Unbelievable Diving Experience

It's been about three weeks since I came back from a sailboat cruise around the islands of Komodo and Rinca in Indonesia. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. An experience like this always smacks me in the head and reminds me how fortunate I really am!

Just before taking off for the trip, I was feeling pretty bummed out. If I'm really honest with myself I was simply depressed. Anyone who really knows me, knows that this is a bold and suprising statement coming from someone so proud and intense but that is what I was feeling.

I'm at another transition point in my life and there have been many things on my mind. I've been thinking about that fact that I'll be leaving my current teaching position here in Malaysia along with the experiences I've had here in Malaysia. I've also been thinking about the people that have influenced and touched my life here not only in Malaysia but also in Asia and the fact that I'm about to leave them. I know that I will always carry my experiences in my heart so they'll always be with me. Yet. these were the thoughts along with a grab bag full of feelings that were leaving me with a real empty feeling prior this trip.

Over a period of a week I witnessed these things:

The things that I saw underwater were something else! Over the week I made sixteen dives and each one (excluding one night dive) was special.

On this trip I was finally able to be in the presence of manta rays and they were so breath-taking to watch. The very first time I saw a manta ray was almost mystical because as I was looking out into the deep blue waters, even before I could see anything, I sensed it and then into my field of vision it appeared with its wide wing span gliding over top of me. The way that it flapped its wings seemed so effortless and graceful but also so powerful. There really weren't any words to describe it only an evoked emotion to hold onto and store in my mind.

The colours of the coral and plant life that I saw were so vibrant as the green coral contrasted with the orange sea fans.

Many people dive for many different reasons but for me I just want to have the chance to share a moment in time with another living creature.

To be able watch a turtle lope in the water, turn its head and make eye contact for a moment then watch as the turtle breaks that contact and care-freely swim away is something that gives me meaning and I was so lucky expereince that on this trip.


It's going to be sad to be a world away from so many breathtaking and beautiful places but I realize that I really shouldn't be regretful because so few people in this world have seen the things that I've seen.

What was I thinking?

Yesterday I decided that I'd head into KL for the afternoon. I had the whole day to myself so I thought I'd take a book with me, find a nice place to eat lunch, chill, read and watch the world go by. It was going to be a relaxing afternoon. I also figured that I'd use public transport. I forgot how much I hate the public transport system here. A simple 30 -45 minute commute turned into a 2 hour one.

It all started when I decided to make my way back to my place. At the time I was in KLCC - for those back home, the Kuala Lumpur City Centre -but I had to get back to meet up with some friends to play tennis. After buying my ticket for the LRT, I headed down to the platform to wait. Wait is an understatement, the platform was packed full of people making their way home from another day of work. The lines were so long that they stretched all the way across the platform. When the train arrived it was an absolute bottleneck. The line advancement onto the train was so slow that I figured I wouldn't be boarding for at least three more trains.

I thought to myself, "This is ridiculous!"

Rather than passively accepting my public transport penance, I decided on an alternate plan. I boarded the next LRT train heading in the opposite direction, got off at the first stop, walked across the platform and boarded the train that was headed back to where the waiting crowds were at the KLCC stop.

My commute back was going to require a transfer from the LRT system to the KL Komuter train system so at KL Central station I transferred and headed toward the platform. When I reached the bottom of platform # 5, my reaction, as they say here in Malaysia was, "AI YO!" The crowd here on this platform was worse than on the LRT platform in KLCC.

This time around, I thought to myself, "There's not turning back get in line and wait you dummy. What were you thinking when you decided to head back at this time of day when everyone's coming back from work!!"

After waiting 15 minutes and watching 3 different trains from other platforms come and go there was an announcement that came over the speaker system stating that the train, the train I was waiting for was going to be delayed another 40 minutes.

"No way! I'm not putting up with this crap!"

Getting out of line I headed back to the ticket booth, handed my ticket to the ticket agent and told him that I didn't want it and he could have it.

After heading out of the ticket gates, I went to the bus terminal to see if I could catch a bus back to my part of town. Along the way, I saw a taxi stand counter.

"Change of plans."

I made my way to the taxi jockey to get a taxi only to have him tell me that there were no taxis for another hour.

??

"No taxis for another hour?"

"No sir"

"Is this Central Station?"

"Yes sir"

"Never mind. I'll take the bus."

Heading over to the counter for the "Rapid" KL bus system, I enquired,

"Excuse me, I take bus number U 76 to get back to Subang Jaya?"

In one of the most articulate responses of the day, the clerk responded,

"Ung"

"Could you tell me where the bus pick up is?"

Pointing in a non-specific direction the clerk stated,

"Over there"

"Over there? Could you be more specific?"

...

Blank stare.

I thought to myself, "Come on Mark! It really couldn't get much more specific than, 'Over there'!"

"Thanks for the help, Keep up the good work!"

"Ok, sir."

Fortunately, I only had to wait another 15 minutes before my bus to leave the terminal departed and head out into the jammed streets of KL. I sat down in the bus and decided since I was finally on my way to catch up with the boys to play tennis, I might as well take out my book and start reading a little bit more of my book.

There's a saying that goes, "Every cloud has a silver lining". I have to admit it today that was true. As the bus got to the next step a group of people boarded the bus and a really pretty girl sat down next to me, :-). However, I didn't say anything to her because I wouldn't have wanted her to have thought I was some kind of creeper, but man! She sure was easy on the eyes. I just went back to my book and waited tilI got back to Subang Jaya.

The afternoon in KL has reminded me why I have to think twice everytime I consider heading into KL. Public Transport infrastructure in Malaysia has much to learn about kaisen!

Malaysia Tak Boleh!?!

