You're here at msstraaten.blogspot.com
Be good, and if you can't be good, be careful.
Intro
i am who i am
i hate squatting toilets and people who cycle on pedestrian paths
i love my sg gibson bass guitar and playing crisis core
i spend half my life in yuhua secondary school
this post is not about eugene
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Eugene said very specifically not to blog about him today, so this post is not about him. :)
*** The other day Liying asked me, "Ms Straaten why you emo?" and I was like x_x because I was really tired and crampy and irritable.
Today was worse. Today got bad from very early on. Then it steadily got worse... One by one things would happen on top of each other, until at 1120 when it was time for 3E5's lesson I was really ready to slaughter someone - anyone - with my bare hands. Poor things, I made them write essay. But I was stunned at how they couldn't answer the question... You know, I feel very bad whenever I hear how many tests and whatever strange remedial stuff they have to do, but then I feel worse when I realise there are so many things they don't know for English. And though I want to teach all these things, I don't know how much they want to listen. Sometimes it feels like I'm expected to be the joker teacher all the time, play only, no need to really study. After all how do you study English? You can't. You just keep using it over and over again. You read, you write, you speak, you listen. But, I ask you, (rant)
WHERE GOT TIME? GOT THIS THING THAT THING SORRY MS STRAATEN WE GOT A LOT OF TESTS YOU KNOW
I KNOW LE! Then English how? Never mind la? Score distinction for everything and then fail English what's the point? (/rant)
Then I remember they really have A LOT of things to do and remember. And I feel really, really bad that English doesn't come as naturally to them as it does to me. :(
*** So I was telling Yew Liang that I was in a bad mood later in the afternoon because someone scolded me for something that wasn't my fault. Raow. I was going to write about it but I think I should just let it go. I just need time to cool down and cool off, before I say a lot of things I cannot take back. Hahaha sendthisguytohell@hotmail.com.
*** I can't decide which was worse:
1) People playing DOTA during CME 2) People inviting me to play DOTA with them 3) People playing Icy Tower during CME 4) People offering to teach me how to play Icy Tower 5) People demanding for my Friendster page 6) People demanding for my MSN 7) Erin and Joshua fighting over who gets the bigger page in the Underwear Diaries for today (one never wear this, one never zip that) 8) Eugene thinking that Freerice.com Vocab Level 14 is enough to beat me (it's not, my best level is 48) 9) People forgetting to turn off the computers (this was yesterday) 10) People forgetting to turn off aircon (this was today)... It's ok. Domestic Helper Ms Straaten was on hand to deal with it. -.="
*** My friend googled "Ms Straaten" and found all my students' blogs. I am highly amused!
*** Because I really need something to laugh at, I decided to go to this site where I watched the most hilarious video I've ever seen in my life. It totally doesn't make any sense and that's why I love it. It's called the Llama Song.
I'm very tired and feeling very lazy but I would like to say a few things before shutting my brains down for the night.
1. Melvyn and Lincoln, you guys rock. You do me so proud. I feel like your second mother again. *wipes away fake tears* :)
2. I have added links to my blog as you can see. If anyone wants to be added or removed, do tag me and I'll link you up. :) Oh and the link names are. Well. My own personal opinion.
3. What was number 3?
4. I have STM (short-term memory).
5. I miss 3-5 of JSS. And 3/5 of BLSS which is presently 4/5 of BLSS. But most of all, I love 3E5 of YHSS! *sparkles and unicorns*
6. Jamming is like being in a different world.
Okay the brain is sending system shutdown messages. Goodnight people.
Pervy Boy has a song called Stalker Girl. The chorus goes like this:
I would do anything to ruin my life In exchange for you my precious prize Don't you try to run away There is no need to escape That's the way I want it to be
I heard that Apple has her own stalker girl, even though she said that the girl has changed her mind and is now interested in someone else. I used to have one, in secondary school. But she was nice, she just really, REALLY liked hanging out with me. It was scary. And now I shall stop talking about it because I don't want to be reminded further.
Speaking of stalkers, the person/s who tag everywhere with the prefix 'not' and someone else's name, it's creepy and I don't like it, so please stop it. Please stop using my name, other people's names, everyone's name except your own. What's wrong with using your own? You ought to be proud of your own name.
***
I feel like a Barbie doll, because there are so many different kinds of me.
There's Babysitter Ms Straaten! Comes with a burping blanket, kids' games and an endless supply of cartoon videos.
There's Domestic Helper Ms Straaten! Sweeps the classroom and picks up litter after her living-in-pigsty students.
