Step 3: Adding Lively Colors and Geometric Patterns to My Life

During my first weekend in Besut, Christina and I’s mentors took us to the nearest city, Kota Bharu (KB) to do some shopping for household essentials. People and maps claim that Kota Bharu is a 45-minute drive, but after taking over seven trips there already, I have yet to make it in under an hour and a half.

First time I wore a baju karung. This is
the only baju kurung I have actually
bought myself. It is cotton, instead of
silk and has a very modern design.
Handing Over Ceremony
January 2012

While in KB, we went to a mall where I bought my Celcom Broadband internet, and we bought kitchen supplies. In addition to the necessary kitchen supplies, we bought mini, cloth wardrobes/closets. My room came with a complete, wooden wardrobe with a mirror. So, why did I need to invest in another you may ask? 

Well, because between Christina and I, we are now the proud owners of over twenty baju kurungs.

My American attire and style has indeed been replaced. If I am not wearing yoga pants, button down shirts or t-shirts, which I wear for after school hours, then I am in a baju kurung.  

Terengganu ETAs at a wedding in Marang. The women
are wearing baju kurung, while the men are wearing
baju melayu. -January 2012

The baju kurung is a Malay, traditional costume. It literally translate to “enclosed dress.” The baju kurung is the national dress of Malaysia, but it can also be found in parts of Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. In the past, the costumes were just simple dresses. However, now as the times change, the attire has evolved into a sophisticated style and women buy them to match their fashion tastes. The baju kurung was actually influenced by people, style and products that came through what was then the Malay Archipelago during the 15^th Century. As the people adopted Islam as their religion, the Malays slowly started to cover their bodies in order to obey the teachings and tenets of Islam.

In short, the baju kurung is a loose-fitting, full length dress that has a skirt and a blouse. The skirt has foldings on one side, and the blouse has long sleeves, extends to between the hip and knees and is colarless. Normally, the dress is made of silk. The silk is either imported from places such as Japan, South Korea, Turkey, India or from Malaysian states. Actually, my state, Terengganu, and the adjacent state, Kelantan, are most famous for their homemade silk. The culture of batik (fabric) and hand-designed fabrics is still strong and people take pride in it.

My red, floral baju karung on Valentine's Day with my
homemade sugar cookies. They do not recognize Valentine's
Day whatsoever, so I had to celebrate it somehow!

For instance, there are many little shops in Besut that made their own batik and designed fabrics, and students in school sometimes doing batik as art projects.

Many people probably know that my wardrobe does consist of many neutrals and solids and classic type pieces from the sales rack at Ann Taylor Loft, Gap, Banana Republic and Target.  In contrast, here in Malaysia, my style now consists of the lively colors and geometric patterns that are expressed with the baju kurung.

The baju kurung is also often worn with a headscarf (tudung), especially in more conservative states such as Terengganu. In my town, all Muslim women over the age of 10 wear the tudung, and some girls as young as three wear the tudung as well. However, I do not wear the tudung, as I am not a Muslim.

When I tell friends and family back home that I wear a baju kurung everyday to school, I get a wide variety of reactions, such as “Holy cow! Isn’t that hot?!”

The truth is, yes it is hot, and it takes some getting used to. I also am not forced to wear it, but the community members, students and fellow teachers sincerely appreciate and are proud when I do. The alternative to me wearing a baju kurung everyday is wearing a long skirt down to my ankles, a long sleeve shirt to cover my elbows and a scarf to wear over a v-neck shirt. 

Four 1A students and I at Prophet Mohammad's
Birthday Celebration. These students also bought me a
beautiful baju kurung, which I will wear in
future pictures! - February 2012

Honestly, the baju kurung is much more suitable and comfortable for hot weather, as it does not have seams hitting me in weird places, fabrics that soak in and show the sweat running down my back all day and cuts that cling to me when the hot air already makes it hard to breathe. I think the fabric, style and colors of the baju kurung make it more comfortable for teaching in hot classrooms all day. – Now, that is my interpretation of it. I know many people who would disagree with me. And for the record, would I rather just wear my sun dresses and skirts with a t-shirt or tank top? Of course, but that is not an option here. Plus, when will I ever get to wear such beautiful, colorful fabric again in my life?

