Outwit, Outplay, Outlast

This weekend Kelsey and I took a short trip to Pulau Tiga, the three-island park where the first season of the reality show Survivor: Borneo was filmed. While the memorabilia and things to see from the show (such as the tribal council area) were scare or non-existent, it was still a great trip. It was funny to learn that the place we stayed at actually existed before the show was filmed, and hosted the camera crew during the filming. I think overall they had to do some work to make the island seem more remote than it was, as it was only a 20 minute boat ride from the mainland.

The island was beautiful, there were amazing hiking trails and beaches, great snorkeling, and tons of things to do. There weren't many people there either, so it was just a peaceful way to spend the weekend. We both agreed we could have definitely spent more time there.

Survivor Island!

View of Pulau Tiga from Pulau Kalampunian

Something from the show!

One of the tribes was on this beach

Just what I always wanted, a really deadly snake

A morning hike

Of course, we had to go to the mud volcanoes.

I survived! Do I win $1,000,000?

Back to school

Summer's over! Okay, not really... but I do go back to school tomorrow (and it's the rainy season anyway. Again.). After enjoying a holiday break and becoming sufficiently ancy of being at home, I begin my second semester of teaching tomorrow (and embark on my last four weeks in Malaysia-- yikes!). My class will be an intensive English class, putting in three course credits in four short weeks; not dissimilar to May term at Wartburg. I'm sure by the time I get the hang of the routine, it'll be time for the final exam!

I spent my break well. Here's a few picture highlights-- I was lucky to be able to travel a bit around the beautiful state I live in, between some one-on-one tutorials, catching up on reading, and dinner dates with friends. The new map on the side of my blog should help you put a location to the places.

A visit to Tuaran, about 30 minutes bus ride from KK.

Tuaran is the placement site of one of the other volunteers, Jacob. Jacob works at a foster home for underprivileged children. Tuaran is super chill, a small town with a village feel. We had a great time visiting the pagoda in town, eating Tuaran mee, and taking the kids from his placement to the beach.

From Poring Hot Springs in Ranau.

We had a great hike through the jungle to this beautiful waterfall!

The Orangutan Sanctuary in Sandakan.

A three-day stay at a jungle camp on the Kinabatangan River outside of Sepilok.
We stayed in these open air huts in the jungle!
This was one of my favorite things I've done in Malaysia;
we went on many night treks and river safaris looking for wildlife.
Lots of crocs, monkeys, orangutans (in the wild!), and sweet birds.

The view from our front porch.

Also, I want to send out a giant thank you to everyone who has sent me mail this year! It has been fun and refreshing for my spirit. Here's your friendly reminder to not send anymore. :) Thanks!

DIY dumplings

If you've ever had Chinese dumplings before, you know they are fairly delicious (especially fried). Lucky for you (and me), my student Su Min taught me how to make said delicious dumplings. So scratch away about five hours of time, grab your expert friends, ingredients, and enjoy!

All the ingredients, finely chopped and lightly fried (the most time consuming part).

Corn, carrots, squid, beef mixed with soy sauce,

mee hoon noodles, mysterious white Chinese vegetable, and chives.

Of course, friends to help (and teach).

After kneading and refrigerating the dough (flour and water), create and stuff the dumplings!

Go for beautiful.

Steam, fry, make soy sauce, and eat!

Tonight I attended an engagement party of two former students from the seminary. I had no idea what to expect, especially after receiving quite the formal invitation, but had heard a variety of things-- that it should be interesting because the couple comes from two different tribes. Another friend told me to expect a formal discussion of the dowry in front of the crowd of witnesses. Instead, I attended a worship service in the back hall of the house, watching the couple sign a contract for their engagement, and exchange engagement rings right then. Of course, it was a big party with abundant food.

When coming to a new country, we naturally expect the country to be different than our own, but I don't think we always expect the changes that occur within ourselves. On the way to the party tonight, I rode with one of my students and his family. This was the first time I had met his family, and I'm always overjoyed to be able to place a whole other life with the students I only know within the classroom setting. What struck me tonight was the friendship I found in his wife, Esther. Shortly after meeting, say about a five minute car ride, we were already friends. She held me close to her side, wrapping her arm tightly around my waist to keep warm as we waited in line for food. We chatted in a mixture of English and Malay discussing the food, secretly stashing extra chocolates in our purses, and talking about her work and family. As we ate, we shared food off of our plates so we could try each flavor of the expensive desserts. It was on the way home, as she grasped my hand tightly for every funny joke, that I realized the potential oddity of our friendship. Through half the evening, I didn't even know her or her children's names. But here we were, holding hands and sharing knowing glances as the kids chattered nonsense in the backseat. And I don't find it the least bit odd.

I am confident that at the beginning of my time in Malaysia I could have never reached this level of mutual understanding and friendship-- I had too many barriers, preset societal expectations and codes from my own country, natural introverted tendencies, and didn't know enough about the people and the culture to even make conversation. At the same time, I am also keenly aware (and embarrassed) that such a fast welcoming would be hard for her to come by in my own country.

Why it this? Because it's polite? Because we are afraid of being open?

The program I'm with talks a lot about solidarity, and what it means to walk beside the people you are living with. I think tonight I finally understood-- Esther and I could relate, because we knew what foods were a treat to be having. We could relate, because I knew her 30min walk to work; I take it weekly too. We could relate, because she was willing to accept me in her family and I, likewise, was willing to reach back.

I fully intend on extending this same level of greeting in the future, no matter the social norm. Why settle for a handshake and a polite hello, when you can spend the entire evening in close proximity, friendship, and laughter?