Sunday marked the return of our second weekend trip and the beginning of the last half of my trip here. It's crazy to think that in a few weeks I will be stepping off a plane back in Michigan. But before I start thinking about hamburgers, fajitas, my own bed, warm showers and regular toilets, I'll give you an update on the past few days of my life.
We left on Friday for Malacca, in the southern part of Malaysia. On the way we stopped at the airport to pick up an MSU College of Ed staff person who is coming to check out the happenings of MSU's first ever study abroad to Malaysia. Hopefully all goes well on her visit and they'll let this trip happen again next summer.
The hotel we stayed at in Malacca was fabulous! Right on the beach, a huge pool, individual bathrooms (with shower curtains!), just a great hotel. But no worries, we didn't spend much time there. We toured around Malacca, visiting historical sites and Mini Malaysia in which there were replicas of the traditional homes of each state in Malaysia.
And on Sunday we went to a traditional Malaysian wedding. It was so cool to see the different traditions they do here. The bride was beautiful and together the bride and groom are called the king and queen for the day, a tradition I would love to bring home with me :)
School this week is very different. Almost all the students are taking exams Tuesday-Thursday, so I don't really have any classes to go to. My host mom invited me to two of her classes today, so I will go there in a little bit. But I'm not sure what I'm going to do all day tomorrow because all my classes are taking exams. Good thing we're leaving for this weekend's trip a day early, so I'll miss the last day of exams on Thursday. I don't think I'll ever get used to the strict schedule of government regulated curriculum. The school system is just so different here, there are some things I like, but being here makes me excited to start student teaching in the fall. I want to be in a classroom for the whole day every day and know what the students are learning so I can actually feel effective in a classroom.
So how am I doing, you might ask? (And if you don't ask, I'll tell you anyway...) Well, I'm doing alright. I have moments where I just wish I was home, in my own comfort zone. I know in the long run being here for 6 weeks will be such a great experience and one that I will look back on and wish it would have been for longer. I want to go home and prepare for my hectic year to come, but there is part of me that thinks when August 14th comes, I will want to stay just a big longer. There are parts of Malaysia we will not see that I want to see, and countries nearby that I would love to visit. Maybe I will just take a trip back to this part of the world and travel around. Anyone want to come with me in a few years?
Monday, July 28, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
What is an American?
I was asked the other day to describe the typical American person. For some reason, this question stumped me. So I thought I would toss it out to anyone who is reading my blog and see what you think. How would you describe a typical American?
Yesterday I taught my first partial lesson. It went pretty well, but I'm still getting used to the completely different way of teaching here. The teaching is completely centered around the examinations students take in 9th, 11th and 12th grades. These exams determine what stream they will be in (science or art) as well as what track they will be in (high, medium or low). So with all of this tracking and ranking, students also have to take a standardized exam and all classwork (at least in their English classes) focuses on preparing them for the exams. Basically this means that there are certain topics I have to teach on and yesterday was reading comprehension. I was definitely nervous about it, but it ended up going alright. There are some pictures of me with some of my students posted on my picasa album on the top right link. Check it out!
In other news, we are leaving for Malacca tomorrow. Should be such a fun trip filled with historical sites and museums and fun times with my classmates. The hotel we're staying in seems like it's going to be high class, swimming pool, air conditioning, maybe even an actual toilet if we're lucky... :) As fun as squatty potties are, it's nice to use a regular toilet. I'll make sure I update when we get back.
Yesterday I taught my first partial lesson. It went pretty well, but I'm still getting used to the completely different way of teaching here. The teaching is completely centered around the examinations students take in 9th, 11th and 12th grades. These exams determine what stream they will be in (science or art) as well as what track they will be in (high, medium or low). So with all of this tracking and ranking, students also have to take a standardized exam and all classwork (at least in their English classes) focuses on preparing them for the exams. Basically this means that there are certain topics I have to teach on and yesterday was reading comprehension. I was definitely nervous about it, but it ended up going alright. There are some pictures of me with some of my students posted on my picasa album on the top right link. Check it out!