Over the last three months in Malaysia, I see what a fashion statement people can make with their baju kurungs. People accessorize their baju kurung with a complimentary tudung, and jewels and pins to clip onto their dress and tudung. There are baju kurung shops everywhere, especially where I live, and there are baju kurung blogs, online stores and magazines. It’s a whole culture! In fact, everyday teachers bring in incredible batik swatches and magazines to choose and shop for new fabric for new baju kurung. It almost reminds me of the process of buying Girl Scout Cookies or Boy Scout popcorn.

My first day of school picture!

When teachers and students saw me wearing the baju kurung on my first day of school, they were so excited, because it is such a part of their culture. Thereafter, several teachers would bring me in bags of baju karungs, and two of my students each bought me new baju karungs. Although I do not accessorize it with a tudung, I do accessorize it with earrings.

I miss my wardrobe and style back home. However, if wearing a baju kurung everyday here allows me to gain insight into the Malay culture and allows me to connect more fully with the Malay people, while personally being more comfortable in extremely hot weather, then why not?

My cloth, blue wardrobe is currently home to my unworn, yet not forgotten American clothes. They sit there waiting for the days I take trips out of my town, so that they can be brought out again!

My blue wardrobe housing my American clothes. The wardrobe
is also partially broken, so if it looks like it is slanted forward, that
is because it is!

Step 2: Behind the Scooter

 Behind the Wheel Scooter

I remember the autumn of 2004 when I was enrolled in my high school’s Behind the Wheel course for my zero-hour period one quarter. While most teenagers could not wait to get their hands on their very own license (aka ticket to independence), I was hesitant. I secretly wondered if I could live off rides from friends and family the rest of my life. (Okay, maybe not the rest of my life, but at least for a long while.) Ironically, my parents were the ones that explained what a fantastic privilege driving would be.

One Saturday afternoon, my Aunt Gail chaperoned me and took me to a parking lot in my town to practice parking. I was worried to death and frozen with fear. Then, one night, a few weeks later, my dad said, “Let’s go for a drive.” We went to the parking lot down the street, and as my bones and hands froze up, I frantically drove in circles. I was barely moving and in a frenzy. Honestly, I do not know how my dad handled my freak-outs with such gracious and patience. 

My favorite driving buddies and I on our car ride to
the airport!

Well, as most or all of you know, driving is now one of my favorite hobbies. I absolutely love driving, especially with my brother and sister with our favorite tunes on!

However, driving on a motor scooter in Malaysia…?

I think this initially caused me the most anxiety of my entire experience here thus far. Since my arrival in Kuala Lumpur almost three months ago (holy cow… three months ago), when I found out I would be living 9 kilometers from my school, I dreaded the day when I would have to learn to ride a motorbike or motorscooter. For the last year or so my dad had been asking me to go on rides with him on his Harley, and I was terrified to even be a passenger. 

Now I had to not only sit on a two-wheeled mode of transportation, I had to drive it.

The dreaded time came on my third day living in Besut, when three teachers said, “Okay, let’s go motorbike shopping!”

“Ah…” I reacted nervously. In America, when people make purchases like this, there is normally some thorough discussion beforehand. (not all the time, but I would like to think most of the time)

“Okay, we go now!” they said, and in the SUV we went for a ride to the local city of Jerteh, which is “where everyone buys their bike.”

The motorbike/motorscooter dealership in Jerteh, Terengganu

Apparently it was the thing to do, so I was just going to leave the bike business in their hands.

For only a little under an hour, we went from store to store searching for a bike that would be up to my teachers’ expectations:

1) safe

2) easy to ride 

3) appropriate for ladies (since I would be wearing   baju kurung on this bike)

It also had to be up to my roommate, Christina and I’s standards, since we would be sharing it. We knew nothing about motorbikes, so our one condition:

1) within our budget.

As we looked for a bike, I stood in silence and observed as the salesmen and the teachers would talk, negotiate, look at me, look at the bike, look at me and negotiate. At the seventh store, we found “the one.” The teachers found it for me, and summoned me over to look at it. I was hooked. I loved it.

The moment I first laid my eyes on it!

I did not want to drive it, but I loved it. It could be a great conversation piece for our porch.

It was shimmering in the sun on the side of a busy street parked next to many other motorbikes and motor scooters. It was pink, adorable and it looked like a happy bike, which put a smile on my face.

