A Day of Hijabs and Burritos

Every Friday night there is a Pasar Malam, or Night Market in Labis. It’s in the Dataran (Town Square), and many booths are set up selling all sorts of food, clothes, and miscellaneous items. The tents and tables start to appear in the early afternoon and are gone by 9pm the same night. This month, as it is the Holy Month of Ramadan, there is also a Bazaar Ramadan, semi-permanently set up in the center of the Dataran. The tables and tents remain all day and night, but the people and the food is only present from about 2pm to 7pm every day.

Every weekend I don’t travel, I enjoy going to the Pasar Malam. This is one such weekend. A 15-20 minute walk down the road from my house brings me right to the Dataran. Once there, I am immediately encouraged to buy food from many of the stalls I pass. Graciously, I decline.

One of the great things about living in a small town is that everywhere I go, I typically see someone I know. Tonight was no exception. Within five minutes, I run into four of my Form 5 students. They invite me to walk with them as they purchase food with which to break their fast later that evening. As we walk, I see other students as well as the wonderful women who work at our school canteen. I engage my acquaintances in short conversations using a mixture of English and Bahasa Malaysia depending on each of our abilities.

Once these students finish buying their food, they wished to return home. I walked them to their motorcycles, passing a few more students along the way. As soon as they leave, I am greeted by Latif, the man who catered for my most recent English camp. He is a very nice man, always eager to speak with me. As he owns one of the stalls at Bazaar Ramadan, he politely “forced” me to follow him so he could give me a take-away container of biryani rice “usually eaten with goat, but for you, I give you the fruit side.” For the record, it was delicious.

As I still had not made it through the Night Market, I continue walking, only to meet more of my students. As we are greeting, one of our English teachers arrives. See why I love small towns? Anyway, they invite me to walk with them, an opportunity I will never turn down. Conversations shift from one topic to another and eventually come to a discussion about clothes. At one point I mention that I want to learn how to wrap a hijab, one of the many styles of head scarves. They link their arms in mine and together we walk to the clothes section of the market. We found a style I liked and they picked out the color, a light blue that hopefully matches my blue baju kurong. I also needed a head cap (I’m not sure what these are actually called). It’s a knit cap in which the women keep all of their hair so none of it shows if the hijab shifts. Final preparation step, we needed to buy the pins to hold the hijab in place. Since I am a simple person, I picked out simple pins, shiny gems with no bling.

“Teacher, tomorrow you bring everything to school and during break, we will teach you how to wear.” Yes ma’am. What a glorious trip to the market.

***

Today we had school. Yes, on Saturday. It was a replacement day for the day they cancelled school a few weeks ago because of the haze from the Indonesian fires. During the upper form break, about halfway through the school day, I met these four students, with another friend, at the surau, the Muslim prayer room. When it is not prayer time, non-Muslims are able to enter. In the side room, Syarizan, a teacher I really like, and a couple students were preparing a bulletin board. When they realized what was going on, they stopped and came to watch and help. Here are some photos to show the process of dressing a hijab. The tudongs, what the students are wearing, are much easier to put on as you literally only have to slip them over your head. However, I prefer the styles of the hijab.


Tying up my hair in preparation


Putting on the hair cap


Attaching the first pin


Attaching the second and third pins, one on top of my head and one on my left shoulder


Still pinning


With Syarizan


Group photo!

Can you only imagine the responses I got from the teachers and students when they saw me?! I got exclamations of disbelief, looks that lacked recognition, and once I was recognized, I received compliments on how beautiful or different I looked. Recently, we have had several new teachers come to the school, so many people thought I was just another new teacher, or even a new student. Until they looked at my face for literally 5 or more seconds. I wish I had a video camera to record the reactions of everyone when they realized it was me wearing a hijab. Malay students of all forms enjoyed helping me fix it when it shifted slightly throughout the rest of the day. Teacher becomes student, students become teachers – the beauty of cultural exchange.


Even the boys wanted to wear a hijab! Possibly my favorite picture.


With Lia, my desk mate

***

To make the day complete with more cultural exchange, Hasnul and I broke fast together again. This time, I taught her the ever desired Mexican food. Last year’s ETA wanted to teach her, but they ran out of time. We made burritos with all the vegetarian toppings – rice, black beans, sautéed green peppers and onions, home-made tomato salsa, and fresh, home-made guacamole, topped with Mexican blend shredded cheese on a wholegrain tortilla. First burrito success!


Hasnul, me, and the makings of burritos


The food


Hasnul about to wrap her first burrito!!

Fasting in Solidarity

10 July marked the beginning of the holy month of Ramadhan. During this 30 day period, all Muslims around the world must refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. In Malaysia, that is about 13 hours. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is a time for spiritual purification and the recognition of oneself and the denial of one’s worldly desires. Many Muslims will also give to charity during this time, as they experience conditions more similar to that of the poor.

