RBJTimban’s Crib

This evening at around 6.40 p.m. we experienced a black-out. I thought it was a usual one. Then after waiting for more than 15 minutes I send my friends short messages asking them whether they experience any power failure in their places out there. My brother in-law, Jonny, who lives in Kuching told me that they did experienced one; a cousin of mine in Sarikei replied the same. After dinner, I picked my computer and logged-in to my favourite forum - forum.engkabang.net, just to know more about the power failure. Yes, the people in the forum talked a lot about the power failure, from Kuching to Miri. Here is tonight’s new I had manage to read from the forum:

MIRI: A state-wide power cut in Sarawak on Saturday evening saw the blackout affect more than two million people over a distance of 1,000km from Kuching to Miri.

Cities and towns in the state were plunged into total darkness causing massive chaos as everybody was caught by surprise.

The power failure started in Kuching at about 6.30pm Saturday and rapidly spread northward to Sibu then to Miri by 7.30pm.

Deputy chief minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam when contacted by The Star confirmed that it was a blackout that seemed to have affected the main power grid.

“We (the state government) want to find out the source of the blackout. We need to know exactly what has triggered this massive state-wide blackout.

At 8.30pm Saturday the cause of the incident is still unknown.

Dr Chan, who is the state Industrial Development Minister, said that the Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation (Sesco) is in the midst of trying to re-connect the power supply as soon as possible.

The state authority hopes that the people remain calm.

Meanwhile, thousands of people who were caught up in the massive traffic jam and in commercial complexes were reportedly evacuated without any incidents so far.

Source : The Star

Since I sat for the final papers in April this year, I have been preparing for my convocation which is due on the 24th August. Am very excited and anxious. What else could I say. It’s a once in a life time experience. I will be accompanied by my wife, my younger children - Trevor, Timothy and Theophilus (all school going). Theodore was not included as he now has his own family to look after. Same goes to Fionula who had just being employed by the college where she obtained her certificate in front office recently. She is now working as a part-time tutor there. All these days, my laptop was used to surf the varsity’s portal to keep myself updated of the matter on convocation and graduation. A few weeks ago I have booked for five air tickets and two double-bed rooms to accommodate my family and I. That’s what I called ‘anxious’. I made all the bookings and purchases online - a way of doing business which I really ‘hate’ to do. It’s a phobia really. I fear that the business would be fraud of some kind. But any way, both the flight and rooms bookings were ‘clean’. From today, my family and I are waiting for the trip.

It has been almost a month I did not post anything here. Busy as usual. But what distracted me most was the forum for teachers - engkabang.net. I have been visiting and participating in the forum for almost every night. Well, I am taking the opportunity to connect using the free wireless connection. It is free until the very end of this year. For my streamyx account, well it has been suspended for a while due to unpaid bills. Today, the bill was paid up, and this evening I logged in well, it’s okay again. One thing I did tonight was doing the internet speed test. I would say its a 500 KB product which I am paying for 1 MB. It’s not what I have asked for.

It’s 7th of July today and I woke up and said a little prayer seeking God’s love to take care of our late dad’s soul who left us on 7th July 1981 - exactly 27 years today. Should dad still lives today, he would be exactly 90 years old! But God loves him more thus he took dad from us.

January 2004 - My friends (Nicholas Ajan, Fedmek, Agnes) and I went to OUM office in Kuching for registration. Nicholas, Fedmek and I went there a day earlier, so we had decided to stay at my cousin’s (Edward Langie Kadam’s) place at Batu Kawa, Kuching. The following morning, the three of us packed our things and made our way to OUM which was located at Jalan Simpang Tiga. There we met old friends, mostly college mates, who were also grabbing the opportunity to join the varsity. Amazing! All of us who came that day were working adults, so none felt embarrassed of being ‘too old’ or ‘too late’ to study. Excitement and anxiety filled the air. The whole morning was packed with briefings by officials from OUM and our MOE. In the afternoon, we proceeded to our respective lecture rooms to meet our tutors. They all delivered almost the same ‘theme’ in their lecture and it was very interesting, or rather, motivating. By 5 p.m. that day, and the final tutorial slot was over, my friends and I made our way back home to Betong. The 4 hour ride back home was full of anxieties, visions, dreams, just name it! But we told ourselves that trips like this one would end by 2008. In other words, this program would take us four years to complete. There would be three semester in a year. From January till May we were to take three courses, sit for our final semester exams and register for the semester. From May till August, OUM called it short semester, we were to take two courses. Exams for short semesters were conducted in August, and after the exams, we were required to register for the third semester for that year. The third semester for that year would be from September till November, and we were suppose to take up three courses. After the exam in November, one would have to register for the next courses (January, the following year). This went on for more than four years as I had mentioned earlier.

