Aug 2008

My good friend Breanne moved to Montreal, Canada with her job. Here are some pictures of her going away get together.

















Before school officially started with the kids, the staff had a team building challenge day at Sentosa (small island in Singapore). We aren't going away for a weekend like we normally do because this year is a week-long ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) conference in Hong Kong. Our team building on Sentosa was really fun because we got to do things at Sentosa that I've always wanted to do, but haven't yet. And the best part is that I got to do them for free! One of them is going to the top of the Merlion statue. Here are pictures from the top of that. We could look out of the mouth and also stand on its head.








An interesting fountain/path.




















This is the southernmost point in continental SE Asia.
















These show the construction of the new casino/hotel on the front of Sentosa. The mainland is in the distance. In the first picture, you can see Vivo City in the middle. It almost looks kinda flat in this picture. In the second picture you can see some of the skyline of the downtown area.




















The first week of school went pretty well. It was an adjustment getting to know the new students and my new students, the 6th graders. I had forgotten how needy they are when they start the year! I'm also teaching a section of 7th grade this year, which is nice for me because I already know all of my students except the 4 new ones in that class.


The first weekend, I went to Bintan, Indonesia for a retreat for WyldLife and YoungLife staff and volunteers. In case you don't know, YL is a Christian outreach program for high schoolers. WL, where I volunteer, is for middle schoolers. The scenery around where we stayed was beautiful. It was a great time to relax, play beach volleyball and discuss the upcoming year for YL and WL.

Melaka, Malaysia

Over our Thanksgiving break, eight other teacher friends and I took a bus trip to Melaka, Malaysia. This city used to be a major port in SE Asia and the influences of other cultures are widespread. A Sumatran prince, named Parameswara, founded the city and named it Malacca or Melaka around 1390. It was a popular port for Javanese, Arab, Indian, and Chinese sea merchants. The city became so popular and wealthy, that the Porteguese occupied for about 130 years. After this, the Dutch captured the city in 1641. I don't know when Malaysia took over. I learned a lot of this on my trip, but I had to look up the specific dates (http://www.melaka.net/history1.htm).

The bus seats were nicer than any plane I've been on. They had so much leg room and reclined almost fully. The picture to the right is where I sat.
While we were there, we walked around part of the older area of the city where we admired the architecture. It was all different and really showed the presence of the Dutch and the Porteguese. We also took a riverboat tour, with the funniest, most knowledable guide. Most of the pictures I took were of the different buildings and while on the river. Here are some of my favorites:

The doorway to the path up to the ruins of St. Paul's church. I really loved this building!

St. Paul's church from the stairs

A closer picture

A classic 'senior picture' pose in the old window of St. Paul's church

This church was in the 'downtown' area. It shows the Dutch influence.

The fountain at the area called "The Stadhuys"

Clock tower and the fountain
Traffic circle at The Stadhuys

Me in front of the river

McDonald's sign

Prayer room and a public toilet...

The Dutch windmill and my Dutch friend, Katie McDonald's drive-thru

The riverboat

Some of the sites along the river




Melaka'>
If you'd like to see all of my pictures from this trip, click on this link to my Picasa web album.