Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK)


My host school 

A majority of the conversations I have had start with the same  questions "What are you doing here? How old are you? How do you like Malaysia? Where are you from?" This happens so often that I always find myself giving the same standard answers "Exchange program/studying abroad/cultural exchange, I am 18 and I really really like it here, it's awesome. I love it. Oh and I'm from the US." After giving my mini-introduction the next thing they ask me, or at least most of the adults I have come in contact with is, "What are you studying?" They assume that since I am 18, I am studying in a university here. I calmly explain that although I have graduated from high school already, I am attending a local high school, with students two years younger than me. Most of them are surprised I would be willing to take a year off from my studies, and I think they seem more reassured of my future once I tell that I already know where I am going afterwards.  Yet they tend to loose hope in me when I tell them I do not know what to study yet (well maybe not loose hope but you know what I mean).

This brings me to the main topic, school. Sekolah Menangah Kebgansaan or SMK as it is known in Malaysia is Secondary school, or high school. It is standard for all National schools to be thought in Malay, although there are some schools where the medium is Chinese or Tamil. There are five forms, or grades if you will, some schools even offer an extra form, Form 6. The forms are divided into two groups lower secondary (Form 1, 2, 3) and upper secondary (Form 4,5, and 6). (Ages are 13 to 17/18) School here is also divided into Science and Arts stream. In science stream you take, well science, and in arts you take accounting, economics, art and the like. In Form 3 students take a major exam, PMR, and then in Form 5 the students once again take another major exam, SPM. It goes without saying then, that the schools curriculum and way of teaching is geared into preparing its students for the exams. 

I am in Form 4, which means my classmates are 16. It can be compered to a mix of Sophomore and Junior year. I'm also in the science stream which means that I take physics, chemistry, biology, additional maths, modern maths, sejarah (history), English, Bahasa Melayu, moral , sivik (civics), and PJ (PE). All my science and maths classes are in English and the rest are in BM. I have 9 periods, each are 35 minutes long and I have a different timetable for each day. There is also a 20 minute recess period. Unlike the United States, I stay in one class all day and the teachers rotate classes. This also means that I am in the same class with 40 something students all day. Oh, that is another difference, classes here are huge! Since classes are so short, there are double periods. It is quite different than my past high school, I was so used to moving around all day and being able to pick my classes. 


We also have to wear uniforms! Guys wear some dark green pants, with a white shirt, white shoes, and a tie. Girls can wear a blue pinafore over a white shirt or a baju kurung (which all Malay girls must wear) and white shoes.Google has some nifty pictures showing the uniform since I haven't really taken a picture in mine yet...oops

Girl wearing the baju kurung 
The girl is wearing the pinafore (usually you will have your school badge and name sewn into the front)
I'm going to be honest and say that yes, sometimes school is slightly boring but it is not that bad. Even though I have learned most of the topics covered already, it is nice to refresh and to see how they use different ways of teachings to teach the same thing. And what better place to make friends than in school? And to practice learning the language?




Friday, September 13, 2013

"I fell in love like you fall asleep; slowly and then it just happened."

I loose track of time, and I forget to update people on my whereabouts. Sorry!

I've been in Malaysia for 58 days now. 58. That is almost two months, yet I feel like I have already lived here for more than that. Anyways, here are 10 things I like/find interesting/funny/are different.
  1. My host family are the nicest people ever, and funny too.
  2. I have to wear a school uniform
  3. Why aren't there proper sidewalks?
  4. The Wanted/One Direction- everyone knows them
  5. Char Kway Teow 
  6. Fruit (Rambutan...mangosteen...I am in fruit heaven) 
  7. Food
  8. Lots of green everywhere
  9. Malls. Large Malls. HUGE Malls.
  10. The curiosity, friendliness, and hospitality of Malaysians
  11. Okaaaay lah (personal favorite)
Just look how green! 

Genting Highlands