Celebrating Friendship

We had a "Friendship Feast" in Carrie's house right after school today. It's supposed to be held next week for Thanksgiving but since many in the group are going to Khao Yai for the Sunflower Festival next week, it was decided to move it to today instead. The feast was a celebration of friendship, of the good and tough times we've been through as co-teachers and as friends. It simply feels very good to be around this 'family' in this part of the world. We enjoyed the food and more so the turkey, which despite arriving late, was well worth the wait.

Nailah and I had to leave early though because we had to watch the Upper School Wind Ensemble Concert. And wow, our students really made us proud! They were great!

This week has been the most trying week, it started in tragedy, it ended in a celebration of friendship, a celebration of life.

I'm off to the Bangkok Teacher's Network at the New International School of Thailand (NIST) tomorrow. I'll only stay until after lunch though because I'm going with Val and Belle to Pairin's cremation and burial ceremony.

Rest in peace, little one, rest in peace, Pairin!


Ave Maria!

Moving on

I'm not quite sure how I'll approach today but one thing I'm certain though is this: I have to be strong for my students (again, little do they know that it's from them that I draw strength from).

While waiting outside for the elevator, a grade 9 (G9) student from my Physical Science class approached me and asked whether I'm going to push through with the scheduled chapter test today and I asked yes, but why? (I know what his answer will be but I still would want to hear him say it.) True enough he mentioned Pairin and the service, etc. I heard the elevator ding and so I told him, we'll see. I then asked for a second opinion from our guidance counselor whether I should push through with the test or not and he said, yes, I should. Losing someone to death is a reality that they have to contend with and yes, there's a time to mourn, but it's always best to keep things run as normal as possible so that the loss will not be even more blatantly held before them.

So came first block and my G9 students, they were a subdued group and again, staying true to my resolve to let this day pass as normal as possible for them, I laid out the schedule of things they must do prior to taking the chapter test - I do this every time I give a chapter test or long test so there's nothing out of the ordinary there. Of course, I saw 2 or 3 teary-eyed students and I approached each discreetly and asked if they need time off and stay in the guidance office to which they said no and in less than five minutes, were engaged in a discussion of some concepts that will be included in the test. Are the younger ones really more resilient? Yes, they are! The middle school and lower school guidance counselors dropped by my class while they were answering the test and asked if everythin's okay and I said yes - which is true. Also, I made it a point give them a graded homework just to make sure that their time away from school will be occupied.

And then my last class for the day came (last block) - this is the class that had Pairin. They were more 'talkative' when they came in compared to my morning class. One male student said that he's not feeling well so I told him to go to the clinic but he said no, he'll be fine. Another male student approached me and I was kinda surprised to see that he's really teary-eyed and he told me that he doesn't think he's in the proper mind set to take the chapter test today. I told him to discuss with this classmates concepts for 10-15 minutes and then after that, we'll take it from there. Again, less than 5 minutes after that conversation, he was very engaged in the discussion that I took it as a sign that he's okay after all.

Today, I, again, am humbled by human nature. Losing someone is certainly not easy but we do move on. I don't know what will happen tomorrow or the next day but I know we all did good today, and I know that the time when we can finally accept Pairin's permanent absence is dawning. Rest in peace, Pairin!

(I also learned today that two more of my students were in that car. Jay (G11) and Frank (G11), both are in my AP Chem class this year. Jay's younger sister, Ann, is in my Physical Science morning class on Blue day and it is from her that I learned this additional info and that there were also younger students who were with them when the accident happened. All are fine. Also, Ann told me that Jay will not be in school until next week so can I give him homework through her? And so I told her that I'll email the homework to Jay since I have his email address but she said that Jay's not home, he's in a monastery, meditating. And Frank, he came to school today but a teacher and some of his classmates said that he's not himself and continuously talks about nonsense things. A G11 student came to me during lunch break to ask for an explanation on a lab report that I asked them to make and she told me the bit of news about Frank and that they, the G11 students, decided not to mention anything about the accident when he's around. Yes, they are sensitive students and I admire them for that.

Frank did come to see me after school today asking about the homework. He did sound not his normal self, I asked him twice if he's okay and of course he said, yeah, yeah. How I wish he stayed home until today though but maybe the presence of his classmates and again, getting into the routine of school work will do him good, keep his mind off things.)

Overall, this day in school passed by even better than I have expected - not that I had so much expectations in the first place. I started the day resolving to be strong for my students and to just take things as they happen. Thank God things went by smoothly!

