ANNUAL REVIEW 2015

So we approach the end of another year, and it's time yet again to take stock on what has transpired. I was hoping to reflect and write up this post during my recent trip to Edinburgh, but of course it slipped my mind as I was doing and seeing a lot of things there in a short space of time, and missed out on a few things. More on that later.
  Anyway, I have a busy day today, so I will try to keep things brief. My main highlights for 2015 have been as follows: 

• Breaking the ice between Vanessa's parents and mine on Australia Day. We had both been praying about the meeting, and I was only a little bit nervous about how things would go, but as it turned out I think everyone had a good time.
• My decision to come and spend one year working in London had its roots in February when I received an email from Smart Teachers advertising a shortage of teachers, and one month later an "aunt" from church also suggested I should go to London. After talking it over with my parents and doing some research and thinking, I decided to go for it. Although the separation has been hard on Vanessa, I do not regret my decision to do this now before things between us get serious and I need to start thinking about settling down when I return in early September.  
• I also enjoyed my time teaching at Deakin University English Language Institute, where I was able to meet and help some interesting students and get to know my colleagues. I will probably return there when I get back to Melbourne, at least in the early stages while I set up my own freelance language teaching service.
• My trip to NZ with Vanessa in June / July where I re-learned how to ski in Queenstown and then experienced an accident on the drive from there to Dunedin. I am thankful that nobody was hurt, and that I had taken out full cover when I paid for the rental car!
• The 2015 World Cups for cricket - a crazy tournament with bat and ball which was won by Australia! - and rugby. Even though that was won by the All Blacks, who probably deserved it, there were some amazing matches, top of course being Japan's epic upset over South Africa. Then there was the tragic postscript as rugby legend Jonah Lomu lost his life shortly after arriving back in New Zealand.
• And last but not least, joining the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir from MUCS and later the London Philharmonic Choir after arriving in the UK, and doing some fabulous concerts with both choirs.

I returned last night from a two-and-a-half day trip to Edinburgh, where I had a wonderful time in spite of the wind and rain. My friend from LPC was unfortunately not able to meet up with me, but she left me a scavenger hunt of things to see and do, most of which I was able to cover. I definitely have to make one more trip to Edinburgh, when the weather is warmer and more things are open; quite a number of things were closed either because it was winter or because of the holiday season.
  This afternoon I'm catching up with Jiakai, a classmate from my Master of Teaching days who is now teaching in Australia and on holiday here in London. We're going to check out the Natural History Museum before going to the Viennese New Years Eve Gala concert at the Barbican Centre. 
  So, as London's New Year is still ten hours away during which time most of the world will have reached it before us, I wish everyone a blessed and prosperous 2016!
  Cheers and God bless,

