I’m on the E-W line now, heading toward Changi Airport to pick up the rest of my family. I’m so happy they are here…or will be within the hour.

I met with a very attentive and caring doctor at the International Medical Clinic yesterday. I told her my issues and my recent eating history. She couldn’t determine whether my condition was due to the avocado juice I had with my “carrot cake” or if there could have been gluten in it (despite the signage which said it was made from rice flour). She gave me antibiotics for standby – meaning only if I still have cramping and the low-grade fever today. I didn’t have a fever before I left this morning, so things are looking good. She also recommended that I have a liquids only diet, which is pretty much all I’ve had. Over the past 2.5 days, I’ve eaten a total of 6 pieces of toast, including this morning. 

Whatever it was that created havoc in my GI track, I’m happy to be done with it, which I hope I am. And, Ill be super grateful if this is the only issue that me or my family will have. 

On a side note, I had to pay out-of-pocket for the doctor visit, as my US-based insurance isn’t accepted here. It was only a total of S$104, which is about US $75, and that includes the antibiotics and a thermometer which I bought there because I didn’t have one. 

Ever the optimist, I consider this visit to the International Medical Clinic as a learning experience. After a day and a half of abdominal cramping and diarrhea, I decided it was time to seek some medical help. I sit in the waiting room of the clinic as I write this using the app on my phone.

I reported to Kent Ridge Secondary School yesterday, but left after meeting several teachers and staff. The students were going on a service trip yesterday and today, so I’m not missing out on class observations.

I’ve completely lost my appetite; yesterday, I ate four pieces of toast and I couldn’t manage to eat anything this morning. 

I’m eager to learn what the diagnosis might be. I’m pretty convinced it was the food I had Sunday night from the hawker center. I don’t know whether it was something that was spoiled or if I had too much gluten. If it were the latter, this would be an extreme reaction. I thought that what I ate was made with rice flour, too. The Fulbright team seems to think I have a virus. I’ll see if I can get a definitive answer this morning.

Below is a selfie of me at the famous Merlion at the bay. If I had known how predictive that shooting water turned out to be, I may not have positioned my hand under it like that.

The other good news is that the rest of my family arrives tomorrow morning. I’d like to be well by the time they get here. I got a text from Johan that they arrived at SFO. The next leg is the tough one.

I’ll go back to mindless waiting now. I need to get ready for this next (life) lesson.

I ate something last night at the nearest hawker center that was called “carrot cake.” It definitely wasn’t cake and I’m pretty sure there weren’t any carrots in it. I asked about nuts and was told ‘no’ and some signage said that it was made with rice flour. All seemed good to go…

…until about 12:30 this morning when stomach cramps woke me up. I never really fell back asleep. For the rest of the morning I alternated between cramps and the toilet. They continue as I ride a cab to my first school visit. 

I’m not sure if there’s a catchy name here in Singapore like what they have for Mexico. I called it Zion’s revenge because of the location of the hawker center. Perhaps I should call it the Lion’s revenge, after the city itself.

Over the past few days, I have learned about the history of Singapore schools, both on a broad scale and on a more micro level with respect to mathematics education.

On Tuesday, Andi and I met with a curriculum specialist in mathematics who relayed to us broadly how the math curriculum plays out across the schools in Singapore. We learned about streaming (tracking), the levels of math classes that students can take, the exams they have to pass in order to move on (like PSLE and the O-levels and A-levels). It was quite a lot to take in. Thankfully, we reviewed some of that material today when we met with master teachers and got a tour of the MOE’s Heritage Center. I am certainly more knowledgeable about the Singapore school system and I will feel more confident on my school visits with that knowledge giving me a context of the schools.

On Tuesday afternoon, we all went to NIE to complete our matriculation. Our transcripts were reviewed and we submitted additional paperwork. Then, last night I attended my first class as an NIE student. It was an interesting class with a good discussion among the students. Now that I have taught for three years in Northwestern’s teacher prep program, it was interesting for me to be a student again. I appreciated Professor Sim’s expertise and the way she allowed the students to think deeply about the questions she posed. I joined a group of students for a group project on Madeline Arnot. We will be collaborating on a poster about this ‘critical theorist.’

While we didn’t get to go to ICA to complete the formalities for our student passes yesterday, I took the open schedule opportunity to purchase school uniforms for my girls and to get a tour of the Canadian International School. What a campus! I am confident that our girls are going to love it there. They get to take swimming for a unit in PE. The classrooms for each grade are clustered together with a common, comfy space in the middle of them. All the classrooms have one wall that faces the common space and that wall is one large window into the classroom. I found this to be very interesting. The classes are open to any viewers without them having to go in. I was in the auditorium on Tuesday night and yesterday. I saw the presentation of the roll-out of the new brand for CIS – the new logo, new uniforms, new school color scheme. It was a thoughtful, thorough presentation by the head of school.

I took my first swim in the pool this evening. I know my girls are looking forward to that too. When I first got in, I couldn’t help but think, “Wow. I’m swimming in an outdoor pool on January 12.”

Thinking Schools, Learning Nation. Swimming pools, but not vacation.

Today, all five of the US Fulbrighters went to the Academy of Singapore Teachers (AST) to meet with the MOE and AST folks who are mainly responsible for “handling” us while we are here. Derek Tan gave us an overview of the Singapore education system, including a history of the main drivers of school policy since the country’s inception. It was very interesting and he allowed us to ask questions and talk freely with him.

