SavingLives

I am sitting here, musing, and wondering if I made a really really bad mistake by choosing to continue with my three classes. Timetables are slated to change next week as the new teachers have come, and I am supposed to be relieved off two monster classes. While a fraction of my heart wants to take a holiday and rest, drink ice-cold lemon tea, pack itself in plastic wrap, or just sit, recluse, for abit, I cannot help but wonder if I don't take them into my life, then who will?

It really is all about ministry isn't it? I'm not sure if what I'm doing is really saving one's life, because many will always go home to broken families, be beaten, come to school in fear of bigger and better bullies. I stopped short today, realising that the boy who is always getting into trouble and testing my patience might have fresh bloodied cane marks on his arm. The bamboo rods that we, Asians, love so much. I do believe in the : spoil the rod and you spoil the child mentality. But the wounds were split open and there was blood. Four bloody lines that stretched along his arm. I was very angry with him and shouted at him (an accumulation of his many errors and for leading the class into another riot) because he would not listen and for a split, heartwrenching second, I heard him mutter "why you always say it's my fault one?" So I am constantly reminded to love and to ask for more patience. God, more of them please. And what you see is what you get, which makes the world a really sad place to live in for them.

Yesterday, I walked towards the Head and in true spirit, personally asked her to leave the timetable as it is. She looked at me with her mouth wide open and I had, in that moment, an inkling that I would be up for more tiring, emotionally exhausting war days in the weeks to come. However, I know that the soft approach can change the wild monkeys and it would take the new teacher another whole month to get to know them - which by then, would be the exams.

And so, everyday is a rollercoaster. I want to balk at the cliche, but I can't, cos it's true. Everyday, I try new things, and sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. It's tiring and I look like crap everyday. Heh. I have never had so many short naps in my life, but I know I wouldn't have given this experience up for the world.

Lifesavers

Di and I have also returned to our moviewatching days and having Kaye so near the West now is great! I love movies, movie posters, movie theatres. The fleeing from the world idea. Last night, we managed to catch Adam Sandler's CLICK and I think of my cousin who would have, literally, BAWLED, in the theatres. So Di wrote a review of it in her blog and it's great (positive comments! i still think it's one of the 'best' sandler shows in awhile) because there have been many reviewers who trashed it (I'm not talking about my moviereviewer friend here who 'almost' cried much to the shame and horror of friends who know him). I have to also give G an award for making me laugh out loud in the staff room with his text messages: two days in a row. Clap clap.

TGIF!!