One week till Christmas

  It is now three-and-a-half months into my London adventure, and although the days are now dark by 4 pm - Winter Solstice is on Monday - the weather thankfully is still quite mild. It almost reminds of winter back in Melbourne. 
  Talking of Melbourne, the weather there looks like it's going to be scorching summer, which I'll be glad to again escape. I skyped with my parents last night (as has become weekly routine) and was told, among other things, that the next few days were going to be really warm. 
  As I said in my previous post, I was going to talk briefly about my time so far with the London Philharmonic Choir (LPC). After successfully auditioning at the end of my discovery rehearsal, I have been involved in a busy concert schedule. My first LPC concert was on September 26 when we performed Serge Taneyev's St John of Damascus with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, which is the London Philharmonic's home base. Then our next concert was on October 30 at the Royal Albert Hall with Sir Karl Jenkins conducting a concert of his Stabat Mater and a selection of his most popular works, including Adiemus and Palladio. That was my first time ever at the Royal Albert Hall and although it was an exhausting concert, it was worth the standing ovation at the end.
  We've been back to the Royal Albert Hall several times since. We performed the Classical Spectacular there last month, and on Wednesday we had the first of our two Christmas concerts at the venue. We shared the stage with the world-renowned Kings' College Choir from Cambridge, who had just returned from an overseas tour and were probably feeling the effects of it, but nonetheless still sang well. Our second Christmas concert there is on Monday with the Trinity Boys Choir, which I'm quite looking forward to. 
  Last week we also held a charity Christmas gig at Waterloo station with the LPO brass. Of course, since Waterloo is very busy, we drew a large crowd, and maestro Vladimir Jurovski even made a cameo appearance! It would have been great to have a few more singers to be heard against the brass ensemble, but it was still fun and we were given a free drink at the Wellington Pub afterwards for our efforts. 
  Much like back in Melbourne, choir singing has become an activity I look forward to during the week, especially when it's been a hectic one. In addition, I've made some wonderful friends and connections.
  As some of you know, I spent Christmas in Germany several years ago as an exchange student, and was properly introduced to the wonderful world of the Weihnachtsmarkt (German Christmas market) and the baked Christmas goods that are a key part of festive celebrations in that part of the world. Last week, a friend from Berlin sent a package containing my favourite Christmas goodies: Niederegger Marzipankartoffeln, Dresdner Christstollen, Nürnberger Oblaten Lebkuchen, Ritter Sport Chocolates (Christmas Edition flavours!), and Gefüllte Zartbitter Herzen. This early Christmas present goes a long way to making this festive holiday away from family a bit more bearable, and also is a massive money-saver; I could have bought all this from the German Deli here, but it would have been very expensive!
  My plans for Christmas Day are fairly simple. A friend from choir who lives very nearby has offered me a ride to St Paul's for the 11 a.m. service, which I'm very grateful for, but I'll need to make sure I get there just after 10 a.m. latest, as I'm anticipating the service will have full attendance. Then after the service, I will need to use the public bike hire system to ride to my friend's place in east London for Christmas lunch, since public transport is not operating on the day. Then on the 28th I'm heading up to Edinburgh (with Mimi, of course!) for a few days, where a good friend from LPC who comes from there will be my local tour guide. Then I'll be back in London in time for New Year celebrations, but I don't think I'll be taking part in the ones in the city; there'll be too many people and I'm no party animal.  
  Anyway, I'll need the time to write up my annual review, which I missed out on doing last year, so I'm determined to do a big wrap-up in time for New Year's Eve.
  Wishing you a merry and safe festive season with family and friends,
  Cheers and God bless!

