Getting by with a little bit of help from my friends

April, we were warned, will be the longest and emotionally the hardest of the ten months we would spend in Malaysia. It’s our fourth month which means we are finally fully settled in our new homes. April is the start of the dry/hot season and previous to this year it was the only month in the school calendar without a vacation day. Luckily for us the new King decided to add a holiday on a random Wednesday- I’m assuming this is solely for the benefit of teachers across the country.   

As promised it has been a very long, hot month. However, it’s also had a lot of highlights.

1.       I started the month off at a school wide camping trip where I was able to talk to some of the students in a more informal setting. It makes my day each and every time I am able to have a conversation with a Malay that goes beyond the basic small talk.

2.       I discovered Kapas Island. It is small island only 40ish minutes away from my house. It is an amazing get away where I can leave any stress on the mainland for a day with barely any commute. I’ve been twice in the past month. Once for a girls weekend and once was with all of the Terengganu ETAs.

3.       Celebrated Easter potluck style with the other ETAs in the area. Between the 6 of us we were able to put together a fairly nice American style dinner after school on Easter Sunday.  

4.       Visited southern Terengganu again with many of the Terengganu crew where we were able to go to our first movie theater and Starbucks in ages. Hunger Games did not disappoint and the movies are the perfect place to pretend you’re at home for a few hours.

5.       I went kayaking with my housemates, a few of my teachers and students. It was a blast and there is even a chance that they are starting a kayaking club at my school. *Fingers crossed.*

6.       Yesterday, I painted an Earth day mural with my kids during a Saturday make up day and now the principal wants me to design another one for the front of the school.

7.       My parents finally bought their plane tickets and will definitely be here for August break.

It’s been a long and frustrating month school wise with a lot of language barriers and cross cultural communication problems to overcome, but I had a good month because of all of the friends I have come to rely on here in Terengganu. I’m amazed at how close we have gotten in such a short time, but I guess that is what happens when 17 strangers in the same challenging situation. If any of you are reading this, thanks for my sanity.

In contrast the next two months are so full of things to do that I know that they are going to fly by. I can’t wait to see what they’ll have in store for me.

Side note: Alma graduation was today. I have officially been a college graduate for a year. All I can say is it has been one of the most eventful years I have ever had.