A few papers to sign, a deposit and a safety inspection. It almost seemed like too quick of a process to be legit, but that is how motor scooter shopping goes here in Malaysia. My parents asked about the license plates and such, but honestly, I do not know and most people do not seem to know the logistics involved with that. So, I just go with it.

Sales man demonstrating some sort of
safety feature? - Honestly, I did not
understand, because it was in Bahasa Malaysia

A few days later we picked it up. As Christina and I could not ride it yet, a student, as well as my mentor, Halilah, took us to get it and escorted us back.

Deep inside I was trying to think of any way possible I could avoid having to actually drive it. 

Could I just keep getting rides? Could I wake up at the crack of down and ride my bicycle 9 kilometers to school and then bike home in the heat? Could I find a taxi somewhere to be my driver for the year?

But, fellow ETA Michael drove those questions out of my head really quickly. He came over about an hour after we brought the scooter home and said, “Get on and just ride up and down the street a few times.”

With the same uncertainty I had as a fifteen year old learning to drive a car, I got on and drove up and down my street a few times.

The next day Michael practiced with Christina and I again. Before I knew it, three days later I was on the town’s main road, stopping at intersections and driving to the beach and night markets with Michael as my guide. Within a week and a half of purchasing the motor scooter, I was successfully driving myself to school.

Within two weeks, Christina and I were driving with both of us on it at one time.

Test drive down our street. Photo: Courtesy of Michael

In the weeks leading up to my first “ride to school by motor scooter,” I kept trying to explain to my students:

“I am so nervous to ride my scooter like you are nervous to speak English. But if I ride my scooter, you can speak English.”

My scooter and I after I took it for the first ride down
our village street!
 (I know it is horizontal. It will not format
for the time being.) Photo: Courtesy of Michael

I am not sure how much they understood, but some of the students definitely got my point. The students who understood were sure to give me “air fives” and "Yaya," after I road to school successfully by myself for the first time. It was absolutely adorable, and I wish I could have had it on video. The teachers were also very pleased.

I have been driving to school on my motor scooter while wearing a bright, floral baju kurung for many weeks now. However, every morning when I arrive, the security guard smiles with a giggle and all the students yell, “Teacher Rachael. Good morning. Scooter so cute.”

Some of the older male students have even gotten clever. As I pull into the lot and park, they jokingly say, “Miss Rachael, can I have your scooter?”

“You want a pink scooter?” I ask them as I take off my helmet and grab my bags.

“Yes!” they yell and run away.

When I depart from school, all the students gather around and watch as I unlock my scooter and awkwardly get comfortable on the seat while maneuvering in my baju kurung. Sometimes it makes me nervous with so many people watching, but as I pull out of the parking lot, they all shout, “Be safe!”

It makes me smile when the students are so concerned about my safety. Believe me, the teachers were and still are equally as concerned. I still get questions about whether or not I like it and feel comfortable driving it.

I love our trusty little scooter, and it has its very own place under the roof of our porch where it stays cool from the sun and dry from the rain. I look forward to opening the door every morning and embarking on an adventure with it, whether it is to school, to Supermas or to our favorite restaurant.

Riding the scooter on my way to school or on my way home gives me such a feeling of relaxation and freedom. For the first time, I understand why my dad loves riding his Harley. I cannot wait to be my dad’s Harley buddy when I get home.

This is a testament to the infamous line, “You never know until you try.”

Looking back, I cannot believe how much anxiety I allowed the “long-awaited, dreadful scooter riding” to cause me. For something I was for so long dreading, it has become one of my favorite things about my new life here.

It’s just so darn cute, and I cannot wait to see what journeys lie ahead with our scooter.

We have not found the perfect name for it yet. We’re thinking something sassy…

Step 1: Becoming Cikgu Rachael

My desk at school in the female teachers' room! I try to make
it inviting and fun for the students.

The Fulbrighters brought to Malaysia come with a mission to facilitate oral English communication. Most students that ETAs teach know English grammar and have been learning English from a young age but are merely uncertain and nervous to speak the language. Therefore, native English speakers are brought in to teach and encourage them to use English for communication. The benefits of students in Malaysia knowing English is that it allows them to attend universities in Malaysia, as well as abroad and allows them to broaden their spectrum of future career opportunities. With that, it requires Fulbrighters to develop ways to engage the students in English through games, projects and virtually anything that will capture and harness their motivation to use English, as it is seen as crucial. 

