do your prayers to Mecca if you are in a plane? How do you know where it is? I guess the answer is that you pray in your heart and direct it to God and he knows that you are in a plane and that you can't do your normal prayers but he's cool with that and flexible when you gotta be travelling.) It was really nice to be welcomed into someone's home and to meet their family and be involved in an important event for them. Jafar has been the nicest guy we've met here, he gave the lads a television and his Internet cord and offers to drive them anywhere they wants and takes them out all the time. It made me sort of homesick to see a big family all together like that.
Then I came home and today Michael and I explored the beach. It was en epic journey to get there invovling lots of screwed up bus situations during which I was very grateful for my iPhone and the Maps function that tells me where I am and where I should be going and what bus to take because otherwise I would have been truly lost.
The beach was in this cool park where they had camping facilities (my new goal is to spend a weekend camping on the beach under a palm tree, take that Pinery!) and a water park with this crazy water skiing thing that I am going to put videos of below. It was really nice to have a day at the beach and see the water and the trees and just relax a little bit. I've been really stressed out with not knowing what I'm doing at school and missing home and Ben like crazy, so it was good to remind myself that I am doing something amazing in a beautiful part of the world that I would never have had the chance to see if I hadn't taken the plunge and stepped onto that plane. And what would my life have been without some Durian?
Here is the view of the beach:
Then there were the water skiiers:
In the morning Michael had to go to school so Iain and I went on an excursion to the mall. We keep joking about how bored we are and that I have to take him on outings so he can get out of the house and not go mad. I ended up finding some good work pants at the Esprit outlet (they have American size listings on their clothes so I was able to find pants that fit) and some new t-shirts. I also got to teach the Baristas of Singapore Starbucks how to make an Iced Double Shot. Reminded me of home and all my lovely baristas still slogging away in the green apron and making me proud.
Saturday afternoon Jafar's family was having a big party and relgious ceremony to do with house warming so we were invited over to enjoy some really good Malay food and meet his family. We talked a bit about the Muslim traditions that they have (I asked the pressing question I had: how do you do your prayers to Mecca if you are in a plane? How do you know where it is? I guess the answer is that you pray in your heart and direct it to God and he knows that you are in a plane and that you can't do your normal prayers but he's cool with that and flexible when you gotta be travelling.) It was really nice to be welcomed into someone's home and to meet their family and be involved in an important event for them. Jafar has been the nicest guy we've met here, he gave the lads a television and his Internet cord and offers to drive them anywhere they wants and takes them out all the time. It made me sort of homesick to see a big family all together like that.
Then I came home and today Michael and I explored the beach. It was en epic journey to get there invovling lots of screwed up bus situations during which I was very grateful for my iPhone and the Maps function that tells me where I am and where I should be going and what bus to take because otherwise I would have been truly lost.
The beach was in this cool park where they had camping facilities (my new goal is to spend a weekend camping on the beach under a palm tree, take that Pinery!) and a water park with this crazy water skiing thing that I am going to put videos of below. It was really nice to have a day at the beach and see the water and the trees and just relax a little bit. I've been really stressed out with not knowing what I'm doing at school and missing home and Ben like crazy, so it was good to remind myself that I am doing something amazing in a beautiful part of the world that I would never have had the chance to see if I hadn't taken the plunge and stepped onto that plane. And what would my life have been without some Durian?
Here is the view of the beach:
Then there were the water skiiers:
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Dance!
Today was another Art's Treat Day at the school so I got to observe and participate in some awesome hiphop classes. I am still learning how to use my iPhone but I took some videos of the performances that the kids did.
The first one is just to show you what the auditorium looks like. This is where we have our morning flag raising where the kids do their pledge to Singapore and the morning devotional.
This guy was the dance instructor for the section of kids that I was overseeing.
This was another group. They have a lot of the same music here as we have back home and the remix of "Time of Your Life" is just as popular it would seem...
This is the group of kids I was watching over. I also learned this dance...white lady shakin' her groove thang for the win. Notice the word "genitals" halfway through the song? Ya, that was awkward to me, but seemingly to no one else...
And this one's for Ben, so he can see the hot Asian dance instructor shake her groove thang. Never say I didn't do anything nice for you hun...
Light
Today was my first classroom observation and I feel like I got a breath of air in an oxygen free zone. I got to meet some students and spend some time in a class and finally get a sense of what the actual teaching here will be like.
In Singapore, the teachers come to the students, so when classes change you notice that the hallways are so empty and easy to get through. There isn't the swirling chaos that most of us Canadian teachers are accustomed to, no worrying about who is shoving who into which locker or bashing who on the head with watter bottles (all things I have seen and yelled at kids about during class changes...). When you enter the classroom, the class has to stand up and greet you. They say "Gooood morning teeecha! Goooood morning Miss Joooolley!" and then they get to sit down.
Classes here have 40 students and the class that I observed today was what they call here "Normal Academic." When they leave Primary school here students write a test that decides which level they will be streamed into when they come to secondary school. So they have Normal, Normal Academic and Express. The Express students do their secondary school in four years, and the rest I think so it in either four or five years. It's sort of like Locally Developed, Academic and Applied. The kids today would be considered I guess like our Applied students in Ontario.
40 kids is a lot to have in one room, so I think that's going to be the biggest challenge here. Students here seem much younger than Canadian kids, Ben was talking about the kids he taught in China and said the same thing, the maturity level here is much lower, but the students are much more diligent. Also, if they sass you it is a caning offence. So you don't get the kids telling you to go fuck yourself, you have no power here begone type of deal that you get in Canada.
At the end of the class the students again stand up and say "Thank you teeecha, God bless you" which is kind of adorable and kind of unsettling coming from Canada. I'm going to stick with adorable for now.