There's Indefatigable (!) Marker Ms Straaten! Able to plow through stacks of essays, tests and badly-written worksheets with a single red pen.
There's Emo Ms Straaten! Accessories include black makeup, rings, a black electric guitar and a Simple Plan CD.
***
Yew Liang has a very interesting catchphrase: "Your mother ah!" Either that or "Don't be a bird la!" I don't know why but I find it very funny. Now I cannot stop laughing.
***
Oh there's Singfest on Saturday! Yes! I get to watch people like Travis and Newfound Glory (and Simple Plan? I think). Thank God people like Alicia Keys and One Republic are playing on a different day. Especially One Republic. Ugh. Whiny.
***
This video is for Mag (aka Eugene - Mag is short for 'magnanimous', because he kept repeating "Never mind, I'm magnanimous," and Erin said it sounded like a superhero name so I'm calling him Mag).
TAG REPLIES!
Jiayi - Hello! I will link you soon. :) 2E6 - YES you people drive me mad sometimes. not eugene - Obviously you are not Eugene, so who are you? Melvyn - I didn't say who! You did! Xinyi - Heh of course my English is profound. Good that you remembered the word! ;) Ruifang - Yes I love my current class! But I miss JSS 3-5 as well. You guys are a funky bunch. :D Juwina - Haha I'm trying to be "cool" with this blog but obviously I am not. LOL. Jun De - Yay! The Sec 2s can watch! Eugene - Ya I think I am fated to 3 and 5. Diao. Joshua - Hahaha! I'm sorry. I just found out today who I really should be linking you with. Hee. And I want 8 Aug to come soon too! Ai Poh - Ooh you got video cam? Haha it's okay dear, can use my idiot-proof camera instead. :D Shafiqah - Hee yes my English has to be superb otherwise I will have nowhere to hide my face in front of you guys. Valerie - I wish too! I have a picture of your class on my table at Yuhua. :) The one we took at the farewell party. Xinhui - Sure you can! Ai Poh - It's only the band section that I need to video. Haha and just the songs, not the bits in-between. Faiz - Don't spam my cbox! Sobs. not ms straaten - Don't use my name please. Even though you definitely aren't me. Apple - *blush* Peiling, Musarrat and Melvyn - I don't know whether to be flattered or disturbed that you visit my blog during lesson time :S Erin - Can we keep the Underwear Diaries on the downlow please? And yes I know Melvyn is horny. All boys are horny by default. It's the Y-chromosome. Fishball - Sorry to disappoint, but Outsiders is a normal movie. It's got Tom Cruise in it though. If you like that kind of thing. I don't. :S Chilli - Yeah I think the Socs suck. But if you were one of them you'd think the Greasers sucked. Just the way the world works. Lihui - Hello! And please! The Underwear Diaries! Downlow! not ms straaten(2) - ....
***
Oh and Sahil, Musarrat and Rahul, I found out what 'douche' really means. But this blog is PG so I can't put the definition here. Go figure =.='
***
This is for 2N4, whom I was teaching Latin the other day.
Cool Latin Phrase To Use On Persons You Think Are Stupid:
si taquises philosiphus mansises
meaning: If you had kept your mouth shut we would have thought you were clever
It's official, guys - Pervy Boy will be playing at our school on 8 Aug for the National Day Celebrations! Everybody say 'YAY!' :D
Some things you might like to note:
1) Pervy Boy happens to be a very good-looking band (of course, since two of the members are related to me lol)
2) They will be featuring two special guest drummers (whose identities remain secret for now), but we shall all jump up and down screaming when we see who they are!
3) The playlist is also a secret for now, but just to let you know, they will be doing 2 original songs and 3 covers. AND THEY ALL ROCK. Yes yes, I am totally and completely driven toward converting every single one of my beloved readers to the Pervy Side. :)
If I'm not wrong, though, the performance segment is only for the Upper Sec. Junde am I right? I was kinda hoping the Sec 2s could have a listen as well. :) 3E5 can someone be my videographer? I may not be free to video it myself.
So exciting! I shall run off and listen to all their songs now, like the rabid fangirl that I am. :D
Maybe our class motto really should be "Touch or Be Touched". :P
Anyway to wish you guys a happy weekend, here's one of my favourite Chinese songs. It's very silly and I can only sing the chorus but I still like it. Hurray the weekend's here!
