Back to School

As the saying goes, you're never too old to learn new tricks!

Australia as they say is the land of opportunities (kung hindi ka maarte, okay?) and I am taking advantage of what is available for me, hoping that it in the future it will be of use to me and my family.

Even back in Manila, I have always dreamed of putting up my own pre-school. That was the reason why I actually took Educational Administration for my Master's degree. But destiny intervened and we migrated here and that plan was put aside.

I was blessed to have been able to still practice the same profession as I had in Manila and it was also an opportunity for me to study the ropes of the trade. In our almost five years of stay here I have learned that they are stricter when it comes to your training and the work you're after. Unlike in Manila, where you can teach even if your course is not related to teaching, here you can't. Much more when you deal with smaller kids.

Sa atin, kahit ang layo ng kurso mo, kung gusto mo mag-teacher, go! Kung gusto mo magtayo ng pre-school (syempre dapat may pera ka) kahit kulang ang qualifications mo o wala kang ni isang kurso sa early childhood, go pa rin! Dito hindi. BAWAL.

They take your training seriously. Ako nga, Educ graduate na, hindi pa rin pwede magturo sa elementary unless mag-aaral ulit ako ng Teaching in Primary School (nakakturo ako kasi tinignan nila yung seven years teaching experience ko sa grade school).

Back to my blog. To make the long story short, I have reignited that dream of mine to hopefully put up my own pre-school (and childcare) in the future. You always have a guaranteed clientele for childcare here as nanny or yayas are not really part of the culture. In Sam's childcare alone, there are already 5 unborn kids who are on the wait list! Yes, unborn kids! With the standard of living getting higher every year many parents have no other choice but to work and that is when childcare centres goes into the picture. There is really a need in chidcare especially in our area where there is a boom in real estate!

Thankfully, both my undergrad and Masters' degree were validated and were accredited as to being comparable to Australian degrees. Now I only need to work on my early childhood qualifications. This is the reason why I decided to pursue a Diploma on Early Childhood Education and Care.

It took me a couple of years to muster enough strength to actually do it. It took a lot of emails and researches, comparisons, and inquiries to different schools and providers. I am not just sure if my timing is right as now my plate is already full because as I start with this, we are also very busy with the home project.

I chose to do the course through online study. It will be my first to do online studies and after 3 weeks, I can say that I still have to establish a routine or a style that will be most effective for me. I have three years to finish the course. I am hoping that I could finish that before the deadline.

Thankfully, I didn't have to shell out a single centavo as I am qualified with the government aid, being an Australian citizen. I can study now and pay later, as soon as my annual salary reaches their cap. At this point, I am still not worried because if I continue to work as a casual, I am safe of having to start the repayments to the government. So even if we have started with the mortgage payments, I can safely say that it will still not add to our expenses.

Finishing it in three years' time does not mean I will already leave the teaching force in the big schools. Putting up a childcare here is costly, no make that very costly! I plan to make baby steps. But as for now, I'll just take it one subject at a time.

You might ask, why study again when I can already teach here? Well, as I've said, when I'm much older, I wouldn't want to still be inside the classroom. I want to see myself and my career evolve. I hope to have moved on from teaching to doing the admin work, more of the person behind the curtains.

Big dreams? Yes. I see nothing wrong with it. It's worth a try, right? Libre mangarap. At least when I'm there, I can confidently say that I am ready to cross the bridge.

Keeping the faith!

2014 Goals

Happy new year!

I really can't believe that Christmas break came too quickly!

Alvin is back to the daily grind so I am left with the kids until Kuya Liam goes back to school on 29 January :-)

It has been a habit that during my quiet moments, I find myself reflecting, thinking and praying for my goals for the coming year.

I started with this list late last year and I can only hope and pray that I will be able to achieve all these goals and projects for 2014.


For 2014, I plan to become more active in helping and in taking care of our environment. After all the natural calamities we had last year, I think it's about time we seriously think about our environment and the ways how we can protect it especially for our kids. As they say every little thing counts! So here is my share. I:
-will bring my reusable eco bags when I go shopping or when I do the grocery
- will be making compost pits at home
- will refrain from using plastic plates spoon etc if there is an affair at home

For 2014, I plan to better take care of my health. I am learning through the sad experiences of relatives who faced major health issues towards the end of 2013.
For 2014, I:
- will bike at least 10 minutes a day (stationary bike at home)
- will continue with apple cider vinegar therapy to start my day
- will continue with lemon water
- will have vegetable salad as starters before having the mains
- will (try) to lessen use of internet, trying to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome

For 2014, I will be wiser in handling our finances. I/we:
- will lessen buying stuff with brands
- will lessen buying and giving kids what they like in a whim
- will lessen my habit of impulse buying
- will continue training the kids how to handle their money wisely
- will start sponsoring a Filipino scholar thru Ancop
- will continue helping our chosen NGOs as a means of sharing our blessings

This year, we are praying that all shall fall into place and:

- I can finally submit and get my Professional Competence accreditation  from NSWIT early this year
- travel as a family (again, interstate or out of the country)
- buy our first home (late this year)

I am actually toying with the idea of going back to school by taking an online course. I feel that my brain needs it :-) Hubby is actually okay with it so we'll see :-)

These are the only things I have considered and reflected to do in 2014. I know there will be a lot of other things that can happen which are unplanned. I am actually not worried for whatever unplanned things that might happen, I am very sure, God is in control. So bring it on 2014!

