~ PerCusSo ~

Finally, I got myself a full-time job of Teaching Assistant at the Joy Place (Before/After School Child-Care Centre) after 1 week’s volunteer work.

That is my second full-time job after my 4 years’ job search. My first one was Desktop Designer and I was retrenched after working for 5 months. At that time, it was a very bad year and it had its worst economy.

I’m very delighted to have this job at last. I believe that it will give me alot of experiences in working with children of their different special needs. In a such way, I will be able to do my studies on how music education/therapy approaches them. Meanwhile, I will be able to understand better on different disabilites.

Hmm, with my handicap, it’s a very challenge to educate them. But it’s a good start for me. Alright, I got to sleep early since tomorrow is my first day at work…

I’m now troubled by my feelings for music and XTOMIC.

I wanna sign the Agreement to be a Percussion Artiste, but I cannot…

For that music dream/passion I’ve yet to achieve, I have to learn to let XTOMIC go. But somehow, I cannot…

“Building an empire is hard and always giving..
Maintaining an empire is harder and always giving..
Leaving an empire is hardest and will mean to give up..”
- This quote given by Jim.

I’ve been learning Chinese since last January. Just received my quiz that I got FULL marks for it! SO EASY!! Only numbers, dates, family and pronouns. Do you agree that it is very easy?!
Just now, I showed my quiz results to Mummy. She laughed.. At least, I am able to communicate with her. Slowly, I will speak Chinese fluently. Also, I will be able to read and write Chinese fast…

Alright, I have learnt more topics like Body, Food, Drinks and Action Words. It is getting more tough. But it’s quite FUN!!
Learning Chinese needs alot of practice. I hope to use them every day so that I won’t forget them easily.

Okay, here is the link for Chinese-English Dictionary. Those Deafies who are interested to learn Chinese, you can approach the SADeaf about this course for more details. These courses are specially designed for the Deafies only.

POPE JOHN PAUL II begins with flashbacks to the young Karol “Lolek” Wojtyla whose faith and values are initially fostered by his loving, devout parents, who, along with Karol’s elder brother, die of natural causes by the time Karol is 20 years old. Despite beging on his own at a young age and enduring the effects of the Nazi occupation in Poland, the philosophical Karol remains optimistic that he can and must make a difference. In the midst of the chaos surrounding him as ongoing atrocities are suffered by Polish Jews, academics, religious leaders and others, Karol accepts a calling to become a priest. At 47, Karol is made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI and, on October 16, 1978, after 455 years of Italian pops, Karol is elected Pope and takes the name John Paul II at the age of 58.

In an age paralyzed by fear and ideology, the new Pope shows everybody again the overwhelming fascination of Christianity which will affect the whole world and the Church itself, as a soft of “contagion”. He miraculously survives an attempt on his life in 1981, and not even this event curbs his mission. Despite health obstacles in later years, John Paul II refuses to curtail his busy schedule. He continues to challenge and inspire millions of people throughout his lenghty illness and does not stop being the voice of Christ, even among the injustices of the capitalistic Western world, even among the provocations and challenges of modern times.

Based on the most powerful true story, this mini-series event of the year serves as an unforgettable journey through the modern world to the sources of Pope John Paul II’s character and beliefs that says as much as us as it does about him.

POPE JOHN PAUL II will make us look to him as the Prophet of divine mercy.

“As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.”

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My Thoughts: After watching this DVD, I feel so honoured to have met him in Italy during my CSHI Percussion Band trip. He’s so AWESOME!! Really nice to know him better through this media.. It’s an inspiring film!!

Sometimes when I’m tired and weary,
Feel I can’t face another day,
I ask You to lift my spirits, GOD;
Guide me and show me the way.

Without You walking beside me
My life has no meaning at all,
I know You will take my hand
Should I ever stumble and fall.

You are my courage and strength
When I’m tempted to go astray,
And through your grace and mercy
I know You’ll show me the way.

Because of Your love and devotion
Your trust I’ll never betray,
You are the One I lean on,
The One who will show me the way.

When Mrs. Jenny talked to me after my long day of voluntary work (8.30AM-5.30PM), my spirit started to falter. My hope for getting that job was starting to become fragile and I just wondered if my voluntary work is being taken for granted or not. The position of a full-time teaching assistant is still vacant and there is still a number of interviewees since last Wednesday. Even, there is another vacancy of a full-time teacher (who must have a Diploma in Special Education).
And at the same time, I’m now being “observed” by Mrs. Jenny and her boss, Paster Yeo. I guess, it is because I’m the only Deaf candidate interested in that position.

