Hello again!

I’m happy... and really, I don't need to even give myself or anyone else any reasons why... because I just am. With that also comes other happy and cheerful people to brighten up your life even more.

Well, first things first. Watched the last episode of Survivor and the reunion. I am actually glad that Tom won. He's just a better player, been slogging his bottom off and played the game with a whole lot more integrity and sportsmanship. Kathy, right to the end, was being manipulative and even tried to put Tom's efforts down by telling the jury that he's athletic and so has a better chance at winning immunity challenges and she isn’t yada yada yada... I mean, get a life already! And Tom did not even resort to such tricks. Ok, back to more worthy things to talk about- one of which, or whom, being Ian, the dolphin trainer, one of the last 3 survivors. At the eleventh hour, literally, because the challenge went on for over eleven hours!, Ian decided to strike a deal with Tom. He told Tom that if he backed down at the challenge, giving Tom the power of immunity, then Tom will have to take Kathy to the top 2 positions with him, therefore, totally eradicating his (Ian's) chance at the million dollars. I disliked him at first. He told lies after lies, to Kathy and Tom, especially when he was trying to get himself out of the fix after Tom found out that he actually wanted to vote Tom off. He was conniving and downright treacherous, although he appeared quite harmless. I suppose at the end his conscience got the better of him and he decided to let the other two, who were both his friends and allies in the game, advance to the end. He said that he valued friendship more than anything else in the game. I thought such a move was kind of ridiculous, after eleven hours, and he was giving up a position which could have been his to someone who wasn't even, in my opinion, worthy such. But hey, he did say that his friends meant more to him, so what rights do I have to dispute his claim or action? Here, once again, we an example of someone who would give money up for something bigger, like the principles they hold and human ties, among other things. Rings a bell? Yes, Ian's kinda like Uchenna and Joyce from The Amazing Race.

Some other more touching things/scenes from the reunion. Coby, some would say the effeminate hairdresser... yes, he's annoying but when I heard his story, I so felt for him. In school he was always mocked upon and was pushed aside. People called him a girl and so on. He even quit school because he could not carry on being there. At one of the challenges, contestants had to wrestle each other, and Coby wasn’t an exception. At that challenge he managed to push the opponent off the ring, into the water, making his the winner for his round. That did a lot to him, in terms of his confidence, pride and I suppose, more than anything, it was a cure and closure to his checkered past. What was touching was the fact that he adopted a baby girl, I cant remember if it was insisted by someone or that he really wanted to do that, for himself I suppose, yeah. After showing the photo of his baby girl, he announced to everyone that he named the baby Janu, after one of the contestants. I thought that was soooo sweet. It is evident that people do value human relationships, and that's very heartening to know.

Another heartwarming part was also how the contestants, through the show got a chance to be a part of a group. People like Coby and another younger contestant, the one with tattoos and piercing, who weren't exactly accepted by people around them and society got to experience something they couldn't really do before and possibly have craved a lot of their lives. So, Survivor has provided life-changing experiences for those who were in it. Some contestants have said that they have learnt not to take their loved ones for granted. One survivor said that he now goes hotdog roasting and fishing more often with his kids. The little things matter don't they? I have always believed that. Sometimes they mater even more.

I never knew reality TV shows could provide such life lessons. I was from the other camp. I thought that such shows are just exploiting people’s dignity, vulnerability etc etc just to raise television ratings. Have never been a fan but now I'm taking an interest to them, usually when they are ending cos that’s when the fun comes in ; ). So, what's next? American Idol. It's now down to 3 contestants, and I like them all. I cant choose.

