Thoughts at the end of summer

This summer was exceptionally busy and full. It started out with a lot of construction work for the new KDA dojo. Near completion, i had to think of scheduling and how to fill up the schedule. Of course i also had to figure out how to market it so that we have enough students to support it. My cousin's friend happened to be in charge of Dance ave. We partnered with them for the summer and they held the dance classes at the studio for those who find Cainta very far.

As regards karate, initially, i taught the wed/fri 4pm class for the Greenhills boys (... actually these guys are men na. Oldest is 62) Then the MWF 9am class was started because of the 4 cousins who signed up along with little Iana. Then a MW 12:30pm was opened for a bunch of people. The 9am bunch was a fun group. We played (literally) after class. The noon group was eventually handled by raffy, faye and renz (which was a relief because i was dying on wednesdays due to the 3 karate classes and the ballroom dance class). The greenhills boys were a little fun. They are like big kids who like playing rough.

Ballroom class began a few weeks after the studio opened. It was Sensei Marty's group. Since they didnt have enough boys, i got pulled in. I liked it naman. It made my wednesdays crazily tiring but i'm young and i still have the energy.

The studio earned money on both months that it was open. I lost weight. Im tired but ok. I cant complain. I do feel a little sad because my 9am kids aren't continuing so they wont get their yellow belts. Sayang because i was so proud of them pa naman. They were good students and know all their lessons in just a few weeks.

I liked teaching but i dont like the time that the kids go away. No wonder parents feel so bad when their kids move out.

Met new young friends in the Jazz funk and Streetdance students. They are fun. I learned a few steps. hehe.

I didnt get a salary but i just did it for KDA. I felt that i owed it to the group for taking me in and teaching me karate. I really thought that my life would be much easier with the dojo just 502 steps away from my place but i was mistaken. I now have to wake up early every day and close up late at night. Sigh. C'est la vie. Things are working smoother now so the work isnt that tough. Having zahzih and jean as secretaries helped a lot. Having bebing clean up after is important, too.

Im currently the secretary general of International Shotokan Karate Federation (ISKF) Philippines and kinda doing the stuff for the treasurer just so things would be smoother. He's pretty busy kasi. Im also a part of the board of the Karate Development Arts and Sports Association Inc (KDA). Hopefully, i wont get elected anymore so i'll get to fix other stuff :)

I just need to make school time still as profitable for the studio and i'll be happy. Hopefully, the 2nd ballroom class, the pilates and the new karate for adults class will be good enough to sustain it.

I miss my kids :)

The pathetic little gnome

There was once a village with a group of people who like..dancing. A little boy was in that village and they danced really well. He learned to dance and grew up with the people of the village. Some years later, a gnome joined the village and learned to dance as well.

There was an ogre that was disguised as a village elder in that place. The boy, now a teen, saw him for who he was and moved out of the village to find more out of life. The boy kept dancing on his own and learned other things as well. He became a healer and a trader with skills and experiences that made him a much better person.

Years later, the boy heard that the villagers realized that they were being controlled by an ogre. The village has moved to a new place so the boy, now a man, came and visited his old people. The boy was welcomed warmly and he was able to dance with his teachers and friends again. He later noticed that the gnome was still there and was acting weird around him. In fact the gnome was acting very rudely. The boy, after so many years, didnt realize that it was the gnome because all the other people have changed and the gnome has as well. The dark skinned, short creature was still the way he is but the boy was not sure. The boy thought that the gnome was an elder so he would show signs of respect but the gnome would rudely ignore the gesture. Later, the boy found out that the gnome was an underling and was supposed to be the one to show respect. The boy just ignored the gnome from then on and was just weirded out by the situation.

The boy, having learned so much and having so much to offer, was chosen by the villagers to be one of the council who leads the village. The boy was surprised by this but he felt that he owed the village for teaching him to dance so he accepted the position and served them well. Later, the village elders wanted to travel to a far city to seek the wisdom of a wise man who was the student of a master dancer. The boy, being well travelled and capable, was asked to accompany the elders. It was an honor for the boy and he did his best to serve and learn. The elders and the boy came back with great news that the wise dancer would visit the village and count the village as one of the dancer groups allied with him. The village was ecstatic and made the preparations. The boy was asked to become an elder and had even more work. The boy felt that he is up to the task and had time to serve so he accepted and just worked to make the village better.

All this time, the gnome got more and more weird. All this time, since the boy left, he just danced in the village and did nothing else. He taught the new members of the village to dance and even danced outside the village but it was not enough for him. He saw in the boy who returned something that he failed to have. The boy being accepted and trusted with more responsibilities irked him. The boy's successes and the joy he gave the village made him feel even worse. He blamed the boy for this. He treated the boy poorly because of this. Whats worse is that the boy doesnt even care.

The boy, after realizing that the little gnome was that way didnt feel weirded out anymore. He actually felt pity for the dark little creature.

I guess that the world is full of these creatures. I thought that my mom's advice about school kids who pick on you still applies. They are probably just a shade of green, the hue of envy.

(i was thinking of a better way to end the story but ... it isnt really that kind of a story)

... real life is much more exciting.