The world is becoming ever smaller. I had always thought of this third largest island as a very faraway exotic place, but 2 x 6 hour flights an over night in Kuala Lumpur and a quick short hop found me in at the Melanking Palm Oil Plantation Estate Number 1 school.It has not had the same cultural shock as Uganda on many levels, primarily as the heat and humidity are similar to Dar es Salaam although in stark contrast to the beautiful, clear, crist frosty departure from Meldreth. The people are very friendly and the children so pleased to see another adult in the class room. They are pretty well behaved although somewhat noisier, keen to learn but in much better classrooms in terms of building; there are tiled floors, not dirt, fully plaster walls, not brick only 30 – 40 pupils per class, not 150; and full electricity, even glass in the windows and a fan. How ever there is no formal curriculum or associated text books. The teacher uses a similar system of repitition on rote learning, for a wide range of abiities and ages in each class so any assistance from volunteers is valued.
My accommodation is truely luxurious compared to Uganda, my journey from the airport was with Mr Chee the manager of the plantation in air conditioned SUV on very maintained roads, I even managed to nod off after my very early start so no comparison with the terror of that initial bus journey out of Kampala, to an unknown destination. I have a large well maintained, clean and even airconditioned room, and the power has only stuttered once. I have a fabulous view from my veranda across a lake about 50m below. I am much more remote in that it is over an hour to the nearest town and there is only a slow internet connection in the office which has somewhat limited opening times given my school commitments so please be patient for any response to e mails. I did buy a sim for my smart phone to use as a modem but the signal strength is insufficient for this.
There is one significant cultural shock in that we called into the oil mill on my way in only for Mr Chee to received warnings that the elepants are causing damage to the plantaion and the garden fences; on my first walk of the day I also spotted a 1m long monitor lizard darting into the lake and swimming off, so I think that close encounters of the wild kind a more likely here.`
good luck barbara! sorry i missed your leaving drinks. how long are you out there for?
ReplyDeleteBorneo, Malaysia is surely exotic in terms of its natural beauty, elegant and luxurious accommodations and much to do after flights to Borneo. Malaysia altogether is an joyous destination for a holiday trip.
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