It’s only Friday and I should be working, but it doesn’t ‘work’ quite that way all the time I guess. Which is a good thing. I don’t like to work too much. Never did.
And, I am not one to dress to please others. I do sometimes try, but I can’t do it. I think it has something to do with my hair. That's moms fault right?
At the big conference a few weeks back, I tried to look professional, but my sandals broke and.. well.. it is hard to look professional in bright yellow flip flops and a ‘do’ fresh from the rooftop pool.
My hair could be frizzing up even more than usual because my ‘team leader’ and I have had a bit of a communication break-down, and I have simply refused to attend any more team meetings. That should mean Friday’s off, as that is when our usual meetings are scheduled. However, nothing is ever usual is it?
Besides some side trips to Ipoh, I have been spending my weekends picking up new Mentors in KL and showing them around this area of the planet. You have to get through a few outer layers to really appreciate the area and I have just started burrowing in and am not exactly sure of what all there is to find: but so far so good.. There is still lots to explore, but I was busy again this weekend. Instead of a day off, this Friday was filled yet again with work/fun related stuff.
I met up with the two new mentors at about 9 and we wandered around the grounds of a hall in Sungai Besar. There was a conference/book fair which we had been 'invited' to attend by the local District Education Director. Everything here is quite formal, and in Malay. But even though we didn’t understand a word that was said, it was great to be involved, really.
The first thing was breakfast, of course, white rice with a lovely hot chili sauce, hard boiled eggs, cucumber slices and sweet tea. I picked up some good cheap books for school. Most of the GB’s were there as well. They are quite lovely, for the most part, even though they figure I should wear one of their get ups.. I just tell them that the day they put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, I will certainly put on one of their outfits. I think I am safe.
It just isn’t going to happen!
It is hot here. Really hot. And humid. Wandering around with your fat wet thighs flapping together just isn’t my idea of a good time. I do my best to look professional: put product in my hair and tie it back… and no yellow flip flops.
I talk to them about a school wide reading program.. mainly to change the subject but also because I think it is a brilliant idea. They could read Malay, Arabic.. English.. whatever. Just read. I have a few ideas which I think I will write up and clarify over the next few months and present maybe in September or October. It is why we, mentors, are here really. It is why I am here anyway. To make a change.. to promote education, specifically literacy.
But my neighbour shows up and changes the subject yet again. He is a GB at the local school, and invites us to his daughter’s engagement party. Hmm.. an engagement.. the wedding: they last the weekend and usually involve more than 1000 guests.. and then the baby shower and… then the teachers sisters will get married, and their children and neighbours and, you go to one you go to them all right? .. hmm.
I can hear the music starting up already.. the tents are up … spilling into the street where I live.
Well at least they stopped talking about my fashion sense… or lack there of.
It was a nice day. Quiet for the most part. I got some school prep done.. watched some TV. I had time to paint.. fish this time. Judy picked out some furniture for her new place.. she moves from here, where she has been for a week, on Monday to the house down the way. I think I may even have gotten my camera fixed.. Inshaallah.
Judy wore a Malay outfit to the conference… everyone loved it. Bugger..
Next time I may wear the yellow flip flops, maybe then they would just appreciate just how dressed up I get! But for now.. I am definately not flip flopping!
And, I am not one to dress to please others. I do sometimes try, but I can’t do it. I think it has something to do with my hair. That's moms fault right?
At the big conference a few weeks back, I tried to look professional, but my sandals broke and.. well.. it is hard to look professional in bright yellow flip flops and a ‘do’ fresh from the rooftop pool.
My hair could be frizzing up even more than usual because my ‘team leader’ and I have had a bit of a communication break-down, and I have simply refused to attend any more team meetings. That should mean Friday’s off, as that is when our usual meetings are scheduled. However, nothing is ever usual is it?
Besides some side trips to Ipoh, I have been spending my weekends picking up new Mentors in KL and showing them around this area of the planet. You have to get through a few outer layers to really appreciate the area and I have just started burrowing in and am not exactly sure of what all there is to find: but so far so good.. There is still lots to explore, but I was busy again this weekend. Instead of a day off, this Friday was filled yet again with work/fun related stuff.
I met up with the two new mentors at about 9 and we wandered around the grounds of a hall in Sungai Besar. There was a conference/book fair which we had been 'invited' to attend by the local District Education Director. Everything here is quite formal, and in Malay. But even though we didn’t understand a word that was said, it was great to be involved, really.
The first thing was breakfast, of course, white rice with a lovely hot chili sauce, hard boiled eggs, cucumber slices and sweet tea. I picked up some good cheap books for school. Most of the GB’s were there as well. They are quite lovely, for the most part, even though they figure I should wear one of their get ups.. I just tell them that the day they put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, I will certainly put on one of their outfits. I think I am safe.
It just isn’t going to happen!
It is hot here. Really hot. And humid. Wandering around with your fat wet thighs flapping together just isn’t my idea of a good time. I do my best to look professional: put product in my hair and tie it back… and no yellow flip flops.
I talk to them about a school wide reading program.. mainly to change the subject but also because I think it is a brilliant idea. They could read Malay, Arabic.. English.. whatever. Just read. I have a few ideas which I think I will write up and clarify over the next few months and present maybe in September or October. It is why we, mentors, are here really. It is why I am here anyway. To make a change.. to promote education, specifically literacy.
But my neighbour shows up and changes the subject yet again. He is a GB at the local school, and invites us to his daughter’s engagement party. Hmm.. an engagement.. the wedding: they last the weekend and usually involve more than 1000 guests.. and then the baby shower and… then the teachers sisters will get married, and their children and neighbours and, you go to one you go to them all right? .. hmm.
I can hear the music starting up already.. the tents are up … spilling into the street where I live.
Well at least they stopped talking about my fashion sense… or lack there of.
It was a nice day. Quiet for the most part. I got some school prep done.. watched some TV. I had time to paint.. fish this time. Judy picked out some furniture for her new place.. she moves from here, where she has been for a week, on Monday to the house down the way. I think I may even have gotten my camera fixed.. Inshaallah.
Judy wore a Malay outfit to the conference… everyone loved it. Bugger..
Next time I may wear the yellow flip flops, maybe then they would just appreciate just how dressed up I get! But for now.. I am definately not flip flopping!
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