The Pursuit of Happyness

I thought this is a really good show. Will Smith was very convincing as the down and out Chris Gardner, who had to go through life's deepest pit. That is coupled with an even convincing role by his real-life son, Jayden. Much of the story, I believe, has been rewritten for screenplay and wasn't that +accurate+ really.

It's one of those underdogs done well movie, similar to my favourite movie of the same kind, +"The Working Girl"+. Some scenes in the movie hit hard. I've been through those times before, and believe me, I know what the word "poor" means, because I've been there.

The folks at +Rotten Tomatoes+ seemed to think that the movie is trying too hard to tug the emotional heartstrings of it's viewers.

Well, they've probably never been there. Never tasted poverty in situations where one is on a constant battle against survival, and having only less than a $50 in the bank to last to the end of the month. Or maybe they do... They don't want to remember those times now that they are living in big houses and driving big cars.

+"The Pursit of Happyness" imdb.com site+

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I am getting FAT again. Remember the +hunger binge+ I had couple of weeks ago? It has rolled back the fats. I had thought that I was about to lose a few more kgs lesser before that. Now, I have to re-tune my diet. Again :S

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Ah yes... My first Sunday School teaching today.

Yes God, you do have humour. You really want me to learn to handle extreme situations, huh? I had thought my first hand at the class would leave an impression on my 10-11 year olds. But what do I know? You thought it'd be better that I get introduced to the 8 and 9 year olds too (or are they the 6 and 7s?!)! (Ok, it's not anybody's fault... Their teacher had to take care of her son who is sick, and the whole gang came over to my class for lesson. Yeah...)

Anyhow, this being my first time teaching in the new church, I had no major expectations that things will be perfect. On top of that, the service extended for an extra half hour! And with no extra materials, unfamiliar with kids AND being a year away from children's ministry, I allowed the most unthinkable thing to happen... I let out the animals out of the zoo!

Man, I feel like a new teacher all over again! All the jitters and what-if-Is and oh-dears took their turns to come out. It was like World War 10!

I had to watch out for the brothers who fight with each other, a special needs child who was always found on the floor (probably pushed), many hyper children who are very "curious" about the hotel room lights, the projector, the microphone, the laptop, and one kid wrote post it notes that says "Don't Step On me" while he lies on the floor, girls taking over the drawing board, kids who ran in and out of the room...

It was a circus. But I thank God somehow, I wasn't in total shock. Just a little. It did however, sorely and glaringly highlighted the things that I had missed out: I had forgotten to prepare snacks (the little ones were hungry), I didn't prepare enough games (the older ones were bored and restless) and I really really shouldn't give them the permission to go "born free".

Nonetheless, it seems like most of them would remember me after today's lesson. I think. I will be more prepared come the next lesson. It'd take some time for me to get used to the way the classes will be conducted.

But God will be my Helper, Amen? :D