RBJTimban’s Crib

1984 – It was early March, and I was still attached to SRB St. John, Betong. Unexpectedly, one evening my boss, Mr Empading called me to his quarters. I quickly finished my dinner and hurriedly to his house. When I reached his door, he welcomed me. After some conversations, he congratulated for being accepted into teachers’ training. As I have mentioned earlier, I trusted my instinct.

A week later after I handed my duties over to my boss, I went home and told my mum about my successful application for the training. I could see little tears in her eyes. She seemed happier than I was.

I went to the Rajang Teachers’ College together with a friend of mine. We rode in two buses and a taxi to reach the college. Everything was very new to (my friend, Wan M) and I. I knew that after completing college life, I would become a trained teacher – to help the little people to live and help others.

Three years (1984 – 86) passed by so swiftly. Felt like 3 months or less. In early 1985, my colleagues and I were assigned to practise at SK Brayang in Saratok district for about a month. It was a new experience for us. We went through our daily routine among the little kids. They were lovely kids. In mid 1986 (our final year in college) once again my friends and I were assigned to practise at SK Abg Abdul Rahman, also in Saratok district. That time, the teaching practice was even tougher. It went for 3 months. We had to prepare our lesson plans and teaching aids almost every evening after school. From then on, I was very sure that a teacher’s day off would be his bedtime. Unlike other professions, a teacher brings home everything except the 4′x8′ chalkboard, and brings them back to school the following day. Anyway, that is not a big deal. Why? Because teachers assign homework. Homework is to be done at home!

Towards the end of 1986, I sat for my final year exam. Preparation for the exam was very tough. There were so many notes to dig into. To balance the exhaustive revision at night, I had to join my colleagues playing all types of games in order to unstress. Almost all senior trainees like me were alike – looked a bit weird in how we acted. It could have been the effect of overworking.

In early November that same year I received a letter of appointment from my present boss – the State Education Dept through our college principal. In the letter, my boss assigned me to serve in Song district of Kapit division – SK Nanga Dalai. It should take effect from January 1987. The other trainees of the same batch also received their postings respectively. Everyone was assigned to serve in a new district or a new division which was too foreign. Anxiety built in everyone’s heart and mind. But nobody could resist their postings because we have sworn to serve in places of the department’s choice – not ours. From then on, we had to swallow our pride to bid farewell to each other. I had to shake hands with Edakson Rigin, Assom Lutek, Alex Yii, Ayong Andam, George Bennet Sangkan, Toddy Ahmad, just to name a few, who have been with me for 3 years, especially in our college band – The Creatures. And not forgetting the lady trainees too. They were Fatimah Masri, Judy Pian, Jee Soi Jong, Sarimah Kalpon (our one and only vocalist), Neslin Hebron, and the rest of PSR-PM (Elektif Muzik) 1984-86 trainees. The lecturers too still linger in my mind until these days. They were Mr Sagim Suar (Music), Mr Edmund Motig (Teaching Technology), Mr Saidol Bolhassan (Malay Studies), Ms Ursula Ting (Music), etc.. and of course – Mr Encharang Agas, our college principal who really had inspired me to be what I am supposed to be today. All these guys – Malays, Ibans, Bidayuhs, Melanaus, Orangs Ulu, Chinese etc have taught me the meaning of pluralism in our society. Before I enter college, I thought Sarawak was full of Ibans!