October Update

It's almost the end of my second month in London, and as the clocks were turned back one hour on Saturday, it now means the days start to get shorter and colder.
 Much has happened since my previous update from Lyon. A day after returning from my French experience, I moved into my accommodation near Queens Park railway station in the west of London. My accommodation is an old, almost rundown Victorian house with a landlady who occupies the ground and first floor, while I live on the second floor in a single room and share a kitchen and bathroom with a Filipino couple who are currently on holiday visiting family and friends in the Philippines. 
 I started working as a supply teacher with Smart Teachers on the Friday after returning from Lyon and initially there was a fair bit of work coming in, but then came a few weeks where it was very quiet and although I enjoyed the days off at first, it did become a bit frustrating, especially after I was taken off the Guaranteed Work Scheme (GWS), which in hindsight I should never have signed up for in the first place. However, I was now free to join other agencies, and so I quickly found another agency close to where I live - Trust Education (if you sign up through here, please mention me as your reference!) - and I've really enjoyed dealing with them so far, especially since they also have CXC as one of their umbrella companies. So there is some advice to would-be supply teachers, which I was actually given by ex-supply teachers: Avoid signing a GWS with an agency unless you have absolutely no other alternative. Instead sign up with two or three agencies.
 I've been sent to a number of schools mostly around the west side of London, and of course I've had my share of good days and not so good days in the classroom, both as a teacher and teaching assistant. One stint included going to David Beckham's old primary school for two days out in east London, an experience that, while not a complete disaster thanks to God's grace, confirmed to me that I was much better suited to a secondary environment!
 I have been fortunate to be in England for most of the 2015 Rugby World Cup - not needing to worry about time difference, for a start! - and what a tournament it has been! Understandably, since the hosts got kicked out during the group phase, the vibe around town has been somewhat muted. But as a proud supporter of southern hemisphere rugby, I was thrilled for the Rugby Championship to take the points this time over the Six Nations, especially on their home turf. The game that set the tone for the tournament was without question Japan's seismic 34-32 win over South Africa (which I missed because I was in Berlin that weekend!), and indeed over the course of the weeks we saw more thrilling tries, absorbing rugby and epic encounters. It has been very pleasing to see the so-called Second Tier countries like Japan and Georgia making statements, especially since Japan will host the next World Cup in 2019. 
 A few weeks after my trip to Paris, I flew to Berlin for a weekend to surprise Jan-Philip (JP), an old friend from my time as an exchange student, for his 40th birthday. It was great to be back in a city which I grew to love, and still do love, even though it was only for a short while, and reconnect with friends I hadn't seen in years. It was also a great chance to meet JP's parents, who are very lovely and hospitable people. I am planning at least two further short trips to Berlin during my adventures over on this side of the world, first with Vanessa when she arrives in April and then sometime during my summer trip before returning to Australia. I haven't really had time to travel around England, but last Friday I took the train up north to catch up with one of my cousins from Holland, Pau-Tjioe, who was over with his wife and kids visiting friends in Peterborough. Tomorrow I'm taking a day trip to Oxford. Really looking forward to it!
 To continue on the subject of travel, a few weeks ago, Mum and Dad also set off for what I believe is their first overseas trip together since shortly after I was born, which of course is a LONG time ago! They first went to Hong Kong and then to my Dad's hometown, Xiamen. Dad hasn't been back to Xiamen since he left with my grandparents when he was five, so I'm sure he's having an amazing time catching up with relatives he either has not met before or not seen in a long time. They fly back to Melbourne on Saturday, so prayers for their safe return are appreciated.
 I was also going to write some stuff about my time so far with the London Philharmonic, but I fear this post is already getting too long. Leave it for the next one, I guess.
 Cheers and God bless!

Salutations de Lyon!

As you may have guessed from the title I am indeed in France, as I said that I might be in my previous post. A lot has happened since my arrival in Europe, and today is actually my last full day before taking the train back to London.

Almost right from the moment I set foot in England, things have been go go go in terms of getting set up for my employment and residence in London. Already there have been so many people to thank God for, including my cousin Peter and his wife Angel, for providing accommodation at their place in Slough during my first two weeks. 

(c) Jeremy Wong, 2015

Amidst the hecticness of getting a bank account set up, completing paperwork for my agency and umbrella company, searching for (and finding) accommodation in Greater London, and applying for my French course, I have had time to catch up with friends and do some sightseeing.

I have been in Lyon for nearly two weeks doing an intensive French language course which, by the way, I will be able to claim back as a work-related expense (WOOHOO!), and it's fair to say I definitely prefer here to Paris. According to my impressions, the people here are more relaxed and friendly, the food of course is fantastic, and the culture is just as rich as anywhere in France. Of special mention are free things such as the beautiful churches, the Parc de la Tête d'Or (which has a zoo with RED PANDAS in it!) and the Roman ruins in Fourvière. I've also enjoyed getting around the city by various means, whether it be by foot, by public bicycle, or by metro. 

(c) Jeremy Wong, 2015

The school I've been studying at (Lyon Bleu International) has been fantastic for meeting and making friends with other people from different backgrounds who are also there to learn French. I also came with the hope of starting at B1 level and exiting at B2 level, which is exactly what I've achieved. In case you don't know, B1 and B2 refer to the European framework for language proficiency, A1 being absolute beginner and C2 being native speaker level. Given that I hadn't studied French in a formal classroom setting before this course, I think that's a pretty decent effort. B2 level should be sufficient to teach French throughout all high school grades in London, and later back in Australia. Of course, having C1 level French would be ideal, but that's something to work towards.

