My new neighbour and me were having a friendly conversation. Probably more comfortable with the language, halfway through our conversation she started to speak in Mandarin instead of English. Then very quickly she stopped and asked "Do you know Mandarin?" I told her yes, I was in a Chinese medium school up to primary 6. Then I also told her that when I had to change from the Chinese medium school to a national school, I cried for weeks. After more than 5 decades I still remember so clearly how, after loosing the chance to continue secondary school in a Chinese medium school, I used to cry quietly to myself every morning when I walked to school, for quite a few weeks.
I also remember clearly I used to enjoy my primary schooling. One of my favourite activities in the school was Chinese calligraphy classes. The headmaster used to enter me into Chinese calligraphy competitions and I used to win for my school several times. I was also the HM's favourite and used to enjoy many privileges, like personal coaching from him in the HM's room before the competitions. He also gave me a painting done by him personally as a gift which unfortunately I had lost over the years.
Memory is a child walking along a seashore. You never can tell what small pebble it will pick up and store away among its treasured things. ~Pierce Harris, Atlanta Journal
No comments:
Post a Comment