Tag: students

Could I borrow your lawnmower? – 28th January 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

If I had a dream book what would I write today? As I work out sometimes my dream will pop back up but sitting here thinking about it – I got nothing. Let’s see.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for the connection I can make with some animals. Sometimes I look at them and think how strange it is that we live with an animal in our house.

Time felt strange today. I finished some things well ahead of when I expected, got everything done that I needed and classes disappeared very quickly. I spent most of the day wondering what I had forgotten.

The best part of the day was realising that some students just want to talk with me – about everything. I hope I can continue to give them that feeling of openness and that they will not shy away from trying to speak with others in the future. It’s a long shot but I must live in hope.

I’m just a lonely egg, peel me down, I’m not afraid – 25th January 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Sore gums – why? Dentist again.

Week off morning routine – get back into it. Heavy breathing – work, tired body. Looking good – but not where I want to be yet. Turn fat into muscle. Little by little – as I taught the kids.

Sleep easy – alarm surprised. What dreams – I don’t know.

Today today today – easy day, so fill it. Get ready for Ellen’s students again. Have no desire to do it – so I will do it – push through. But do it well. I know the hardest step is just starting again – and I’m not afraid.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for my full free day yesterday. I enjoyed it so much. Running around the garden with Baimon, listening to Alice Donut whilst looking through old photos, writing in my journal, reading comics and playing Xbox. Lazy and fun day which has made me feel very happy.

I pulled myself out of bed and forced myself back into my morning routine, including 10 burpees, which I was contemplating skipping. I also had time to write morning pages though they still couldn’t quiet my brain during meditation. Maybe tomorrow I will switch back to sitting up to meditate.

The result of this effort was a day of weird happiness and joy that I couldn’t help feeling. So, the best thing that happened?

On several occasions when I was communicating with students I felt a better understanding despite difficulties in verbal communication – a more common bond – it made me feel good.

I did a sketch of House and will try to do some more. I read some Dostoevsky which was very meaningful and marked certain parts – something I’ve always forgotten to do before! I’ve bounced back from my cold – and now Amy has it instead.

I also did a quick video call with a new student that I will start teaching online tomorrow.

We got that attitude! – 14th January 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for the heating in my car this morning. I didn’t even know that it could warm the car I just thought it was for cooling.

The best thing that happened today was watching one of my classes just get on with doing some work without much complaint. I was spellbound for a few minutes. I only had to tell them once and they got on with it. The feeling didn’t last for long but I certainly enjoyed it.

We got that attitude! – 13th January 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for my nice pen and writing books. They encourage me to write down my thoughts.

The best thing that happened today was helping out in JJ’s classroom and helping Irene with her work. She’s a smart girl but will leave the school at the end of this semester to go to an engineering school because her family has a building business.

She told me she is the firstborn so she has to take over the business. I think that she is capable. It made me happy to help her and some others in that class.

There’s nothing that you stole from me that I didn’t give up willingly – 6th January 2021

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

My head is already at school and I’m not in the now. Bring it back. My body is in the morning routine and I need to have my head in it too. Practice – pay attention to that meditation.

Onwards to the shower and the rest of the day. Body feels good.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful that I remember to keep a book in my car so that if I forget my headphones and can’t study in the morning at least I can read a book. Dostoyevsky this morning!

The best thing that happened to me today was putting together some lesson plans that I hope will go well for next year’s classes. I also met a lot of the Primary students this morning and they all still seem to really like me. That made me happy.

I have nearly finished level 4 of Yousician – I’m doing it very badly but once I’ve passed I will go back and practice more. I think I will be on level 4 for a while before I can advance any further. I’m still enjoying playing guitar though.

The Chiang Rai Alternative Hour #70 – Dead End – 27th December 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Shut Down! Dead! Run out of town!  Sheltering over the border, we bring this one last episode before fleeing the despots.  One day we’ll be back!  Look out for DJ Donut Trump – he’ll bring you the future of rock ‘n’ roll.

This week there’s all sorts of music – weird, noisy, experimental, fucked up strangeness, straight-up punk and pop all delivered with no compromise.  Join our other 3 listeners to check out the end!

Incidentals taken from the Church of the Sub Genius Hour of Slack.

Listen right here or Mixcloud, Stitcher, Apple, Amazon…..all those cool places I guess.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Chiang-Rai-Alternative-Hour-107307097314670/

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful for all the students I have met since I started teaching. I have learned something from all of them.

We got that attitude! – 22nd December 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

I am so happy and grateful for my alarm to wake me up every day. I would be out of whack without it.

A reasonable day at work though not so much with my own students. My class is lazy, forgetful and undisciplined. I’m struggling to get them into line sometimes. I just have to find better ways to engage them – maybe vary their lessons a little bit.

I’m listening to a CD for the first time in ages as I’m writing this. Feels good to try and enjoy a whole album in one sitting for a change.

As usual, it doesn’t feel particularly Christmas-y though we do have a tree on our terrace with flashing lights. It’s cool. I think we should just have flashing lights all the time.

I’m looking at my bookshelf and happily overwhelmed with options of books to read. It seems that I only read 32 books last year which is fine but when I look at my bookshelf it seems like it will take me many years to get through what I own. I think my collector personality has moved onto books. I would love more time to sit and read. Read a good book.

Something nice that happened today was that I went to primary to talk to Chompoo about next semester and as soon as she saw me she smiled and held out her arms for a hug. I felt very grateful to have had at least some impact on these children’s lives. I asked her if she would rather work hard and learn more or take it easy and relax (not specifically about school) and I was so happy she chose to work hard – even if she didn’t mean it – it means she’s smart.

I certainly hope next year’s classes are less taxing than this year’s! All the kids make me laugh in one way or another and there are none that I don’t like – even if I sometimes don’t like their behaviour.

Your house is falling down (The Chiang Rai Alternative Hour #67 – Frightened and Scared) – 4th December 2020

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

This one is not a morning scribble but at night and I want to get some thoughts out before I try to meditate which I didn’t do for a few weeks and I can feel my head whirling, whirling.

Step out, step out! Nothing lasts forever. Step out, step out – demolition – look at it fall down.

Distraction. Music is a distraction and I love it. I love my room – my room from youth and now I return – here in my room. No window, ceiling or floor!

Music, music, music. People in and out. Relationships, people – why do I find it so difficult?

Never mind, I think I’m okay. I’m fine I don’t need to find excuses. Inside my head is okay – when I’m feeling okay – I don’t need anything or anyone – except my one true friend. I love Amy very deeply I’m a little scared if anything happens between us but I know I’ll be okay. Everything is always okay. The world spins. And all those cliches. But anyway – it’s not something I think about really – not something likely to happen as far as I know. Out, out, out, you fleeting thoughts – settle down and breathe deep.

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to each of my students for the different ways they make me think. It’s a nice challenge to everything.

Imagine a world where children are not sexually harassed by their teachers…

Now listen…..

This week there’s music from The Nubs, The Sawtooth Grin, Jesus Lizard, Theatre of Hate, Spermicide, Gelbart, Abali, Esmectatons, Radio Myanmar, Big Black, Secret Chiefs 3, Miss Madeline, George Danquah, Karate and OMFO.

Incidentals taken from the Church of the Sub Genius Hour of Slack.
Listen right here or Podbean, Stitcher, Apple, Amazon…..all those cool places I guess.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Chiang-Rai-Alternative-Hour-107307097314670/ (the Facebook page got hijacked!)