Work.

Here, I can't help but put up some of the conversations I've had with the children I work with over these last few weeks...

So here goes. Just for laughs. In ranking of entertainment value.

#1
Gina, out of the blue: Teacher Jane! I know who your boyfriend is!
Me, trying not to smile: Who?
Gina: It's Teacher Ming Hui! (My colleague)
Me, putting on a wry smile to avoid laughing out loud: Silly girl, I don't have a boyfriend.
Gina: Yes you do! Admit it, or I'll go tell Teacher Ming Hui!
Me, turning my attention to another girl to stop aforementioned laughter: Go ahead. It's not true.
Gina: ....

Wow. That must have been the singularly most embarrassing, most hilarious moment and most effective answer I have given to any of the children. All thanks to that XYZ$#^&@ Gina. I laughed hard and loud when I got home. Now I know how Anne of Green Gables felt like.

#2
Le Ye (a boy), to Ming Hui: Teacher Ming Hui, I know who you love! (Funny how all these kids are only interested in these kinds of stupid things.)
Le Ye: It's Regina (one of the girls with a really la princessa attitude), because you spend so much time with her!

Which was true because Regina is an attention seeker. Still. Ironic really. Boys and girls their age can't stand one another, but are obsessively interested in such things. Sigh.

#3 (This one competes with #1 in embarrasment value)

Some of the girls were practicing a dance in one of the counselling rooms. I was sitting in there supervising them when suddenly...
N (I shall refrain from real names here) pointing at one of the walls: Did you know, Teacher Jane, last time there was a boy who liked to pretend he was having sex with this wall?
Me, speechless: What?
U, another girl: Yes, and you know sometimes we can see teenage couples having sex at the block downstairs.
Me, still speechless: What?

I still don't know how I managed to get out of that, but I know from that day onwards the girls were never allowed to use a room to practice anything again. Now they have to do it in the lobby, where everybody can see them.

#4 (We're in safe territory now)
Xiu Ling, in Chinese: Teacher Jane, how long will you be staying with us?
Me, also in Chinese: Hmm, my school starts in July so I should be here with you until June.
Xiu Ling: Oh good, because Teacher Ming Hui will leave after March. *Pause* But you won't be here during Teachers' Day or Children's Day! Will you come back to see us?
Me: Of course, if I can.
Xiu Ling, 10 mins later: Here Teacher Jane, this is for you, but you can't open it till Teachers' Day.

Of course when I went home I peeked into the "folder" she made using two pieces of paper and lots of scotch tape, and found a "Happy Teachers' Day!" written on the inside. Awww... so cute! Now I have tons and tons of those folders at home because she gives me at least 3 a week. Lol.

#5 (Which happens on a regular basis by different children)
Child: Teacher Jane, aren't you eating?
Me, usually busy with marking books: Ah, afterwards.
Response from certain children: Here Teacher Jane, I feed you mine.

Lol. If I ever went on a diet I don't know how I'd ever lose weight.

And I can't exactly remember how it happened, but I ended up promising to cook for both my colleagues and the children. >.> Well I have lots of people to test food on then. :D

Even as I sit and remember these things I can't help but smile like a cracked loony.

It may seem all nice and rosy but lately I've been feeling that I'm not doing enough. Like I'm the slackest intern around (which is not actually such a bad thing except for my strong sense of guilt), and the constant feeling that I'm making bad decisions and not handling the children well.

Ah what the hey. It's the weekend, and if I don't relax know, when will I?




P.S. Thanks for telling me about the scholarship application thing Shooee. Yes it's open, and yes, I am getting ready to apply.