1Day Batam tour

Organised an 1 full day tour to Batam island for the 3rd year students. Actually it was meant for the students from p5 (those studying in school and just completed their exams). Then during the Krabi briefing, there were quite afew frpm pbp p6 ppl also interested and asked if they can join. I personnally feels that to allow students from both programs to mingle is excellent so i ask those who wanted to join to commit themselves fast n accepted the booking.

In the end a total of 30 students signed up from both sides plus Christof/Allen + wife + Sonny + myself...35 pax!! nice big group!! thanks for the support- fun seekers!!

Morning we need to set off by 9am and this is really a challenge for me. Bukit Timah / Clementi is rather jammy at that time. Then when the traffic is finally clear when I ram up the elevated road in West cost...only to realise i can see habourfront but no way to drop off...until I reach marina south!!

In the end we (Christof/myself) have a really good tour of the IR sites and finally rached n park at habour front at 8.45am....really close shave.

Good to see students has already arrived and happily chatting away. Boarded and sail to Batam without proble...but then YY have some difficulty clearing custom. Wasted 30mins to wait for the right time to settle the problem finally. Next time smile n be quiet n dun wear slipper n singlet when go batam ok?


1st stop : Go-cart!! Many tried and have fun...some are more dangerous than the others. Student S if you are reading this...you will be glad to know that u are no longer the most dangerous driver anymore, this semster, student PP dethrone you!! (See video attached).

As promised we do racing among afew good ones...only manage to overtake JL (he claimed his cart was super slow...I claim mine is the same too). YO!! JL- you still have not pose the agreed pose with me hor!!! The rest of the lucky 4 with faster cart (Landy/Aug/WS/YY) - they ride for free. :(

In the afternoon after a simple lunch we visit the watersports centre. There is cable ski / parasailing / banana boat and side activities like pool, mokey feeding and tooth pick poker available.

It also started drizzling too, so that put off many's slightest idea of joining the water sports. I did a round of rather slow banana boat. Also play some poker and win some tooth picks. wanted to try parasailing but we are rush for time so have to move on for 3rd item - Shopping!!

On the way to the shopping centre, we are offered to try the traditional Indo massage. Thought there should be afew takers...but in the end all opt for the massage instead of the macho 6 guys. Surprise to see so many want to realx rather to shop till drop.

It was the cheapest massage for sure...plus the most entertaining and noisiest!!! Many of the students are trying for the 1st time, and they can't hide their excitement along the open corridor and broadcast their every move to everybody in the whole floor.

“我脱了上面了，喂喂， 你脱到哪里了？？“
“我脱到下面， 喂喂， 你脱完了没有？？“
“EEEEEEEEEE...I dun want to be naked in front of stanger!!"
“喂喂，我包上面了，你包了没有？？“
“喂喂，你包上面还是下面？？“
“Hello hello...I here got wound, pain pain..AHHHH ...ouch!! ouch!!"
"hello, I here very sensitive...hahahahahha...very very itchy lah...ahhahahah"


and it goes on and on...wanted to pretend didn't listen also cannot.....
got live entertainment when massage actaully cannot complaint lah. where to find?

Then my insider just told me Student H make funny noises throughout the session....AH AH AH AH AH AH.....

Then also Student W refuse to take off clothing....I'll let u imagine what happen throughout the 90 mins...i think he plays charade w the massage girl.

In the end I guess It was a very fun and enjoyable outing. 8am-8am full day of outing together and there is various acttivities to make everyone involved and active. Only if the cart quality can be better...that will be really a perfect spot for regular visits.

Hope u have as much fun reading this entry as i am writing n recalling the fun myself. :)

10 days later...GT2009 4D3N KRABI!!!!

End of semester!!! OUTINGS!!!

After 19 weeks, the semester comes to an end and both the students and myself are all relieved it's finally all over. No more lab reports to hand in (for my case is to mark them), no more exams, no more presentation (review / rehearsal for me).

I use today as the best time to gather all othe active students who are joining my Krabi and Batam tours for $$$ collection and briefings. While waiting for afew students to finish thier final pbp presentation, I actually have time to train tp some students on playing the Settlers boardgame. So at least in this semester I manage to have 8 more student expose to the game. I hope the enjoyed the session and in the process....have lots of fun. :)

As per other previous batches, good friends scold each other during the game and nice timid girl utter shXX when frustrated when robbed or monopolised. hahaha this game really bring out the true character of many.

After settle the tour collection and chores, I initially intended to bring those interested bowlers for have some fun in Grassrool club nearby. Only then I was told the alley was close almost 2 years ago...I last bowl there with my PEM 0501 in their 1st year....wowo that shows that I have not bowl since 3 years ago!!

Anyway we then made a quick change of plan and proceed to the nearest allet - Yishun SAFRA club instead. My visit there so it's a new experience to see the club. Almoast change my mind togo for massage / air rifle/karaoke upon arriveing there and found out there are so much more things to do there.

