The Sep school holiday was over and today marks the start of Term 4. There will be no CCA from term 4 so that kids can have more time in their studies.
Looking back, besides finishing the school holiday homework, there was little time left for revision and recreation activities. But I was glad that we managed to go to West Coast Park to fly a kite on a cloudy afternoon.
The Oral exam will be a couple of weeks later. The main exam will be in the last week of October. Yesterday, I submitted my prep-registration form for my overseas working trip which falls during the exam period.
I pray hard that the dates of this trip can be changed but I doubt the chance is there. It is a big meeting which involves participants from all over the world. How can the dates be simply changed in such a short notice?
I have yet to start thinking what to present during this meeting. But I know time is running out.
Today, I shall start working in M* and due to various reasons, the working hours are odd and this is again another test on my ability to adapt.
My next 3 days-course will starts on Wed and this means more travelling and speaking. This course contains an exam and I have to find time to mark the papers.
2 more 1 day-course in early Oct and late Nov to be conducted, and perhaps another before this year 2010 ends.
On one hand, I hope to conduct more teaching courses to gain more experience and be away from the desk-bound job. On the otherhand, I know this means more work but without extra pay. How to balance this situation?
Monday, September 13, 2010
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
My Trip to Jurong Island
This day finally arrived.
The weather for today was quite unpleasant. Some areas were flooded. In order to arrive my destination on time, I decided to leave the office earlier than initially planned.
The cab arrived even earlier than the stated time and very soon, we were on our way to Jurong Island.
From my workplace to Jurong Island, it was a journey from the east to the west. I planned about an hour for the travelling. To add in the time to change pass at the checkpoint, maybe one and a hour hour before the presentation would be sufficient.
The journey was quite smooth despite the annoying light rain.
I was worried if I would be arriving too early.
At the checkpoint to Jurong Island, there was a long queue to exchange my ic for a visitor pass. I was glad to have taken this waiting into consideration.
As the company has already applied clearance for me, I obtained my visitor pass smoothly. From the checkpoint to my destination was quite a distance.
Along my way, I saw only trucks, private cars and a few taxis. I saw a few public bus stops but I did not see any public buses running.
The cabby driver was an excellent driver and he knew the way to my destination.
When I reached the main gate of the company X, I was asked to use my visitor pass to exchange another vistor pass. Representative from X came shortly to bring me into the office.
My presentation was done in a short while. In fact, I think I spoke too fast and perhaps did not elaborate further or allow audience to have time to think what I have said.
I wish I will have another chance to do this presentation again.
This is just like sitting for an exam. After the exam, all the reasons or excuses came and wished we have a second chance.
Well, this is life and how many people have a chance to re-do something.
I don't know when I will make a trip to Jurong Island again.
I was glad to ask for the cabby's contact number because after my presentation, I did not find any taxi at the main road at all.
It seems public transport is still not well-developed on this island.
The weather for today was quite unpleasant. Some areas were flooded. In order to arrive my destination on time, I decided to leave the office earlier than initially planned.
The cab arrived even earlier than the stated time and very soon, we were on our way to Jurong Island.
From my workplace to Jurong Island, it was a journey from the east to the west. I planned about an hour for the travelling. To add in the time to change pass at the checkpoint, maybe one and a hour hour before the presentation would be sufficient.
The journey was quite smooth despite the annoying light rain.
I was worried if I would be arriving too early.
At the checkpoint to Jurong Island, there was a long queue to exchange my ic for a visitor pass. I was glad to have taken this waiting into consideration.
As the company has already applied clearance for me, I obtained my visitor pass smoothly. From the checkpoint to my destination was quite a distance.
Along my way, I saw only trucks, private cars and a few taxis. I saw a few public bus stops but I did not see any public buses running.
The cabby driver was an excellent driver and he knew the way to my destination.
When I reached the main gate of the company X, I was asked to use my visitor pass to exchange another vistor pass. Representative from X came shortly to bring me into the office.