Homemade cards and letters from my students! I have
also received two beautiful baju karungs from my students!

Initially, I was surprised to see how little English my students at my school actually knew. Therefore, it is much more challenging than I had ever expected. However, with that, there is such a large span of growth my students can experience during my nine months teaching them. During my first two weeks, I tried to develop and engage my students in activities that would allow me to assess their current level of English knowledge in measurable terms, so at the end of the year, I can do a final assessment and determine how effective I was in teaching them English.

Secondary schools are measured in terms of “bands” from 1 to 7. Band 1 are the most elite and prestigious schools for students who consistently score well on assessment exams, and Band 7 being the schools with students who generally scored lower on educational exams since a younger age. However, there are also other factors that influence the "bands" as well. Within each school, there are “forms,” similar to how the American system using “freshmen, sophomore, junior, senior.” The forms are as follows:

Form 1: 13 year old students

Form 2: 14 year old students

Form 3: 15 year old students

Form 4: 16 year old students

Form 5: 17 year old students

Form 6: 18 year old students ( not all schools have Form 6)

Form 3 and Form 5 are referred to as “exam forms” or “exam years.” When a student is based in Form 3 and Form 5, they take state and federal level education exams. They must score well on these to determine their future educational courses. A school also is assessed based on these exams. Therefore, these years are reserved for “teaching for the exams” and the curriculum is centered on the exams year-round when a student is in Form 3 or Form 5. In addition, some schools offer Form 6, which is for students who wish to go to university, but either did not score well enough on their Form 5 exams or do not have the money yet to attend university. Therefore, these students perform another year of study and retake some exams. My school does not have Form 6.

Within each “form,” students are divided into separate classes based on past educational performance. Every school divides students differently, and has different names for classes. However, at my school students are divided into classes A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Class A is reserved for the students who typically perform well, behave well and score well. Class G is reserved for the students who typically do not perform well and often have issues in regards to their behavior. For example, in Form 1, there is:

Form 1 A, Form 1 B, Form 1 C, Form 1 D, Form 1 E, Form 1 F, Form 1 G

With that background information, you may now be wondering about my school and my day-to-day life...

I am teaching at a Band 5 secondary school with about 1,100 students. The school is situated very near to the coast of the South China Sea and about a 20 minute motorbike ride from my school. It was built only about ten years ago. My school has Forms 1-5, divided into classes A-G. I teach English to Forms 1, 2 and 4 and classes A through D. Some of my classes are forty minutes, while other classes are eighty minutes. Outside of my school day, I offer optional English classes to Form 3 and Form 5 students two-days a week in order to assist them in preparing for their exams.

Moreover, I teach one KHAS class a week, which is a Malaysian Special Education class. With the KHAS class, I teach about 20 students with a variety of different disabilities including autism, down syndrome and various physically disabilities. I decided I wanted to work with these students while I was on a tour of my school and was introduced to these wonderful students. I immediately fell in love with them, and although I have never consistently worked with special education students before, I wanted them to have an opportunity to work with me just as the other students at the school are. To be honest, I was not even expecting my school to have a separate special education department, as unlike America, many countries, especially in Southeast Asia are not advanced or so-called up-to-date with providing education for students with special needs. So, once a week, I teach English songs to about 15 KHAS students. They literally make my week, and I am not lying when I say that most weeks, I leave with a tear or two in my eye from the sheer happiness I get from spending time with them. Thus far, I have taught them the Hokey Pokey, I'm a Little Teapot, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, and This Little Light of Mine. However, Hokey Pokey is definitely there favorite and every class they shout, "Hokey Pokey!" So, we end every single class with Hokey Pokey. The 5 to 6 fellow KHAS teachers always are in the class with me and help translate as I teach them the words and assist them in making the complimentary movements. I love these students. Plain and simple.

My introduction PowerPoint!

Beyond KHAS, for my first week of class with my other forms, I focused on introducing myself to my students and where I come from. I was fortunate enough to have access to a Language Lab that has a projector that I was able to use to show a PowerPoint with pictures of my home and my life. They really enjoyed it, although I am not sure how much they understood. However, what they did understand was when I introduced my mom, my dad, my brother and sister. I told them how my brother loves to drive a Jeep on cliffs called “off-roading.” I showed them a picture of my brother next to the Jeep. Now, whenever I refer to anything to do with cars, all the students shout “JEEP!” For example, I had my young kids do an activity that involved thinking of nouns A through Z. For J, almost every student put “JEEP!” It definitely made me smile, and I knew Zach would be proud! ( I saved them for you Zach!)

