Stories&Photographs

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Our English Teacher

I hated our English teacher. I despised her. I loathed her for entering our classroom during our second year in high school just to give us a test. That was our first meeting with her and she gave us a test. Everyone hated her but I'm sure that I felt more hatred. And yes, I didn't know why. I love English. I love Literature. But I hate her.

Spending a school year with her made my life terrible. I despised spending an hour everyday listening to her countless errors (grammar and pronunciation errors). Everyone noticed these, thus, we did not believe her capable of teaching us well. Nobody really knew what things I did because of my hatred. They knew a little of course, but that's not all. Sometimes, I even wondered if she noticed my coldness every time I spoke to her. Call me evil, but I really hated her.

One day, when we were having a class discussion, I was busy scribbling notes on my notebook. I didn't know how she got to the topic about a student from our class who doesn't recite that often but works good on written jobs. I still remembered how she said it. "She only recites when called. But she does well in exams and in projects." The class was shouting their guesses before she called my name, Alyzza. When she left our class, my classmates were teasing me and even called me "our teacher's favorite". It was very surprising to know that you do well in a subject you don't even enjoy.

I was shocked to know that she is still our English teacher this year. The teacher I hated. It was like having a Severus Snape before you read "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". Oops! Spoiler. Only that, she's not that strict. But I know very well that I must learn to like her now. I can't spend another school year with so much hatred in my heart.

And yes, I learned to like her. I learned to love her. Hers was one of the classes I look forward to each day. Hers was one of the very few classes I enjoyed. I tried to do my very best to accomplish each work she gives us. I can't deny that I get a little lazy at times, but believe me, I spend 2 hours doing my journal each week and I spent a day sitting in front of the computer to finish our short story. The coldness in my voice when I talk to her is gone now. I even greet her "good morning" or "hi" even before she greets the class. I can also joke her now. Haha. I keep on telling her that she's wearing a lot of gold. Her husband just came from abroad and she's wearing a complete set of jewelry (earrings, necklace, bracelet and ring).

She visited us yesterday to tell the others to pass their notebooks so she could grade it. She was supposed to be on leave but she went to school just to check their notebooks. We were teasing her again about her complete set of jewelry. She was laughing and talking at the same time. She happily showed us the groceries she bought (oatmeal, tea, coffee) and I don't really know why. She must be really happy. All we can do is laugh with her.

Yesterday, I experienced being happy seeing someone so happy. I never knew that possible at first. How would you be happy by simply seeing someone so happy? I felt weird being happy for a person I don't even know that much. Anyway, I felt happiness. It does feel good seeing someone truly happy. She must be happy seeing her husband again and getting her family reunited and having enough money to spend at the same time. Maybe it feels better seeing someone happy and knowing that the reason of their happiness is you. Knowing that I certainly am not the reason, why am I happy?


Sunday, August 19, 2007

An Eternity with Her

I hate this class. Honestly, I never find it interesting. I loathe thinking that I would be spending 60 minutes sitting and trying hard not to fall asleep. Her class seems like an eternity.

I liked only one Filipino teacher, his class was the only Filipino class I enjoyed. I didn’t only enjoy his stories, I also enjoyed listening to his lessons and working on the tasks he gives us. I have to admit that I enjoyed the jobs, writing and critical thinking on “Florante at Laura” and other short stories authored by Filipinos. I love our previous Filipino teacher. Too bad he doesn’t teach us anymore.

Our current Filipino teacher is boring. I remember how our previous Filipino teacher admires our current Filipino teacher. He said that she gives more difficult tasks and that we would use a lot of critical thinking. He’s right, though. She gives us complicated jobs that include very critical thinking. She even gives us quizzes we haven’t even had notes yet! I don’t understand why he honors her so much. Sometimes I think he considers her a goddess. Like she knows everything and she teaches very well. But, no. I would rather have him as our teacher. He teaches better. He corrects our wrongs better. He is better.

She taught us everything about poems, essays, plays, short stories and novels. I understood the lessons anyway. Actually, I had already applied what I learned! I had made a poem and a short story. I took a break on writing my novel and I am currently working on a play. Haha. I’m a writer now! The thing is, my works are in English. I really find it hard to express in Filipino and I don’t have a wide range of vocabulary in it. Anyway, I still applied her teachings, right?

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Canon in D

I'm currently listening to Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D. Haha. You must be laughing and wondering why I'm into classics.

Our class was suspended last Wednesday and I forgot to bring my banduria. I'm wasting 6 school-free days. I should have spent those rainy, school-free days trying to play it. I should be playing it correctly by now. I hate myself for forgetting to bring my instrument. Our teacher gave me until Wednesday to study the piece. That's my consequence for signing up late. See, we have a contest coming on, I think, November in the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP). It happens only every four years. Too bad, the 4th year students last year are very good. I'm not sure about the contest's schedule yet.

I've been listening to Canon in D for a couple of times now. And I'm not yet sure if I can learn it before Wednesday. I used my composer to listen to Canon in D before I downloaded it. I have the piece but I don't have my instrument. T.T

Our teacher gave me another challenge. I must memorize the piece since we're not allowed to have a copy of the piece when we record it using a VTR. I don't have any trouble memorizing pieces. I memorize a piece by playing it. I always sing the notes when I play a certain song. Haha. It sounds weird but that's my way of memorizing.

I'm addicted to Canon in D. It keeps on playing all over my head. I hope that my addiction would give me a positive effect, be able to play it on Wednesday. I'm also addicted to "Way Back Into Love". I heard it from a friend. I spent two school-free days last week listening to it. I've been so addicted I searched for its piece online. I found one, fortunately. Now, I'm addicted to two songs. Haha. If you're one of the people who loves "Way Back Into Love", you can ask me for a copy of the piece.