Ave Maria!

Rest in peace, Pairin!

It is a sad day at school today and will remain so for the next days. This afternoon, we were informed by our head of school that we lost a student due to a car accident last night and another is fighting for his life in the intensive care unit. The student who died was Pairin, a charming and diligent Grade 9 student. She was my Physical Science student this year and two things always come to mind when I think about her: her smile and her crying (early in the school year) during one of my classes because she was deeply troubled by a problem with one of her friends. From that experience I came to see her as a passionate individual - someone who values friends. And it is sad that we lost her. I do believe that she will become one of our angels - one of those priceless diamonds sparkling in the sky. Pairin, may you rest in peace!

(The student in the intensive care unit, Rick, an 11th grader, is also currently one of my Chemistry students. He is smart, soft-spoken, and very respectful. I am looking forward to the day when I can again see the dimples on his cheeks when he smiles. I pray that he will bear this storm and join us again.)

May the Holy Triune God live in our hearts and in the hearts of all peoples, AMEN!

It's my birthday, today :)

I turn 32 years old today! My second birthday where I celebrated overseas, away from family. My day was just like any normal school day but the best thing was when my friends at work treated me to dinner after work. I am blessed to have this 'family' away from home. Thank God for friends! And oh, I also celebrated (in advance) my birthday last Sunday in Hong Kong when Jane treated me and Nang Panyang to dinner in one of the best dimsum houses in the Kowloon area. I am blessed, thank you God!

from left: Pearl, Kay, Vanessa, Romel, Ruby, moi, Christine, Nailah

this time with Marose

The Legacy That IS Justine Henin

(This blog appears in my Friendster blog, tabula rasa undone ... my not so explored passion, more than a year ago. I wrote this 6 weeks after Justine Henin decided to hang her racket for good. I thought of re-posting this blog here because there have been talks of Justine possibly going back to professional tennis. She is now a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and her face will become the face of the UNICEF tetanus campaign this fall.)

http://cristyjones.blog.friendster.com/

1, July 2008

The Legacy That Is Justine Henin

Filed under: Allez! — cristyjones @ 10:13 pm

No one can hit that backhand, one-handed, to perfection. No one, that is, except JUSTINE HENIN. She upped the women’s pro game several notches and she showed what a diminutive player like her can do. She said goodbye to the professional world of women’s tennis though, two weeks before the start of the grand slam one can likely say she owns (winning it four times, three times in a row) - the French Open. She hangs up her racket while leading the tour with the rest of the players way, way behind her in points, in charisma, in elegance.

Sure it’s hard to imagine tennis without her. Being her supporter way back near the turn of the 21st century, it sure is difficult to follow the game knowing that I cannot see poetry in motion in the tennis courts any more. Perhaps it’s that passion and determination to conquer and be the best that convey to me when I first saw her on TV in a tennis match way back in 1999. She just debuted as a professional tennis player during that time and the years that followed sure were exciting years. I can still remember the newspaper cutouts that I had of Justine and that of Marcelo Rios, Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, and yes, Marina Navratilova. Yes, I’m one of those who have been following the sport, and a few athletes, way back since I was in highschool. I so enjoyed those moments I spent with Papa watching a tennis game on TV. And boy, tennis, like any sport, has so much improved since then. And then came Justine and my interest in the sport (although I don’t play it - volleyball’s the game that I play - I can talk a lot about volleyball and then some) reached new heights. Wow! The things that she does on court and off evidently inspired not only me but thousands.

And then she retires. Oh well.

I have been waiting for more news that would really give more weight to the reason she gave when she decided to quit being a professional tennis player. She said then that the fire just died but I wasn’t that convinced - then. Now, I realized that I need not look any further for reasons because Justine is little by little living her reasons. A few moments ago, I watched the interview that she gave to the Laureus Awards Academy organization (she’s the Laureus Sportswoman of the Year, a very prestigious awarding body that is the Oscars of sports) and it was a very enlightening interview. Of course, she now focuses much of her time in her tennis academies, to her foundation: the 20 Hearts of Justine Foundation, she is also realizing another promise she gave her mother: to finish high school the moment she hangs up her racket. I salute her before; I salute her even more now.

Yes, we won’t be seeing her pick up her racket and go back to competitive tennis any time soon (though I still hope that she will) but we sure will be hearing about these more meaningful things she’s doing and will be doing in her life after tennis. Justine is giving back more now than ever. And of course, she will still breathe tennis, and engaging yet others to go beyond borders. Justine continues to do her part to make this world a better place. This is her legacy. Allez!

