I guess I must thank Ray Andrew from 3 Hope for getting me that CD of songs from Christian Bautista. Now, I'm hooked onto his songs! Makes me want to get all his albums! Not only are the lyrics meaningful, they are so well sung! That man is sure talented!
Here's two of my latest favourites...
Everything You Do
I love the way you smile
When I look your eyes
I love the way you laugh
When i try to be funny
And how a tear rolls down your face
When I say no one could ever take your place.
CHORUS:
Baby when you sleep
I watch you breathing
Baby when you dream
I dream with you
Cause everywhere you are is where
I wanna be
It's true everything you do
Makes me know how much I love you.
The way you touch my lips
Right after every kiss
And softly whisper
That I'm your everything
The way you pray
Our love wont die
Every night just before you
Close your eyes.
REPEAT CHORUS
And i believe some thingS are
meant to be
Cause I believe in love and
yours was meant for me.
REPEAT CHORUS
Listen to it here http://www.tristancafe.com/music/flash/everythingyoudo.html
Here's another one... Reminds me of how sometimes we can get so foolish when we fall in love.. Sounds like the Superman song somehow too!
INVINCIBLE
I don't have nerves of steel
I have a heart that feels
I may have cried a million
tears but I won't drown
I let myself unfold
Gave you my hand to hold
You took me beyond where
I could see
And then you let go of me...
Chorus:
I was damaged by the fall
Got the wind knocked out of me
To be standing here at all
I must be invincible
I thought that I would break
But now I have come to see
Something strong and beautiful
Inside of me
I must be invincible...
I don't have X-rays eyes
Don't have a heart so wise
How could I have known
you'd let me down
If I had known that then
my eyes are wide open
I still believe I would've missed it
Ahh... it's a blessing and a curse
Ahh... But you find out just
what you're worth.
Listen to it here.. http://www.tristancafe.com/music/flash/invincible.html
Thanks, Ray! :) Now you guys are gonna get together, figure out the chords and the scores for the piano and do a performance right? :)
starfish
31 August 2006
28 August 2006
Good start to the week
I wasn't feeling too well yesterday and despite the fact that I ignored the sniffing nose and light-headedness, my body took over my mind after church. Instead of trotting off to my favourite haven to mark my essays, I had to head home. All my aching body was screaming for was rest.
And so, reluctantly, I put aside my pen and a stack of essays and curled up under my blanket. It must have been the cold medicine I took cos I knocked out for the next four hours, only to get up to eat a little then dozed off in front of the TV in a weak attempt to try to remain awake just so I can try to mark at least a few scripts.
Headed back to bed after dinner, and crossed my fingers I'd be well enough today cos there's just so much to cover this week. It's a long week. PPRC, contact time, teacher's day dinner, oral exams, another test for my sec 2 kids... then next week - N Level invigilation, meet up with NIE mates, Teacher's Mass Lecture, Kagan Character Development course, Bridging minds debate, MoBlogging, setting of EOY exam paper... The thought didn't make me feel better. Plus I had to deal with how to speak to my kids about their discussions and slammings on their blogs about religion. I was worried about their quarrels and lack of motivation in some others. I questioned myself if I had really done my job well as a form teacher. From the looks of it - probably not.
I dragged myself out of bed today. The heavy thoughts laid in my head as I wondered how to deal with my kids. What should I say to them? Will what I say fall on deaf ears? What if I made it worse? I breathed hard as I faced them at the parade square. I gathered my courage and when they were sent back to class early after morning assembly, I took it as a sign. I prayed - "God, guide me to say the right words."
I think God must have guided me to say the things I said, cos I didn't plan to say what I did say. Nevertheless, i think it made an impact in some of them. The message to them I had wanted to convey was easy. "Love your neighbour as you love yourself."
The day got better as things I thought I dreaded turned out OK. I was assigned to invigilate a science practical paper which i thought took my time off my marking. As it is, i was already behind my schedule. But the experience turned out to be nostalgic as I thought back about my secondary school days where we were fearless of the bunsen burner, and white powders, and the glowing splinter test. Some of my classmates would even cheekily create a "pop" sound with the test-tube to trick the blur ones into thinking the hydrogen test was positive... I think!
