Where is the time?

Hi blog followers,

I've been wanting to blog, but the time seems to get away with me! Right now I'm planning my lesson for tomorrow; I've been grading spelling inventories which take FOREVER; and I've been working a lot, but also going out which has been good :)

I wish I had a more exciting entry, but alas, I do not right now. I feel the urge to go back to my planning as I'm seeing the kids tomorrow. Life has been good- hectic, but good- and I've met a few more people.

Love from Singapore! I hear there is a hurricane with my name somewhere near the states....

XOXOXO.

So I haven't fallen off the face of the Earth...I'm just- really busy like all of you reading this! :)

World News

I wonder what news is not played in the US. On CNN right now there is breaking news of a Philippines hostage drama that is unfolding in Manila. It's close to here, but not sure if it would play in the USA.

I went to a Catholic Church yesterday- my first time since landing in Singapore (about a month ago) and it was an experience. I wanted to take pictures, but it said not to take pictures. The church was like an outdoor church-it didn't have walls, just a roof and altar and stuff- and lots of fans. And it was HOT. The service was cool because there was good music and it seemed more "Christiany" than the more traditional Catholic churches I am used to back in the States. It's hard to explain when I'm exhausted. I am glad I went to church though and got to spend ample time saying prayers.

So Nadiah, my aide, is Malay and Muslim. She's been fasting for almost 2 weeks for Ramadan. What she does is eat before the sun rises and then she can't eat or drink ANYTHING until the sun goes down after 7 PM. All I can say is wow! I hope she doesn't get thirsty in the Singapore heat. At least our classroom is very cool (temperature wise). Nadiah and I are going to see Step Up 3 D on Friday- I'm getting happy about that.

Went to Sentosa (an island off Singapore) on Saturday, which is like a man-made beach. I thought it was nice because I wanted to be at a beach to RELAX after all of the madness of school (I came home with a headache EVERYDAY last week) and I felt they would turn into migraines. My teacher friend, Carole, told me that I probably wasn't drinking enough water, so I'm drinking a lot more now and feeling a lot better. So anyway, I fell asleep on the beach and didn't get burned. Yay.

More to say but just ran out of steam. Sorry! On the way home from school tonight at like 8:30 PM, it was dark and rainy coming up to my apartment and there were these shell looking things on the concrete. I was wondering what they were- and they're snails! Like the snails you see in drawings! It was one of my revelations for the day. Those birds keep chirping at 7 PM- it's so weird! And we have a lot of thunderstorms here- it's so awesome. It will get so dark at school and it's so freakin cool. I love it. We're all in the classroom and it gets dark outside. So fun!

Week One- check!

Wow- I made it through the first week!

Here it goes:

-students- amazing- love 3rd graders (no 'tude yet!)

- aide- Nadiah- amazing- I get along with her so well and she does amazing things for my classroom and my kids

-intense working environment- but all good. figuring out the ropes

-tons of technology-im becoming spoiled

-Went to the first annual Youth Olympics for men's (or should I say boy's) gymnastics

-exhausted- time for bed.

thanks family for reading (the ones that actually read!) ehem- dad!!! christine! :)

Will write more soon. must sleep for big skype call in the morning.

Day #3- Already Day 3!

So...the running has still been good. Gotta keep up the running and all the other stuff because my third graders are now motivated to do triathlons! How adorable...you never know who you are going to motivate with your stories! I had a parent today tell me that he daughter wants to do a triathlon....that's how you inspire!

