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Published: October 13th 2014
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Around Pahang
I almost had this as my view! But the view was nicer than the house. It's been a busy and hectic week. On top of all the training and running around needed, I also managed to not get a full night's sleep. Ever. Waking at 2-3 am became the norm and I somehow managed to stay awake until 10pm the next night, unable to even nap. Worst time adjustment ever. But at least I managed to stay awake all day!
Monday we three new mentors were picked up at the resort and whisked across town to company headquarters for training. The first day they went pretty easy on us and even took us out to lunch! That evening they planned a nice night out at a local country club type venue with great food and beers. It was nice to be social and talk about things other than my new job. Tuesday was more of the same, and Wed was a scheduled half day. We were supposed to fly to our new homes that afternoon so we could get started on Thursday.
On Tuesday there was a manager in the office sitting near the bulletin board with everyone's photos and locations. We were, of course, curious where we might be placed. I'd indicated on
paperwork that I was most interested in two southern states. (I chose the two with the most Toastmasters clubs.) The manager said they really needed two people in Pahang, in his region, actually. I explained my main criteria and he said there's a club in Kuantan! Well, it was settled. It wasn't where I'd pictured myself, but I think the cost of living might be a bit lower and I get a Mon-Fri work week, versus a Sun-Thurs work week. (Some states have Friday and Saturday as the weekend, following the Islamic calendar of Friday as the holy day.)
So the other mentor and I flew out Thurs, bright and early. (Don't worry, I'd already been up since 130 am!) We picked up our cars from the rental agency and hit the road. So there I am, exhausted, in a brand new car with only 29 km on it, carrying shoddy directions to our hotel, and being told that driving there on the wrong side of the road will be a piece of cake. It was easier than I thought, and I did manage to avoid leaving a path of destruction in my wake. I will say, though, that
motorbikes are smaller and sneakier than I remember. We got sufficiently lost en route but did manage to drive the 17 km distance in about an hour. We just took the scenic route before parking in the world's tiniest parking garage.
That afternoon we met a few other people in the company as well as someone important in the Ministry of Education. Everyone seems kind and genuine and I'm looking forward to working with them.
Friday we left bright and early to shadow another mentor at her school. The students were having sports day practice, though, so we didn't really get to see her in action. I'll meet teachers at my schools next week. In the afternoon we did some event planning and ran some errands. Nothing exciting but all necessary. Kuantan is a nice town but a bit confusing to get around since so many of the streets turn several times. And some of them have changed direction, with painted road arrows still visible pointing in the direction opposite of traffic!
Tomorrow I start house hunting. We're lucky enough to get a hotel to stay in for a week, but a week really isn't a very
long!
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Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
I lived in Pahang State...
graduating from high school in Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands. If you ever need a cool break in a British Hill Station, that's where you want to go. After I graduated the school, Dalat International School, moved to the north end of Penang Island, which is also great.