For the Laureus interview, please visit this site: http://www.laureus.com/laureustv/justinehenin

For articles about Justine, please visit this site: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/tennis/article4244175.ece

For more about Justine Henin, please visit her website: www.justine-henin.be/

I assure you, you’ll be entertained. Even more, you’ll be inspired.

French Open title #3 (she won a total of 4 French Open titles)

Olympic Gold Medalist - Women's Singles Tennis, Sydney 2004

2008 Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Awardee

She's diminutive and feisty and she's mentally tough. One of the most mentally-tough players ever.

the famous one-handed backhand

Poetry in motion. Described by John Mc Enroe as the only player with the most beautiful one-handed backhand

in the history of tennis. This holds true even to this day.

(All photos courtesy of www.justine-henin.be/)

Incredible Experiences

(The following blog appears on my Friendster webpage. I am reliving and praising God for the experiences that I have gone through almost a year ago from today in a foreign land, all on my own, and how quick thinking and God's grace saved me from what could possibly have been a very fatal event.)

21 September 2008

I woke up at around 5:45 am today even though it is a Sunday because I was planning to visit the Grand Palace again and other beautiful places in main Bangkok to try out my newly bought Olympus camera. I woke up to a slight headache though and without thinking twice, I took a 500-mg dosage of aspirin tablet. Then I went on to prepare my breakfast of microwave-reheated rice, sausages, and Chinese chorizo – I know - not a healthy choice but I indulged myself this morning thinking of the physical and exciting itinerary ahead. About halfway through my breakfast preparation, about 10 minutes after I took the aspirin, I felt an itchy feeling inside both of my eyes that immediately caused a light bulb to switch on in my head. I am so familiar with this itchy feeling: I had this approximately more than a year ago after I took a drug containing ibuprofen because I thought it would relieve me of the fever that I had during that time (yeah, self-prescription is VERY dangerous). I immediately went to the mirror and looked at my eyes and of course nothing is visible at that time and I sort of “dimmed” the light bulb inside my head a little bit and went back to preparing my breakfast. Then about 5 minutes after, the itchy feeling was now accompanied with tightness around both the lower portions of my eyes. It got me back to the mirror in no time and yes, the areas that I mentioned were indeed a little bit bloated now. I panicked – yes! I don’t know what possessed me but I immediately went to the refrigerator and got a piece of Hershey’s black chocolate and drank the coffee that I prepared before I started preparing for breakfast. That was so dumb of me – I should have stayed away from chocolates (and instant coffee) since I also had two allergic reactions about 4 years back on chocolates (the ones which contain so much artificial ingredient though like the chocolate powders back home in the Philippines that many local bakeries use to coat/add to their chocolate-flavored bread). As for instant coffee, it’s one of those beverages that contains natural salicylates and acetylsalicylic acid is aspirin – the culprit to the itchiness and bloated areas around my eyes. So, I didn’t eat my breakfast that is ready at this time. I went to the bathroom and got myself ready for the hospital. I was so much in a hurry that I didn’t bother to shut down my laptop and unplug the speakers (thank God nothing happened like electrical short circuits or anything). It’s a good thing too that I didn’t transfer my stuff yet to my knapsack so I practically have everything in my school bag: passport, health insurance card, work permit, and my wallet. I grabbed my bag AND shades and run out of my apartment towards the elevator (yes, I still have the sense to lock my apartment on my way out). During this time, the areas around my eyes were so bloated that I find it harder to see by the minute and I am having difficulty breathing already which is a bad sign because this means that my nasal passages are now constricted due to the allergy. Thank God there was a lift a floor above me (8th floor) so I only waited for a few seconds for it to come to my floor and was inside the elevator and going down to the ground floor in no time. I was hoping to see the guard of my tower on my way out and sure I saw him and told him to help me call for a taxi but he isn’t equipped with conversational English so we just ended up telling things to one another without really understanding each other. I know that he was concerned though gauging from his reaction when he saw my eyes. So I just gestured to him that never mind, I’ll get my own taxi right outside of Parkland. Sure enough, there were plenty of taxis waiting outside and the first taxi in line was driven by a man who looked to be in his mid-50’s and yes, cannot understand what I told him in English but then again, one look at my face and he