What Mrs. Jenny talked to me really disheartened me and it made me think that I may not get that job very soon. Also, my savings are drying. That’s why I’m quite worried.

However, my search for it doesn’t stop so abruptly. I asked Alvan to pass me the notes on SPED so that I can study them on my own.
Actually, I was planning to take up the SPED course. I realised that I couldn’t take it up because I am not in any special school. I cannot go to the SSD as I know its enrolments have been decreasing every year. Even worse, my handicap does not allow me to teach special schools (of other special needs) and my options in Singapore are very limited.
Also, I’m still stuck with my shortcomings in music teaching and I’m still looking for its solutions.

What can I do? What I can only do is let GOD show me the way. I just follow with the flow and I’ll see how things go. I’ve to remind myself at all times in order to make sure that I won’t spend too much time with volunteering my services to the Joy Place. May GOD bless me… (May the Force be with me!)

Last Wednesday, I went for the interview at Joy Place that is located near Redhill MRT and Singapore School for the Deaf. Through Dawn’s email, I applied for the full-time position of Teaching Assistant. During the interview, it became the casual chat between Mrs. Jenny Bala and me. She is the Centre Manager of Joy Place. She is a very nice person. Alright, let me tell you more about the Joy Place.

Joy Place – A Before and After School Care For Children with Special Needs was established in January 2002, with the vision of it being a model of an After School Care working alongside with the special schools, the professional support group and to work hand-in-hand with parents as a family support service while they are at work.
Also, it acts as a transition center for children awaiting enrolment into the special school.

Joy Place provides education and services for children with Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Autistic spectrum disorder, Development delay, Multiple disabilities, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, social and emotional problems. Our programs operate from the pre-school years through to young adult.

Hmm, I fell in love with that place after the interview. Right now, I have been volunteering to teach children since last Friday. This way, I hope to gain more experience in working with children with special needs. Not only those deaf boys, but there are other children awaiting for my assistance. I’m still learning how to help them. Thanks to Mrs. Jenny Bala, she gave me that opportunity even though it’s not confirmed that I can get the job! I’m truly grateful for it!!

Mrs. Jenny prayed for me too. She talked to me about opening the learning options for those kids and even, me. She hopes that I can teach them music with my knowledge. It seems so wonderful but it will be another challenge for me to learn… Again, I hope to have it so that I can have enough income for my future and also, I can gain more, more experience… Do pray for me, my friends!! Thanks!!!

Thanks, Jim for having a friendship gift. It is really a WONDERFUL gift that I have ever!!

It goes on:
Living in a life with dreams and hopes
Indeed, life is never that smooth after all
Lifting all the responsibility
Your determination lead me on

Goals and visions, you asked me to seek
Only faith in the little me will make them come awake
Having you as my friend is the blessing of my life

Le pays des sourds (In the Land of the Deaf) (1992, 99 mins) (PG)
25 February & 28 February 06, 3.15pm & 7.15pm

A documentary on the experiences of the hearing-impaired, the film delves delicately into the work of teachers and pupils in a school for deaf children in Southern France.
(Winner of the Grand Prix at the 1992 Entrevues Film Festival and Best Non-Fiction Film at the 1994 Bombay International Documentary, Short and Animation Film Festival.)

This documentary will be screened at the Cathay Cineplex Orchard. Tickets are at $10 but I think M1 customers are entitled to a $1 discount off ticket purchases (to get $1 off, show your M1 bill/handphone). Do check it out at Singapore Fringe’s Bookings

Although I am unable to watch this film and my schedule does not allow me, I encourage you all to watch it. It’s worth looking at what schools of the Deaf in other countries are doing. Grab the ticket and watch the show. Enjoy!!

Today was really my enriching day.

After the Deaf Awareness Programme at Whitley Secondary School, I went to the Orchard to fulfil the task of getting the list of books on sign language & deafness. Besides looking for the books, I went to other areas of my interest: music & education to see what books they have. In doing so, I realized that for a long time, I have been bound to my computer for surfing the Net to look for information I need. Last time, I had been to many libraries to look for information as I did not have a computer. I completely forgot about it once I got the computer at home.

Indeed, there are a plenty of books out there and they are surely useful. Now, I guess I need to broaden my options and haha, I’ve to become another bookworm.

Just now, I met Aaron by a coincidence at Orchard Kinokuniya. We both went to find the books and I’m grateful to him for helping me. Also, thanks for making my day enriching..