This week was far less stressful than the previous ones, mainly because my accommodation had been settled for the rest of the trip, and I was getting into a decent routine. I had the week off from in-person teaching, so most of my time was dedicated towards making lesson plans and materials. Because of the change in lesson plans, we decided to focus on very basic English words, such as counting, colors, and hobbies.

I taught one class on Saturday because the volunteers who usually teach were unavailable. At this class, I made a breakthrough with the kids: they really like superheroes (and Pokemon). As a result, I decided to edit some of my existing lesson materials to include Pokemon and superheroes, and it yielded great results. On Saturday, the kids were significantly more engaged in the classes, and seemed excited to be there. They also really enjoy coloring, which I intend to include in future classes as a break for them and for myself.

I think my biggest challenge this week was struggling to balance between relaxing, traveling, and working. Because I am quite a homebody, I often found myself in the hotel during my downtime rather than exploring the city. I also had a habit of continuously visiting the same place over and over, which is something I usually do when I am at home. Next week, I intend to be a little more intentional with going out and seeing what the city has to offer, since I have just been going up and down the same two MRT lines rather than really exploring parts of the city that are farther away.

Next week, I return for a full week of teaching. I'm quite excited to meet the kids again. Though people might assume that teaching twenty 6-8 year olds would be stressful, I think I've taught enough kids in that age range that I don't feel particularly stressed out about it anymore. When I immerse myself in their radiance, mischievousness, and childishness—rather than attempting to stifle or control it—I find myself simultaneously nostalgic for simpler times, but also joyful that I will be able to re-experience such youthfulness, even if only for a brief moment.