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Two Chicks & a Climber Reach New Heights
Heavy downpours occurred often this week that DPM school looks gloomy with the dull weather. The whole world stops in Malaysia once it rains and when it stops, everyone resumes back to normal. Bet you lot are thinking 'Hey, at least you should be grateful you are not experiencing the Blighty weather.' Heard it has been snowing recently and British summer time is coming up, what the heck?
Kirsty went to KK for the weekend while I stayed to chill out at the Asrama. Felt flattered as Kirsty mentioned to me that Rinao, one of the North Borneo Cabin's (NBC, backpackers in KK) crew was asking after me and said the crew were looking forward to see me. NBC is like a second home to me out here in Malaysia *fond smile*.
Spent Friday night in the main hall, watched gymnastics' that was mind-boggling, to see a bunch of 8 flexible year olds pushing themselves to the limit that was excruciating to watch. The teacher was literally torturing them, by pressurizing them by forcefully pressing their bodies to the ground. The girl in the front row who was only just new, her face was in agony trying her best not to scream as she bent her legs right backwards, landed her knees on the floor in front of her face and her chin touching the ground. The poor souls! At the same time, the girls were practicing their Malay dance and asked me to join them. So now I've picked up some classic Malay moves, it is similar to the Indian rhythm. (Bet Inde and Sunny are in fits of giggles now :p)
Helped the kids revise for their English exam which was on the Tuesday. Have noticed that they learn the English language by memorising the passage to be written in the exam rather than understanding it. So had a task of explaining what the passage was about and hopefully they understood as they usually go 'Faham, faham' as in 'Understand, understand' to move onto the next passage just to get moving. Reminds me of myself when it came to Dad explaining things to me, just wanted the answer rather than the explanation *fond chuckle*.
Spent a few lessons last week going over 'sayings' with 3KA, for example:
* Face the music
* A close shave
* Once in a blue moon
* Out of the blue
* Red-handed
* Green fingers etc.
Lately, been writing up short conversations for beginners and intermediate reading. These conversations are used in everyday life such as introductions, cooking, today's special, weekend sports, directions to the museum etc. The purpose of this is that it'd help them to communicate with hearing people as well as learning English. To ensure they understand, have set out multiple-choice comprehension check questions instead of them just going 'Faham, Faham' *head nods* to everything they learn.
Woke up bright and early on Sunday morning with Catherine and Piluh to check out the deaf camp, which was 2 hours drive away. Piluh's adopted sons who are Filipinos also came with us, they were full of energy running around in circles with Catherine's lil toddler.
On the way there, I was in awe of Mountain Kinabalu as we drove up and around the hilly mountains. Catherine has lived in Sabah her whole life and it was her first time as well as mine to see Mountain Kinabalu's peak in clear sight, as it is rare to see the peak's fine-looking outline as it is usually clouded high up. Definitely climbing the mountain, even with bare feet if I have to, no doubt about that!
The camp surroundings were not what I expected it to be as it was recently built on top of a hill with gorgeous surroundings and Mountain Kinabalu right in front your eyes. And I have to say, the buildings were quite modern unlike a typical traditional camp site. Had to change the previous camp timetable as some activities aren't suitable to carry out at the camp site, like rounders as no fields due to hilly surroundings. The jungle trek is 3km long and looks bundles of fun, can't wait for that *excited chitters*!
Mr Gwynn, going to nick your motto 'No I in a team' for the deaf camp. Have come up with a camp song and it's that cheesy famous deaf 'Everywhere we go' song *giggles*. But adding actions to make it more exciting rather than them just standing there signing the lyrics.
Although, schools not exactly a chore at the moment since the kids have exams and its nice to chill out with the kids. Especially over the last couple of days cause even though they're all stressed out about the exams they're having this week, they're also all majorly hyper and smiley cause theres a soft ball team from another school staying in the asrama and using our sports facilities. They are using 2 full girls dorm rooms and I presume 2 boys dorms as well. They're all getting on really well, met for the first time on Monday and have all been playing guitar, singing together and just being typically hyper. The asramas got a bit of a 'summer camp' vibe going on just now.