Rather than taking a break and “getting away from it all” I decided that I was going to put some order back in my life before taking off for some rest and relaxation. What a miscalculation. I definitely forgot about the TIM factor. This is Malaysia and one should never forget that.

I have been without water for the past 48 hours and it has been absolutely frustrating!

After grabbing a quick shower this past Monday morning the water in my apartment was suddenly shut off. To find out what the problem was I went down to the administrative building to find out what was up.

“Are you sure there’s no water?” was the response.

I thought to myself, “If you mean, did I check all the taps in the apartment to find out if the water has actually been shut off, then yes! I checked and I’m telling you there’s no water!”

“Yes, I’m sure there’s no water” was my actual answer.

“May I ask you a question?” I continued.

“Yes?”

“I can see my unit number on the whiteboard here in the office. Is there a reason why it’s up there?”

“Unit 1305? There’s a leak in a water pipe and the valve’s been shut off.”

“And?”
“ We called the owner twice. No answer. Now we’re waiting.”

“But I have no water! This is a problem for me.”

“Call your owner and tell him to contact this number. It’s the repair man’s number.”

“Ok, but are you going to start to repair the pipe?”

“Cannot”

“You’re not going to start repairing the pipe?”

“Cannot. The unit owner must give permission to start the repair”

“But the pipe needs to be repaired. If you don’t start now, the business day will be over before I can have any running water.”

“Call the owner”
…
My apartment owner has to travel in and out of Malaysia on business so he has a property agent to act as a go between. She has been so helpful over the past year as you’re about to see.

“Hi, it’s Mark at Spring Villa Apartments. Can you get in touch with the apartment owner? There is problem with a leaking water pipe and he needs to contact the maintenance man to give him permission to repair it.”

About one hour later I got a response indicating that my request was taken care of.

By mid-morning the next day the water was still shut off. So I decided to contact the maintenance man. He informed me that the repairs weren’t started yet because he was still waiting.

“Waiting for what?” I asked.

“Still waiting for permission from the owner , sir.”

??

“Didn’t the property agent contact you?”

“Yes, sir”

“Well, didn’t she tell you to get started on the repair?”

“No sir. She said she’s contacting the owner. Waiting for the unit owner to give me permission sir.”

“How long is this repair going to take when you start?”

“One day sir”

“But if you don’t start now I won’t have water for another day.”

“Yes sir. Waiting sir”

So, after this conversation I sent an SMS message to the property agent to find out why she didn’t follow through on my request. She informed me that she tried to contact the owner but there was no response. She was waiting for him to get back to her. Bloody hell! If you want something to get done you have to do it yourself.

At this point, there was only one possible solution to my problem. It was time to drop the Swayz!
I went back to the maintenance manans said,

“Ok. Listen. I know you’re only doing your job but start the job now! I’m giving you permission to start the repair! I’m the one talking to you right now. I’m the one that understands what needs to be done and how long it will take. Start the repair. Ok?”

“Cannot sir”

“Are you kidding me?!?!”

“No sir”

!!!

Later in the afternoon my owner was finally contacted and he also informed me that he gave the maintenance man the go ahead to start on the necessary repairs. I thanked him for following up with me. Five minutes later the maintenance man called to let me know that the owner had given permission to proceed.

“Great so you’re going to get started on it?”
“Yes sir…"

“… In the morning.”

…

Malaysia, truly Asia? Nope. Malaysia, truly Malaise, yah!

Semester's End

SCH 4U - 67% of Period 4 and 33% of Period 1 (2 Sig Figs).

At the end of every semester, when I look back I wonder, “Have I really made a difference? Have I contributed to making the part of the world I’m living in a better place? Have actually contributed to the betterment of the young minds I have temporarily been entrusted with? ” I don’t know if I’ll ever know the answer to this question until maybe, ten years from now. All I know is that I always feel so empty when a semester ends. Does this emptiness come from me being distant with my students and not sharing more of who I am? Is it because I haven’t taken enough time to get to know the personal side of my students? Is it because there is a part of me that feels I haven’t been as good of a teacher as I could have? I don’t know if there ever will be an absolute answer to this emptiness that accompanies a semester’s end. I think that this a normal component in the cycle of being a teacher and each of these thoughts and feelings may be a contributing factor.

I want to thank my students because you all grant me the opportunity to help shape a small part of your lives. There are so many things in this world that frustrate and irritate me but when I see you all in action; the boundless questions you ask, the resilience you demonstrate, your quest to find your identity. It inspires me. You all may not realize it but it does, your actions inspire me and for brief moments this inspiration carries me through the rest of the day.

Whether it is tomorrow or twenty years from now, may you all find peace within yourself and a sense of bleonging in this crazy yet special planet we call Earth.

Reflections

Letting go of places and people that have become a part of my of life and moving on to another stage of life is never easy but it has become natural for me. I've been living in Malaysia for two years and this chapter is about to come to end. In fact, a whole stage in my life is about to come to an end.

I have spent nine years living in Asia and in this time I have felt myself grow and become more aware of you I am and what it means to be a part of humanity. I have felt myself regress as I resist letting go of the person I once was rather than embracing the person I am about to become. It's ironic how it takes such a long time to understand who you are then, once it appears that you've figured it out the parameters change!

I have been so fortunate to be a part of so many poeple's lives and indepted for the experiences I have shared with so many different and diverse people.

I will miss Asia for the people that have welcomed me into their lives. I only regret that I was not so quick to open myself up a share. The one thing that I learnt from my time in Hokkaido, Tianjin and Kuala Lumpur is that more times than not there isn't a "right" way or "wrong" way there are only different ways to approach ones life.