Paris Pics

Yes I know it's been awhile, but here are a few of my favourites taken in Paris. They're not in any particular order though I would really like to sort them according to date. Not figured out how to do that yet :p Anyway, have fun...

Why?

It was a sad and disappointing day yesterday for many of us at work. A colleague of mine had her iPod stolen from right out of her bag which she had left in the Teachers' Room during our rehersal. She's understandably upset and not really because of the item, but at the very thought that someone among us could actually stoop so low. Prior to this, we never thought twice about leaving our belongings unattended at our desks, and it was all down to the common trust and respect we had for each other and our belongings. Yes, we should be more careful and not tempt fate, but due to the small number of staff, we've always been like a great big family, and this incident has affected all of us pretty badly. It's like finding out your brother stole from you... just horrible. Sigh...

Occupation Hazards

Well what started out as a pretty easy week has taken a rather sour turn... sour as in half-digested milk; sour as in mucus and phlegm... Not mine mind you, but that of a little 2.9 yr-old boy who cried so desperately for his daddy when he was dropped off that he decided to punish the person who so lovingly (and patiently!!!) carried him into class. Despite putting on a clean T-shirt, I can still smell the remnants of his breakfast on my left shoulder. This isn't the first time it's happened, but I just thought I'd like to share an example of the 'dilemmas' I'm faced with at work.

I've had to deal with children who deemed it absolutely necessary to relinquish the control of their bladders at the worst time possible (i.e when I already have 2 of them bawling their eyes out and clinging on to me as though the sky's gonna drop); made to stand while a 2.6 year-old proudly displayed the products of his nasal exploration; not to mention the WWE rehersals they insist on putting on, complete with eye gouging, asphyxiation by lying on opponents face, head butting, swatting, etc... It can be a warzone in there... They're even worse after a birthday party! Which is why I've wised up and now keep the cake and candy feasts till the last half hour of class... let the parents deal with their hyperactive-sugar-high kids.

But every job has it's 'ugly' side... if you can live through those, the joy and satisfaction you receive just watching those precious little one grow and develop right in front of your eyes is amazing. The rewards are enormous and for that I wouldn't mind going home smelling of puke :P

I'm pleased to say that I have finally dug myself out of the rut I'd been in all this while and am willingly opening myself up to new endeavours and re-discovering all the little past times I'd forsaken. Among them are:

1. I'm in a children's Christmas performance which will be staged sometime in the last week of November - Thursday was the first rehersal and fitting! I'm so excited!

2. I've been personally invited to be a part of the theatre
prodcution of an adaptation of Eve Ensler's 'Vagina
Monologues'. - I've never read the book but am very
interested to see how I will interpret and play out my
role (if successful) :) This is targeted to open at the
end of next year.

3. I'm in the midst of planning my first ever backpacking
trip!!! And it's gonna be in Spain! I still don't have the
slightest clue as to how I'm gonna do this, considering
the fact that I'll be on an extremely tight budget and
it's gonna be freakin winter when I go! But it's something
for me to work towards.

4. I'm going for my first Rock-Climbing adventure coming Sat with a bunch of good friends. (No not the real thing, just a wall :p)

5. Thinking of taking my PADI license before the end of the year but it IS the monsoon season so it might not be such a great idea.

5. I treated myself to a HUGE (and expensive) Brazilian Churrascaria dinner last night at Carnivore... a very apt name considering the hunks of meat that the Pasadoras (I think that's what they're called) kept slicing into my plate... complete with two Caipirinhas. Oh it was heaven! How could I have neglected my fav past-time... eating!

6. Allowing myself to meet up with old friends and just have a good time. I'm ashamed to say that I'd been a scrooge eversince Jochen moved back to Germany. Been trying to save up for the trips I knew I'd be taking to go see him...

7. Lazy beach day again coming Sunday (really working on my tan.)

8. Barbecue the following Sunday (more eating!!!)

And THAT ladies and gentlemen is what I've been up to (or will be up to). I don't know how many of my future plans will actually work out but it doesn't really matter... I'm happy and I have lots to look forward to!