Yesterday 3E5 had recess during English. =.=''' After that I spent 1.5 hours practicing for the oral exam with them, and enduring Eugene sitting beside me and talking complete rubbish throughout. What horrendous bore? What horrendous balls? What "balloons look like eggs, maybe they will hatch later"??? And to everything his response is, "Got wrong meh?!" *faints*
I did the oral exam with some people from 3E7. Interesting lot. Some of the guys were really nice and polite. The last one to sit for the exam helped me to rearrange the tables in 3T1 that were messed up by his classmates. I am so glad I will not have to do oral exam again anytime soon. I know people get very nervous and scared by oral examiners, but really, I think more often than not, the examiners are trying very hard not to die of boredom. Having to hear the same passage 14 times and ask the same questions 14 times is really taxing on the brain.
*** After eating with Nicholas, Melvyn, Joshua, Eugene, Valencia, Shannon and Friend with the Black Specs (sorry I don't know his name), I went to Dunlop St in Little India for Pervy Boy's recording session. They're doing an EP now and I like to gatecrash whenever I'm allowed. I got to sing backup vocals on one of the tracks! Lol.
My cousin (plays rhythm guitar in the band) was bored and saw me marking 3E5's common test, so he took an extra copy and started doing all the questions. After proclaiming that he would get everything correct, he got very annoyed when I gave him 0 for certain questions (he forced me to mark for him!). Then he said, "What kind of teacher are you man? My answers are correct!" -.=
*** Proof positive that Eugene is pervy:
1. Conversation with Melvyn and Lincoln about jamming - Me: Is Friday night okay? Cos the rest of the week I cannot touch you already. Melvyn: But you're going to right? Me: .... I just realised how wrong that sounds. Melvyn and Lincoln: *blur* Eugene: .... Eeee that sounds very wrong!
2. Eugene is the only one who caught it.
Therefore Eugene = pervy.
Alternative proof positive:
1. Eugene is irritating me during the oral practice - Eugene: (says some random rubbish that has nothing to do with anything) Me: If you don't shut up I will carry your chair and throw you from the railing. Eugene: You can carry the chair but you can't carry me. Me: Want me to try? Eugene: Don't touch me in public. Me: Oh, but private can is it? Eugene: We'll see about that. $20 not enough. (dissolves into laughing fit) Me: ... Omg I have prostitutes in my class. Eugene: (laughs until stomach pain)
2. Eugene offers to sell himself to me.
3. Only prostitutes, gigolos and really pervy deprived people do that.
Therefore Eugene = prostitute, Eugene = gigolo or Eugene = pervy Since a) Eugene = student, and b) student and prostitute/gigolo are mutually exclusive,
Therefore Eugene = pervy.
Yes! Yes! I'm a genius!
*** Magnanimous: generous in forgiving an insult or injury; free from petty resentfulness or vindictiveness.
I said I would put that in my blog so there it is. 3E5 beware the spelling fodder. :D
Oh yes, and I discovered yet another love triangle to add to my list: Joshua (Hiang Teck) and Valencia. Actually that's not a triangle, but I am mathematically challenged, so there.
*** I don't like reading blogs that are very hard to understand. Like when people talk in code all the time and I can't figure out what they're talking about. It's irritating and makes me feel excluded. Then again, who says I need to read them right? :) There are simple answers to everything. My favourite is usually "People are stupid". Eg. Why are there so many wars going on in the world? "Cos people are stupid." Why can't they do what I asked them to? "Cos people are stupid." etc etc.
*** Sigh next week there's Lit Common Test. 2E5, 2E6 and 2E8, jia you! Hope you have been reading the text otherwise you'll be lost at sea.
I am tired... And I have to do relief later... Sigh.
Today I drifted away a little bit from a meeting I was attending (oops) and thought about all the bizarre love triangles/trapeziums/octagons that I have been hearing about in school. So far there's:
Melvyn loves Shannon Melvyn loves Musarrat (??) Melvyn loves me (he's a very loving guy) I love Melvyn (not true) Nicholas loves Davina Yew Liang loves Peishan (?)
Then there are other things, like:
Apple likes to touch Eugene Yew Liang likes to sit in Kamal's lap Tu Yong likes to touch Cedric Cedric likes to touch Tu Yong Tu Yong likes to touch Desmond
... I can't bring myself to write of any more pervy exploits of 3E5. I am traumatised at the amount of frivolous touching that is occurring freely in class.
*** And once more Songtao didn't come to school! I think he might be setting a record. Tomorrow must find out what is going on.
*** In other news, 2E5 tried to make me sing again and almost failed. They didn't like Queen, so I shall not sing for them anymore. Hmph.
