Facebook June 12, 2009
Posted by rbjtimban in 2009, Career, Computer, Culture, Education, Ethnic, Family, Forum, Love, My Views, Relationship, Writing.Tags: Connie, Family, Festival, Fionula, Gawai Dayak
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Sometimes ago I was invited by some friends of mine to sign up with Facebook (FB). Iniatially I turned down their invitation, but I did not give them any reasons. I simply kept the reasons to myself – workload, not ready to ‘expose’ myself, etc. But not until recently when a particular friend ‘re-invited’ me to sign up. I could not turn down the invitation for the second time. Then, after our Gawai festival, I signed up with FB. After the sign up, I added some familiar friends, and to my surprise, most of them have been with FB for a long time. It was me who was ‘left out’. As time flies, I added more friends and most of my request to add the people were accepted. It is fun to see their pictures and read comments. Like in our portal, engkabang.net, I do not post much comments on other’s FB, but simply click on the “like” link to show how I feel towards what they had put up. Am I introvert? Perhaps. In real life, too, I do not talk a lot. I prefer sitting down and ‘read’ – reading prints and people. What do I mean by ‘reading’ people? It’s simply an act of looking at another person and studying or observing his/her moves, with the intention to understand what type of person he/she is! Mind you, most of my observations are fruitful! But I do not want to be a psychologist, since I am not one by profession.
Back to FB: In FB I am now among my friends and even relatives. One interesting thing I found in FB, was, my daughter, Fionula Connie Duie, have been with FB 2 years ahead of me! Besides her, two of my cousins, Marilyn and her sister, Olivia, have accepted me in FB. I guess who is next I’d meet in FB.
Gawai Dayak 2009 June 5, 2009
Posted by rbjtimban in 2009, Celebration, Culture, Ethnic, Family, Festival, Gawai, Language, Love, My Views.Tags: 2009, Celebration, Culture, Family, Festival
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This year’s Gawai Dayak the family still maintain it’s tradition where everyone comes home. Chester arrived on May 29 from Song. My daughter, Fionula and her husband, Dalton on the May 31st. Seeing eveyone present around the dinning table was delightful. Mum’s place was once again filled with laughters and joy. I could see that everyone was happy. That night, my family and I went to Buloh Antu to join my brother-in-law, Ken and his family celebrating the Gawai.
The next day, June 1st, we went back to mum’s place downtown. Upon reaching home, Chester, and I decided to see our sister in Pais, Skrang and we went there around 10 a.m. in his Kenari. We had a good times in Pais. By 1 p.m., we returned to mum’s place. Upon reaching home, we told mum that we are going to Stambak Ulu to join the Stambakians celebrating the Gawai. It took us about 10 minutes to reach the longhouse. There, we joined our cousins, Ansi and Jenir and the other families celebrating. By 10 p.m., Chester, mum and I returned home – exhausted!
June 2nd, everyone seems tired of yesterday’s booze. Sis Suzie and her family came from Pais. Chester suggested that the three of us and the other family members would have a simple barbeque outside mum’s house. And once again, the Gawai “mood” rolled back. Chester invited our cousin, Philip, and his family from Entanak to join the barbeque that evening. On that evening too, right after the barbeque (an a steamboat ‘meal’), Fionula and her husband, hit the road back to Kuching.
On June 4th, Suzie and her family left for Kuching, and today, June 5th, Chester was the last person to leave for Song. Despite my brother’s and sister’s departure, the Gawai ‘mood’ is still felt by my family and I. From this point, we are looking forward to meet again next Gawai season.
“Dom” Theodore Joins His Family… May 4, 2009
Posted by rbjtimban in 2009, Career, Culture, Ethnic, Family, Love, My Views, Relationship, Tradition.2 comments
It has been Theodore’s decision to move out and joins his family. He had talked about it soon after he and his family came to Betong from Kuching, back in 2007. He understands that he and his family should not pack mum’s place as his religion now differs from ours. Yes, he understands that.
And by 4th May, 2009, he moved out and rents a house nearby. My wife and I, and, even his grandma felt a bit uneasy. But the ‘reality’ is – all married children have to leave their home for their own. We are like birds. Once the we are able to ‘fly on own on’, off we go. Birds leave their mum’s built nests to build their own nests. And the ‘tradition’ goes on and on.
Actually I am monitoring Theodore’s moving out. There would be times when he needs my assistance, and I never know when. All this while, when my wife misses our little Iskandar (Theodore’s 18 months boy), she we would sneak to their place and brings him home. And the little boy really like it. He did not bother being ’snatched’ at any time of the day, as our old house is very much bigger for him to run around. By 5 p.m., when his mum and dad are back home, we would send the boy back.
