First English Camp!

The day came...

my first 

English camp!

Not Pictured: Mexico (North America)

All ETA's in Malaysia are required to do 2 English camps during their time here. English camp can be essentially anything you would like it to be, as long as it uses/improves English. I had a lot of ideas for English camps but one seemed very appropriate for Language month at my school, 'Around the World camp'. This also played off of my love for traveling and my personal goal to travel the world.

I originally planned a camp for 90 students which somehow grew into a camp of 130 students! I invited 3 other schools as well as my own and had the wonderful help of ETA's from the state of Johor. The students were divided up into 6 of the 7 continents sorry Antarctica... You weren't invited to this party. Once they registered for camp they received a passport. Prior to camp I told my students to bring in a passport sized photo. The students were able to paste their passport photos inside the passport to make it more realistic. They also had a visa page where they had to visit all 6 continents to obtain a visa. 

Quick Breakdown of the Continents::

 

Europe: European Jeopardy (famous landmarks)

Australia: Guess that Australian slang word

Asia: Food Word Scramble

North America: Capital Connect Four

Africa: African Animal Taboo

South America: Jigsaw puzzle

Once the students completed the activity at the station, then they could get a florescent visa sticker.  Inside the passport was also 'Fast Facts' about the country within the continent and 'Quick Phrases'. I had Kazakhstan and couldn't pronounce any of the quick phrases haha! There was also an 'Autograph' page where they could get autographs from the visiting students as well as the ETA's that where helping with the camp. I had to give sooo many autographs that day but the students really seemed to enjoy asking around for autographs.

This is when I started thinking my smile muscles hurt...

Highlights of the day were: 

• Having a selfsie taken with a giant selfsie pole
• Amy making undi undi and fried chicken with corn meal instead of flour for me :)
• Berry Mentos
• Having fun with my students and seeing them have fun as well. 
• Catching up with the other ETAs 

Selfsie Pole shot. With students and the undergraduate teachers.

So am I happy it's over?

 ohhhh yeah, I put in a lot of hours for this camp to make it possible so did everyone in my language department. It was a very successful and smoothly run camp but it's also very VERY exhausting. I worked 8 hours straight on the day of camp, starting at 6:30 am to set up. But of course I couldn't have done without an amazing team of ETAs, my mentor and the English language department.

Baju's Coming Out My Bum Bum

Baju's coming out my "Bum-Bum"

As my mentor Prem would say, "bum bum". I have accumulated a large amount of baju kurungs. And they are growing on me. At first I thought they were slightly hideous now I've grown to like them and have favorites among the small collection I have created in my closet. Three are borrowed from Amy's mother-in-law. She gave me one to wear at the wedding then gave me 3 more after the wedding. I've accumulated 4 bajus from my head of language and 3 bajus upon arrival to Malaysia. Making a grand total of 11 baju kurung. I can wear bajus for almost 2 weeks without re-wearing one!

This not only speaks to the hospitality I have experienced in Malaysia but the changes I have gone through as well. I find no point in shaving anymore, my legs and armpits are small forests of hair.  I now take smaller steps in my bajus because they can't handle large leaps or steps. I have done EVERYTHING in a baju and yes, it's possible to cook, clean and eat in a baju. I have also sweated my bum bum off in a baju while teaching. I've learned about the different styles of baju kurung, noticing the difference in the more form fitting modern baju compared to the looser traditional baju. Lastly my malay teachers are very happy and excited to see me in my baju kurung. Personally I love throwing them on in the morning without asking myself "does this match?" And running out the door knowing that I am wearing the most fashionable clothes in Malaysia.

Baju kurungs are worn for any occasion, job interviews, weddings, hanging around the house, going out on the town, yet the style may reflect your age and where you are going. Wedding bajus are very delicate and beautiful where as the Sunday baju is usually a batik pattern. There's a baju for every occasion. More modest bajus are for older women. Their tudong or head scarf can also express age and wisdom. Longer tudongs mean the woman is older and demands more respect. There are tudongs that match bajus and all different tudong styles as well. However I am not required to wear a tudong so I don't know much more about them.

This past week was the opening ceremony of our Special Olympics and it was quite the event. I walked over when I heard bag pipes. I was thinking, bag pipes in Malaysia? And I fact there were men dressed up in cammo marching and playing the bag pipes. I believe they were deaf as well. The deaf students also preformed a dance which was choreographed amazingly to music. It was very impressive to see them to synchronize dance to music they cannot hear. There was also an ice cream machine for all the deaf students after they ran their Olympic events.  I felt like an honorable guest attending the ceremony. As usual there were tons of pictures and a lot of sign language I tried to understand, but I'm slowly getting better...

MALAY WEDDING!!!

Amy with me and her littlest one.