In other news, we are leaving for Malacca tomorrow. Should be such a fun trip filled with historical sites and museums and fun times with my classmates. The hotel we're staying in seems like it's going to be high class, swimming pool, air conditioning, maybe even an actual toilet if we're lucky... :) As fun as squatty potties are, it's nice to use a regular toilet. I'll make sure I update when we get back.
Monday, July 21, 2008
In the land of tea
This morning I woke up to the sound of my alarm, and wanted nothing more than to turn it off, roll over and go back to sleep for a few hours. Guess I better get used to the life of waking up early and all.
Since my last post, we have gone on our first weekend trip. From Friday to Sunday I was in the Cameron Highlands, which were absolutely beautiful! We drove for about 3 hours into the
mountains and jungle and found ourselves nestled into a hotel on top of a hill, overlooking the green scene below. During our time there we went to a tea plantation, a butterfly garden, a strawberry picking field and a farmer's market. Mom and Dad, if there is any place you should retire (besides the cottage, obviously), it's here. The life was so slow paced and leisurely, and there was all the fresh fruit you could imagine. My favorite so far is the mangosteins. So delicious! And on our way back, we took the "old" road, which really just meant it went more through the jungle and had tons more twists and turns through the mountains. I was amazed at the scenery and the fact that there are people who get to daily be surrounded by God's beauty.
And yesterday I had the day off school. (Yay!) The teachers had to be in school for an awards ceremony on Saturday, so they gave them the day off on Monday. So how did I spend my entire day off you might ask? Well, I spent it buying the one thing I forgot to bring with me that I really will need - a bathing suit. No, I did not read that mental note I wrote myself before leaving Michigan to grab my bathing suit from the drawer. Instead, I asked my host mom if there was any place I could buy one here. Well, the town we live in is a super small town filled with people who have probably never seen a bathing suit beyond the American television shows. When swimming here, everyone goes in fully clothed, sometimes even wearing long pants. So in order to get me a suit, we had to drive 1 1/2 hours away to Ipoh, a more westernized city with a huge mall. Thankfully, I found a suit that I liked and it wasn't overly expensive (RM 149, if you want to figure out the USD, go right ahead).
And as soon as I got home from Ipoh, I had to change my clothes and go hiking with my "brothers" and a family friend. We started walking down a gorgeous path, although I wouldn't really have called it hiking since we were on a paved road the entire time. About half way to our destination it started raining. I wasn't too worried at first, but then the rain started to get heavier and heavier and thunder was clapping ominously nearby. We stopped to take shelter under someone's stilted house, and then just kept on trekking. I guess we all figured we'd just keep going since we were all sopping wet at that point. We made it to the river and hung out there for a while, then walked back, all the while in the pouring rain. It ended up being a fun walk despite the rain. At least I got to be outside moving around for a few hours.
As I sit and think about the 2 weeks I've spent here so far, I am overcome with a mix of emotions. I cannot believe I'm here, in Malaysia. I know I've traveled a lot before, but it's different when I am living in someone else's house, trying to get used to a completely different culture on my own. The weekend trips when the entire group comes back together are so refreshing and needed for me. I miss home, family and friends. It's definitely hard sometimes, especially when I am by myself, but I know in the end this will be the experience of a lifetime. The hard times only make me rely more on the saving grace of my Savior. It is only through his comfort and guiding hand that I will make it through. I take rest in that knowledge and the knowledge that I have an incredible support system praying for me at home. Thank you all for that, I could not be here without you.