“Dom” Marcus passed away March 12, 2009
Posted by rbjtimban in 2009, Career, Culture, Ethnic, Family, Funeral, Language, My Views, Relationship, Tradition.Tags: Car, peace, rest, Stambak, Ulu
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Around 9.00 a.m, 5th March, I received a shocking news from our aki Gadang. A news about a fatal accident that had killed one of our cousins, Marcus. Initially, I could not believe my ears, as Marcus was only 34, a decade younger that me. But after aki Gadang had related to me of the news, I have to take it.
Marcus was killed in a car crash along Mukah-Sibu road, sometimes around 2.00 a.m. His parents and the other Stambak Ulu villagers were informed by the Betong police officers at around 8.30 a.m.
The funeral was held three evenings later – 8th March, at his parents’ house in Stambak Ulu. A lot of friends and relatives came to pay their last respect to a humble young man whom we called Dom (Marcus).
During the funeral, my family and I shared Uncle Kimpek’s bilik to prepare all the meals. This was because, our own bilik was not completed yet. We were not the only family who shared the bilik with Uncle Kimpek. Her sisters, Anggil, Dut, and Limai also came from Kuching to share the bilik. Beside Uncle Kimpek’s place, Ansi’s bilik was also packed with the other families such as Uncle Abit’s siblings. Like ours too, their biliks were not completed yet.
On the 9th March, the late Marcus was buried at St. Augustine’s Church’s new burial ground, a hill locally known as Munggu Sabut. It was about 10 minutes drive from Stambak Ulu. All had mourned for his demise and prayed that his soul rest in peace.
Gong Xi Fa Cai January 23, 2009
Posted by rbjtimban in 2009, Celebration, Culture, Ethnic, Family, Festival, My Views, Relationship, Tradition.add a comment
Wishing all my Chinese brethrens nation- and worldwide a very Happy Chinese New Year. Gong Xi Fa Cai, brothers and sisters. Our school holiday would be on Monday and Tuesday (26th & 27th January). The school admin did not apply for occasional holidays as there are no Chinese staff or students in the school. We did not mind as the long school holiday has ended about three weeks ago. Our neighbour, SMK St. Augustine, will be having a week long holiday, from 26th January – 1st February 2009.
At the point of writing, I have yet to decide on what my family and I would do during the CNY holiday. Visiting nearby Chinese friends is one of the family’s ‘obligations’. This year, my wife had decided to join her sister, Maria, to visit their friends in Engkilili. Am not sure whether to join them or not.
Early 2k May 28, 2008
Posted by rbjtimban in Career, Celebration, Christmas, Computer, Education, Ethnic, Family, Language, Love, My Views, Relationship, School Activities, Teachers' Training, Writing.Tags: Festival, gawai antu, renovating, school transfer
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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!
Me, in the late 1990s May 21, 2008
Posted by rbjtimban in Career, Computer, Education, Ethnic, Family, Love, My Views, Relationship, School Activities, Teachers' Training, Writing.Tags: degree, determination, MOE, Sri Aman, TESL, Theophilus Nathaniel, Timothy Julius Umpu, Trevor Jullian
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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.
Job Hunting After School February 14, 2008
Posted by rbjtimban in Career, Celebration, Computer, Education, Ethnic, Family, Language, My Views, Relationship, School Activities, Teachers' Training, Tradition, Writing.Tags: Bahagian Pendidikan Guru, Betong, Malaysia, SRB St John, teaching
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1981 (cont.) – After dad died life had to go on. I made up my mind not to ask mum to finance me for higher education. I had to continue looking for jobs. But I was still uncertain of which job I liked most. I was still confused. Still unsure of which path to take. When we were in Form 4 or 5, there was no counselling on career opportunity.
In mid-December, before the school reopens, I received a reappointment letter from my present employer. I felt a bit relieve because I can still earn and look for other jobs.
1982 – Reattached to the same school. I was able to enjoy this job. Yes, the thrill of teaching or being together with young children had grown in me. There were only two trained teachers in the school to guide me. With me around, there were 3 of us.
1983 – When the school reopens I was reappointed for the second time, but now the office directed me to teach in a more remote school – SRB St. John, Betong. It was a 4 hour boat ride upstream from Betong. Unlike the previous school I was attached to, SRB St. John, Betong was a bigger school. The school was a full primary school with six classes. There were ten teachers including me. The school was equipped with a boarding house for both boys and girls, a dining hall and a kitchen.
In or around July, I met my wife. Our love grew and in a short while I proposed for her hand. Our parents agreed and a simple wedding ceremony was arranged.
In September I applied for teachers’ training.Some trained teacher friends helped me fill the form. A couple of days later I submitted the form to Bahagian Pendidikan Guru in our MOE, KL. I was very confident that I will secure a place in any teachers’ college in my country. It was because I have been an untrained teacher for almost 3 years now. That may sound over-confident but I really trust my own instinct. Yes, I trust myself despite being a bit introvert.