During the class that I observed one of the girls flipped the bird to one of the boys (teaching me that if I need to flip it here, it means the same thing....) and the teacher had a talk with her in the hallway about it. A boy said it was a finger spasm and she reminded him that integrity is one of the school values and he apologized.
After the class she assured me that the students they give me will be much better behaved and I started to laugh. I told her that in Canada that would be the least of my concerns. She assured me that I will likely be teaching lower sec (grade 9 and 10) Express students and that they have a lot less discipline problems.
It was just nice to see kids being kids and being in the classroom and reminding myself that I'm here to work with all sorts of interesting, funny, challenging young people who are inevitably going to teach me possibly more than I will teach them (and it will be the important stuff that no one else will, like that people here say shit, and flip the bird) and I just feel a lot more refreshed and energized now.
On the way home I also stopped into a drug store to get some cotton swabs and polysporin (what I hoped would be polysporin came out looking like peanutbutter so fingers crossed on that one) and I found my shampoo!! This doesn't seem like a big deal but I've had a hell of a time finding body products that are like the ones I had in Canada (my foray into deodorant-ville brought about the unfortunate incident of buy a product that bleaches your armpits. Yea, I said bleaches.) and being able to wash my hair with a product I know doesn't contain boat loads of silicone and plastic is something I am very much looking forward to.
So, loyal readers and carers about Bea, take heart. I am feeling better and my hair will soon be as close to the way I like it as it can get in a tropical climate where I permanently look like I have, well, a permanent.
In Singapore, the teachers come to the students, so when classes change you notice that the hallways are so empty and easy to get through. There isn't the swirling chaos that most of us Canadian teachers are accustomed to, no worrying about who is shoving who into which locker or bashing who on the head with watter bottles (all things I have seen and yelled at kids about during class changes...). When you enter the classroom, the class has to stand up and greet you. They say "Gooood morning teeecha! Goooood morning Miss Joooolley!" and then they get to sit down.
Classes here have 40 students and the class that I observed today was what they call here "Normal Academic." When they leave Primary school here students write a test that decides which level they will be streamed into when they come to secondary school. So they have Normal, Normal Academic and Express. The Express students do their secondary school in four years, and the rest I think so it in either four or five years. It's sort of like Locally Developed, Academic and Applied. The kids today would be considered I guess like our Applied students in Ontario.
40 kids is a lot to have in one room, so I think that's going to be the biggest challenge here. Students here seem much younger than Canadian kids, Ben was talking about the kids he taught in China and said the same thing, the maturity level here is much lower, but the students are much more diligent. Also, if they sass you it is a caning offence. So you don't get the kids telling you to go fuck yourself, you have no power here begone type of deal that you get in Canada.
At the end of the class the students again stand up and say "Thank you teeecha, God bless you" which is kind of adorable and kind of unsettling coming from Canada. I'm going to stick with adorable for now.
During the class that I observed one of the girls flipped the bird to one of the boys (teaching me that if I need to flip it here, it means the same thing....) and the teacher had a talk with her in the hallway about it. A boy said it was a finger spasm and she reminded him that integrity is one of the school values and he apologized.
After the class she assured me that the students they give me will be much better behaved and I started to laugh. I told her that in Canada that would be the least of my concerns. She assured me that I will likely be teaching lower sec (grade 9 and 10) Express students and that they have a lot less discipline problems.
It was just nice to see kids being kids and being in the classroom and reminding myself that I'm here to work with all sorts of interesting, funny, challenging young people who are inevitably going to teach me possibly more than I will teach them (and it will be the important stuff that no one else will, like that people here say shit, and flip the bird) and I just feel a lot more refreshed and energized now.
On the way home I also stopped into a drug store to get some cotton swabs and polysporin (what I hoped would be polysporin came out looking like peanutbutter so fingers crossed on that one) and I found my shampoo!! This doesn't seem like a big deal but I've had a hell of a time finding body products that are like the ones I had in Canada (my foray into deodorant-ville brought about the unfortunate incident of buy a product that bleaches your armpits. Yea, I said bleaches.) and being able to wash my hair with a product I know doesn't contain boat loads of silicone and plastic is something I am very much looking forward to.
So, loyal readers and carers about Bea, take heart. I am feeling better and my hair will soon be as close to the way I like it as it can get in a tropical climate where I permanently look like I have, well, a permanent.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Arts! Like Oxygen!
Today was the school's "Arts Treat" which was a workshop for students in glass painting and print making. I felt a little ACEy and happy to be participating in something to do with the arts, the head of the Aesthetics programme asked me to assist. It ended up not requiring much of me because there were arts instructors that had come in to teach the kids so I got to paint a glass myself and mostly just be there to supervise a group of incredibly well behaved kids while they worked on their craft.
I got my schedule of observations for the upcoming weeks so I'm excited to have a better sense of direction and I am going in to observe my first class tomorrow. Slowly but surely things are coming up Milhouse. It also helps my mood a lot that the 3G on my iPhone is finally enabled so I feel more like I can contact home when I'm not chained to my laptop.
I think I will go get another Kaya Waffle soon, cause those things are seriously like crack.
I got my schedule of observations for the upcoming weeks so I'm excited to have a better sense of direction and I am going in to observe my first class tomorrow. Slowly but surely things are coming up Milhouse. It also helps my mood a lot that the 3G on my iPhone is finally enabled so I feel more like I can contact home when I'm not chained to my laptop.
I think I will go get another Kaya Waffle soon, cause those things are seriously like crack.
MRT
I've seen these ladies on all these posters and I knew somewhere there would be an awesome commercial with them...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5eY43Ewh9A&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5eY43Ewh9A&feature=player_embedded
Monday, March 21, 2011
Still Floating
School today was me just sitting and reading more. I got my school laptop and it doesn't work properly so they are going to get me a new one soon. They also will have to wait a week for me to get my MOE email and online accounts all worked out.