Since my last post, we have gone on our first weekend trip. From Friday to Sunday I was in the Cameron Highlands, which were absolutely beautiful! We drove for about 3 hours into the
mountains and jungle and found ourselves nestled into a hotel on top of a hill, overlooking the green scene below. During our time there we went to a tea plantation, a butterfly garden, a strawberry picking field and a farmer's market. Mom and Dad, if there is any place you should retire (besides the cottage, obviously), it's here. The life was so slow paced and leisurely, and there was all the fresh fruit you could imagine. My favorite so far is the mangosteins. So delicious! And on our way back, we took the "old" road, which really just meant it went more through the jungle and had tons more twists and turns through the mountains. I was amazed at the scenery and the fact that there are people who get to daily be surrounded by God's beauty.And yesterday I had the day off school. (Yay!) The teachers had to be in school for an awards ceremony on Saturday, so they gave them the day off on Monday. So how did I spend my entire day off you might ask? Well, I spent it buying the one thing I forgot to bring with me that I really will need - a bathing suit. No, I did not read that mental note I wrote myself before leaving Michigan to grab my bathing suit from the drawer. Instead, I asked my host mom if there was any place I could buy one here. Well, the town we live in is a super small town filled with people who have probably never seen a bathing suit beyond the American television shows. When swimming here, everyone goes in fully clothed, sometimes even wearing long pants. So in order to get me a suit, we had to drive 1 1/2 hours away to Ipoh, a more westernized city with a huge mall. Thankfully, I found a suit that I liked and it wasn't overly expensive (RM 149, if you want to figure out the USD, go right ahead).
And as soon as I got home from Ipoh, I had to change my clothes and go hiking with my "brothers" and a family friend. We started walking down a gorgeous path, although I wouldn't really have called it hiking since we were on a paved road the entire time. About half way to our destination it started raining. I wasn't too worried at first, but then the rain started to get heavier and heavier and thunder was clapping ominously nearby. We stopped to take shelter under someone's stilted house, and then just kept on trekking. I guess we all figured we'd just keep going since we were all sopping wet at that point. We made it to the river and hung out there for a while, then walked back, all the while in the pouring rain. It ended up being a fun walk despite the rain. At least I got to be outside moving around for a few hours.
As I sit and think about the 2 weeks I've spent here so far, I am overcome with a mix of emotions. I cannot believe I'm here, in Malaysia. I know I've traveled a lot before, but it's different when I am living in someone else's house, trying to get used to a completely different culture on my own. The weekend trips when the entire group comes back together are so refreshing and needed for me. I miss home, family and friends. It's definitely hard sometimes, especially when I am by myself, but I know in the end this will be the experience of a lifetime. The hard times only make me rely more on the saving grace of my Savior. It is only through his comfort and guiding hand that I will make it through. I take rest in that knowledge and the knowledge that I have an incredible support system praying for me at home. Thank you all for that, I could not be here without you.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Clam, anchovies, and tofu, oh my!
Wow, so much has happened since the last time I've been able to post. I moved in with my host family over the weekend. They are wonderful. There are 5 children in the family and 4 live at home. The oldest daughter just moved to college, then there are two sons, 17 and 16, and then two more daughters, 10 and 5. The 5 year old is so full of energy all the time, she always wants to be right next to me and have my full attention. Yesterday she was teaching my to count in Malay! It's confusing and I could only remember 1-5. The language is nothing like English and I find myself often just starting around the room in total confusion as people talk all around me. I'll post pictures of the house and my room later, but my room is huge and has it's own bathroom! :)
Mom and Dad, you should be proud of me for all the new foods I'm trying. There is tons of fresh fish everywhere and they cook the fish whole, head, bones and all. I also had fresh clams, anchovies in my rice, and tofu all the time. It has all been pretty good, once I get over what I'm eating. I also (accidentally) ate cow liver yesterday...I was eating at school and my host mom didn't want to tell me what I had put on my plate until after I ate it. She knew I wouldn't have eaten it if I had known (and she was right!). So it's been very interesting at all the meals to say the least.
