My late 2013 to early 2014

Dear friends


It's been again, a long time since I last wrote. Reading the date of my last post on 31, August, 2013, I wondered what I had done within the 4 months. Sipping the Pu er tea from my new insulted bottle, yes, memory rushed in.


After the Norwegian and Russian expedition, my normal life resumed. Some boring yet adventurous teaching days. In September, I was appointed the sole debate coach of our English Debate Team. So, I had to figure out, together with the students, what we should do to help the team grow, and glow. Hoping that we would be able to recruit some genuine Debate-enthusiasts, we reformed the team by dismissing every single team member. Then, we drafted another list of students from S.1 and S.2 only, and wrote them invitation letters. Knowing that some of them might wonder or had never debated before, we made a ppt and asked the English teachers to show them during one of their lessons. We included the team committee members, tournaments, training sessions, outings, achievements, and most important of all, both positive and negative feedback from students. Then, we proceeded to board decorations, recruitment, audition and such. 


On top of all these, I was more than delighted to be able to work with my mentor, actually, she doesn't know that I regard her as my mentor, as the class teachers of 38 elite students. To confess, I am not a caring person, not to mention attention to details or being able to counsel them. But, hopefully, with my mentor's guidance, I will be able to be a trustworthy and loving class teacher. I am not sure if you have heard of this before. Many people think that teachers and students should be like friends. But, many of my colleagues, teacher friends and I denounce this. Not that we do not want to be friends of our students, it is just that it is not wise nor is it workable. One should understand the meaning of friends before calling each other friend. Friends are people who will go through ups and downs, highs and lows with you. They do everything if anything for your sake. That's how I differentiate my friends from acquaintances. Therefore, if I call my students friends, here is the package: They might ask me to do something, that as a teacher, should not do for them, like giving extra tutorials, extra notes, giving them hints of whatever they may be tested later, etc. Not that my students had ever asked me to do such things, it's just that I heard too many of such kind of ridiculous stories from my teacher friends that I would rather just be a friendly teacher and a good listener.

Other than having a hectic and lucrative teaching life, one particular joyful thing happened on 21 September, 2013. It was, the arrival of my niece, Nicole. This little jolly bean, since its birth, has been lavishing the family with joy and love. She doesn't cry much but laughs, plays, eats and sleeps a lot, like an angel. It's like she feels so safe being in this family that used to be filled with confrontations, threats and fire because of my stubborn mum. And it seems that she knows when to show her little toothless grin and use her little head to bump into yours to show shyness. Anyway, I am so glad to have her and witness her growth. I love her chubby legs kicking and yearning to be free from grips. I love how she sticks out her tongue when she laughs, and I love, the little knot her eyebrows make when she frowns, trying to figure out who and what is in front of her. She is a real joy to be with.

October and November ran away so fast that I didn't even notice and then and there, winter knocked on the door. The debate team joined 5 competitions of 3 tournaments and we ran 2 inter-school workshops and one inter-school debate camp. For my English classes, they just... fleet by. I was and still am thrilled actually, that most of my students like me. And I am happy to be able to inspire a few. When I was a teenager, I was always looking for someone to look up to, but with futility. Until I went to another school for matriculation, then I met her. She taught me Chinese Literature and gave me the liberty to express myself without telling me that, 'Your essay was better than great, but, you won't pass in the HKCEE, cause this is not what they want.' I am not sure if I told you this, I came from the best school in HK, according to the latest chart about the most competitive schools in HK in 2013. There, I grew to know what competition, competitiveness and failures were. It was also there, I learnt who I did not want to be. But it was in this new school, which ranked around 20-40 on that mentioned chart above, I learnt to be a human. I learnt to be compassionate, I learnt to take up responsibilities and I learnt how to be someone's friends. Both schools gave me revelations in life which I appreciate because, they help me grow to who I am. And in this school I am teaching at, I hope to be a good mentor, just like what my ex-students who graduated last year said, I was a great si-fu.


From October to December, I fell in love with cross-country running and road running. So, in order that I would not idle and be fitter and stronger, after 7 years of idling, I joined some competitions. Although I did well enough, I am not satisfied. After all, I know I am not in my fittest state, so, I try to make more time for running and hiking. Now, I try my best to run around 30km per week and hike around 20-30km per week. Hopefully, when 16 Feb comes, I will be able to finish it. A side note, I am not aiming at speed, but finishing the race. See if I can finish 21km in 3 goes.


Something interesting happened in December. My German friend came to visit me and he asked for my hand. Sadly recalling the marriage proposal from my Swedish boyfriend almost 1 year after our breakup which I rejected, I rejected this offer, too. I have known this German friend for 13 years. He watched me grow from a teenager to a woman and now, my early thirty. I asked my German friend a couple of questions and I knew he was not for me. I am looking for someone who can hike up mountains, trek through valleys and be with me through thick and thin. I know it's kinda stupid to set sth as harsh as this but I know someone like this out there and I am sure, one day some day, I will have somebody like him as a lifelong partner. I just, need to be patient and get myself ready. And this year, is a year of exploring opportunities while last was a year of preparation. I don't mean that the preparation is finished, it is a continual process and I hope I will be able to keep my spirit and my head high.


That's all I want to say at the moment. Thanks for reading.


May all of you have a MA'gnetic, 'MA'jestic', 'MA'gnificent, 'MA'gical, and 'MA'rvellous year with 'MA'stery over 'MA'ny aspects of life!!!

Love

Happy Feet/ Dumpling