My presentation was done in a short while. In fact, I think I spoke too fast and perhaps did not elaborate further or allow audience to have time to think what I have said.
I wish I will have another chance to do this presentation again.
This is just like sitting for an exam. After the exam, all the reasons or excuses came and wished we have a second chance.
Well, this is life and how many people have a chance to re-do something.
I don't know when I will make a trip to Jurong Island again.
I was glad to ask for the cabby's contact number because after my presentation, I did not find any taxi at the main road at all.
It seems public transport is still not well-developed on this island.
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
Sep Sch Hols
The one week Sep school holiday has started and today is already the 2nd day of the week. I managed to take vacation leave but since Isa has to return to school for her project daily, this means I am alone at home most of the time.
J is busy with the upcoming Exercise. My 3 days course has ended and tomorrow will be a short presentation at a company in Jurong Island.
Another 3 days course will start next week. Before this month ends, I have to submit my teaching material for a 1 day course in early Oct.
I am hard pressed for time to prepare the various teaching materials. I want to read up more on the subject before I start writing the teaching materials. But usually I ended up copy here and there, cut and paste etc, to get the job done.
A visit is in the pipeline and I am unsure if I will be arrowed to do the presentation. In early Oct, a new staff will be attached to me for 2 weeks but I dont know what to teach or say to him!
I am very, very tired! All work no play makes me a dull woman!
I plan a No-Laptop for this weekend.
J is busy with the upcoming Exercise. My 3 days course has ended and tomorrow will be a short presentation at a company in Jurong Island.
Another 3 days course will start next week. Before this month ends, I have to submit my teaching material for a 1 day course in early Oct.
I am hard pressed for time to prepare the various teaching materials. I want to read up more on the subject before I start writing the teaching materials. But usually I ended up copy here and there, cut and paste etc, to get the job done.
A visit is in the pipeline and I am unsure if I will be arrowed to do the presentation. In early Oct, a new staff will be attached to me for 2 weeks but I dont know what to teach or say to him!
I am very, very tired! All work no play makes me a dull woman!
I plan a No-Laptop for this weekend.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Sep School Holidays Start
Although Isa has tons of holiday homework to do, we decided to make a trip to Asean Civilisation Museum since the entry is free and there are free goodies to be grabbed.
The weather was quite hot and I still have much office work to do. We left home around 4pm. By the time we reached there, it was already very, very crowded. Expected since free entry and there are free goodies. The goodies bags were fully redeemed. The queues for free pop-corn and free cup of hot coffee were extremely long. Upon seeing the throngs of people, my heart was felt cold and disappointed.
Mum and I decided to walk around the crowded museum while Isa and her dad decided to queue to have their body art aka "tattoos" done. By the time we have finished our brief tour, they were still in the long and slow-moving queue. To add "misery", mum and I decided to join the queue.
After spending close to 2 hours waiting in the queue, we have our "lotus" done on our arms.
Thursday, September 02, 2010
Tomorrow is Friday but today after work, I started to feel a relief "TGIF".
This week is again another stressful moment. I have to conduct a 3 days' course. The plus point is the participants are all from the same office. The negative part is I knew it only on Friday and thus my targeted audience was wrong. I have prepared my teaching materials in a very simple and brief manner to benefit the laymen. So my teaching materials became quite easy for the participants and I wonder if they felt bored or a waste of time.
Anyway, we have a fun time; chit chatting during the tea and lunch breaks. We shared our working experiences and challenges we have faced. As usual, we "complained" about the bosses and their attitude. We also made comments on various measures taken by our office. It was good to share anything except office work.
Tomorrow is the last day of the course. The participants have to sit for a test. I am not feeling any anxiety at all since I am not the one sitting for the test. But I recalled during the First Aid Course I have attended some weeks ago. Despite the lecturer said that he has not come across anybody who has failed the MCQ test, I could not help but felt nervous before the test.
