hello.

I haven't had the time to write much lately.

I'm still having fun with the children at the centre. They still came up to me and make me laugh. I still go home thinking about it and laugh some more.

The other day, I was told by another instructor that her daughter really likes me because she thinks I'm cool. She told her mom that I must still be a "teenager, trapped in a woman's body!!!" I take it as a compliment.

Yesterday I had 4 kindy students around me at the same time. They were all doing different things. They were all talking at the same time. Trying to get my attention, Muhammad used his hand to get me to look at him. I was lucky that I didn't go "mad"!

Back from the dark....

I took 5 days off from my centre last week. Chilling out here and there not thinking about the centre wasn't an easy task. However I needed it. I tried meditating, I tried knitting, I tried baking, I tried not living with my mobile phone around me.....just back to basic.

This week, I'm back and I felt like hugging all my staff and students. I miss them.

It seems that everyone was alright. I guess my training paid off.

This week, preparation for the free trial has to be made. I've decided to limit our intake again.

I'll only take an important role in giving the parents a preview...but will start letting my team leaders to handle the students' orientation. I'm taking the back seat bit by bit now.

I hope I'll be able to just be with the kindy students more from now. They keep me going......

missing but not forgetting

i have been missing in action for over a week now. I have not been at the centre but my communication never stopped. I tried as best as I could to divert my attention away from the centre for awhile. At times, teachers need time for their own too.

Changes aren't bad at all!!!

After our renovation, we have cut down and down sized a few areas. The waiting area is smaller. 2 mothers complained. One felt it was too small and the other said it's stuffy. Our idea was not to encourage parents to wait. I guess, that's the best way. However, we're proud to present to the students a much bigger and more comfortable study area.

I'm starting to delegate my responsibilities to my main assistants. I am looking into developing the kindy area for the next few months. 11 of my kindy students are progressing as expected. Even "ketul" now knows numbers. Even though Joshua is still a cry baby, he's progressed to the level where he's doing addition 1. Darshen is counting 1 to 120 without much help nowadays. Natasha can sit down and complete her worksheets and number board without hesitation. Muhammad is recognizing the dot patterns. He's able to quickly say out how many dots in a box without counting. He recognizes the patterns. Emma is showing the best progress so far. She can recognize numbers, she can focus and she can spot the dots. I can't wait for her to start her writing.

Another challenging day!

Adnan and Afifah came in yesterday after gone missing for 2 weeks. Just before they stepped in, I was told by Alfin that their grandma is very sick in Indonesia. So when I saw Adnan, that's the first thing I asked. It went like this.."Adnan!!!! How's your grandma??" He simply answered me "She died!!!" .... So I extended my condolence to him and family. Not long after that, Alfin turned around and told him "Kamu bersabar ya!!!" (meaning - you be calm about it ok?) I thought that was great. A 12 year old saying that to his friend, but I just had to ask Adnan if he was close to her...he said NO!!!!... So I convinced Alfin there's nothing much to be calm about it. They both laughed after that.

The naughtiest fella actually gave me a hug today. He started his English Lesson last Monday. And today, he came late, so he had to decide to do only one subject and he chose English. He was focused all the way. When he finished I complimented him, saying "You did so well!!!! Do you think I can get a hug??" Yeah....I am crazy about hugs from little children. I just can't help it. To my surprise, he came over and gave me a HUG!!!! and quickly looked around. He must think it's not cool to give his teacher a hug. Well....he's only 4!!!

Joshua cried in the classroom today. He saw his mom and his sister leaving him and started a loud squeling sound. I could not stand it. I had to get David his brother to continue his work at home and take Joshua out of the centre. I did manage to keep my calm though.