As for Hannah, my students think she looks “cool.” They remember her name better than anyone else’s, because (fortunately yet unfortunately) they immediately said, “Hannah? Hannah Montana!” So, good news… they love Hannah and remember her name, but they remember it because of “Hannah Montana.” (Sorry sister!) I believe my students are so fascinated with Hannah, because she is an American around their age. Consequently, they ask me so many questions about Hannah's life. I think I just need them all to write letters to Hannah, so they can ask her themselves. But, everyday my students ask, “How Hannah?” I say, “She is good!” with my thumbs up! Needless to say, they are in love with Hannah and do not even know her yet.

English Quote of the Week! I pick a new one for every
week! On the right are my family pictures that
attract a lot of attention!

As for my parents, they think my parents are “too young.” I have pictures of my family hanging at my desk, and they always point at my parents and say, “Who?” And, I say “mom and dad.” Their mouths drop open and say, “No!” By the way, these comments come not only from students, but also from the fellow teachers. The teachers and students are also always curious about the location of our family photos. I have a picture of my family at my graduation from Saint Mary’s College, a picture of us bundled up skiing in snow and a picture of us in front of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. It is always so fulfilling to try to explain snow to them and the things we can do in the snow. None of my students have ever seen actual snow, so to make that come alive for them is always a treat.

In addition to my family and life at home, they are fascinated by my size and by my eyes. The people I work with and teach on a daily basis have never seen hazel eyes, and actually most of the time, my eyes are green here from the sun. At first, everyone thought I wore contacts, even though I swore to them I did not. So, one day in class, I took my sanitized fingers and gave my eye a swipe to prove I did not. “Wooo!” all the students yelled. By the end of the day, I had a herd of students surrounding my desk wanting to see my eyes to see if the news around school was indeed true.

Fellow teachers and I after a district-wide ping pong
tournament!

The teachers are also fascinated by my size. One the fellow male English teachers exclaimed one day, “When we hear an American come here, we thought American would be tall and big. But you, so small. So short. You like us.” So there we have it, I am indeed more like them than they ever expected.

My students also think that I have a boyfriend back in America that I simply will not tell them about. At first, my students thought I was married because of my college ring that I wear on my right ring finger. When I conveyed the news that I was not married, they were mesmerized.

My Form 2A students who think I have a secret boyfriend!

 “No husband Teacher Rachael? Oh no! Then, you have boyfriend?”

 “No, no boyfriend,” I commented back.

 “You lie Teacher Rachael,” the young girl in 2A remarked.

 “No, I tell the truth,” I explained.

It is very common in Malaysian culture for someone to ask whether or not you are married. If you are not, it is common for them to ask about your relationship status. It is not viewed as intrusive, but rather as a means to conversation when they first meet someone.

Some of my female students and I at a school barbeque!

The 2A student and many students still do not believe me to this day. Consequently, many people think I have a “secret boyfriend” that I do not want them to know about. It gives me quite a chuckle sometimes to say the least. Some of the Form 5 students who are more advanced with English become quite hilarious and like to joke with me, "So Miss Rachael, when does your boyfriend come here?" they say. I just shake my head and laugh.

My students are also huge Taylor Swift and Justin Beiber fans, so in order to engage them I always slip a reference to T. Swift and Justin in my classroom. Even more, I find myself listening to Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift more than I ever have in my entire life. Seriously! I come home from school and jam out to them. Beyond that, my students are decked out with Angry Bird merchandise such as Angry Bird pencil cases, book bags, pens, pencils and stickers. Harry Potter is also quite a hit here, so I may or may not have mentioned Hogwarts in my classes.

My lessons have stemmed from brief introductions the first week, to listening activities, grammar activities, games for learning nouns and most recently, a verb game to review as well as introduce past, present and future verbs. As I try to teach them English, I always slip in little lessons as well. For instance, each day I walk into the classroom and say, "Hello, class!" 

They stand up, and say "Good morning, Teacher!" in unison. 

"How are you today?" I ask the class.