Anyway we pair up and decide on the forfeit - bottom teams to buy drinks for the top pairs. My partner is the muscular Bruce Lee looking Tai from malaysia. (he forgot to take steriods on that day unfortunately). But just when I thought I am going to buy drinks, the other pairs also did not manage to do any better....

Just take a look at the score line and u can image how close the game is...in the last 2 fram I have to use the Law of attarcation to make the last 4 balls go into the drain. IT WORKS!!!! 73 vs 72 yowhoo!!!

Also another pleasant surprise of the day is the ladies pair actually topped the whole group!! This is totally beyond my imagineation really. At my times of youth ...I mean maybe 30 years ago....this is unthinkable. Maybe nowadys they play more computer bowling than actual bowling for fun.

But nevertheless I am sure we all have a good time...It's also nice to see students from both program join in and have outing together. It's not easy to plan and rare too.

After that we proceed to Changi sailing club as there is a BBQ / Chalet function organised by the students. Just as soon as the basic stuff are settled, the can't wait to start palying poker and this is the first time i have a chance to ask abit more details on Texas fold'em poker too. At least I learn a new game this session. :)

Term break is here!!! It's time to relax !!!! can't wait for next outing!!! next up : Tue 24 Feb : BATAM!!!

Yong - Tow - Hoo

It's Wk 19 of the semester and it's time for the program 6 3rd year students to come back to school and show us what they have gone through for the past 6 months of industrial attachment.

There seem to be a trend for the past couple of semester that we are spending more on more time with our attachment students on presentation preparations. I recalled that only few do rehearsals with thier LO iafew years ago...but now I guess students are abit more kiasu and many act actually doing rehearsal prior to the real day.

Never the less it is a good thing to do..so they are much much more prepared for the important 15 mins of the last semester.Only one student Q this year prevent me to sit in the presentaion, cos she says I will make her even more nervous.

I always have to remind the students to addresss the assesser's name properly. It's NOT mr Kevin / Mr Allen / Mr Ablert etcetc...if you cannot even mindfully address them correctly that is definitely a very poor start of the whole event.

This year, I have met the ultimate....

My attachment student S who are persenting to Albert / Tow soon and I also sit in to provide support. He seemed quite relax and he started off with the following opening:

"A very good morning to Mr Yong , Mr Tow and Mr Hoo....."

!#%^&&& ^&((&#@@ & what the...... since when we become YONG TOW HOO!!!

No prize to guess correctly...we all fell of our chairs.

Luckily he got my jacket to score abit better in dress code. If not.....

GHH Book prize 08S2 (refreshed)

It's time to reward the deserving students at the end of the semester again. As usual I choose 2 students from my SP module and they are : HS and XY.




XY is excellent in her lab / mindmaps and assignment. She opts for "Life". Whereas HS was the most consistant preformer in overall aspects in this module. He Opts for "Work" instead.


while choosing their book, ZX whispered "is there a book called rules of sex?" at the side....while judging from his facebook account picture actually I am not very surprise that such words come out from his mouth. So I would recommand the book "Rules of parenting" to him instead...I think he will need to practise it very soon.

As for the ISLP module - here are the 6 winners :-

HY - best in common test ...see also Meloday below

SM - most consistant in all aspects, and have to thank her for a good help in provide new question in CT in future too.

BL - Best lab reports. Slipped in CT but comeback strongly.

SY - Best in exam. She don't believe me...In the end have to force her to come back by telling her suspect cheating in exam. Come back for investigation!!

GX - Best in Viva - He worked hard for it!! But his bowling damn poor...but that is another story later...

Finally Melody - also v consisitant too!!! But she interested more in shopping than in Settlers!!

Congrats to all winners, you deserved the gift. This year all seem to like the Life book alot. No money face, no one choose the new Love book either. Glad that the secret teaching book was picked by miss Lim...as there is no so many obvious secret believers this semester. :)

Roller Coaster Rides for the past days

While the program 6 students are super busy preparing their final presentation and report...I am also going through the same path of roler coaster rides in life. Not for the PBP stuff..but for GT 2009 trip.