School has been good so far. The set up is so different than in the US. Here, the students stay in one classroom all day and the teachers rotate around room to room. And the periods are only 35 minutes and the schedule is different every day. The teachers just have to meet with the class at some point in the week 4-5 times. So I should only be teaching 15-20 periods each week, making teaching a little less stressful for me. Yesterday my mentor teacher was absent, so I followed my host mom around for the day. And today my mentor teacher does not start teaching until 10:15 (amazing!) so I went with another teacher to her English class for an hour this morning. It was so fun to interact with the students. Oh, and I accidentally got placed at a secondary school, so I'm working with high schoolers (and some middle schoolers) instead of elementary students. Oh well, the students are fun and they know more English at this level. Although I am attracting a lot of attention from the boys (they call me Miss and today one boy referred to me as beautiful Miss...) I think that's one of the reasons I wanted to teach elementary and middle schoolers. haha.
But I found out that I have wireless access at school and on the university campus, so I might be able to post more than I originally thought. No internet at home, but I'm so busy with Nadiah that it doesn't matter much. Well that's all for now, it's a long post. I'll try and update more later! Love you all and miss you bunches!
Mom and Dad, you should be proud of me for all the new foods I'm trying. There is tons of fresh fish everywhere and they cook the fish whole, head, bones and all. I also had fresh clams, anchovies in my rice, and tofu all the time. It has all been pretty good, once I get over what I'm eating. I also (accidentally) ate cow liver yesterday...I was eating at school and my host mom didn't want to tell me what I had put on my plate until after I ate it. She knew I wouldn't have eaten it if I had known (and she was right!). So it's been very interesting at all the meals to say the least.
School has been good so far. The set up is so different than in the US. Here, the students stay in one classroom all day and the teachers rotate around room to room. And the periods are only 35 minutes and the schedule is different every day. The teachers just have to meet with the class at some point in the week 4-5 times. So I should only be teaching 15-20 periods each week, making teaching a little less stressful for me. Yesterday my mentor teacher was absent, so I followed my host mom around for the day. And today my mentor teacher does not start teaching until 10:15 (amazing!) so I went with another teacher to her English class for an hour this morning. It was so fun to interact with the students. Oh, and I accidentally got placed at a secondary school, so I'm working with high schoolers (and some middle schoolers) instead of elementary students. Oh well, the students are fun and they know more English at this level. Although I am attracting a lot of attention from the boys (they call me Miss and today one boy referred to me as beautiful Miss...) I think that's one of the reasons I wanted to teach elementary and middle schoolers. haha.
But I found out that I have wireless access at school and on the university campus, so I might be able to post more than I originally thought. No internet at home, but I'm so busy with Nadiah that it doesn't matter much. Well that's all for now, it's a long post. I'll try and update more later! Love you all and miss you bunches!
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Beginning days
Yesterday was our first real day of doing things. The first day we got here was a "relaxing" day, which ended up being full of driving into town to shop and visiting random places around Tanjung Malim.
We saw a small waterfall, which was really pretty, but didn't stay for long. And yesterday we had our first classes and learned a little about Malaysian culture, education and language. Saya suka Malaysia (I lik
e Malaysia). Haha. Then we had a tour of UPSI, the university we're staying at this week. It is a gorgeous campus with a super nice library. I was definitely impressed with the quality of the buildings, put MSU's library to shame. There was also a huge children's book section, which I wish I could just transfer to East Lansing because there is no children's book section there anymore...boo.
The biggest thing that happened today was that we had a huge opening ceremony for the program. The deputy minister of higher education in Malaysia was there along with the vice chancellor and some other high up people in the ministry of education here. It was a big deal, national press, tons of pictures, formal greetings and the whole nine yards. I don't have any pictures from it yet, but we all got dressed up and I'll post some later.
So I was thinking yesterday about the different perspectives we all have in life. I look at the world around me in such a different way than everyone else looks at the world. The way I react to things happens because of the mindset that I have. I wonder what it would be like to have a different perspective, to look at the Malaysian world around me and think of it as normal. The busy streets and open air markets and restaurants are so different from Michigan. I have no internal loyalty to Malaysia, but I do to the US. What would it be like for a completely different culture to become the norm of my life and to change the mindset that I have?
