In this page, you will get to explore the mind, events and feelings of a Chun Jui... ok, fine, judging from the past 25 years, my life is far from what you call "eventful" (in fact, "dull" might the be more appropriate adjective) but I'll try to keep my entries interesting!
Thursday, March 23, 2006
As I was chatting with Jehan last weekend, she commented on how crazy my life could be sometimes. I have told her endless stories about my embarrassing moments and the many awkward situations I have often unwittingly been in. We joked about how I could probably write a book about all of these mortifying and humiliating experiences. Of course, most of them are funny, especially in hindsight, but some of them are also just pitiable. Here is an example of a situation that I was in a few years ago: I was having lunch with a classmate from my Sociology program, along with another classmate and her boyfriend. As we were getting up to go at the end of the meal, I put my fake Burberry purse (that I got for less than $10CDN in Shenzhen!!) on my shoulder. The classmate with the boyfriend notices it and comments on how nice it is. Then, she asks, "Is it real?" I smiled, pshhed, and said "Naw...it's fake!" Her boyfriend then says to me, "Oh, where did you get it from?" I replied, "Ah, you wouldn't want to know!". The boyfriend then says to me, in a serious tone, "No, I really do. My father is the acting lawyer for counterfeit for Burberry!" Needless to say, all I could muster in my moment of mortification is a pathetic, "Oh." My other friend is dying of laughter and was having a difficult time keeping it in. *sigh* WHY ME?? :D
Yet another "Why-me??" moment: I was on the TTC train heading home after class one day. The train was pulling into Finch, and as I felt and heard the familiar clanking, I started to get up from my seat. The train suddenly lurches and I am thrown against the back of a tall, big guy in a cadet uniform, who was standing and holding onto the pole. The train was doing a very slow, long, stretched out inertia and my face was pressed RIGHT up against the guy's back! I still had not managed to grab hold of the pole yet. The guy looks over shoulder and notices with amusement that he ws holding up his weight and me!! When the train FINALLY came to halt, I straightened up and embarrassingly mustered a "Sorry". Face flaming, I bolted out of the train and out of the station as fast as humanly possible! WHY ME??
Oh, I have so many more stories... My latest is the Incident at the Car Wash. My book of embarrassing moments is going to be called--you guessed it-- Why Me?? :) It will be a feel-good kinda book because everyone will be so glad that they're not me when they're done reading it!!
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Some random things to write about today, so consider this a fair warning! :P
Today, I decided to go get my passport renewed since I'm currently on March Break and have the time do so. My first stop was to take a passport photo, the part I dreaded the most (I always manage to look like I weigh 300 pounds in photos!! arrgghh). Anyway, As I sat down and prepared for the shots, the photographer informed me that I'm not allowed to SMILE anymore for passport photos!! This new rule is so sad that it's funny. The fear of terrorism or fraud is so huge these days after 9/11 that even passport pictures must look like mug shots! The application form actually says that the applicant must have a "neutral expression (not frowning or smiling), and the mouth must be closed". This borders dangerously on paranoia, if you ask me! This paranoia was so riduculous to me that I couldn't help laughing but I wasn't allowed to smile, so I ended up looking slightly cross-eyed with a tiny hint of a smile! :P
Next, I had to fill out the application form for the passport. I filled out all the sections neatly and meticulously and when it came to the signature box, I told myself that I had to keep my signature inside the box without any of it touching the border (those were the specific directions). I was doing fine-- until the last stroke, which I did with my usual flourish and gusto, and... oops, it touched the border of the box!!! argggghhhh!!! That meant I had to fill out ANOTHER application form all over again (if the signature goes outside of the border of the box, the application will be void, according to the instructions). *sigh* So, i went onto the internet, went to the Canadian passport website and proceeded to download another form. As it was printing, I suddenly noticed that the form was to be printed on bond-quality paper! Arrgghhh... I don't have that type of paper-- who does?? So, after a waste of regular, not-good-enough-for-the-Canadian-government paper and ink, I had to ask my Daddy if he could pick up another application form from the post office (he was going there to mail out the income tax stuff) on his way home. My dad just sighed at my stupidity.
