Titanic

I can’t remember the last time I played with a paper boat. So, one rainy afternoon a couple of days ago, I made one with my niece. I actually made 3 and threw them in this little pool of water which gathered behind our house. Sadly, only one survived. The other two sinked as soon as it hit the water. I knew I shouldn’t ride on a boat!

Mingbai Ma?

(Translation: Do you understand?)

My maternal grandfather is a hardcore, 100% Chinese. I remember him most for his Feng sui, Mandarin, Cantonese and Fokien accent, caligraphy, Binondo houses, Salazar bakeshop, those Chinese newspapers and magazines, incense, astrology, palm reading, those Chinese flying acrobats in their movies and the red Ang Pao every Christmas. Those things and more.

So does that make me 1/4 Chinese? As a friend would say, “I am Chinese blood.” Hehe. But I’d like to think that I’m a hundred percent Pinay (and proud of it). The only trace of being Chinese in my blood manifests only once a year when I go with the family to the Chinese cemetery to observe All Saints’ Day.

But apart from that…I’m Pinoy through and through. I don’t speak Chinese (unless you consider Chinese counting from 1-10), I don’t believe in astrology and feng sui, and I barely watch Chinese telenovelas (let alone movies!). But I still like the sight of Ang Pao especially when I’m the recipient and I love Eng BeeTin and Salazar tikoy.

But guess what? I think I’m 5% more Chinese today…just learned to use abacus! Since the kids with visual impairment rely on abacus for large computation, I had to be trained to use it as well. And it’s cool! I mean, I have NEVER been a math lover, fanatic or what but abacus had finally convinced me that math CAN be fun. I was amazed at how those little beads can do so much math (heck, it can do more math that I can!). I can’t remember a time when I had a great time solving math problems. I’ve been adding and subtracting numbers and saying “set” and “clear” and enjoying the way I couldn’t get the answers right (hey, I’m in Kinder-level in abacus! hehe)! They said abacus can even do calculus..wow. But I’m not prepared to venture into that just yet. Heck, I WILL not venture into that. Period.

I know my grandpa would have been so ashamed had he lived to see that I’m 27 and still abacus illiterate!

Mingbai ma?

Today’s sing along song: Heritage by Earth, Wind and Fire

Playmate

I’m becoming a lousy blogger, I know. This time I can’t even make “I’m tired” as an excuse for not writing. I’m a lousy blogger and let’s just leave it at that.

I started at the new school yesterday and all I can say is that the place is great, the kids were a handful, the training is promising and I’m still dizzy trying to figure out how to be an effective teacher for these kids. Add the intricacies of Braille and I’m doomed! But I’m learning and that’s what thrills me.

The other kid, the one I teach at this other school, she’s really trying my patience. She’s like gauging how far my patience can go! She’s lucky she’s cute or else…hmp! Kidding! I like that I’m learning from them all. Today, she taught me NOT to forget that children with autism sticks to the routine. She almost threw a tantrum because I didn’t want her to get this box from a shelf. Turned out, the box was her grooming kit and she ALWAYS brushes her teeth after meals. How neat

Anyway, although my paperworks are not as crazy as last sem’s, there’s a lot of things I really need to read. I’m googling autism and VI and braille right now so the teacher’s out for now!

Goodbye class!

Today’s sing along song: Mulberry Bush, a nursery rhyme 

Geek Talk

I guess you have to either put duck tape all over my mouth or chop of ALL my fingers (yep..those at the feet included) to stop me from yakking all the way down to your tiny eardrums or the entire blogosphere!

If there’s someone who gets excited at the prospect of talking to a group of professional, really intimidating group of people..well…that’ll be me Hahaha.

Three months from now, our class will hold a seminar to a group (100) of (more) experienced and old(er) public school teachers about teaching remediation to students with learning disabilities. And as a final requirement (this is getting better..imagine my professor talking about FINAL requirement on the first day of class hehe), we would serve as resource speakers.

 The good things is, I’ll be talking about Reading..the subject I just took last semester. One of my favorite subject–the intricacies of the reading process…okay, okay, I’m getting nerdy again. Talk about final requirements excites me all the time. Oh, how I wish for February (and no, my excitement has nothing to do with the seminar this time).

Officially, vacation is over. Back to serious(??????) work.

Today’s sing along song: Lose Your Way by Sophie Hawkins

Up the Downside

I have a new job. Well, I won’t call it a real job actually. I’ll call it SEI (Source of Extra Income).

Meet Gwinky, my new kid. I’ll be her shadow teacher until (hopefully) the school ends. She’s a 6-year old kid with autism and I’ll be with her for 2 hours to get her to socialize with other kids or teach her when the lesson is too tough for her. but basically, my job boils down to running after her wherever she goes. Which is fun, really. Imagine running for two hours (no need for aerobics!), playing silly games (goodbye lesson plans!) and teaching only one kid (hello sunny days!).

The downside is, I think the teachers in that school thinks that shadow teacher is the same as yaya (with a better title). But I don’t care. I won’t waste time defending my profession. As long as I will become better as a Sped teacher and Gwinky will become better as child..then boo them all!

Today’s sing along song:  Who Will Save Your Soul by Jewel