We’ve been dating for over 3 years now, and have known each other for longer than that. He’s my college sweetheart.

When we’re together, it’s wonderful. We laugh, and smile constantly. He’s into art (like me) and music (plays many instruments). Overall, just an awesome guy with a perfect sense of humour for me. He can always make me laugh when I’m down.. He actually hounded me to date him in the beginning until I finally accepted after a few months.

We went to China for a year to teach English after college. Afterwards, we both came back to Canada and had to decide what we wanted to do next. I figured I should decide what I want to do as a career, since I don’t want to be stuck going back to school any older than I already am. So I chose to begin a degree in Ecology..

He doesn’t know what he wants to do with himself. He can easily get (and has gotten) jobs teaching piano and guitar in Canada, but he prefers the attitude of the Chinese (and I can’t blame him, most of them are much friendlier than westerners like us). He decided (halfheartedly and halfhazardly) to head back to China to learn Mandarin (in a University near the ocean). He can be very scatter-brained, though that’s part of his charm.

We decided to have an open-relationship before he left since we both wanted to be realistic as per our "needs" if such a thing would happen to arise while we are apart. This doesn’t mean that we do not love eachother, we both agreed equally to this.. Example: If you want something and can’t have it, you’re going to want it even more. Might as well just level the playing field.

He was reluctant to leave and we were both very sad upon parting when March rolled around and he had to go. He will not be back until January.

Now our method of communication is msn (since it’s webcam and mic -if we could only get the mic part working). We only communicate on weekends since the 12hr difference causes one of us to be up super late (since we’re generally both late risers).

So during March and the beginning of April, we kept up pretty steady. Chatting and whatnot.. Sharing news.

But lately, he hasn’t been going on.. He’s been reassuring me that he still misses me, and sending me a message once in a blue moon, but not coming on msn to talk to me anymore on weekends.

He said that he hasn’t found anyone of interest (since we said that we would be honest about those kinds of things, though not descriptive). But says that he is kept quite busy meeting people and getting out, which I’m very happy for him, but isn’t there a little time he could squeeze in for me..?

Now he’s not planning to continue into his second semester on University there learning Mandarin. He’s planning on getting a job, then moving out to a place near a beach to keep windsurfing while learning Mandarin from the locals on his own (since he says that his classmates are demotivating). This said, we’ve discussed whether or not he wants to stay there for good.. He’s teetering.

I’d like to know what the general populous may think of this. I mean, it’s hard to keep myself preoccupied with studies and work when I’m in the town where we met and everything around me reminds me of times with him (he doesn’t have to confront this daily atmosphere of missing me, and we’ve even talked about that).

I miss him alot, no idea how much.. Trying to take up at home yoga for an added distraction (since my good friends are out of town and it’s hard to see them), but at bedtime when I want him around, I find it very hard to think that he may not be missing me at all when all I want is for him to be holding me.

It’s distracting me from the rest of my life.. Man it’s pathetic.

Any advice or thoughts? Nothing rough guys because things are tough as it is.

Much appreciated, sorry for the long-winded "question".

I kinda understand ur pain cos i’m into a LDR. Well, i’m gonna make this as short & straight to the point as i can..
1. Its either u’re with him or not.
2. If u wanna be with him, then u’ve got to go over to china, but be ready for anything.
3. If u cant go to china, then u should be ready to plan a life without him, definitely he’ll hook up with someone else without ur knowledge. The fact that he hardly has time to msn u is a clue..
4. Better still, talk with him and see what he’s up for…

When school finishes Ill have some free time on my hands and a part-time job teaching grade 1/2 kids would be fun.

Just curious, if there is such an opportunity how much should I expect to get?

I also started teaching piano in my teens. I think it’s an excellent time to start, especially if you are able to ask your piano teacher for advice about any questions that may arise.

To determine what to charge, find out what other teachers in your area are charging and offer lessons for a little less.

Try these online resources for piano teachers:
http://www.mjsheetmusic.com/music-teachers/
http://www.mtna.org/
http://nfmc-music.org/

good luck!!!!

Nothing I do seems to make my parents proud of me. I have never heard them say that they’re proud of me. I’ve asked them about it, but I just get told to suck it up and stop complaining. I don’t understand this because I’m not a spoiled teenager complaining that her curfew is too early. I have good morals and am a good person.

I have never heard my parents say I love you to me before. Not even once. I can’t remember the last time I got a hug or a kiss from either of them. My mom tells me that I’m a disgrace to her family because I don’t know how to speak Italian. I get told that I’m lazy because I ask them to drive me to my practices and jobs. I don’t think I have ever received a Christmas or a birthday present from them either. I’m so confused as to why they would think this way, but I never get an answer. I think I’m the example of a perfect daughter!!!!

Ever since I was younger, I always wanted to go to Princeton. My parents tell me that it’s impossible, because why would a university like that want someone like me? They tell me that it would be a waste of money and to just go to my city’s university. I guess this is why I work so hard. I want to prove them wrong and get into Princeton. I guess I’m afraid that I’ll just get another I told you so if I don’t get in. I can’t sleep at night because I’m so stressed, and it’s not uncommon for me to break down crying. I think I’ve been depressed for the longest time now. I have went to talk with my school counselor about this, but I know that she thinks I’m just another teenager who exaggerates her story.

