A canuck in Oz: June 2007

Last Day of Prac

Well today is it, last day of prac in Malaysia.
Wednesday night we had a formal dinner to thank the host schools for having us. My Principal came to the dinner and we sat and chatting and ate all night long....then last night was the 'Trashy but Classy" night. We had a mission given to us by Peter and Mohan (our prof's) We had to find an outfit for under 10 riggit (basically under $3). Amy, Natalie and I found these horrible shirts, they were bright pink almost like golf shirt style tops. It has a little Koala on the upper left side that looks like it has been shot.....we then got markers and wrote "P & M's EDUCATIONAL TOUR 2007" on the back of it. To which everyone thought was hilarious. I then decided that we should each take a marker and have everyone sign our shirts. So that is exactly what we did. Even the Prof's. It is a super ugly shirt but i will have it forever now!!!
Amy, Nat and I have decided that we are going to see how much shirts are to make and if they aren't crazy expensive we would like to get some made up for Peter and Mohan. We nick named Peter 'dad' for the week, cause he was always out checking to make sure we were on the bus in time in the morning, asking if we had bottles of water etc. and we nick named Mohan, crazy uncle Mohan....not really sure why but it sorta suits him!!
Once we all got together in the hotel lobby, we headed out for dinner.....to a seafood place...let me tell you Amy and I sure did enjoy our rice and broccoli.....ah well I was happy Nat got her Seafood....i think she had been craving it for awhile..... and P & M really enjoyed making us walk through town in our outfits....at least we were the worst looking ones, there were a few people that looked like Jamaica had thrown up all over the Flinstones.....but all in good fun...they looked great.....well they look like they completed the task!!
After dinner we headed back to the hotel and then grabbed our laundry from down the street...it's going to be nice to have clean close for the last leg of my adventures!
So back to it being my last day of prac...lol
I am at the school right now using thier computers, i don't have a class for another hour or so. So i thought i might as well be productive during that hour....and honestly if i try and read my book right now i will fall asleep.
The kids are so cute for the past two weeks i have had kids coming up to me asking me to fill out these little biodata's they call them. Basically just questions about myself, age, hobbies, address, favorite colour, actor etc. However today the head master or principal made an anouncement that it was our last day here today during the assembly. It was very nice of him, he gave us each a hat and thing for our walls with the school name on it. However since he told everyone it was our last day the kids have been non-stop with these biodata's that they have. And the presents I am getting from these children. I feel bad for taking them, i don't want them to be spending thier money on gifts for me, but i was told that if i say no it is an insult.....and i surely don't want to do that. I hope i have enough room in my suitcase for everything...lol
I can't believe that it is over already. I just feels like yesterday that we were on our way here, enjoying our singapore slings on the airplane.....ah well i am sure the next leg will be just as fun and amazing!! But of course in the back of mind all i will be thinking is, how many more sleeps till mom gets here!!!
Anywho i am getting bumbardered with these bio data's and i have to run and get my photocopies for my class.....
Until next time ( i don't know when that will be....I am off to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow, then Bangkok, then Chaing Mai and Singapore...hopefully i will be able to get to the internet before i hit Singapore!!)
Lots of love to everyone!!
Miss Sarah...lol

This is my hotel. (don't worry my room with amy has to seperate beds, not one big one!! lol)

The following pictures are ones i have found on the net of some of the temples we have gone to. Once i get back to Wollongong i will put my own up!

Some temples in Georgetown, Penang.

beautiful place!!

Oops sorry about that, had to run off and do a relef class.
So where were we
Oh yeah on the beach on saturday. Well all sat out there thinking we were ok cause there was no sun, but there was enough to burn us that is for sure. We are all tomoatoes now, but it is getting better.
Saturday evening we went and found a food court and i had an amazing dinner, fresh made spring roll was so good, then some noodles and veggies and all of it for about 10 riggit, which is equal to about $3 AUD. Then we continued our shopping of the other half of the market, and Michele went back to her room and Natalie, Amy and I went back to the Kahuna Cafe again. We each had a drink and played some cards, the owner was very excited to see us again for a second night and was telling us about this drink he makes, he takes a fresh coconut and cuts the top of it off pours out the jucie and adds rum, syrup and ice to it, blends it up and puts it back into the coconut and serves it that way. He was so nice, he ended up making us one on the house....i think he put more rum in it then anything else. It was very good, but very strong. There is a wall near the bathroom and he had all of us sign it....he told us it was only for foriengers! lol
Sunday was spend lazing around (mostly in our rooms becuase of the burns) Reading in the shade and then heading back to Georgetown. Sunday evening we went and had Indian food and watch a traditional dance, which was amazing. I wasn't sold on the food, but it was good...some of it was too spicy. And here we are on tuesday already, only 3 more days of teaching and then its off to Kuala Lumpur for a few days before we head to Thailand. I can't wait!!!!
The picture above is a picture of the hotel we stayed at.
Until next time