My next beef is, why the hell does the Canadian government need to know your weight for a passport??? I can understand the height part but why do they need to know how much you weigh? I don't want some crusty lady at the passport office to look at my height and weight and say, "My, for a 5 foot 2 woman, she sure IS heavy!" :S I mean, your weight can flucuate, can't it? The passport is supposed to be good for 5 years, so does the Canadian government expect everyone to stay the same weight for 5 years??
*sigh* Alright, next rant: booking appointments with Specialist doctors, e.g. optometrists. I was informed today, as I phoned my optometrist's office AGAIN, that the earliest appointment I can get is not until MAY 24!! And this was after repeating that my eyes feel uncomfortable, and it's not a routine, every 2-years kind of check-up. Trying to land an appointment with an optometrist is akin to winning the lottery!! But apparently, there was an appointment available next week at 10:30, which means that I will have to take time off of work or else wait until May and risk the chance of going blind before I can even see the doctor. grrr...
Next: ok, not really a rant but a book recommendation-- Wild Swans by Jung Chang. This autobiography and biography outlines in vivid detail the accounts of three women (the author herself, her mother, and her grandmother), who lived in Communist China under Mao. The grandmother was a concubine of a warlord, pre-Mao days, the mother was in the Communist Party, and the author was also a Red Guard, before going to Britain on a scholarship. The author, Jung Chang, later went on to become the first person from Communist China to receive a doctorate degree in Britain! I'm not done reading it yet but it's so fascinating so far. Personal drama woven into such dramatic and turbulent political times of such a fascinating country under an equally fascinating ruler (Mao) makes a very exciting, heartfelt, emotional, and informative read. Next on my to-read list (which is constantly growing) is Elsie Sze's Hui Gui: A Chinese Story. I'm drawn to this book so far because the author is an adult, HK immigrant to Toronto, who not only learned to speak English but even WROTE a novel in English! What a feat for a second-language learner! Then, after that, I really want to dig into another book of Jung Chang's: Mao. Both Mao and Wild Swans are banned books in the PRC!
Monday, March 6, 2006
Ok, I realize that I've become quite the slacker in terms of updating this site.. :S Viv , who used to compliment me on being so diligent with my updates is probably now thinking otherwise. :P Her blog (Viv, may I post your URL here?), on the other hand, is updated very frequently and it's always interesting to read! :D
Anyway, I was going to update last week because of something that really pissed me off. I changed my mind because 1) I was too worked up too type up anything that would have been to the point, and 2) because I was just plain lazy. :D Anyway, I was just really peeved with one of the parents of one of my students. Being a teacher and having taught for so many years (recall that I had taught 8 years of preschool, plus other various teaching jobs), I've seen many different types of parents. A lot of how the children are in school is contingent on how the parents teach their kids. For instance, in this particular incident that got me so annoyed, the mom is very concerned with her child's performance in school, which, of course, is good. However, she treats her kid (my student) like a baby and so, the kid is completely dependent, not responsible, and not to mention, one of the finest "space cadets" I've ever taught! (Talk to me in person if you would like a full description of this kid and his behaviour in class--- you will laugh because you are not ME! :S). Anyway, to make a long story short, I ended up having to have yet another meeting with this particular mom to yet AGAIN, explain to her that she cannot come scurrying in afterschool on a daily basis to fetch her child's folder/book/homework because he forgot to bring it home. He needs to learn some responsiblity. I also had to remind her once again that her child is not the ONLY student in my class and that I'm already doing more than enough. He needs to LISTEN and not DAYDREAM during class so he could actually finish something! *sigh* I feel my blood pressure rising again, so I think I should stop with that story now. :)
I still want to talk about teaching though (sorry) because although I complain and groan about my students (they ARE aggravating though!!), once in awhile, I am reminded of how satisfying teaching could be. It's a very small thing and I think perhaps only teachers would truly understand the satisfaction of a particular successful lesson. That's how I feel today. I taught my grade two's 2-digit addition with regrouping (i.e. carrying) today for the first time. Understanding that the concept of regrouping could be confusing for some children of this age, I knew I had to use some more interactive and visual strategies (the majority of my students, if you didn't already know, are hyperactive boys). Again to a make long, boring story short, I was able to explain and teach regrouping with a fairly high success rate (as seen in their guided practice and their eyes--- many light bulbs turned on!), and hence, the satisfaction. :D Sorry, if this was a boring entry. Heehee.
Home