List of Accomplishments in 2007

JM felt depressed after revisiting her resolutions for 2007 only to realise she has not fulfilled any of them.

Neither have I as well! Nevertheless the year has been a fruitful one and I challenged her to come up with a list of accomplishments for 2008, though as expected she refused to do anything that I ask her to do.

Here's my list nevertheless:


List of Accomplishments in 2007

- Conducted my first workshop for adults
- President of my Toastmasters club
- Applied for JET 2008
- Attended Japanese classes conscientiously
- Purchased a guitar and attended guitar classes
- Attempting JLPT2
- Started a facial skincare routine
- Visited a hair salon to get a nice cut
- Clubbed till wee hours in the morning
- Survived facilitating (and having fun)
- Wore a yukata and paraded around Singapore
- Ran around campus (albeit unwillingly)
- Not falling sick (no MC!)
- Advisor to Japanese culture IG
- Taught Japanese language
- Attended a gala screening (HERO)
- Attended a vegetarian Chinese wedding dinner
- Stayed overnight in campus/office

Start of Golden Week!

I just feel unfulfilled so far as it seems I have a lot of things to do. For example, yesterday I finished one class of grading (2 more to go), went for guitar class and spent a good half of the afternoon looking around for Nintendo DS lite (which I did not get it in the end as it was beyond my budget). I guess it is in me for not being able to relax when there's outstanding work but that's not valid rest! Sigh. Then there's JLPT to study which is getting nowhere.

Oh well just take it easy!

Nintendo DS Lite?

Should I get a DS Lite? Here are some games I am considering:

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Mario Party DS
Chibi Robo DS
Cooking Mama
Elite Beat Agents
Pokemon Diamond
Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Kirby: Canvas Curse
Mario Kart DS
Trauma Center: Under the Knif

JET Application status

l) Application Form
2) Self-Assessment Medical Report
3) Letters of Reference from two referees in Japanese or English
4) Certified record/transcript of all college/university courses
5) Essay (Statement of Purpose)
6) Certification of Graduation from college or university
7) Document which shows your nationality (passport, etc)

Almost there!

Random thoughts and catching up

Alright, guilty as charged for not updating the blog on a more regular basis as the semester is just so heavy on me!

By the way I am currently facilitating 3 classes a week when most of my colleagues have recently got theirs cut by 1, making it only 2 classes a week. When asked about why I have not gotten my classes reduced, the reply was "You do not have projects that have deadlines as tight as the rest." Well just tell me you want to cut cost so it looks nice on your report card and leave me to suffer? Do not get me wrong - I actually frown upon cutting down classes right in the middle of the semester in the first place, as what happened to the comfort that the teacher and the students have built over the past few weeks of being together? Does introducing a stranger as the new teacher affect class dynamics? What kind of message are we sending to students about our commitment to their education?

Anyway JLPT 2 exam is just *gulp* next Sunday and from the looks of it I am going to fail big time! Let us hope that cramming everything within the whole of next week when I am on leave will work miracles!

Thanks so much to my colleague GV for driving me to work (and sometimes back) almost everyday these days. I really feel so indebted!

I've attended 3 guitar lessons so far and while things have been slow, I have learnt the A, D, E chords. Let us continue to strum on!

I conducted a staff training workshop with a fellow experienced colleague today and from what she has gathered she thought it was good for a beginner! I thought I had screwed up big time, seriously. When a superior asked me how it went and whether I would do it again, I told her sure thing, I will be glad to give it another shot though that is only if I get time to do self-study to become more acquainted with educational theories! The staff that go for such workshops can be quite critical, which is perfectly acceptable and understandable as who wants to be an unwilling prisoner of brainwashing?

I don't know, but I miss attending Japanese classes! Sigh! I am definitely looking forward to return to PYAESS and interacting in Japanese next year when the term commences!

AGL's just about to fly off to Australia over the next week or two, and I wish her all the best! She has introduced me to her two tuition kids, I hope things work out!

RY's very nice to follow up on our plan to travel to HK during the first quarter of next year. I might also spring a trip to AGL's at Sydney as well! Then there's JET!

Wish me luck!

Songs to pursue

伝えてよ/スネオヘアー

胸いっぱい/GOING UNDER GROUND

Rock a Nova/SUEMITSU & THE SUEMITH

光のロック/サンボマスター Sambo Master

121107 - Learning Retreat

Passing JLPT2 - a new door of opportunity

I realise I should push myself to pass JLPT2 this year so that I can find new opportunities with the new door. I shouldn't be putting all my eggs into one basket.

Let's do it!

Learning Retreat

Moving on

An army friend of mine passed away in his sleep on Friday night.

While the friend who broke the news to me was breaking into tears, I was rather calm I guess. While on one hand there is no strong bond of friendship between us, it just reminds me again how short and fragile life is and how important it is to be able to make your lives meaningful.

Wakarimashita.