One of those bubbly, happy, cheerful ppl I mentioned about way earlier is Grace.
We went to meet Irene at Parkway because I had to pass her some choir scores and then Grace messaged me telling me about some stuff and that she had lost her scores. So I met Grace first. Went to her house to zap them and ended up staying at her house longer than expected to read some of her stuff and talk. We then rushed to meet Irene and then went window shopping. Grace wanted to have ice cream, and both of us are having the flu, not that bad but we have phlegm. I paid for ice cream first because Grace was busy making calls. We were enjoying and chatting over our Andersen's when suddenly Grace suggested going to Swensen’s to have a snack. That crazy girl! Before we met each other we both had dinner and then it was ice cream. She was so excited that I had to run after her al the way to Swensen's, at the risk of having my jeans fall below the comfortable and decent position. Since she still insisted on eating I suggested Calamari rings or something that falls under the snacks category. Lo and behold, she proudly announces that she wants fish and chips! I was shocked. We both laughed hard before we decided that we would eat something there. We shared the meal cos I don't think any of us could have eaten a meal on our own. We met Liyana, and the three of us just talked and talked and talked. Grace decided that she will pay for the meal since I paid for ice-cream.

Grace and I found out that we have more in common than we thought- like how both of us like vanilla ice cream, we both wanted caramel topping, and no whip cream, and we both like the same kinds of skirts, those flair ones, just in different shades. She's more the pastel girl, while I like louder colours... haha. Oh, and we both like Zara, especially the skirts. We made a pact that we will have to go shopping together, and kinda made plans... haha.

Went back to school after being on break for almost 2 weeks, 2 working days in 2 weeks, and decided I cannot adjust to the scene anymore. I hate the work, I can't stand the kids and the noise is driving me nuts. I don't wanna scream, my concert is coming. I actually asked myself, how in the world did I survive 3 months doing what I did?

In one class the clock fell and shattered into pieces. The students were very cute though. They put the clock on the teacher's table and someone had a small bunch of paper flowers and put it on top of the clock. I thought that was so cute and I just laughed. After a while I realized that there was a tin at the other side of the table... and this was hilarious too. A paper was taped to the tin saying: Clock Fund. Not too long after I came in, an English teacher came in and went through their English paper with them. Many of them were upset cos they didn't do too well. After the teacher left I took the liberty to tell them that it’s ok not to have done well now. It's only the mid-years and they have a lot of room for improvement. I then asked them to donate generously to the clock fund after the tragic incident involving their class clock.

I looked outside the window while in that same class and I saw many many moths, the students refuted that and said they were butterflies, ok, so moths or butterflies they were fluttering among the trees in the park opposite the school and the sight was beautiful! There were hundreds of them all over the trees. Maybe it was the “season” or time for the butterflies to come out of their cocoons or something. It would have been nicer if we had mellower weather, lighter coloured leaves, better scenery rather than those tall buildings in the background... ok, I’m biased, thinking of a scene in a foreign country or something..oh whatever Zaidah!

Well, one thing's for sure, there is more to life. And I'm glad I know.


18 May 2005

David’s coming down from Canada tomorrow. Didn’t meet up with Regina today so we will just have to do whatever needs to be done tomorrow. The kid next door came over today. I miss him! He’s so cute. Oh, today he was wondering all over the place but today’s attraction was the kitchen. He kept playing with the vacuum cleaner. Hmmm…guess it doesn’t frighten him anymore. Used to cry whenever it was being used near him. He was tugging hard at it as if saying…haha…I am not afraid of you anymore! This is revenge! And revenge is sooo sweet! Haha…I’m evil, and David will agree. He is to go shopping with me and Regina and he will carry all our bags. Hope his legs can last him the whole day. He had been warned…hehe.

I’m getting a kick of singing my 2 concert pieces. Memorising the words is hard but I like the songs. Some of my students told me today that they passed their Geog exams. I’m glad for them, and some did really well! I’m just really proud of them. Soe didn’t do too well but like I told the other class, there’s room for improvement. One even smsed me to thank me. Told me she improved but didn’t do well. No prizes for guessing what I told her.

Oh, there was a scary incident in school. I was in a class when suddenly bees were swarming outside the windows. Students were frantically trying to shut the windows. Some idiots tried to open them, and everyone was barred from going near the windows. The bees eventually went back to their hive, which was inside a corner in or beside the air conditioning system.
I cant really remember what else I wanted to write, oh, beside the fact I got a scare- thought I received rejection letters from unis but they were not. Well, one thing I knew I wanted to include- the moths or butterflies have entered the school! Have a good week and life ahead people! Take care and GOD bless!