January 14th, 2012
An uphill battle
A short update:
I’ve been having acute abdominal pain for the past two weeks since I moved to my new school. At first I didn’t think much of it since it could be due to the stress of settling in a new place, teaching or maybe the water etc. Saw 4 doctors and they told me it could be gastric/wind so I took lots of gastric medicine. The pain got much worse and some nights, I can’t move at all without cringing in pain. Miraculously, the pain would subside a little in the morning so I’d still teach (thank god).
But on Thursday night, the pain got so bad I can’t even do anything. Can’t breathe, can’t talk, can’t move. On Friday, I drove home (painful drive) and went straight to the hospital since there’s no proper hospital near my school. Saw a gastroenterologist at first cause I thought it had to do with gastric, then he referred me to a gynae cause it could be pelvic infection and finally I was referred to a surgeon cause it could be appendicitis.
The thing is, I’ve had the pain for too long for it to be appendicitis, so no one knows exactly what is wrong. So my surgeon gave me antibiotics and if I don’t get cured completely by Monday, I’ll have to have a surgery done to remove my appendix.
Surgery?? Now?? I am so upset cause I cannot afford to miss any teaching days or my kids would get soooo left behind. My mom was with me but she was more worried about me missing Chinese New Year wtf.
My parents are convinced there’s some black magic stuff and that I’ve been charmed (jampi-ed wtf) and got angry at me for choosing to go to a rural area. My mom called all her aunty friends to collect stories of people getting sick through black magic to scare me wtf. Also, the pain only started when I moved there but why would anyone want to harm a teacher?? They want me to transfer out now 
but no way I’m doing that. I’m sure it’s either just appendicitis or a case of very bad bacterial infection.
Anyway, aside from that I’ve been doing ok. I have so many stories to share! I spoke to this form 5 boy at length the other day and his story is quite eye-opening so I’ll write about that later.
I also kinda broke down for the first time last Friday after my very tough class with my more challenging kids. I taught them a song but only half the class would sing along, the other half was too shy/didn’t want to try. I sang the song to them over and over again, encouraged them, got them to pronounce the syllables etc but nothing worked.
I was also in pain so I can’t project my voice too much, then two boys started punching each other. The other boys immediately rushed to the crime scene, wanting to be part of the action too. I finally got them all settled down, sang the song, and talked to the boys about their conflict.
When I left that class, I felt my tears welled up. I felt like I just wasted these kids’ time because nothing probably went in their tiny cute heads. I had assumed that they could at least sing a song with me, I didn’t plan too much in advance and didn’t take into consideration their lower level compared to other classes. It was entirely my fault that the lesson went haywire.
And the worst part was, I only had 2 minutes to compose myself while I walk to my next class. 2 minutes to change from this distraught teacher to my usual cheery joyful teacher mode.
Life is just beginning to get a lot tougher for Cikgu Suet. But, all izz well.
Related posts:
no matter how tough it is but doing something you like it ain’t gonna stop you, & hope you get well soon
Hey.. I’ve been reading this blog and keeping myself updated with ur efforts with TFM; and I am pretty blown away with your passion to want to make a change in these kids’ lives.. Keep up the good work, because YOU CAN DO IT!
Hope the doctors will be able to diagnose something out of the abdominal pains you’re going through right now. Take good care and I wish you ALL THE BEST!
God bless you! Will be morally supporting you all the way!! *hugs*
Have been a follower of your blog. Anyway, I’m a general surgeon by profession. Usually acute appendicitis will cause severe infection within a few days if not treated but in young patients with good immunity, this may resolve into chronic appendicitis.
The best way to determine the cause of infection would be to proceed with a scan, usually a ct scan which Is hairy accurate in pin pointing the source of abdominal pain in most cases.
Hope u get well soon
wow..ur really a tough one…fyi,i’m gonna b a teacher too in like 3 years.,a primary school teacher and im really inspired by ur stories…somehow i hav d awareness to start teaching these kids with great determination when i graduated later,so that they wont turned out really bad when they moved on to secondary later,like what u blogged .Anyway,all the best to u and get well soon!will pray for ya!
Aww get well soon! Maybe you can try going to tabib Cina see what he says, that’s what I did after like one week of diarrhea last December wtff. And I did get better after drinking his medicine, so when Western medicine fails to offer a solution no harm trying Chinese traditional medicine I guess!
hang in there suet li!
get well soon!
Cikgu Suet what you need is the cutest sun dog ever!
http://goo.gl/n1AYP
Hang in on there and please get well soon.
Hope you feel better soon Suet! No matter how hard the battle is, remember why you made this choice in the first place. And then all will be well again. *hugs*
<3 moral support you can do it!
