Hello! I am sitting at my desk in the languages department and suddenly fancied posting - so here goes...
The weekend after we got back from Langkawi, I took a bus down to Johor Bahru (Johor's capital, and second biggest city in Malaysia). One of my Mum's friends has a friend who is living there with her family for three years whilst working in a branch of Newcastle university. I had a great weekend with the Johnsons - they live in a really modern area of the city, very different to the Malaysia I experience out in the 'Kampungs' of Batu Pahat. Andie has two girls, aged 6 and 4 - who were very sweet and great fun to play with. With their house they get free membership to a nearby pool, so we went 3 times over the weekend. In Langkawi we had been looking enviously at the pools owned by hotels on the beach, so it was nice to have one to ourselves!
On the Saturday we went for a day trip into Singapore. I have never heard much about the country, except for its job as the main stop of point for long-haul flights! We saw a few of the sights, had lunch on Boat Quay, and then went for a walk in the Botanical Gardens- which were really beautiful. Singapore was mega clean, not forgetting expensive!! It was great to visit, and I expect I will go back for another weekend as its only 2 hours away from us. I had such a lovely weekend... Andie cooked me pasta, made me cups of tea and I even had a hot shower!!! It was really nice as their house felt very English, and I could play with her girls without being limited to just saying 'Apa khabar??' (How are you)..
These past few weeks have been good. I have become much more content with not doing as much as I thought I would be doing. We have started doing more outside of the school day, in compensation of our 2 hours/day (max) English assisting! Today we will begin English booster classes for the weak students in form 2. I will meet small groups of 3/4 students for an informal lesson, to improve their confidence with speaking etc.
This week is Languages week at our school. Last night I had to judge a debate between a form 4 and 5 team. It made me laugh alot as one team was taking it SO seriously, and the other was just messing about. We have semi-finals tonight and then the final on Thursday. I like to help out with this sort of things but the debates do not start until 10pm so it always results in late nights! (Yes... most nights I'm in bed by this time..)
Last week we accompanied the school recreational team, as they were climbing Batu Pahat hill. Before we left it had been really sunny so we fully suncreamed up...expecting the weather to stay... but we were quite wrong! After a very steep climb up approx. 700 steps we reached the top, and enjoyed a good view over the town. The sky began to look a little dark so Zu (teacher) suggested we started heading down as to miss the rain. Not quite quickly enough though! Only 5 minutes after we left it began absolutely pouring it down and before we knew it we were walking through the rainforest in the middle of a storm. I dont think I have ever been so soaked in my life! Thankfully my phone and camera survived, but Fiona's phone unfortunately didnt make it... When we got back to the bus the driver wouldnt let us sit down, otherwise we would have made the bus stink, and most probably start growing mould! So all the shivering students had to stand for 30 minutes as we headed home. Of course, by the time we got back - the sun was back out. Classic!
Now we are into April, it does feel like time is flying by. 4 months today we will be leaving the school for our holiday before returning home. I am really excited about this sunday as I can have my first cup of 'the tarik' (gave it up for lent). Hopefully I can get some chocolate into the house too, maybe make an easter egg hunt??
Yesterday after school I was on hostel inspection duty, as one of the teachers was out and she asked me to cover for her. I had to check her groups rooms - their bed, cupboard and desk. They are all really embarassed about mess, so they all tidy up without complaining! The boys hostels did smell a bit though... and the girls balconies are just lined with washing lines draped with pants and bras! It was good fun as the students all showed me photos etc, and we had a group chat after I finished. In case you were wondering - everyone passed Miss Bea's inspection :-)
I hope it is warming up nicely back home, and you are all enjoying the longer days. Keep the letters coming - I will write back!! Chocolate is also v. welcome..............
The weekend after we got back from Langkawi, I took a bus down to Johor Bahru (Johor's capital, and second biggest city in Malaysia). One of my Mum's friends has a friend who is living there with her family for three years whilst working in a branch of Newcastle university. I had a great weekend with the Johnsons - they live in a really modern area of the city, very different to the Malaysia I experience out in the 'Kampungs' of Batu Pahat. Andie has two girls, aged 6 and 4 - who were very sweet and great fun to play with. With their house they get free membership to a nearby pool, so we went 3 times over the weekend. In Langkawi we had been looking enviously at the pools owned by hotels on the beach, so it was nice to have one to ourselves!
On the Saturday we went for a day trip into Singapore. I have never heard much about the country, except for its job as the main stop of point for long-haul flights! We saw a few of the sights, had lunch on Boat Quay, and then went for a walk in the Botanical Gardens- which were really beautiful. Singapore was mega clean, not forgetting expensive!! It was great to visit, and I expect I will go back for another weekend as its only 2 hours away from us. I had such a lovely weekend... Andie cooked me pasta, made me cups of tea and I even had a hot shower!!! It was really nice as their house felt very English, and I could play with her girls without being limited to just saying 'Apa khabar??' (How are you)..
These past few weeks have been good. I have become much more content with not doing as much as I thought I would be doing. We have started doing more outside of the school day, in compensation of our 2 hours/day (max) English assisting! Today we will begin English booster classes for the weak students in form 2. I will meet small groups of 3/4 students for an informal lesson, to improve their confidence with speaking etc.
This week is Languages week at our school. Last night I had to judge a debate between a form 4 and 5 team. It made me laugh alot as one team was taking it SO seriously, and the other was just messing about. We have semi-finals tonight and then the final on Thursday. I like to help out with this sort of things but the debates do not start until 10pm so it always results in late nights! (Yes... most nights I'm in bed by this time..)
Last week we accompanied the school recreational team, as they were climbing Batu Pahat hill. Before we left it had been really sunny so we fully suncreamed up...expecting the weather to stay... but we were quite wrong! After a very steep climb up approx. 700 steps we reached the top, and enjoyed a good view over the town. The sky began to look a little dark so Zu (teacher) suggested we started heading down as to miss the rain. Not quite quickly enough though! Only 5 minutes after we left it began absolutely pouring it down and before we knew it we were walking through the rainforest in the middle of a storm. I dont think I have ever been so soaked in my life! Thankfully my phone and camera survived, but Fiona's phone unfortunately didnt make it... When we got back to the bus the driver wouldnt let us sit down, otherwise we would have made the bus stink, and most probably start growing mould! So all the shivering students had to stand for 30 minutes as we headed home. Of course, by the time we got back - the sun was back out. Classic!
Now we are into April, it does feel like time is flying by. 4 months today we will be leaving the school for our holiday before returning home. I am really excited about this sunday as I can have my first cup of 'the tarik' (gave it up for lent). Hopefully I can get some chocolate into the house too, maybe make an easter egg hunt??
Yesterday after school I was on hostel inspection duty, as one of the teachers was out and she asked me to cover for her. I had to check her groups rooms - their bed, cupboard and desk. They are all really embarassed about mess, so they all tidy up without complaining! The boys hostels did smell a bit though... and the girls balconies are just lined with washing lines draped with pants and bras! It was good fun as the students all showed me photos etc, and we had a group chat after I finished. In case you were wondering - everyone passed Miss Bea's inspection :-)
I hope it is warming up nicely back home, and you are all enjoying the longer days. Keep the letters coming - I will write back!! Chocolate is also v. welcome..............
