Attended to a Bible Study held by a retired Scottish couple who lived in Sabah for 15 years. The bible study took place at their house on top of a hill, in a modern apartment with mouth-watering food laid out on the table for refreshments. About 15 of us circled round and did a bible study on the New Testament teaching on Marriage, Divorce and Heaven, Mark's Gospel. Kirsty and I were given a bible share and every time one of the group skipped to a chapter verse, we had no clue which page/chapter to flick to but luckily Crystal directed us where to turn to. Felt a bit awkward that I was merely the one non-Christian in the group and had the faintest idea what they were on about, such as discussions about the chosen chapter. Donald, who held the bible study, gave each one of us a printed diagram of what is acceptable in Marriage and Divorce. They also mentioned a group of families they help every year. The families are those of prison inmates and live in what they call a "Half way house", which is supposedly an absolute tip. So every year they try to freshen the place up, paint the walls etc. However this year, as they are all feeling slightly older in their age, they decided to do something less physically demanding. So they are thinking about taking the children out for a meal and to the cinema. Kirsty and I offered a helping hand so we might be visiting the children in a couple of weeks. School finished for the week, Andy-Chung picked us up to transport us to the YMCA club where it was a deaf meet-up. A large group of us sat around to 'discuss' the arrangements for launching the new deaf club but we were nowhere near getting the job done as there were too many of us, so while the main committee went into the other room us lot chatted leaving me complimenting Tommy's toddler who is mixed Chinese and Indian. Met Don, a genuine gentleman who studied at Galludet University in Washington. Thanks Don for your message and I know who I'll call if help needed. Afterwards, went to a local eating café and it is the Malay deaf tradition to gossip the night away until the café shuts, which is like 2/3am! While the group were in full swing gossiping, Kirsty and I were knackered at 12am that we headed to North Borneo Cabin in KK for a night before a bright early start to our PADI open water course. After spending an entire Saturday learning the scuba diving theory, I must admit the DVD they played freaked me out, explaining all the dangers let alone the bright side of it. Returned to DPM in the evening to find beautifully dressed students in their Malay/Chinese outfits and the boys gelled hair hanging around the corridors for their Asrama dinner party. Kirsty and I rushed to get ready to watch the performances in time in the decorated hall. Firstly we were asked to greet Puan Clare, as the party was partly celebrating her departure from the school. She was welcomed by 2 rows of girls holding bunga manggars which are like 'sparkly palm trees' made of tinsel. There was a yummy buffet with satay sticks, pineapple with garlic (weird combination), shrimp paste and local pink ice-cream. Several performances were given such as the traditional Vietnamese dance with pointed straw hats and used their Malaysian sarongs to dance with, while the boys played traditional percussion in the background. Followed performances were amazing singing, hilarious dramas (Mum, this reminded me of how Indian actors/actresses are over the top in Bollywood movies), male dancing, poem reading and of course a powerpoint presentation on Puan Clare. Gossiped with the teachers about the relationship with Puan Marie, although she is a good headmistress as she improved the school tremendously over the past 5 years by getting air conditioned rooms, computers, encouraging extra-curriculum activities to come about etc. But teachers are pressurised in their job, expected to do additional paperwork that other schools in the region do not have to do. Before, she made the teachers come to school on Saturday and Sundays to carry out responsible duties such as organising competitions for the region. Fair do for providing entertainment but teachers do need a break, even me *chuckles*! She even makes one teacher stand at the school gate at 2.10pm to ensure that students are exiting the school in the correct direction. Catherine told me a couple of 'out of the ordinary' quarrels they've had with Puan Marie that even one of them resigned from their job and got relocated elsewhere. One lunchtime, Puan Julie saw Puan Marie coming towards the teacher's dining room and each and every one scoffed themselves speedily so that they wouldn't have to dine with her. One approached to Puan Marie and asked 'Are you on a diet?' seeing that she only had a bowl of noodles, she replied 'Yes' and as they were about to exit the room, one of the canteen staff came in with an entire tray of food for Puan Marie *guffaws*. Puan Julie likes talking about men non stop even though she's married with kids. *titters*. She told us her life story the other day over lunch about how her parents used to own hardly any rubber trees and they had to live off that income and they were always broke. She then worked loads of jobs, like selling fruit on the