Finally received the call that I have been waiting for since last week. One of the Student Care centres that I had gone for interview called, while I was still in dreamland, asking me to report for work in the afternoon. Was excited about it and wasn't able to continue with my sleep though I haven't finished weaving my dream. Got up to prepare myself, both mentally and physically and to turn on my teaching mode again as it has been a year since I last stood in front of a class.

Though I only need to be there by 2pm, I was out of the house at noon. The centre which is situated in Ang Mo Kio is less than an hour journey away but I just wanted to be there early to familiarise myself with the new environment. Had a quick lunch at a hawker centre near the Student Care centre before reporting for work. The lady in-charge welcomed me and introduced me to her female staff (I should have worn a skirt to blend in with them). Then she gave me a quick briefing as to what my duties were. Being a Student Care centre, it looks after children who come to the centre before going to or after returning from their respective schools.

I was put in charge of a group of P5s. After seeing that they have their lunch, I have to guide them with their school work, making sure that they complete their work before they leave the centre. At 4.30pm. the kids have their lesson proper togther with some other children who had signed up for the tuition class. In all I only have 12 boys and gals to handle, less than half of the number that I used to oversee. But it wasn't an easy task conducting lesson for pupils coming from different schools as compared to a class of 40 pupils from the same school. Nevertheless, I managed to conduct the English lesson quite effortlessly and got to know the 12 kids by their names at the end of the lesson. Though it is a very small class, the types of pupils that can be found is not much different from that of a class of 40. There are some who thought they are smarter than the others and wouldn't stop shouting out the answers. Then there are those timid ones who wouldn't say a word no matter how I tried. In fact, I have already started punishing the boys who like to rock their chairs when they sit, by making them stand on one leg. Though they weren't happy about it but I guess I need to show them that I'm no pushover and wouldn't tolerate their nonsense. Of course, I did share some jokes with them to liven up the class as they seemed too quiet especially after I had meted out the class rules. Then before I knew it, it was time to dismiss them. Those who have to stay behind to wait for their parents to fetch them, came over to my table with some of the kids from the other classes, to find out more about me.

On the whole, it has been quite an exciting day for me and I was glad to be back in action again, doing something that I have always loved and hopefully this marks the beginning of a fruitful relationship and a new chapter in my life.