In Malaysian culture, it is most customary to always say "fine," when someone asks how you are. However, I want my students to use different, more enthusiastic words so I have been trying to teach them new words like "Great," "Awesome," "Good," "Spectacular!" while doing two thumbs up. Then, I taught them that they could say, "Alright," or "Okay," while putting there hand out and moving and turning it slightly back and forth. Some students have gotten this concept down, while others need some practice. 

A Form 5 student and I after a school Hiking Trip for the Prefect Students.
(Prefect students are the students who perform well, behave well and score high)

But, let me tell you, all around the school now students give thumbs up when something good happens or when they say hello to me! I love it and I especially love it when they do it with a bit of enthusiasm. Cikgu Rachael loves nothing better! Beyond the thumbs up, I taught students "air fives" (high fives without actually touching hands) I thought this would be a great way to end class as I walked out of the classroom, since students do not switch classes during the day and stay in the same room. 

My 4A2 male students after they learned about verbs

So, as I exit class or when I see students around school, I give students "air fives." I chose to do this, because as a female, I am not allowed to make any contact with the male students whatsoever. Therefore, since I could not "high five" male students, I thought the "air five" would be an excellent alternative. A matter of fact, I got the idea from my Freshman Year Western Civilization teacher, Mr. Gallagher who had High Five Fridays and whose hand I had to jump up high and hit at the end of every Friday Western Civ class. Thanks for the idea Mr. Gallagher!

The school in general is more chaotic than I could have imagined, and teaching is very challenging as well. But, when it is all said and done, at the end of every day, I encounter a new challenge, a fresh opportunity and walk away with a new experience to learn from as well as having learned more about myself.

The most important thing I have learned is that whether a good day, or a bad day, I need to be a reliable, consistent rock for my students. An English speaking world and having to speak English seems like a far, distant idea to most of my students. Many of them think, “Why do I need to speak English? I’ll never use it.” So, the challenge is to unveil their own potential to them, and tie the English into their own life within their own means and community. In addition, the challenge is to show them the possibility that they could very well go to university or even travel someday. For the following eight months, that is what I will be striving to do; showing them how to use English to tell their very own story within their very own community, while introducing them to their potential!

It’s not easy, but it can be done. 

My Form 2A class who wrote pen pal letters to a Western Civilization class at Lincoln-Way West High School to my freshmen year teacher's class!

Students writing letters to their Warrior pen pals at LWW! They were really nervous but excited as well!

They were very nervous to use English properly, but I am hoping this project will help inspire cross-cultural exchange while inspiring my students to improve their English. I am in the background helping a student think of what to say to his pen pal.

 Photo: Courtesy of one of my students who I allowed to use my camera.

Taking a picture with their letters to their pen pals and of course, sporting a Warrior shirt!

View of the English Hangout Room that was once a storage room!

Form 5 students after they helped me set up the school's new "English Hangout Room" that hosts pictures of America, maps of the world and flags from my hometown, state and college! The room is open to students who want to "chill," listen to music and speak English to me! 

The Dance to the Life of Cikgu Rachael

“Life’s a dance you learn as you go

 Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow

 Don’t worry about what you don’t know

 Life’s a dance you learn as you go”

              -John Michael Montgomery

Throughout the last five weeks, I have been invested thoroughly and sincerely learning the moves to a new, vivid dance; the dance of my life as Cikgu (Teacher) Rachael in rural, Islamic Malaysia.

Although I have lived abroad before in both Rome and Seoul, my life has never been as different as it is now. Looking back to my time in Rome and Seoul, I realize how many little threads there were that kept me in touch and more grounded to my life in America, even while living in those cities overseas.

In Besut, Malaysia it is much more difficult to find and experience those threads. Although this creates an incredibly more challenging experience, it proposes and introduces many new opportunities for insight and growth.  Over the last six weeks, I have observed, I have been learning and I have been getting acquainted to the rhythm and movements to the new dance to my life as Cikgu Rachael, step-by-step. 

Handing Over Ceremony in Terengganu - Press Coverage in Malaysia

This is press coverage of the ETAs in Terengganu, where I am! It was coverage of the Terengganu Handing Over Ceremony on January 31, 2012, where the ETAs were officially "handed over" to their new school, new mentor and new principal!

The individuals interviewed are good friends of mine, and you can see me towards the end of the clip when we are singing a native song called "Gembo Gembo!"

Enjoy :)

My mentor and I at the Terengganu Handing Over Ceremony

My roommate and I before we embarked for our
new village!

