As a teacher, I have had many memorable experiences but one of the most fascinating has got to be observing my colleagues from other states as they deal with their first days in Sabah. Born and bred in Sabah, I never really had much reason or opportunity to question what sort of image Sabah presented to the outside world (which includes other states in Malaysia) until I went to university in Kuala Lumpur. And, of course, when I began working as a teacher. My first inkling of how 'scary' Sabah can be to outsiders came during my third year in university. I had coursemates who quickly got married ... it was the first time I had ever heard of 'nikah gantung'. Apparently, they could get married but it was a sort of 'marriage on hold' (if such a thing exists..). What mattered was that they could get a marriage certificate that would help 'save' them from the jungles of Sabah and Sarawak. Then, during the briefing I attended to receive my first posti...
Comments