Constipation

I'm currently teaching the chapter on human digestion for Form 2 Science. They like it when I talk about constipation.

That's right. I tell them why you get constipation, how to avoid constipation, what happens during constipation... Talk about the rectum, the anus, and how you bleed when the anus wall gets cut by hard, sharp faeces... Tell them how you can shove pills into a sick cow's anus with your hands because its size is so huge... They like it! They listen with rapt attention. I don't know if the cow part is even true. But it doesn't matter, does it.

You try to expound every organ in the human digestive system, its functions and the enzymes involved in every stage of digestion... They don't give 2 hoots about it. You talk to them about defecation. That one, they like.

I came to asking myself: Why do I bother to systematically break down content matter, justify every statement I make, rationalize every point to make it reasonable... When absolutely none of those are remotely necessary? I can just make senseless statements without checking the facts. And they love it even more.

Speaking of constipation. I think I'm getting verbal constipation. I practically have no one to speak English with, except on Sundays. The Streamyx guy is taking a short eternity to fix things, so I can't blog. When I meet a Chinese fellow, and I have to speak Malay. And they'll go glancing at my name tag. "Oh, I'm actually Portuguese," I should say.

No wonder missionaries have stress levels that are a hundred fold greater than ordinary, local people.

I miss my days in St. Xaviers Institution and Penang Free School... Where you make sense to people when you speak intelligent English. I glance down 10 years down the road... If I'm still teaching Science for Form 1 and 2... I dunno. It bothers me.

I look at my class of 30 Form 1 students and 60 Form 2 students. I can't imagine how they are ever gonna make it in the world out there. I ask myself, "Am I looking at 90 cases of hopeless failures every day? What can I do to help them?"

Yesterday, a group of chinese boys were showing a severe case of disinterest and disruptive behaviour. After several attempts at conventional class control, I gave them a dose of rebuke. I muttered softly under my voice. In monotone. In fluent, perfect English. I didn't mince my words nor stuttered. I spoke much softer than my ordinary voice. I directed it to the group of Chinese boys. I told them things they didn't want to hear. Nor do I think any teacher ever did. The whole class fell into a pin-fall silence.

No rotan needed.

How come the Chinese kids know I'm scolding them? I was speaking close to a whisper. Yet, they can hear. I think they know English. They just pretend not to, so they can have a license to simply not know things.

Yesterday, the Principal said she wanted me to join the AJK for PIBG. "Guru Cina kena masuk PIBG," she said. Yeah. I'm so gonna communicate with the parents of the students who can't speak English.

"How can I help them?" I ask myself over and over again. "These are kids from very poor families. From practically zero education background. What can I do?"

Well. Maybe what they need right now is a little charity.

Hmmm... I think I know what to do.