Ben's mum, Ruth Anne sent me a link to a Singapore blog and then from there I found another one and I've been reading the blog of a girl who came here from America, www.suddenlyinasia.wordpress.com and it's comforting to see someone else feeling like a weird, tall pink lady in a sea of Asian people. Also, it provided me with this awesome video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OPsfAhXUSE&feature=player_embedded
Ben's mum, Ruth Anne sent me a link to a Singapore blog and then from there I found another one and I've been reading the blog of a girl who came here from America, www.suddenlyinasia.wordpress.com and it's comforting to see someone else feeling like a weird, tall pink lady in a sea of Asian people. Also, it provided me with this awesome video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OPsfAhXUSE&feature=player_embedded
First Day of School
Today was my first day of school. It was rather confusing because it seems that everyone isn't quite sure what to do with me yet.
It started with me coming into the school and the vice principal telling me that they have a teacher off on medical leave for two weeks and they need me to cover his classes, which I was excited about. I then went to the staff room and got my desk assignment. In Singapore the teachers come to the section class of the students, instead of the teacher having their own room so we all have big desks in the thankfully airconditioned staff room.
We then had morning assembly, which was good until I started to feel like I was going to black out. I think it was a combo of heat and cramps (awkward) but the teachers got me a stool and some water. Very embarassing way to start at the school, but everyone was really nice and I felt better quickly. Before school tomorrow you better believe I'm going to chug water instead of just coffee (tasty as it was, thank you Starbucks and a wok instead of a kettle).
I met with the head of the Aesthetics department who told me that they have a drama class in sec one, which would be like grade nine in Canada and that was the class that they wanted me to cover while the teacher is out with back problems. I was very excited about this until the head of english said that they need me doing observation so they are going to figure out where I will be. It doesn't really seem like anyone figured that out though, so I'm going in tomorrow still not completely sure what they need me to do.
I met with the other teacher who does drama and who runs the drama club and she seemed really nice, she gave me the package that they are working on for their trip to Malacka. It seems like they are really working on using cross curricular methods of teaching and the fact that students get to go overseas on a trip like that is really a great opportunity.
Essentially, after my first day I can't really say much about what I will be doing. It still seems slightly unclear but I know that it will become clearer as the days pass. The other staff have been very nice so far and very welcoming and I feel like my colleagues are going to be really good to work with. In the days to come things will surely get more hectic and packed with things to do, but it was a good start and I don't feel yet like I've got too much on my plate.
It started with me coming into the school and the vice principal telling me that they have a teacher off on medical leave for two weeks and they need me to cover his classes, which I was excited about. I then went to the staff room and got my desk assignment. In Singapore the teachers come to the section class of the students, instead of the teacher having their own room so we all have big desks in the thankfully airconditioned staff room.
We then had morning assembly, which was good until I started to feel like I was going to black out. I think it was a combo of heat and cramps (awkward) but the teachers got me a stool and some water. Very embarassing way to start at the school, but everyone was really nice and I felt better quickly. Before school tomorrow you better believe I'm going to chug water instead of just coffee (tasty as it was, thank you Starbucks and a wok instead of a kettle).
I met with the head of the Aesthetics department who told me that they have a drama class in sec one, which would be like grade nine in Canada and that was the class that they wanted me to cover while the teacher is out with back problems. I was very excited about this until the head of english said that they need me doing observation so they are going to figure out where I will be. It doesn't really seem like anyone figured that out though, so I'm going in tomorrow still not completely sure what they need me to do.
I met with the other teacher who does drama and who runs the drama club and she seemed really nice, she gave me the package that they are working on for their trip to Malacka. It seems like they are really working on using cross curricular methods of teaching and the fact that students get to go overseas on a trip like that is really a great opportunity.
Essentially, after my first day I can't really say much about what I will be doing. It still seems slightly unclear but I know that it will become clearer as the days pass. The other staff have been very nice so far and very welcoming and I feel like my colleagues are going to be really good to work with. In the days to come things will surely get more hectic and packed with things to do, but it was a good start and I don't feel yet like I've got too much on my plate.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
New Stuff
I am sitting here in my apartment eating a tasty waffle I got from the bakery near my house. The Singaporean people love their sweets and there are bakeries and toast shops all over the place that smell like sugar and butter and delicious.
I got my waffle with Kaya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaya_%28jam%29#Malaysia_and_Singapore) which is really really tasty. It's interesting trying new foods here and finding what is good. Things here are often fresh and very cheap, most of my meals are chicken curry and sweet and sour pork with rice at hawker centres and it's usually about 2 dollars. Most places also offer sweet lemon tea or fresh lemon juice for about a dollar.
When I got here I was hesitant to use chopsticks to eat rice because I felt like I would suck at it, but now I have challenged myself to eat as many of my meals with chopsticks as possible and so far it's working well. I also tried frog or "country chicken" as they call it in Mandarin, it was mostly just like chicken.
I'm feeling a little isolated right now and I'm looking forward to starting at school tomorrow so that I can have more sense of direction and purpose here, loafing around in my room on my own isn't doing me much good mentally, but it's been really nice today to catch up with lots of people on Skype. Skype is essentially saving my life at this point, being able to see the people I miss so much back home and feel like I'm really sitting down and talking to them is an amazing comfort in this strange land I find myself in. I'm hoping that I can make some friends here soon, it's kind of hard to meet people when you're the awkward lost white lady, but I hope I can overcome that soon.
I got my waffle with Kaya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaya_%28jam%29#Malaysia_and_Singapore) which is really really tasty. It's interesting trying new foods here and finding what is good. Things here are often fresh and very cheap, most of my meals are chicken curry and sweet and sour pork with rice at hawker centres and it's usually about 2 dollars. Most places also offer sweet lemon tea or fresh lemon juice for about a dollar.
