Tag: Sugus

Straying – 24th May 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 3 Comments
Pic: Jon Tyson

Cat wild
On the wall
One eye open
Preying
An ear to the wind
Poised and small
A sniff to the spraying

Fight or flight?
Movement slight
Straying
Back arched tall
Hissing
Saying

Get out of town
Or chased on down
Rolled up into a ball
No longer playing

Picture prompt for WDYS # 239

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good considering that I was dead to the world until my alarm went off this morning.  Managed some exercise and a 5-minute (what could possibly be described as a) meditation.

Today I’m grateful for:

Finding that Sydney Swans played yesterday against the Bulldogs and so I watched the Mini Match and happy to report that we pulled through for another win.  The Swans are currently well clear at the top but there’s still a ways to go.

I’m still annoyed that I can’t watch the full matches, especially this year, as we’re doing so well!

The best thing about today was:

In my final class of the day with my grade 8s I have what you might call another ‘rogue’ student.  She, Sugus, is a friend of Aida’s and has been coming to my class occasionally since last year but now she seems to come all the time.

She’s a quiet kid and doesn’t cause any problems for me but I told her that if she wants to stay then she has to do some work, to which she agreed.

Today’s class is an easy reading class and I asked Sugus to come and read for me and she did very well, better than some of my actual students!

So I talked with her some more about why she doesn’t go to her own class and if the teacher isn’t concerned about her.  She couldn’t quite describe why she doesn’t go except that she feels bad when she does.

I’m a bit suspicious that something untoward might have happened but I didn’t push it.

Anyway, I told her that she was welcome to stay in my class and she thanked me and said that my class is fun for her.  I was quite pleased about that.

It’s weird really.  There’s no pressure on her to perform and there’s no pressure on me to teach her.  With us both relaxed about it I think she will learn a lot!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

For my second class today, with the Hospitality grade 11s I suddenly found 12 extra students!  Without telling me, and without anyone telling them why they have put two different programs together so I’m now teaching students in the Japanese program too.  So much for my plans for this semester!  I guess I’ll jag everything in somehow.

Something I learned today?

Chatting with David he told me that George complained to Nancy that he doesn’t want to teach the new Integrated Program to the grade 10s and so, magically, he no longer is.  Now he only teaches grade 11 and 12.  What a princess!  

Last year he refused to teach grade 9 and now refuses grade 10.  Maybe time is running out for him.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

This evening I’m still helping my grade 11 students with their presentation homework and replying to their messages.

Did you do something difficult or challenging today?

As I think about it, much of the day was challenging (as described above) but somehow I seemed to take it in my stride.

Tonaor took this picture because as she likes to do sometimes when she sees me she says ‘selfie!’ and so I hand her my phone.

Colourblind – 5th February 2024

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ 2 Comments

Every green was brown in his eyes
The trees and grass a blur
Every blue was grey to him
It’s smell he did prefer

The world robbed of its style
Trudging through soviet design
Marvelling at the taste of pink
“Oh this synaesthete life of mine”

 Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge Green

Today I’m feeling:

Pretty good knowing that I have no classes this week though can expect a little boredom as I have to spend time hanging out with the primary kids doing Scout stuff. 

The kids are fine but the waiting around with nothing to do is a bit annoying.

Today I’m grateful for:

Being able to sneak away for coffee and writing after a couple of hours with the scout boys.

The best thing about today was:

Finding out who the girl was in the picture that I took 4 years ago that I thought was Funfai but was a younger student called Sugus.  I found her today when I was helping in the primary department and I showed her the picture and she gave a huge smile and said she remembered that time we took the picture together. 

On top of that, about a year ago I saw a primary school student I recognised in the back lanes of our village and as I rode by on my motorbike I waved and she waved back.  That was Sugus!

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Last night I badly hurt my foot on the gate as I was closing it.  I cleaned up the wound and it stung like crazy and I hoped that it would be ok in the morning.  Unfortunately it wasn’t. 

It’s ok to put pressure on the toes but not so much on the whole of my foot which is what I’m doing when standing or walking.  It feels very tender and sore underneath the cut. 

How am I handling it? Grin and bear it.

Something I learned today?

Teacher David is partially colourblind, or very good at pulling my leg.

Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10

I got two free bottles of water at the garage when I filled up the car this morning and so gave them to the gardener at school who tends the premises, making everything look nice, whilst spending lots of time out in the sun.

What am I thinking about right now?

The pain in my foot which is bruising up now. It’s very tender around the wound though it got easier to walk on throughout the day.

I took this picture because these tiny red berries stood out in the garden at House this morning.

And see how his face glows – 26th December 2019

~ shaun tenzenmen ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday I was completely lifted by having three good fun lessons which the students and I all enjoyed. Then I went to visit CRPAO again.

The feeling there is still not good (for me, anyway) but my old classes were very happy to see me and I was surprised at Simone’s students who smothered me in hugs and were very affectionate. I made a point to see Funfai – she’s so cute! She said she misses me and it was very lovely. I felt very much appreciated after that.

27th Dec 2023 – I just last week found out that this wasn’t Funfai at all but another student (Funfai and Lydia thought is called) Sugus.

I was still tired when I got home but felt more invigorated. Today is my easy day so everything has come back together nicely. I’m glad I didn’t let that glum feeling get me down at the beginning of the week

Gratitude Journal

I am so happy and grateful to have met the students at CRPAO and was very surprised at the reaction of Simone’s kids, they jumped on me and pulled me to the ground they were so happy to see me.

To-do list

  • No complaints out of your mouth.
  • Finish week 15 lesson – have lots of time.
  • Compliment another teacher.
  • Positive feedback for students.
  • Study next Thai video and more Drops.
  • Think about when can record more TCRAH.
  • Consider what to talk with Hayden and how he is feeling.

Did it list

  • Wrote to-do list in the morning.
  • Deleted all games off phone.
  • Stayed calm all day.
  • Noticed when I complained and stopped myself.
  • Read three chapters of book.
  • Stayed calm when I found out we’d be staying at Rak’s house for dinner even though I had hoped to return home.
  • Even though got home late, went and watched Thai video. Also did Drops today.
  • Rang Hayden and tried to sound positive without being overbearing.
  • Finished week 15 lesson.
  • Told students it was their decision if they want to do homework.

After reading an article I instantly deleted all games off my phone. The article was simple and direct. ‘Don’t play games on your phone. You are an adult.’
I got a message from Bronwyn in the morning saying Hayden was upset by the messages I was sending him, trying to help him and to call for Christmas. This message made me a little mad – why doesn’t he just call me and so what if he’s upset. He should be upset and be motivated to improve his life. I wrote a note to myself to think about later – ‘things I like about Hayden.’ I tried to think about how he was feeling and called him in the afternoon. He sounded fairly upbeat and was talking about becoming a firefighter. I’d like that to happen.