On March 1, Sri Utama celebrated its annual Graduation and Alumni night at the DoubleTree hotel. It’s sort of a graduation party and prom rolled into one event. This year’s event had a red and gold color theme. And a good time was had by all!
Officers and Faculty of the School Greet the Graduates
Bagpipers lead the procession–just like back home!
L-R: William, Victoria, Amanda, Nick, Jennifer, Abby, Stephanie, Cartier & Gina
Group Hugs for “We Are the World”
Kicking Up Heels to “Heal the World”
Our group has had some good luck on this trip, and we’ve seen and done so many things we never expected to be able to see and do! Getting invited to a Malay Wedding was a very special cultural experience.
The Bride and Groom: Shazreen and Soffuan
Besides the wonderful wedding food, which featured traditional items such as nasi minyak (special tasty rice) and beef rendang (tender beef slowly simmered in coconut curry), we were entranced by the sound of the traditional gamelan music.
Gamelan Musicians from the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, KL Campus
Here we are with the bride and groom, whose mother is a professor at UTM and a colleague of our student teaching supervisor.
Student Teachers Standing with the Newlyweds
And at our table, we met two other UTM colleagues, Dr. Ary and Dr. Shadiya. It was a great day all around!
Going around the table, from L: Dr. Gina, Dr. Shadiya, Dr. Ary (who met at UTM) Cartier, Stephanie, Jenn, Nick, Amanda, Abby
The Chinese New Year Lion Dancers made their way to Sri Utama schools on February 22, one of the last days of Chinese New Year.
One of the New Year Lions delights the students.
Below, the clown taunts and teases the lions while the instruments in the back keep rhythm to all his movements. Their eyes blink and their mouthes open and close so expressively that they each seem to have their own personlity!
Frolicking New Year Lions
Here, one of the not-so-brave little lions stops to ponder whether or not he can make it to the top!
Fear of heights?
After the lions have enjoyed teasing the children and honoring the elders of the school, the dragon takes a turn.
The New Year Dragon is brought in to usher in the Year of the Snake.
Afterwards, we get a chance to congratulate the troupe and wish them all the best of luck!
Happy New Year!
After school, some of us decided to take a little walking tour around some of the most historical and beautiful parts of Kuala Lumpur. One of the important landmarks in KL is the lovely Sultan Abdul Samad Building, also known as the Secretariat. Built by the British in 1894, and named after the Sultan of Selangor at that time, it is now a National Heritage site.
The beautiful Sultan Abdul Samad Building houses government offices
Across the street from the Secretariat is Dataran Merdeka (Freedom Square). This lush green plot in the heart of KL is the historic site of the peaceful transfer of power from the British, who controlled Malaya, to the Malaysians on the 31st of August, 1957. Here the students stand at one end of the square.
Wilkes student teachers at one end of Merdeka Square
The tallest free-standing flagpole in the world also stands on Dataran Merdeka, and here we are at the nearby fountain.
L-R: Stephanie Wilkie, Nick Barno, Amanda Coombs, Jennifer Earley, Gina Zanolini Morrison, Abby Kaster
A short jaunt from the historic section of KL is the Bazaar at Jalan Masjitd India (Indian Mosque Street), where you can shop for all sorts of Indian clothing, Malay scarves, jewelry, and fabrics of every color and kind.
Going through the Bazaar at Jalan Masjid India
Enjoying the choices–That’s what Malaysia is all about!
The student teachers had the rare opportunity to get some professional experience as training facilitators during two faculty sessions–one at the Kuala Lumpur school, and one at the Johor Bahru school.
KL teachers really get into their role-playing assignment with Cartier.
(Question: Is it fair to have this much fun when you are teaching and training?)
KL teachers acting out “problem” student behaviors–They are a LITTLE too good at this!
Amanda and Jennifer get the KL teachers going on a group activity in the Effective Lesson Planning session.
They assisted with the planning of the two sessions and joined in as group facilitators.
One happy bunch of teachers at the KL Classroom Management Workshop! Standing in the back: Abby, Jennifer & Puan Jamalliah
JB teachers at the Effective Lesson Planning workshop. In the front: Nick and Jenn. Standing in the back: Matt Duffy, a Wilkes grad who came to JB on a short-term teaching assignment.
JB teachers discuss the new DLP: Daily Lesson Plan.
JB lunch time: that all-important part of any Malaysian gathering.
This is REAL Chinese food—and it’s really delicious!
We had traveled to Johor Bahru in the southernmost point of Malaysia, just next to Singapore, to do some professional development with the faculty of the JB Sri Utama Schools, when Dato’ Fawziah invited us out to share some great Chinese New Year food and customs.
Outside the Chinese restaurant in Hotel Mutiara
Once inside, Dato’ introduced us to “Yee Sang,” the custom of tossing special noodles and foods together to bring good luck.
Yee Sang with Dato’ Fawziah
This fun custom happens only at New Year, and we knew the Year of the Snake was already a lucky one for us!
The Wilkes student teachers toss those noodles high! (The higher the toss, the more your prosperity.)
New customs, new friends, new places–that’s what study abroad is all about!
Dato’ Fawziah, Puan Siti, Lyn Read, Gina Morrison, William Morrison
Now, THIS is the place where all sorts of people come for all sorts of bargains! A fast-paced night market, Petaling Street is famous–so we just had to experience it.
Amanda, Jenn and Steph
Nick, Jennifer, William, Amanda & Stephanie are ready to run the gauntlet!
Petaling Street has got anything and everything for somebody who knows how to bargain. Fruit and roasted chestnuts, watches and jewelry, knock-off DVDs and fake designer handbags, electronics and clothes–you name it, it’s there.
Cartier shops for a watch
Nick guides us through the fruit section
In the hot and VERY steamy night, we worked our way through the stalls, from one end to the other and back again. We did it!
Mission accomplished!
Central Market is a must-see for anyone visiting KL. It was formerly a wet market where fresh wet things, such as vegetables and fish, were sold. But in recent years, Central Market has been transformed into a large collection of vendor stalls under one roof.
Gina, Jennifer, Stephanie & Amanda looking over kaftans
The vendors outside of Central Market have also been so successful that a canopy has been added on the side of the big blue building to keep the rain from chasing away customers.
Cartier, Nick & Stephanie under the canopy outside Central Market
We noticed the broad array of cultures represented there, among them Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Arab. Sarongs, chopsticks, silks, fans, local fruits, teas, spices, hand-woven carpets and a whole array of souvenirs were spread out before us on two floors!
Chinese Herbal Tea Shop
We enjoyed the chance to bargain for things at Central Market that we just can’t find back home in Wilkes-Barre! Next stop: Petaling Street.
Here are just a few photos of friends and colleagues at Sri Utama who have been so helpful to us!
Pn Jamalliah (Principal), Pn Hanizah & Mr How celebrating his birthday
The Kindergarten Teachers
SSU Office Assistants – yes, they are always smiling!
Fadzilah & William
On the way up we didn’t see any monkeys, and we were starting to get worried that they wouldn’t live up to their reputation as the mischievous inhabitants of Batu Caves.
Snacks, anyone?
But then we saw one!
Cartier didn’t back down from this guy!
And then another, and another.
We were told to watch our cameras and handbags, as these monkeys have been known to purse snatch.
As long as he’s eating, he won’t steal my glasses!
Get the picture, quick!
At least the monkeys didn’t disappoint us!