*** I bought maps for my English classes. 3E5 stared at it like it was some contagious disease in print form. 2N4 was so excited about it it took about 7 guys to put it up on one side of the class. I like maps. I used to stare at the map of the world just to read all the weird exotic names that were there. My eyes would roam over Europe and Central Asia, find the tiny dot marked SINGAPORE and then fly over Australia and across the Pacific Ocean to America and South America. I bet no one who reads this blog will know where Novosibirsk is without needing to check Google. Or Addis Ababa. Or Eritrea, or the Ivory Coast, or Christmas Island, or Easter Island, or the Cape of Good Hope, or the Rhine, or the Adirondacks or Appalachians...
Sometimes I think the difference between me and a lot of other people is, where other people want to go away from here and never come back, or never go beyond what they are comfortable with, I wanted to go away in my head. I like being here, in Singapore, in my own life, but I don't like being here all the time. That's why I read.
*** Just remembered that I wanted to blog about Monday's interesting performance. I do wish students in our school would cease to be so incredibly rude but there are some things in life that really require miracles, or at the very least brain surgery of some kind. I also wish that our hall sound system would undergo some kind of wonderful makeover because it sucks like total &*^(@#&. I couldn't hear anything during the prefects' skit, except Nicholas shouting about Bushy Bushy and people shouting at Eugene to shut up. Poor Eugene.
But the most entertaining part I found was the dance. Firstly Musarrat was dancing in those killer heels (I kept hoping she'd step on someone so the scream would ring to the end of the hall where I was sitting), secondly Melvyn was dancing with Musarrat and thirdly, that peew-peew sound effect in the middle of the thing was so retarded I was laughing like a moron at the back. I think Ms Lim thought I was mad (she was sitting next to me).
Sometime last week my sister brought home a kitten which someone had foisted on her. This being my first sister, who is married with 2 kids, she asked my parents if they could help look after it in the day (since no one's at home in their house during the day). Somehow it turned into my parents, my 2nd sister, her boyfriend and I taking turns to look after this small thing. It mewed constantly and kept rolling all over the place because it couldn't walk properly. I called it the Meep, because that's what it sounded like.
The Meep was kind of sick when it came - bad hind legs, bloated tummy, not eating well. Over the weekend it had toilet issues (it peed on my 2nd sister's shirt more than once). Last night it was very sick so they brought it to the vet, who didn't know what was wrong with it.
Today the Meep died.
***
This is what I spent my weekend watching - my (2nd) sister's band playing at the Arts House for the COMPASS Musical Extravaganza (fancy name for bunch of unsigned people playing for their friends). I asked Melvyn today whether they needed a band for National Day Celebration but it looks unlikely. Check out the poll I added to my blog. Fill it out k. :)
*** Thanks Desmond for my seating plan. :)
The continents have shifted in 3E5. I can tell several people are deeply unhappy to have to uproot from their favourite places, but I didn't rearrange everybody just to be evil. It helps to get chances to work with different people all the time - it makes you more versatile and adaptable. "AHA!" you say, "what if I DON'T want to be versatile and adaptable?" Well... your choice, really. But in the real world (and trust me, school doesn't count as "the real world"), you don't get to choose. So you might as well pick up the ability to produce some results even if you can't get along that well with the people around you.
That said, I am beginning to wonder if Eugene is plotting to kill me now... I had no idea Apple was so touchy-feely with the boys (!!!). :D Oh but it's Eugene, so I suppose it's understandable. LOL. Hopefully he does not feel emo and desperate enough to start slitting his wrists or something. Apple of my eye, Apple, please do keep your fingers to yourself okay ;)
*** (A new section I have stolen from Xinwei.)
TAG REPLIES: Sheryl: I refuse to dress as a hippo. Not even for the Mandai Zoo. Other people make better hippos than me. >.< Kamal: You are MEAN. I am NOT short even when I'm wearing heels. I'm still taller than you without them. Hmph. Eugene: Thanks dear. :) Augustine: Maybe Kamal wishes he could wear heels too? :D Lol kidding. Phantom: Thanks. I know ;) Eunice: I'm glad you like Lit. I know Sathia is very adept at impersonating me. =.=' Wee: Who be you? Xinhui: You're welcome! Hope your birthday was a good one. :) 2E6: Hello! Manissa: Lol I didn't sing that for them la. I refuse to sing it lol. Ruifang: Hi dear! Hope JSS 3-5 is having fun. At least Xinwei's blog always sounds like you are haha. Valerie: Hullo! Don't let Xinwei bully you with the Benedict nonsense. Unless it's true? Hmm. :D Fishball: Can you stop making me hungry please? Xinhui(2): My blog is not a fish market!!! It's just one crazy person on my tagboard!! Melvyn: Why you come here to talk to other people? I feel ignored. :( 2E6(2): How is Fishball being a pervert? Or do I not want to know?
