…sPeEcH iN NuMbEr 9 MiDdLe sChOoL

Least I expect it for we have two foreign teachers here in our branch school, the other one is from the USA. I never came to think it would be me to deliver a speech to this middle school, somehow inviting students in that middle school to enroll in our language center for the incoming summer term and for the next term. What a shock when I knew it few days beforehand. Got no choice, I convinced myself.

So we did came to the said school. Dismissal time when we arrived there. I met the students at the gate of the school. So we went to the teachers office and a warm welcome greeted us when we enter the office. I was with two Chinese teachers then. So few minutes later, I started my simple and little speech. Students were very eager to listen and they were able to ask a lot of questions. I did enjoy the moments with them. Thanks for inviting us to be there. We are greatly honored. Hope to see you all in the near future. Have a good time everyone.

You can also visit me here:
http://eternallyyours-tax.blogspot.com
http://d-role-model.blogspot.com

…a JoUrNeY wOrTh ReMeMbErInG

I always kept reminding myself, life is a journey. We are all pilgrims towards our future, and that we often meet some heartaches and problems as we go along. But we should always bear in mind the quotation that goes, “Beyond the hills of difficulties lies the valleys of success.” I always remind myself of that especially when facing hardships along the way.

As I added colorful pages to my life, I always make it a point that they are worth remembering. Just like my travel towards here. I couldn’t imagine how hard it was for us, we were two. I couldn’t even believe we made it.

From Cebu, Philippines, we took a plane directly to Hongkong. I felt perfectly great ‘coz t’was my first international flight, and at the same time, my first board on a plane. I was kinda scared yet excited. It took us almost three hours to reach Hongkong International Airport. I was really astonished for it is very huge. In fact, it’s one of the world’s largest international airport. Additional, it was voted by air travellers and it won the first place in the 2007 world best airport survey. We arrived there 30 minutes after midnight. We just roamed around the airport and stayed in the passenger lounge and waited for the morning. At 5:00 am, we started moving out.

What we had that time was just a print out instructions from our agent. So we tried asking around. Good that there are a lot that can speak English in Hongkong. We rode tram 13 from airport to the subway station. T’was pretty tough ‘coz we were bringing our luggage in a busy morning and we didn’t know how to purchase a ticket or use the electronic machine. There were a lot of people going to work and to school. We just paused for few minutes and observed as if we were resting. Then, we’ve learned how. Successfully, we did. From subway, we changed another train to Shenzhen.

We were really tired as we arrived in Shenzhen. After around 30 minutes, the agent’s men arrived and picked us up. They showed us to the train station and bought tickets for us to Jinan, where our agent is waiting. Shenzhen is a big and beautiful city. But we didn’t have time to roam around ‘coz of our luggage. We bought a lot of food like instant noodles, bread and cookies for it is close to 24 hours travel by train, as they said. It really is. We did nothing while we were on the train, just peeping through the windows, watching the beauty of nature, remembering our families back home, sleep, for t’was really a very long journey, almost 20 hours. Kinda tiresome and boring. We had no choice.

We arrived in Liaocheng and another guy met us at the train station there and we proceeded to the bus station for it’s still 2 hours away. Really exhausting! Then we arrived and met our agent. At long last, we were able to arrive at our destination and eat rice for we didn't have one for more than two days. We ate lunch together at around 3:00 pm.

We just stayed for around three days in Jinan, Shandong province. Then, we moved to our schools in another province, meaning, we had to travel around 9 hours by bus again. Terrible! I said at that time, we just kept traveling around China. But it’s just somewhat nothing for the entire China. After, we parted ways for we are in different schools. We met our respective bosses. Finally, our work life here started. We are in Hefei, Anhui Province, China, our final stop. Thanks for the safe travel. See you here!

…sLeEpLeSs NiGhT

Can we control our emotions, our feelings? Can we choose what to feel, how to feel and when to feel? I am just quite emotional. I am sensitive and easily got hurt. I am so fragile that you have to take care of, if you truly care.

Last night after my class, 8:40 pm, I immediately went to my apartment for I was exhausted from the day’s work. I phoned my family back home to greet our youngest brother, Happy Birthday. After that, I felt strange. I couldn’t sleep. I had mixed feelings. My mom cried while we were talking, saying they miss me a lot, and asking me when will I come home. That led me to shed tears, too. It’s very hard if you are away from your loved ones especially on special occasions. I was just sad because I wasn’t there, wasn’t able to celebrate with them. I even wished I could fly that time. This is maybe because I am just so family-oriented. I guess every Filipino is, due to our culture – close family ties. We are so attached to our families.

I really found it hard to sleep last night. I live alone in my flat and have noone to talk to. I was shy to call my Chinese friends here, thinking I might disturb them. It’s already a little late at night, 10:35 pm. I also didn’t want to bother my foreign friends in other cities, they might be tired like me, and probably be sleeping that time. This situation worsen my feelings. I just got up and increase the volume of my music, for I always sleep with music turned on. I arrange my things and folded my clothes decently. I was just worried ‘coz I was thinking of my ten (10) classes the day after, I have to get up early.

Do you know what I did? I forced myself to sleep. I had no choice or else, I would be sleepy in my classes and wouldn’t be able to execute them well. I, of course, don’t want that to happen. I always want to be active, enthusiastic and energetic in front of my dear students. I don’t want them to see me that way. I do believe, "teachers are the models of the students." So, I am always acting like one. Fortunately, I was able to sleep 30 minutes after midnight.

…SuCh A bUsY wEeKeNdS

Universally speaking, majority of the workers has no work on weekends. So they can do whatever they wanna do on those days. Others travel, play sports, go to the beach, adventure, camping and many more. So what about you, what’s your schedule on weekends? What do you usually do?

Personally here with my work, we are completely peculiar. We are working wearily on weekends. As for me, I have eleven 45-minute classes on Saturdays and ten 45-minute classes on Sundays. Imagine that? We are wholly exhausted on those days. But on weekdays, I only have four (4) classes. Not that bad on these days. Pretty relaxing.

But anyway, as long as you are happy with what you do, everything goes smoothly. So, let’s strive to be always happy. If you’re not happy anymore, why still stay? Look for a new one. Am I right? Happy working everyone. Enjoy your jobs and take care. Have a good time.