Get well soon suet li! =)
hahaha…heartful post but no comments
bodoh haven’t approved comments la! think everyone so free like you meh
hope you get well soon Cikgu Suet. hopefully the antibiotics workk and you don’t have to miss your teaching days. take care
get well soon suet!
i’m sure the kids will appreciate what you do .. if not now, in due time
dear dear dear ah sweat, no matter how strong your passion is for your job or the kids, your own health always always always come first. if you take Bon Jovi’s Always and replace all the word “love” with “appendicitis”, you’d find he’s also singing health always always always come first wtf
please go for a proper full check-up and obey your doctors! but if they ask you do funny things like bend over and close your eyes and say weird things like “uncle very gentle one ah, very fast will over one”, don’t listen wtf. female doctors also don’t listen cos you don’t know what they’re hiding under that big white robe wtf
ok i dunno why i cannot write a proper serious comment without letting hum sup or stupid things come in one wtf. but seriously, you really need to take better care of yourself before you can take care of the kids, right? if you have to go for surgery, then go! schedule it as soon as possible! bang fist on the doctor’s table and shout “MOI WANT TOMORROW OPERATION! NO WAIT NO DELAY OR MOI SET FIRE TO THE OP ROOM” don’t let the thoughts of having to take long MC to recover or how far behind the kids already are or how you’ve barely just begun in your job and this shit has to happen etc, fill your head. that stuff can wait and worry about later. school can find someone else to replace you when you’re away. but your health cannot wait or be replaced.
i’m stressing this so strongly to you cos i’ve faced the same shit myself before. and when i recovered, i told myself i will never ever let work or company come before my health again. but if the “work” in question involved shooting fiercely passionate nude the-real-McCoy love scenes with Ryan Gosling in a Hollywood movie, then fuck la, the rule doesn’t apply anymore wtf
p/s: do you want to try my version of “My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean” on your class next time? i think it might make them excited enough to sing along, especially if got accompanying hand actions wtf
p/p/s: doncha think the guy who always says “all iz well” in the 3 idiots is kinda cute? i used to have a crush on him until i went and googled and found out he’s married, then i don’t like him anymore wtf hahahaha
p/p/p/s: do you think i should start a blog http://www.StrawberrysCommentsToSweatLee.com and comment over there for all your future posts? cos i realize my comments to you are getting longer and longerrr and longerrrrrrr and i feel a little paiseh wtf
hahaha shit your comments always so entertaining and stupid one wtf! but yeah totally agree with you on the put health first thing.
fuck this shit i didn’t realize how mighty ass long my comment was until i hit the button!!! holly molly golly shit! O__O
hi suet li, what you are doing is really great! but do not be beaten by the kids not listening to you. it’s not even a month into the new schooling year yet. keep up the spirit, i’m sure you can see difference in them soon!
hi suet.. hope you will get better soon. Don’t worry.. I’m sure there are other teacher to replace you while you’re not feeling well. As soon as you feel better you can pick up what you’ve left out.
I know it’s wrong timing and all that.. But your health comes first. You have to be healthy to care for those children rite??
Boys will be boys. Fights are normal in schools. Don’t blame yourself, girl! It’s not your fault.. And besides, you’re still new at this! Sooner or later, you will learn how to handle situations like this like a pro.. I know you can do it!
get key hole to see what’s happening inside. can be discharged from hospital the same day.
its so amazing what you are doing! when i read your blog i always feel so inspired by your passion for teaching these children. hope you get well soon!
Sorry to learn of your illness. Get well soon. Take it easy, one day at a time.
Why would you want to work in Malaysia?
Parents are like that. they want us to conform to normal life like normal people do..
But we know we are above average. normal is just not good enough.
So hang in there…keep them updated of your successes..so they can see you are getting results..
Asian parents are like that..you show good results [be it grades, income, business growth, fame, etc]..they will shut up.
You guys are doing a great thing. hopefully this will improve Malaysian Education System overall so we don’t need to send our kids to private school, and can be rest assured that malaysia public school is equally impressive.
#parentsissues
Also, maybe your students need a little time to adapt to the new way of teaching and studying. Don’t lose hope! They’re just shy and are not used to the new ‘environment’. They will soon appreciate a passionate, dedicated, hardworking and wonderful teacher like you.
Happy Chinese new year in advance
As a beginning teacher, one of the best advice a senior teacher gave me back then was that “you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of your students” – so if you need to take a short break cos of medical reasons, you need to do it. A healthy teacher is a happier teacher!
And don’t worry about that one class – things like that do happen, and we have our off days. More importantly, you have learnt from that experience, and that is what’s gonna make you a better teacher than ever before.
Now go see a doctor and get that scan quick!
sounds like a tough road ahead… not only do u have to battle with the kids to change their mindset and perception before you can teach them something and now, ur parents..
but hang in there.. the road is long, windy and tough but the rewards will be worth it.. the moment when your kid comes back to you saying,’ thank you cikgu suet’…
u’ll know u’ve make a difference… till then, give d best u can.. even if it’s haywire, learn from that experience and improve from it..
u can do it! we all believe in u! keep the passion burning bright ya!
what’s wrong with her parents?
get well soon suet!
The pretty new teacher must have made the resident witch jealous with her beauty and now she has targeted you with black magic that makes your stomach grow worms.
I want to leave a comment but don’t know what to say as the others have said it all already. So, hope you get well soon!!
