I found a friend on Facebook. I had not
met him for nearly half a century since the beginning of my teaching career. It
immediately evoked very sweet memories of my first teaching post at a kampung
(village) secondary school.
I began writing my thoughts of that
nostalgic period of my life. It was in Kampung Astana Raja where I was shown so much love and respect. I was treated like one of their own by the kampung
folk.
After school hours, I was able to enjoy
fishing by the small ponds around the village and the irrigation canals of the
rice fields. On weekends, I was invited to rather a lot of wedding kenduris (feasts) where I was able to
relish minangkabau (tribal)
delicacies. On Hari Raya (Eid), I was
showered with lots of local food and cookies by the students.
This
teaching stint was rather short but it was indeed one of the happiest times of
my life.
I have discovered writing and the power
it holds to transport me anywhere, at anytime, beyond the restriction of my
life. I have been able to recall happy times. I have found it to be very
cathartic, indeed.
ltbs
Do
the thing you believe in. Do the best you can in the place you are and be kind.
Scott Nearing
Dedicated in gratitude and friendship to YAA Tan Sri Mohd Raus Sharif - President of the Court of Appeal, Malaysia. He was one of my former students in Kampung Astana Raja where I was shown so much love and respect. His parents were especially kind to me.
Dedicated in gratitude and friendship to YAA Tan Sri Mohd Raus Sharif - President of the Court of Appeal, Malaysia. He was one of my former students in Kampung Astana Raja where I was shown so much love and respect. His parents were especially kind to me.
