We have 2 and a half days left of school. Elementary are in party and cleaning mode with swimming thrown in for good measure. It's beginning to sink in with the kids that people are leaving this week - their friends are almost packed up, ready to fly out on Saturday so they do not have many toys left out! We are going to the local swimming pool (has a slide and kayaks and a wave pool which will hopefully be on) with them on Thursday for a final fling. It's kind of funny that as we break up, Filipino schools are preparing to return to classes this week.
I went up to school to help pack up the pre-school room this morning. It feels right for it to be done, I have no sadness about moving on. I'm ready for a new challenge, and next year will certainly be that!
Monday, 31 May 2010
Sunday, 30 May 2010
Suitcase
Bonnie's parents arrived last night and not only made it to church this morning but did a good job of socialising with us, despite being hammered, at lunch at the Banana Leaf.
They very graciously came with one suitcase packed just for us of things we had ordered and Martha had bought. Bonnie brought it for me in the afternoon and our kids were so excited - they knew the lego they have been saving up for with their behaviour stickers were in there. We told them they couldn't open the suitcase, that Steve and I were going to do it when they were in bed as there were birthday and Christmas presents in there too. While we were in the kitchen preparing tea, the three of them very quietly wheeled the suitcase into the TV room to open it away from us! Steve caught them and while they were all sitting in time out in various parts of the house while we had a laugh : )
One of the biggest excitements for all of us was getting our cultural fix of Salad Cream. It is slightly ironic that the bottle had been imported to the States from the UK, to be brought here but how splendid to have a new supply! We just have to eke out the 2 bottles for 12 months : D
They very graciously came with one suitcase packed just for us of things we had ordered and Martha had bought. Bonnie brought it for me in the afternoon and our kids were so excited - they knew the lego they have been saving up for with their behaviour stickers were in there. We told them they couldn't open the suitcase, that Steve and I were going to do it when they were in bed as there were birthday and Christmas presents in there too. While we were in the kitchen preparing tea, the three of them very quietly wheeled the suitcase into the TV room to open it away from us! Steve caught them and while they were all sitting in time out in various parts of the house while we had a laugh : )
One of the biggest excitements for all of us was getting our cultural fix of Salad Cream. It is slightly ironic that the bottle had been imported to the States from the UK, to be brought here but how splendid to have a new supply! We just have to eke out the 2 bottles for 12 months : D
Saturday, 29 May 2010
Elem Despedida
More endings.
This afternoon we had the Elem despedida. I have to say, though I am of course rather biased, that Elem is the best division for staff camaraderie. It is something Steve has given high priority to and the social committees always do a great job of organising socials.
We played a couple of games; ate pizza; gave kisses (American chocolates ;) !) to others in recognition of who they are and what they do; prayed for those leaving and had floats to finish off.
Just your average goodbye event : )
This afternoon we had the Elem despedida. I have to say, though I am of course rather biased, that Elem is the best division for staff camaraderie. It is something Steve has given high priority to and the social committees always do a great job of organising socials.
We played a couple of games; ate pizza; gave kisses (American chocolates ;) !) to others in recognition of who they are and what they do; prayed for those leaving and had floats to finish off.
Just your average goodbye event : )
Friday, 28 May 2010
end of year chapel
As I was sitting in the final Elem chapel for this school year, I remembered that Sam and Emma were with me for the first chapel of the year. That seems so long ago now but it wasn't really! And yet, we have crammed in another "year's" worth of school: learning, events, spiritual growth and fun. My daughter is heading into Grade 2 and my son into Kinder. Wow!
It was a good chapel - a recognition of Grade 5 as they head up to Middle School after the summer holiday and a recognition of the goodbyes we face as the year draws to a close.
I do have to say, though, that I hate hearing "last" right now. I don't want to think of things being last, I am quite happy to go on pretending life is going to continue as normal : ( But it won't and I guess that is a good thing. While reading the Screwtape Letters, I appreciated C.S.Lewis' thoughts on the Rhythm of life - "a union of change and permanence". Our life here fits very much into this idea - teaching each school year with similar curriculum, same place, same events, but different people every year. It is the same, yet new.
Something to hold on to as I head into a landscape that looks very different for next school year.
It was a good chapel - a recognition of Grade 5 as they head up to Middle School after the summer holiday and a recognition of the goodbyes we face as the year draws to a close.
