MY LIFE AS A VICTORIAN
My first impressions of V.I. as I can remember them from that first rainy June morning were perhaps some of the most humbling I had ever felt. Crawling through the form one and form two students on the wet floor of the V.I. hall, I felt as if I were some unexplained phenomenon. Those at whom I smiled merely shot back unfriendly glances, not unlike that of an animal whose territory is threatened. Life at Victoria Institution looked unfriendly, and I did not look forward to it.
On the first day at afternoon lines, I was called to the back, and greeted later by what I can now see was a very friendly prefect. He asked me my name, and if I had any questions, formally advising me to get a badge and a nametag. I was called later a few subsequent times, and thus, I was acquainted to the Malaysian system in which students are the overseers of discipline. As time progressed, I grew to see the prefects as inhuman (but not inhumane), somewhat immortal beings whose domain ascended beyond the privileges and niceties of even teachers. At times, this awe bred hatred, but respect dominated, and I came to admire this system in a great way, as it was something entirely unfamiliar to me in America.
After morning assembly on the first day, Puan Salha escorted me to the class in which I was to stay for the duration of my exchange: Lower Six, BM1. After a few days, things became cemented for me. I figured out where things were, and most of all, I made friends. Being only sixteen years old, and in a form six class posed no problem to me, even until now. However, I wonder what things would have been like had I stayed in a form four class with students my age. I certainly would not have been able to meet any girls!
One big frustration for me was that in the United States, I met an old Victorian who had become a doctor, and was a friend of my father’s. Since he was a student before Independence, the school was still run by the British, and so the medium of instruction was British Standard English. Hence, I came to Malaysia with the idea that I would be able to participate in school as an active member, to further my studies in a different system. I was quite dismayed when my Chemistry teacher told me that I should "enjoy the culture of Malaysia, and not worry about school." Though it was good advice, it was disappointing, and has caused a few regrets.
Though it is not good at all to lament on and on about various regrets, I feel it is necessary for me to voice them, for future exchange students, as I am sure many Victorians will later study abroad. First, as I have mentioned, I regret not being able to study. However, I later came to realize that it was quite impossible for me to expect to command Bahasa Malaysia after two months, let alone one week. Thus, this regret has ceased to cause me further problems. Second, I regret not getting more involved in various societies and after school activities. For this, there really is no excuse, however this regret stems directly from the third; I deeply regret not staying for one year. As many students, parents, faculty, and taxi drivers have told me, two months is a very short time. Filling out the application in the U.S., the period of two months seemed logical and fitting, whereas the period of one year didn’t appear even an option for me. However now I see that it really is a short time, though there is absolutely nothing I can do about it now, with one day left of school. These are the only regrets that I will take back with me on Sunday when I depart.
Though only a temporary student, I found myself becoming increasingly prouder and prouder of V.I. Having heard rumours even in the United States of the prestige V.I. carried, it was no wonder I was proud to be a Victorian. As I became used to B.M., I came to find that when people asked me how I liked my school, I would proudly say: "Sekolah saya, Victoria Institution ialah sekolah yang terbaik." Though this pride may seem common place to most old Victorians, I find it interesting, because the primary pastime in the United States is criticising one’s school. So, the pride I developed for Victoria Institution is something that I have grown to enjoy and love, something so drastically different from the school spirit I had before known. I would like to extend special thanks to the Interact Club of V.I. for taking me to Alor Setar, a time during which I first experienced my V.I. patriotism. The five interacters who went with me became such close friends to me that I am sad I met them so late, leaving just as our friendship began.
Of course I have many thanks I would like to give to Encik Shuib and Puan Salha and all of the teachers at Victoria Institution. I would like to thank the prefects for their amazing tolerance (today I was late for the first time), and to my classmates and friends, for making this stay enjoyable. Without these people’s assistance, my stay would have been difficult, and very unhappy. As it turns out, it was easy, and went by so very quickly, that the time spent here seems unrealistically short. So this is the end, and it makes me sad. I know I will return to V.I. in the future, for I am drawn to it with an allegiance so strong, I find it very difficult to leave.
Exchange Student From the United States of America
Russell Farhang
1990
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