said, “Thai Nakarin?”, which was the name of the hospital nearest to where we are. I gratefully nodded my affirmation, opened the door, got inside the taxi, and got ready for the ride to salvation. A 3-5 minutes cab ride to the hospital took about 20 minutes for two reasons: the U-turns in Thailand are far and it so happened that the hospital is at the same side as where we’re coming from thus the need to take the U-turn – 2 U-turns actually AND we were stuck in traffic for about 8 minutes because there was this group of motorcyclists who were so into drag racing at 6:30 in the morning and not minding the traffic congestion they are causing. By now, I was really having difficulty breathing and tried to tell the driver that maybe he can alight from the vehicle and tell those motorcyclists that there is an emergency many cars back but of course I cannot tell it to him due to the language barrier. Thankfully, after what seemed like ages, the lines of cars moved and moved and moved and I was right in front of the hospital. I immediately went to the reception area where I asked where the emergency room was but wasn’t pointed to it right away since the gentlemen from reception asked for my passport and health card insurance first and also asked me to fill in a form which I was unable to do so because I really had difficulty seeing already. Sensing this (which they should have right away since my eyes were way so chinky during that time that it would be impossible for someone to think that I was born with it), they pointed me to where the emergency room is. So I rushed inside and was immediately attended by a very soothing nurse – thank God for this! I didn’t even wait for her to ask me questions, I just told her that I took aspirin and got these allergic reactions in less than 30 minutes after taking it. She then led me to an ER bed – and it struck me how silent it was in the hospital at this time of day. Anyway, she immediately attached an IV of dextrose to my left hand, took my blood pressure and monitored my heartbeat. After about 5 minutes of lying there, she injected an anti-inflammatory steroid to my upper right arm that really hurts. The doctor then came and told me that I should be able to breathe easier in about 10 minutes and that the palpitations that I will feel minutes after being injected the steroids are just side effects of the steroids. Then the “people” started coming: people from the reception/admission, nurses, nursing assistants, and they all have one thing in common: QUESTIONS!!! I don’t want to answer these questions until I feel somewhat relieved of what I’m feeling and I bluntly told them that. They respected this and came only again after about 15 minutes. At this point, the doctor told me that she wants to keep me in the hospital so that she can monitor me closely because there is still a chance that I can go into anaphylactic shock, a very life-threatening effect of allergy. My immediate reaction was please, no, I had this before and even though the first time I had this I was also brought to the emergency room (the first time when I found out I am allergic to ibuprofen) and injected the same steroids, the doctor then discharged me after about an hour and simply gave me medications of steroids and other anti-histamines. THIS doctor however, was firm on her decision of having me admitted in the hospital so I told her that okay, she can have me confined but if nothing bad develops or if my condition continues to get better (which I can feel during that time), I will only stay until 5 o’clock. She smiled and asked me if I had something important scheduled for after 5 o’clock and I told her no, I just don’t like the idea of being admitted to a hospital. Again, she smiled and agreed to what I asked. Someone then came with a stretcher but I told him if there is a wheel chair available because I would be more comfortable on it rather than on a stretcher (I told you I am feeling better already and I know that once I was administered the drug, I will be on my road to recovery). Of course there was a wheel chair and I was then marched to my room on the 9th floor of the hospital amidst smiles and get well wishes from the 5 nurses and inside the ER. Little do I know that I will be led to this quite large and well-furnished hospital suite. (I wasn’t really concerned about the bill at this time because my health insurance will take care of it.) Once inside, I made phone calls to two of my colleagues, informed them where I am and told them that I am okay. I also called my head of upper school (principal) and informed him (I actually talked with his wife, our head of school, because my principal was out swimming when I called) of where I am and why. At this point, I didn’t inform anyone member of my family back home because I don’t want them to panic (especially my mother who was so concerned the first time I had this that she had heart palpitations). Until now as I am writing this, they still don’t know. I just don’t want them to worry – that’s all – there’s nothing that they can do that hasn’t been done already and I know that I am always, always in their prayers.

