First day blues…

The writer was a teacher at one of the leading International Schools in Sri Lanka. About a month ago, through the graduate appointment scheme, she received a teaching appointment as combined mathematics teacher. Before she was given a permanent school, she had to undergo a training period of one week at a school. This is what she felt on the first day in that school. This was written on that day, while sitting near the office.
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Sitting at the school office in one of the leading girls' schools in Nugegoda, I wondered what I should do. I have left a superb workplace, just for the sake of joining the government service. Though the work was tough and tiring, that place was cozy, cozier than my own home. Tears are struggling to come out, and show everyone here how I miss my colleagues in that school. Already I am homesick.
I looked at the serious and unfriendly faces that pass by. They reminded me of the friendly and loving colleagues I had. I miss them so much. My thoughts races back to the first day in that school. How I was introduced to the others teachers and then how I began that fantastic and happy journey with them. I still remember when I laughed at Mizha for something, how she mocked at me saying "nangi, avilla davas dekaine thama. Eka eka eva kiyanna epa" I laughed at her. She is actually younger than I am. Unlike here, I felt free to tell anything to anybody. Everyone was very nice to me.
Here even the house cleaners look serious and duty conscious. I miss the ones we had in our previous school. They were always with me when I had my routine tummy pains, providing medicine and comforting me until I get better. Not only them, I miss each and every student who loved me, who waited till I come to the class. They treated me as their friend, as their teacher and sometimes their mother. They told me their dreams, expectations and always complimented on what I wore.
I wonder whether I am still accepted in that amazing family. They must be thinking I betrayed them. I do not know whether it is true or not. However, I know I did not mean to. Sitting here at the office, I am a loner. No one is bothered to look at me even. They just pass by, as if I do not exist here. I just hope this is just first day blues…

The victory, the change and the training

Sitting on a bench in front of the dining hall at the National College of Education, Peradeniya, I scanned the area to admire the beauty. Distant mountains clothed in green, soothed my puffy eyes. My legs, aching after exercises, restrained me from walking everywhere. Today, is my ninth fantastic day in this place. Though the place is calm and quiet, our hectic schedule did not give us at least a minute, to enjoy this stunning view.

My thoughts flew back in time, when my father texted me while I was in school. “Your letter has come,” I panicked for a moment. However, I assured myself, there is no chance that this letter to be the one I suspect.

I continued with my work. Again, in the bus on my way home the phone rang. “The letter has come. Did you see it?” From the other side of the line a friend queried. Trembling with a shock and fear, I hurried home. The more I got closer to the house the more I got agitated.

All warnings were right. Finally, the letter arrived informing me about the government teaching appointment I received. I expected it, but not early as this. Commencing the new job with three days’ notice was a challenge! If I were unemployed, I would be delighted. However, I am responsible for certain things: I cannot leave my little brats in school alone.

This was one reason for me to refuse, to receive the letter this soon. I knew the officials would not give me much time to give notice to my previous school. What should I tell them? Will I be able to console them? I did not have answers for any of my questions. No one had. However, parents insisted that I should take up this job. Everyone believed this was a rare opportunity. Yet, I was in a crisis.

The weekend was hectic. Running from one office to another, visiting heads of the departments in their houses, finally I convinced them to allow me to leave and I found a replacement too for my vacancy. By the following Monday, my friend assumed duties in my position and I in the new position.

Everyone was shocked as some were sad. Throughout the time, I missed my Year Five students. I could not believe that I did my last lesson for them on Friday. I badly wanted to go and do another lesson for them. I wanted to hug them and say how much I loved them. Everything changed within just a few hours. I had to be apart from the children.

When I visited the school later that day, I had hundreds of questions to answer from my little ones. I had to lie to keep them happy. “I’m on a training honey, I will be back in two weeks” They were happy. They counted two weeks to find the day when I would come back. I watched them with a little tear in the corner of my eye. “I love you a lot, I am going to miss every one of you,” I slowly murmured.

I had to undergo a pre-training session at one of the leading girls’ schools at Nugegoda, there I realised the value of being a teacher, and how honourable this job is. Children respected me even after knowing that I was just a trainee. Though I expected my life as a trainee to be a rough one, these little flowers seemed to enjoy my presence.

They were cooperative. When the feeling crept into my mind, as they are my children, it was the time for me to finish the training session. Unexpectedly receiving a rose on ‘Teachers’ day’ one day in advance, as I left the school before that day, attracted me more towards them. After all, I was just a visitor for them; still they were kind enough to make me a part of their family. I am enjoying life as a teacher. Being loved all the time is amazing.

Sitting in the classroom in that school on the last day of the training, I was astonished by the way, they begged, for me to stay back. Looking at their faces, I realised the pleading was no joke. They reminded me of my little ones I left at such short notice. For the first time, in my life I realised that even though the background of every child is different, they are all alike.

Truly Amazing...

Origami is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this art is to create a representation of an object using geometric folds and crease patterns preferably without the use of gluing or cutting the paper, and using only one piece of paper.
Won Park is master of Origami. He is also called the "money folder", a practitioner of origami whose canvas is the United States One Dollar Bill.
Bending, twisting, and folding, he creates life-like shapes in stunning detail.
One Dollar Fish



One Dollar Butterfly


One Dollar Camera

Two Dollars Battle Tank

Two Dollars Chinese Dragon

One Dollar  Crab

One Dollar Dolphin

Two Dollars Jacket

Two Dollars Spider

One Dollar Scorpion

One Dollar Bat

One Dollar Toilet Bowl


One Dollar Penguin

One Dollar Shark

One Dollar Jet


One Dollar Hammer Head Shark