Hello blog readers,
The school year has now officially kicked off. For the first time ever, I don't feel like I'm in damage control mode after the first day of school. The first week did crawl along, as they usual do, while the students and their teachers get used to the many firsts of a new school year. Now that things are starting to settle into a routine after all of the introductory and the bulk of the diagnostics have been taken care of.
As you probably already know, I've already taught this group before, so some of the first day nervousness was abated because I've already made a first impression with them. They are much the same as from what I remembered when I last saw them, albeit considerably more mature. Especially the boys; typically grade 7 boys still behave like kids that reside in a teenager's body. A lot of them tell me that they are starting to take their education more seriously now that high school and post-secondary starts to become more like a reality with each passing year. Thus far, many of them really have made significant improvements in their class work and generally self-regulate themselves (both behaviourally and emotionally) better. I really think that this will be a good year and I'm glad that things don't seem to be zipping along because as I've said before, being able to teach this same group a 2nd and probably final time is a real treat and I want to savour all the experiences of being with them another year.
Outside the classroom, things have gotten off to a quick start. With the start of the year, youth kicked off with most of the old bodies returning. We may have a few new faces as we progress through the year and I hope that we can build from the fellowship from the year before. With someone to help me out once a month, I'm no longer completely swamped, just mostly swamped. This year, I've already been approached 3 times to tutor kids. I've taken on 2 and had to turn down the 3rd because there literally is no more time after school to tutor these kids. Both my kids from tutoring are students from last year that I've build a good rapport with them and their parents. The extra income definitely doesn't hurt. If tutoring wasn't enough, the volleyball season is set to kick off next week. Unofficially I've already started running "fitness mini-camp" for the returnees, as some of the girls are super enthusiastic to get back on the court. Sadly for them, none of them have done any significant amounts of physical exercise during the summer, and fitness mini-camp has already become a much loathed aspect of the start of the season. I have an assistant coach, my whistle's been dusted off, and registration listed has been collected, now it's time to start the on court practices with all the players.
The upcoming weeks should be interesting, we have essentially 2 back-to-back long weekends coming up shortly (Mid-Autumn Festival & National Holiday). In the mix is also an overnight camp & team-building activity for the grade 9s in 2 weeks time in Coloane. I heard it was a very good and enjoyable experience for students in previous years. I'm just excited to already be having a break from the classroom routine not that the classes are getting boring or anything.
You'll here back from me shortly, hopefully with some pictures next time of that team building trip to Coloane.
A Slice of Home:
So with 2 of the 3 middle school math/science teachers being new, and 4 new homeroom teachers, there would be a lot of changes in middle school. Despite being an Alberta curriculum school, TIS must have dug deep into the Teaching Overseas Recruiting Fair (TORF) because there are a lot of Queen's and Ontario B.Ed graduates in this year's batch of new teachers. Those 2 new math/science teachers? Both from Toronto. One of which taught as one of the PRAC schools I was at as a student teacher 3 years ago. There are just as many teachers from Toronto as there are from all of Alberta in middle school now. Naturally, some friendly Leafs vs. Oilers (next to nobody here is a Flames fan, sorry Calgary) trash talking has already come up during the year, surely with lots more to follow.
Sunday, 8 September 2013
Saturday, 24 August 2013
School Awaits the Students
Hello blog readers,
So it's been a week since I've moved back into Macau. The weather is predictably sticky and uncomfortable. We have quite the collection of new staff this year and it's made getting to know everyone a little more challenging. It is a long year ahead, so I still do have plenty of time to get to know the people I work with.
It's been a busy week what with getting the classroom sorted out and also moving into the new apartment. The weekday has mostly consisted of going to school for some meetings and then time in the classroom to set up. It has been a bit busier than would be expected for a 3rd year teacher, with a move to the new classroom. At the end of most days, I'd either headed back to the old apartment to carry over some loose items to the new apartment or go into town to get some errands done. So all in all not a particularly exciting week.