*** I think maybe there are some things in life we should stop trying to understand. It's a bit defeatist - like just giving up and giving in - but I think it's acceptance, and not resignation. We can't understand why those we care for pass away, but we accept that it happens. We can't understand why sometimes the people we love don't love us in return, but we can accept that it happens.
I feel bad that the Meep died. And I don't know why.
Hello my lovelies. Hope this Saturday is a nice one for you. I'm happy simply because it's Saturday!
Saturday = No School Saturday = Don't need to wake up at 530am Saturday = Can do pretty much anything I want
Oh wait. I have marking. -.='
Anyway, here's a nice video of an orchestral version of the Super Mario theme song. I love Super Mario like siao. I used to play it nonstop whenever I went to my cousin's house, because my parents didn't let us have computer games. WAH I TELL YOU. I love the mushroom thingies. But I could never get past level 3. Sad case. :) Enjoy!
and i'll return to you somehow: 10:32
i r r i t a t e d
Friday, July 18, 2008
(For Lincoln:)
Rigging (from Anglo-Saxon wrigan or wrihan, "to clothe") is, on sailboats and sailing ships, the collection of apparatuses through which the force of the wind is transferred to the ship in order to propel it forward. This includes masts, yardarms, sails, and cordage.
(And no, Melvyn, you can't hang laundry on rigging unless you live on a ship.)
I have concluded that I am actually quite bad at wearing heels for long periods of time. You would think that this revelation would have come to me earlier, but once again denial proves to be more comforting than acceptance. I still like my heels though. They are useful for stepping on persons who annoy me beyond my limits of tolerance.
In other news, for people still dying to hear some gay songs, this is one of my favourite songs, from the musical The Producers. It's aptly titled Keep It Gay. (If you need backstory, the two guys in suits are trying to convince the dude in a dress to direct a really bad play for them, because they have a secret plan to make millions in profit and run away with the money. Unfortunately for them this guy is really seriously gay in every sense of the word.)
(rant) By the way. Just in case anyone has got opinions about what I should write on this blog, or what I should wear to school, or what I should and should not say in class - I say thank you very much for your concern. I appreciate that you want me to do the best job I can. However I believe I should be the judge of that, and not you. I welcome advice, but that doesn't mean I have to follow it. I encourage giving opinions, but that doesn't mean I have to change to suit you. I am more than fairly certain that I know what I'm doing, and I'm more than certain that I know what I should be doing, more than you. (/rant)
Okay I've had enough of being emo and angsty. I shall return you to your regular programming. :)
This post is titled as such because the last 5 minutes of the 12th hour of this morning WERE SO INTERMINABLY LONG I FELT LIKE DYING. That said, after administering the EL Common Test in 3E5 just now I realised I learnt a few things.
1. I like the view from the 3E5 classroom. Too bad you can only really see it when you're sitting on a table.
2. I would rather be doing the test than invigilating. At least when you do the test there's something to read.
3. I get really irritated when I see someone's untied shoelaces. My fingers itch to tie them and that is an unnecessary reaction to someone else's slovenly appearance, so I get irritated with myself and the person, hence really irritated.
So 3E5, having discovered that I sang Linkin Park for 2E5, was determined to make me sing the "It's OK to be gay" song. They badgered me until I got annoyed and made them start the test, but then at the end after I collected all the papers, I did sing a bit of Queen's Somebody to Love. :) I like singing. But not under duress. Anyway they weren't satisfied, the ungrateful children. Still wanted me to sing the gay song. Why should I sing a gay song when I'm a) not gay and b) not even a man?
I can't remember how long I've been singing. When I was four my sister and I joined the church children's choir. I got to dress up as a cow for the Christmas pageant. I had four lines of solo to sing, too. That was the first and last time I allowed myself to be dressed as a cow (although there was one other time in primary school where my class was singing a song about Genesis, and creation, and the part in the story where the first man gave all the animals their names, and this irritating girl said, "Marcia can be the hippo!" Ooh I was so mad I wanted to smack her).
I still sing now, in the church choir and in the Singapore Symphony Chorus. I'm not good at pop songs because my voice quality is very thin and almost reedy. Melvyn's right, I can't really sing low notes. But I can sing high ones. REALLY high ones. ^^
Okay now I shall be off to keep my enormous pile of marking company. It gets very lonely sitting all by itself.