This year, I am fasting. Although it is not a religious act for me, it is an opportunity for me to show solidarity with my students and fellow Muslim teachers. I also benefit from reflection and recognizing my personal and worldly desires as I refrain from eating and drinking for 13 hours every day, from 6:30am to 7:30pm. Today marks my sixth day of fasting. I missed four days last week due to traveling with the Tamil Society at my school on their annual trip. (See previous blog!) In the Islamic faith, sick persons, menstruating women, the elderly, and travelers are exempt from fasting, but those who are able must make up these days before the following Ramadhan.

The Muslim teachers at my school appreciate my efforts while the non-Muslim teachers are impressed with my determination. Most days it is not too difficult to fast as long as I keep myself busy. I notice that when I am home, I have a tendency to nibble on snacks throughout the afternoon. Now, I cannot engage in such acts. I am actually eating better. I am cooking every night. I am making sure I have a hearty breakfast (though that’s really the same as always), and I am drinking more water.

Not drinking anything during the day is the most difficult, though I certainly think it could be worse. Malaysia is hot and humid all year round. For the past two months or so, it has not rained at all in Labis. However, recently, for the past two weeks, it has started raining again. We have had several rainstorms during the school day and every day is more overcast than it used to be. Thus, the sun is not as hot and energy can be saved.

I was warned to expect that my students would have less energy, but really, I haven’t noticed much change. My most energetic classes are still just as rowdy. My quiet classes are just as quiet. I have only noticed that my throat gets scratchier throughout the day from teaching.

I don’t know how long I will fast, but at this point, I’m thinking about trying the whole month. Why not? This is the chance for me to do it. And I’m becoming closer to some of my co-workers because of it. The best part of Ramadhan is Iftar, the meal that breaks the fast. On Monday, I had Iftar, with Hasnul, one of the English teachers. She has recently started cooking more and was very willing to try some vegetarian options. We made vegetarian tom yam soup (a local dish) and vegetable omelets. Of course there was also rice. We have plans to cook together again on Saturday. This time – Spanish burritos.

Ramadhan Mubarak. Happy Ramadhan!

Tamil Society Trip - A Weekend Away

11-13 July 2013


Group Photo!

My school’s Tamil society goes on an annual weekend-long time. This year, they went to Ipoh, the capital of the Perak state, and the Cameron Highlands, and they invited me! We left school Thursday evening around 7:30pm and drove to I-city World just south of Kuala Lumpur, stopping in Melaka for dinner. I-City World is a theme park with a few roller coasters and activities, centered around ice. For someone who never sees snow, it’s very exciting. However, since we arrived around midnight, we couldn't go inside as it was already closed. Often it is open until 2am, but I think it closes early during Ramadan. There was still plenty for the students to see outside of the actual park. There are animal figurines and plenty of light displays to enjoy. That is if you like taking photos. So many colorful trees, flamingoes, sunflowers, penguins and snowmen, etc. After spending about an hour here, we got back on the road to continue our journey north.


I-City World


With Chandara, one of my fellow English teachers

That night, we started playing a game similar to Secret Santa called Bobo Jojo that would last all weekend. I lucked out and got one of the students I know though she is not actually in one of my classes. I received various food items, a Malaysia magnet, a bracelet, and a strawberry keychain.

Early morning, after another rest stop and a stop for breakfast, we arrived at Gua Tempurung, the natural cave system where we were to go caving. Of the four tour packages they offer, we took the Grand Tour, the longest and most intense. I think we were in the cave for nearly four hours! Down several set of stairs into the largest cave opening where the guide pointed out the different shapes in the rocks. It was really beautiful in the cave. We went up several hundred stairs to an overlook before descending down just as many stairs to the river. Not only did we get our feet wet, but many students and teachers for that matter, got their everything wet. We had to crawl through the shallow river under rock hangings on our hands and knees (oh so painful on the knees). The students had a great time. We had to slide down a cliff and drop through a hole in the rock face instead of taking the stairs back out of the cave. Naturally, at the end of our caving adventure the students had a massive water fight. I ended up getting soaked as well.


Gua Tempurung


Stalactites in the cave


Weeeeee!


The hole that we all dropped through

After showers at the cave site facilities, we drove to the Little India of Ipoh for lunch. Shops along the road mostly had the same items - Punjabi suits and other Indian clothes, incense, garlands, Indian spices and Hindi figurines. A cute area with lovely music from the shops filling the streets.


Little India in Ipoh

As there was still plenty of daylight, rather than going straight to the hotel, we drove out a distance to a recreational center at the base of the Cameron Highland hills. There were some climbing playgrounds with which the students and I and one of the teachers, Kanda, had fun. Games were also enjoyed in the open grassy field.


The recreation center's playground

We stayed the night in Ipoh. In the evening we went to the temple for Friday prayers. It's apparently the main temple in Ipoh where Thaipusam piercings takes place. Dinner on the hotel’s rooftop was followed by a talent show by the students.


Waiting to walk to the Temple


The Hindu Temple entrance

In the morning, we went to Cameron Highlands which is well-known for its crops, primarily its tea and strawberries. Of course we visited one of each. We took a tour of the tea plantation, learning about the five stages of tea production. The Strawberry Farm we visited is actually owned by one of the teacher’s relatives, so we were treated to platters of fresh strawberries with crème and honey. Many students also bought ice cream sundaes topped with fresh strawberries. Before the day was finished, we also stopped at a bee hive and shopping center, and a vegetable market.