I do have to say, though, that I hate hearing "last" right now. I don't want to think of things being last, I am quite happy to go on pretending life is going to continue as normal : ( But it won't and I guess that is a good thing. While reading the Screwtape Letters, I appreciated C.S.Lewis' thoughts on the Rhythm of life - "a union of change and permanence". Our life here fits very much into this idea - teaching each school year with similar curriculum, same place, same events, but different people every year. It is the same, yet new.
Something to hold on to as I head into a landscape that looks very different for next school year.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
leaping lizards
I had to invigilate (or procter as we say here) an IGCSE Geography exam this morning so I missed the first part of preschool but we had a circus theme as it was our last one for the year. One of the other teachers asked if I was sad when it was finished. I said, "No". It's been a great year but I'm happy to be done. I'm ready to move on. And I have to go and help every so often as part of my parental responsibilities anyway.
We went down to the playground to do circus role play. We were sat around a yellow circle and Bev was reading a book and the kids could come into the circle and act out the circus act. They really enjoyed it and it was interesting to see the gender responses coming out. All the boys wanted to be tigers jumping through the hoops but they were not interested in joining the girls being prancing horses : )
One page said, 'And here are the leaping lizards'. (I think it sounds like a Batman phrase off that old 60s TV series. "Leaping lizards, Robin!") Josh turned to his friend and said, "What the heck are leaping lizards?" I looked at another mum and we cracked up.
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
surprises
I had a lovely surprise this morning when I came downstairs and Rose got my usual morning drink of raspberry and cranberry juice drink all ready for me - complete with ice (did I mention how hot it is!) and in my usual glass. It was a lovely treat.
Rose had to have today off school because she was coughing so badly yesterday that I had to go to school to get her early - except that we didn't leave school as I was driving the carpool in the afternoon.
Last night we held a surprise despedida for Bonnie and Kate. It was fun and sad - in a good, healthy way. It was a good opportunity to reflect on their 3 years here and honour the different ways they have enriched my life.
Rose had to have today off school because she was coughing so badly yesterday that I had to go to school to get her early - except that we didn't leave school as I was driving the carpool in the afternoon.
Last night we held a surprise despedida for Bonnie and Kate. It was fun and sad - in a good, healthy way. It was a good opportunity to reflect on their 3 years here and honour the different ways they have enriched my life.
Sunday, 23 May 2010
boundaries
At lunch I asked Joshua to stop pushing the sauce bottles around the table and told him that he would not get to watch a film this afternoon if one ended up on the floor. He promptly moved them all to the edge of the table and even pushed one off but caught it and said, "it didn't touch the floor!" Hmm, note to self - be more specific with the boundaries!
Friday, 21 May 2010
Patience
We are all sleeping badly. Naomi has been a grump for most of the week, partly because she has a cold - which I am sure comes from the fan blowing on sweaty bodies - partly because the heat is not conducive to a restful night's sleep!
It was Grade 2's chapel today, which was a great culmination to the year, looking back at the character traits explored through the year. It had some lovely, light, humorous touches. Their character trait was patience - something I have to exercise with the heat!
When we went swimming today the big pool was so warm that almost everybody there (and there were quite a few families there) was in the small, kids' pool because it was marginally cooler, and it has a roof for shade. It was pretty funny to see everyone crammed in the small pool. However, whatever temperature it is, the pool is an amazing blessing to our family.
It was Grade 2's chapel today, which was a great culmination to the year, looking back at the character traits explored through the year. It had some lovely, light, humorous touches. Their character trait was patience - something I have to exercise with the heat!
When we went swimming today the big pool was so warm that almost everybody there (and there were quite a few families there) was in the small, kids' pool because it was marginally cooler, and it has a roof for shade. It was pretty funny to see everyone crammed in the small pool. However, whatever temperature it is, the pool is an amazing blessing to our family.
Thursday, 20 May 2010
It was my last "training" day for the IGCSE co-ordinator job. So, theoretically I should know it all now, right?! We'll see. One of the perks of the job is my own little office - actually I might be overseeing a move to a bigger office during the year, so that could be interesting.
I put on a new pair of shorts I had bought yesterday and Naomi asked me "Are those swim shorts?"
Debs: No. They're new shorts I bought yesterday. Do you like them?
Naomi: No, they're black and that's not my favourite colour!
I put on a new pair of shorts I had bought yesterday and Naomi asked me "Are those swim shorts?"
Debs: No. They're new shorts I bought yesterday. Do you like them?
Naomi: No, they're black and that's not my favourite colour!
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Hot, hot, hot!