When I got here I was hesitant to use chopsticks to eat rice because I felt like I would suck at it, but now I have challenged myself to eat as many of my meals with chopsticks as possible and so far it's working well. I also tried frog or "country chicken" as they call it in Mandarin, it was mostly just like chicken.
I'm feeling a little isolated right now and I'm looking forward to starting at school tomorrow so that I can have more sense of direction and purpose here, loafing around in my room on my own isn't doing me much good mentally, but it's been really nice today to catch up with lots of people on Skype. Skype is essentially saving my life at this point, being able to see the people I miss so much back home and feel like I'm really sitting down and talking to them is an amazing comfort in this strange land I find myself in. I'm hoping that I can make some friends here soon, it's kind of hard to meet people when you're the awkward lost white lady, but I hope I can overcome that soon.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Challenges
The last few days have been full of challenges. I kind of feel like I'm on a reality TV show. Find your way from your apartment to the Ikea on the bus: 10 points. Manage to assemble the crazy Swedish items you purchased without the aid of tools or anyone else: 10 points. Find your way across the country to your friends house using one bus and three trains: 15 points.
Each challenge I have met alone. Even just being alone most of the time is a challenge, deciding what to do and how to do it every day without anyone else there can be kind of scary. I'm used to having friends and family and Ben around, and here I have just about no one. My other teaching friends live so far away that it's almost insane to try and visit them any time other than the weekend. And those are the only two friends I have here so far.
The thing is though, I have been so proud of myself when I've met these challenges. I can find my way to wherever I need to, I can figure out and organize on my own anything I need for my living space. I am truly independent here. I hope soon that I fill my life with more friends and I'm sure it will come, but for now it's pretty much just me.
Oh, and I took those pictures and posted them on photobucket of my new apartment, in case you need the address again it's http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h343/Bea_Jolley/Singapore/
Each challenge I have met alone. Even just being alone most of the time is a challenge, deciding what to do and how to do it every day without anyone else there can be kind of scary. I'm used to having friends and family and Ben around, and here I have just about no one. My other teaching friends live so far away that it's almost insane to try and visit them any time other than the weekend. And those are the only two friends I have here so far.
The thing is though, I have been so proud of myself when I've met these challenges. I can find my way to wherever I need to, I can figure out and organize on my own anything I need for my living space. I am truly independent here. I hope soon that I fill my life with more friends and I'm sure it will come, but for now it's pretty much just me.
Oh, and I took those pictures and posted them on photobucket of my new apartment, in case you need the address again it's http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h343/Bea_Jolley/Singapore/
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Apartment
Today I finally moved in to my much toiled for apartment. I went to Ikea and got some bedding and other random fixin's and now I am sitting in my own bed! Finally, a place to settle for the next 15 months.
The laides that I am sharing with seem nice but rather uptight about how they like the house to be, which is fine by me because I intend to mostly stay in my room. It's large enough to be a lovely space for me and I'm still a little bit in the dorm room mentality where I'm used to having a room that serves as your entire living space.
Tomorrow movers are coming to deliver the new refridgerator and I found the grocery store that is two blocks up so now I know where I can get groceries. I should have a desk and a bookcase in my room then sometime tomorrow so I can finish setting it up just the way I like it. I got nice colorful bedding and some cute things and a plant to make this space feel more like home and less like I'm a nomad living out of suitcases or sleeping on airmattresses.
It feels kind of liberating to know that I am now earning money through my profession instead of through making lattes, that an education system thought me valuable enough to give me the start up money and the flight I needed to come here and build a little life, even if only for a little while. To be able to walk into Ikea and pick out furnishing that I like that are just for me and know that the money I am using to pay for them comes from my teaching career is exciting.
Once I have my desk and things are a little more set up here I will take some pictures and maybe a video walking tour of my place here so that you all can see what my little slice of Singapore looks like.
The laides that I am sharing with seem nice but rather uptight about how they like the house to be, which is fine by me because I intend to mostly stay in my room. It's large enough to be a lovely space for me and I'm still a little bit in the dorm room mentality where I'm used to having a room that serves as your entire living space.
Tomorrow movers are coming to deliver the new refridgerator and I found the grocery store that is two blocks up so now I know where I can get groceries. I should have a desk and a bookcase in my room then sometime tomorrow so I can finish setting it up just the way I like it. I got nice colorful bedding and some cute things and a plant to make this space feel more like home and less like I'm a nomad living out of suitcases or sleeping on airmattresses.
It feels kind of liberating to know that I am now earning money through my profession instead of through making lattes, that an education system thought me valuable enough to give me the start up money and the flight I needed to come here and build a little life, even if only for a little while. To be able to walk into Ikea and pick out furnishing that I like that are just for me and know that the money I am using to pay for them comes from my teaching career is exciting.
Once I have my desk and things are a little more set up here I will take some pictures and maybe a video walking tour of my place here so that you all can see what my little slice of Singapore looks like.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
First Day in School
If you are a Canadian teacher, you should probably be sitting down as you read this.
I went in to meet my Principal today. He seems like a very nice guy, all of the school staff is incredibly warm and welcoming. For my first term at school I will be observing different lessons and levels of students taught by very strong teachers in the school so that I can get a sense of how teaching works in Singapore and ease my way into taking parts of lessons and getting ready to teach on my own.
The school has a lady whose job is to do my photocopying, so I fill out a requisition form and she does all of my printing and photocopying for me.
Next week there aren't any classes because it is Learning Journey Week, where students go overseas and throughout Singapore to have out of classroom learning opportunities and I might be going on a trip to Malaysia so that I get the chance to experience the culture. Oh, that's a free trip where I supervise kids, by the way. While I'm being paid a salary.