P.S. Shoutout to a few people: Apple, thanks for drawing on my dog tag - I put it on my pencilcase! Nicholas, I DIDN'T type "Where the Nicholas". I think you read too fast =.=' Ai Poh, thanks for taking charge of the kite design - I'm glad I can count on you to get things moving :) Musarrat I know I owe you a letter. It's on its way. Slowly. And to the crazy people who drew the monster and the dog on the board just now, thanks! Too bad I couldn't get a picture of it :(
... the Master of Making Excuses and Dubious Argument. =.-' What do I mean? Since this week I have been talking about drama and scripts in Lit class, I shall use a script format for the benefit of my Sec 2s.
SCENE 1. Classroom of 3E5, second period, Wednesday. 3E5 is doing oral exam practice. Ms Straaten (ie. Me) is walking around listening to people practice reading. She stops at Eugene and Ryan. Me : (After some time of listening, looks out the window) Hey you can see the MRT station from here! Eugene: Can you don't be pervy please? Me: ?! It's an MRT station! Dude! Not like there are naked people running up and down! Eugene: (suddenly interested) Eh maybe there are. (gets up to see) Me: ??!?!?!! Now who's being pervy? Eugene: Not everything has to be pervy can?? Me: (&*@$^*(@# (gives up)
You see? You see? The nonsense I have to put up with in EL class. X_X
OH. And today, my creepy little clapping class (otherwise known as 2E5) demanded that I sing for them. So I sang the first verse of Linkin Park's Numb (halfway through which I forgot the words -.=') and then I zao xia'ed at the end. Embarrassing. But they decided to be very good and cooperative and attentive after that so it was worth the torture. :)
In other news, today (apart from brief Yuhua Idol moment) was relatively boring. Nicholas wasn't in school so the class was quieter than usual. Where is Nicholas! During SEL the class had to work on the kite but nobody was interested. I felt kind of bad because everyone is worried about something or other - Maths test, SS homework which they haven't finished, etc - but I also know the RHD people have been working their butts off to figure out stuff for everyone to do. So while I kind of didn't want to have to do the kite, I wanted to do it at the same time for the sake of the people who had to plan the whole event. Sigh. Life is full of conflicting interests and the dilemmas that arise as a result of them.
In other, other news tomorrow is Common Test Day for 2N4 and 3E5. Hope no one is too stressed by the thought of it... Lol I think people should only get stressed when they see the results. HAHA. I fear for my students. EL is good because you can't really study, but it's bad because you have to consistently work at it, and consistency is not a strong point for a lot of people.
I marked 3E5's spelling. Melvyn forgot how to spell his favourite word! I am mortified and distraught.
Here's a parting quote for all of you (especially for Eugene, who is upset that I post gay-looking videos instead of nice meaningful things):
That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.
No, I am not advocating homosexuality. The name of this post is merely the title of a song that Yew Liang introduced to me, which I find really hilarious. Here it is:
Shoutout to Sumathi who has HFMD, poor girl. 9 days' MC! Better make good use of it to rest and get better okay. :)
Today in EL with 2N4 Faris started singing Metallica. o_O And it was a song I recognised! Nothing Else Matters, one of their classics. There's this band called Apocalyptica, that's made up of 4 cellists. What's a cellist? Someone who plays the cello. :) Cello = xiao di di of the double bass. Here's a description of it. And here's a video of Apocalyptica covering Nothing Else Matters. Awesome stuff!
Xin Hui rocks! She came and handed me the journal which was due today which she hadn't finished earlier. Hmm I don't know what happened to the other people who forgot to do. A lot of people didn't bring it, or forgot about it... Sigh I shall not talk about it anymore. Felt rather emo and sad just now. Oh well... There are good days and then there are bad days. And then there are pervy days! Oh wait... That's every day. ^^
On a slightly related note, I am always very amused by the way people ask to see teachers through the staffroom intercom. Some of them are very polite, eg. "Good morning teachers, I am Xiao Xiang from 2E9, can I speak to Ms Ding-Dong-Bell please, thank you!" Others are plain confused, eg. "Hello is Ms Siti there??" As though someone is going to yell from inside, "Yeah she's here!" =.='
Mondays are long. Long, long, long. I see everybody on Monday. Today someone asked me, "Why is your blog msstraaten.blogspot.com?" I was momentarily stunned. I mean... Why not? That said, I wonder what I could have put instead. How about msstraatenrules.blogspot.com? Or everybodyspervy.blogspot.com? Maybe daydreamqueen.blogspot.com? All generally apply.