The Cameron Highlands


Students with a flower garden during our lunch stop


Me with my mentor's daughter, Kisheera, at the Boh Tea Estate


The Cameron Highlands

We arrived back at the school, exhausted but content, on Saturday night around 1:30am. What a wonderful trip.

English can open doors

Sometimes students question why they must learn English. Understandably so. English is spoken throughout Malaysia, but one can certainly go through his or her day without the need of English, especially in a small town like Labis. To show the students one of the reasons why English is valuable, my fellow English teachers and I decided to offer a first-hand experience to our Form 6 students.

On Friday, 5 July, 2013, I, along with three English teachers from SMK Labis, took 38 Form 6 students on a day-trip to Kuala Lumpur to visit the office of the Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE). MACEE is the Fulbright Commission in Malaysia and is thus the bread and butter of my English Teaching Assistant program. They also provide opportunities for Malaysian students to study in the United States through EducationUSA, and this was the focus of our visit. “[The idea of studying abroad] is new to me. [The EducationUSA presentation] motivated me to know the culture in the United States. …My favorite time of the day was when we see all of the staff from the United States. I felt like I was in the USA. I love it! And I think I want to go study in the United States,” says Mahzan, one of the participating students.

A warm-up US trivia activity tested the students’ prior knowledge of the United States. While some students successfully answered questions asking for the number of states in the US and the name of the capital city, all were baffled by the number of colleges and universities and the number of Malaysians studying in the US. Can you believe there are over 4,800 universities in the United States? And that over 6,000 Malaysian students are currently studying there?

Getting down to business, the students attentively listened to presentations given by members of the EducationUSA staff regarding opportunities for Malaysian students to further their education in the United States. They learned how to choose the right program and university, as well as about the required entrance examinations – the TOEFL, SAT, and ACT exams – common online applications, scholarships, and available resources. The students were also shown the resource library at the MACEE office and were told they may come and use the books any time they are in Kuala Lumpur.

The visit to MACEE and EducationUSA concluded with the students’ presentations of short “Oh My English!” skits. Contrary to the popular TV show “Oh My English!” (you can find full episodes on YouTube), my students acted the part of Malaysian students studying in the United States (instead of a foreign teacher in a Malaysian school setting). Each group had a different location – in the dormitory, in the canteen, in the classroom on the first day of class, and meeting classmates for the first time – and they had to predict how their experience as an exchange student would be. Uproariously funny, the students thoroughly enjoyed this activity and performed some very entertaining skits.

Naturally, a trip to Kuala Lumpur is not complete without some time for shopping. After an educational morning, lunch and prayers, the students were given time at Berjaya Times Square, a local mall, to shop, eat, watch movies, or enter the indoor theme park. There is no shopping center, or supermarket/grocery store for that matter, in Labis, so this was a much appreciated opportunity for the students.

At the end of the day, the students and teachers were exhausted and ready to make the five hour trek back to Labis. Nevertheless, the day’s activities at the Malaysian-American Commission for Educational Exchange were very beneficial and worthwhile for the students who learned a plethora about the American school system and opportunities available to them after secondary school. As student Lisshaline said in her Thank You speech to the staff of EducationUSA and MACEE, “I hope students can keep all this knowledge in their mind and apply it for a better future.”

Fun on the bus

Upon our arrival at MACEE

The EducationUSA Presentation

Group Photo with students and teachers from SMK Labis and EducationUSA Staff

Some shopping mall enjoyment

Birthday Wishes

1 July 2013

A birthday well spent in Labis. Throughout the day I received many birthday wishes and happy returns of the day from students and teachers. A few students even gave me gifts!! A beautiful photo frame with a picture of me from Teacher’s Day, a Hello Kitty doll from my student’s brother (we share the same birthday), a birthday bird, a mug and a Happy Birthday carving, Malaysian tea, a keychain from Singapore, and cupcakes. I was spoiled!!

First gifts of the day

The evening marked the most memorable part of the day. I went to supper with 10 of my Form 6 students at a quaint restaurant new to me. All incredibly lovely ladies who are always a joy to be around. We all sat on cushions around a long table in our own private curtained-off room, setting the mood for a fabulous evening. Milk shakes, fruit juices, and ice blendeds led to noodles, chicken and rice, soup, fun fries, yam samosas, and fried ice cream. We joked and laughed, told stories, and spoke in four different languages (well, some of us did). We made wishes on post-it notes and tacked them on the wishing wall. We ate homemade mango bread still warm from the oven. Towards the end of our supper, the lights dimmed and suddenly a chorus of voices started singing “Happy Birthday” as a mango crème-filled vanilla cake was brought into our room, complete with candles. Wishes made and candles blown out, I was introduced to a Malaysian birthday tradition. The birthday girl must remove a candle using only her mouth! Surprisingly or not, this birthday girl was successful and not messy!

A beautiful day spent in fabulous company.

The Wishing Wall

Colorful drinks!

Time to eat!

Fantastic company in a lovely restaurant

Group photo!

Using my teeth to remove the candle from the cake

Tea Time with more friends after dinner