So I was out to dinner with some of the teachers that have been at SAS for 2 years already (mainly the "single girls") and one of them- a high school english teacher- was talking about her curriculum and class. She was talking about child soldiers and her class- some grade in high school- not sure which grade because she teaches all of them- and they read one of my favorite books, A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah. I was sort of suprised that high schoolers are reading this book, but as I'm coming to find out and you'll, in turn, come to find out, that "this is SAS". SAS seems to be on the cutting edge of a lot, and as our Superintendent told us at one point, these kids are the future leaders of tomorrow. I truly believe that. Anyway, this is a random connection, but I'm writing about child soldiers and this high school class because there is a program on the history channel on child soliders and Ishmael Beah was just featured on it. I haven't seen his face since I've seen my book which is in my shipment and when Becca and I went to see him speak at Politics and Prose before we read his book. What a coincidence that I was talking about child soldiers this week and it's on the history channel. It must be something people are learning about and coming to terms with that unfortunately, child soldiers exist. Education will hopefully help. Another note: all of the high school students do their English work on laptops: submit their papers on laptops, take their notes in class on laptops, etc. This is SAS! (And this laptop thing just started this year)- Can you imagine?? I have to admit-I love using all of the technology in my classroom :)

A theme from the history channel: kids are kids- kids are similar all over the world- my kids do "the cheese touch" from Diary of a Wimpy Kid just like my fourth graders did last year. It's weird to me that I am going to be teaching addition and subtraction this year- I've never taught math this young- I better get better at my mental math!!! Right Heather and Maya!

Love you--miss DC. But I have to go with this amazing opportunity here! If only MY FAMILY actually read my blog! Haha...My day is ending and yours is beginning!

Bonne nuit.

Day #2

This will be quick. Good day #2. So tired. Math tests to grade already. Kids and parents very supportive. Listened to some good i tunes from my laptop that I haven't listened to since I was back in DC. So weird how the times change and how songs can bring you back in time...

Gotta love the kid comments from day 1:

"Why did you move to Singapore?"

"Are you married?"

Imagine kid voices. Inquiring kids always want to know that stuff! Talked about Christine and me fighting over clothes when we were younger. Oh what we talk about in third grade...

FYI- the first annual Youth Olympic Games are being held here in Singapore...so cool! And the F1 Grand Prix races are coming in September...Apolo Ohno was thinking of coming...sigh....

Time to grade some math tests! Miss my friends...thinking of those starting DCPS soon!

The First Day- success!

Can hardly hold my eyes open now...wanted to say something, though. What a great day with great kids! Yay and fun. I'll definitely have to write more about it later. Went out to dinner with some girls around my age that were hired a couple of year ago..it was nice that they asked me to come with them. Anyway, come to find out that a teacher that I'm cabbing with is a published author back in the States and pretty much a guru when it comes to reading/language arts! How cool! I always knew she loved what she does, but I didn't realize that she is semi-famous! So fun! We share a taxi in the morning to work each day and she's totally into what she's doing...she's great. She's teaching 8th grade language arts here at SAS. The little wing where she'c located is fun- great teachers in that corridor. I must say, the third grade team is having a blast with 6 new third grade teachers (many of the other teachers moved onto specialist positions). Lots going on...right now mainly school. Time to rest up for day 2 tomorrow! Thanks for reading my blog (especially fellow teachers)- I'm going to have a lot to share. Cool, eh? Lots of love from Singapore--my kids are SO CUTE! And super motivated to learn- how nice. :)

First Day Tomorrow!

I orignally wanted to write a much longer posting today, but time got away with me. Now the school plans really start! Today was a day of recovering from this past intense week and I have a week and a half until our parent's "Back to School Night". Once that night is over, we can chill a *tiny* bit. SAS is such a huge and exciting place- we'll see what the year brings! As teachers, we all know we will have our challenges, but it always nice to get fresh perspective and work with new people. Time to finish up some of my lesson plans, review my student names and pictures from when I met the kids on Saturday, and relax! I hope to get some sleep! :)

I'll let you know how it goes- I have a feeling the treadmill is about to begin!

Open House

I meet my students tomorrow! And their parents! Open House, baby!

Countdown till kids come...

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 (Dad's birthday)

If you're reading my blog, please leave comments! It's like I'm talking to you, so in a way, it makes me feel more connected. Moira told me today that she's reading- so I love that!! It motivated me to write right now! It's just like with students when you mark their papers- they become more invested and willing to write!

