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04/11/05 - Oh my, I have a headache, and I've had one all week. Though I love Taman Wahyu, Sunday evening was way too much. It could have been a scene for a comedy, an adult with a load of kids (of which half don't speak English); the eldest three were clearing out the draws of plastic toys; one boy who wouldn't stop crying for ten whole minutes (and only stopped as he was taken away), and a girl taking her skirt off to say she needed the toilet whilst I was trying to calm the boy down (she also kept giggling at my efforts to control him, even though she was the one who was crying to leave last week); then a girl kept bossing around another boy (who also kept making repetitive noises)... But it was nice to have a cuddle at the end though; with a polydactyl child (child with twelve fingers and twelve toes)... But what seems to concern me most about her is the fact that she's quite thin, whereas her siblings are chubbier. Not quite sure what to make of that...

One last point, I'm not feeling too happy with my current teaching program for these children. Though really I'm just there to occupy them and perhaps teach them the odd basic skills, it's very difficult in knowing what to do when their skills are so wide spread. I gave them worksheets but some students find them too easy, and others can't do them at all. The skills range is from 4/5 year olds who only know a few English words and can't comply letters, then there's 9/10 year olds who are semi-fluent in English and don't see any challenge in the work. I tried today in having two divisions in worksheets, but all this only works with the 6-8 year olds, and I can't just let them work whilst I letter the others colour (they're favourite thing to do). I shall continue to try and find a working method...

I shall finish off this week by hoping the Western world had a Happy Halloween, the Hindu's a Happy Deepavali, Muslim's a Selamat Hari Raya, and the UK a happy Guy Fawkes night. It's a shame I didn't do much during Hari Raya, though it was funny to feel like a celebrity in KLCC again. I never knew white people were so special, until after that talk with Chris explained it all (but I kind of knew all that anyway...).

11/11/05 - Rememberance Day! forgot about that... My ear is healed! Now the problems begin, if I slept on my good ear, then my semi-deaf ear would block out the noise of the air-con, now I can't sleep... I really like my new camera, especially after some of the pics I took at the Butterfly Park. The focus on the photos are amazing (even if it is auto-focus) and the zoom is great too...

I seem to be doing a good job as 'Teacher' (that's my new name...) at Taman Wahyu. I'm proud of Dharsini managing to do a worksheet, and the lesson I taught today went really well too, though I did spend a little too long preparing, too many distractions... I can't seem to get anything through to Pavithiran, he was drawing in books and on the walls with crayons, yet no matter how many times I scold him, he still doesn't understand that he's doing something wrong. The slightest wince of guilt would be nice, but he just continues to speak to me in Tamil, so I just speak back at him in English...

Going on my first holiday since the Singapore disaster (there wasn't a disaster in Singapore, that was just my holiday...), and it's to Brunei! I'll finally get to meet my friend NJ (Nurul Jannah), who I've known for almost two years through MySpace.com. It's going to be really great to meet her, to relax from KL, and to explore another country (and have her as a free tour guide). Stick around to see how it goes...

18/11/05 - I finally feel I'm getting the hang of teaching the Taman Wahyu children. After a 'practice round' on teaching body parts last Friday, I think I did a lot better this week, after actually giving them some worksheets to do. Just a shame that, again, it was only Thavi and Rachel that were really learning anything, as I spent most my time teaching them two. But Christmas is coming soon so hopefully I'll come up with some good ideas that all the class will be able to do.

Had a wonderful time in Brunei; a lot of people have asked me what it's like to meet someone I've known on the net for two years in person, but I can't seem to describe it. It's assuring to be in a foreign country with people I know, I guess I just accepted that they were there and felt comfortable being with them. It was great staying in the mansion and going round the country, though it's a shame that there's little to do in Brunei. It appears Brunei puts more of its money into its citizens rather than its commercial tourist industry (not that that's a problem, if you know any Bruneian residents)...

I've noticed something quite strange with certain areas and their attraction to white people. I received a lot of waves in Lawas, and have a lot of photos with people in KLCC, yet I receive no different treatment in Ampang, a more middle rate area (though the International School may be a reason...). It was nice to meet Kate again in Lawas and I'm looking forward to doing my Teaching placement in January. Though I don't want to leave my Taman Wahyu children, I feel I need to get out of the city and experience some more rural and indigenous life (what I originally set out to do). It will certainly be a change to the city and urban lifestyle I thought I left behind...

25/11/05 - What a chaotic past couple of weeks I've been having... from November 13th to 21st, I never spent two consecutive nights in one place. First I slept on a bench at KLIA, then the hotel in Brunei, NJ's uncle's place, my future Lawas home, the Anuja hostel, Sanju's flat, Anuja again, Pavi's flat, and now I've settled at Victoria's house. The one thing I've wanted from this trip is to settle down and not have to worry about my bags so much, but I now think I'm staying at Victoria's house, and I'm been looked after very well by her...

I'm also glad to be settling nicely with the people of Taman Wahyu. Ebbie's mother (Rebecca) is also looking after me nicely, and I'm progressing well with the kids. It's going to be a big test into whether I can get them to sing for the church or not. It will be a nice way to finish off my time with them after I leave for Borneo (not saying I'll be leaving them for good though). Wendy asked me when we went to KLCC who my favourite student was, and I couldn't answer. They're all so different and I like them all for different things...

I find it funny assigning Rachel to be second Teacher. I'm trying to workout whether she's aspiring to me. She tried to imitate my class on body parts, and keeps disciplining Pavithiran (which I'm finding myself doing a lot; my opinions of him have changed after spending time round his place). Maybe I could make her and Ebbie my extra Tamil teachers (I do need to book another class with Mr Azir some time soon though...).

I'm also intrigued by the prayer I received from the Pastor at TW today. Him sensing my presence of loneliness inside me was very interesting to hear, considering I've spent so little time at CPKL. But it's not that I have a problem with my 'peers' being aged ten and below. Shame I only see them on the weekends though... it will be a shame when I have to leave them in January... but only temporarily...