During my time in Lyon, I've been fortunate to be accommodated in a home stay with a local family who have three adorable cats, and I'll miss those cats when I have to leave tomorrow. I've also enjoyed getting to know my fellow housemate, a Swiss German bloke named Pascal, who was also studying at Lyon Bleu (we were in different classes) and actually spent some time in Australia.

(c) Jeremy Wong, 2015

I will depart Lyon tomorrow at noon and hopefully arrive in Paris at around 2.30 pm. Then I have to transfer to Gare du Nord station to take the Eurostar back to London. If all goes smoothly, I should arrive back in London before 6 pm UK time. I will stay one more night at my cousin's place before moving to my London accommodation on Sunday. At this stage, I'm not sure if I'll be working on Monday - I'll have to wait and see what my consultant at Smart Teachers says. That evening I'll be attending a discovery rehearsal with the London Philharmonic Choir, and then have my audition afterward. Although I'm quite confident I'll get in, I won't be taking it lightly.

Alright, that's all for now. Cheers and God bless! 

Four Days to Go...

It has been a busy few days, in terms of preparing for my adventure in England (and Europe) and saying farewells, which I hope to only be temporary. The feelings are of course a mixture of anticipation, excitement and a little nervousness.

(c) anaa yoo. Available under license CC BY-ND 2.0

Yesterday, I printed out the last few documents and also began converting some Aussie money into pounds and euros. There remain just a few things to do before I leave. Besides packing my luggage, which I'll probably start on Monday, and activating my UK SIM before departing Melbourne, I need to have a chat with the representative from CXC Global, the umbrella company I have signed up with, to become familiar with how the payment process works, and also whether I can claim language study in France as a work-related expense. More about that later.  

Some of you may be wondering what will happen with Vanessa. Well, I'm pleased to say that she's already booked her flight to come and visit me at Easter next year. I'm thankful that God has enabled us to spend some time together over the next three days before the 6+ month period of physical separation begins. During that time, we will keep in touch via Facebook and Skype, and although the separation will be hard for her, she has already promised to keep herself busy and productive, which demonstrates her maturity. 

Then on Tuesday, the night before I leave, I will be participating in my final concert in Melbourne until I return next year. In conjunction with his group PLEXUS, RMP's accompanist Stefan Cassomenos will be premiering his most recent composition, Requiem for the End of Time. We have been rehearsing it for the last few weeks, and dare I say it sounds amazing. It's certainly an original setting for the traditional liturgical text, a culmination of various music styles to symbolize the title. Thankfully, my flight is in the afternoon, so there's no morning rush the day after.

Besides getting used to my new surroundings and sorting out paperwork, there are some things to already look forward to. 
On August 15 - my third day in London - my church friends Tim and Charlene will be tying the knot after getting engaged at the start of the year. Although I won't be there in person, I will of course be thinking of them and praying that their wedding and honeymoon will be a joyful occasion.

(c) Jim Howard. Available under license CC BY-NC 2.0

That evening I will be attending my second live international rugby match - a Rugby World Cup warm-up between England and France - at Twickenham, one of the game's great venues. I've already purchased my ticket, and prefer not to divulge how much it cost. Needless to say, in general, attending sporting events in London is VERY expensive, but I'm sure the atmosphere alone will be worth the price, and if the game is an entertaining one, that will be a welcome bonus.

I have also been seriously contemplating heading over to France to undertake an intensive two-week language course to give my French skills a boost before I start teaching. In a sense, starting out as a supply teacher could turn out to be a good thing; my supply work contract with my agency (Smart Teachers) doesn't start until 14 September, which gives me some leeway into September if I need it. 

(c) by Les SIM's. Available under license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 

At this stage, I might enrol with a language school called Lyon Bleu International, due mainly to location (I haven't yet been to Lyon and really want to visit it!), flexible course dates and accommodation options. Although my main method is German, I have been asked by Smart Teachers if I can also teach Spanish or French, given that they are the two most popular foreign language choices at high schools in London. I have done some casual relief teaching here for French, and my reading skills are reasonable due to my fascination with the language, but my listening and speaking need some work. Also, I have yet to learn French in a formal classroom setting. To try and get some sort of head-start, I've recently started listening to the recordings of the renowned language teacher Michel Thomas, whose method I greatly admire and am aiming to incorporate into my teaching style. 