I get a $400 a year allowance for any items that I think will assist my teaching, we are looking into whether we can claim our iPhones. I can claim a printer if I buy one.
They also want to promote a good work life harmony as they put it so I pick one day a week that fits with my class observation schedule where I can come in to school late or leave early so that I have a little extra time to contact my family back home and relax and keep my mental health.
Yea, so far, this seems like paradise. What more could a first year teacher want?
I went in to meet my Principal today. He seems like a very nice guy, all of the school staff is incredibly warm and welcoming. For my first term at school I will be observing different lessons and levels of students taught by very strong teachers in the school so that I can get a sense of how teaching works in Singapore and ease my way into taking parts of lessons and getting ready to teach on my own.
The school has a lady whose job is to do my photocopying, so I fill out a requisition form and she does all of my printing and photocopying for me.
Next week there aren't any classes because it is Learning Journey Week, where students go overseas and throughout Singapore to have out of classroom learning opportunities and I might be going on a trip to Malaysia so that I get the chance to experience the culture. Oh, that's a free trip where I supervise kids, by the way. While I'm being paid a salary.
I get a $400 a year allowance for any items that I think will assist my teaching, we are looking into whether we can claim our iPhones. I can claim a printer if I buy one.
They also want to promote a good work life harmony as they put it so I pick one day a week that fits with my class observation schedule where I can come in to school late or leave early so that I have a little extra time to contact my family back home and relax and keep my mental health.
Yea, so far, this seems like paradise. What more could a first year teacher want?
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Videos
I took some videos today because Ben was saying even with photos he doesn't really feel like he gets a true sense of what my life here is like so I thought I would test out my fancy new camera's ability to take videos. Then I got to have the adventure of learning how to post them to YouTube, but learning new things is what it's all about, right?
So I took a video of the MRT here, to show you how easy the transit is and what it looks like. Getting onto the MRT is this video:
Then I took one of me getting off the MRT so you could see how the card system works with how you pay. It's a chip card that you keep in your wallet and you just tap your wallet on the sensor and the bars open so you can leave. It charges you for your trip based on the distance that you travelled so it's very cool and easy to use. I have taken the MRT now through lots of Singapore and it's always been really safe and quick and easy to use, even late at night I don't have any trouble. Other than people oggling me because I'm a very white lady with very blue eyes, but it's never a negative oggle.
The next one is outside the Outram station so you could all see what a street looks like here and all of the lush greenery.
Then the last video I took was walking towards my hotel at Tiong Bahru so that you could see what the roads look like and the trees. I made a mistake in this video, the cab said "Low Crime Isn't No Crime" but I got it mixed around. If the videos are successful and seem like a smash, then I will take some of my new area in Tampines when I move there and maybe of my school and a Hawker Centre or Little India or Chinatown. Where would you like to see?
So I took a video of the MRT here, to show you how easy the transit is and what it looks like. Getting onto the MRT is this video:
Then I took one of me getting off the MRT so you could see how the card system works with how you pay. It's a chip card that you keep in your wallet and you just tap your wallet on the sensor and the bars open so you can leave. It charges you for your trip based on the distance that you travelled so it's very cool and easy to use. I have taken the MRT now through lots of Singapore and it's always been really safe and quick and easy to use, even late at night I don't have any trouble. Other than people oggling me because I'm a very white lady with very blue eyes, but it's never a negative oggle.
The next one is outside the Outram station so you could all see what a street looks like here and all of the lush greenery.
Then the last video I took was walking towards my hotel at Tiong Bahru so that you could see what the roads look like and the trees. I made a mistake in this video, the cab said "Low Crime Isn't No Crime" but I got it mixed around. If the videos are successful and seem like a smash, then I will take some of my new area in Tampines when I move there and maybe of my school and a Hawker Centre or Little India or Chinatown. Where would you like to see?
Friday, March 11, 2011
Sunrise
Today is a sunny day and I don't have any activities with the Ministry so I kind of have my first free day in Singapore to myself. I've had a messed up sleep schedule due to a combination of being sleepy in the afternoon and trying to be awake at times that I can connect with Ben and my Dad back home.
My number one concern right now is still finding a place to live, I am going to see a house today where I would be sharing with a Chinese family. I still don't really want to share with a family at all but the rent at this place is much cheaper and it is closer to my school so I would save on transportation costs. The transportation system here is charged based on distance so the longer you go the more you pay.
Essentially I have to decide what my priority for the next year here is. I can live somewhere less enjoyable and save more money to be able to travel or go back home to visit, or I can spend more on the place that I live and have a more comfortable year. My Induction Mentor said that she found a flat that is 800 a month in a condo with other trainers so I can see it on Tuesday and then I will make my decision. It is still a good idea to see as many places in the area of Tampines (Tam-pan-eese) that I can.
My other concern now is that the other teachers that I came here with found an apartment and are probably moving out of the hotel tomorrow or tonight, so I have the choice of going with them and sleeping in their bomb shelter where I wouldn't have a bed or staying here in the hotel at $100 a night. I think I'm going to stay here at least for the weekend because it's comfortable and I know where the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) station is from here so it's easier for me to get around.
I'll keep you posted on how the house hunt goes and probably post photos of places I see on my PhotoBucket.
My number one concern right now is still finding a place to live, I am going to see a house today where I would be sharing with a Chinese family. I still don't really want to share with a family at all but the rent at this place is much cheaper and it is closer to my school so I would save on transportation costs. The transportation system here is charged based on distance so the longer you go the more you pay.
Essentially I have to decide what my priority for the next year here is. I can live somewhere less enjoyable and save more money to be able to travel or go back home to visit, or I can spend more on the place that I live and have a more comfortable year. My Induction Mentor said that she found a flat that is 800 a month in a condo with other trainers so I can see it on Tuesday and then I will make my decision. It is still a good idea to see as many places in the area of Tampines (Tam-pan-eese) that I can.