street and she ran away to live with her aunt and go to university. She had to live in the school accommodation for 10 years while she taught as she couldn't afford to keep herself. But she managed to save money over those 10 years and is now married with kids in a nice house with 2 cars, which is quite a success. Puan Marie out of the blue directed responsibility to Sister Suzi Suzana as being the special education coordinator. She only had just arrived last May and instantly given the duty in November to collect data on students, organize the timetable etc. The other teachers lend her a hand when they can, seeing that she's inexperienced. Ramzie, yes the sleazy guy, he is a special education teacher vocation who is seriously poor at his job. He gives all the paperwork on each student in the deaf department requested by KL special education department to Puan Nelly. *grr* Many Filipinos have immigrated to Sabah to settle here which is why we have quite a few Filipinos at DPM but their identity cards labels them as Malay to permanently live here illegally. Discovered malicious stories about the Philippines from Don and others, even though it is made out to be 'Paradise' to us Brits when there is more to it. Manila is overpopulated and congested that even one teacher was in a tuk tuk to her hotel and she was covered in black soot just from sitting there. Considered going there seeing that it is literally right next door to Borneo but I think I'll give it a miss, wouldn't want to be kidnapped and held at ransom by pirates and yes, it still does happen often these days. Catherine has been contacted by Raimi, a teacher at the primary deaf school wondering if I could give 3 or 4 students English tuition lessons. They don't know English at all so how am I going to get pass this? Will most likely teach them only essential English. According to Catherine, she will bring them to DPM in the afternoons, so that's another challenge coming up! Lately, I've seen the students and even teachers snoozing away on their desks on the odd occasions, especially this one girl in 2KA who is always sleeping every time I walk pass 2KA classroom *chuckles*. As you all know it was Valentines Day earlier on this week, thought I would sense love in the air but surprisingly, it wasn't that bad. Received a Valentine poem from 3 students, all girls of course, about how I'm their 'wonderful beloved teacher' *giggles* and picture messages from the asrama kids. Back in the U.K, we wouldn't go round saying 'Happy Valentine's Day' to every single person but here they do, and they shake your hand as a courteous greeting, quite cute. We discovered in the evening that some of the Asrama girls had received Valentine's presents but it was a big secret,like for one because she's Christian and her Valentine is a Muslim. He got her an adorable teddy. There are "Spys" around the school, appointed by the teachers, or teachers themselves, that check that the children don't have boyfriends and girlfriends, that there's no handholding (as you'd get in serious big time trouble if you were caught) and that the girls all have their hair tied back, their uniforms are ironed properly and that they are walking in an orderly fashion. The kids often rebel outside school though so I've heard, wearing tight t-shirts, quite a few of the girls have boyfriends out of school. But they themselves believe in absolutely no physical contact. They all speak through their friends to their boyfriends. They don't even speak to their face, a cultural thing. Kirsty and I have been invited to a Malay wedding for 12th March and it is in the school holidays which we hoped to travel the East Coast on the 10th March but wouldn't miss this wedding for the world, so managed change our plans slightly. The groom is the Islam teacher at DPM, he was recently divorced and marrying again. It is customary that Malay men have 4 wives. Visited Puan Artina's flat last night as her husband is in KL for 2 weeks so she said she'd like the company and she's got Astro (Malaysia's version of sky) *yay* seeing that I'm behind with the world news. She showed us her wedding photos which were truly gorgeous, she had like 5 outfits on her wedding day. The beautiful bride had a white powdered face, like a Japanese geisha, it is traditional here in Sabah. This morning, I joined the Special Arts and Culture club making dresses out of recycled clothing and grasshoppers out of palm tree leaves as earrings or brooches. Despite my lack of practical skills, I tried to have a go at making a grasshopper and no surprise, I failed! *shakes head* Teachers are mystified and ask why Kirsty and I have spent a shocking amount of money to them, to come to Malaysia to do voluntary work when we could have gone to America or Australia and get paid. Kirsty answered 'It is an experience' and they still don't understand, 'But why?' with puzzled faces. I know you are all probably thinking, 'Jeez, she has to complain about the bathroom every time' but our shower is officially busted that we have had to rely on a cold tap of water and a bucket to wash ourselves which is maddening, especially first thing in the morning. So I hope you are all appreciating your bath and showers back at home. x