By the time I write my next post I will most likely be in London. Prayers for journey mercies are most appreciated.
Till next time, Cheers and God bless!

End of Trip Reflections

In a matter of hours, Vanessa and I will be boarding our return flight to Melbourne via Christchurch. While our trip is coming to an end, I am thankful that I have an extra week of holiday when I return. I will need to use that time productively though to prepare for what lies ahead. Right now, we're doing the last little bits of housekeeping before we depart for the airport.

Our NZ getaway has been nothing short of amazing. We have been blessed with lovely weather, and even the "worst" day (our third day in Queenstown) had its fair share of sunshine. 

The getaway, among other things, has given Vanessa and I quality time to spend with each other and grow our relationship. There have of course been moments of friction, which for me is a sign of progress in our walk together, and I'd like to think that those moments were handled with maturity and grace by both of us.

(c) Jeremy Wong. Available under license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0  

We have also been spoiled with very delicious food. Not surprisingly, that has constituted the biggest expense of our getaway, but the meals were worth it. The meal that stood out for me was the Shabu shabu nabemono (thinly sliced beef hotpot) at Minami Jujisei restaurant in Queenstown on our second day. Just thinking about it brings a contented smile to my face!

One of the most pleasing aspects of my time here has been the progress I made in skiing. I did fulfill my ambition of attempting a blue run, even though I wiped-out five times going down it! I hope to have another chance to practice soon (hopefully in Europe during the winter) to consolidate the skills I learned. 

During my times travelling away from home, I have always felt an enhanced sense of God's grace and protection, and this trip has been no different. Two incidents stand out:

1) The first incident was during our second day on the slopes at Coronet Peak. Upon arrival, I was tasked with carrying skis and ski poles up the stairs to the lobby. As I was struggling, a stranger offered to carry the ski poles for me but forgot to tell me where he would leave them. 

Now you need to bear in mind that our ski equipment was rented. I naively assumed he would go on ahead of me to the lobby and return them to me when I got there. However, the man was nowhere to be found when I reached the lobby, and for that matter, neither were the ski poles. 

After a quick search, I alerted Vanessa, who conducted a more thorough search but came up empty. In desperation, I started praying to God to help me find those ski poles. After several fruitless searches and inquiries, we were about to give up when I was prompted to search outside one more time, but this time I went all the way back to the carpark stairs. HALLELUJAH! The ski poles had been left at the top of the stairs. 

2) The second incident arose on our drive from Queenstown to Dunedin in our rented Toyota RAV 4 from Thrifty. It had been a relatively smooth ride until on State Highway 8, a truck driving on the other side of the road had an unsecured package fall onto the road in front of us. I had almost no time to react due to the speed at which we were travelling; all I could do was instinctively brace for impact. 

(c) Vanessa Chen. Available under license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

The thud was fairly loud and I could see bits of debris in my rear-view mirror which gave me some indication of how bad the damage was, although it wasn't until we stopped in Dunedin that the full extent was revealed. Although the rental policy is to disclose details of an accident as soon as possible, it was a good thing I continued driving onwards, even though the dashboard warning systems started flashing.  

We drove until we reached Thrifty's Dunedin City office. Unfortunately I parked in an illegal area, and when I tried to restart the car, the engine wouldn't engage. Fortunately I had taken out comprehensive insurance when picking up the car in Queenstown, which meant I would pay no excess for damages incurred. The paperwork was quickly sorted and a replacement rental car was arranged for the rest of our trip. So if you are wondering which car rental company to choose if travelling to New Zealand, I can heartily recommend Thrifty! 

