Well the bubble has burst and I'm back again at my homestay and the routine of work today. It was a really good week and we were all genuinely pleased to see each other and find out all about all our experiences so far. The other mentors in Sarawak are mostly living in towns and cities and travelling out to the schools. There are many more longhouse communities in Sarawak and different ethnic groups to Sabah. Some journeys to school entail a 4 hour drive, 1 hour by boat and the last stretch an hour by foot. There seem to be many more "boarding schools" which the parents don't pay for but it is the only practical way of schooling the children.
So the meetings started at 9 a.m. and usually we were finished at around 6 ish. The best bits for us all (no, not the meetings) were the amazing buffet breakfasts and lunches. Their pastry chef was trained in France and there was just an amazing selection of desserts and pastries, bread etc...not to mention the Indian and Chinese and many other dishes on offer. We went out together in the "big" city a few nights which was fun and somehow ( too long to relate) Liz and I got invited to the opening ceremony of
Women in Sabah Art Exhibition which was opened by the Minister of Tourism and it was full of VIP's and adults dressed up in Sabah costumes! A few of us treated ourselves to another night in the Hyatt hotel as we got a corporate rate which was just about affordable and we were able to enjoy the swimming pool and other luxuries for a little longer.
Emily and I returned yesterday afternoon with our bags full of shampoo, conditioner, soap, cotton buds, coffee and tea sachets etc. Is there ever a stage in one's life that one doesn't feel the need to always take the freebies?! The photos are of fellow mentors, (Liz and Pauline) and strange costumes at the art exhibition.
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