Truly want to thank God for his continuous blessings, guidance and protection throughout the last 7 days that has passed just like that. (and thank Him for making the class FA-ders run out of business, except only in one small, 25 RMB occasion)
I can still remember the period of time from when we first got news of our WoW location a month back. Im sure a spectroscopic array of feelings filled the depths our hearts towards this strange land so foreign yet so familiar, so near yet so far. Uber long class outing!! Time to get to know every1 better!! Cheap shopping!! Earthquake? Typhoon? Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease?? Engine of unknown airline breaking down while taxi-ing? Accomodation? Mountain living? Toilet rolls?? Food? Food poisoning?? Lead everywhere?? Cardboard pau?? Getting abandoned by classmates in the middle of China knowing only vietnamese?? SGD 3600???!!!
Come to think of it, all of these unfounded worries cant help but bring a smile to my face now that i have experienced the entire package. And i have to say, it was truly a new, wonderful, enriching, unforgettable 7 days with my fellow Kings and Queens of .8'08 as we invaded the Land of the China-nese & Home-made Goods for a truly W0W-elicous time there (maybe except for muslims and vegetarians..)
Well the experience of teaching Mountain-dwelling, rural-living, China kids indeed deserves a long mention as it was.. how should i say.. DAM 好玩啦！I believe that these children are really unlike any of us Singaporeans as they truly are a fun and loving bunch who are so enthusiastic in studying the english language, a language which is so alien to them and 1 which they might never even use when they graduate from school. For one, they are DAM enthusiastic in the lessons that we teach. Well, on one hand maybe its because of us fun, foreign, english-proded-chinese-noobed, multi-cultural people who are taking over the lessons with our interesting methods of teaching, or perhaps they are really that focused and on in their studies, something that us singaporeans should really emulate. Furthermore, they REFUSE to go for breaks. Yes, throughout a long morning 4 hour stretch or 3 hour afternn lesson, they refuse to let us teachers rest our voices and randomly prepare what we are gonna teach next. Yep, thats scarryy! Lastly, they read DAMM loud when reciting english words. Can practically hear from the next block and few storeys up. But hey, at least they are all attentive and quiet when teacher speaks :) And they read quite funnily too hahaha reminded me of those China/Hong Kong ppl speaking english; was trying really hard to control my laughter while teaching! Hey well, im sure they must be feeling the same when i spoke chinese too!! The most unforgettable treatment was definitely the ask-for-signature move by practically every student there in the sec 1 and 2 classes, even those that dont even know you! All of us signed like hundreds of students' cute pieces of papers & notebooks throughout the entire 2 days and even got chased all the way into the dorms! (Btw, I loved the sentry duty:D )Of course, there were the more handsome 1s who had nice letters and posters and gifts and stuff.. Man they have bad taste man i didnt receive anything XD Overall, teachin them english (& even malay!) and communicating with them in my broken chinese were really enjoyable things, things that i will forever hold dear as long as my memory lasts.
Of course, the one thing i will truly treasure most are the friendships forged and strengthened with my bunkmates, teaching mates and all other abangs and kakaks there in Fuzhou (esp a some1! c if u can find out). From the cleaning up regime after every meal (chopstics!! bowls!! wash hands!!).. to the bunk randomness eg. bunk password : *****(think chee kung).. to the shopping along fuzhou streets, to practically everything la, really, I believe it truly was a great help for us all to bond together, for us who are fated to be in a non-intact class. Especially for ppl like me, ck, kt, bh, ebr, hsh, nig etc. who never really have many lessons with you guys. Initally, I had this conception that it would be impossible for ppl within non-intact classes to form solid ties with each other.. guess i was wrong, and im glad was wrong too :) Hope that these ties would continue to remain firm and grow and expand as we continue the 1 & 1/2 years ahead in IB life, as we go for class outings together ( hope!) and slog like mindless IB slaves with TOK brains, together.
OK i guess i should stop here, talk so long liao. For pics of the WoW experience in Fuzhou, China, do visit and patronise http://picasaweb.google.com/johnyuzx91/58KingsWindowOnTheWorldTrip
Btw, i spent about 8hrs editing every picture (forced myself not to sleep when came home from airport; see what the class spirit can do :D) haha so hope u will enjoy :)
Have many pics as i was class photographer and really have to thank my recently acquired 18-135mm lens, truly works woders and was my all-rounder kit lens for the entire trip. Also like to thank mr SB600 flash and mr PPCP tripod for those great night and group shots. And how can i not forget mr lens cleaner for swiping those dust away from my glass and sensor. 5.8 ppl u all dun have to download as i will be burning u all DVDs with all the pics inside and print out maybe a 5R size class photo for each of u. I think it would be good to have a class outing during the holidays, so i can pass u all the stuff by then. Yes i know, im nice, but i cant help it :"(
Oh and if any of u .8 ppl have so nicely sacrificed your precious time reading dis long page of words which made me sleepy and so migh also make you sleepy which i should no longer continue typ before we all become sleepy and fall asleep, pls tag hor. Short ones are more than welcomed.
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