This year, with a new setting, I have made an effort to pay more mind to the aesthetics of my space. Below are a couple of pictures at my attempts to make my classroom look nice. Keep in mind, that I'm definitely NOT the most creative or thoughtful when it comes to making a setting visually attractive so all in all this isn't a bad effort.
In two days time, the students arrive and the fun will really begin. While I have taught this group, it doesn't make the first day of school completely anxiety free. I suppose the first day of school is always filled with some anxiety and definitely not just from the students' side. Teachers, even veteran ones can also be quite anxious, and I'd like to think that this is a good thing because it means we care to make a good impression with the kids and do our part in ensuring that they have a successful year.
Check back soon to hear about the first week of classes!
So it's been a week since I've moved back into Macau. The weather is predictably sticky and uncomfortable. We have quite the collection of new staff this year and it's made getting to know everyone a little more challenging. It is a long year ahead, so I still do have plenty of time to get to know the people I work with.
It's been a busy week what with getting the classroom sorted out and also moving into the new apartment. The weekday has mostly consisted of going to school for some meetings and then time in the classroom to set up. It has been a bit busier than would be expected for a 3rd year teacher, with a move to the new classroom. At the end of most days, I'd either headed back to the old apartment to carry over some loose items to the new apartment or go into town to get some errands done. So all in all not a particularly exciting week.
This year, with a new setting, I have made an effort to pay more mind to the aesthetics of my space. Below are a couple of pictures at my attempts to make my classroom look nice. Keep in mind, that I'm definitely NOT the most creative or thoughtful when it comes to making a setting visually attractive so all in all this isn't a bad effort.
In two days time, the students arrive and the fun will really begin. While I have taught this group, it doesn't make the first day of school completely anxiety free. I suppose the first day of school is always filled with some anxiety and definitely not just from the students' side. Teachers, even veteran ones can also be quite anxious, and I'd like to think that this is a good thing because it means we care to make a good impression with the kids and do our part in ensuring that they have a successful year.
Check back soon to hear about the first week of classes!
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| DNA, Periodic tables, and science bumper stickers. All systems go for a year in Gr. 9 science. |
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| My "expression" board with some meaningful things to me. Sadly I couldn't use one of the new jerseys I designed because then the girls wouldn't have enough to jerseys for their matches :P |
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| I had a nightmare of a time trying to keep the algebra and geometry blocks stuck to the wall. Double-sided tape to the rescue. |
Sunday, 18 August 2013
What you can do in 48 hours?
Hi All,
You're probably wondering what the title of the entry means right? Well, after a full day in Toronto, my flight left at 1:30am bound for Taipei then from there straight into Macau. I managed to get some shut eye on the plane but it's different not sleeping in a bed, and while I danced in and out of sleep for a good portion of the flight, it was never very sound and never for a long stretch of time.
The trans-Pacific flight landed ahead of schedule which actually turned out to be a bad thing, as it meant an even longer layover in Taipei (more than 4 hours). Instead I was trying to sleep on even worse chairs and there was a kid with deliberately squeaky shoes (like those clown shoes) running rampant around me.
Finally, it was time to board the 2nd flight and everything went smoothly. I arrived in Macau at 10:45am. By the time I got back to the apartment, I had just ducked out of the way of a massive rainstorm. Things did clear up shortly, and I went to go drop off some stuff in my new classroom and new apartment as well. In between, I made myself go for a workout, hoping to stave off the mid-afternoon jetlag. It was starting to get to the point where I realized that if I could stick it out to the end of the day without taking a nap, I could hopefully bypass the more annoying mid-night awaking from jetlag. After making a run into school and the new place, I did some school stationary shopping before heading home.
The busy afternoon was followed with dinner at a Thai restaurant with some other teachers. After our meal was done, I was starting to get super woozy, so we all decided it was best to head home. It didn't take long to pass out after I got home. Thankfully I didn't wake at all during the night, only awakening a little earlier then I typically would at 6am. As you can see, there was quite a lot of time and quite a lot of stuff that got done in those 48 hours.