I wish my participants Good Luck for the test tomorrow!
This week is again another stressful moment. I have to conduct a 3 days' course. The plus point is the participants are all from the same office. The negative part is I knew it only on Friday and thus my targeted audience was wrong. I have prepared my teaching materials in a very simple and brief manner to benefit the laymen. So my teaching materials became quite easy for the participants and I wonder if they felt bored or a waste of time.
Anyway, we have a fun time; chit chatting during the tea and lunch breaks. We shared our working experiences and challenges we have faced. As usual, we "complained" about the bosses and their attitude. We also made comments on various measures taken by our office. It was good to share anything except office work.
Tomorrow is the last day of the course. The participants have to sit for a test. I am not feeling any anxiety at all since I am not the one sitting for the test. But I recalled during the First Aid Course I have attended some weeks ago. Despite the lecturer said that he has not come across anybody who has failed the MCQ test, I could not help but felt nervous before the test.
I wish my participants Good Luck for the test tomorrow!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Four months in Changi
How time flies and I have been working in Changi for almost 4 months. Human beings are interesting as they are highly adaptable. I am quite used to the long hours of travelling on MRT, doing office work immediately after dinner.
P has kept her word and since I moved over, I hardly step into the routine shift duty. I have been doing office hours most of the days. However due to NDP and YOG, more officers are needed and thus I have to work during the weekends. But I get my days off during the weekdays accordingly, which may be good news since I can arrange them when Isa is at home.
My main responsibility is to conduct briefings and lectures for both local and foreign participants.
For each lecture, there is so much preparation to be done. First, the training institute or HR will discuss on the possible dates for a specific lecture. Once the date is confirmed, the details of the lecture will be worked out accordingly. I will have to start preparing the lecture materials, while HR will takes care of the registration of participants. Sometimes, a test is required and I will have to set the test. After the test, marking of scripts and then tabulation of marks will be required. Evaluation on feedback gathered from the participants will be analysed to identify weaker areas and areas for improvement. Before the first run of lecture ends, the second run of another lecture starts.
Some companies will require the lecturer to conduct the lecture at their venue. This means incurring extra travelling cost and time.
Some customers will visit our office. I have take the opportunity to know more about the requirements of our customers to serve them better.
For briefings, visitors from other government bodies also visit our office and I will have to bring them around the office for a short tour.
All in all, I find myself NOT doing an excellent job especially on the teaching. I may have the knowledge but to impart or teach requires a skill which I lack of.
Where can I get training to learn how to teach?
P has kept her word and since I moved over, I hardly step into the routine shift duty. I have been doing office hours most of the days. However due to NDP and YOG, more officers are needed and thus I have to work during the weekends. But I get my days off during the weekdays accordingly, which may be good news since I can arrange them when Isa is at home.
My main responsibility is to conduct briefings and lectures for both local and foreign participants.
For each lecture, there is so much preparation to be done. First, the training institute or HR will discuss on the possible dates for a specific lecture. Once the date is confirmed, the details of the lecture will be worked out accordingly. I will have to start preparing the lecture materials, while HR will takes care of the registration of participants. Sometimes, a test is required and I will have to set the test. After the test, marking of scripts and then tabulation of marks will be required. Evaluation on feedback gathered from the participants will be analysed to identify weaker areas and areas for improvement. Before the first run of lecture ends, the second run of another lecture starts.
Some companies will require the lecturer to conduct the lecture at their venue. This means incurring extra travelling cost and time.
Some customers will visit our office. I have take the opportunity to know more about the requirements of our customers to serve them better.
For briefings, visitors from other government bodies also visit our office and I will have to bring them around the office for a short tour.
All in all, I find myself NOT doing an excellent job especially on the teaching. I may have the knowledge but to impart or teach requires a skill which I lack of.
Where can I get training to learn how to teach?
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