Here are some of my thoughts on a successful 2009-2010 school year. My apologies for the lack of blog posts lately, it has been a busy end to term both at school and socially as people celebrate making it to the end and have farewell parties. I don’t think I have had a main meal at home for over 10 days!
Going back a year, we had only recently found out we were successful in our applications to work here. We had just finished off a school year in Scotland and were on our way to Canada to visit friends and family and have a holiday. Upon returning, we had just two weeks to get packed up before making the 7945 mile journey.
I don’t remember a whole lot about any first impressions I had. But I do remember being excited and enjoyed seeing the various places in the local area where we would be setting up home. Each day brought different new experiences and even now there are times when I stop and think, ‘wow, do I live here?’
As I started the new job, I remember being bombarded with loads of information, not only about the job but about living overseas. I not only got to grips with the job quickly but also enjoyed it a lot too – although the early starts (students in rooms by 7.15) took a bit of getting used to!
The start of the school year was broken up quite a bit due to various holidays. But this enabled us to take long weekends and get to know the surroundings a bit better. I was soon sent on an IB course in Kota Kinabalu (KK), Sabah (East Malaysia). This was a great experience to learn about the IB Programme while making contacts with those also teaching Maths across S.E. Asia.
Term 1 events included; International Day, Quiz Night, The Principal’s Bowl at the Empire and of course the panto before the December holiday. I also made my second visit to KK as we took a long weekend break there – the highlight being the baby orang-utan sanctuary.
Term 1 quickly progressed and I was soon into the ways of courses that I had not taught before – Additional Mathematics being a highlight.
The reach just over 2 hours from Brunei
We had planned to visit Kuching – in Sarawak, still on the island of Borneo – but instead changed our plans to visit my cousin working in Hong Kong. This was our second visit to Hong Kong. The location here is great as we are able to travel to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Ho Chi Min and Hong Kong, amongst other places, in round about 2 hours. After visiting Hong Kong we spent Christmas at home with family visiting from Thailand and Hong Kong! We travelled with those returning to Thailand as far as Kuala Lumpur where we welcomed in the New Year.
Before too long Term 2 had crept up and students were sitting mocks. Reality kicked in as to how much content still had to be covered before the end of the year and everyone was kept busy. The start of Term 2 also brought the announcements of those staff who would be leaving the school at the end of the academic year. This was a new experience and the hustle for getting first dibs on items that leavers would be selling along with the sudden vacancies for roles of responsibility needing to be filled was a little surreal. At this stage I successfully applied for the role of organising the timetable for the next academic year.
"Yes I know Science is missing, can't we do that next year?!"
There were a few single day holidays in the middle of Term 2 for Chinese New Year, National Day and the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday. This provided us with the opportunity to finally visit Miri in Sarawak where we enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere and luxuries of the Miri Marriott Resort & Spa. This is one of the advantages living in Asia offers and is certainly a recommended place to visit and stay if you are this side of the world! We have returned since and will surely do so again – several times hopefully! – next year.
The big event in Term 2 is the model UN that the school runs, BGIC. This was a new experience for me and again highly enjoyable. The way in which the students from the school shone and took on so much responsibility sums up the high regard many have of them. This is why working with these children day in and day out is so much fun making the job so enjoyable and rewarding. Late in Term 2 we were disappointed to learn that good friends of ours were unable to make their planned trip to visit us in just a few weeks time. We had been looking so forward to showing them round but we are convinced they will be able to visit sooner rather than later and the delay will make the trip all the more exciting!
The 2 week holiday following Term 2 was spent with my parents who were visiting from the UK. Their trip was timed well and added on as a part of some of my dads work which took him to Malaysia. It was an enjoyable time with them and we were able to visit a number of places, including Lamer Hills National Park and Niha Caves.
Term 3 started with the final push before exams for Year 13 and then Year 11. It was quite surprising just how much content had been covered in the first two terms. Most students had come a long way since August. The celebration of all their efforts for the past 2 years culminated with the Year 13 graduation, again at the Empire, and the Year 11 end of exams part at the Radisson (what used to be the Sheraton here). The students seemed to enjoy both events although I think I enjoyed the Year 11 part slightly more, given it’s more relaxed atmosphere. It was run by the Year 11 students and achievement was probably slightly more recognised.
We enjoyed the travel we did over half term despite having to change our plans at the 11th hour! We had planned to visit family in Chiang Mai but, although could have still travelled, decided activities would be restricted due to the recent troubles in the country. As we were already travelling through KL, we decided to book an overnight train towards Penang, spend a few nights on the island there and again travel back using the overnight train. The holiday worked out very well and was a nice break before the final part of the school year.
So the final 5 weeks of school had suddenly arrived. Exams were mostly over, the World Cup had begun, the forest next to our house had long been bulldozed and thoughts were almost on the summer holidays… almost. The opportunity to take on the position of Head of Mathematics in an acting role arose and I was appointed following my expression of interest in the job. This will be a wonderful challenge next year and a great opportunity to gain some experience. The first challenge may well be teaching Maths in tents due to the Maths rooms being rebuilt over the summer – a big job for 5 weeks!
There have been many highlights this year but one worth mentioning is the Nasi Katok lunch club that was born this year. A few teaching staff along with the hard working secretaries in Secondary all pay their B$1 for the small brown packet of chicken and rice every Wednesday. Beyond the ‘local delicacy’ being an enjoyable lunch item, the friendship with the local staff and camaraderie that goes on is great. Despite different cultures, language and jobs we get on so well and that is why it is a highlight of the year. They are hard working and without them the Secondary school would be far from smooth running. So a quick shout out and thanks to Suma, Mai and Freda.
Looking back over the year, has it been easy and a stroll in the park? No. Have I enjoyed it? Yes. Am I pleased we decided to take the job and move over here? Undoubtedly! In many ways packing up and renting our small flat in Glasgow a year ago seems like a distant memory and surely must be far more than a year ago. In other ways, being so busy with so many various activities has made the year shoot by.
And so the summer holidays begin. Look out for the next blog post which I hope will be a trip report of our journey to the UK.
-PlaneSimple
PlaneSimple Thoughts 