Here are the sequence of ups and downs I experienced :

GT 2009 final hotel hv free upgrade to 4* new hotel......YES YES YES!!
One student guardian called up to withdraw due to uncertainty in Thailand.....NO NO NO!!!
GT fully paid up and all system go. ....YES YES YES!!!
Son School holiday is actually now in Week march 14 and NOT in week Mar 8...NO NO NO!!!
Agent say can have free move by 1 week...YES YES YES!!!
then say 7 days is Sun to Sat , Not Sun to Sun....NO NO NO!!!
Afew Students say Ok with the shift YES YES YES!!!
Many says mar 14 is DnD night....cannot change date!!! Oh ya hor...NO NO NO!!!
Founf 5 in the list not going to DnD , n willingly agree to change date....YES YES YES!!!
Agent says Tiger airway dun allow change date 1 by 1...must be group by group....NO NO NO!!!
HQ reminded me the mail actually says CAN..not cannot.....so call to confirm....YES YES YES!!!
Agents says now can change date but not free...must pay penalty.....NO NO NO!!!!
Students insist going on 14 with me...price change ok....YES YES YES!!!
Land tour will have to change too...more penalty!!! NO NO NO!!!

finally going for Krabi...with afew hard core students....PRICELESS!!!


As of now...we just have to hold our breath and wait till next monday to see if we manage to secure the change tickets and know the total damage to my pockets. It's still not over until we get the confirmation yet...wish me luck.

Thanks to the hard core 5 who supported me along the way...I would have given up and accepted the defeat and withdraw from the tour 3 times along the way already. It's your feedbck and support and reminders that cause afew breakthrough for the delayed trip to happen. To me it is no less than a miracle if we finally can land in thailand together on mar 14!! thank you.

08S2 ISLP marking

Just finished marking this semester ISLP papers. Generally rather happy with the performance with the students. Only slight issue that bothers me is the clculation question are NOT taken advantage of, And there are quite afew still cannot solve it properly despite 2 examples plus the self marking work sheet given...well...maybe some just perfer theory questions rather than calcualtion type instead.

One qusetion I ask about positive intervention - this student quite fierce....try avoid working under him next time...very xiong!!! :)



Then there is the 4 Rs - I didn't know there is a fifth - Relax!!! nice try!!!



Beside these funny surprises, there are also quite afew nice input i discovered this sem:-

JL is hooked by the mindmaps I guess..he is the only one uses the pictures to remember the points !!



Last but not least, this happens to be the last script I mark...quite co-incidental but it really made my day. :)

Shopping for books again

Sent my car for 100,000 km service today during lunchtime @ AMK. While waiting for the car to be worked on, I took a slow walk back to AMK Jubilee to visit the popular bookshop.

It's end of the semester again and my book stock is running low....so need to beef up the selections of books available for the coming book prizes. While browsing through...found 4 new books for ChaiLan (蔡澜） quickly grab them into my basket too.

As for the more serious books, I found a new book from the old series called "Rules of Love". together with Rules of Life / Wealth / work - this year I have 4 books from this series for the students to choose from. Did not buy the other 2 - Rule of parenting / rules of management - dunt think the students are ready the the 2 topics yet. Me? me also not ready the above 2 ...heheheh.

In addition of the above - There is 3 other selections : "Word power made easy" for those who want to improve their English, "The last lecture" for the sentimantals, and a new gadget book "The Secret Daily teaching" - for those who watch the DVD and maybe wanted to follow up to read abit more and practise some of the useful tips in life.

so 7 choices for 6 winners...that should be enough I guess.

Winners of the SP module already been decided. 4 more from ISLP will be known by next week. Are you one of them? If you receive a call from me...maybe then you are the deserved winners!!! So watch out!!

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P.S.-

After buying the books I had lunch in that quiet teahouse @ 2nd level to read my new books. The waitress still recognised me and asked me if there were more students coming later to play settlers with me.

This semester is really rushy because of X'mas /new year / OH09/ CNY etcetc so many lessons were affected. In the end I didn't even have chance to introduce the game to them yet. Also with 14 days less leave...I am not sure If I can carefreely take 1/2 days off to play settlers with them at AMK...those were the days....

Facebook

Have been receiving invitations for almost a year to join facebook by quite afew students. But i was quite comfortable with MSN for contacting with students thus far. Also quite worried that this application will be a blackhole to suck in alot of my free time too. Well, that was untill last week...

This year CNY gathering has no pioneer batch students coming...(last year we had 4). Lulu went back to her kampong so there is no coordinator for the pioneer batch ppl. Met Rossana on MSN and she mentioned that many of the pioneer batch ppl were on her facebook instead. She also helped me to send out invitations to them and see if there is any responds last minute.

So I decided to give it a try to open an account. GOH HONG HOO. You are most welcome to add me as a friend in facebook if you wish to.

Then we had the idea of having the Facebook group called NYP-CPT too. Hopefully we can get all the students in CPT to join in there. Join in too if you can.

So far many students had added me and I have also found afew old pals in PRC too!!

Afew send me strange alpplication request like mafia wars / heros / spot the difference etc etc...sorry...I didn't join as i am afraid that once started...they maybe too addictive. Best to get more rest instead. :)

XPY told me there is an application to own a pet that need me to feed n bath the pet daily. I told her..." If there is an application that allow the pet to feed n bath me daily instead, I will be the 1st to apply!!"

C U in facebook!! :)