My other concern now is that the other teachers that I came here with found an apartment and are probably moving out of the hotel tomorrow or tonight, so I have the choice of going with them and sleeping in their bomb shelter where I wouldn't have a bed or staying here in the hotel at $100 a night. I think I'm going to stay here at least for the weekend because it's comfortable and I know where the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) station is from here so it's easier for me to get around.
I'll keep you posted on how the house hunt goes and probably post photos of places I see on my PhotoBucket.
Photobucket
I opened a Flickr account to put my pictures on but it has a limit of how much I can add and I already hit it, so I hope that Photobucket will work better:
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h343/Bea_Jolley/Singapore/
http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h343/Bea_Jolley/Singapore/
Tour
Today we were taken on a tour of Singapore through the Ministry of Education. We went to Little India and saw a beautiful Hindu temple, then somethingorother Glam, where we saw a Mosque and then China Town where we went into a Buddhist Temple. There are so many beautiful places to see here, it's amazing.
The cultural blend here is really interesting to see, though Marek pointed out that Canada is more diverse because people from more places are represented, here there are Malay, Tamil and Chinese people mostly. Every now and then I see someone who is white and I get excited to see someone who looks a little bit like me. It's essentially the opposite of living in Kingston where I would get excited to see someone who wasn't white.
It's neat to get a taste of a bunch of different cultures, people here keep telling me to be careful because food will be spicy and they are shocked when I tell them I like spicy food. A girl from China was impressed that I can use chopsticks. I think we are lucky in Canada because we have the opportunities to have learned about other cultures if we chose to take them.
It is very beautiful here with vibrant colours and smells and blends of languages rising up through the air. It's a lot like I imagined it would be. Some places it is what I imagine living in China would be like, in others it is like what it would be like to live in India. People all speak English together and it's all heavily accented and unique. Flickr is telling me that I have already met my monthly quota of uploadable pictures so I might try photobucket later and post that link up here. I'm not sure if they habe unlimited photos but right now I am taking pictures of everything that is interesting so you can imagine that there are a lot to share!
The cultural blend here is really interesting to see, though Marek pointed out that Canada is more diverse because people from more places are represented, here there are Malay, Tamil and Chinese people mostly. Every now and then I see someone who is white and I get excited to see someone who looks a little bit like me. It's essentially the opposite of living in Kingston where I would get excited to see someone who wasn't white.
It's neat to get a taste of a bunch of different cultures, people here keep telling me to be careful because food will be spicy and they are shocked when I tell them I like spicy food. A girl from China was impressed that I can use chopsticks. I think we are lucky in Canada because we have the opportunities to have learned about other cultures if we chose to take them.
It is very beautiful here with vibrant colours and smells and blends of languages rising up through the air. It's a lot like I imagined it would be. Some places it is what I imagine living in China would be like, in others it is like what it would be like to live in India. People all speak English together and it's all heavily accented and unique. Flickr is telling me that I have already met my monthly quota of uploadable pictures so I might try photobucket later and post that link up here. I'm not sure if they habe unlimited photos but right now I am taking pictures of everything that is interesting so you can imagine that there are a lot to share!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Clarity
Things are getting a little clearer for me and I am emerging from the haze. I was able to get into my bank account today here and get some of the money I will need to put down when I find an apartment which is a big relief. We went to the Ministry of Manpower and had our fingerprints done for our workpasses and it will be ready on Tuesday so I know now when I will be able to go and get my iPhone. I also might be able to use my $400 a year allotment for educational betterment supplies on my phone, so that would be sweet.
I went to see an apartment today and it would be sharing with a family which I'm not totally comfortable with but at least I'm seeing things and there are some options out there for me. I also opened a Flickr account to put all my pictures up, so you can check that out at:
www.flickr.com/beajolley
I went to see an apartment today and it would be sharing with a family which I'm not totally comfortable with but at least I'm seeing things and there are some options out there for me. I also opened a Flickr account to put all my pictures up, so you can check that out at:
www.flickr.com/beajolley
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Blur
I apologize for the lack of direction in this post. I am still rather confused about life so I'm sure that is reflected in my quality of writing.
The world seems to be passing me in a crazy blur as I vaguely attempt to get my bearings. I don't have what I would call culture shock, I knew I was coming to Singapore so the sight of Chinese, Malay and Tamil people swirling through futurististic and strange looking landscapes is something I was prepared for.
Upon arrival in Changi Airport I had a surprisingly smooth go of it. When I left Toronto the Korean Air people told me that I might have a hard time when I got to Singapore because I didn't have a return ticket booked even though I had my work contract and my In Principle Approval letter for the Ministry of Education. So after my 7 hour flight from Korea you can imagine I was a little freaked out that the customs people were about to boot me back onto a plane. Luckily, they didn't even talk to me, the guy looked at my passport for a second, stamped it and I was on my way.
The next hurdle was finding my bags, but they were right on the belt when I got there and I only had to wait for about 3 minutes. My Induction Mentor was there waiting for me and took me to my hotel. This was when I was first introduced to the way Singapore seems to go.
Essentially it's people milling around in confusion, waiting for things to happen. I can't really explain it, it's just this attitude of confusion. We wandered around looking for the other guy, we wandered around getting a cab, wandered around finding a car, wandered around trying to get a cellphone, wandered around to check in. It's just kind of like this aimlessness that still has an aim. It's getting really frustrating by the way.
Singapore for me is a lesson in patience. I got up in the morning and went to the first day of orientation. Jet lag hasn't been too much of a problem but my voice is still hoarse from this damn cold. Having a hoarse voice in a foreign country where people have a loose grasp on the English language by the way makes for a much more interesting and often confusing chain of communication.