Today started early. I was up at 5:30 AM to meet another teacher for a cab share at 6:25 AM to school. I'm going to get up earlier tomorrow to catch the MRT to school to be there by 7:00 AM. Whew- early mornings in Singapore! It's weird that it's pitch black in the morning until about 7 AM and it's so hot. I don't need to walk out of the door with a sweater or anything!

Now I'll back up to last night. Yesterday was Singapore's birthday- called National Day. There were fireworks last night at around 8 PM and some of the teachers and I went to the IT Coordinator of the high school's apartment in Novena who has a great view of the city. His name is Jay and he has a partner named Jim. Jay and Jim are some of the nicest and cutest people. Jim is a mall planner- he's Asian and from Australia, so he has an Australian accent. He's hilarious. Their apartment is on the 17th floor, so you can imagine the view. A bunch of us went over for appetizers and beer/wine before our work week started. It was a little crazy knowing that this week was going to be intense, but it was good. Tom (can you tell there is a theme with me talking about him-he's a fun guy and we get along pretty well...other than him looking for young Asian women- haha!) had texted me at about 5:20 PM asking when I was going to the party and I had told him 20-25 min. I didn't end up getting there until about 7 PM (when he said he was getting there) and he broke out the text and said, "Did you realize that you sent this at 5:20 PM?" and I answered, "Yes- I could have told you that you would have, in reality, gotten there earlier than me". He replied, "I'm learning...!!" Haha....In school or in terms of work, I'm punctual or early. In friends/social situations-I'm late. Sorry guys!! Maya and Heather would want to kill me sometimes...

So today was like a whirwind. Tons of meetings and I met the entire Intermediate School Staff. They all seem like great people. More and more I realizing what a great gig I've landed. My aide, Nadiah, is amazing. I've just been texting with her and she's working on my behavior plan at home!! I told her to stop working- she won't stop! Who does she remind you of?? She went into work on Monday when we didn't have any school- she's working, working, working! It feels nice to know someone else is working hard, too- another adult that is going to be working in my classroom! She is 21 and totally adorable....she's observing Ramadan starting tomorrow, so she can't eat during the day. That is going to be tough! I don't know if I could do it!

Father Golas, if you're reading this, I haven't told anyone I'm Canadian yet. I still need to find a church here- so pray for me!

Miss you all...it's been harder to Skype with my parents because I miss them and I think that's something that I'm finally going to have to go through. It's been the "new and exciting/honeymoom period" in Singapore, but when the day in day out really sets in, I know I'll miss more of the little things. At least I got my ticket home for Christmas today- I'll tell you Mom and Dad when I'm coming in! DC folks...I'm probably going to have to take a train down from Hartford...we'll plan it out. I LOVE YOU! Going to stay strong and embrace all of the wonderful opportunities here--as people can tell from my Facebook pictures, I am very happy overall. This is the time to do this!! Time for a run at the gym...

Dani

The Ups and Downs...says Brent

For those of you that don't know- Brent is the Superintendent of Singapore American School. He hired me and he's made it a point to make sure that all of his new hires are settling into Singapore nicely. Brent was the first person I saw when coming off the plane in Singapore. He gives us many words of wisdom.

So, yesterday I went into my classroom when nobody was there. It was Saturday and I wanted to get some things done that I wasn't able to do during the week. It was actually nice being there when no other teachers were there so work quietly and on my own. My classroom is shaping up and the full staff comes to work this upcoming Tuesday, August 10- my dad's bday. Tomorrow is my Aunt Karen's birthday! Happy birthday guys!!