My 3 Hope class happily greeted me "starfish" when I passed by their class. In the middle of their science lesson! Oh well... What can I say?
But I guess what made me smile the most was the blog entry of one of my students. That student was going through a dark phase, and I was trying to change her point of view. I almost gave up, but I'm glad I didn't. She's decided to go back on track and really, that can be one of the best teacher's day present this year for me.
It's a good start to the week as I got much accomplished today. I've already begun to list down tomorrow's list just so that I can be just as productive as I was today.
Am gonna meet up with my NIE mates next week to catch up. I think it'll be swell. It's been 2 years plus since we last met and I bet there are lots of stories to tell..
It's gonna be a wonderful week cos I want it to be so! :)
And so, reluctantly, I put aside my pen and a stack of essays and curled up under my blanket. It must have been the cold medicine I took cos I knocked out for the next four hours, only to get up to eat a little then dozed off in front of the TV in a weak attempt to try to remain awake just so I can try to mark at least a few scripts.
Headed back to bed after dinner, and crossed my fingers I'd be well enough today cos there's just so much to cover this week. It's a long week. PPRC, contact time, teacher's day dinner, oral exams, another test for my sec 2 kids... then next week - N Level invigilation, meet up with NIE mates, Teacher's Mass Lecture, Kagan Character Development course, Bridging minds debate, MoBlogging, setting of EOY exam paper... The thought didn't make me feel better. Plus I had to deal with how to speak to my kids about their discussions and slammings on their blogs about religion. I was worried about their quarrels and lack of motivation in some others. I questioned myself if I had really done my job well as a form teacher. From the looks of it - probably not.
I dragged myself out of bed today. The heavy thoughts laid in my head as I wondered how to deal with my kids. What should I say to them? Will what I say fall on deaf ears? What if I made it worse? I breathed hard as I faced them at the parade square. I gathered my courage and when they were sent back to class early after morning assembly, I took it as a sign. I prayed - "God, guide me to say the right words."
I think God must have guided me to say the things I said, cos I didn't plan to say what I did say. Nevertheless, i think it made an impact in some of them. The message to them I had wanted to convey was easy. "Love your neighbour as you love yourself."
The day got better as things I thought I dreaded turned out OK. I was assigned to invigilate a science practical paper which i thought took my time off my marking. As it is, i was already behind my schedule. But the experience turned out to be nostalgic as I thought back about my secondary school days where we were fearless of the bunsen burner, and white powders, and the glowing splinter test. Some of my classmates would even cheekily create a "pop" sound with the test-tube to trick the blur ones into thinking the hydrogen test was positive... I think!
My 3 Hope class happily greeted me "starfish" when I passed by their class. In the middle of their science lesson! Oh well... What can I say?
But I guess what made me smile the most was the blog entry of one of my students. That student was going through a dark phase, and I was trying to change her point of view. I almost gave up, but I'm glad I didn't. She's decided to go back on track and really, that can be one of the best teacher's day present this year for me.
It's a good start to the week as I got much accomplished today. I've already begun to list down tomorrow's list just so that I can be just as productive as I was today.
Am gonna meet up with my NIE mates next week to catch up. I think it'll be swell. It's been 2 years plus since we last met and I bet there are lots of stories to tell..
It's gonna be a wonderful week cos I want it to be so! :)
16 August 2006
Reading into songs...
It must have been the CD that was passed to me last week. And it must have been my training in practical criticism in JC. But I've this bad habit of reading into songs, tearing it apart and understanding why the lyrics appear as such. It's interesting when you begin to really listen to lyrics of songs, and wonder what went through the song writer's head when it was written.