This was the longest day ever. We had a full day of filling out papers and learning about the multitude of ways that our contracts are confusing. Then I thought I would be at the hotel. Nope, we had to go to the Ministry of Security or something like that to have our photos taken. Then an agent for property had some apartments he could show us other white people (everyone seems really socially divided by racial lines from the new teachers who are coming from overseas and there are four white people, one guy from Toronto, one from California and another guy from England) so we spent ages wandering around looking at apartments. I thought I'd found a really nice one with Iain, the guy from England but he ended up getting one with the other white people when I left to go home. We also went to look for a phone, but to get a contract which I want for an iPhone you need a work pass, which no one can give me a firm idea of any sort of timeline on when I get.
So then I found myself dropped off on a corner near an MRT (Mass Rapid Transit, AKA the Tube, AKA a subway) station with a map and a card in hand. This was a fun adventure on finding my hotel but not bad and I relished the chance to be on my own and going at my own much faster and organized pace from the general milling around that is done the rest of the time.
Today was more orientation, I am starting to get stressed about finding an apartment to live in and feeling detatched from home. With a 13 hour time difference and me in school and Ben working Starbucks shift work it's been two days almost since I've been able to talk to him or my Dad. I broke down and bought a peice of shit cell phone (which they call a handphone) today so that I will have a contact number so that agents and my induction mentor and people back home will be able to reach me until the magical day that I get a work pass and subsequently an iPhone.
So far my impression of this whole thing is that for all the anal document gathering there is a lack of thoughtful organization. We are expected to find out own accomodation in a crazy housing market on a tiny Island, with rather small salaries to be working with and no real notion of when we will have access to the money that has been promised us to pay for our expenses. I know that it will come through, it's just that in the meantime we have to live in a hotel which costs by the day, eat out and live out of suitcases and try to get things like phones and insurance and bank accounts all without an address while we attend full days of orientation and try to find out about when we can get in touch with our schools.
Today is just discouraging and I haven't lost sight of the good things to come in my more settled future, I have just been a cranky bitch because of exhaustion. I know that once I get in a good talk with people back home and get my head back on straight it will be much better.
The world seems to be passing me in a crazy blur as I vaguely attempt to get my bearings. I don't have what I would call culture shock, I knew I was coming to Singapore so the sight of Chinese, Malay and Tamil people swirling through futurististic and strange looking landscapes is something I was prepared for.
Upon arrival in Changi Airport I had a surprisingly smooth go of it. When I left Toronto the Korean Air people told me that I might have a hard time when I got to Singapore because I didn't have a return ticket booked even though I had my work contract and my In Principle Approval letter for the Ministry of Education. So after my 7 hour flight from Korea you can imagine I was a little freaked out that the customs people were about to boot me back onto a plane. Luckily, they didn't even talk to me, the guy looked at my passport for a second, stamped it and I was on my way.
The next hurdle was finding my bags, but they were right on the belt when I got there and I only had to wait for about 3 minutes. My Induction Mentor was there waiting for me and took me to my hotel. This was when I was first introduced to the way Singapore seems to go.
Essentially it's people milling around in confusion, waiting for things to happen. I can't really explain it, it's just this attitude of confusion. We wandered around looking for the other guy, we wandered around getting a cab, wandered around finding a car, wandered around trying to get a cellphone, wandered around to check in. It's just kind of like this aimlessness that still has an aim. It's getting really frustrating by the way.
Singapore for me is a lesson in patience. I got up in the morning and went to the first day of orientation. Jet lag hasn't been too much of a problem but my voice is still hoarse from this damn cold. Having a hoarse voice in a foreign country where people have a loose grasp on the English language by the way makes for a much more interesting and often confusing chain of communication.
This was the longest day ever. We had a full day of filling out papers and learning about the multitude of ways that our contracts are confusing. Then I thought I would be at the hotel. Nope, we had to go to the Ministry of Security or something like that to have our photos taken. Then an agent for property had some apartments he could show us other white people (everyone seems really socially divided by racial lines from the new teachers who are coming from overseas and there are four white people, one guy from Toronto, one from California and another guy from England) so we spent ages wandering around looking at apartments. I thought I'd found a really nice one with Iain, the guy from England but he ended up getting one with the other white people when I left to go home. We also went to look for a phone, but to get a contract which I want for an iPhone you need a work pass, which no one can give me a firm idea of any sort of timeline on when I get.
So then I found myself dropped off on a corner near an MRT (Mass Rapid Transit, AKA the Tube, AKA a subway) station with a map and a card in hand. This was a fun adventure on finding my hotel but not bad and I relished the chance to be on my own and going at my own much faster and organized pace from the general milling around that is done the rest of the time.
Today was more orientation, I am starting to get stressed about finding an apartment to live in and feeling detatched from home. With a 13 hour time difference and me in school and Ben working Starbucks shift work it's been two days almost since I've been able to talk to him or my Dad. I broke down and bought a peice of shit cell phone (which they call a handphone) today so that I will have a contact number so that agents and my induction mentor and people back home will be able to reach me until the magical day that I get a work pass and subsequently an iPhone.
So far my impression of this whole thing is that for all the anal document gathering there is a lack of thoughtful organization. We are expected to find out own accomodation in a crazy housing market on a tiny Island, with rather small salaries to be working with and no real notion of when we will have access to the money that has been promised us to pay for our expenses. I know that it will come through, it's just that in the meantime we have to live in a hotel which costs by the day, eat out and live out of suitcases and try to get things like phones and insurance and bank accounts all without an address while we attend full days of orientation and try to find out about when we can get in touch with our schools.