We saw a small waterfall, which was really pretty, but didn't stay for long. And yesterday we had our first classes and learned a little about Malaysian culture, education and language. Saya suka Malaysia (I lik
e Malaysia). Haha. Then we had a tour of UPSI, the university we're staying at this week. It is a gorgeous campus with a super nice library. I was definitely impressed with the quality of the buildings, put MSU's library to shame. There was also a huge children's book section, which I wish I could just transfer to East Lansing because there is no children's book section there anymore...boo.The biggest thing that happened today was that we had a huge opening ceremony for the program. The deputy minister of higher education in Malaysia was there along with the vice chancellor and some other high up people in the ministry of education here. It was a big deal, national press, tons of pictures, formal greetings and the whole nine yards. I don't have any pictures from it yet, but we all got dressed up and I'll post some later.
So I was thinking yesterday about the different perspectives we all have in life. I look at the world around me in such a different way than everyone else looks at the world. The way I react to things happens because of the mindset that I have. I wonder what it would be like to have a different perspective, to look at the Malaysian world around me and think of it as normal. The busy streets and open air markets and restaurants are so different from Michigan. I have no internal loyalty to Malaysia, but I do to the US. What would it be like for a completely different culture to become the norm of my life and to change the mindset that I have?
Sunday, July 06, 2008
July 6?
So I completely missed out on the entire day of July 6. I left my house in Novi at 6am on July 5 and arrived in Malaysia at 12am on July 7. Weird. But I'm here...finally! It was an incredibly long day of traveling. A little bit of time to Atlanta, 13 hours to Korea, 6 to Malaysia, and another 1 1/2 to the university we're staying at this week. We actually have air conditioning in our room...I feel a bit spoiled.
Funny thing that is happening right now, there's random music playing from the courtyard outside my window and every once in a while I hear someone singing along on a microphone. I'm sure stranger things will happen in the weeks to come, but for only being here less than 10 hours, that's all I can say.
Anyway, thanks for all your prayers. I'm glad I got here safely. Love you all.
Funny thing that is happening right now, there's random music playing from the courtyard outside my window and every once in a while I hear someone singing along on a microphone. I'm sure stranger things will happen in the weeks to come, but for only being here less than 10 hours, that's all I can say.
Anyway, thanks for all your prayers. I'm glad I got here safely. Love you all.
Friday, July 04, 2008
7 hours and counting
Well friends, I sit here in my room, awaiting the 3:30am mark that will begin an extremely long time of travel. It's weird because I don't think it's really hit me that I'm going to Malaysia tomorrow, and will be there for the next 6 weeks. I have my bags (mostly) packed and ready to go. I'm not sure what will fill my time during the 30 hours of travel I have ahead of me, but I have a few books, my computer and iPod...and I'm also banking on there being some good movie selections on the plane rides.
As I am getting ready to leave, though, I am reminded of how blessed my life truly is. I have an amazing God who continues to provide for me. He has filled me with a complete sense of peace and trust. While I really have no idea what my life will look like for the next 6 weeks, I am okay. My heart is at rest and I go into this night calmly. I cannot say that will be the case as I sit in the airport tomorrow, but it is the case right now. I ask you all for your continued prayers as I am gone. Pray for confidence as I teach in an elementary classroom, good connections with my host family and teacher, my faith to continue to grow stronger as I am immersed in a Muslim culture. I hope I have some good stories to tell, pictures to share, and love to extend. Please please email or post comments...I would love to hear from you!
As I am getting ready to leave, though, I am reminded of how blessed my life truly is. I have an amazing God who continues to provide for me. He has filled me with a complete sense of peace and trust. While I really have no idea what my life will look like for the next 6 weeks, I am okay. My heart is at rest and I go into this night calmly. I cannot say that will be the case as I sit in the airport tomorrow, but it is the case right now. I ask you all for your continued prayers as I am gone. Pray for confidence as I teach in an elementary classroom, good connections with my host family and teacher, my faith to continue to grow stronger as I am immersed in a Muslim culture. I hope I have some good stories to tell, pictures to share, and love to extend. Please please email or post comments...I would love to hear from you!
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