Copy and paste the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRDGfFBosl4&feature=related

Meeting with the Prime Minister - Press Coverage in Malaysia

You can see me in the background of this clip about mid-way through!

This is a feature the Nightline News in Malaysia did regarding the English Teaching Assistants!

Copy and paste the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kulHq28H5mY

What I See and Fresh Baked Brownies

Many of us have a song or two that somehow set a backdrop for a certain place, certain time or certain state we are in life. For those of you who do not know, my favorite song is “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo. Coincidentally or not coincidentally, this is the song that is most fitting as the backdrop to my new temporary home, my new community and my new backyard.

The other day, my roommate Christina and I invested in bicycles. Yesterday, after our breakfast of Roti Canai and Teh Tarik at the local restaurant where we have already become a regular, we went on a bike ride through our new village. As we biked along the edge of the narrow, two-laned road, I looked around and really opened my eyes, my mind and my heart to the beauty around me.

The other day I received an email from one of my best friends and past fellow Student Government Association Vice President with me, Laura, who shared with me something her English Professors in college shared with her. Everyday Laura’s professor would say, “What did you see on your walk to class today?” Not surprisingly, most students would have a hard time saying what they actually saw, because it was seemingly just a college campus that they walked through every day. This story that Laura shared reminded me that while I adjust to my new community and the new culture, and while I sink into the routine of my new life, everyday I need to make sure my eyes, mind and heart are open. So, as I biked through my village, I tried to think of all the many words and ways I could describe my new temporary home.

As I biked, and it was tough to ride a bicycle through wind and heat without working gears, we passed many homes. Some were dilapidated wooden houses on stilts and other homes had manicured trees, bright white finished trimmed windows and polished red concrete with big open windows. The many children we passed stared at us. As we waved “hello” with one hand, they would say, “Hello! Hello! Where do you go?” You could say that here in Besut, Malaysia, my roommate Christina, fellow ETA Michael, who lives nearby, and I have something along the lines of celebrity status. Everywhere we go, people ask to take pictures with us, sometimes give us free food, come out of their houses to say “hello” and always comment on our “exotic, unusual and yet unique looks.”

To be honest, it is a bit overwhelming at times, as you feel as though anywhere you go and anything you do, you have interested eyes looking at you. Whether you are eating rice with a fork instead of spoon or taking tissue into the bathroom (because they do not use tissue), someone is looking and someone is asking questions. However, it is neat to be able to have people so interested in what you do, where you come from and who you are. Not to mention, it is comforting to know that just by being well-known and talked about foreigners in town, we consequently have a ton of guardian angels and caring community members looking out for us and making sure we are doing okay.

I am sure that as we become more of a regular appearance around town, our celebrity status will wear off and perhaps we will not be so “exotic and unusual” anymore. Not to mention, I am sure that as we connect and engage more with the community members, they will come to see that although we come from a different culture with different norms, different features and different beliefs, we are just human like everyone else. At the end of the day, all humans, no matter where you come from, are the same at the core. My one hope and one wish is that as people here come to regard us as just “regular people,” they become more comfortable and at ease talking and engaging with us. After all, that is how you exchange culture and facilitate mutual understanding, which is what I am here to do.

Bike ride through the rice paddies in my village

As we biked passed the many waving and even puzzled people, who probably wondered what Americans were doing biking through the village, the warm sun beat down on us as beads of sweat started gathering where my hairline meets my forehead. However, I smiled through the heat to look left and see winding, gravel roads leading far into the heavy jungle. To my right, I saw miles of flat, rice paddies with the dome of a blue Mosque in the distance peeking through the tops of the tree lines and the shadow of mountains in the distance. I kept thinking to myself, “Wow. I cannot believe I live here.” My roommate and I pulled off onto a flat piece of grass, got off our new bikes and took a minute to look around. As I turned slowly in a circle, I took note of the endless palm trees, the vast mountains, and the little, wooden shops along the road selling chicken, ice cream and kuih. Each shop hosted signs that said, “AYaM ProsES,” “ROTI CaNAi,” “GoReNG,” in casual, painted letters. I could not help but wonder who owned the shops, how they stocked their shelves, if their recipes were a family secret. I wondered which of them actually had the best chicken, the best roti canai and the best rice dishes. I guess I have nine months to find out!