So the long wait until my 6 hours are up starts (which should be at around 1 pm) and within these times, I got 2 visits from a specialist who was so kind and explained to me all about aspirin and NSADs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) which include ibuprofen (of course!) and visits from nurse assistants who took my vital signs, two nurses who came in every 1 and ½ hours, and the cleaning team. One o’clock came and went and finally at around 2:30 pm, the doctor specialist came back along with the head nurse and examined me again, asked me questions again, and told me that I can go home – in about 3 hours yet since my papers have to be processed by the hospital and sent to the health insurance. This actually only took about 2 hours and at around 5:10 pm, I am on my way home! J Oh, I was given medication, which is good for 3 days, by the hospital’s pharmacist and when I asked if there is any medicine that I ought to buy aside from the ones she’s giving me, she said no. Okay, this is great! I also get paid-for medicines! I got home at around 5:20 and rushed to my laptop to save it from it’s running on reserve battery agony and to write this experience. What should have been a sight-filled Sunday turned out to be a “blurry” sight Sunday. :-)

The Kingdom of Siam – where everyday is an adventure. I have so many firsts here: first time that I ever had problems with the labor department during my first 2 weeks (this is solved now though, I am legally working here in Thailand. I have work permits and all.), first time that I lost a new colleague to death due to an accident in a water fall during our staff bonding activity (during the last week of August), first time that I experienced wading through flood on my way to our school bus in the morning and in the afternoon (this started during the 2nd week of September), first time that I am denied a visa to a country (China – due to the strict regulations brought about by the Beijing Olympics and the Paralympics), first time that a dove dumped its early morning gory “glory” on me (and I have to go back up to my apartment and change which caused me to miss the school bus), first time that I explored a place on my own (especially during Saturdays and Sundays-and enjoyed it so much), AND first time that I am admitted to a hospital. Whew! So many firsts – bring it on! Hmmmmm, what could be next? All these are teaching me a lot though on living on my own abroad and creating my chances. Also, my experiences tell me that indeed, experience is the best teacher ;-) On top of that, nothing really is impossible with God. Invoke His name, ask the Virgin Mother to mediate, along with the angels and saints, and everything will fall into place like pieces of jigsaw puzzle falling into place.

Ave Maria!

ebidensya (21 Sept. 2008, Thai Nakarin Hospital)-btw, wrong DOB ;-)

outside Room 903 (21 Sept. 2008, Thai Nakarin Hospital)

outside Room 903 (21 Sept 2008, Thai Nakarin Hospital)

outside Room 903 (21 Sept 2008, Thai Nakarin Hospital)

outside Room 903 (21 Sept 2008, Thai Nakarin Hospital)

view of Parkland (yellow and green bldgs) outside Room 903 (21Sept2008, Thai Nakarin Hosp)

(I still live in Parkland)

Bangkok Traffic

Today was Professional Development Day for us at the international school that I am currently teaching.  This means a work-day for us teachers while it's a no-school day for our students.  After a fulfilling day working on the Understanding by Design model in preparing our units for our Atlas-Rubicon Curriculum Maps, Christine, Nailah, Pearl, and I decided to go to Tacos and Salsa, an authentic Mexican restaurant along Sukhumvit Road just a little past Phrom Phong BTS Station for some nachos and enchilladas.  We left school at 2:15 so ready for a well-deserved respite (and much more for the weekend ahead).  Little did we know that we will be stuck in traffic for almost 4 hours along Sukhumvit Road approximately two BTS Sky Train stations from our destination.  It was the longest stuck-in-traffic experience I've ever had and I know that it is also true with my friends.  We cannot just abandon Christine, she brought her car, and go to the nearest BTS Sky Train station and solve our dilemma.  So we made good of our situation and told jokes, people-watched, talked about stuff (and some people-yeah) at work, listened to Christine's soundtrack for at least 6 times during the entire experience, and me clicking away with my camera (it's a good thing I brought my DSLR today, too!).  Oh, all these amidst Pearl's sneezing! :)  She finally dozed off for a few minutes after Christine gave her some of her medicine for allergies (which Nailah told her later, "Never take someone else's medicine because you are bound to fall asleep!"  LOL!)

I know our patience were tested during this entire ordeal but we kept our cool.  I myself can say that looking back, those hours in traffic weren't wasted.  I had takeaways like the memory of the entire experience and I got to spend time for my friends - time which all four of us never thought we'll be asked to give in that way. :)   

It was a good experience overall.  And of course, the nachos, enchilladas, and good company were worth the almost 4-hour wait.

What follows are some of the many photos that I took during the ordeal.

Nailah and Christine

Pearl

the story of our lives for a time:  0 kph

corner Sukhumvit Soi 28 - where we were stuck the longest

vendor plying Soi 28

a monk "blending" to city living

all four of us are

Baby Bugs was with us the whole time

my Baby Bugs adorned seatbelt (which I never got to use that afternoon)

that's us in the white Honda

same-same

her ride was stuck in traffic too, that's for sure

his' too :)

and almost four hours after, we were almost there! :)