I took Joshua and Naomi and two of their friends to the play place at Taytay this morning. It was so good to be in air-con for a couple of hours. We arrived a little bit earlier than I anticipated so we went into Starbucks so I could buy a drink but we ended up waiting outside as the 4 children decided tag would be a good game to play inside and I did not agree for the sake of the other customers!
I mooched around the shops for a bit while they played then sat and read my book for the rest of the time. Then I took them to Jollibee for chips and a drink (I was in no rush to go home to the warm fans!). The TV in there said it was 33C but with the heat index it was the equivalent of 39C!
This hot season has been long and there is no sign of it breaking yet!
I mooched around the shops for a bit while they played then sat and read my book for the rest of the time. Then I took them to Jollibee for chips and a drink (I was in no rush to go home to the warm fans!). The TV in there said it was 33C but with the heat index it was the equivalent of 39C!
This hot season has been long and there is no sign of it breaking yet!
Monday, 17 May 2010
And another!
We held Rose's birthday party this afternoon after school. It seems so early compared to when her birthday is. One of the kids in our car pool told her she should have it in August as it's closer, but I explained that would mean some of her friends wouldn't be at it because they would have left.
She wanted a solar system cake. The first one I baked all piled up at one end of the tin because I hadn't noticed the incline of the shelf - or more likely, the shelf got knocked part way through. We do not have the most reliable cooker!
The next cake broke in half as I lifted it out and the other one burnt on the bottom, but I figured (once I'd got over being mad) it was only going to be cut anyway so it didn't matter and I trimmed the burnt one. Rose wanted to do swimming, pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey. We managed the first two! She told us it was her best party so far : ) I do have to say, she is fairly easily pleased.
Josh and Naomi were little stars. Josh took upon himself to blow up all the balloons and just brought them to me to be tied (while I was trying to ice cakes!). And then he and Naomi filled all the party bags for me. They put things in the car as they were ready so it didn't take so long. Then they decided they were very tired and they had to rest while I finished getting everything ready. They were so helpful.
She wanted a solar system cake. The first one I baked all piled up at one end of the tin because I hadn't noticed the incline of the shelf - or more likely, the shelf got knocked part way through. We do not have the most reliable cooker!
The next cake broke in half as I lifted it out and the other one burnt on the bottom, but I figured (once I'd got over being mad) it was only going to be cut anyway so it didn't matter and I trimmed the burnt one. Rose wanted to do swimming, pass the parcel and pin the tail on the donkey. We managed the first two! She told us it was her best party so far : ) I do have to say, she is fairly easily pleased.
Josh and Naomi were little stars. Josh took upon himself to blow up all the balloons and just brought them to me to be tied (while I was trying to ice cakes!). And then he and Naomi filled all the party bags for me. They put things in the car as they were ready so it didn't take so long. Then they decided they were very tired and they had to rest while I finished getting everything ready. They were so helpful.
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Preschool Potluck
Another evening, another event!
Tonight we had a preschool potluck (bring and share) meal at the playground to celebrate the year, let the kids play together and allow the families to mix a bit. It was, thankfully, low key. The kids did sing "king of the Jungle" and "Little Green Frog" (two of their favourite songs). The parents had organised a collection for Melissa and I which was lovely and unexpected. So, Steve and I get a free dinner one night when we can squeeze it in!! I guess that will be in the summer holiday.
Tonight we had a preschool potluck (bring and share) meal at the playground to celebrate the year, let the kids play together and allow the families to mix a bit. It was, thankfully, low key. The kids did sing "king of the Jungle" and "Little Green Frog" (two of their favourite songs). The parents had organised a collection for Melissa and I which was lovely and unexpected. So, Steve and I get a free dinner one night when we can squeeze it in!! I guess that will be in the summer holiday.
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Staff Banquet
Tonight was our end of year staff meal. It had a cowboy theme,which was fun and made the perfect excuse to finish with some square dancing (and, of course, Steve managed to squeeze in 2 line dances too!).
Steve also had a presentation of a 5 year award to one of the Elementary teachers and he did it through one of the puppets the teacher uses. It was a creative way to hand out the award.
It was a hard day, emotionally, for me as it was an official demarcation of "the end". Only 2 and a half weeks left till school is done and friends have gone.
But the dancing was a good way to finish the evening on a high.
Steve also had a presentation of a 5 year award to one of the Elementary teachers and he did it through one of the puppets the teacher uses. It was a creative way to hand out the award.
It was a hard day, emotionally, for me as it was an official demarcation of "the end". Only 2 and a half weeks left till school is done and friends have gone.
But the dancing was a good way to finish the evening on a high.
