I have always enjoyed ISKL’s (International School of Kuala Lumpur) Malaysia Week. It is the time where you get out of the corporate world and just chill with kids who teach you funny games like “Ding Ding Dang Dang” and “Chopsticks”. It is also the time where you get to learn foreign words from the kids and also teach them common Malay words like “makan”, “abang”, “kakak” etc. 

This year, I had the opportunity to go to one of the most beautiful place in the world - Endau Rompin National Park. Being one of the oldest rainforest in the world, this place has left many happy memories for me and also the place where I’ve gained much knowledge from its surrounding!

Upeh Guling waterfalls  I must say that it wasn’t easy preparing for this programme. I had to ensure that everything was booked and in order before the programme and because of the flood that hit the southern region in December and January, I was unsure with a lot of things. The flood had left many things in a wrecked situation - chalets and toilets at the campsite were washed away, the generator at the National Education & Research Centre (NERC) - the place where we stayed on the first night, was out of order and apparently the flood was so bad that the water went up to about 20 metres high!

When we went to visit the kids at the school, I asked one of the girls on where she went during the flood. She told me that her family had to take shelter at the grandmother’s place on the hill. That totally broke my heart. I felt so helpless and just can’t help but wonder to myself, “what did they do to deserve this?”
 But one thing I know, these people have learned to pick themselves up fast despite the flood. Though things are no longer normal (jetty was washed away, houses in ruin etc) they have continued to live life to the fullest. I saw this clearly in these kids when we had a friendly football match with them. I wasn’t the only one - Hannah told us that she was amazed by how these kids pick themselves up so quickly whenever they fall down from the football match. There were no signs of grumbling or complaining and all they did was just - play on! The Orang Asli kids were just grateful that we spent time playing a game of football and some drawing with them. Just contented.  

 

We started trekking into Kuala Marong on the second day and that was when things started to get tough! Not only did the rain come, the water from the river rose too! The kids were drenched by the time they arrive at Kuala Marong and we had to take shelter under this gazebo, which could hardly fit all of us! While we waited for lunch, we shifted the kids to the dining area (where rain was seeping through the leaves). All you could hear was the kids feeling home sick and screeches when the leeches laid their teeth on them.  

No doubt the kids were tired after dinner. We sent them off to bed by 8:30 pm! While the kids slept, we did our final checks before we went off to sleep ourselves. Paul and I stayed up a little longer to observe the river to ensure that the river wasn’t rising still. We were just hoping that the water would soon recede before we start trekking out to NERC.

The high level of water came to be a blessing in disguise for us the next day! It gave an opportunity to the kids to do rapid shooting! That created a lot of excitement in the kids and soon all the feeling of being homesick was gone!  Talk about adrenaline rush that afternoon! The kids kept coming back for another round down the river and some even went through it 8 times!
 

Ernie - all smiles 

Hyong Jun’s way to happiness! 

It has always been our tradition to teach the kids our D’Jungle Junior Rock and this is how they do it in the middle of the jungle! We even got Ernie to do the rap for us! Talk about talented young kids nowadays!

No doubt, the last day was indeed sad, as we all were going our separate ways. I can’t help it but wonder if I will ever see these kids again! Most of them will probably leave for their home country, or even move to another country. However, wherever they may be, each and every person on this trip has definitely enriched my life more than I can ever imagine.  Definitely, my circle of friends have grown. 

This was also the last Malaysia Week for Ms. Lou Davey, who has been with us for the last 8 years. A tribute goes to Lou, whom we got these beautiful photos from :-
 

Thank you for all the support you’ve shown to us for the past 8 years!  How time flies and now you have to move to another place so soon. We, D’Jungle People will cherish all the memories we’ve had together. Thank you for everything!

My team (Hisyam, Andrew and I) were assigned to the majestic Gunung Ledang for this year’s ISKL Malaysia Week. Fun and learning were always the hallmark for our youth programmes. This year we wanted the kids to learn  two important values: Respect and Discipline. By remembering these values, the children could go home and be more responsible individuals to  their families, teachers and friends.

One of the learning moment to drum these values into the children was during mealtimes.

The true depth of their learning came about when the second Gunung Ledang group lead by my colleague, John, merged for the first time for dinner on the third day. as host, we were to serve the other group. It was a momentous occasion as the children took pride to serve their teachers and friends. Then we heard a little girl’s voice saying: “You cannot eat yet. You must wiat for everyone to get their food.” That earned a grin from me.

After everyone had taken their plate of food, Charis Ubl invited everyone to eat. He reminded me of a Town Crier. He had said it with great respect that in the background, I overheard someone in the second group uttering, “That is so cool, we must learn this.” By then, I was smiling like a Cheshire cat.

I did not think that the learning impact would go beyond the campsite. I was proven wrong one final time. During the BBQ dinner on the final night, Arjun came up to me and asked, “Kakak Joy, can I say the invitation tonight?” When the time came for Arjun to come forth, he was followed by three other children from the second group, who repeated after him: “Cikgu, Abang, Kakak dan Rakan-rakan makan” (Teachers, brothers, sisters and friends, please dine in).
I was so proud of Arjun. He took upon himself to teach the others to learn about respect. At the moment, I knew my work was done - to be able to get my group to inspire others to do the same. many times we forget to invite our family or friends to eat when we eat. We just dive straight into our food, forgetting the people around us, especially the ones that mean most to you. Food aside, let this be a reminder to all of us to respect others in everything that we do, and we will be respected.
  ISKL Malaysia Week 2007 (Gunung Ledang) in pictures: 

Having a splashing good time!   

Having a splashing good time!   

 

Enjoying a game of black jack.

 

The challenging climb up Gunung Ledang

 

We’re nearly there!

Finally at the summit! Happy and contented faces everywhere.