I have really enjoyed the opportunity to get away from the busyness of life at home and just slow down and enjoy the beautiful scenery and time to rest and relax. But as I gear up to head home, here are some of the things to "look forward to":

• Arranging farewell catch-ups with friends before heading off to London;
• Sorting out my tax return to give my bank balance a bit of a boost; and
• Clearing out my bedroom for my brother to use while I'm away, and then sorting out what to take and what to leave behind.

Before I end this post, I want to put a quick shout-out to the Highlanders who are taking on the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby final in Wellington tonight. I was an on-and-off supporter of the 'Landers before I met Vanessa who, being an ex-Dunedinite, is a committed Highlanders fan. Although I have a soft spot for the Crusaders, the Highlanders have again become my NZ team due to Vanessa. 

Cheers and God bless.

Greetings from Queenstown!

(c) by Geee Kay. Available under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 

It is a very cold evening as I sit at my laptop in my room at the Goldridge Resort typing out this blog post. Vanessa and I arrived in Queenstown this afternoon for the start of our long-awaited ski holiday. It's the first we've had as a couple, and it will be our last one for a while. More about that soon. 
It has only been now, away from the hustle and bustle of life at home, that I've really been able to reflect on the past few weeks. 

The weeks between my previous post on my birthday till now have been busy, mainly with teaching at DUELI and also starting up with an online company called Wealthy Affiliates.
I've really appreciated the opportunity at DUELI to try my hand at both General English (GE) and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) at varying levels, and the previous intake was arguably the most satisfying to date.
It was my first time taking EAP 3 (I had done two stints at level 2 and had a few weeks doing level 1 before flying out of Melbourne today) and with the help of my co-teacher, I'm pleased to say that everyone in the class passed, which is actually not as frequent an achievement as you would think. 

(c) by SEOPlanter. Available under CC BY 2.0

Before joining Wealthy Affiliates in May, I had tried my hand at two other online wealth creation companies, only to find they weren't really for me. For a while now, the idea of earning additional income through creating an online business has appealed strongly to me, given that a teacher's salary is only adequate at best and I'm looking to buy a house with Vanessa hopefully next year, among other things.
Having already been "burned" once, I made sure I read as many reviews as I could on Wealthy Affiliates before making my decision. So far, I haven't regretted it, although I have yet to earn any money from the new website I've created, Best Ways to Learn Languages. But the Wealthy Affiliate courses provide you with valuable step-by-step instruction in which you learn new skills, and encourage you to connect with other members of the community online who are happy to help you out and provide positive feedback. 

A few posts ago, I mentioned the possibility of me going to teach in the UK for one year. I can now confirm that IT IS HAPPENING! 
I went to collect my working visa on Monday and also booked my flight to London. I managed to secure a discounted airfare from Flight Centre (beating a competitor's price!) to fly via Singapore on August 12.
Vanessa appears to have resigned herself to my impending absence, which I'm relieved about in some ways. She has promised to keep herself busy, while I've promised to keep in touch with her as often as possible while away. However, she has booked her tickets for a two-week visit during the Easter holiday next year, so that's something to look forward to!
I have a cousin living in Slough, a town west of London near Heathrow Airport, and thankfully he has agreed to let me stay for the first two or so weeks while I search for share house accommodation. With a clear departure date now set, the countdown begins, during which there are whole host of things I need to sort out before then.  

Anyway, back to the present. After arriving in Queenstown, we set about getting ready for the rest of our time. After checking in at Goldridge, we went to hire our ski gear before hitting the shops to get food supplies. 

(c) by Sandro Lacarbona. Available under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 

Before returning to our accommodation, we stopped by for dinner at one of the local culinary institutions, Fergburger. Being some what cold and hungry, I decided to order the Mr Big Stuff. They definitely weren't kidding with the description of BIG! I ate about four-fifths of it before I had to call it quits, but it was delicious. 
Tomorrow we're headed to Coronet Peak for our first day of skiing. I have only been skiing once prior, and that was the Year 10 snow trip to Mt Buller, and even then we only spent one day there. At least this time I should have sufficient opportunities to practice. My personal goal is that by the last day in Queenstown, I'll be able to follow Vanessa down a blue run. Wish me luck!

