MUMBAI STAR

Yesterday, Monday 17 Sep, was a hectic day. Teachers and students were preparing for the IBO representative, Mr Steve Keegan's visit. The VP asked me to help teachers in their preparation of lessons. Mr Keegan will be observing the Years 7, 8 and 9 classes during lessons. Assisted some teachers in downloading some lessons from Maths COE@ZE for their use and vetted some lesson plans for tomorrow.

Mr Mike Thiruman, Director/SIS and President of STU, flew in this morning and dropped by the school in the afternoon with Chairman and CEO of SIS, Mr Nilesh. We had a short chat in one of the classrooms.

Mike called over at my apartment to take a look, together with the other two Singaporean teachers, Miss Sumi Kalidas and Mr Elgvin Goh. Together, we went to a nearby restaurant. It's located within a small hotel and it's air-conditioned..quite upmarket considering the area we are in. We ordered fish curry, vegetables, Chinese noodles, steam rice, and some side dishes and downed with ice-cream. Food was delicious and comparable to Singapore fish curry, if not better. Thanks to Mike, he footed the bill..I think he gave two Rs500 bills, that's Rs1,000 (about $25) ...a steal really....dinner for four! Must go back to this place again soon to try other dishes.

Today (Tuesday, 18 Sep 2007) went very well. I managed to read and answer some emails before the car arrives for SIS.

Mike dropped by at the Year 11 class when I was with Mr Chander who teaching the class Exponential and Logarithmic Functions ( hey, 4E1 and 4E2 add maths students, note this--- I haave taught you this topic is taught here at Yr 11, equivalent to JC1. Actually you can all sit for the International Baccalaurette Diploma in Education Mathematics paper and pass well as most of the topics are covered in Sec 3 and Sec 4 maths and add maths!! )

Mr Keegan arrived at about 9am and the team went round the school observing the students and teachers going about the lessons. He also visited the school facilities, had tea and lunch with the school community in the dining hall. After lunch, the students put up a performance in the morning assembly area. Later he spoke to the IB students and we get the impression that he was pleased with what he saw.

During the course of the day, my right eye was very irritating...went into the SIS infirmary to consult the nurse and she said it's conjunctivitis! Two students were also down with it and were resting on the beds there. Got to see her every hour for eye drops. Borrowed a pair of dark glasses from the clinic (see the clinic is prepared for such cases!) Went for lunch and tea in the dark glasses and got rave comments that I looked like some celebrity...one Indian male teacher said I looked like erh...chow...er ..fat...and he said YES when I said Chow Yan Fatt!
Made my day, lah he! Even the students showed their concern....like I mentioned in my earlier postings, the students here are exceptionally open and show care and love for people (greenview ppl, we need to learn from these youngsters lah!). I simply adore the very young ones when they come to you to shake hands and said, "good morning, sir!" or "sir, can you please pass me the bowl of rice?" at the dining table. Ya, these kids have lots of moral courage... real cute ones, whether indians, taiwanese or angmos!! One morning I was just taken aback when this little cute K1 Indian boy in the front row simply walk up to the Principal, an Australian, to shake his hands. The principal, pleasantly surprised, had to stop what he was preparing just before singing of the national anthem. So delighted was he that he just had to caress his cheeks.

On the way back home, the driver was asked by the Chairman and CEO to stop by to get a a new bottle of eyedrops for me...such care and concern money cannot buy, man! Thank you, Mr Nilesh, a million times over! Tell you the truth.....I kind of love the school for it's set-up, the teachers and especially the students!

Till tomorrow then....