Now, it’s about you, girl

Ann has spent more than half her life overseas. Singapore education system, the real deal, is something completely new to her. To add to that, she began her school here at P3. What they call a ‘step up’ level. From the P1, P2 honeymoon years to where the real work start kicking in. For her to achieve these, I salute her…

• English – 89
• Math – 92
• Science – 93
• MT – 76 (sigh…must really do something, she was in the 90s range)

What really amazed me was her Math’s result. P3 Math is crazy, it is so ‘killing’ hard. She grabbed the whole concepts very well and very quickly. The kind of mistake she made in her paper was..6x6 = 18 !!!!! Yes, SCREAM>>>>. Careless, careless, careless! The harder the question, the more she could do but when it was easy addition and multiplication, she could go so wrong. She will learn.

Met her form teacher yesterday, she gave good comments, “Ann is a very bright girl, she speaks her mind and sometimes even give it to the boys……and I think the boys deserve it.” (We chuckled together). But there was one thing Ann has to learn…that is to give her comments politely. She once wrote a note to her teacher and said, “your ideas are lousy.” Aiyo…I have to dig a hole to hide my face. I must remind myself to teach her to voice out politely. You know, when overseas, everyone is very frank, in US, in an international school. No one took offence. Now, back in SG, people are different. Mama must learn too.

It was however, regretful, to listen to what her MT teacher said. She hails from PRC. She said that when a child is very good in her studies, she will be welcomed. If she does badly, she belongs to the lower grade students and no one will want to be her friend. I could only tell her firmly that I totally disagree with what she said and I will never teach my children that way!

Parents, don’t push bringing up kids to the school. Your morals, your values, your beliefs must be taught to your own children. The school only is in-charge of their academic health.

It’s ok…well done…press on

Six months ago… Remember the anxiety I went through, one of the darkest moments of my life, fighting against an unjust system for my son. That was when the meaning of “mothers will do anything…” became alive. Emails after emails, schools after schools, frantically looking for a school for Kai. How could any school not accept him. Six months later, this is his result

• English A2
• Math B3
• Science A1
• Literature A2
• Design A2
• Art B4
• Integrated Humanities A1
• MT F9 (Farewell to Shanghai means farewell to Chinese)

Yes, I am proud of him. I am thankful that a non-branded school noticed him and took him in immediately. Today, he text me from school to tell me that he has been nominated for Prefect.

Being human, I am still upset for all the schools which did not take a second look at him. I am upset with the ministry that simply threw him into any school without even looking at him BUT I am thankful for these trying times, these challenges. It made me refused to bow down to bad situations. It made me fought for what I believed in my child. It made me stronger, it made me a lioness!

I am most delighted to read about him refusing to accept conventional practices. Yes, that’s the way to go, my son. His overseas experiences were not wasted, it made him see things very differently and it made him voice out. I shall write about Ann later. She gave her comments too. These are the people who will survive in the future society because their society will be an educated and globalised society. People will be looking for differences not similarities.


Now, how often do you get the principal giving her comments.

“All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.” Edmund Burke  Therefore, do I must!

New discovery

We have heard of the Marina Barrage, read about it but have never seen it. We decided to check it out. Armed with the GPS, we tried to locate the place. The GPS brought us to nowhere (GPS is pretty useless sometime). We decided to give up and go home. Guess what, on our way home, we saw the road sign which pointed to ‘Marina Barrage’. It was a new discovery. A much better place to go with the kids instead of just hanging on at the mall.


 

This look familiar? She came back with us from Shanghai


 
Kite flying but without the pollution


The great outdoor

 
 
Beautiful place. So this is it. We are pretty sure we will be back again. Perhaps, with a picnic basket the next time.

Always good to look up

When I look around me sometimes, I feel frustrated. The crowd, the squeeze, the life-less people who just pass me by. One place always give me comfort. The space above me.

 
I will never get these in SH. When I look up, I know my kids are breathing good air. When I look up, I know there is hope in HIM.

Handmade is always good

Mother’s Day gifts…

A treasure map to find my gifts…(even on Mother’s Day, I have to work!)


…they are found! Cute right? All handmade. I have a little basket full of handmade gifts from my kids.

Back to school (updated with new pixs)

Never imagine myself to be good with limbs co-ordination. Somehow, they just don’t co-operate. I have always been known to be musically not inclined. Imagine two ‘cannots’  do not make a ‘can’.
I took up Zumba when I was in Shanghai. Some Singapore Shanghai mamas were looking for some form of exercise. One of them found a place teaching and gave us the information. I went and loved. It turned out, I was the only regular one. Yes, I hate getting fat. I like to remain fit and trim. (Realise, it is not slim) *Wink*

Came back home and continue with it. Seriously, I have never imagined myself to be at where I am. There is so much truth in this…you will never know till you try.

My plan was to look at the possibility of setting up a cafe. But when home, everything was only going upwards. Food was expensive, properties were expensive. Everything was just not within reach. To dabble with it means throwing myself into the furnace. Perhaps, teaching Zumba was a good idea. Classes are in the mornings, (kids in school) and by noon, I would be done and could still spend time with them. Sounds ideal.

So, off I went back to school. By the way, the oldest student for this course is a 85 year old lady (not from SG). So, move your butt. *Grin*

A peek into the class…



The group of us. Nice people.

 
It is not just about dancing.

 
Performing in front of the class. Was nerve-wrecking at first but once settled, it was pure fun.

 
Can’t tell the difference between the lecturer and the students.

 
Finally, after two days of sweat. With this, I can now learn Zumba for kids, Zumba for older folks and Zumba to tone so that there will be no chicken wings under my arms!

Let me share with you an irony. The person who taught me Zumba in SH was not suppose to teach but somehow, she managed to conduct a class. When I was looking for the instructor’s course, I asked a certified instructor in SG how do I go about doing it. She told me, you must first be a personal trainer. My jaws dropped. It seems almost impossible. Anyway, I emailed my instructor in SH and she said just go to Zumba.com. I went into the site and lo and behold…there are no requirements. Strange right? Some people are just so afraid of sharing information. But you know what? Beto, the founder of Zumba, revealed all the secrets of conducting Zumba classes in the website once you become a certified instructor!  

The final pictures…just came in from the lecturer.


 

Love is TIME

Really, this is so true. To children and perhaps even adults, LOVE is spelt with T-I-M-E. If you love someone, you would be spending time with them. During the May Day holiday, we brought the kids out to West Coast again. They really enjoyed themselves. At the end of the day, they both thank us for bringing them there to play. It wasn’t for very long, about two hours and they already found so much fun.

If only all parents will know that it is not about buying them the latest gadgets, giving them lots of allowance, bringing them to posh restaurants or even fast food joints, it all about giving them time to be themselves, to be children.

Bt the way, the next day was their mid-year examinations.

 

Kids will always be kids
    

Trying to flip each other!


mum just want to have fun!