Here's one of my favourite songs by a Filipino. I can't find his CD, so I can only listen to it on the web. Still, I think it sounds great, and the lyrics - really meaningful. It must have been one of those songs written for weddings.. you know, when they do the slow dance.. that's when couples look at each other, right?.. Anyway, if you want to listen to the song, go to this link: http://www.tristancafe.com/music/flash/wayulookatme.html
Oh - if you can do a google, you'd realise the singer's quite a looker too! :)
THE WAY YOU LOOK AT ME
by Christian Bautista
No one ever saw me like you do
All the things that I could add up to
I never knew just what a smile was worth
But your eyes say everything without a single word
Coz there's something in the way you look at me
It's as if my heart knows you're the missing piece
You make me believe that there's notheing in this world I can't be
I'd never know what you see
But there's something in the way you look at me
If I could freeze the moment in my mind
Be the second that you touch your lips to mine
I'd like to stop the clock make time stand still
Coz baby this is just the way I always wanna feel
Coz there's something in the way you look at me
It's as if my heart knows you're the missing piece
You make me believe that there's notheing in this world I can't be
I'd never know what you see
But there's something in the way you look at me
I don't know how or why
I feel different in your eyes
All I know is that it happens everytime
Coz there's something in the way you look at me
It's as if my heart knows you're the missing piece
You make me believe that there's notheing in this world I can't be
I'd never know what you see
But there's something in the way you look at me
The way you look at me
Here's one of my favourite songs by a Filipino. I can't find his CD, so I can only listen to it on the web. Still, I think it sounds great, and the lyrics - really meaningful. It must have been one of those songs written for weddings.. you know, when they do the slow dance.. that's when couples look at each other, right?.. Anyway, if you want to listen to the song, go to this link: http://www.tristancafe.com/music/flash/wayulookatme.html
Oh - if you can do a google, you'd realise the singer's quite a looker too! :)
THE WAY YOU LOOK AT ME
by Christian Bautista
No one ever saw me like you do
All the things that I could add up to
I never knew just what a smile was worth
But your eyes say everything without a single word
Coz there's something in the way you look at me
It's as if my heart knows you're the missing piece
You make me believe that there's notheing in this world I can't be
I'd never know what you see
But there's something in the way you look at me
If I could freeze the moment in my mind
Be the second that you touch your lips to mine
I'd like to stop the clock make time stand still
Coz baby this is just the way I always wanna feel
Coz there's something in the way you look at me
It's as if my heart knows you're the missing piece
You make me believe that there's notheing in this world I can't be
I'd never know what you see
But there's something in the way you look at me
I don't know how or why
I feel different in your eyes
All I know is that it happens everytime
Coz there's something in the way you look at me
It's as if my heart knows you're the missing piece
You make me believe that there's notheing in this world I can't be
I'd never know what you see
But there's something in the way you look at me
The way you look at me
15 August 2006
What my doctor said
"I suspect you have gastric flu. It's been going around."
*frown*
"You will vomit and have diarrhoea. It is highly contagious. Don't share food. Wash your hands often. Twice if possible."
"OK."
"You can't eat for two days. Just take clear liquids. Wait.. I give you this."
Takes out a sheet of paper with a list of what I can eat - drink I mean. Ribena, Barley Water, Chrysanthemum Tea, Diluted Fruit Juice.
"Drink Milo only if you don't have diarrhoea."
"OK."
"Rest well. You probably will suffer for these two days. No antibiotics cos it's a virus. Just let your body fight it. I'll just give you vomit pills just in case you do."
"OK."
"Take care."
"Thanks."
Head spinning and body aching, I left the clinic with a bag of medicine. Argh.. Where did I get this from? I was all OK yesterday. Oh well, hope I'd feel better on Thursday.
*frown*
"You will vomit and have diarrhoea. It is highly contagious. Don't share food. Wash your hands often. Twice if possible."
"OK."
"You can't eat for two days. Just take clear liquids. Wait.. I give you this."
Takes out a sheet of paper with a list of what I can eat - drink I mean. Ribena, Barley Water, Chrysanthemum Tea, Diluted Fruit Juice.
"Drink Milo only if you don't have diarrhoea."
"OK."
"Rest well. You probably will suffer for these two days. No antibiotics cos it's a virus. Just let your body fight it. I'll just give you vomit pills just in case you do."
"OK."
"Take care."
"Thanks."
Head spinning and body aching, I left the clinic with a bag of medicine. Argh.. Where did I get this from? I was all OK yesterday. Oh well, hope I'd feel better on Thursday.
13 August 2006
My Form Class
Sometimes, I ask myself what kind of form teacher I am. What's my role as a form teacher?
"You collect lots of forms. That's why you're called a form teacher."
Ya, right. Well, that's true, but when they gave me a class and told me I was form teacher, it didn't come with instructions on how I should behave or what was expected of me. For some, being a form teacher meant just collecting forms and doing the administrative things - collecting money, marking attendance, meeting parents...