I did no running today. I am allergic to running. In fact I am allergic to most sports, except maybe badminton because it's very difficult to be bad at badminton. It was more fun watching people (pretend to) run. :D Anyway today's photographers were Sahil, Cedric and I think Ryan. Or maybe Ryan was silent support. Not sure. Here are the highlights:
Whose horrible fingernails - I mean, talons are those?
The rain that never came...
Someone's missing shoe. And my favourite -
Cedric's stalker picture of his favourite (only) Maths teacher.
People who didn't show up today, naughty naughty! Your prize is a date with Mr Su on Monday, perhaps for detention. Oops.
Oh yes, tonight was also the Parent-Teacher Meeting for the Sec 2s and their parents. I stood around trying to be useful and mostly failing, because the prefects were running around doing all the work, poor things. They did a great job though, everything was running nicely. I found the talk about motivation very interesting. In fact I noticed that there are a few people in 3E5 who show signs of low motivation. Hmm. I am turning into everybody's second mother. Just now one of the prefects asked me jokingly, "Parent of whom?" and I replied, "3E5."
Anyway after that talked to Eugene, Melvyn, Li Hui and Davina (hope I spelled it right) for a bit. And no, Eugene, Melvyn is NOT my darling. Tsk.
By the way, everybody who wrote me letters, meaning Xin Hui, Hema, Musarrat, Minnie, and the collaboration team of Hema, Li Hui, Pei Ling, Yew Liang and Eugene, thanks for making the mailbox so busy. You'll get your replies on Monday ok? :) Here's a picture of the collaborative artwork. I'm so pleased with it I think I shall frame it up.
Ladies and gentlemen, the post on yesterday's learning journey to the Civic District! (Percussionists, drumrolls please :D) There are way too many pictures so I'll just put up a few that I like. Our photographers for this session were Joshua and Minnie.
Okay I know the lady who led us around was very intent on bombarding us with information. But if you were listening carefully you might have noticed she did give a lot of very interesting facts which you wouldn't have learnt in history class (or anywhere else besides a tour of Singapore :S). I think it helped that she belongs to a few generations before you and me, because (as my parents like to say) old fogies know a lot more.
When I was in Sec One my school sent some of us on a trip called the Battlefield Study Tour, because we were covering the Japanese Occupation. That was a really good trip to go on - they brought us to the Battle Box at Fort Canning, and they brought us to this other place (can't remember if it's the same) where they were showing us how the soldiers used it as a lookout to fend off incoming troops. There was this really narrow staircase, narrow and steep, and climbing it was really scary. And the guide told us that soldiers didn't just have to climb it, they had to RUN up the stairs... awful thought. Anyway that was one of the cool things. They also took us to Changi Hospital and the Kranji War Memorial. War is sad. The story part of war - who fought whom, for what stupid reason, where they cocked up in their strategies, etc - is fascinating in itself. But remembering that people died because of other people's stupidity/pride/ambition, that's really sad.
If you want to see the other pictures that I've got from this session you can look here andhere. Unfortunately I haven't been able to upload the pictures that Joshua took with his phone, so you can check back in a couple of days and I should have them up by then.
See you tomorrow for the cross-country! People who are intending to PONTENG (translation? :P), be warned I will not accept nonsense like "I had fever at 6:52am which went away at 6:58am but I decided to stay at home and rest. And not get an MC". Even if I accepted it other people will still hunt you down so you might as well come and have fun. :)
Here's a picture from this afternoon's proceedings. That's my mom and dad. And the stupid banner that claims N I E is an "institute of distinction". Ho ho. So funny.
Anyway it was really boring as was expected. Couple of old dudes reading us speeches (though the minister whatshisface gave a nice speech that was reasonably entertaining), and a long line of people receiving stuff, whom I have never met or heard of before. I wanted to conserve arm strength so I only clapped for my friends. You know what I did at 1130? I looked at my watch and wondered, what is 3E5 doing to their relief teacher now... I hope you guys did the stuff I asked you too. Going to be checking up on that after cross-country tomorrow. :)
Hmm... I know you're anxious to see pictures from yesterday's learning journey (thanks to Joshua and Minnie for taking them! All 74 of them!), but before I put that in a separate post, I want to ask you guys something. Have you ever wondered if, 10 years from now, you'll be where you want to be? Some of us like floating around, waiting for something to poke us in the right direction... but some of us are more driven, more focused on certain goals that they hope to achieve. Whether you are or not, do you think you'll have a life that you love at 25?
By the way... I love my life. And I love my class! :D
I feel robbed. All I did was leave the staffroom at 4pm, eager to go home, when I heard, "... Ms Straaten Ms Straaten Ms Straaten!" And suddenly from nowhere Eugene, Nicholas and Joshua came bounding up to me, demanding that I donate to them (for what? to whom? I still don't know).
