Malaysia School Workshop, 2nd Day
由 Amber 于 03/05/2012 - 13:30 发表
适合打印的版本
We got an early start today (6:45 AM!) because it is a long drive to SMK Seri Kundang from our 
hotel. Our team is made of former SEED student Simon Lim and myself plus three volunteers: our beloved Doreah (former SEED coordinator), the energetic Lily Ngeau (DCS), and the handsome Abdul Hanan (CSL) who looks like a young Malaysian Johnny Depp.
We were welcomed by the school "Kompang" the traditional Malaysian drummers, young men dressed in colorful clothes. This school has 1,300 students and is built in one large rectangular building 4 stories high with a large courtyard in the middle.
As culture demands it, here I was invited to make a speech in which I mentioned the entire SEED staff and the volunteers who make SEED possible. The students were excited because it is the first time they have seen a white woman, other than on TV!
We just started the water testing in the school lab surrounded by 37 eager students,12 teachers, head of the parents association, and the headmistress (pictured with me at right), going back and forth between English and Bahasa, pairing each students' group with a teacher and one of us.
Some of the students' teams names they came up with this week are funny: "Escargot", "3G" (for gorgeous, genius and generous), "Selamber aje" (phonetically it sounds like Schlumberger but in Bahasa it means "casual").
Warm but not too hot today as yesterday storm cooled the air but created floods in the city ... which also cut the power in the hotel I was staying in for hours. I left early this morning in the dark inside and outside.
The teachers and students are excited about our program of water testing and cement experiment. They want to collaborate with SEED because of our science exploration workshops. They already have 40 computers and Internet provided by the government. This is wonderful as we can focus on supporting their STEM education without having to invest in hardware.
They have been involved with us since the December 2011 SEED National Camp, and then with Youthcan.
The teachers are mostly women and the school is coed. Their enthusiasm is rooted in making science fun, practial experience, exploring interesting issues such as water and working in teams. Their attention is intense; there is no need for authority. This is the best indicator of engagement!
Lily Ngeau 
Doreah Jaluladin
Kompang drum ceremony
Abdul Hanan 
Simon Lim
School facilitators 
Students
More students
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Very nice to read a detailed narrative that conveys my emotions most, picturing out what had been said - a great recuerdo for them.
How I wish that Ma'am Simone Amber could visit the Philippines too!
Thanks Ma'am Simone for your steadfast love to the youth!
God bless us all!
Simone,
It sounds like the floods and early morning made for quite an adventurous trip!
It is so inspiring to hear about the enthusiasm of the students as they explore our SEEDKITs- thank you for sharing this wonderful experience.
Maya
I was at the YouthCaN presentation from this school, and I was so impressed with the students' work on the Smart Road Lamp project. I would love to have the chance to meet them in person. Your blog is the next best thing.
Sounds like the workshops are in great hands!! Thanks for the wonderful report. I am especially happy to see "Auntie Doreah" involved once more. I met her first at a workshop in Nilai in November of 2005. I composed a song then that we sang to her at the end of the workshop, as part of our tearful departure. Just for fun, I will post it here as well. The words were not the greatest, perhaps, but they were surely heartfelt!
Sing to the tune of "Bye-Bye Love"
Chorus:
Bye-bye, friends.
Bye-bye Ni-i-lai.
Bye-bye, Doreah!
I think I'm going to cry.
Bye-bye friends, bye-bye.
Verses:
I came to Nilai; I came to learn
About the water and what it means.
I worked with GoGo and Microworlds
To make a project that has it all!
Chorus
I came to Nilai to make new friends.
I joined a new group and learned new names.
We worked together and had some fun,
Teachers and students all worked as one.
Chorus
Now goodbye, Nilai, I'm going away.
I will remember our time today.
I will continue to work and learn.
I will help others and have some fun.
Chorus
Wow, Tom, I never knew you were such a poet! This is great!
I still remember this song!
Nilai workshop was the first SEED workshop that I attended. I met Auntie Doreah, you, Carla, and Michael there.
At first it was a bit of a cultural shock for me. Coming from a small fishing village on the east coast, I was too shy to speak at that time, and joining the workshop with multiracial and international participants and facilitators was a bit intimidating for me. But I was wrong. Everyone was so energetic, sharing ideas, laughing, and totally having fun doing the SEED activities.
Here I am, 6, almost 7 years later, still volunteering for this amazing organization that literally changed my life.
Seeing a new generation of SEED students, eager and passionate toward science and technology really made my day!
My advice is to stay passionate, love everything you do, believe in yourself, and believe in your dreams!
Much love,
Hafiz Azizi
Great story, Hafiz! Thank you for sharing, SEED is so lucky to have volunteers like you!
Great song for Ma'am Simone, Sir Tom!
Congrat, po!
"I will remember our time today.
I will continue to work and learn.
I will help others and have some fun."
Very nice Tom and it is even nicer to see that it is really happening :)!
VIVA SEED!
Truly LONG LIVE SEED! LONG LIVE Sir Tom! You are such a great composer!
Ma'am Corinne, may I ask if SEED has a hymnal song for all!
Many thanks, po!
The most sophisticated and comprehensive metrics would not capture what your narrative describes: engagement and passion. I bet the workshop impacted students and teachers equally. Thank you for your report.
I wish we could all be there. When I see the Water Testing SEEDKITS being used, I feel like the whole SEED team is there is spirit as we have all contributed to make SEEDKITS a reality and make them available to teachers and students around the world.
Bravo for braving the heat, the rain and the loss of power to be part of this workshop! Keep the updates coming as we all share the experience through your words and pictures.
Dear Simone,
The way you wrote your blog made me feel as if I was there.
I could imagine a SEED Stories, Workshop book, and I am eager to read the next chapter... and happy that it is happening in the real life and not only virtual.
Thank You SO MUCH!
All the best,
Corinne