Part 3 Long HOUSE STAY

  I was surprised to see so many people gathered at the Long  house leader's living room. The whole community of the long house waited eagerly to receiver the new guest. Everyone was with their sweetest smile , smiled at me.
     Once I entered the living room , I shaked hand with everyone and wish every one "Apa khabar" and they all answered ," baik"!! I called the little ones and gave them some wafers. They were overjoyed and smiled. The adults were not left out , they got their share. I was exausted due to my long and tiring journey. 
     The leader, who was my foster father invited me for dinner. There I  joined the family members. "Nasi Iban" locally grown rice served with additional dish known as "sup terjun" a tasteless vegetable sup, fried Chicken and soy sauce fried  monkey.

        The Rice and chicken tasted delicious but the soup and fried monkey taste "unbearable". Two local teachers who being the wardens of the nearest school,  joined us during  dinner and they asked the  purpose of  my  visit to  the long house. I told them , that I want to teach the  children during holidays and want to experience  the life in the  long house for a week. According to the teachers , those who are husband and wife, all the children, when in standard one need to study in boarding school, because home is too far from school to returned daily.According to them the kids back home during long school holidays only.

     I came to know that these two teachers are the only teachers from the  long house who had completed high school so far and  teach in School. But from the learners I Learjet that these kids eat  good or nutritious food only in school and when they back home they eat what was brought by their parents from the jungle. These kids eat two main meals per day when in school. For  lunch and dinner daily chicken of fish served,  Breakfast served at 10am with cream Cracker and tea, Lunch at  12 pm, rice , chicken and One veg served . Dinner at 6pm and rice with the balance chicken and veg.