Anyway, I'm writing about my classroom because that's when the "down" came. I was "up" by all that I had accomplished, and then I went to look at my i phone for my phone number to give to a travel agent for getting home for Christmas, and it was off. It wouldn't turn on. It wouldn't accept a charge with my charger. That phone is my life!! I know I sound so dramatic, which, yes, I am- and so my new friend, Tom, is finding out. So, I luckily had my other i phone that I had jailbroken before I came to Singapore- and texted Tom about my finding because I was going over his new house. He knows how much I love and am addicted to my phone. For those of you that know, I've become very addicted to this i phone thing. I was super sad when it wouldn't turn on. So- I took the MRT after I left my classroom to the place where I bought my phone. They told me to contact Apple. So- this was similar to one of my i phone situations in DC (no- not when I left it on the Metro...!!) when it just wouldn't turn on. I was thinking I was going to have to wait like more than a month to get this "spoiled" i phone replaced- but wait to see what happens soon.

So, Starhub (the place where I got the i phone 4), didn't help then. So- I went to Tom's. Tom is an 8th grade math teacher who's 42 and taught in Turkey and Indonesia. He's a mid-western boy from Indiana with 3 brothers. He has gray hair but dyes it blonde because he doesn't like the gray. I say go natural! Anyway, Tom got a place in Bukit Timah which is not city-like and next to the nature reserve here in Singapore. You can sometimes see monkeys running down the street. It's very nice. So Tom finally was able to move into his place after getting it painted and his shipment delivered and a lot of his furniture was handmade in Indonesia. It was pretty cool. He has modern paintings on the walls and it's nice looking out the windows to huge trees. The nature reserve is rainforest. Our friend Dan- 36, teaches high school business studies, came over Tom's to head over to my colleage, Susan's, husband's surprise 50th birthday party at this restaurant called the Firestation. The atmosphere was beautiful and it was right near Tom's house. Other SAS people came and it was fun hanging out with everyone. I was forgetting about the phone.

So...the party was fun and Dan and I got a taxi home. Dan is still staying in the Orchard hotel because his place is not ready yet and I live near the hotel we were staying at when we arrived to Singapore. So...onto my next bit because now I have to leave. Today, I woke up wanting to see if I could get my phone fixed. I thought I had everything with me and--bam! I closed my door without my keys. My keys were on the kitchen table! Of course there is only 1 set of keys, so I thought I was going to have to call a locksmith. Then I came up with a creative solution. I called Dan. "Hey Dan- this is sort of a funny situation, but do you think you could come over and hoist me up through my window to get inside my apartment to unlock it?" Dan agreed- thought we were going to get arrested, and he did end up hoisting me up through my unlocked window to get into my apartment. No locksmith required. So...just for your peace of mind- I now know how to lock my windows :) Plus the minister mentor (who started this country) of the President of Singapore lives on the street next to me so there is tons of security.

That's all I have time for now.....i phone troubles and getting hoisted through my window! Wahoo! Oh- the i phone works now, too! I took it to a different place and they helped me- so it wasn't completely a waste of a phone!

xoxoxo.

Dani

Firsts for everything

August 3, 2010- Tuesday

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while- it's been a bit hectic and I haven't had consistent Internet. I've also been in the process of moving into my new place, which has actually been fun. I'm almost settled and tonight is my first night sleeping in my OWN place! It's also the first time I've had a place by myself- so- it's pretty cool! Who knows what weird noises I'm going to hear tonight- but there are firsts for everything!

One thing I've noticed in Singapore that I'm wondering about...the birds chirp furiously from about 7-8 PM at night- and it starts getting dark around 7 PM. All the birds are in the trees at about: 7 PM. Does anybody know why this occurs? Of course I could google it, but it's so interesting to hear as I'm walking down Orchard Road: "chirp, chirp, chirp" from what seems like a million birds.

On the school front: I started new teacher orientation on Monday and I've just completed my second day. The school (SAS) is absolutely amazing and I know it's going to be intense. As people have said, "it's hardcore". So...I better get to sleep for another day of setting up my classroom and figuring out the lay of the land- the primary, intermediate, middle, and high schools are all encompassed in a 37 acre campus. I can tell it's going to be an exciting, challening, rewarding, and amazing year. My mind and heart are open.

Love to you from Singapore!