Holiday today

Today was a day where I really didnt do a thing.

I cut up some vegetables for my boyfriend who made lunch. A really delicious meal. And that's about it.

I love days like this.

parent teacher conference with a twist

Yesterday I had a meeting a student's parents in a restaurant. I found that was so cool.

I am having a series of meetings with parents to talk to them about their children and what is going on at home, because these boys eh working.

It was nice sitting with the parents and having a conversation of the son and not having to worry about class and someone else wanting to use the conference room.

My day

School was school yes. Normal.

Had a meeting with a parent who wanted to know if to take his son from the school. I was so tempted to say, "FLEE AT ONCE!", but I told him to check around and see what other schools have to offer.

I went to tae bo. It was cool enough. And now I am home spending quality time with the bf. He so sweet eh, he made lunch and put away my food for tomorrow.

what a friend truly is

My weekend was...eh hem.....very nice.

My boyfriend and I dont see eye to eye on a lot of things. But at the end of the day, he is there to support me, to protect me and take care of me. He is in my corner no matter what and is very loyal. That is a true friend and I would never give that up.

Tae bo rules!!

I am really enjoying going to tae bo. It's great getting some exercise and having a routine as well. The classes are very different from the classes I had at school but I enjoy them all the same.

I am so NOT fit!! I get tired very quickly. What I used to do was sit whenever I felt tired, but out of pure shame, I stand up and catch my breath.

Today's class I lasted a lil longer, so if I really keep going to the 3 mnths that I paid for, I will definitely see the improvements.

Congrats to me!

My two students, who did CXC Spanish in January, got Grades I and II. I feel really good because this is the first time I have had students receive passing grades like that. I am accustomed to forests, III and IV.

My class played football this lunchtime and won in sudden death. Before they went on the field, I told them, "hear nah, I could be in the staffroom eating lunch in a staffroom with A/C. Dont let me waste my time." And they won. They came and told me, "Miss yuh see? Yuh didnt waste yuh time."

I like moments like these. You cant get them in an office....but you could get Christmas bonuses....but you cant get two months paid vacation every year!

Rain keeps falling on my head

That was a sweet piece of rain today. I didnt want to get out of bed this morning. But I eventually made it to school due to the kindness of one of my co workers. He let me get into the taxi before him. Thing is, I didnt have a class first period, he did.

The day moved on quite nicely...no major hiccups.

I came home and had a meal with my boyfriend and now we are spending time chatting and surfing the net. Couldnt ask for a better day.

Protest action

I just finished watching an interesting movie on TV called, "Walkout". It highlighted the protest action of Chicano students in East LA. They were tired of the poor treatment that they got in their schools. Imagine, they were not allowed to speak Spanish at school. If they did, they got caned.

There was a teacher, Sal Castro, who was really instrumental in helping those students organise themselves. If my students decided to protest, I would more than help them. I believe that when those students walk through those gates, you have to give them every opportunity to succeed. And I dont think at my school that they are doing that.
They stifle and frustrate some of these children and then expect them to do well.

*sigh*

But my school isnt as bad as Aranguez. And for that I am grateful.

cool week

Last night I went to a lecture in UWI. The lecture was called " Initiatives in Multilingualism in the first decade of the 21st century."

Interesting and I hope there are more like that. It's good to have people who are interesting in Foreign Languages get together and discuss ways in which we can get people to have a love for them.

My boyfriend gave me some great news and I could not be more proud of him. I wish him all the best.

That's about it really.........

Friends

My best friend from the States called me yesterday and we spoke for an hour. I enjoyed that conversation so much. It was fun.

Then tonight I spoke to another friend and it was cool to just offload some stuff. He is making big steps in his life and I hope everything works out.

Friends are really important in order to survive this life and I am glad to have a handful of TRUE friends than a lot of acquaintances.

Really ridiculous

That's what I always say to some nonsense that goes on in school. I swear there are people that have no idea about children and teaching. I mean, they make shitty decisions!!!!!!!

All in an aim to cut costs.

*sigh*

Started back Tae bo today. That instructor was a trip!! Doing routines yes. That's why I didnt sign up for aerobics. I have no coordination!!!!

Another *sigh*

But it's almost Wednesday and pretty soon the weekend will be here.

Online community

I must say, this week has been interesting where my 'online' life is concerned. A lot of bacchanal was happening around me and I felt hurt and uncomfortable. But I had some time to think about it and I realised at the end of the day people are people and they will do what they must. It's disappointing to see that people I thought had sense jumping into the middle of things. But I dont really 'know' these people, and maybe my expectations were high.

On a whole forum full of people, probably about maybe 30 active posters, only about 6 or 7 I actually have respect for. I saw some people revelling in the bacchanal, people who just showed up from NOWHERE and jumped on a bandwagon, then I saw some people who could really have jumped in and have a time, but chose not to.

It's all good though.

My Day

I am so not a morning person. I had been advised over and over again that I need to go early to Immigration because they open at 7am. I leave home at 7:30.
And as my luck would have it, I saw about THREE students on my out!!! Normally I dont see any, but today, when I was ducking work, I saw THREE!!! STEUPS.