Today is moving day. It'll be another busy one with everything heading over to the new apartment. Tomorrow is the first day of orientation and setup then things really get busy heading into the first week of class next week. I'll leave this entry with a few pictures from the new apartment.
You're probably wondering what the title of the entry means right? Well, after a full day in Toronto, my flight left at 1:30am bound for Taipei then from there straight into Macau. I managed to get some shut eye on the plane but it's different not sleeping in a bed, and while I danced in and out of sleep for a good portion of the flight, it was never very sound and never for a long stretch of time.
The trans-Pacific flight landed ahead of schedule which actually turned out to be a bad thing, as it meant an even longer layover in Taipei (more than 4 hours). Instead I was trying to sleep on even worse chairs and there was a kid with deliberately squeaky shoes (like those clown shoes) running rampant around me.
Finally, it was time to board the 2nd flight and everything went smoothly. I arrived in Macau at 10:45am. By the time I got back to the apartment, I had just ducked out of the way of a massive rainstorm. Things did clear up shortly, and I went to go drop off some stuff in my new classroom and new apartment as well. In between, I made myself go for a workout, hoping to stave off the mid-afternoon jetlag. It was starting to get to the point where I realized that if I could stick it out to the end of the day without taking a nap, I could hopefully bypass the more annoying mid-night awaking from jetlag. After making a run into school and the new place, I did some school stationary shopping before heading home.
The busy afternoon was followed with dinner at a Thai restaurant with some other teachers. After our meal was done, I was starting to get super woozy, so we all decided it was best to head home. It didn't take long to pass out after I got home. Thankfully I didn't wake at all during the night, only awakening a little earlier then I typically would at 6am. As you can see, there was quite a lot of time and quite a lot of stuff that got done in those 48 hours.
Today is moving day. It'll be another busy one with everything heading over to the new apartment. Tomorrow is the first day of orientation and setup then things really get busy heading into the first week of class next week. I'll leave this entry with a few pictures from the new apartment.
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| I really do teach grade 9s now |
Friday, 16 August 2013
Some Things Never Change, Others Never Stay the Same: Starting Year 3
Dear friends,
You've probably already heard me tell you thanks through some other means already but it never hurts to hear it once more. Time back home these past few years have been precious and have always been a time of thanksgiving and reflection. Being in a career that is built around establishing relationships with other individuals, I am grateful of the relationships I have had a chance to be a part of here in Canada.
Two years has absolutely flown by. I'm definitely not a brand new teacher any more but it's almost baffling to me how I got here. Some days, it's even baffling that I'm done university. Reconnecting with old friends serves as a signpost of how far you've come since you first got to know those people and it is can be an intimidating sense of comprehension when it hits you; how far you've all come since you first knew them.
This is the first year of going into/back to Macau where I sense that there is an end. Not necessarily that this is the last year, but where I have taken to heart that there is a finality to this. When I first started, adventure and opportunity enveloped me. I was off to learn more about the world and about myself and it was an exciting time in my life. Adventure and opportunity have not disappeared in these two years, but they are no longer the novelties they once were. In these two years already, I've learnt quite a lot about who I really am. I still love having gotten a chance to teach there, as I can scarcely imagine a place more aptly suited for me both professionally and personally. I also still love going back for another new year with new challenges and adventures. But the longer I'm in Macau the more I realize that no matter how long or how far I am away from home, I'll always be Canadian (with a Chinese flair) at heart. Macau a part of me too, but there are too many ties to people and places in Canada to change that part of my identity.
Now that we've gotten over the part about me thinking about what the future holds, it's time to look at what the plan for the present is. Here's a quick review of what I know to be coming up in year 3:
You've probably already heard me tell you thanks through some other means already but it never hurts to hear it once more. Time back home these past few years have been precious and have always been a time of thanksgiving and reflection. Being in a career that is built around establishing relationships with other individuals, I am grateful of the relationships I have had a chance to be a part of here in Canada.