Today is just discouraging and I haven't lost sight of the good things to come in my more settled future, I have just been a cranky bitch because of exhaustion. I know that once I get in a good talk with people back home and get my head back on straight it will be much better.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Seoul Incheon Airport
I thought I would add some photos on here of my 12 hour vacation in Seoul's lovely airport. I'm not being sarcastic, this is a really nice airport to spend 12 hours in. They have a nice lounge area upstairs that I highly reccomend, it's dimly lit and a nice place to chill out and relax in for a while. Korean money is hard to wrap your head around when you have a nasty cold though, it's in 1,000 denominations so when someone is like "6,000 won please" you're like "Holy crap!" then you realize that's about 6 bucks. Thankfully Singapore's money is called a dollar.
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| This was the first sight I had when I entered the airport in Seoul at about 3:30am Korean time. |
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| This was the plane that took me from Canada. |
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| This is a doohickey that makes electronic water noises so no one can hear the ladies making poop. |
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| In true Whitey (Or Kingstonian) fashion I ate me some fried chicken. It wasn't as salty as ours is. |
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| Starbucks in Korean! (Of course I'd find one ASAP, it's me!) |
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| This is the gate where my plane to Singapore will be. |
Korea!
As I write this I am tucked away in a dark corner of the airport in Seoul, South Korea. I am on a 12 hours stop over between Toronto and Singapore. It was a 14 hour flight but it wasn't too bad. I had a window seat and the seat between myself and another lady who was alone was empty so we had some space to stretch out and spread our stuff.
When I went to the airport in Toronto to check in they stopped me and I had to sign a waiver that if the Singapore customs people send me back to Canada when I get there I won't hold Korean Air responsible because I don't have a return flight booked and they might not beleive my work contract and documents. So that was an exciting way to start my trip! I'm hoping that it doesn't happen and I think I should be ok.
I've got a nasty cold right now so I spent the flight sneezing and blowing my nose which surely made the other passengers happy. I ate a lot of Halls and used up a pack and a half of Kleenex. Luckily I was able to use the cold medicine pills I brought and they knocked me out so I got about 8 hours of sleep on the plane. I also watched the King's Speech and ate Bibibibop and Rice and Green Tea Porridge which were both actually quite good.
I might be hooking up with my friend Laura while I'm in Seoul, I'm not sure yet if we will be able to or not. I also don't know if I will be able to find a place where I can plug my laptop in so I'm trying to conserve precious battery power. At least the wireless here works, because the wireless in Toronto didn't on my laptop for some reason.
Right now I'm waiting until the stores all open so I can buy a phone card and call Ben and get something to eat. Hey, maybe I'll be luck and there will be a Starbucks somewhere...
When I went to the airport in Toronto to check in they stopped me and I had to sign a waiver that if the Singapore customs people send me back to Canada when I get there I won't hold Korean Air responsible because I don't have a return flight booked and they might not beleive my work contract and documents. So that was an exciting way to start my trip! I'm hoping that it doesn't happen and I think I should be ok.
I've got a nasty cold right now so I spent the flight sneezing and blowing my nose which surely made the other passengers happy. I ate a lot of Halls and used up a pack and a half of Kleenex. Luckily I was able to use the cold medicine pills I brought and they knocked me out so I got about 8 hours of sleep on the plane. I also watched the King's Speech and ate Bibibibop and Rice and Green Tea Porridge which were both actually quite good.
I might be hooking up with my friend Laura while I'm in Seoul, I'm not sure yet if we will be able to or not. I also don't know if I will be able to find a place where I can plug my laptop in so I'm trying to conserve precious battery power. At least the wireless here works, because the wireless in Toronto didn't on my laptop for some reason.
Right now I'm waiting until the stores all open so I can buy a phone card and call Ben and get something to eat. Hey, maybe I'll be luck and there will be a Starbucks somewhere...
Friday, March 4, 2011
Leaving on a Jetplane
Tonight is my flight to Singapore. Well, technically to South Korea first. I am leaving Pearson tonight at 11:50pm and arriving in Seoul at 3:30am Sunday morning their time. My flight is KE0074.
I have weighed all my bags and made sure that my bags don't weigh too much. I also have a raging cold, so that sucks the big one. I'm hoping I can take some cold medication and sleep through the flight.
I have weighed all my bags and made sure that my bags don't weigh too much. I also have a raging cold, so that sucks the big one. I'm hoping I can take some cold medication and sleep through the flight.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
St, Hilda's
Today my Dad and I packed up the few remnants of my life into the back of his car and bid farewell to Kingston. It was incredibly hard to say goodbye to everyone, especially Ben, and know that it might be a very long time before I'm back in the Limestone city. At the very least I know that I will be a very different person when I get back.
Tomorrow night is my flight, it's going to be an epic 14 hour journey just to get to Korea. I've got my suitcases packed and my carryon almost all sorted out. It's weird to see your life condensed into two suitcases.
I got an e-mail yesterday that I am going to be teaching at St. Hilda's Anglican Secondary School. This worries me a little, I won't lie. I am no Anglican.
I don't have anything against them, I just didn't think that teaching with the Ministry of Education would involve religion. I e-mailed the resource person who is an overseas teacher and asked him about it, he assures me that it will be a diverse school with many religions and that the Anglican part is mostly a historical thing.
Tomorrow night is my flight, it's going to be an epic 14 hour journey just to get to Korea. I've got my suitcases packed and my carryon almost all sorted out. It's weird to see your life condensed into two suitcases.
I got an e-mail yesterday that I am going to be teaching at St. Hilda's Anglican Secondary School. This worries me a little, I won't lie. I am no Anglican.
I don't have anything against them, I just didn't think that teaching with the Ministry of Education would involve religion. I e-mailed the resource person who is an overseas teacher and asked him about it, he assures me that it will be a diverse school with many religions and that the Anglican part is mostly a historical thing.
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