…iT’s mY pLeAsUrE

After a tedious job, you would of course feel tired. Yet, it’s so fulfilling if you know that your labor has done great things to others, especially they became successful in their careers. What a nice feeling! You’re like floating in the sky. You are proud of them as well as to yourself.

When my students came back from their regional battle, speech competition in the capital of our province, Hefei, I immediately asked my students about the results. They told me it was pretty tough. What a close fight! they said. I was overwhelmed by great happiness when they said someone would go to the next level, to Nanjing for another set of competition, inter-provincial competition. I was so elated and proud of her. She made it top three in the regional level. She is my student and at the same time, one of my trainees when I gave a speech training. She is in my Junior high class, though she is still in primary, for her English level is tantamount to that of the Junior high students. Congratulations to you and we wish you the best in the next level. We hope you would make it to the national level. You can make it. Believe in yourself. Remember, there's nothing impossible in this world if you do your best. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!

…cOnFiDeNt AnD sMaRt

How confident and smart are you? Are you not afraid to face people? Will you be able to think better under pressure? How are we going to rate one’s confidence and intelligence? How to test them?

As I continued my second day of the speech training, this time pure primary students. I was totally amazed by the confidence and intelligence of my students. They are somehow pretty ready to face regional speech competition. I let them recite their own speeches in front and I made some corrections and give additional advice, as what I am supposed to do. I did enjoy with their own way of delivering their speeches. They are still very young but very smart and confident. As I was at their age, I couldn’t make it, I thought.

Based on the activities that would take place on the regional battle, they would be given pictures and make a story out from them in few minutes. T’was also what I did. As young as they are, I couldn’t imagine they were able to make a marvelous stories under pressure. I gave them four pictures each and they have to choose two and make a story to each picture in five minutes. They had to share them in front after. They made it! They were able to share all their various stories. I could see great leaders in the future in them. So smart! Keep it up guys! Be prepared and be confident. Trust yourselves, I told them as I ended up the session.

…LoBsTeR

After my tiresome day, my classes – speech training for those who are going to take part in the regional battle, I was invited by my student’s mom, who I personally know through the English corner, to eat lobster somewhere. T’was 8:50 pm then that time. I said it’s my pleasure. As we were walking towards the place, she also phoned another friend, an English teacher and at the same time, the owner of the school, a language center, too.

As we were near the lobster restaurant, the teacher was already there standing outside the restaurant. She looks familiar, I said. Only to find out, she’s the one I met last winter on the playground of her school, as I was playing snow with my senior high students. Her school is just beside ours. So we were glad to meet personally again, for we kept seeing each other ‘coz we’re just neighbors. We really had a groovy time while we were eating dumplings, luscious lobster and chestnuts. Such a wondrous moment! Thank you so much for that, I highly appreciate it. See you next time. ‘Til we meet again.

…LiU’aN eMbRaCeD mE tWiCe

Liu’an is one of the most promising cities of Anhui Province, where Jean, my best friend and ultimate partner here, is residing and at the same time teaching as of the moment. Such a gorgeous and benevolent fellow! Thanks for knowing her. I’ve been to this city twice before and I can truly say, it’s also a fantastic and progressive city, one must not forget to visit to.

My first visit was with Mary, another Filipino teacher here. That was National Holiday, after we arrived from our 3-day tour in Huangshan. We roamed around the city, to its resplendent park, highly developed one, surrounded by water, ate in a great restaurant, went shopping and bought some souvenirs. I stayed there overnight. The following day, I went back to my place. T’was indeed a corking experience. I enjoyed a lot with my best friends. We perfectly had a howling time together.

Last Christmas was the second. Their company organized a speech contest and, of course, headed by Jean. They invited me to be one of their foreign judges. Since we were not working that time, I absolutely said yes after confirming everything that I could have a 3-day holiday. There were eight judges during the contest, four of which are Chinese and the others are foreigners. I did enjoy the event. I’ve learned a lot. I was totally amused by the performances of the students. I greatly saluted Jean for such a successful event, for a job well done. The company actually booked a hotel for the foreign judges, but we didn’t stayed there for we also had to celebrate Christmas with some other Filipinos and other foreign friends in Hefei, who were waiting for us. So, we left after a wonderful dinner.

I heartily thanked Jean for such a wondrous experience I’ve had as well as to her supportive boss, Searching, a Singaporean, my earnest thanks to all of you for the trust and for giving me the chance to go through such a great event. I didn’t experience being a judge of a speech contest in the Philippines. So I really felt elated and honored. Once again, thanks for everything.

…sPeEcH cOnTeSt

This has added burdens to my busy week. I have to train students for the provincial elimination round. These students were the winners of the speech contest we had a couple of weeks ago here in our city. There are 31 students all in all to be trained comprising of primary, junior high and senior high students. It’s kinda tough, huh! There was even a time I trained an English teacher because there’s also a contest for them, English teachers category.

This has put much challenges in my career now. I just wish one of them will be brought to the national competition. I just hope for the best. The training happens at night as usual, meaning, I have to go home late. Well, it’s part of the road I’m taking, so I have to endure and take it as a challenge. Good luck to all of us in our struggles in life and success in everything we do. Have a good time.