Attended to the Bible Study again last Thursday evening (bet Hamish and Helen are in fits of giggles while reading this, knowing them two! *rolls eyes* :p). This time, it was on forgiveness and 'forgive and forget?' No, I'm not going to become a Christian if that is what you are all thinking but just understanding as well as respecting other religions just like I have with Chinese and Muslim in the past few weeks. I admit my perspective on Muslims was pessimistic at the back of my mind before I came out here but that has all changed now, which is why I'm glad I chose Malaysia. I was a bit edgy at first about staying here for six months while travelling West Malaysia with Chris and thought 'Could I really do it?'. Not only that I have become involved in their way of life but have learnt that there is more to them as in person than to the religion of Islam. (Hamish and Helen, still cranking up? :p) That reminds me that when Kirsty and I were on the Royal Brunei plane to Hong Kong, they gave an Islamic prayer before we departed. When it appeared on the mini-screen with English subtitles, praying for a safe journey with a depressing chant going 'Hmmmm, Allllllahhhhh'. Kirsty and I just looked at one another as in 'Okkkayy' and thought exactly the same thing while looking away *giggles*! Got a feel of scuba diving as part of the PADI open water course last Saturday and I did not enjoy the experience, my ears and eyes were in discomfort and it was not what I expected it to be. A shame but I think I'll stick to snorkelling, seem to be doing that every other weekend when I head out to the nearby islands. In the evening, met up with Winnie and Donald for a chitchat in a yoyo cafe. Am keen to join the activities that they have in mind but it always seems to clash with my plans *grr*. Winnie has filled me in on not so nice stories and warned me about dodgy places in KK that has made me feel a bit on the edge about staying in KK for weekends now. We seriously got the fright of our lives on Tuesday night. Kirsty clearly gets a heart attack from my scream, 'Aman scares the bejeezes outa me cos she screams soo loud and shrieky when she's scared and sometimes it's so much scarier than the thing we're scared from.' But seriously, this bug episode topped all scary things. It was a gigantic insect, was like a massive flying cockroach with big wings and it hurtled into our room like it was a plane shot from the sky. It just spun at a million miles an hour while making the most indescribably awful high pitched noise, like someone being set on fire. First Kirsty thought it was a bat one of the stray cats had caught. The noise was so piercing and it was convulsing all over the place and twitching it's brown plastic wings and was stuck on its back so was making the high pitched screech constantly as it twitched and spun on the ground, trying to get up. Kirsty bolted for the toilet and I just did my mother of a scream and got up on the bed, while Elle and Joyce managed to make it out of the door. Kirsty was trapped! I quickly jumped past it and got out the door, but Kirsty didn't want to move incase it got off it's back and dive-bombed her. Kirsty risked it and bolted out the door whilst screaming of course, she found it well scary. Everyone came out of their dorm rooms to find out what on earth was happening. They all thought we'd been "possessed by the ghost". Funny when we look back on it. Anyway, after much cuffuffling, Joyce (again!) braved the beast with a brush and tipped it over, it flew right at her but she was so calm and collected and managed to get it out, impressive. The beast was just skanky and it made the most awful noise. Kind of like a Pterodactyl according to Kirsty. Had a staff meeting about the deaf camp yesterday morning, and this Sunday Liya and I are going to the place where the deaf camp will take place (about 2 hours away) with Cikgu Pilau and Enchiq Fatly, to get an idea of the camp surroundings, to prepare things in advanced such as the jungle trek route and come up with back-up plans if it rains. It'll also give me the opportunity to plan the treasure hunt. Catherine and I have come up with this great idea with 'Master your English' points system. Mum and hopefully a few others are donating English books to encourage the kids to read English and improve their written language. Once they have finished selected books, they have to be able to sign selected words in Sign Supported English (this is not SSE as in the UK, it is a completely different sign language) from the book and be able to answer questions to show that they comprehend what the story is about. For every book they complete, depending on the reading level they collect points which can add up to a total to be able to receive certain prizes, like 15 points for a bookmark, 20 points for 1RM to buy an ice-cream etc. Really find my tuition lessons with Roderick and Kimberley gratifying. Roderick always seems to put the tuition aside and ask out of the blue personal questions such as 'Do you have a boyfriend? Is he white? What age do you want to get married? How many children do you want?' At the end, he gave me a piece of paper with his first, middle, last and nickname name, e-mail address and mobile number as if it was a professional contact card. He is only eleven, Lol! Bless the lil mite. Taught the asrama kids "duck, duck, goose" and "Who stole the keys?" the other night. Kirsty and I demonstrated the game, I ran behind Kirsty to catch her and I slipped from the rug and embarrassingly landed on my hip on the solid laminated floor. Tried to swallow my pride and limped away while the kids who sat in a circle burst out laughing. *Blushes* Took them about 15 minutes to suss out each game but had some fun in the end. It was form 1 we were taking and some of the boys are tiny. There's one boy especially that I just have to laugh at, not in a bad way of course, he's just highly entertaining. Like when he was chasing after someone around the circle, he was making a "zoooom" sound like a motorbike while holding out his arm like superman and his facial expression was just too humorous. Remarks have been made on me lately by the kids such as I have a 'Western' walk. That I walk as if I'm 'proud' and even though I'm Asian, people in the neighborhood can tell that I am a Westerner. Even though, Kirsty and I are complimented every now and then but we've also had the occasional people being blunt and straightforward with us, to us British it is offensive but to them, it is not. Such as I have a big chest but thin legs, and Kirsty has a thin upper body but fat legs. The Malays are absolutely miniature that they'll get a shock when my nine year old life-sized brother comes out *Chuckles*. Kirsty rushed over to the deaf department with a juicy parcel from Chris while I was working late, was sorting out the English corner and I think she was more excited than I was as expected it from Mum, who always posts things out without leaving a message *tuts tuts*. It felt like my birthday that I was lost for words with the Thorntons chocolates, cards, thoughtful gifts and Crystal and Priscilla's (the Chinese twins who live with Chris) colourful pictures and letters. Stuck the pictures on the wall, more decoration :). Was funny as after dinner, Kirsty and I set the mood, closed curtains, soppy music on, sat on the bed and looked at each other grinning as in 'this is it!' as we carefully unwrapped the mouth-watering luxurious chocolates one by one. Mmmm, we had to scoop each chocolate out with a spoon because they were half melted but they still tasted better than ever! We were on cloud nine *swoons*, we were silent for about 5 minutes while we just enjoyed the feast. We then wondered what the girls would think if they knew how much the chocolates cost. We calculated that the box of chocolates would be worth around RM100, they'd be gobsmacked if they knew the cost. Kirsty and I stayed up having a right natter last night since we had officially reached "1/3" of the way through our GAP placement. Seems a bit crazy that we're there already, yet it feels like I've been away for yonks. Heat is becoming bearable these days but Puan Vera has warned us for the upcoming month, April which is unbelievably scorching and that we might have to take 3 showers a day *nervous chuckle*. Oh yes, last night a lizard crept up on me while I was sleeping, woke up to find the lizard staring at me with its black beastly popped out eyes and it made my spine shiver *shrugs*. After I flicked the nasty lizard off, couldn't go back to sleep as was paranoid throughout the night. Staying this weekend to save money for the East Coast travels and offered to help out with the Saturday school revision as the kids have got exams next week. Besides, it will back to the Mary Hare weekends, excluding the binge- drinking *titters*. Got far many more stories to share but unfortunately time is running out and I think I'll save it for face to face, if I can remember them all! :) x