Besides sacrificing our two Sundays (at fortnightly) each month, we had to prioritize our core business - teaching. That was rather tough to cope up with, especially when one had to race against time completing his or her assignments and course works, and even preparing for the final semester exams or quizzes. In the beginning I found it hard to adapt - teaching kids during the day and becoming a bookworm late in the evening. At this point, at this age, I learned that time management is very crucial in one’s live. As time flew, I took learning whilst working very seriously, and I used to tell my pupils that I hate dead woods.

Phew! What a post! I’ll continue in a short while …

To begin with, in July 2003, my collegues (at SK St. Augustine, Betong) and I had applied to further our study at Open University Malaysia. We applied for B. Ed (TESL). The program was sponsored by our own ministry - MOE. By November 2003, all four of us were accepted to the university (i.e. Daniel, Agnes, Norihan and I). Everyone was anxious. Registration day would be in January 2004. While waiting for the day, we discussed a lot of things. These included finance and transport. Car-pooling was our best solution to travel 250 km from Betong to Kuching on a tutorial day. Four persons in a car was considered. Unfortunately Norihan and Daniel chose to go on their own. Norihan told us that she would go for tutorial together with her husband (who was also accepted to the same university pursuing B. Ed (Mechanical Engineering)) where as Daniel said that he had to go on Fridays. There were Agnes and I left to car-pool. Later both of us received a call from Ajan and Fedmek (both teaching in SK St. Peter & St. Paul), who were also accepted to the same program. That was perfect - four persons in a car. Hence, the four of us met and agreed that on a normal tutorial day, we would pool RM30 each for fuel and meals. Any unspent funds would be ‘brought forward’ to exam days when we were required to stay for a night or more in Kuching. That was how we started our life as aged students, so to say.

2000 - I have decided to apply for transfer to another school near my mum’s house. My first choice was Sekolah Kebangsaan St. Augustine (500 meters from mum’s place), secondly, Sekolah Kebangsaan Abg. Abdul Kadir (700 meters), and thirdly, Sekolah Kebangsaan Saka (4 km). After I had submitted my forms, I crossed my fingers for about six months - May till December. Since then, my wife and I felt anxious about the transfer. I told her that I might be considered this time, as we have been in this school (Sekolah Kebangsaan Nanga Spak) for almost 11 years.

2000 was also the year when my wife’s longhouse celebrated the Gawai Antu (Festival for the Dead). Our financial standing was to fund both the out-going transfer from Sekolah Kebangsaan Nanga Spak, and also the festival. But my in-laws were very considerate. They, especially my late father in-law, understood my financial position. Long before 2000, I have been helping my in-laws in repairing and renovating their house. I had to provide my effort as I was not financially strong. Yes, my wife and I really appreciated their consideration in that matter.

December 2000 - the transfer that I had applied in May was approved! Yes, we are moving out. I arranged for the transportation in less than a week. Once all our things were moved to mum’s place, my family and I rushed to my in-laws’ longhouse to assist them preparing for the Gawai Antu. The festival was supposed to be held on the 30th December 2000 and all the longhouse folks were very busy preparing for it. Sounds of hammer could be heard until 9 or 10 p.m. and everyone did not mind the noise!

1991 - I have considered this year rather significant in my life and so did my family’s. Firstly, my wife gave birth to our third child, a boy whom we named Trevor Jullian on the 20th July. Unlike his elder brother (Theodore) and sister (Fionula), Trevor seemed to ‘refuse to be delivered’ in Betong! His mum had went into labour for almost two days. On the third day, the midwife told us that she referred my wife to Sri Aman hospital for a safer deliver. We went to Sri Aman in a Medical Dept’s transport - a Land Cruiser. We reached Sri Aman hospital at around 10.30 a.m. At exactly 1.28 p.m. in the afternoon, Trevor was born!

Secondly, I had made up my mind to sit for SPM full certificate. That was to obtain a credit pass in my BM papers. I enrolled for the exam sometimes in early April in which I took five subjects - BM, English, Geography, Integrated Science and Arts. I had put most of my efforts on BM. I read and wrote more in the subject. Besides my own efforts, I had started to devote myself more towards my faith. I prayed a lot.

Yes! God is loving. He answered my prayers. I got a credit 5 for my BM papers that year. My English papers - distinction 1! I was proud of being cared for by God. Being a former MCE student, I did not take that as the main factor why I obtained a 1 in my English. It was God’s love. Praise Lord.

1992 - I was appointed to the post of Trained Teacher in the C2 category. The post I have longed for since my first posting in 1987.

1995 - Another significance. Firstly, my appointment was confirmed by the ministry (i.e. our MOE) and I was placed into the pensionable scheme. I felt more secure in my service being a trained teacher.