Two years has absolutely flown by. I'm definitely not a brand new teacher any more but it's almost baffling to me how I got here. Some days, it's even baffling that I'm done university. Reconnecting with old friends serves as a signpost of how far you've come since you first got to know those people and it is can be an intimidating sense of comprehension when it hits you; how far you've all come since you first knew them.
This is the first year of going into/back to Macau where I sense that there is an end. Not necessarily that this is the last year, but where I have taken to heart that there is a finality to this. When I first started, adventure and opportunity enveloped me. I was off to learn more about the world and about myself and it was an exciting time in my life. Adventure and opportunity have not disappeared in these two years, but they are no longer the novelties they once were. In these two years already, I've learnt quite a lot about who I really am. I still love having gotten a chance to teach there, as I can scarcely imagine a place more aptly suited for me both professionally and personally. I also still love going back for another new year with new challenges and adventures. But the longer I'm in Macau the more I realize that no matter how long or how far I am away from home, I'll always be Canadian (with a Chinese flair) at heart. Macau a part of me too, but there are too many ties to people and places in Canada to change that part of my identity.
Now that we've gotten over the part about me thinking about what the future holds, it's time to look at what the plan for the present is. Here's a quick review of what I know to be coming up in year 3:
- New classroom, new team, new grade, old kids; teaching grade 9 math and science this year, in other words my first group of students from 2 years ago when they were with me in grade 7. Cue the sentimentality
- Teaching grade 9s has it's perks of an experience week trip to Cambodia (March), overnight camping trip, and middle school graduation ceremonies
- Moving into a new apartment
- Head coaching junior girls volleyball
- Heading up the youth group (possibly solo) at church with some fairly significant changes to the existing program
- Next to certain that for the first time since leaving, I won't be coming back to Canada for Christmas
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| University housemates. Exams, house chores, last night video game sessions. Lots of great memories. |
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| In the words of my former division leader, "They're tiny". Didn't fully appreciate it until I see pictures like this. They raised me up right. Thanks Mom and Dad! |
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| Good pal from all the way back in high school. Who knew hockey, lunch break handball, and emptying out recycling bins (voluntarily) after school would lead to the dynamic duo of doctor and teacher. |
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| Oh Canada, I shall miss thee. |
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| 7 long years ago, we endeavored away from our homes to start lives as young adults at Queen's University. Fast forward through ski trips, camping, and new year's countdown parties and you get my favourite teacher couple. |
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| My favourite teacher turned admissions officer. We were mutual pseudo-dates for each other through university. She knows a thing or two about teaching abroad. One of the most bubbly and charming people I know. |
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| Teachers always seek each other's company. Whether we're teaching close or teaching far, we make the most of the summers together. |
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| Just a bunch of Asian kids. Young at heart no matter the age. |
Thursday, 15 August 2013
The World on the Other Side
Hi blog readers,
You may find it atypical to see a blog entry being written about the happenings during the summer months. After all, this is a blog about a traveling teacher. So what is this all about? Well I thought it would be worthwhile to mention somethings that have happened during the summer as there are more travel stories and life lessons to be had from the 7 weeks I've been home.
Unlike last summer which was completely spent in the Toronto area, I spent a week and a half exploring places I've never been to before in Canada itself. Macau and Canada provide a study of contrast. Macau is tiny and is in the heart of eastern Asia with many different countries with different landscapes and cultures surrounding it. Canada on the other hand is massive, with only one another (not so culturally dissimilar) country that could be described as being close to it. Within Canada though, there are great differences on many fronts.
