Jarod Yong

taken from inter-borneo.com I'm back at home in Kuching for CNY. Part of the perks of being a teacher is a longer holiday. I've got 7 days. So I'm going to spend it wisely. First, I'm going to help out with the cleaning & all the other preparations. Then, I'm going to go shopping for new work clothes. I dont think it'll be wise to wash my G2k & Seed in the untreated water I get at school. All the while, I hope to recover from this fever that I brought back from school. It was a parting gift from my generous housemate. On the eve of CNY, I'm going to party... Because I deserve to & I need to. I have built up some tension from my first 2 weeks at school & this annoying fever. During the first 3 days of CNY, I will visit relatives & friends. 1st day: Strictly FAMILY. 2nd day onwards: friends but family is higher priority. During the next 3 days, I will finish the heaps of work I so responsibly brought all the 1000km way b...

In the beginning God created heaven & earth. The earth was void & filled with darkness. From the emptiness, the cry of an angel could be heard. He groaned in pain & gnashing of teeth for a week... destined for oblivion. But God does not forsake the contrite & broken hearted. And God had heard his prayer. For in the second week of induction... God said, "let there be INTERNET!!!" And there was light in the garden of Eden. Let there be Internet!

Yes, koko' has gone back to school... again. Once upon a time, I was there as a child. This time, I have returned... a MAN!! ha~~ ha~~ ha~~ This sophisticated education machine was sent "back in time" to linguify a needy generation! Where am I doing it? Although it was nothing like what several of my friends have gone through to get to their schools... like wading through shoulder-high flood waters & etc. Well... My journey was still quite a memorable one. First, I took a 30 minute flight from Kuching to Sibu. taken from panoramio.com Then, I took a 2 hour express boat ride from Sibu to Song. taken from tropicalisland.de Finally, I took a 30 minute longboat ride to my school. Many of you must be wondering what living is like in a UK boarding school... And today is your lucky day... Here is my first-hand account of the living conditions in school. My school is situated along the Katibas river in Sarawak. The only means of arrival...

The principal of SMK Katibas gave me a call this morning. Of course, I asked about the amenities & infrastructure available on school grounds. I was also able to finalise my travel plan. (The details are in my previous post ) The best part of the conversation occurred towards the end... Principal: So ah what is your major? Me: TESL. Principal: English ah... gooood?... which university? Me: Victoria University of Wellington. Principal: oooh... that one... ahh... Australia.. no, New Zealand, ah? Me: Yes, New-- **before I could finish** Principal: **heavy chinese accent** WADD AY WAAAAAIST!!! Me: ...... er... no la, the country needs me-- **before I could finish** Principal: Okay. Okay. Nevermind. I'll meet you there on Sunday. Me: Looking forward to it! wad ay waaaaist!!! picture taken from inmagine.com hahaha~~ I think I'm going to love my principal.

Yes, that's right. The Malaysian government has given me the green light to teach in UK... for real. UK = Ulu Kapit JPN Sarawak acted fast & was able to give their new teachers a place within less than 1 week of receiving the name list from Human Resources in Putrajaya. I'm so proud of them. Anyway, my school? SMK Katibas. A rural school in Song , Kapit . I did some research and I found out that, although it is a rural school, it has the second highest passing rate for SPM 2007 in Kapit . Seems like I will be going to a good school after all. The cream on the cake would be my hefty rural school allowance! I was also able to find pictures of the school posted on a blog of a previous student . Check the pictures out here . The school looks very new & well maintained. Here is my travel itenary for this Sunday: AirAsia: from Kuching to Sibu = 1 hr Express boat: Sibu to Song = 2 hr School driver: Song town to school = 2 hr I will share a house o...

Good News!! I'm jobless & broke but still... I made RM50 just by blogging in 2008!! How? No, I didn't sell my soul.... No, I didn't write any advertorials... No, I didn't escort any mak datins... In June 2008, I signed up for nuffnang . I gave them some space on the sidebar & the bottom of my blog to display advertisements. These adverts are screened to relate to my blog content & avoid offending me or my readers. And I get money with every click on adverstisements. I'd like to thank my readers for supporting me with their clicking fingers... With this RM50 angpao, I promise to write more in 2009 & improve the quality of my writing! I'm on my way to being rich from blogging like Kenny Sia ! Now who said blogging was a waste of time?

taken from code-scythe.deviantart.com I have absolute trust in my God & I know my future is safe in his hands. This knowledge has allowed me to live my days in full confidence that everything can be turned around for good. Any opportunities that come my way will be made the best of. Any obstacles that come my way is an opportunity to identify & learn from the imperfections within myself. This is reflected in my choice of university, practicum school & location for teaching. When it came to making my preferences known for the university within which to complete my degree & the school where I will undergo 3 months of teaching practise, I wrote on a piece of paper: ANYWHERE When it came to making my preferences known for the location where I will be teaching for the government, I wrote on a piece of paper: Dimana Saya Diperlikan & Kebolehan Saya Dimanfaatkan (where I am needed & my abilities are justified) Many of you reading this will gasp in...

How do I know which state I'm posted to? I checked this website & found out. Then, I called Jabatan Pelajaran Negeri to confirm. You can find the respective JPN phone numbers here . How do I find out the specific school I'm posted to? This is what I got from a phone call I made with JP Sarawak. They have our namelists & are processing it at the moment. The deadline to have all Guru Sandaran Siswazah Terlatih or GSST assigned to a school is Monday. The letters should be printed, signed & mailed by Tuesday. Expect to receive your official posting letters from Wednesday onwards. Or if you are extra impatent like me... I plan to call on Monday. What should I do when I find out which school I'm posted to? For me, I'd search for the school's phone number & address at this website . Then, I will call the school & speak to the principle. I will inform the principal that I am a new GSST posted to his/her school. I will also provide a rough estimate for m...