This is my second year as a form teacher, and with the brood I currently have, it dawned on me why form teachership didn't come with instructions. The simple reason is that the job is limitless.
I don't think people not in the teaching line can ever understand the role of a form teacher, or a demands of a form class. It's a load heavier than marking stacks of scripts, for the simple reason - it's like parenting 40 kids at one go.
I feel fortunate with my current Sec 2 Integrity, much as I scold them and punish them for what they do wrong. I am grateful that they do not play truant for one, and some know how to motivate themselves to study. I am grateful that they do not give me trouble that see me running to the police station or doing house calls to their parents. Or causing so much trouble that I have to go calling their parents and anyone else at home just to get them to behave or turn up in school. I know some of my fellow teachers doing that, and I really admire their emotional strength. It's draining on top of the teaching load, to have to deal with students' problems, and their family's problems.
It is no secret that I read my students' blogs to know what's going on in their lives, and how they are feeling. I don't mean to intrude. I just want to know them better in a less intrusive manner. I know how it can be for a 14 year old. I was once that age. My world then was just about me, and how I felt. It was a world that I felt nobody understood or nobody cared. I wrote frequently in my thick blue diary, and hid it right at the back of the cupboard so nobody could read it.
But that aside, I get affected when I read my students' blogs. I get affected when I read of quarrels betweeen friends, or see the use of bad language. I feel sad when I read of cliques being formed, and things being said against each other. Yet I get happy when I read of mature thoughts, and seeing things from another point of view. I smile when I read of conflicts being reconciled, or of who studying with who, and having found it effective. I smile when I know things are going on well between my kids, that they are organizing a class outing to see the fire works. It's a feeling of "Yes, they are growing up ok."
I don't know if my kids ever saw the role of what I'm supposed to be doing as a form teacher. Maybe they expect more from me. Maybe they expect me to be there always as they celebrate their high moments. And maybe they think I'm not a good one cos I'm not always there with them always.
At times like these, I hope they know that though I am not with them physically, I am there with them in my thoughts - always. I pray for them in church, that they be blessed. I wonder if they are doing OK, so I read their blogs. I find out in my discreet manner if they are doing ok, and ask one or two students once in a while if they are ok. I get feedback from teachers cos I care. My point is, I don't always explicitly show I am thinking of my Sec 2 Int, but the truth is that, I do.
They probably don't know how proud I am of them when they do their work well. I show off to other teachers what they are capable of. It makes me feel happy that I have a class that is able to push themselves hard, and to their fullest potential. I hope they keep in them their spirit of resilience, to push themselves to achieve their goals even as they move on to Sec 3 next year.
I hope they realise that the people they were once with may not be there with them always, but even so, they have the capacity and capability to move on, to do well, to unite with others, make new friends and establish new connections to better themselves. In short - it's all up to you to decide who you want to be no matter your environnment or who's by your side.
And really, looking at how you're growing up, if you decide right, you sure will be powerful people in your own right.
:)
"You collect lots of forms. That's why you're called a form teacher."
Ya, right. Well, that's true, but when they gave me a class and told me I was form teacher, it didn't come with instructions on how I should behave or what was expected of me. For some, being a form teacher meant just collecting forms and doing the administrative things - collecting money, marking attendance, meeting parents...
This is my second year as a form teacher, and with the brood I currently have, it dawned on me why form teachership didn't come with instructions. The simple reason is that the job is limitless.
I don't think people not in the teaching line can ever understand the role of a form teacher, or a demands of a form class. It's a load heavier than marking stacks of scripts, for the simple reason - it's like parenting 40 kids at one go.
I feel fortunate with my current Sec 2 Integrity, much as I scold them and punish them for what they do wrong. I am grateful that they do not play truant for one, and some know how to motivate themselves to study. I am grateful that they do not give me trouble that see me running to the police station or doing house calls to their parents. Or causing so much trouble that I have to go calling their parents and anyone else at home just to get them to behave or turn up in school. I know some of my fellow teachers doing that, and I really admire their emotional strength. It's draining on top of the teaching load, to have to deal with students' problems, and their family's problems.
