1. My Job.
Although I was almost dragged kicking and screaming into becoming a teacher at a kindergarten that I did not approve of, I am glad that I stayed on. It is an awful job working in overcrowded conditions and getting paid peanuts. I am grateful for the experience because I now have fresh proof that kindergartens (well, at least this one) in KK have taken only 1/2 a step forward since my own kindergarten days. I suspected the place was going to be bleak; a place where kids are artificially pushed to excel in paperwork and I was RIGHT! Despite being told by a VIP from higher up that my 'Western' training ( I am not aware that I am a cowgirl from Aust.) is of no good locally and that I should learn and apply local teaching methods, I have signed up for another year at the current kindergarten. Probably to reward me for my loyalty, I was given a crazy timetable for 2014. I will be teaching English to 3 classes of soon to be 5 year olds and assisting another 2 classes. Each class will be made up of 30-35 kids. I am at the ready to apply more than a bit of my 'Western' approach in the classroom whether they like it or not.
2. My Visit to a Montessori kindergarten in Taiwan
My Mum and I were allowed to observe a group of 20-25 children at a Montessori kindergarten in Taiwan in the middle of 2013. Although we were only there for 2 mornings, it was delightful to see Montessori in action in Asia. I was not at awe with the equipment but the humane way the staff dealt with the multi age group. The kinder is not one catering to expartriates. All of the children at this kindergarten are Asians and only Mandarin was spoken. I came away thinking that Montessori is possible for Asian children. Some people were quick to point out that Taiwan is an advanced country. Montessori may work there but it may not work with wild, unruly children in Malaysia. Nevertheless, I found the visit refreshing and am happy to see that there are Asian children enjoying such a positive beginning to their education without having to leave Asia or attending an international school. If only more locals are willing to make a change over here.
3. Tong Hing, City Grocer & Lintas Supermarkets
I have always been a fan of Tong Hing Supermarket. I remember going there since I was a wee babe. It is the first shop that I went to after I came back from Melbourne in 2011. Gone was that rickety coin operated ride on toy at the front door. Gone too was Datuk Wong who used to greet me when I visited the shop with my Dad as a child. Glad to inform though that it is still the place to go if you are hunting for comfort food items. They now even have strawberry flavoured Kit Kat from Japan. Saw them today.
New to the scene of imported food items is the City Grocer @ Suria. They have quite a range of Aussie and British products and they don't have shocking price tags. They are more reasonable. Nowhere else in Sabah could one get a jar of 3 Threes Sweet Mustard Sandwich Pickles but they have it. It got me wondering who else in Malaysia likes that stuff like me.
Located near my home is Lintas Supermarket. It is within walking distance and they have a small range of imported goodies. Enough to satisfy me for when I crave for some Tiny Teddy or Chicken Crimpy bikkies. For Christmas 2013, they had packs of Cadbury Flake & Freddos and Uncle Toby's Yoghurt Topps.
These shops cheer me up a great deal when I am feeling down.
4. Piglets Sold to Develop British North Borneo
Soon after I reached my Maternal grandparents hometown in China, I thanked God that I wasn't born there. Thank goodness that my grandparents (both sets) came to BNB. I wondered what it would have been like for me to grow up in the village. My non competitive nature would have made things rather difficult for me even if I am given the opportunity to move to a big Chinese city. So even though there's money to be made in China nowadays, I am grateful that I am a Malaysian. The home in my heart will almost forever be Melbourne, Australia but I would definitely pick Kota Kinabalu over any village in Guang Dong anytime.
5 Impressive Lecturers from Fujian, China.
After I came back from China, I had to attend a course given by visiting lecturers from Fujian. Some of my colleagues attended the course as well. We were picked because we all comprehend Mandarin. I was reluctant to go at first because I was sickly but I was sold after just half a session. LOL. The lecturers were splendid. They were speaking in Mandarin but the stuff that they taught were backed by the same 'Western' experts that I studied when I was at university. They called for all teachers to respect little children, to listen to what they have to say and to let them lead their own learning and discovery. When they show pictures and videos of their kindergartens or pre-school, I fought back tears learning that even mainland children (in Fujian) are learning in conditions that are much more humane and similar to the kids in Australia. Unlike here, what they do is developmentally appropriate. I really appreciate these Chinese lecturers. They are on the same boat as me but they are not blonde haired or blue eyed. They look like me and they are calling for the same changes as me. They have already implemented such methods in Fujian and it is working for them. So it is high time for Chinese schools in Malaysia to change too.
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