A negative thing about the Malaysian culture is that people here cannot be outspoken. They never seem to complain about anything, and if they tried to complain then they would explain themselves in the nicest way as possible. Like they won't note out the problem but hint it and expect the person to understand what they mean. It would be seen as offensive to speak out your views and people do tend to take it personally here, which is exactly why I can't do anything about the appalling deaf education 'culture' at the primary school that makes my blood boil *grr*, not going to go into detail about this. But believe if I could, I would!
The Malaysians normally take naps in the afternoon, I always find myself peeking through the girls' dorm late afternoon to see them sleeping soundly on the floor. They seem to prefer sleeping on the hard surface than the bed, even when bugs are crawling about, that is the one thing I STILL don't get about them. Have been experiencing sleeping problems lately, can't sleep in the afternoons let alone at night and it doesn't help when I have to be an early bird, like 6am for school!
Visited the local Monsopiad Cultural Village which was great. Catherine took us there for the day while the kids were doing their exams, On arrival, we were greeted by women in Kadazan (tribe of Penampang) dress, was all tribal and ethnicity. The village was revamped in 1996 to resemble a museum, in memory of a tribal man, Monsopiad, who was a famous Kadazan Head Hunter and lived over 300 years ago.
We received a welcome drink in a little glass (like a shot glass) made out of bamboo. I didnt expect it to be alcoholic (being in a Muslim country and all). After our drink, we went to a really nice large, open, wooden hut, with a stage and cushions to sit on. We chatted to the 2 girls that were going to be our guides and one of them told us she was an ex student from DPM and only left the school last year, so she knew the GAP students that were there before us.
Watched 3 cultural dances performed by the Kadazan people on stage. The girls wore special belts made from ancient coins and the men wore dried bamboo leaves at their sides, as well as some tribal head gear. After the first dance, we were joined by two men from London, who were filming a documentary thing to promote Malaysia as a destination to visit. They had all of their fancy filming equipment with them so Kirsty and I were caught on camera throughout the performance. We were asked to join in after each dance so we learnt the Kadazan style dancing then got a go of dancing between the bamboo sticks.
We then continued to the House of Skulls. Obviously we removed our shoes (as you do before you enter any room in Malaysia) and had to say the sentence that was written above the door. It was in Kadazan and meant 'Sorry to my ancestors' since we were entering someone else's property without their permission and also to make sure we lost any bad spirits that may enter with us. There weren't as many skulls inside as I expected. There were about 45 hanging from the roof by dried bamboo along with offerings of food to the spirits made in the latest ceremony. There were photographs around the room of the descendants of Monsopiad, who continue to carry on the traditional rituals in the House of Skulls, i.e. giving offerings to the spirits. Head Hunting is no longer carried out in East Malaysia but I wouldn't say the same about Brunei or Indonesian Borneo.
Checked out the games part of the tour. We used the traditional Slingshot to fire at targets. The Kadazan tribe obviously use this for hunting and to strike enemies. We also learned to use the funky dart shooter. Like a long piece of bamboo or wood, then you put a poisoned dart inside, aim for the target and blow. Was surprisingly easy to aim that one and fire a long distance. The tribe gets the poison for the darts from frogs, snakes and some poisonous plants. We moved on to see a traditional Kadazan house, where we had a go playing on the gongs and percussion instruments, like their version of a glockenspiel. Kirsty got herself a banner to put on her wall, saying, 'Sabah- Land Below the Wind', because that's what Sabah is always referred too.
Attending to a Malay wedding this Sunday and wear has to be smart rather than dressy. Then it is EAST COAST, HERE WE COME! for the 1 week March holidays *whoops*. Yup, I have naturally got itchy feet :). I'm more than tempted to travel for longer once my placement finishes in July but unfortunately my passport expires in January 2007 and you have to leave the country 6 months before expiry date, dammit! Making the most of the time I have left, every single step of the way :).
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