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Thank-you
We have a very cool tradition at Faith Academy to give teachers "thank-you" days. This is a day they can take off to do whatever they like. Bonnie took one today and I got to enjoy it with her! She came over for breakfast, I packed Naomi and Joshua off to preschool and we went off to begin a bargain bookshop "crawl". We bought lots of cheap books between us (although most of the fun was just in browsing) and made time for lunch and frozen yoghurt too : ) It was a very fun day. Thank-you, Bonnie!
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
This morning - when it was already 33C inside - the electricity went off. I did wonder for a while if being without a fan was almost preferable to having the fan on and blowing warm air but I think the fan does still win out! Thankfully, it was hot enough to make the cold water bearable (yes, I am very nesh when it comes to cold showers, even in the heat) although I couldn't bring myself to wash my hair in the cold water.
It did finally come back on, 10 minutes before I was due to leave the house! Still, I was thankful as I didn't want a fridge and freezer full of spoiled food. I had to go up to the hospital to obtain a medical certificate for our insurance claim. It took me over an hour and a half, plus phone call from our broker to the records office to get it done. I had an inkling I might be there for a while so I did take my newspaper, but I think I've mentioned before that bureaucracy is a bit of an art form here.
As it had taken me so long I decided to leave shopping until after going home for lunch. There are crews of workers tidying up the multitude of election posters stuck everywhere. One guy was taking down a set that had been strung across the road and had reached the middle of the road as I was bowling along (it is not unusual for people to be in the middle of the road while cars are passing) and my roof-rack caught the string the posters were hanging off so I ended up with a tail of Congressman Robbie Puno posters hanging from my car. When I stopped at the traffic lights the car behind rolled onto the end of the tail and snapped a few off for me. Lots of pedestrians helpfully pointed it out to me (like I wasn't aware of it!) but I was pretty embarrassed so I waited till I reached the supermarket to remove them.
All in all, a culturally eventful day!
It did finally come back on, 10 minutes before I was due to leave the house! Still, I was thankful as I didn't want a fridge and freezer full of spoiled food. I had to go up to the hospital to obtain a medical certificate for our insurance claim. It took me over an hour and a half, plus phone call from our broker to the records office to get it done. I had an inkling I might be there for a while so I did take my newspaper, but I think I've mentioned before that bureaucracy is a bit of an art form here.
As it had taken me so long I decided to leave shopping until after going home for lunch. There are crews of workers tidying up the multitude of election posters stuck everywhere. One guy was taking down a set that had been strung across the road and had reached the middle of the road as I was bowling along (it is not unusual for people to be in the middle of the road while cars are passing) and my roof-rack caught the string the posters were hanging off so I ended up with a tail of Congressman Robbie Puno posters hanging from my car. When I stopped at the traffic lights the car behind rolled onto the end of the tail and snapped a few off for me. Lots of pedestrians helpfully pointed it out to me (like I wasn't aware of it!) but I was pretty embarrassed so I waited till I reached the supermarket to remove them.
All in all, a culturally eventful day!
Monday, 10 May 2010
Potato soup
Classic moment at dinner:
Rose: Ugh, what's that?
Debs: Potato soup
Rose: I hate that. I don't want it.
Debs: How can you hate it? You haven't had it before.
Rose: Yes, you've made it before.
I deny this but actually Rose was sort of right. I have made a potato soup before but not this one. I made up the recipe myself.
Rose takes a spoonful.
Rose: This is good. I love it!!
I did wonder why I was making it this afternoon as I was melting in our kitchen at 34+ C. But Rose was right - it was good!
Rose: Ugh, what's that?
Debs: Potato soup
Rose: I hate that. I don't want it.
Debs: How can you hate it? You haven't had it before.
Rose: Yes, you've made it before.
I deny this but actually Rose was sort of right. I have made a potato soup before but not this one. I made up the recipe myself.
Rose takes a spoonful.
Rose: This is good. I love it!!
I did wonder why I was making it this afternoon as I was melting in our kitchen at 34+ C. But Rose was right - it was good!
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Mother's Day
Other than the fact that our kids didn't sleep long enough this morning - considering the lateness we got to bed last night (although they did sleep a bit in the car), I had a lovely wake-up call. Joshua came to me with a Mother's Day card he had made at pre-school and a small present he had wrapped for me which turned out to be 2 shells from yesterday. It made my heart smile. Then when I went down Rose gave me a card she had made in art (apparently it was rocky beach) and Naomi gave me the card she had made in pre-school. It truly made my day. It is the first Mother's Day they have really noticed for themselves. In fact, after Church I ended up with more cards than all the other Mother's Days that I have been a mum!