Refreshed, Recharged, Renewed

Hubby and I spent the weekend attending a Marriage Enrichment Retreat.

There were plenty of realizations.

There were plenty of discussions.

There were plenty of affirmations.

Plans were made.

Vows renewed.

Hurts forgiven.

We're all set to achieve our goals.

We're ready to go the next mile!

Partners indeed. Truly, we are God's gift to one another.

:)

Note: the weekend retreat was such a wonderful experience and i think if i write everything that transpired there, it would lose it's being memorable and special :)

So pardon me...probably soon I'd have the time and I'd be ready to share that part of our journey :)

So Many Things

I'm making a quick blog entry this morning while waiting for Hi5 to finish and start another work day for me.

There has been a lot of events and things to write about but so little time. I want to write about our weekends and my first week as a full time teacher (for two weeks).

I want to finish reading my book A Thousand Splendid Suns and catch up on reading parenting magazines.

Hay. Hehehe :) I'm choosing not to stress. I know that I'll have all the time soon to do all those things.

Happy day everyone!

Keeping My Fingers Crossed

Let us rewind the hands of the clock a bit.

Way back in Manila, when I was just starting my career as a teacher, I had this crazy idea: I have thought of putting up my own pre-school when I am already of age and retired (or even earlier, funds permitting). After a few months, I started my Master's degree on Basic Education and found it a bit boring (Sorry, but it was like I was taking my undergrad courses again). I looked at my other options. I remembered my crazy idea. Put the pieces of the puzzle together. The end-result? I'll put up my own pre-school when I retire so I needed to change my grad course if I was dead serious with it. I was so into it because I never had the inkling that I will be migrating someday. I shifted my Masteral Degree from Basic Education to Educational Administration to prepare me for that big day.

Then, fate stepped in. Our migration happened.

Slowly, I forgot this crazy idea.

I forgot about this dream.

And then something hit me just last week. Yes, last week, when I was a bit bored, doing some reflecting: it hit me: why not study again? I was open to studying again, but what course?

I had my first call last Wednesday. Thursday, I had none. I went to the daycare and had a little chat with the directress. Then a vision came to me.

Hey, hey, hey. I can be like her.

Then slowly, things fell into place, like pieces of a puzzle fitting in perfectly.

I will pursue that dream again.

Why not? When here in Sydney, you will always have an assured clientele for daycare centres.
When now, there are more and more Filipinos migrating.

I am not even thinking of how I am going to fund for that daycare -- you know, purhcasing the land, the contsruction, the permits, etc. I will all deal with it if it's time. All I know NOW is I need to do the first BIG step .

I read and researched.

I really need to study. That is the first step.

Too bad though that I have to start everything from Certificate III on Children's Services before I can enroll and pursue a Diploma Course on Children's Services. The Diploma course is the required degree to run a daycare.

Too bad as well because even if my undergrad and grad degrees are in the field of Education they are not going to be credited.

No short cuts for me then.

Surprisingly, my spirit to accomplish this hasn't been dampened by these recent discoveries.

Focusing on the good news:

First, I can do it online.

Second, I can fast track things. First step (Cert 3 course) takes 24 months. But it depends on how fast I can pass the requirements, I can finish it in a year! (I also need job placement to complete the Cert 3 course). I know I can do these especially after juggling my two-year course with career and family duties :-) If I did it before, I know I can do it again :-)

Third, it is not as expensive as I thought it would be. Roughly $47 per week for 48 months.

Lastly, and more importantly, hubby is with me, 100%.

So will I start anytime soon?

That is now the big question. I want to start now while I'm still doing casual work, and at least I won't be too old to do childcare when I have my job placement. But, hubby, even if he is with me 100% suggests that we wait some more.

Hehehe.

I feel good about this.

I will keep you posted.

I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Counting the Days

....when Liam goes back to school, for his last pre school year
....when Liam starts with his soccer lessons again
...when Liam and Sam resumes their swimming lessons
...when Liam feels better, with no more fever, after getting 2 needles today:(

... when Sam starts her Gymbaroo classes with me
...when I find Sam's GAP jumper which has been missing for two weeks now :(

... when it's Australia Day and it's hopefully another long weekend for us :-)
... when we go to Lake Macquarie for our Australia Day celebration :-)

...when I get all the letters I am waiting for in the mail
...when I get my first call again
...when I resume work again

... when I get my new bag ;)
... when I find and get my new car :-)

Lead the way, Lord!