Oh my- writing this was a bit of a drama. As you can see-it’s quite a long postcard and Just as I was spell checking it- the power cut out. I nearly cried. But after much dashing about and crossing of fingers, I discovered that the comp had saved the entire thing- phew! So- This week seems to be going by at a pretty good pace- I’d say flying by but it’s not quite there yet. Firstly, I would just like to say a big thank you to Bunty for her very kind donation towards my GAP. Will do nicely for either visiting Turtle Island or to go towards repairing the current piano in the Asrama. Quite a few things to fill you in on over the last couple of days. Most importantly- THE SHOWER’S FIXED! Woo hoo!! At last!! On Tues night we helped Elle, Joyce and Mizah design and make some items for the fashion show. We made necklaces out of newspaper knots attached to my tartan ribbon, a corsage from cutting and sticking newspaper randomly, and the coolest headgear ever out of tartan ribbon and plastic cups. Looks really funky I must say. Was nice to just chill out with the girls instead of taking the Asrama evening class. They filled us in on gossip about certain teachers. Some of it surprised us and it appears that certain teachers have been acting all goody to us but as Mizah says- are cruel and selfish to the Asrama students. All seems a bit suss. But oh my oh my. We seriously got the fright of our lives on Tues night. Aman scares the bejeezes outa me cos she screams soo loud and shrieky when she’s scared and sometimes it’s so much scarier than the thing we’re scared from. No but seriously, this thing topped all scary things. It was a fek off huuuuuuuuuuuge insect- I can’t explain how huge and scary. Was like a massive flying cockroach with big wings and it hurtled into our room like it was a plane shot from the sky. It just spun at a million miles an hr while making the most indescribably awful high pitched noise- like someone being set on fire. First I thought it was a bat one of the stray cats had caught. The noise was soo loud and it was convulsing all over the place and twitching it’s mingin brown plasticy wings and was stuck on its back so was making the high pitched screetch constantly as it twitched and spun on the ground, trying to get up. I bolted for the toilet and Aman just did her mother of a scream and got up on the bed, while Elle and Joyce managed to make it out of the door. I was friggin trapped! Aman quickly jumped past it and got out the door, but I didn’t wana move incase it got off it’s back and dive-bombed me. But I risked it and bolted out the door whilst screaming of course. Oh my- scariest moment ever. Everyone came out of their dorm rooms to find out what on earth was happening. They all thought I’d been “possessed by the ghost”. When Liya shouted up to ask what was happening, I was like- “I’m ok!” but I was also peeing myself laughing so much that I couldn’t get it out, so she blatantly thought I’d been “possessed”. Was all highly amusing. Anyway, after much cuffuffling, Joyce (again!) braved the beast with a brush and tipped it over- it flew right at her but she was soo calm and collected and managed to get it out. So impressed. The beast was just soo skanky and it made the most awful noise. Kind of like a Pterodactyl. Managed to get a pic of it, so I’m happy! After that drama, we finished the accessories for the show and hit the hay. On Wednesday, I finally managed to drag myself outa bed for a run. It was 5.30am and I was ready to go, but then I looked out the window and it was pitch black. The stars were beautiful. So since I’m scared off the dark, plus it not being a good idea to go running away from the asrama at night, I had to sit around until the sun came up at about 6.15. Did 3 circuits of the pitch (which is teeny tiny) and couldn’t take any more- I’m soo unfit! During the day, I gave my first class a treasure hunt but class 4A were determined to add more to the dance we did yesterday. I was knacked but we spent the lesson adding on moves and rehearsing them. By the end of the lesson they were looking fab. Decided I’m gona run the dance club on Friday afternoons- hopefully starting next Friday. I’ve asked Anita and she seems fine about me teaching them contemporary stuff. Twas soo funny in class yesterday though. Those of you who I danced with- I taught them some of Sammy’s corner work stuff as a warm up- was just so funny. I had them doing leaps and pirouettes and some of the guys aint dainty. But they were all up for it, which was cool. Last night, we finished off the Fashion show stuff in our room again. I helped Elle and Joyce cut a make a skirt. Much debate over whether it was a suitable length- I worried we’d cut it too short, but the girls said it was OK. They then painted it all beautifully while we listened to some music. This sounds so cheesy but I really am inspired by Joyce. She is so utterly enthralled by music and has to make such an effort to get involved with it, since there are no music classes or emphasis on music at all at the school- but it’s the only thing she wants to do. She’s been amazing me in the choir by learning all of the songs a capella then straight away going to the piano with a full accompaniment with little to no flaws first time. She’s def got that oober special natural talent. Just wish so badly there was a way she could be put in an environment where she could expand on what she can do cos I know she could be so good if she could be given the chance. She’s 16 already and has had no proper training, so if she wants to go to uni, like in Kula Lumpur, to do music, she needs to start having proper lessons now. But it’s obviously too expensive and hard to find music teachers in Sabah. I’ll be a lot happier when we have a decent piano in Asrama so I can try to teach the students in the evening how to read music and they can expand themselves from there. Will be fab if I can take music classes in the Asrama- just need the resources first. Joyce has fallen in love with Eva Cassidy and I let her listen to “Shindler’s List” and “The Fellowship” piece from Lord of the Rings- she was like “Wow”. Anyways, last night Mizah came into our room with the yummiest smelling thing ever. Turned out to be lots and lots of milo powder, mixed with not a lot of water- thus making a very very thick milo paste. It was surprisingly delicious. Mmm. The girls are dying to try fudge. I’ve told them about the gorgeous, delicious, mouth-watering fudge we get at the Green Welly Shop and at the Strawberry Farm at home. They’re so jealous and said they’d give anything to try it but I don’t think it can be sent over without melting completely to mush. We had a mini fashion parade in our room last night. Costume consisting of 2 rabbit fur scarves, 2 other scarves, a furry hat and other shawls = one Kirsty and one Mizah, entangled in fluff. We blew up the big balloon I brought from home that I got in my stocking at Christmas. They were loving it. Tis that huge kinda balloon you can punch. Mizah was stuck for a fashion show costume cos she had no material. I felt really bad cos Joyce and Elle were making a cool skirt outa material Elle had brought from home but Mizah had literally nothing and was gona have to make a King and Queen outfit out of newspaper. She had all of these fabby designs drawn down and I just thought- there’s no way you can make those outfits outa paper. So after much thought I realized that Aman and I still had the skanky old sheets that were on the beds when we arrived. Cos we bought new ones cos the originals were just so minging. To cut a long story short ( cos we had to go and bargain with the Matron to be allowed to use the sheets)- Mizah had material for her costume- be it a bit scabby but twas better than nothing. Aman and I got to bed at a decent time but then Elle popped back at 3am to pick up their fashion stuff. I was like “what are you doing up at this time?!” and turns out she had to do paperwork for the clerical staff or something- I was like “whaat!” She then had to get up at 5.30am to prepare for the Fashion show the next morning. Dedicated student or what! Managed to get out for a run again this morning but I was accompanied by about 10 girls (students I think) who kinda tagged on after me while gossiping +giggling in Malay as we ran- all innocent comments I’m sure but I didn’t really appreciate it much when they peed theirselves laughing every time I had to stop for a breather. I’m so unfit and most of the boarding students live in far off rural villages, thus are used to running for miles and miles to get anywhere. So they must have thought I was pathetic making it round teeny tiny pitch once and having to stop to walk for a bit. My first class today were slightly brattish as class 1C usually are so I’m looking forward to taking my chilled out dancing class- form 4A. Will be doing music with them instead today though. Going to the bible study tonight, so really looking forward to some fab food- fingers crossed there will be some! Rite, better be off for my next class.