It is no secret that I read my students' blogs to know what's going on in their lives, and how they are feeling. I don't mean to intrude. I just want to know them better in a less intrusive manner. I know how it can be for a 14 year old. I was once that age. My world then was just about me, and how I felt. It was a world that I felt nobody understood or nobody cared. I wrote frequently in my thick blue diary, and hid it right at the back of the cupboard so nobody could read it.
But that aside, I get affected when I read my students' blogs. I get affected when I read of quarrels betweeen friends, or see the use of bad language. I feel sad when I read of cliques being formed, and things being said against each other. Yet I get happy when I read of mature thoughts, and seeing things from another point of view. I smile when I read of conflicts being reconciled, or of who studying with who, and having found it effective. I smile when I know things are going on well between my kids, that they are organizing a class outing to see the fire works. It's a feeling of "Yes, they are growing up ok."
I don't know if my kids ever saw the role of what I'm supposed to be doing as a form teacher. Maybe they expect more from me. Maybe they expect me to be there always as they celebrate their high moments. And maybe they think I'm not a good one cos I'm not always there with them always.
At times like these, I hope they know that though I am not with them physically, I am there with them in my thoughts - always. I pray for them in church, that they be blessed. I wonder if they are doing OK, so I read their blogs. I find out in my discreet manner if they are doing ok, and ask one or two students once in a while if they are ok. I get feedback from teachers cos I care. My point is, I don't always explicitly show I am thinking of my Sec 2 Int, but the truth is that, I do.
They probably don't know how proud I am of them when they do their work well. I show off to other teachers what they are capable of. It makes me feel happy that I have a class that is able to push themselves hard, and to their fullest potential. I hope they keep in them their spirit of resilience, to push themselves to achieve their goals even as they move on to Sec 3 next year.
I hope they realise that the people they were once with may not be there with them always, but even so, they have the capacity and capability to move on, to do well, to unite with others, make new friends and establish new connections to better themselves. In short - it's all up to you to decide who you want to be no matter your environnment or who's by your side.
And really, looking at how you're growing up, if you decide right, you sure will be powerful people in your own right.
:)
09 August 2006
Music is music to my ears
I had a wonderful yesterday. For starters, I could don more comfortable clothes since it was the National Day celebration in school. Decked in a red polo-T and a not too short denim skirt, I felt happy that it was a day I didn't have to be breathing down students' necks chasing them for their work. Instead, I could go to my little corner after the celebrations to clear my piles of marking.
But what made me smile was what greeted me on my desk after the celebration. Someone left a CD of songs on my table. It had a note which read, "Hey Deb, A collection of songs for your listening. Take your time."
i slid the CD into the slot on my laptop and there you have it - my personal jukebox!
Suddenly, marking and doing work seemed a whole lot more pleasant. The songs were wonderful, most of which were songs I loved in my younger days. It brought back a nostlagic feel as I recalled my school days and how we used to tape songs off the radio. And wrote down lyrics based on what we THOUGHT we heard. Looking back, we did come out with some funny lyrics!
I can't thank that someone enough for leaving that CD on that table cos it's been my companion since yesterday. I left the CD running on my mac the whole night through just so I'd be accompanied by the nice songs. And I actually stayed up through the night (yup - slept only at 5am!) doing work all just cos I had good music.
And over the holidays, I'm glad I've got good music to keep me company while I plough through the stacks of marking.
Music - what would I do without it? :)
But what made me smile was what greeted me on my desk after the celebration. Someone left a CD of songs on my table. It had a note which read, "Hey Deb, A collection of songs for your listening. Take your time."
i slid the CD into the slot on my laptop and there you have it - my personal jukebox!
Suddenly, marking and doing work seemed a whole lot more pleasant. The songs were wonderful, most of which were songs I loved in my younger days. It brought back a nostlagic feel as I recalled my school days and how we used to tape songs off the radio. And wrote down lyrics based on what we THOUGHT we heard. Looking back, we did come out with some funny lyrics!
I can't thank that someone enough for leaving that CD on that table cos it's been my companion since yesterday. I left the CD running on my mac the whole night through just so I'd be accompanied by the nice songs. And I actually stayed up through the night (yup - slept only at 5am!) doing work all just cos I had good music.
And over the holidays, I'm glad I've got good music to keep me company while I plough through the stacks of marking.
Music - what would I do without it? :)