My smashing summer

Yu Chun Keung Memorial College No. 2
My very first school and a secondary one at that. At first, I was very worried because these guys have a notorious reputation. Teachers from previous years have been known to cry because of them. So I was quite surprised to get a lot of respect besides bonding quite well with them. In fact, I learnt a lot from them - not just in terms of teaching but everything a Hong Kong teenager should know (where to hang out, how to dress, how to *ahem speak, etc.) I wouldn't have learnt as much as I did with them had my first school been a primary school. I'll definitely remember them - if not for the fact that i was sexually harassed by the entire class during the school trip to the museum.

King's College Old Boy's Association Primary School No. 2
My second school - first primary school. I was apprehensive at teaching primary school students at first, worrying that they wouldn't be able to understand me and I wouldn't be able to control them. At the end of the week however, I had so much fun teaching these cute little devils that I just couldn't bear to leave them. Most memorable event: definitely the fashion show. Aside from the fact that my class won Best Male Costume and emerged as the best class, let's just say I'm very good at walking the catwalk as well as making macho and camp poses.

Hong Kong Baptist Convention Primary School
Third school - second primary school. Most memorable event: the closing ceremony. I've been teaching dance as my extra-curricular activity - pop dance for secondary school and line dance for primary school. These kids learnt my entire Saturday Night Fever line dance choreography within an hour and asked if they could incorporate the dance into a play for the closing ceremony. I was quite surprised at how keen they were! Nonetheless, I wrote the script - filled with colloquial slangs - and choreographed a kung fu and sword fighting scene between Triad members. It turned out great and was the best performance of all.

YOT Tin Ka Ping Secondary School
Second secondary school and best school of all. At first, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get into the mindframe required to teach secondary school students after having taught two primary schools for two consecutive weeks. But I've bonded really close with these guys by the end. We hung out together after school at shopping complexes, had dinner, hot pot and tau foo fah together, took a few sticker photos and fooled around just like other teenage guys. I got lots of gifts from them even after persuading them not to get any for me. We've promised to keep in touch and hopefully stay as friends forever. If anything, I'd return to Hong Kong just to teach them again.

Bonham Road Government Primary School
Last fifth school - third primary school. My first impression: 'Dear God!' Instead of the usual 20, I had 26 students. And not just any 26 students, they were the youngest. My fellow group teachers challenged me into taking this class by saying that I wouldn't be able to get as close with them compared to previous classes. I was quite overwhelmed at first to tell the truth - think Maria in 'The Sound of Music' but with 26 children. Thankfully, I got the hang of it before the end. Most memorable event - definitely the closing ceremony. After teaching two primary schools my Saturday Night Fever line dance, I decided to do something different. So I choreographed a Para Para Sakura dance and taught it to them. And what a hit they were at the closing ceremony. It suited these cute little buggers so well. After the closing ceremony, one of my students couldn't bear to part with me and started crying while clinging to my leg. It took me everything to persuade her to follow her mum home - which she did reluctantly - after I promised to return again next year to teach her. It was a fitting end to five weeks of teaching.