And because I am the generous and loving person that I am, I gave them $10 each. And what did the ungrateful boys do? Ran to PE office to extort money from Ms Wong (the PE teacher). Horrible children. I resolve to bring $2 to school next time. Then no one will get money from Ms Straaten, and I will be eating biscuits in the staffroom all day. Sobs.
By the way the tagboard has been added on advice from Pei Ling. Thanks dear! I think tagboards are easier too.
P.S. I am addicted to the stupid song by Britney Spears called "Break the Ice". Gargh so embarrassing.
and i'll return to you somehow: 23:22
who said i'm hao lian?
HAO LIAN Arrogant, cocky or smug. Can be used as a verb. 1. "That a*****e is si peh hao lian." 2. "Just because your letter got publish in the 'Forum' page, no need to hao lian around here, okay!" 3. "Hao lian meh?" (What's there to be arrogant about?)
(Courtesy of TalkingCock.com)
Someone asked me the other day why my email was so hao lian. Then when I asked for the English equivalent of hao lian the person couldn't answer. HA. That's why my email is hao lian then: because I can afford to be. ^_^v
Hope you guys had a good rest yesterday with the Youth Day holiday. I'm not sure why every time I ask people if they've had a good holiday they whine and complain that they never had a holiday at all. Oh well. I can laugh now, because I'm not a student anymore. HAHA.
Tomorrow there's a learning journey for the Sec 3s... 3E5 is going. I am contemplating bringing my camera so that I have things to put up here. But for now... I'm going back to marking. SIGH.
P.S. Check out my new links! One's to my sister's band's blog, Pervy Boy, and the other is to my friend's online magazine, Mosh Online. Good stuff.
and i'll return to you somehow: 15:20
thought of the day
Monday, July 7, 2008
Today I saw a man wearing a T-shirt that said,
You must be the change you want to see in the world.
A lot of us are the kind of people who like to watch. We like to watch, and comment, and if someone does something about what's wrong, well and good. But we're not usually the kind who get up from our seats to do anything about anything. This is rather sad, especially since these same people - the watchers and commenters, the "armchair critics" - are some of the most talented and gifted people around.
What are our gifts and talents for, if we aren't going to use them? What is the point of being alive, if our lives aren't going to make a difference? What difference are we going to make if it doesn't make a difference to us?
and i'll return to you somehow: 21:05
the first post
Friday, July 4, 2008
Yes, Ms Straaten now has a blog. :D
If you are curious about the title, there is actually no real meaning to it. I happened to ask Musarrat to write me a story about a chicken this morning, and since then I've been having thoughts of chickens and dementia (don't ask me what the connection is - there isn't one).
Anyway, the reason why I have this blog is simple. I can't get access to 3E5's blog. I need a place where I can talk about school stuff, and only school stuff, and I need a place which my students can read examples of good English usage (ahahaha!). This means, unfortunately for me, that I have to use capital letters and proper spelling of every single word. It's very tiring. Sigh.
Anyway (that's the second time I'm using that word), I'm typing this in the staffroom, because it's 2pm on a lovely Friday afternoon and what am I doing? I'm MARKING. 3E5, I hope you are grateful.
Maybe it'll rain later and I'll feel better!
Oh by the way, I like the chocolate pudding in the canteen. Thanks to Nicholas for introducing it to me. I learn new things every day. :D
I did no running today. I am allergic to running. In fact I am allergic to most sports, except maybe badminton because it's very difficult to be bad at badminton. It was more fun watching people (pretend to) run. :D Anyway today's photographers were Sahil, Cedric and I think Ryan. Or maybe Ryan was silent support. Not sure. Here are the highlights:
The rain that never came...
Someone's missing shoe. And my favourite -
Ladies and gentlemen, the post on yesterday's learning journey to the Civic District! (Percussionists, drumrolls please :D) There are way too many pictures so I'll just put up a few that I like. Our photographers for this session were Joshua and Minnie.
Okay I know the lady who led us around was very intent on bombarding us with information. But if you were listening carefully you might have noticed she did give a lot of very interesting facts which you wouldn't have learnt in history class (or anywhere else besides a tour of Singapore :S). I think it helped that she belongs to a few generations before you and me, because (as my parents like to say) old fogies know a lot more. 
Here's a picture from this afternoon's proceedings. That's my mom and dad. And the stupid banner that claims N I E is an "institute of distinction". Ho ho. So funny.