Teachers vs. Students

I'm surprised to get an E-mail today from one of my students who is currently studying in UK. I remember he didn't like English and even hated the subject before I started teaching in his class, the reason I have an idea of who he was is that he was one of the "black sheep" in the whole college, but now his major is Journalism (Is there any connection between? I can't help wondering... But anyway, that's another story.) in one of the most famous universities in the world. I'm proud of him and his effort in the achievement after these years' hard-working. As far as I can recall, there is nothing special I did for him, I just simply gave him the equal respect and patience as for other students, and in his E-mail, he extended me the highest honor a teacher can possibly get. I was impressed and happy of course, but at the same time, I also realized how important a teacher's role is.

I never knew I influenced my students that much, but certainly I know how my teachers did to me. The most recent one failed to kill my desire of studying Finnish even though they tried so hard to make the language IMPOSSIBLE to learn. Finnish itself as a language is already difficult to get the hang of even for beginners, let alone to have such a "helpful" teacher to confuse us with errors here and there all the time, imagine what a headache and frustration it can be! Still, I attended their class regularly, and sat the exam finally not just because there were only less than half of the students left since the third lesson on three months ago. I'd say there are no bad students, only unqualified teachers.

The most important thing for being a teacher, in my personal opinion, is to put yourself into your students' shoes for a change, which applies to any other occupation associated with people. We have all been students once, did you like what your teachers did to you back then? If not, don't pass the bad on from generation to generation!

My "Sister"

I called mom today. Usually my "sister", who is actually a small dog that has been living with us for over 13 years and is considered as a VIP of the family, would answer it first-- When mom picks up the phone, all I can hear is the little dear barking very loudly, complaining mom hasn't cooked her anything special recently, or how she misses the ways I play with her, or when I shall be back home in order to make her life more exciting. I'm afraid she hates the fact that mom does the talking most of the time.

Mom told me they got the package I sent last week, and my "sister" was so happy about her gift as before-- a chew bone of her favorite brand. Mom said when she was trying to take off the cover of the bone, she noticed my "sister's" pupils were the biggest, glowing with desire and impatience. I knew what she was thinking at that moment, "Hurry up, I can unpack it, mom! Grrrrr Give it to me...NOW!!" The second she got it, she had already gone away to the balcony, jumped onto her own bed--the safest place ever in the world, and started to sniff, lick, bite and chew with a wide content smile on her face...

After 5 minutes or so, when she finished exploring every single bit of the bone, she paused and remembered that she saw something else along with her present, she'd jog back to the living room by ensuring HER chew bone is hidden safely first, and try to inspect the rest to see whether there is anything extra edible or playable in the package. Yeah, a greedy "sister".

When I was at home, I would tease her for a while before feeding her (as she is extremely picky in food, and it's been mom's headache to make her eat when she is not happy with what is given or just doesn't have the "mood" for anything since she seldom shows that much enthusiasm in food as most dogs do), she'd appreciate what she got afterwards because I let her believe that's what she won, and eat it quickly as her prize or bonus!

Each time I get back from trips, my lovely "sister" will choose to stay in my room for one or two nights just to show her care. In the morning, both of us like to sleep in as late as we can if time permits, but she will wake me up when she feels hungry by blowing hot air from her nose at the edge of my not-so-tall bed. (Those who have/had dogs must know you will get something ELSE occasionally with the air blown from their noses, but none of us really minds, do we?) So I will sit up staring at her, pretend to look annoyed by being woken up. She then chuckles, and runs away briskly with greatest joy to mom in the kitchen, wagging her fluffy tail, "Hey ma, I got that lazy-bone up, what do I get for lunch?" I guess I made a good start of her day...

Right now, however, I can only imagine by listening to what mom describes, just wish I could see everything and enjoy her company once again sometime soon!

Light

A ray of weak light comes through the darkness in a rainy day, and you can recognize it immediately because you know that is the light only lit for you no matter how late it is, and you are not alone on the road. It warms your heart even though it is so far away in distance.

When you start to take it for granted and not to appreciate it any longer as you believe it will be there forever, please don't forget that it can be also gone someday even though that is the least you can ever expect. Well, it is true that you can start a new journey to find other lights somewhere else, but it will never guide you the way the "weak" one did, the one you were used to, the one you once felt so comfortable with, the one that will never hurt your eyes.

So, where is YOUR light?

My Moments

While having a cup of coffee in a shopping mall, trying to relax myself and reviewing what has been happening lately, I heard an old song playing on the air. Strangely, everything changed back to when I was listening to it for the first time...

It was a summer afternoon, everyone was worn out and napping because of the hot days, but I was not. I jumped on my new bike and rode to the riverside to enjoy cool winds and the rare solitude. It was my time!

There were many oak trees along the river, so it was a perfect place to hide away from the burning sun. I put my bike away and sat down under one of the big trees. They were all my guards. The water in the river was not very clear, hence no one knows how deep it really is. And some people tried to throw rocks into it to test the depth, but all the stones were gone with a modest noise, so they told us it must be very deep, and we shouldn't try to play with the water in case we fall in and can't come back again.

I was gazing into the still water; occasionally it will smile at me since I saw its wrinkles-- Probably the pleasant wind makes me smile just as it does to the river in such a sweaty weather. Birds are chirping, gossiping what they have seen since this morning, and where to get delicious food. A small fish swum by and blew a bubble; I guess he said hi to me in Fi(nni)sh.

"Moi!" There comes my Finnish friend.

Who makes the choice?

I'm very well aware there are so many things waiting for me ahead, but I feel too lazy to even think about them. Why do I have those endless obligations to deal with everyday since grown up?! It was much easier and fun as a child, I just realized, unfortunately, I didn't cherish or know how to appreciate it fully at that time. Someone said, " Life can only be understood backwards, but it has to be lived forwards."

True, it HAS to be lived forwards. We are all rushing in our life, which is a one-way path, however, I want to explore whether there is a more free "path" on which I can make at least some other different lines or "routines"...

Do you wish your life is taken by a train, a ship or an airplane?