The day of deafening silence

Make sure you keep a straight face for a week. So that the kids know that you're not someone to mess around with.
And so the advice went. So that's what i'll be doing on my first day of school.
I finally know which school I'm posted to. Boon Lay Sec. When MOE says they'll let you know one week beforehand, take them seriously. They really keep to that tight time-frame very well. Rather parsimonious when it comes to giving trainee teachers like us more time to prepare for the syllabus, i thought.
Can't they tell us which level we'll be teaching maybe two weeks in advance? I mean I've not touched Chemistry for a good seven years. Alarm bells should be ringing for them. Are they really thinking that i can wear the hat and perform the act without drawing flak?
I'm not a magician!
And I'm certainly not some chemical that you can pour into a test-tube, mix with another chemical and jot down immediately "Effervescence and white ppt observed. Gives a "pop" when a burning wooden splinter is inserted into test-tube."
Okay, not a good analogy. I'm trying too hard, but i think you get the drift.
All right. Enough of complaining.
Just bought an English grammar book from Kino. Cost me a freakin 34 bucks. But it's a good investment. I don't think it's a good idea to teach the kids the wrong stuff. Or rather, I'm don't want to be remembered as the "teacher who taught the wrong things". I'll be scarred for life.
Next week -- my final week of freedom -- i'll need to do some shopping. I'll need new pairs of shoes, probably a few pairs of trousers.
My existing ones are too fitting for my comfort, knowing that i'll have forty pairs of eyes staring at my back when i'm writing on the whiteboard.
I'll try to be conservative in dressing. Hee.