Maid in Indonesia

Today I went teaching at my old primary school. The students seemed to be talking with musical tones. I really donno why. Were we like that when we were kids? I know I wasn't.

"Cikgu (high tone), saya tidak (low tone) tahu apa (high tone) ini (low tone)?

That sounded SO weird when if you say it in your head. I guess that's what makes them cute right.

I am still getting used to these "NEW" environment. I mean, after close to 15 years of leaving primary sch, I forgot that such conversation tones could ever exist. These kids, when they talk, they just make you go, "Woah....." with your eyes wide open. They're really expressive and animated. These period of extreme expression animation would stop by the time they realize that, "I really sound like silly and uncool". These usually happens when they hit primary 4 onwards.

In the midst of me teaching, one raised his hand, this primary 3 kid,

"Cikgu orang Indonesia eh?"

I asked why and he said that I have an Indonesian tone. Chia lat... Then he went on.

"You speak like my Bibik (his maid)"

YOUR BIBIK? OMMG!! But I knew there was nothing malicious or sarcastic about it.

Then he carried on innocently

"Cikgu!"

i said, "Yeah..." too tired already..haha

"I always watch the Indonesian serial with my Bibik. Hikmah 2 Cikgu!"

Then the whole class raptured into this Hikmah 2 discussions.

What am I to do. I can teach. Never a problem but when your Bahasa Indonesia accent can't be removed, all I could do is damage control. Sometimes, I can't be bothered. I just rock and roll my way through class.

jamiel
i only have 2 A+ in my whole life. Post Modern Theatre Studies and my blood type