 I was invited to a Malay wedding!! By the one an only KaAmy (sister Amy) the woman that runs my canteen and is a mother of 4 little girls! I planned on going to the wedding a month ago but it was for only the ceremony. Last minute, Amy invited me to the reception, which is usually just close family members. Literally she invited me last minute, I ran home threw on a baju and she was there to pick me up. I had no make up, didn't do my hair or anything. Frankly, I was a little smelly.

At the wedding ceremony

I arrived and the bride and groom were sitting in separate rooms. The bride was in a room filled with presents that the groom had bought her.

Bride's presents from the groom

 The bride was thoroughly dolled up. Her skin was painted porcelain white in make-up, she was wearing colored contacts and the rest of her make up was beautifully done. She had the most vibrant delicate henna on her hands and feet.

Husband and Wife sitting across from each other after the ceremony

The bride and groom joined each other near the end of the ceremony and read vows to each other with tears in their eyes. It was so sweet. Then the ceremony was complete and the bride took pictures with the guests and hugged her family members.

After the ceremony there was Malay food and I did not see silverware so I began to eat with my hands and this was a HUGE shock to the ceremony guests. They took pictures of me eating with my hands! Amy's husband even took a video of me! They were shocked a Westerner could eat with their hands. Yes, I got those hand eating skillz. haha!

Malay bride. I was so honored!

I didn't know what the deal was with presents for a Malay wedding so I did this one up real fast! Thank you Dana for the travel sized water color set it's coming in handy for those last minute wedding cards!

The next day was the reception. I was shocked to see the bride in a whole other dress! I can't believe she gets to wear two dresses for her wedding! Once again she was GORGEOUS!

Bride and Groom

Put on make up for the ceremony this time!

Family photos

As the VIP at the wedding, I got to bring home gifts and leftover wedding food! They also required of me that a sing karaoke. I sang Celine Dion's, "My Heart Will Go On" not by my musical choice, but I know my dad is a fan of this song...  The guests at the wedding loved it and wanted me to sing more but I reassured them I was happy with my one single.

February: Getting started!

Where to start…?

Chillin' with my juice box girls

My Wonderful Mentor, Miss Prem

It’s been more than a month since my last blog post due to internet complications. We buy per GB for our internet and so things like Skype, my Magic Jack, or uploading pictures can use up all our GB in one shot. So my roommate and I have a rule where we don’t upload anything and just keep it simple. I still have yet to find an internet café with strong enough internet to support Skype. So sorry for the lack of contact! We are working on changing our internet to unlimited but it’s not that easy!

Anywho, in that past month, I have met my mentor, went through sate orientation, moved into my apartment and begun my job as a Fulbright ETA! Tons of life changes and everything has been going very well including getting a car!!! Whooo!

Our Car!!!

First off the most important thing, my job, I love my job. I teach secondary school which is 8^th through high school. My job is to primarily make learning English fun. All of my summer camp experience becomes pretty handy now. My day in class consists of a short lesson, then an activity for that lesson and then I try to end with an English game or song.

Where is Miss Lauren From?!

My first day of school was awkward when I stepped into the classroom and the students stood up promptly and say in unison monotone voices “Good Morning Miss Lauren”. I said “Hi, How is everyone?!” then the students just stood staring at me for a long moment until the other teacher in the room told the students to sit down. That entrance sounded to official and monotonous I took an idea from another ETA. Where for a lesson I have the students get in groups and “bust a beat” on their desks. Then they preformed their beat and I decided which group won.  The group that won had to explain the beat to the class in English so they could learn it. I now have 2 classes that will stand up when I come into the room and bust their beat before saying good morning/afternoon to me.

But I’ve also had a lot of comments and questions asked of me. Most of them revolve around my appearance such as, “Teacher why your eyes that color?”, “Teacher you so beautiful” “Teacher your nose so sharp.” and my favorite encounter below.

Student: “Teacher you fat today.”

Me: “I look fat today?”

Students: (noticing I was a little offended) “No, it’s a good thing! It means you’re enjoying Malay food.”

Me: “Thanks! You look fat today too”

Student: mutters something about how he’s skinny and looks confused

I have a deaf and disabled population at my school and I am more than excited about it. I have been learning sign language from them, I was learning sign language in the States when I taught children with disabilities how to swim. And I think it’s a sign (no pun intended) that I pursue learning sign language. I love it.

However the sign language here is a mix of American Sign Language and Malay sign language. I was surprised by how much I did know, but I got confused when I asked, “How are you?” in American Sign Language and the student just signed to me they were confused. When I asked a teacher they told me I have to sign, “Apa Khabar?” which is completely different.