Cheers and God bless

Reflections on turning 29

Thankfully for me, birthdays have mostly been joyous affairs. The standout ones so far have been my 18th, 21st and my most previous one, my 28th. This year's one promises to be just as good.

Like New Year, birthdays have also served as a time to reflect on my past, present and future, and give thanks to God for His generous love and grace.

As most of you know, I have mild Asperger's Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder characterized by difficulties in social interaction and awkward, at times obsessive behaviour. Although of course my parents found out from friends who observed me when I was little, I didn't find out until my late teens what it was that I had. All I knew was that I was different from everybody else, and while at times I felt happy being unique, I also desired to be "normal" like those around me. My recollections of my early years are very vague, but I remember having to undergo speech therapy and then having a social integration aide in primary school.

I'm thankful to my parents that they didn't treat me differently because of my condition; I guess it helps that both are in the medical profession. They did their research, learned along the way how best to help me, and I'd like to think that they're now starting to reap the rewards of their patience and efforts. 

My condition may also have played a part in me developing a sense of inferiority and worthlessness, which led to many years of struggle with low self-esteem. Especially once I became aware of my condition, and that I would have it for my whole earthly life, I even dared to say to God, "Why have You made me this way? I wish I could be just like everyone else and not feel so retarded in my social development."

But God in His infinite mercy, patience and wisdom has been working slowly to change me into the person He wants me to be. The answer to my question came in a roundabout way when I recalled to mind the episode in John's Gospel where Jesus restored a man's sight by anointing his eyes with mud, a man who had been blind from birth. Before he did that, his disciples asked him:  

"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." (John 9:2-3, ESV) 

It has been thanks to a combination of this revelation, which has only come with the gift of hindsight, along with the importance of understanding that everyone has different struggles, and finding approval by God and not by man, that I'm in a position to say to God today:

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14, ESV)

I hope that my life so far has been a testimony to God's grace and glory. Thanks to Him being in me and by my side I have overcome all sorts of challenges, and will hopefully continue to overcome greater challenges that lie ahead.

I also thank God for bringing many special people my way who have helped me along my life journey, some of whom I will be celebrating my birthday with later today. 

Special thanks to my amazing girlfriend Vanessa, for accepting me as I am and being so loving and supportive, even if I don't seem appreciative sometimes. You truly have been God's gift to me, and I hope to continue treating you as such and never take you for granted.

Before I finish this post, a quick shout-out to Becky and Scott, who were happily joined in holy matrimony in front of friends and family on a delightful day. It was great to catch up briefly with both of them and I wish them firstly a blissful honeymoon and secondly the joy of starting their own family hopefully in the not-too-distant future.

Cheers and God bless!

UK-bound?

As mentioned in my previous post, I am planning to go to England to teach for one year. Before I continue, a quick warning to my girlfriend (in case she opens this post): YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ THIS! I'll talk a bit more later about why I added that.

It all started when I received an email from the Smart Teachers agency in February, informing me that England was suffering from a shortage of teachers, and that there was guaranteed work for international qualified teachers, particularly Australian ones. At the time I didn't think much of it, other than that it would be something nice to do.

The real catalyst came later in the week that Sunday morning at church. Before the service, I had a brief chat with one of the aunties whose daughter, a long-time friend of mine, is moving to England from Spain later in the year to teach. She told me that I should also consider going since I am still eligible to apply for a work visa under the Youth Mobility Scheme.

When I got home, I looked at the email again, and then, just to be sceptical, I googled "teacher shortage UK" and sure enough, a whole range of articles came up about how in certain areas the problem is at "crisis" level. With my mind now set at ease, I registered for the information session held in Melbourne. I then set about asking for advice and information from people living / who have lived in England and those who had experience teaching there.

While the information session with Smart Teachers didn't convince me to go, it did convince me that if I were to go, it would be with them. They seem quite a professional organization, composed mainly of ex-teachers who know how the system works there. I've been to Europe twice now, but not yet to England, which is a must on my to-visit list.

