After Grace’s visit, I haven’t got the time to jog down my reflection. I was thankful but hyperactive. After her trip, I had preparation days for the new school year. I was super busy. We had wonderful memories. We talked, chatted, dined out, had fun, attended a concert, and slept together. It was unforgettable. For me, she is a teacher, a mentor, and a good friend of mine. She also told me that we are good friends. We present our true selves to each other. We cherish the quality time together and the memory we created.

Since it is a day off for the typhoon, I finally have time to calm down. I take K3 Garfield class with Ariel. It is too early to say anything, but challenges are. When I look back on the process of becoming a teacher, it is not easy. With a lot of twists and turns, I changed my thoughts. I become more patient with understanding and empathy, especially with kids’ behavior. I think the key lies in Grace made me know that I am beloved and I am able to love more kids and inspire some young hearts.

I saw this picture on the Internet. I think it sticks to my heart.

Also, I strongly agree with this picture and I am thankful to have all my supporters at home, at school, at far afield. Besides, I would like to share this with Grace someday so that she knows how important she means to me.

In addition, we went out for mom’s birthday celebration. It was the time that I realized that my parents got old and so did Machi. I love all of them. ❤️

After waiting for a while, my dear summer break is finally coming! My plan is to do document notarization, apply for credit cards, and go back to Kaohsiung for Grandpa, Grandma, and Machi. Have my hair pruned. Then, have a reunion with Julia and Sally. Finally, Grace is going to come to Taichung with me. I’m enjoying my lovely holidays as the cleaning lady is doing her job.

When I went to the breakfast store, the staff told me that you must encounter something good! Yes, the truth is that I finally have my summer break! I am in a good mood to do everything and I am thankful for everyone who has helped me in my life!

To Sally and Julia, best of luck with your new journey. I do believe that we are all good teachers who have tried our best to do things that are good for students. This is the oath we took for our careers. Even if sometimes things get me crazy, you are always there for me. To Grace, I am really honored to be on this lady’s summer plans! I do appreciate what she has done for me. As she plays multiple roles in my life as a teacher, a mentor, and a good friend, she did overturn my stereotype of a teacher. It is definitely a restoration to redefine my interpretation of my own teacher-student relationship. Most of the time, I don’t feel comfortable with the rigid teacher relationships I have had, so it is always challenging to open my heart. However, I learned that not everyone has an intention when doing things or always doing something for the sake of doing it. I should trust my intuition and take it easy. All these have been not easy at all.

Hooray!

I went back to Kaohsiung on the weekend. Things got much better! I finally got rid of Rebecca. I met her on my way to teaching. I IGNORED her! We did not say hello when we were partners. How about now?

She was so weird because she was the kindergarten CT, but she was jealous of me. The fact that CT shoulders more with a lower salary. If you are NOT qualified to be an FT, why did you argue? LOSER!

On the other hand, I lost the cross that Grace gave me, but I recovered it this morning because Catherine picked it up somewhere and returned it to me. I am lucky!!!

Yesterday, I just finished the last day of K3 after graduation; today, I was told that I need to work in the elementary for E2K and science for G1 and G2. Now, Bruce took over my old position, and I feel what a big relief. It is a difficult nut. I moved my seat to the left side of the hallway in the ESL office. Besides, CEO promised that my deduction of the salary will be paid back this month. (I really need the money this month because of COVID and back pain incident.) Everything seems to be fine because I completed the task and I am not the main teacher for E2K. All I need to do for class prep is science for G1 and G2 for these 3 weeks before I have my summer break.

I am really looking forward to my summer break, especially the quality handout with Grace. Now, we’ve got used to texting back and forth and praying for each other. I am really proud and do cherish the special teacher-student relationship we have.

When I organized my messages on my cell phone, I read them. I suddenly realized that both Grace and Jessica had special relationships with me in the past. For some reason, I just don’t want to…touch some sensitive parts between Jessica and me. She was strange and grumpy. I was thankful for what she had done for me but feel uncomfortable about her asking me for a treat after she was so discouraging about me pursuing my teaching license. However, they expected me to become the honor of Applied English (應英系之光). —>不敢當. Although I always feel like “being excellent” (優秀) is stressful and fitting in the box is not my thing, I am glad that over these 15 years, I have achieved many things and especially since I finally became a licensed teacher. Now, I am confident to say that I was proud to be educated in Applied English and AE can be proud of me now. (昨日我已應英系為榮; 今日應英系以我榮）

Yesterday, I attended my first graduation as a homeroom teacher. Nothing different from the final rehearsal, but I was touched during the time of teachers’ wishes to graduates. Surprisingly, I burst into tears because I was so touched with mixed feelings that I could be there as a teacher. The scenes that popped into my brain were how I walked through the difficulties and why I wanted to become a teacher. It’s been close to 20 years… since I started dreaming. I am proud that I chased my dream for long and insisted until the last minute.