My vacation within a vacation travels this year took me to Alberta and British Columbia at the west coast of Canada. It is a bit ironic that I've been to more east Asian countries in the last 2 years than I've been Canadian provinces in my entire life. We started off in Calgary, Alberta before heading up to the capital, Edmonton. After a quick day in Edmonton we headed off to the Rocky Mountain national parks of Jasper and Banff. After a couple of days of enjoying the beauty of the natural world, I was off on a long bus ride to Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia. I essentially only had 3 days in BC, and spent a good chunk of it between Vancouver and Victoria. I won't go through all the details of the trip but instead have the pictures tell the story. I will say that if you ever get a chance to visit these places in Alberta and BC, you should not hesitate to go, especially to the Rocky Mountain national parks (Banff & Jasper national parks in Alberta, or Kootenay, Glacier, Yoho, or Mount Revelstoke national parks in BC). Nowhere in the world, is the majesty of nature preserved better than in Canada, whether it be in the Rockies or elsewhere.
You may find it atypical to see a blog entry being written about the happenings during the summer months. After all, this is a blog about a traveling teacher. So what is this all about? Well I thought it would be worthwhile to mention somethings that have happened during the summer as there are more travel stories and life lessons to be had from the 7 weeks I've been home.
Unlike last summer which was completely spent in the Toronto area, I spent a week and a half exploring places I've never been to before in Canada itself. Macau and Canada provide a study of contrast. Macau is tiny and is in the heart of eastern Asia with many different countries with different landscapes and cultures surrounding it. Canada on the other hand is massive, with only one another (not so culturally dissimilar) country that could be described as being close to it. Within Canada though, there are great differences on many fronts.
My vacation within a vacation travels this year took me to Alberta and British Columbia at the west coast of Canada. It is a bit ironic that I've been to more east Asian countries in the last 2 years than I've been Canadian provinces in my entire life. We started off in Calgary, Alberta before heading up to the capital, Edmonton. After a quick day in Edmonton we headed off to the Rocky Mountain national parks of Jasper and Banff. After a couple of days of enjoying the beauty of the natural world, I was off on a long bus ride to Vancouver and Victoria in British Columbia. I essentially only had 3 days in BC, and spent a good chunk of it between Vancouver and Victoria. I won't go through all the details of the trip but instead have the pictures tell the story. I will say that if you ever get a chance to visit these places in Alberta and BC, you should not hesitate to go, especially to the Rocky Mountain national parks (Banff & Jasper national parks in Alberta, or Kootenay, Glacier, Yoho, or Mount Revelstoke national parks in BC). Nowhere in the world, is the majesty of nature preserved better than in Canada, whether it be in the Rockies or elsewhere.
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| Here comes trouble |
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| Cowboy hats for all at the Calgary Stampede |
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| At the Calgary Stampede grounds |
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| Downtown Calgary |
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| An old fashioned train at Heritage Park Cultural Village |
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| Like things were in the olden days at Heritage Park Cultural Village |
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| Inside the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, Alberta |
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| Twin pyramids |
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| Overlooking prestine Medicine Lake within Jasper National Park |
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| What a view |
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| See the rushing water within Maligne Canyon below? |
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| Pyramid lake just outside Lake Louise |
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| Drinking refreshingly cold glacier water from the Columbia Icefields |
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| Mysterious turquoise colour of the water is caused by glacial sedimentary runoff. |
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| One of Banff's inhabitants |
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| Iconic Lake Louise |
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| Native American art at the Capilano Suspension bridge in Vancouver |
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| The famous suspension bridge stretching across a small part of the temperate rainforest in BC |
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| Great Horned Owl |
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| What a day for a bike ride through Stanley Park in Vancouver. |
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| Rock stacks in Stanley Park |
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| Canada Place in downtown Vancouver. |
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| Black bear within Banff National Park. |
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| The inner harbour area of Victoria, BC |
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| Crystal clear waters. Nature at its most elegant. |
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2 provincial legislatures in 1 vacation? On the lawn of the BC legislature in Victoria |
Friday, 28 June 2013
Concluding Another Year
Hi All,
Here we are at the end of yet another year in Macau. It was suppose to be at this time that I would be coming back home to Canada to stay... or so I thought when I first started. But as you can tell, if you've been reading my blog, that is certainly not the case. While there is much to look forward to during the summer break back in Canada, there is just as much to look forward to in the year ahead. Those things that are new will be explained when the new year commences. The last few days, and for that matter few weeks has been a slow winding down of the school year. It was definitely a very fast year with what seemed like very little breathing room between Christmas break and now. It is incredible even now to think of what I've done in that time. Instead of telling you everything that's happened in last month or so, I taught I would leave you with some captioned pictures to summarize what has happened in Macau recently. I'll fill you in on the details in person when I'm back in Canada. Thanks again for your continued support of the blog. It has always been very rewarding and exciting to share with people how life in going here in Macau.