Secondly, on 11th of July, another boy came into our family - Timothy Julius Umpu. He is the forth child in the family.

1999 - Another significance. Firstly, I applied to undergo a bachelor degree program in TESL. It was a full time course. I went for an interview at MOE’s Bahagian Pendidikan Guru, Kuching around April. To my surprise one of the interviewers was my former college director - Mr. Encharang Agas. During the interview he asked me whether I had thoroughly prepared to further my study, which was supposed to be going for four years. He even asked whether my wife was employed or not. I replied that she was not, and when he knew that, he told me that I would have to face a hard time pursuing the degree. That made me desperate and stressed. His words were true. Should I was accepted into a university, my employers would pay me half of what I was supposed to receive. Meaning (at that time), my family and I are going to enjoy a maximum income of RM400 a month, for four years. After the interview, I brainstormed myself on how my wife would secure a job. There was a lot of constraints coming into my mind. None could work. After weeks of waiting for the interview result, and much of brainstorming, I gave up! I told myself that I have lost an opportunity to get a degree. But then, I told myself then, that was the only application I would forward and I could not take it, thus, I would let my children take it in future. If I could not, let me provide them.

The second significant was that, a fifth boy was born, whom we named him Theophilus Nathaniel. He was born on 26th December, a day after Christmas. My wife and I agreed on one decision not to have any more children after Theophilus. We had agreed that five is enough. Thus, about a month after Theophilus was born, my wife underwent the VTL.

December 1989- School reopens (nationwide) for the session 1990. It was supposed to be January 1990, but the government called all teachers and students to start going to school as early as December the year before. Why? The schools in the Malaysian Peninsular were always affected by year end floods. Anyway, everyone has to go to school, despite that schools in the homeland are not hit by flood.

My family and I had to ‘get attuned’ to the new school, SK Ng Spak, its folks and the school environment. It was a small school though. Not a full-primary school like the one I left in Song, remember?

January 1990 - Its the beginning of the 90s! I assured myself that I will use this opportunity of being in my own hometown - Betong, to sit (or rather, resit) for my BM at SPM level in order to obtain a credit pass. Remember? In my previous postings that I have mentioned that I have sat for the same paper since 1987? So, 1990 would be the 4th year. Trice I obtained ordinary passes - 7 or 8. Why is 6 (credit pass) so difficult to get? Anyway, I enrolled for the 1990 exam in late March, that was after the 1989 SPM results were announced. Days changed to weeks, weeks to months, and finally came July 1990 - exam day. I did not stress myself before I sat for the exam as it was only a language test. I did read and wrote but for the sake of polishing my BM.

1987 - Upon reaching the little town of Song in the Kapit division, Sarawak, I was struck with awe. “Here I am, Song” I talked to myself. I ascended the wharf steps sluggishly. It wasn’t the heavy luggage that weighed me down, but my head was full of questions I myself could not answer. I was not alone in Song. Wan M was also there. He was also new to Song. Fortunately, we came to Song with another junior trainee who was a Songite. His house was near the wharf area so we reached his house in about 10 minutes walk from the wharf. Thus Wan M and I felt rather comfortable in the new and strange town.

That night I was told that the headmaster of my new school was also a Songite whom our junior trainee friend knew very well. He was (the late) Mr John P. I felt a bit happy but there were many unanswered questions in my head. How should I introduce myself to the headmaster the next day? That night we slept late and once in bed I had the trouble of getting asleep.

The following morning, Wan M and I hurriedly to town so that we could meet our new bosses. The first thing in our mind was to look for a Muslim coffee shop to have our breakfast. We were unsure for how long it would take us to meet our bosses. Our breakfast was silent whilst the bustling coffee shop. After the breakfast, Wan M and I went straight to the wharf to look for signs of our new bosses. At this point, I thought I must brave myself asking stupid questions at anyone who berthed their boats at the wharf. I have to have that courage.

After sitting for a moment, I was very fortunate to bump into a stranger and asked him a question - “Which direction is Sekula Nanga Dalai?”. The person replied, “That way”, as he pointed to the right down the Rajang river.

“Why?” He asked me back, “Are you going to go to Sekula Nanga Dalai?”

“Yes”, I replied. “I am looking for the school’s headmaster”.

He smiled and said, “Well, I am the headmaster”.

I almost jumped with excitement but I kept it to myself…

… My first year teaching after completing my 3 years teacher training at Maktab Perguruan Rajang, Bintangor, Sarawak. My wife and my 4 year old Theodore followed me to the school around April that year. Our living quarters was very simple. It had a kitchen cum dinning space and a sleeping space. There were no sitting rooms or washrooms. We had to take our bath by the stream about 50 meters away from the house. There were also no TV or radio.