Wonderful weekend

Well it's tuesday now, i am at the school using thier computers since I am done all my teaching for the day.
We had a wonderful weekend, we went to a hotel in Bata Fringie called the Park Royal. It was beautfiul. Our room was amazing...the pool was one of the nicest pools ever, the beach was busy but nice. Amy (Duffy) and I went jet skiing which was amazing, I cant wait to get pictures up on here to show everyone.
We got to the hotel on Friday afternoon and sat around by the pool all afternoon, had a few cocktales during happy hour, then we all shared Nacho's.....also wonderful. After that we decided to go to the night markets. My driver (who drives us to and from school each day) told me that we should be able to get anywhere from 30-50% off what they are asking for. So off we went, the first night I bought a cute bag (good use for school) it is small and made of a traditional chinese print. Then i also bought a really interesting wooden bag i just hope i can get it back in the country. Each of those bags worked out to be about $4 each. After we did one side of the market (which just runs up and down the main street) we ended up in a little cafe that we walked by. It was called The Kahuna Cafe. We only stopped because they were playing Jack Johnson and Duffy and I just couldn't resist! So we sat in there and had a drink, played some cards and just chatted. Then back to the hotel and off to bed, in the most comfortable beds ever! (even bets out Hamilton Island beds)
Saturday morning came and Duffy and I went down for breakfast, which was amazing, then back up to get our suits on for the pool/beach. On the way up we met up with Nat and Michele who planned to meet us later on the beach.
Have to run, been called to do another class.....will finish up later on today!!

Arrived safely!

Well I arrived safely on Saturday evening. It was a LONG flight. 8 hours to Singapore, then another hour to Penang. Our hotel is super nice, with great rooms and a wonderful view of the ocean and mainland. My roomie is Amy...and we are the room right next to Natalie and Michele with a door between us, that is always open!
On sunday we all got on a bus and had a tour of the island, we went to the sleeping budda temple, another budda temple. Then to a temple on the mountain that we had to climb up!!! Talk about a good work out. Then we got to experience our first taste of Malya food. Noodles and meat, not too shabby. After that we went to the snake temple (not my favorite) Nat was so brave and held one, and one on her head....got one of those tacky souviner pictures. Then we all came back to the hotel had a bit of a rest and all went out for dinner where again i had Satay and egg noodles. So yummy, i am trying to be adventurous and try different types of foods. For the day with eating I spent about $15 riggits, which is equal to about $5.
Today was our first day at school. Michele and I are actually at the same school. It's huge.....1171 students but they have two shifts. Years 4-6 are in the morning, from 745-115 then year 1-3 are from 145-7pm. Talk about an early morning for us. But at least we are done by 1pm. Which is really good, cause it is HOT here!!! My teacher is away this week, so Michele and I are going to be team teaching this week, and then i will go to a different class next week. The children are adorable. So beautiful. We will be teaching English to one class the whole time, which is nice rather then all different classes, but i guess there are pro's and con's to both if I had different classes i could just re-use my lesson plans. Today basically we just sat around in the library for a few hours, and then sat in on some of the children learning a dance for a school talent show/fundraiser. I have a feeling we are going to be doing alot of that, i don't think they want us in the classroom when we aren't teaching.
After classes today we came back and had a nap, then a little meeting with everyone to see how their day went, and then dinner, and now here i am at the interent cafe.
The time difference is 12 hours, which is nice....easy to remember! The internet cafe is super cheap, 1.50 an hour...so about 50 cents! So i should be able to get onto it often and keep in touch.
Love to all!
Sarah

My Birthday in OZ

Well another June 2nd has come and gone, and i am one year older. But at least this year i was able to spend it down here in OZ. It worked out perfect cause we finished classes on June 1st (Friday). So everyone was ready to party!!
We had a BBQ first, and then the party. It was great, tons of people were here and we just hang around and chatting and drank, before going out to the bar!
While i was getting ready Lindsay and Christina ran out to put out the "recycling" but were gone for almost an hour, to which i later found was them having gone out to buy a birthday cake for me!!! The way they surprised me was having Patti come and get me from the balcony and tell me someone spilled red wine on the carpet, to which i replied go and get lindsay...lol she's already inside....but Patti pushed me inside and that is when all the lights went out and everyone started singing!!! Oh well better then at some restaurant.
So all in all it was a great birthday!!!