I ended up with freebies from Church, the supermarket and the fast food place we ate at. How hilarious - especially considering most of it was tat and I could have lived without them!
This afternoon we had our mission despedida (farewell). There are a few families leaving. Wendy gave me this cool idea to use stones to build memorials based on Joshua 4. It was a great idea and worked really well.
I want this blog to kind of be a memorial today, too. Firstly, to my own mum, who is a wonderful woman and has given sacrificially for me and my brothers. Being a mum myself has made me realise how much we do for our kids that is "behind the scenes", that they may never realise. My mum has done that for me. She made our home secure, stable and full of laughter and acceptance. And, secondly, my mum Taylor who has always treated me with love and warmth and has accepted me as part of her family.
Thank-you to two amazing women. You are great role-models for me.
I ended up with freebies from Church, the supermarket and the fast food place we ate at. How hilarious - especially considering most of it was tat and I could have lived without them!
This afternoon we had our mission despedida (farewell). There are a few families leaving. Wendy gave me this cool idea to use stones to build memorials based on Joshua 4. It was a great idea and worked really well.
I want this blog to kind of be a memorial today, too. Firstly, to my own mum, who is a wonderful woman and has given sacrificially for me and my brothers. Being a mum myself has made me realise how much we do for our kids that is "behind the scenes", that they may never realise. My mum has done that for me. She made our home secure, stable and full of laughter and acceptance. And, secondly, my mum Taylor who has always treated me with love and warmth and has accepted me as part of her family.
Thank-you to two amazing women. You are great role-models for me.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Diving
Today I got to go diving for the first time in almost a year. Kate recently got her certification as a diver so she and Bonnie and I went down to Batangas. Steve drove us as the kids wanted to come to "rocky beach" as well. It was a beautiful day and Kate and I had two great dives. They have recently sunk a banca off the beach we dive from and it was interesting to see how fast it is being colonised. Our second dive we saw the giant clams and spotted a large cuttlefish which was cool as it changed colour for us as it swam away.We had a great day but there was a lot of traffic on the roads (possibly because of the elections on Monday) and it took a long time to travel there and back so it made it a full day with diving, swimming, snorkelling and shell collecting. Plus I collected lots of little, flat stones for our mission despedida tomorrow.
Friday, 7 May 2010
UK Elections
I was surprised by how excited I was about the UK elections. Steve and I tried to register online to vote via the Embassy here but the system failed. However, it was fascinating to watch the results coming in. I thought I would know before my family back home who was going to be in power - as it was, of course, during our daytime that the coverage was taking place. What a surprise to realise none of us were going to know! It did frustrate me that people didn't get to vote who wanted to vote. That seems like something that would happen here not there. Just goes to show!
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Heading Home
I have been on Admin Council again this week. It honestly feels like I drop out of my "real" life for 3 days. I'm not sure why I noticed it more this time but I saw a lot of the poverty and consequences of the poverty while that side of the city. It reminded me that there is more than my narrow view of life, that I see on a day to day basis.
When getting a taxi home the first taxi told me he didn't want to take me because he was only allowed to operate till 7 p.m. - it was only 5!! It can take a long time but I was pretty sure it wasn't going to take that long. The second driver wanted a bit extra than the metre and I wasn't about to argue as I wanted to get home! It was a very rattly car and the radio was broken - not a good thing for a Filipino so the sweet driver tried to make conversation with me but as I drive home I kind of shed my council skin and relax more and so I feel more tired the closer I get to home. (Those three days are intense!) So I am not sure I was the greatest conversationalist! But the funniest comment was as we came up the road in our subdivison and he asked if the road sloped up much more (it is a bare incline) as he wasn't sure his car would take it!! I think he was right but I assured him our road did not go any higher.
When getting a taxi home the first taxi told me he didn't want to take me because he was only allowed to operate till 7 p.m. - it was only 5!! It can take a long time but I was pretty sure it wasn't going to take that long. The second driver wanted a bit extra than the metre and I wasn't about to argue as I wanted to get home! It was a very rattly car and the radio was broken - not a good thing for a Filipino so the sweet driver tried to make conversation with me but as I drive home I kind of shed my council skin and relax more and so I feel more tired the closer I get to home. (Those three days are intense!) So I am not sure I was the greatest conversationalist! But the funniest comment was as we came up the road in our subdivison and he asked if the road sloped up much more (it is a bare incline) as he wasn't sure his car would take it!! I think he was right but I assured him our road did not go any higher.
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