Labis

Home sweet home. I have been living in Labis for a week now. I'm settled in my home, established at my school, and I love my co-workers and students.

Labis is a small town in northern Johor, in the district of Segamat. It has two main roads – one leading north-south and one east-west. I live on the main road, and while the town is overall very quiet, the road is noisy 24/7. But you get used to it.

My roommate, Dorine, and I live in a shop-top apartment near the KFC. Our apartment is quite large for two people with four bedrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, and two bathrooms. Since we don't have internet yet, we have become regulars at the Coffee Corner, a delightful coffee shop down the road. As the sole orang putih (white person) in town, on our second day, the workers asked if they could take a photo with us. Of course!

We have stayed busy cleaning the house, frequenting the Coffee Corner, walking around town, trying new restaurants, visiting the local hot springs, and making new friends. Last weekend, we attended a wedding reception for one of the teachers at my school; went to a birthday party for the friend of my mentor; and went shopping for household essentials in Segamat, the nearest town. Phew! That's not to mention the most important aspect of our days. Going to school!!!

A group of my students

SMK Labis is a secondary school with about 720 students in Forms 1-6. It is quite diverse with Malay, Indian, and Chinese students in every class. I am teaching Forms One, Two, and Four. These are the years that the students do not have major examinations, and so I have more flexibility in terms of my lessons. Thus far, I have twelve classes a week (four in each form), in addition to participating in the co-curriculars and leading a weekly assembly called "English Within 20 Minutes (EW20). My students have varying degrees of English language proficiency, ranging from understanding almost everything I say to understanding hardly anything at all. Some are very shy, some are very outgoing. I cannot tell you how many of the boys have already asked if I have a boyfriend! Sorry kids, I'm your teacher.

My fellow English teachers are a phenomenal group of individuals with whom I am thoroughly excited to work. They have already been so generous, helping me assimilate into the school's environment. My mentor, Thilaga, is outstanding. I feel like one of the family! Her husband is the English Language Officer for primary schools in the District of Segamat, a good connection to have. They have two wonderful children; their son is in one of my classes. Their daughter is almost two and is a darling little girl.

I am very excited for this year. I think it is going to be quite challenging, but these are challenges that I am looking forward to overcoming.

Segamat District Awesomeness
Dorine's mentor, SK Sri Labis Headmistress, Dorine, me, SMK Labis Senior Assistant, and my mentor