The Art of Juggling 101

Sorry to disappoint. I have not disappeared without a trace. I’m still very much alive, thank you. Just a wee bit exhausted.

It’s been slightly over a month since I started at the Polytechnic and I’ve tried my best to adapt and immerse myself in the work culture. Most of my new colleagues have families to go back to so after 6 o’clock sharp, it’s practically a ghost town. If I leave at 6.15pm, I’m accompanied only by my eerie echoing footsteps along the corridor. This is a far cry from hell’s kitchen (remember the brimming lava-pit I crawled out from many weeks back?) where the minions slave and toil till the moonlight shines through the cracks of the dungeons, sometimes staying way past the witching hour.

Despite the shorter work hours, I’m still left breathless. Since I’m a newbie, I’m spending more time with preparation for my classes. Starting from scratch is no walk in the park as I’ve to familiarise myself with new module content, materials and other administrative matters. As people often say, the learning curve is steep at first. I’m sure once I get into the swing of things, I’ll be gliding...

Back home, I’ve got a whole different cauldron of troubles brewing. Wen, without a doubt is a rascalrella through and through. Getting rather sick of listening to the MIL and FIL drone on about how Wen’s the absolute worst in the Leonglet bloodline. Of the 6 grandkids, she’s the most difficult baby to look after. Not only is she a picky drinker (no milk or water from bottles, please, I want fresh milk from the mummy cow), she’s a light sleeper. If she sleeps at all. She’s turning 1 in August, and the poor baby’s got eyebags and dark circles under her eyes from the lack of sleep. Wen’s an avid climber though she hasn’t mastered walking – window sills are her current hang-outs. She loves crawling up the stairs when no-ones watching too, much to the horror of her harried care-takers who complain incessantly that they are deprived of their afternoon naps.

Now, good folks, who do you think has to take the blame for Wen’s monstrosities?

So as you can imagine, the minute I step into the house, I’m bombarded with complaints and have to attend to the girls immediately. Did I mention both the kids are late sleepers? Their usual bedtime is after 11pm and it takes me between half-and-hour to an hour to tuck them snugly in…so I can squeeze in some prep work around midnight - if I don't collapse into a heap first. and the cycle continues. *sigh*

Week day evenings and weekends are still hurry-scurry halter-skalter occasions as Sum and I run back and forth to check on the site. Renovations for the new place are almost complete - only the finishing touches are needed. Unfortunately, there're lots of "finishings" - toilet fittings, lightings, fencing, painting, air-condition units, carpentry works etc. We should be able to move in before Christmas. That's right. Christmas. Cos it's the Chinese 7th month (ghosts and ghouls galore) and we can only move in officially after the 7th month period. Trouble is, this is the year of the DOUBLE 7th month in the Chinese calendar. So yep, I think Christmas is a safe bet.

I’m taking a quick breather now while I get this entry up. Have just completed my first Teaching Observation (TO) which is part of a compulsory course for new lecturers at the polytechnic, so I can relax for a bit. Have 2 of these sessions to endure – a colleague from the Learning Academy will sit in to observe my teaching and give me comments/feedback on my delivery, classroom management, lesson plan etc.

Although I’ve been teaching for 5 years, it’s still quite unnerving when someone (other than the students) sits in to scrutinise every move you make…There’s another important observation session for staff appraisal purposes and that’s when the Section Head (my immediate supervisor) will do the honours and determine whether I’m going to get a pay raise or whether I should consider changing professions. That’s scarier. ARGHHHHHHHHHH.

I'm aiming to master the art of balancing work, family and self. Not much progress, but I believe I will make it...someday. Every Friday evening I go for Yoga, just to relax, enjoy some time-out and practise self-love. And yes, Yoga's beginning to grow on me.

Back to work now folks.

Namaste.