My column for Stampin

(Psst... I actually thought that I lost this as I've crashed my HDD, AGAIN, but found it in my gmail when I sent it to my teacher... I think I was really sarcastic in writing this. May be a touch of narcissisticsm)

Tena koutou katoa.

Greetings from Aotearoa. No, this is not from the land down under but from a much nicer and sweeter place, New Zealand. I guess that my name would not ring many bells in Stampin after left school in 2004 to come over to Auckland to further my studies.

Studying in NZ has been great fun for me. It is very different from what I am used to back home and trust me, the weather is also much kinder to us. We have natural air-conditioning. I guess studying for five subjects in high school is much easier than having more than 10 subjects (and more from what I have noticed from the recent SPM results) piled on us.

Well, I have gone past those five subjects a year stage. I have already entered my second year of university life and enjoy it immensely. It is much different from my first year and now, I am more confident of myself in doing things. I spent most of last year finding my foot around university as things are much different that what we had expected. No honeymoon year as some predicted but again there is never a honeymoon year. It sounds sad but its reality.

I have been having some of the best times of my life in university. It is really, when you start socialising and make new friends. I mean, studying overseas do have its perks like meeting Malaysians here. We are one united group. Singaporeans stay aside. Just kidding. I have Koreans, Kiwis, Chinese (Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau) as my friends. We do try to stay in our own cliques but I do not want to come over here just to meet Malaysians. Come on, IT’S NEW ZEALAND!! However, I do want my own Malaysian circle of friends, preferably Kuchingnites so we can talk and joke in our own brand of talk.

Did I tell you what course I am doing? Pardon me. Well, think about the most rewarding job and I am on my way to be one. No, it is not a doctor. I am going to be a teacher. Some of you might look down on this profession but hey, where would all the engineers, doctors, and architects be without teachers? Think how much teachers have contributed in your life, albeit the negative ones. Who influenced you the most after your parents and idols? I have gotten raised eyebrows about my choice of degree but I do not regret it at all. I LOVE IT! I really find my calling in teaching and the satisfaction of teaching really assures me that I am on my dream profession. It is weird to fly so far from home to do a course I could do in Malaysia but I do not have regrets. I love learning how to teach here and getting a different perspective on how teaching should be is totally refreshing.

Being a primary school teacher (which I am specialising in) is not just teaching one subject. In New Zealand, a primary school teacher is expected to teach all aspects of the curriculum (seven in total) and get expert help whenever needed. It is really a cool way to earn money, rather than being stuck at an office desk everyday. I am excessively energetic to sit down. Being a teacher helps me get rid of that problem and gives me a chance to talk my head off to children who would listen to me. I think that is why I wanted to be a primary school teacher rather than a secondary one. I really salute secondary school teachers because they have to face a rebellious sullen group of students. Do not shake your head and say that it is not you. I went through that stage and I think I am still in that stage. Haha! Another thing that my course mates are really impressed with is my multi-lingual skills.

Living life in NZ is very different. No cheap food, shopping. Basically, nothing is cheap. However, we do have many activities to fill out our spare time and having a bunch of new Malaysian friends help fill up most of them. My batch of friends who got the scholarship to study overseas are here and one of them is in Auckland. I am glad for more Malaysian companionship as I was quite deprived of them in the last two years. It was fun bringing them around, looking at Auckland and New Zealand with new eyes. One thing they did complain a lot about is the cool weather and the ferocious winds we have. I prefer colder temperatures but not winds.

Well, I have gotten off a great start for the year and accomplished many things. Went to countless beaches, did my university orientation all over again, had BBQ with friends, walked round Devonport (notice the WALKING part?), tramped the Coromandels, which almost killed my legs and had karaoke sessions with my friends. I am also currently volunteering at a primary school as a teacher’s aide to get more experience and I love doing it.

That is enough for me for now. I have written enough to fill the whole board and put people off reading this.

Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

Esther Song
Grandaunt of 5 Beta (2004)

p.s. I am really nobody in school. Therefore, do not bother delve deep into school magazines trying to find me. =) I do not hold any post at all.

Thanks Edmund for telling me about my column in Stampin. Actually I don't think anyone would read it at all... HAhaahhha... I really wonder how many do actually read the columns.