Teaching Practicum I...

...is a bore. There is nothing much to learn so far - PE lessons are all about making kids run and be in better shape for their NAPFA tests, observing lit class is rather more productive and interesting. And we have to do a hell lot of writing and reflective work on very dull lessons, imagine that. It will definitely be a test of my creative writing skills.

Everyone I heard had to get used to the schooling routine of waking up early and such, which is draining on me even though I don't do much for the day actually. Today I just learnt that I can't go back to sit in the air-conditioned staff room after lunch - I'll just go into hibernation mode immediately.

Seriously counting down now to the end of the practicum already, and for a return to PESS! However tiring it is, training for polo and playing badminton are the only things that keeps me sane. And of course, visiting a certain teacher in BPSS regularly...

Some things since I came back...

1. My room is now in a mess.
2. I'm perpetually aware that I'll 'start work' next monday (not that I am worried or concerned in any way at all, but it's just a nagging irrational feeling of sianness)
3. My polo skills suck, real badly. I now weight a wimpy 65kg for my 1.78m height, and simply lack the pure brute strength necessary for the sport. Worse is the fear that I experienced every other minute in the game, fear of passing because the pass will go wayward or be intercepted, fear of shooting because the forceful shot is simply not there. Everytime there is a 50-50 ball, I already know I'll lose the chase. It's a dreary feeling.
4. Because of that, I have planned a 7 day training plan for each week to see where my best effort can take me. 4 pool sessions, 2 gym workouts, and one day of of ball throwing. On top of that, I'm cycling down to NTU and back for every training, and going early to warmup with practice throws too. I'll either improve or disintegrate.
5. I discovered that I've got average grades for last semester, which is to be expected. This comfort with mediocrity, I wonder if it's something to worry about. I can't tell myself, as I did in NUS, that outside of studies I'm picking up a lot more skills. Now, it seems as if I'm just content to cruise along enjoy my time. Seems like something that I should be worrying about.
   

Photos to Tioman paddling trip

Trust my good buddy Roland to have the time to upload the paddling photos onto the net at Yahoo; I must say, his time management in office is great! Apparently there's a part 2 to the photo album - he was saying something like you can find it in the root folder of his profile, but I haven't got the time to verify that info.

Yup, as much as I love to show people my trekking photos too, I simply can't find the time to post them online. Gotta spend the time training instead, tonight's polo session at PC made me feel like a retard. I'm sure you guys wouldn't wanna see a thousand pics online anyway right??

In Bangkok...

Here at an internet place in MBK, bangkok right now - the girls are at another place shopping on their own because me and Jamie, one of the quartet in our group, can't tolerate the physical torture of standing around while they are checking out clothes at the endless rows of shop.

It has been a good trip so far. Sikkim was an eye-opener, a country built entirely on hillside slopes, but pretty well-to-do because of the proper roads they have linking one place to another. Kolkata is messy, chaotic, super humid and sticky, but we got used to it eventually, and with the help of numerous airconditioned havens like restaurants, I grew to like its diverse sights so distant from the road scenes in Singapore. Bangkok here...well...what can I say - I only enjoy the cheap food; the only other cheap thing are clothes and that, I do not have much need of.

Haven't got the chance to do much shopping in India, only tried out their food here and there and such, so for those whom I said I'll get a copy of Karma Sutra for them, I'm sorry I didn't get it. Bought a few books though, and 3 CDs from this shop which had a good selection of classical stuff like Harmonia Mundi, cheap! Watched X-men 3 here in MBK, might be going Khao San tonight and this wholesaler market called Patunam or something tom. Gonna catch a few World Cup matches in the pub near Suk 11 too; the latter is still one great place to stay in, and everyone were impressed by its cleanliness and simplicity.

It's pretty noisy here with the games arcade behind me, so gonna go off now. Will post photos when I get back, and see some of you guys perhaps. See ya!