I have a lot of friends, but even my best friend thinks I’m stretching the truth when I try to tell her about my situation. She tells me that my parents seem nice.

I’ve been told that they wish that I was never born and that my mom wishes that she could’ve aborted me when she had the chance. My mom says she never knew having a kid would be so much work and that I never brought her joy the way that I’m supposed to.

I don’t know what to do or who to turn to. My parents don’t beat me, and I have no proof that anything is going on. I’m sick and tired of being told that I’m worthless, but I don’t know what to do!

it seem like you are the perfect child, smart and very good in sport,have good friend, i can tell your parent love you by how good you turn out. sometime in life we do too much in one think and not enough in another thing you did say anything about hanging with mom and dad make time for mom and dad and show them love and say you love and you would see the love pour in. if you get all a’s you shall get a scholarship and be able to go to the school you want give your parent a kiss for me. and don’t listen to what people say go by what you feel.

What is your view and opinions about teachers who adopt punitive teaching methods:-
Teachers who beat students who cannot get whatever they are learning right ?
Is it valid ? is it professional and ethical ?
When the teacher is questioned about this , they will usually say that the students nowadays do not like to be corrected or disciplined.
But what I am referring to here is not discipline problems, but simply when students are learning simple concepts – like mathematical tables, students who don’t get the correct answers will be caned. Another example is in learning languages like English- Students who cannot spell correctly or write properly punctuated sentences in some schools in certain parts of the world not only they get caned, but they are also expected to memorise their language – sometimes even memorise English Essays for exams! And some music teachers get angry all the time, hitting and berating their students when they don’t practise the piano or when trying to teach a new concept – like pedalling will shout and scream continuously as though the students are donkeys who won’t work unless you hit them , even though sometimes this is simply not the case!

Did you ever had a teacher like that? Did you hated him/her?
Is there something wrong with these so-called educators who are programmed to make the student’s life miserable ? Do they do that because they hate their jobs?By hitting students they take the joy out of learning , and that’s how school homework is not fun anymore, it becomes a chore.Is this what we are expected to learn in school anyway?

think that they hit students because they do not know of any other better teaching methods to impart knowledge to students or they simply hate their students.

What do you think?

An "educator" who mistreats a student, either physically or emotionally, is only teaching that student two things: the subject matter is frightening, and the instructor is cruel. Anxiety about learning comes from being trained to be anxious. I’m all in favor of drill work and setting high standards, but a "teacher" who is incapable of understanding how the student feels is definitely in the wrong profession.

Basically, I am having trouble finding jobs NOT in food-service. Honestly, yes, I could very well apply to McDonalds with all the other kids from my school, but that is not the kind of work atmosphere I am comfortable in, with minimum wage and too many people behind the counter.

I don’t want to tutor, babysit, or teach piano lessons because those jobs are commission-based and I would prefer a fixed salary. It would be hard to gather clients. Also, I am beginning my job hunt now but will most likely wait until summer to take up a job, during which time my "students" would be on vacation or enjoying their break.

Retail might be okay, but I am not very persuasive and I hate the idea of standing on my feet all day and maintaining a sales quota.

Okay, so at this point I sound a little conceited and lazy, I know. In my defense, all I could ask for in a first job is one that will utilize what I have worked my whole life (hah!) to achieve: straight A’s, 4.4 GPA, a 29 Composite ACT Score, a spotless permanent record, two partial scholarships to my private high school, proficiency in Spanish, expertise in piano performance, decent typing skills and more. Catch my drift? I haven’t ever met a McDonlad’s employee with these credentials, much less one in ninth grade.

In addition, a job that would give me experience or even learning opportunities in my fields of interest would be a plus. I am knowledgeable in biology, chemistry, medicine, and algebra, as I hope to be a pediatric anesthesiologist someday. English and reading comprehension are my best subjects, which is useful as well. Some jobs I am researching/considering include the following:

—medical technician (CPhT must graduate high school, Alabama law prohibits technicians under 17)
—research assistant—i have close friends who have done so, living at the University and assisting in their laboratories
—medical secretary
—sales associate

So, community, what do you think? Have I raised my expectations too high for a first job? Could you suggest other jobs for me or elaborate on the ones I provided? Am I cut out for the working world?

Thanks in advance for your honest opinion. =)
very funny, NotShy X)

okay…so after rereading my question, i fully grasped my total snobbishness in posting this and making the harsh points that i did. i can’t believe i wrote this, especially since i was frustrated after my four-hour job-hunt and my lack of sleep. sorry!

Hey I didn’t start work until I was 16 and now I earn bucket loads. You do what you feel your capable of. I think it’s great your 14 and you want to start at the top but it does not work that way in the workforce you need experience and need to be confident and get yourself out there attitude. But you don’t want to wait tables your whole life so do what you think you can for now and get the better jobs as your experience goes up. So just use these small times jobs as a stepping stone then get into the industries you want when you are eligible enough or wait it out until your at uni/college. You can get heaps of good jobs like that when your at uni or college.