| BLOG 2008 |
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HuckoolBlog.Com
Blog 2008 |
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Index
Bullet Points
Photography |
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January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December |
| June: |
06/06/08 - Only a few days remain of my third trip to Asia. I haven't really been counting down each day, but more planning what to do with each of them. This week has been a lot busier than the last. I finally had a driving lesson this week, which lasted four hours. Within an hour and a half of never having sat in a driver's seat, I found myself driving round on the Malaysian highways, which was quite fun. It doesn't seem like there's much more to learn other than parking and reversing. It's just a shame I'll have to wait till I come back to do my remaining twelve hours of lessons.
I also had my final two tuition classes this week at the temple in Taman Tun. I've really enjoyed my time teaching the kids there, and it was a good place to get some teaching experience, as the kids (mostly girls) were very keen to learn. Yans wrote me a good reference letter, and even took me out for lunch at a nice Italian restaurant. I also got a couple of presents, a maroon tie and a small Hindu statue. I will miss my first ever class outside of British Council. I will also miss my favourite student from British Council, Amir, who I always talked to whenever I visited the college to get books.
Within three weeks of going to church, Theeba has already learnt how to pray, along with memorising a few Christian songs. Francis James told me he was very impressed with her singing, when he briefly took the Sunday School during communion. But despite how good she may be in church, she's proving to be difficult when I take her out. She's made a scene a few times, crying in public, refusing to go home and telling people her grandparents beat her. I expect she is physically scolded, but that's just a part of the Tamil culture. Also, Ranjita's English has improved over the past few weeks, probably more due to Theeba teaching her, as I mostly learn Tamil off Ranjita.
Victoria gave a very funny testimony at the Taman Wahyu Sunday Service. She said she saw an advertisment saying 'Don't say "never mind"', as it will lead to the end of the world, and people shouldn't use those two words. I feel this was partly aimed at Anna David, who I'm staying with, who continually uses those two words. She even used it when she padlocked the house and left the keys inside... Lastly, I am sick! I'm never sick, why does it have to happen in my last week? I've had fever since Wednesday and it hasn't gone, so I'd best go to clinic tomorrow...
13/06/08 - And so I have returned to the UK after just over two hundred days in Asia. I've now recovered from my week long flu, and I think resting was the best cure, as I was still rushing round in my last few days in Malaysia. A few people had gotten ill over that week, including Theeba, so some virus must have been going round then; though Wendy, who was supposed to be leaving Malaysia this week too, ended up with dengue, so she'll still be in Malaysia another couple of weeks until she's got the all clear to go home.
The CPKL church gave me a nice send off, where Pastor Edward said a few words about what I had been doing the past six months here. The church has promised to help with my unfinished work of putting Ranjita in another home, and hopefully keep her coming to church. They seem very committed in wanting to help her too, they find her and Theeba bring some extra life into the church. I hope they act soon, this other family staying at Jyothi's get worse and worse. On my last morning, Jyothi had a huge row at Ramesh because Dinesh was caught pissing in the bath water, which Ranjita was just about to use. It's damn pathetic, kick the sorry, jealous bastards out on the street now!
Though I got a nice goodbye from the CPKL and Petaling Jaya churches, my goodbye at Taman Wahyu, where I was expecting the biggest, wasn't so great. There was no announcement I was leaving, so I just had to tell as many people as I could. There being no Pastor at Taman Wahyu doesn't help, it seems as though the church members are a bit lost without one at the moment. Victoria plans on getting two new Pastors, one for Taman Wahyu, and another for Petaling Jaya, then setting up a new church in the Melawati area; sounds like a plan, and good to have the church expanding even more.
I had a nice last evening in Malaysia with Ps. Paul and Victoria. I decided to donate my laptop to the church, as Pastor said it wasn't worth much, then Victoria took me out shopping to buy me some nice clothes as a birthday and leaving gift. I won't give any comments on my thoughts of Dubai, I was far too ill and exhausted to explore the city, though it seems big, clean and highly developed, though a bit mirky, I couldn't see many of the buildings. And now I've returned to the UK, and I seem to have a huge appetite, having not had any proper English food for so long. It's been nice to see Elizabeth again, and I gave her her anchovies, which she wanted me to buy for her from Malaysia. I'll be going to Palmers Green on my first Sunday back, so hopefully it'll be a good one.
20/06/08 - It's my second week back in the UK, and things are running a lot smoother than my first return from my long term trip in Malaysia two years ago. I've signed up with my two previous work agencies, NAG (that got me various jobs, including the call centre) and PSB (that got me the job with SBE last year). I got two days of work from PSB to do weeding at the Designer Outlet shopping centre (and fortunately did less than 16 hours paid work, so I'll still get job seeker's allowance for this week, double money!). Despite it being hard work, it makes a great alternative to spending the whole day at home.
I don't know what the long (or short) term future holds in regards to work. I visited SBE this week to see some old friends, and some people are trying to encourage me back. Despite how much I liked the hours, the work was mono (boring) and I doubt the management is any nicer than before. I may try and re-apply with some of the places I tried a couple of years ago; hopefully now being a qualified teacher, I should be a bit better at job interviews... I hope...
After recovering from my flu last week, I suffered from some stomach and back problems earlier this week. I think my stomach was trying to adjust to the sudden extra intake, now I'm back to eating my beloved English food. It was a shame Anna bought a new fridge-freezer the day I left Malaysia though... Talking of Malaysia, CPKL are doing their best to sort out Ranjita with a new home. I also heard Ratha took her to church on Sunday; Victoria says that she seemed happy, but she always enjoys herself at church anyway. I hope she misses me...
Also on Sunday, I made my return to Palmers Green. It's nice to see everyone again, and it seems everyone's happy to see me back. There have been atleast three new babies since I left, but it seems all the same church members are still there when I left (it's nice that it's such a stable and constant community). I went to the Ashford Baptist Church briefly after the Palmers Green service on Sunday, and they had been praying for me whilst I was away. The Tamil's I know in Ashford are also asking to see me again, so atleast everything is how I left it several months ago...
27/06/08 - Three weeks back and things seem to be running a lot smoother here than two years ago, as far as getting work is concerned. After failing numerous job interviews in 2006, I passed first time today after an interview at Subway. I'll have another three week probation period, like I did at McDonalds, which hopefully I should pass; I don't think the work will be as hectic as McDonalds was (or so I may think). I'll be starting on Wednesday, but I think I'll only be working part time, so I don't think the job hunt is quite over.
Not much else happening this side of the world; I have a long weekend home alone, as the parents have gone to Bruges for a long weekend. I think a trip to Palmers Green on Sunday will make up for the time alone. I've heard Sumathi and her trashy family have finally moved out of Jyothi's house. I would happily have kicked them out a lot sooner, but Jyothi said I shouldn't spoil my karma. I'm going to need to assert myself some time, I can't keep being a doormat to people and letting them abuse people close to me. Atleast the bastards are gone now, hopefully in a ditch somewhere, and now Ranjita's a little more at peace.
Such a shame, the best time that I could be in Malaysia, and I'm stuck here till atleast after Christmas. Jyothi's now out of work (but with the work she was doing, that's a good thing), and I have no idea on where she plans on sending Ranjita. I should have stayed out there a bit longer, in the six and a half months I spent in Malaysia, I estimate I spent just under £5000 (which includes the CELTA course and plane tickets, which was about £2000 of that). I still had a fair bit left when I came back (and plenty more elsewhere), but now is the time for working and earning... and complete boredom... I miss you, Ranjita!
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