Incorrigible.

Loopy likes to go to the fence behind and look over at the neighbour's house. He would sometimes sit down and stare at the fence, figuring out how to cross over it. My Dad tried to cover up all the holes he made on the fence and below it but Loops managed to cross over. This time my Dad did something and it finally has failed Loopy's attempt of temporary freedom.

Then, my Mom was saying, Loopy goes to that part of the fence every day to look at it. Sometimes it would nibble the fence. One day, he going to nibble to whole fence I tell you.

I'm so proud of my Loopy (haha..) Who says he's a stray mongrel? But he still chews our slippers although Boss rotan-ed him once and shouted at him a million times. This is definitely an incorrigible dog.

Just like Loopy, some of my students are like that-incorrigible. I tried everything - scolding, rotan, sweet talk, motivate, encourage but sometimes I just feel that nothing goes into their heads. It's like talking to bricks....Probably it's just the second month and it's too early to say, but sometimes it just gets overboard and too much to handle.

My colleagues.

I am just thankful I have a group of colleagues whom I am so comfortable being with. I guess every teacher has their own cliques but I certainly did not expect to get this especially in Mangosteen School.

Today we had a farewell lunch for Lim who was transferred to another school that has more Chinese students. She's a Chinese Language teacher. In about 2-3 years time, there will be absolutely no Chinese students in Mangosteen School. How sad. Today we only have less than 10 students. Talk about racial segregation..and racial integration among students here is almost zero.

After lunch, a few of us visited an Australian teacher here who is part of the ministry's programme of enhancing and improving the teaching of English in primary schools. Aah, my heart goes out to her after hearing the series of (unfortunate) events that took place the moment she arrived here about a week ago. House not ready-broken promises-different culture-fractured toe-inability to move around-pain-language-loneliness-frustration. This kind of situation needs a very brave person and I know she is exactly that person.

I'm glad today was a holiday because I've not had such a fun, fulfilling and meaningful outing for a very long time...

The meeting of the mangosteens.

Orang asli child.

Pn. Infila's very cute baby.

Last week, all the class teachers, including me, rushed to decorate their own classrooms because Pengetua said she will have a mini rombongan to take the parents around the school. She lied.

Sigh.

And only this week I was officially the class teacher. But it was good week. It was nice seeing 4 of my students helping me. It is so rare to see 2 malay boys working together with an asli boy and a malay girl.

And today, at Malabah's restaurant opposite the school, I had a very good conversation with another teacher (my closest friend in school, 25 years older than me). It was so encouraging listening to her sharing and experiences. She is one tough and caring nut. And school is not that bad because I really appreciate her presence and friendship.

***

Today's reminder: Our Lord preserves our soul!

Mini Holiday.

Last week, the staff of Mangosteen School had to attend a one-night 'Latihan Dalam Perkhidmatan (LADAP)' at Port Dickson. I called it a mini holiday because it really felt like a holiday despite the 3 boring talks.

But what made it more fun was the people whom I was with...well, actually only 3 people out of about 70. The rest of them are plain boring...

..and I almost went for a sauna with the 2 of them, but decided to stay back for my beauty sleep. Oh yes, we had lots of time to ourselves. The four of us walked on the beach. We dug small 'kerangs' from the sand. We talked. We complained about other teachers (hehe).

The view from my room.

Suat Li, Kim Cheng and Rene

...and then there was a surprise awaiting me on the last day.

All pictures were taken by Canny the Canon camera. I was too lazy to lug the huge camera around.

Science and Mathematics week @ Mangosteen School

Pn Rene, the teacher on the right,is the nicest teacher in school. Because of her, I don't think I'd want to move up to the morning session anytime soon. I had no idea what the PK1 was doing. I think nothing happened after she poured the green liquid. *thinks back* Oh, now I know. She was pouring vinegar into the bicarbonate solution and it was supposed to create that 'volcanic' effect but nothing really happened. Duh.

There was also a failed attempt to throw some balloons (with Science riddles attached to them) from the 1st floor. The students didn't really 'throw' the balloons and it all ended up in the drain. Grr.

Overall, it went on well. I had a good response for my 'Fun Science Riddles' competition throughout the week. It was nice to see students coming up to me, asking me for more clues.

'What fruit has its seeds on the outside?'

The sun was scorching hot!

Mangosteen School's sports day.

Went on pretty well for like, 20 minutes, then it was chaos.

I saw the morning sun rising slowly, and it reminded me of my school days. Stadium Jugra is ancient. We had all our school sports here since I was in Standard 1. Now I come back as a teacher.

This lonely man was staring at the camera (or me?) for so long.

I have a heart for Orang Asli kids. I first got to know them in our Sunday School. I also meet many of them at my school but they're from a different kampung. Reni, the girl in the middle is in my class and she is one of the smartest girl I've met.

This boy is from the remove class. I think all the Indian boys in my school look so cute when they're small. But this one's cute AND mischevious.

All the girls except 2 of them are from my class, 1 Zamrud

The Indian girls are cute too! And they're so polite. These are the girls from the remove class, except the middle girl.

Hafiq is the only boy in the Most Dreaded class whom I really adore. The rest of them are monsters. He was the mascot of my house, the green house.

He looked very striking under the hot sun.

One word. BRAT.

Me fellow comrade, Issma. She was posted to my school a few months before me. We both understand each other's struggles and frustration as fresh graduates.

***

I really would like to teach Biology to eager students but I seem to rotting (fast) as I teach Science to the Form 2 monkeys. I really don't mind teaching, but who won't get so frustrated if they're given mostly the Last Classes to teach?

Come shine on me.

***

So, I've been teaching at Mangosteen school for one week. Here are some of my observations, thoughts and also happenings that took place last week.

I have learnt to accept My School but there are still new(sad to say) surprises each day. There are so many things that can and need to be improved but I guess some people are just not bothered.

I feel that all TESL students (especially the good ones) in the universities should seriously consider teaching in government schools. It's sad to see many good ones opting to teach elsewhere or not to even become a English teacher. The bulk of students comes from these schools (rural and urban) and they are the ones who will end up serving the country (not students from International Schools and elsewhere).

We are short of good English teachers.

If only the academically challeged students realise that there is a world bigger than their own coconut shells. If only they realise that there is more to life than running around like hooligans. If only they realise that the are more important things in life.

I still thank God for my posting. Some things don't just come to me. I don't even need to ask. It just comes. A teacher from my school asked me whether I could give Biology tuition to her daugther and her friends. I was thinking, I could start now, if not when? So I said yes.

I am a class teacher of 1 Zamrud and I am so glad they are more well behaved then the other 6 form 1 classes which I'm teaching Sejarah. I reckon they are afraid of me after giving them a list of class rules to follow. Good! Good!

Three form one boys in the 2nd last class cannot read or write in Malay.

How in the world am I going to teach them History?

I think Indian boys and girls look very cute when they smile or laugh.

Oh, but they're real devils when they're naughty.

I went to the last Form 1 class to teach. This classroom is located in one god-forsaken corner, far, far away from all the other classes. Oh, I didn't teach because NONE of the students were in the class. I waited for almost 20 minutes and went back to the staff room. I have never seen such a terrible looking classroom in my 13 years in school. (I taught they were playing truant, but our dear school counselor had no courtesy to inform the teachers that she was having some program maju diri with them.)

There is always an opportunity to improve and I am going to make myself useful (and better) to the school...and to my family.