The circumstances seem right to go. I'm not yet tied down to any schools in Melbourne, and finding ongoing work has been difficult. I've already mentioned the Youth Mobility Scheme, and many whom I've talked to have said it will be great for my career development and look good on my CV.

My parents haven't said no, but being who they are, they've asked me to consider things carefully, especially when it comes to finances, accommodation and future work prospects here.

For me, the biggest downside of going is that I would have to leave Vanessa behind. Even though her parents have said she can come and visit when they are on holiday, it's still going to be very hard for her. The thought of me going has touched a raw nerve, and therefore I have promised her that until my departure is fully confirmed, we will not talk about this when we are alone together.

I know that one reason is the length of time we would be apart, which is why for Vanessa's sake I would only go for one year, although the Youth Mobility Scheme allows successful applicants to stay for two years. The other main reason I can think of is that Vanessa's previous relationship when she was in New Zealand ended because she was coming back to Melbourne, and when she tried to get in touch with her ex, he wouldn't respond, leaving her very sad. I have assured her that if I do end up going, according to the famous Beatles song: "I'll write home every day, and send all my loving to you." Thank God that these days we have it so easy with Facebook!

On Monday, I had a phone interview with Smart Teachers as a follow-up to the information session I attended, and now have some paperwork to fill out before we can proceed. I'll be sure to keep you posted on how that all goes.

This afternoon, I will have the privilege of attending my first wedding for 2015, between old friends Becky and Scott, who have been together since 2002 and then got engaged last year. I wish the both of them all of God's blessings and a long, happy and fruitful marriage. 

Then tomorrow is my birthday, which I will talk more about in my next post. 

Cheers and God bless!

Change Is In the Air!

2015 has been a busy year so far, and it's only now, four months into the year, that I've taken some time to reflect on what has been going on, and what may be to come. Every year marks a season of change, and although many people dislike it, development cannot happen if there is no change.

Barely had the year begun and I was back into the thick of teaching Academic English Studies (AES) at Deakin. Unlike most universities in Australia, which operate their academic year in semesters, Deakin University operates in trimesters, along with the University of Canberra and Bond University.

After another intake of teaching English for Academic Purposes (EAP), I decided on a change of scenery and chose to teach General English (GE) for the following intake. As you might be able to tell from the course name, GE is not as academically driven as EAP. There's more emphasis on grammar and everyday English, and the pace is slightly more relaxed. In some ways, GE resembles teaching at primary school; every day, lessons include a spelling test and 15 minutes scheduled silent reading time.

Another change to happen already this year is that after four wonderful years singing with MUCS, I've decided to jump ship and join the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir (here after referred to as RMP). Thankfully, because MUCS has worked so closely with RMP over the last few years, the change hasn't been a drastic one. I was pleased to hear from my singing teacher Helena that Andrew, the conductor at both MUCS and RMP, has been impressed with the improvement in my singing. Our first major concert this year is with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in May, when we perform a re-enactment of Beethoven's epic 1808 Vienna concert. You can find more details about that here.

My relationship with Vanessa has been steadily growing, and ever since our siblings got married last year, people have started asking when will it be our turn. However, as we've said, we're not going to rush things but wait for God's proper timing. We are now starting to see each other most weekends, and I'm glad to see Vanessa gradually becoming more involved at my church. We've been able to tick off a few more relationship milestones so far this year, big and small: the biggest one was introducing our parents to each other on Australia Day, and I think it's fair to say that the meeting was a success. As for a small but significant trust-building milestone, we recently went on an Easter holiday retreat with church friends near Wilsons Promontory in south-eastern Victoria, and on the way home, I let Vanessa drive part of the way back to her place. It was her first time driving my car, and given the difficult road conditions, she handled it well.

Yet another significant change that may be about to happen later this year is a move to the UK to teach for one year. There's a lot to cover about that, so I'll leave it for my next post.

Cheers and God bless!