I followed this blog for sometime already coz you were the cutest thing on the Net but now I am ur biggest fan coz of the beauty of your lil heart. Hang in there the world has been waiting for someone like you to come along, take care and get well soon.
Hi Suet Li
I’m sorry to read that you’re having a tough time juggling your stomach aches and teaching! Really hope you get better soon.
I can really empathize with how you feel with regards to teaching, because when I did an internship last year, the kids were as rowdy/disinterested/bored/distracted due to family problems. On a particularly rough day (with , I noticed this “prayer” frame in our staff lounge, thought I’d share with you and hope it gives you some strength
“Help me be grateful
For the students who like to learn
And feel challenged by those who don’t;
Help me be thankful
For the students I love,
And understand those I’m learning to love;
Help me be motivated
By the students who learn to think,
And be committed by those afraid to try;
Help me be inspired
By the students who choose right over wrong,
And be patient with those who lack the courage;
Help me be gentle
With the students who make mistakes
And learn to forgive a difficult child;
Help me be wise
With the students building character
And be unwavering with those without conscience;
Help me be committed
To the students who are responsible
And be persistent with those who value nothing;
Help me be calm
In the midst of violence
And model self-control in the midst of anger
Help me be faithful
In days of discouragement
And be dedicated to make one child smile
- Marsha Elyn Wright”
Please take care, and know that you’re an inspiration to many others who are aspiring teachers
All the best!
Aal iz well, aal iz well! *pats sweat li’s chest* dafuq
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsu6rVmAk_k&feature=related
get well soon, Cikgu Suet!! And jia you!
sigh… no more camwhore pics…
Ouch. Feel like giving you a hug. Get well soon cikgu suet!
cikgu sweatlee!
dun be too hard on yourself, gotta learn from your mistakes bit by bit!
Suet! Your symptoms sound quite similar to a urinary tract infection/kidney infection! Or could be ovarian cysts as well, pretty common and most girls go on without realizing they have them! Hope they find out the root of the problem soon.. meanwhile, take care and glad to know you’re enjoying your job! Inspiring read thus far!
X
i took a urine test, blood test and ultrasound! no UTI, no problems with ovaries so those are ruled out..
Oh, forgot to mention – take a urine test! It could tell a lot more than you’d think.
“The tide rises and the tide falls, but the sea remains unchanged.”
It is always going to be difficult being in your position, but as you said, all will be alright
and get well soon!
Oh and btw, dependent on the region of pain, it could also be a case of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
take care, suet!!!!
Silent reader all this while, hope you get well soon and am really touched on your efforts for a better generation! Good Luck and keep up the good work!
Hi Suet, I’m writing this because I’ve had the exact same experience a few years ago. The pain was very intense and it can last up to a few hours, especially after meals. Seen so many gastroenterologist and they had all sort of reasons, even done a gastroscopy but nothing was wrong! after almost 3 months of trying I finally got better after taking a med called omesec or something. not sure if it would work for u but worth trying! i know how it feels when all else fails
SWEATLEE U ARE THE BEST! admire your passion in teaching… hope u get well soon .. take care of yourself our nation needs u!
and try not to get yourself killed LOL
Hi Suet Li, what method do TeachForMalaysia teachers use for class control/ motivating kids to learn?
- Cikgu Sandaran
get well soon suet:)
I hope you’re feeling better, its no fun being sick. Happy New Years
Hey suet, I’ve sent you an email that may be useful. Do check it out
Hello, I hope you’re feeling better or have, at the least, got some respite from your illness.
Been reading your blog for a while, a very good read indeed.
Felt compelled to comment on this entry.
First – I’ve been teaching for over 10 years. The advice you received to look after yourself first is spot on. Think of it as an “oxygen mask” rule. If you don’t put the mask on yourself first, you’ll be of no use to anyone else.
Teaching is one of the most rewarding vocations, it gives one an incredible sense of purpose. One of the most important things I’ve had to learn to accept over the years is that my students are more important to me than I am to them – and that’s really what it should be. Everyone has good days and off days, and some times we handle the latter better than other times. It all depends on where we are in our own heads. Another thing to keep in mind is that student response during a lesson is often not about us, the teacher – not if we are doing what we love. It’s about them, they are individuals with their own worlds to contend with and the time they spend with us is often not as important to them as we would like it to be. Having said that, there’s nothing like the feeling of a great lesson!
A method I use in classroom management is to find ONE thing I like about each kid. Just one thing, and all interaction is based around that – it’s amazing the way that can affect delivery and communication, as well as how it is received.
As for your pains, I truly sympathise. I have experienced the very same thing, and it can be immobilising. It could be appendix (mine went on for 3 years before I had it removed). But I also later suffered from extreme abdominal pain, which they thought was gastric but turned out to be gallbladder disease – apparently the gastric meds made the pain worse.
The point of the medical history is to second a suggestion someone made earlier – do get a scan. I’m surprise you haven’t had one yet, especially as the pains have persisted. We would all love to have you returned to health so that we can continue reading your postings.
Best wishes.
Apologies for the lengthy comment.