As I crossed the Bus Route, I got a maxi that was going straight to POS. That was such great luck because I was expecting to have to come out at Curepe then hop into another maxi and pay two sets of fares. Greedy maxi drivers!!!

I got into POS and again luck was with me as I immediately got a hospital taxi to take me up to Park Street. The traffic wasnt so bad. I got to Immigration and I got #41. They were dealing with number 14. So I sat down with my papers, books and water and waited patiently for two hours. When I got to deal with an officer, the process took TWO MINUTES!!!
Then I had to wait an hour to get back my passport, which just had a stamp!!!
STEUPS!!!!

Then I came home, ate a fruit salad, took a sleep then watched some Family Guy DVDs.

Twas a great day.

Thanks

I stayed back till 7 o'clock tonight for a parents meeting of Form3s. The turnout was OK. I got to speak to some parents, not all, but two parents said thanks to me for the efforts I was making with their sons.

I appreciated that a lot. While I get paid to teach, I dont get paid for staying back after schoool for meetings and doing all the lil things that I do. So sometimes 'thanks' really means a lot.

But they were in the minority, however.

why do I even bother?

I ask myself this question a few times each year. But how can you distance yourself from such negative behaviour when it's in your face all the time?

Capital I

We all live in a Capital I
In the middle of the desert in the centre of the sky.
And all day we polish up the I
To keep it clean and shiny so it brightens up the sky.

Rubbing it here and scrubbing it there,
polishing the I, so high in the air.

As we work we sing a lively tune
It is great to be so happy on a busy afternoon.
And when we're through with the day's only chore,
we go into the I and we close the door.

Capital I, capital I; Capital I, capital I.

I was watching a clip of this song online and it took me back to happier days. I almsot cried.

The weekend

It's here! I always look forward to Fridays. Not only does it signal the beginning of the weekend, but it is the lightest day I have in my work schedule.

My boyfriend and I both decided to give up meat for Lent. Thus far it has been going well. We just have to get inventive with our meals.

Last night, my bf's mother had a get together for her birthday as well as her retirement. The food was great!

Then today I decided to get off my lazy ass and get out the house on Saturday. So I went in POS, paid a bill, bought myself two DVDs and went by my brother.It was cool just liming, chatting and catching up, but he is a one word person yes. Ask him a question and he would answer with few words.
Then I went by my sister and checked up on my niece. She ran and hugged me when I walked through the door. I enjoyed that so much. She's getting big. She knows the word 'trapezium'! And she knows her colours really well. When I have her for three weeks, I'll teach her some Spanish!
I am glad she doesnt cry when I go, but her expression changes and she doesnt want to talk to me anymore. She's my niece and I want to shower her with all the attention, all the things that she wants. Imagine me with my own child! I might be one of those parents who will say, "Not my child!" LOL

The highlight of the day was my altercation in a taxi.
I got into a taxi to go to Elsocorro. A man was sitting next to me and his elbow kept resting on my hip. I moved several times until I finally got fed up and said, "Watch your elbows."
He told the driver to stop and the driver said that he looks like a trouble man.

Then he started to quarrel. At first I didnt answer back because I wasnt hearing him too well. Also I thought he would have quarrelled then shut up. But he kept going on and on so I had to say something. He kept saying he didnt do it intentionally. I told him I didnt say that he did, all I told him was to watch his elbows. Then he went on and on about something. Eventually he reached to the point where he was pointing in my face and saying that I was stupid. I brought that to the attention of the driver, who boffed him up and eventually put him out.
I have accepted a lot of crap in my life. I am 27 and I think I have the right to tell someone NOT to rest their elbow on any part of my body.

This is even more of a motivation to get a car yes. The amount of shit you have to deal with on public transportation.

The letter Q

I have decided to put this here lest I forget:

How'd you do that?

Do what?

Hang that funny looking thing in the air like that?

That's not a funny looking thing.

It sure looks like a funny looking thing.

That's because you dont know what the letter Q looks like.

I dont know what the letter Q looks like? That's a laugh.

No THIS is a laugh. And I still say you dont know what the letter Q looks like.

It's looks like..well it's kinda....

Would you like a hint?

Yes.

Well it looks exactly like this.

Oh you mean that funny looking thing.

YES! YES! YES ! It's the letter Q Q Q!! It's used all the time. It's used in such words as quick quiet quarrel quit. Do you hear?

Perfectly.

Now are there any questions?

How'd you do that?

Do what?

Hang that funny looking thing in the air like that?

THAT'S NOT A FUNNY LOOKING THING!!

You're a funny looking thing.

This came to mind when I was washing dishes and I wanted to preserve this memory. I was talking to some Form ones this morning and we were talking about Sesame Street and they were singing a song that sounded like 50 cent's first hit, but the word 'party' was substituted with 'bath'. I was highly annoyed but I guess they must cater for this generation.

*sigh*