Breaking News: My roommate and I have found a new apartment to live next year. This was a very sudden change and I can't give you all the details because we haven't even signed a lease yet but I'll fill you in during the summer months. See you all soon!
Here we are at the end of yet another year in Macau. It was suppose to be at this time that I would be coming back home to Canada to stay... or so I thought when I first started. But as you can tell, if you've been reading my blog, that is certainly not the case. While there is much to look forward to during the summer break back in Canada, there is just as much to look forward to in the year ahead. Those things that are new will be explained when the new year commences. The last few days, and for that matter few weeks has been a slow winding down of the school year. It was definitely a very fast year with what seemed like very little breathing room between Christmas break and now. It is incredible even now to think of what I've done in that time. Instead of telling you everything that's happened in last month or so, I taught I would leave you with some captioned pictures to summarize what has happened in Macau recently. I'll fill you in on the details in person when I'm back in Canada. Thanks again for your continued support of the blog. It has always been very rewarding and exciting to share with people how life in going here in Macau.
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| Youth group finale for the year. One of our leaders (not in the picture) is leaving next year and our send off was Italian food by the beach followed by some swimming. What a great group of kids! |
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| My trip to Guangzhou. Some teaching friends came to visit me in Macau a few months before and so I thought it would be a wonderful experience to go somewhere I've never been before in China. This counts for the 7th trip to China during the year. I really made good use of the visa. Here we are at the top of the Canton Tower in Guangzhou, ready for the sky drop ride! |
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| My friend Shannon and I are excited to head to the top of the Canton tower, and maybe a little nervous too. |
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| After visiting the Canton Tower, what better way to wrap up the evening with some karaoke. You couldn't imagine how big and how many rooms were in this karaoke box place. We're really belting it out it seems. |
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| Downtown Guangzhou with the Canton Tower in the distance along with the Pearl River running through the city. |
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| The combined junior girls volleyball team. I definitely wouldn't have given much care to coaching a girls' team before I got to TIS but these girls are all around fantastic people and have inspired me to be a positive role model to them and my students as well. I'm pretty darn excited to be head coaching this team next year. |
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| My homeroom class for 2012-2013. A quirky bunch but I love them all the same. Seeing them and working with them everyday, convinces me that I am doing what I was intended to do :) |
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| Year End Staff Party at the swanky Macau Tower banquet hall. My fellow coaching buddies for volleyball. All the best of luck in HK next year Vicki! The team will miss you dearly. |
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| So my homeroom students decided to surprise me with a Father's Day celebration and mini-party (after they learnt they'd forgot my birthday earlier in the year). They made this sweet card and a student baked a cake while 2 other bought 2 Dairy Queen ice cream cakes to celebrate. Some of my students took to calling me "Daddy" at the end of the year which I found alarming. |
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| Amongst the many year end celebrations is the Athletics Banquet. I was asked last-minute to make a season's recap highlight video. Had to spend one super late evening at school but in the end it was worth it. We also finally got to unveil our championship banner (along with the double gold for junior boys and girls basketball). Building a legacy! |
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