I met my buddy teacher, Dorcas, today, too. She is working at AST in the professional development division of AST. As a former music teacher, she helps create programs to help other in-service teachers continue to learn. I learned that teachers can choose between three tracks for their career in education: teaching, administration, or curriculum. Teachers can apply to rotate out of teaching for 2 – 3 years to work at AST and then go back to teaching. MOE encourages this so that teachers have a seat at the table as policy is developed and so teachers can develop their own leadership skills. What a concept!

In the picture below, all five US teachers are along the wall and the MOE/AST folks surround us.

After our meeting in the morning, we went to a mall for lunch and then stayed for a bit to do some shopping. It was recommended to us to buy AIRism t-shirts to wick away sweat under our clothes. The schools that we will be visiting do NOT have air-conditioning, so we have to be prepared to be hot. I bought two.

After lunch, we went back to AST to ensure that we have all the documents read that we will need for matriculation at NIE, which Freddy is going to help us with. It seems to be a complicated process, which includes being issued a student pass. The student pass is the document that will allow us to stay in the country for more than 90 days.

I was officially accepted to the National Institute of Education in Singapore this week. I will be taking one class: Curriculum Theory and Design. I was also accepted for another class, Algebra and the Teaching of Algebra, but I decided that since I was writing a curriculum for my Inquiry Project, it makes more sense to learn more about curriculum design. I don’t think that taking two classes would be wise for me as I have to balance the class with visiting schools and doing my Inquiry Project.

I also applied for my student pass. Since I had two rounds of practice with my kids’ student passes, the application went much faster.

I recently found out that I may need a copy of my university diplomas. I had a copy of my undergraduate diploma, but I could not find a copy of my grad diploma. I ordered one today and I hope it arrives before I leave.

The countdown continues and I continue to prepare. My children got their student passes, but I am still awaiting word from NIE on my pass and my application to NIE.

Today, one of my classes wrote and performed a song for me. It’s to the tune of “Where is the Love?” One of the students did the verses and the whole class joined in on the refrain. It was awesome. I’m posting the lyrics below:

Background music — “Where is the Love” Instrumental

It’s the Colloq Boy Steef AKA Big Beef back at it again, here to drop another banger

This one goes out to Ms. Mulligan

NCP RESPEK

Verse 1

Ms. Mulligan, yea she teaches math

Paves the way for us, makes our path

From the BC kids to the AB babies

We all pray that one day maybe

We can get more than 95 in class

T’was just a joke, poking fun, with some sass

She loves Desmos, uses it a ton

Helps us learn, helps us get done

Made a presentation for other teachers

Told them to try it, call her a preacher

Very great teacher, some say the best

Having her for a class means you’re blessed

Ms. Mulligan, going to Singapore

Without her, our lives will be a bore

We’re sitting here now, tears in our eyes

Wondering if it’s time to say goodbye…

¡Adios!

Chorus

Goodbye, Goodbyeeee

We hope to see you again

Goodbye, Goodbyeeee

Ms. Martha Mulligan (x2)

Verse 2

We’ve talked a lot, about her profession

But if there’s one lesson ya’ll should learn

There’s more to Mulligan than math concerns

Dances a lot, moves lighter than air

When she goes hard, you see a flurry of hair

Can also relax, breath in and breath out

Yoga exercises, she’s very devout  

Helps the seniors get through the year

By giving us cheers and calming our fears

At the end of it all, we are grateful

Hearts filled with hope, not at all very hateful

Oh, her sense of style.. Very tasteful

Ms. Mulligan, going to Singapore

Without her, our lives will be a bore

We’re sitting here now, tears in our eyes

Wondering if it’s time to say goodbye…

¡Adios!

Chorus

Goodbye, Goodbyeeee

We hope to see you again

Goodbye, Goodbyeeee

Ms. Martha Mulligan (x2)

THE END

I leave in three weeks. With each step I take to prepare, it seems like I add more things to my list of things to do. I have a few updates on those preparations.

I submitted my data clearance form to the MOE a few weeks ago. I had to resubmit it to clarify the number of students and teachers I will be working with in the schools for my inquiry project. It was initially hard to estimate because I don’t really know how many classrooms at each school I will get to observe. I estimated two at each and resubmitted the form I am still waiting to hear back about approval.

I also submitted my formal application to NIE, along with three choices for classes I want to take while I am there. We are allowed to take up to two classes, but I had to request more in case some of them don’t actually run or I’m not allowed to take one or two. I am waiting to hear back from NIE on that application, too. I can’t apply for my student pass until I am formally accepted to NIE.

Speaking of student passes…I submitted student pass application for my two daughters to attend the Canadian International School Singapore. Those applications were approved and the next step is to finish the formalities by going to an office in Singapore with my girls to pick up the passes. I am awaiting confirmation from the school that the school registration and tuition fees have been paid.

Over the weekend I bought two huge suitcases, but I have a feeling that we will need to buy more. I’ve never packed for six months, so it’s hard to know how much space I will need. The girls are intent on bringing some toys and I can’t blame them. They will need some comforts from home, as well as some diversions in our mostly spartan apartment.