Flashing some peace signs with my deaf and abled students

The children have a sign for my name as well. I found out each of them come up with a slang sign for themselves. Rather than spelling out each other’s names all the time. They’ll make signs for the teachers as well. That’s when a teacher told me you have to pay attention to them because sometimes the sign can mean something bad depending on their opinion of that teacher. My name is the sign for “western” (take your thumb and forefinger to your nose and outline it outwards) then the letter L.

The deaf and disabled population at my school is by no means “DIS-abled” they are all quite ABLED, very intelligent and more respectful, mature and responsible than most of the other students at my school. They help each other during activities, even the simplest thing as helping each other down the stairs. I saw a boy guiding another boy with a walking impairment down the stairs.

Not to mention their written English is quite impressive. After I spent sometime in the “disabled” classes the director of the program got phone calls from parents asking him if there really was an “western” English teacher at the school or if their child was just making up stories.

I hope to spend more time in those classes as I was not assigned to one but I try my best to pop in every now and then. I just need to find activities that will suit them.

Thaipusam & other things...

Julan Alor, known for awesome street food =]

Quick review of my 2nd week of Orientation

Jet lag caught up to me... or maybe it was the gluten in the soy sauce. Anyways we had a jam packed week! It started with meeting the US ambassador of Malaysia. I also sat next to the guy that replaces your passport at the embassy in the event that it is lost or stolen. With my passport history, it may be helpful to become friends with him.

The Jungle Trek 

Tiger leech

Before we even left for our jungle trek our beloved Bahasa Malay assistant teacher told us of the many types of leaches that reside in the jungle. There are 2 types of leeches in Malaysia the Brown leech and the Tiger leech. 

Roots of a tree on our trek a whole person could fit inside.

The brown leech likes to live on the forest floor under leaves or clings to branches waiting for animals to pass by. Whereas the sneaky Tiger leech likes to drop from trees and aims for your back and neck. 

The Tiger leech has more of a painful bite to it than the Brown leech, which you may not even notice. My teacher pleasantly reminded us that these leeches are so small they can get through your average cotton sock. Thank you cikgu (teacher in BM).   

Luckily I made it out leech free that trek. While I believe, 3 other ETA's out of 100 ETA's got leeches or signs of leech bites.

Our trek ended at a waterfall, at the bottom there was a deep swimming pool to cool off in. Once we returned from our adventure we got to talk about some very sensitive issues in Malaysia including race, religion and sexuality.

 

WATERFALL!!

Thaipusam

WARNING: The Pictures below are graphic

 This is my interpretation of Thaipusam.

It all starts with the climb up to the Batu Caves. 272 stairs but who's counting...

You bring your kaadavi or burdens (milk is in the silver tins)

And do some self-inflicted pain.

It's a really big cave once you're up there, I promise.

There is a Temple inside where you are blessed and present your Kaadavi.

This is the Kaadavi in the process of being made.

And you bring some displays along the journey.

Then the climb down...

 Okay, seriously it gets graphic now

You really bare your burdens

And there's some talk about a hallucinogenic tea they drink... this guy...

Some movies I took of thaipusam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJciiNiVbrQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-gEtxMVJOE

Orientation

View from the Penthouse

Day 1 of Orientation

I feel like I am going to school the first day. I'm super excited and can't wait to start! The Hotel serves us breakfast which is very good and includes lunch options as well as breakfast foods. Then we went up to the pent house of the hotel with a picturesque view of KL.  Orientation will be until January 22nd then we get split up into our states.

Team JOHOR!

I was placed in Johor Bahru aka JB!

Overview of Orientation 
My 8:30 am-5:00pm Mon-Fri

All-in-all they have covered all the questions I could have ever even thought of in orientation. Including giving us three Baju korongs to wear as teachers!! Baju's are the most formal wear you can have in Malaysia as a Muslim. They wear them to dinners, interviews and other important outings were they want to look their best.

Some lovely ladies in their Baju's.

We have Sundays off for a full day of adventuring.  

 Some explorations and discoveries...

What the metro "token" looks like..

Petaling street, filled with vendors!

This past Sunday I went to Brickfields or one of the little India's of KL. It was just like what I thought being in India would look like. Except they aren't joking when they say "little" India.  Because before I knew it the few streets that encompass Brickfields ended and little India was over.


I met up with a friend in Brickfields to get massages by blind masseuses. Later I learned Brickfields has a large blind population including a school for the blind.

It was nice to see a community where people with disabilities can support each other and have job opportunities. The massage was RM 45 or $16 USD for a full body massage. It was quite needed and relaxing.

Mall set up for Chinese New year!

Year of the horse!!

Bird Garden

 

 Bird Garden

Visited the bird garden in KL. Where there is also a butterfly, orchid, and hibiscus garden. The photos alone will describe the trip.

Orchid Garden

Monkeys!

 

 

Islamic Art Musuem

Beautiful Domes inside the museum.