Cattle roaming down my street

As we headed back to our home, we went through smaller streets that weaved through the jungle trees, passed two schools and passed even more shops, until we arrived at our village entrance. We turned right onto a gravel road with many potholes and we swirved to the side to avoid chickens, roosters and turkeys strolling the street. We also, at the same time, made a conscious effort to avoid biking to close to the cattle that filled the side of the street as they grazed on the fresh greens that grew in the ditches.

Street in my village

The little bluish, white, wooden, stilted home on the corner that houses 30 plus chickens is our landmark to turn right. After the turn, we always pass a small open piece of land with hundreds of cattle who wander our village and where gorgeous home sits on our right. As we ride down the street while trying to avoid the cow dung on the pavement, we arrive at our own little Malaysian home.

Entrance to our home complete with a
"Welcome" mat.

Our home is much more than I could have ever expected, and I still cannot believe how beautiful and modern it is. Before I left for Malaysia, I was warned about the endless amount of mosquitos, lizards and jungle-like conditions. Therefore, up to the day before I left, I packed as though I was going on a 9-month camping jungle trip. Although my house is definitely not void of lizards and cockroaches and big spiders, it is not to the extent I had planned for.

My house is a white, concrete home with nice big windows and a metal green entry gate to keep the cattle out. As we slide open the gate to allow ourselves in, we put our keys in our quaint little door’s lock to open up to our simple, yet lovely home. Our family room is quite large for just two of us, as well as our house in general. The windows bring in an array of sunlight and allow us to look outside to adorable, bright houses and the tropical trees. Down the home’s hallway there are three rooms, one of which is a guest room with a bath for any potential visitors (wink, wink, knudge, knudge).

My room for the next nine months. The sheets and
furniture came with the house!

One of two squatty potties in my house!

My room has a big, gorgeous window with a big bed and bright blue sheets with bright pink flowers on them. My room also has an attached bathroom with a western-style toilet, which is a big luxury. Most toilets here, and the other two toilets in our home are “squatty potties.” These are toilets that are in the ground where one must squat to do their business. Believe me, it is like being potty-trained all over again. In fact, during our state-level orientation in Marang after Kuala Lumpur, we only had “squatty potties. Consequently, there was a lot of discussion, tips and support that went around through us female ETAs about the best techniques to use, how to use it and who had succeeded thus far and who had not.  The bathrooms also do not have toilet paper, as they use a hose with water to cleanse themselves after use. So, I always make sure I carry a tissue or two with me whether to the market, someone else’s home or even my school.

Our little, cozy kitchen!

Towards the back of our home and to the right, there is an adorable, quaint little kitchen with a little round, black table and four chairs. To the side, there is a little, square window with curtains and a ledge that houses our pink motor scooter’s keys, which we just purchased the other day. It is pink and white and looks similar to a Vespa complete with festive looking stickers on the side. Our little table is home to a little vase with flowers and a little calendar that my Malaysian tutor Para gave me. On the calendar, Christina and I write one thing in everyday to remind ourselves what we did or what we learned that day. One thing, everyday. Our kitchen also is home to a microwave, a stovetop that is similar to a camping stove top from REI, and a toaster oven that we purchased last week.

Our trusty little toaster oven 

When we told some women here that we wanted to buy a toaster oven they said, “Oh, no worries. You have a microwave.” But, we explained, “We need a toaster oven, because us Americans cook a lot with our ovens.” (AKA cookies, cakes and brownies) Our toaster oven has allowed us to make a batch of boxed cookies that we bought in KL, as well as a delicious batch of brownies with chocolate chips in them. When being so far from home, something so simple such as a toaster oven, can make life seem a little more familiar. In fact, I even offered to show some of the female teachers at my school how to bake some American sweets. They definitely seemed up for it!

Eating the warm, gooey brownies! (FYI -my Iphoto would not let
me rotate this photo for the time being)

After our lengthy bike ride, we dug our forks into the warm, fresh brownies we made. The smell, the taste and the enjoyment reminded me and brought me back home to my kitchen at home in America. Back to my rectangular wooden kitchen table enjoying my mom’s fresh baked brownies with chocolate chips with my family and friends by my side.

I think we will get a lot of use out of that toaster oven this year. 

My roommate, Christina, and I cooking grilled cheese sandwiches!
Do not worry! We definitely have been experimenting with healthier and stealthier dishes as well!