Be omide didar (به امید دیدار) (be o-MI-de di-DAR): “Hoping to see you again”
This is one of the first Farsi phrases I learned during my internship. I love it because it is so simple but also able to communicate a sincere combination of connection and hope.
Now it seems as though I’ve only blinked and just like that, I’ve reached my final week in Kuala Lumpur. The time has flown by faster than I could have ever imagined. When I first arrived in KL and began this internship, six months felt like such a long and unknown stretch ahead. But between organizing the office, hosting workshops, planning school events, and celebrating public holidays, the months have disappeared into a blur of meaningful moments.
These last few months have come with a shift of endings and beginnings, a theme that brings me back to that first phrase I learned. In this blog I will recap the highlights.
At the end of August I began teaching English to the Tuition Prep Class. This class is for a newer students who are still building their confidence in English before joining the mainstream classes.
When I was first encouraged to guest teach, I felt a little nervous because I hadn’t had much experience in leading my own class. However, my nervousness quickly went away with the students’ shyness combined with their determination to learn which quickly inspired me to fully embrace my new role as “Teacher Maddy”.
In no time, teaching has turned out to be one of the most creative and rewarding parts of this internship. Our classes are a mix of discussions, listening, speaking activities, and grammar lessons filled with bits of laughter and shared learning. One of my favourite class memories was when I accidentally said “na na” instead of “no no” (a simple slip from practicing Farsi) while teaching and the room erupted into laughter, each shaking their heads and correcting me in English.
One of my favourite parts of this class is the way my students consistently lift each other up and practice confidently. I love those moments when someone raises a hand, pauses, and realizes they already know the answer only to be met with nods of encouragement or a quick thumbs-up from their classmates. I feel so encouraged by their determination which is inspiring and contagious. I will miss our classroom banter.
I have also loved working closely with other teachers especially our end-of-day chats, shared lesson ideas, and the mutual support we give one another. It’s become something I look forward to every single day.
Another highlight of this month was cheering on one of my fellow teammates in her fight at the KL Fight International Muay Thai Challenge. It was so fun to watch everyone get excited for her and to see the team get together to support her which was a big moment for the gym. She ended up winning and everyone got together to celebrate. It was a touching moment and made me appreciate this amazing community that I’ve been welcomed into.
Soon after, October brought some exciting reunions welcoming both former and current interns to KL. It was really special to show them around, especially introducing them to my class and the school environment.
Later that month brought more exploration and an unexpected connection during a quick visa-run to Singapore. I spent the weekend wandering through hawker centres, strolling along the river, and taking in the city. But the real highlight was meeting Emmelene, a solo traveler who I quickly connected with. We spent a day exploring and swapping stories about our experiences. Later, she visited KL at the end of the month and I had the chance to show her around on a nighttime walking tour. It felt like such a full-circle moment, to realize just how much I’ve learned about this city. Watching her take it all in (and pick up a bit of Malaysian lingo) reminded me of my own first impressions.
These connections, some new and others returning, are what I’ll remember most from my time here.
And finally, November has arrived. The month which seemed so far away in the beginning is now here. I have quickly found myself wanting to revisit some of my favourite places that helped me settle in from my first month here. One of them was the Thean Hou Temple, this time glowing beautifully at night, a contrast from my first daytime visit months ago. During this visit, Gwen and I listened to a choir performing as people gathered for a celebration. As I watched the lanterns now softly glowing in the dark. I looked out over the city that I have grown so connected to. Watching people visiting for the first time and having their own beginnings felt like witnessing my own beginnings from a distance. I know that six months is only a glimpse of time but it feels like it has made a new part of me glow.
This was also a special weekend because we finally visited the National Mosque (Masjid Negara), something new but that had been on our initial list of places to visit in our first month. Our visit was led by a guided tour volunteer, who taught us more about the design elements of the mosque and the diverse cultural influences that had inspired it, many of which connect to the countries represented throughout our school.
November also brought the realization that time is swiftly slipping through my fingers. At work, we have begun wrapping up our final projects and planning our closing activities. During the last week of Girls Club, I organized a final event combining some of our favourite activities from the past six months, with plenty of dancing, laughter, and a shared potluck meal. As the girls reminisced about their last party with former interns, I found myself feeling excited for the next group of interns who will get to create their own version of Girls’ Club. I am grateful to have been a part of this MSRI tradition and to watch it continue to grow.
Now with only a week left it’s hard for me to believe that this chapter is coming to a close. Each experience from these past couple of months spent teaching, learning, exploring, and connecting has made Kuala Lumpur feel like my second home. When I talk to everyone here about my return to Canada I am almost always asked “when will you return?!”, which brings me a sense of hope.
Goodbyes are never easy, but they have also made me realize how lucky I have been to feel so at home here. I am also reminded of the privilege I have to return freely and safely to my home country. As I prepare to leave, I keep thinking about my students and their resilience, optimism, and strength in the way they face their own goodbyes with courage. The act of leaving, which feels so heavy for me now, is the very thing that many of them dream of, whether it’s a new place or a chance to return to their home country. Their strength gives me this perspective, which I carry with me as I prepare for my own departure.
I want to offer a special thank you to everyone who made this experience so meaningful. To Andrea, Sakina, my fellow teachers, and of course Gwen and Jaiya, you have each taught me lessons that I’ll carry into my next chapter. I’m so grateful to have shared this journey with all of you.
I know that this place and the people that I have met here will always hold a special place in my heart.
Be omide didar,
به امید دیدار
Maddy