Despite without any TV or radio, we were a bit content. In the evening after dinner, there was nothing much to do at home. My son had a lot of toys around the small living space to play with until he was too tired. My wife was occupied with her crocheting. As for me, I would join the other teachers to fish in the stream. That was how we spent our evenings in the school. Catches were sometimes good and at other times each one of us could only manage to bring home about several hundred grams. Oh! I didn’t mention the fishing technique, did I? We used small harpoons, goggles, flashlights, and drift nets to fish. One would have to dive to catch fish or prawns. On weekends, we would bring along our families either down or upriver for both picnic and fishing. With the ladies coming along, they too had their own fishing techniques. The used woven fishing baskets to scoop their catch. Their fishing spot were usually knee deep cataracts. One would place the basket facing upstream and then move the pebbles and rocks around. This would scare off any small fish or prawns from their hideouts thus get caught in the basket. (What a lengthy description!!)

June, 1987 - My wife, son, and I went home (to Betong) for the Gawai Dayak holiday. My wife was pregnant and she was due to deliver around July or August. We had planned for the child birth to be in Betong, as there was only one rural dispensary near the school. I hadn’t the gut to take care of her on my own here in the school. The journey back home took us almost 5 - 6 hours. One boat ride, one express boat ride, and a bus ride, then we are in Betong. We were exhausted but were also excite.

After the Gawai Dayak I had to go back to Song - alone.

20 September 1987 - My wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She named the baby Fionula Connie Duie. Duie was my maternal grandma. As I was not around when the baby was born, I ‘missed’ the opportunity to name the baby ‘Theresa’ as I had told her earlier. I intended to ‘retain’ the letter ‘T’ in her name, as also in ‘Theodore’, her elder brother. The letter ‘T’ was supposed to signify my dad’s second name. Anyway, I did not mind so much with the baby’s name. As she was a girl, so let her be different from her elder brother, or may be, brothers, in future!

That year too, I was among a few other teacher sat for the July Bahasa Malaysia Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia exam. It was an effort to obtain a credit to enable us to be appointed and confirmed into our service. My service category then was “C4 Trained (unconfirmed)”. Once we obtained a credit, the department would appoint and confirm us to “C2″ category.

December, 1987 - received the SPM result. I obtained an ordinary pass. I was quite frustrated, as I couldn’t go any further with an ordinary pass. I promised to myself that I would try even harder next year (1988).

1988 - my 2nd year in SK Nanga Dalai, Song. Not much changes in the school admin. I was appointed as one of the school warden to look after kids in the boarding houses from early morning till late night. The kids were quite easy to look after, as they did not have much influence from the ‘outside world’. They wore simple attire yet they were happy at all times.

June 1988 - It was Gawai Dayak again and my family and I had to make another yearly trip back home to Betong. That year’s Gawai I had to give way to my wife’s request to celebrate the occasion at her parents’ house in Buloh Antu, Padeh. The celebration was a wonderful one. We really enjoyed ourselves. Our little Dara (Fionula) was about 9 months old. The June holiday then was a short one. So, on the 2nd of June we had to go back to my mum’s place in Betong, as we had to go back to Song on the 3rd June.

July 1988 - I had to sit again for the SPM BM July paper which I failed last year. There was speculations on July paper. It was harder to pass as compared to sitting for a full certificate SPM. Whether true or likewise, I had to put in more effort this year.

December 1988 - Once again, the SPM BM result was issued. I obtained an ordinary pass. What a fate, I thought.

1989 - My 3rd year in one of Song’s oldest schools, SK Nanga Dalai. Three years was like a decade. I still could not suit my ‘lifestyle’ to living in remote area like this. Our main mode of transport was by river. The electric supply was a portable generator set which we ran from 6 p.m. till 10.00 p.m. daily. Our water sources were either gravity feed, river water or rain water. During dry seasons, the gravity feed water failed to provide sufficient water to the school. Pipe leaks were common, and we had to do the plumbing job ourselves. That year I told my wife and our kids that I was applying for transfer back to our home town - Betong. I could not bear to let my aging mum live so far away from us. My younger siblings are still depending on her small pension. Another ‘annoying’ factor was the unavailability of proper clinics near the school. My kids were still young and ‘fragile’ thus made life felt difficult then. It was mentality or perception on the situation.

October, 1989 - I received an approval of transfer back to Betong. I was offered to serve in SK Nanga Spak, Betong. The journey to the school was about an hour ride by gravel road from Betong town. I jumped with excitement when I received the letter. I rushed back to our quarters and told my wife the news. She was happy too. By late November, our family left SK Nanga Dalai Song and headed to Betong. Moving the whole lot was no small matter. We had to bring many things - including some poultry and a cat!