Start of 夏休み！！(An ode to my form teacher of 3.5 months and saying goodbye...)

Yeah! Today is the start of Summer Vacation!

Exams ended after 3 days of squeezing every ounce of gray matter out of our brains from 19th to 21st July.. it has been a looooong time since i had an oral examination.. ha! Good old oral, makes me think of my secondary school life.

On a sadder note, this exam also means the end of our elementary class; we will be reshuffled to different classes according to our exam results and we are also saying sayonara to 小笠原　先生, my super patient, super prudent, super good teacher who is the only one capable of explaining any Japanese grammar query under the sun using super comprehensible words (ie: plain Japanese that not-so-advanced students like me can understand.)

Ogasawara-sensei is also the form teacher of Class #11, my class and she helped me out with my health insurance and she always blushes when we try to take pictures with her. She is very serious about teaching (in fact about anything) and she goes out of the way for each and everyone of us: she stayed back till 7pm for remedial classes with my friend who was on MC for 2 weeks; she personalised our retests with different questions that we did wrongly in the tests; she wrote out quizzes with questions that most of us couldn`t do in our homework.. the list goes on... she is really the most responsible and best teacher i ever had! Everyone shares my sentiments.. all of us were sad when we found out that Ogasawara sensei would not be following us to the intermediate class.

See if you can spot Ogasawara sensei, who is painfully shy and hiding in the midst of us. Going to really miss her. In fact, it was kinda weird to go to school without seeing her with her stack of staff and in-control voice that is so smoothing to the nerves.

Taking a class photo in classroom #11 on the last day of school before exams. 18th July. Thank God for this class.. i love my teacher and classmates!

Had to erase the cute Chloe that Xinyi drew on my desk because of examinations, this drawing had been staring at me for a long time.. everyday it is with me as i listened and took notes in class....

The view from my desk.. that i am going to miss so much.... (yes i am emotional..)

This is 松岡　先生 (Matsuoka sensei) who was previously mentioned. He is really comical and likes to tease some of my classmates but he is pretty serious when we ask him about grammar stuff. He even left his email address and told us to email him if we are stuck with any questions from the National Exams that we have to take in November this year. He likes to go `Oooosh` and that is why we are posed- raring to go! Ha! He brings much fun and lightheartedness after Ogasawara sensei`s serious classes.

Of course I wouldn`t miss the chance to take a very last photo with my favourite Mr Ooosh! Xinyi is my smokescreen. haha!

Memories of classroom #11:

1) Giving a speech (in Japanese for the first time!!) in 小笠原　先生`s class - 24th June 06

Prattering on about Chingay parade when i actually know nuts about it.. we were supposed to introduce something special about our own country. Quite proud of myself for being able to write out a 500words script though.

Had to write out a list of vocabulary on the board cos have to explain about floats and all..

Answering questions from the floor (nervous smile....)

2) June`s visit to my school (looking forward to her coming at 12pm everyday!) - 19th June 06

Lunch with my usual lunch gang!

Graduating to intermediate Japanese textbook. ha!

Goodbyes to my elementary class teachers:

1) 草刈先生　（Ｋｕｓａｋａｒｉ　ｓｅｎｓｅｉ）

My conversation class teacher... kind gentle lady who speaks very good English, bakes cakes for us, very motherly. There she is in the centre of the photo, propped up with 2 hands, so ladylike!

2) 岩井先生　（Ｉｗａｉ　ｓｅｎｓｅｉ）

My afternoon class (ie: non-grad school class) teacher, who is very young and friendly, only 28 years old! She is doing her Doctors now, really sweet and easygoing. Took photo with her today cos it will be the last time we have this non-grad school class. Turnout was pretty bad cos everyone already went off for summer vacation. ha!

In a flash...time flies when you are having fun!

This is the calendar filled with my scribblings of revision schedule (of course i fell behind schedule in th end.. me and Xinyi took too many `breaks` *ahem*) We dreaded the exams, 5000 Kanji to memorise, endless grammar to remember.. but we knew we had to overcome that to get to start of Natsuyasumi (Summer vacation) Fireworks on 29th July! Yeah!

The door i stare at everyday...God`s promises, my horse riding in Tokyo, my countdown calendar... I am coming home... *sings Michael Buble`s "I wanna go home"*

Now i am counting down to 31st! 5 more days...... Singapore, wait for me!

The story of Jonah (the guy who TRIED to run away)

Was surfing the web and came across this website by this guy named Paul. It is really interesting. He has lots of bible stories, prayers and psalms, written in kiddie style. Way cool!



Do read the story of Jonah at http://www.essex1.com/people/paul/bible37.html
I can totally identify with Jonah cos that was how I felt when I was supposed to go on my first mission trip to Tokyo for Magic of Love last September. `I think i should run away! I am little and can`t contribute much.. nobody`s going to miss me if i just chicken out at the last minute!`

But God knows. He is always in control. He is faithful even when I am unfaithful.

That mission trip turned out to be a life-changing one. I learnt so much about myself, about God and what He can do to people who try to run away... God was gentle with me, ha, He knew I am a softie despite the big ego and all.

Well, to cut the story short, the Jonah who tried to run away, is now giving thanks to God for the chance to be a student again and to learn from the Japanese people in Tokyo. She knows she does not have to worry for it is not by strength, not by might, but by the spirit of the Lord.

It is all about willingness! *smile*

Personality test (I like! i like!)

Another one of those countless personality tests swarming the internet.. pretty fun! Take the test at http://personality.swirve.com/

On the Swirve Personality Test, I am a Counselor. My Characteristics Chart: Extroverted Introverted Sensitive Intuitive Judgemental Perceptive Thinker Feeler Read more about Counselors or take the Test yourself!

My result is that i am a counselor!

Counselors are both rare and unique. You have a deep understanding of others and can read people as well as anyone. Sometimes, you're not even sure how you do it. You're almost psychic! Your ability to understand what others are going through makes you a trusted friend and the person that people love to confide in when things aren't well. Your friends consider you a very important part of their lives. While others are more than willing to open up to you, you're not quite so outgoing about your own life, and oftentimes, you may not even want to hear about others'.

You are an incredibly emotional person -- Counselors are maybe the most emotional of the bunch -- and hearing about others in pain causes you pain. For that reason, you can at times shy away from contact and interaction to maintain your own stability. When at your best, you can make a huge impact in people's lives by supporting them through tough times. You also tend to be influential with your friends because of perceived depth of your understanding of others. If you're in need of money, feel free to use your near-psychic abilities to start a 1-800 Psychic Hotline.

Possible Careers: Therapist, Tutor

Another analysis: You are quietly forceful, original, and sensitive. You tend to stick to things until they are done. You are extremely perceptive about people, and you care a great deal for those around you. You have a well-developed value system which you follow very strictly. People value your perseverence in always doing the right thing. You prefer to be an individual, rather than a leader or follower.

Pony ponders: hmm, some parts are accurate, i can cry like mad at movies (emotional?), but i don`t think i can read people well.. people have told me that i need to be more sensitive ha! Erm am ranking a little on the high side on judgmental looks.. hee... *guilty*