This photo was adapted from an appeal to recruit volunteers.
The school is nothing but a wooden hut slightly smaller than 6m x 8m in dimension. The wooden pillars have cracked and the thatched sides falling. The morning session was fully packed with 45 Grade1 kids, sharing 13 tables. They have no uniform or shoes. Only 75% of the students are present. The rest need not come - There is no more room.
They really need a new school and you can make the difference!
I guess the schools in Spore are indeed a notch above those in other ASEAN nations. Yet,many local students are still complaining about the lack of modern facillities. Unlike the student community in Spore,these foreign children lack BASIC facillities! Yes, simple things such as tables and chairs. The photo reminded me of how my father retold his childhood sch days. Running to school(u think they can afford bus?Yar, stark contrast to teens nowadays flagging cabbies whenever they're late for lects)in worn-out shoes and hole-in-socks. Unable to afford the cost of an umbrella, Dad often pluck lotus leaves to fight(and take flight in) the heavy downpour. Yet, those thin leaves were too fragile to protect his shivering soul against any thunderstorms.They were merely wavering shelters to seek temporary solace.
Dad used to copy his notes diligently, sacrificing his recess, since it's the only time to borrow his more-well-to-do-classmate's TB.Dad could only afford a pencil(and we were EVER so lucky to write with the comfort of mechanical pencils!)and a yellowed-tattered excercise bk to scribble on. Dad knew many of his klazmates looked down on him due to his poverty. Yet, he was deeply touched by the only klazmate who lent him the precious TB, even till this day. Dad tole me the gals in his klaz flipped thru the class register to 'hook' or 'fish' rich guys as potential husbands. But poor dad could only sit in silence, hiding at one corner to look on, wondering if he would even afford to get his dreamgirl out on a date.He remarked students nowadays will nvr understand the pathetic classroom condition in his kampung days.Even if we were to, it is because we thought we could.
[Dad never knew my mum would be his wife. He was fortunately impressed that my mum refused to hop onto a Mercedes, keen on picking her up...just to stick out thru the thick and thins with a pauper. For that, he believed that being born poor ain't everything. It was the faith my mum had in him that saw their love to fruition and brought him to be as successful as today.And on top of his numerous philosophies, he repeated the importance not to judge an individual by his looks.Maybe the true essence of Valentine's day is for those who went thru' the odds hand-in-hand.To my respectable parents,Happy Valentine's!]
While white chalks were the norm,colour chalks were celebrated as a fascinating sight!(Im so glad i wasnt a teacher in the begone years. Dried up colour markers would definitely be annoying, let alone using colour chalks,of length that is fit only to be in a child's fingers!)Oh, and dad will be amazed to learn of IVLE and webcast lectures in NUS!
Education these days has certainly progressed a milestone.There can be criticisms and painful accuses directed at various policies in press media, but the very sight of the students(look at the faces and eyes in the pic again) waiting to be 'enlightened', inspire me to join this ever-challenging profession aptly missioned to "Mould The Future of The Nation".
Parcelled to my parents on:Seven-Eleven-Eighty-four(it's a store n more!)
Affectionately known as:WiLdDaZzLez,XiaoYong,Shortie,Ai Zai,XiaoStar,Yep MeiMei,Mee Siam(coz sounds MissSssSsYep),Sotong,Monkey,Leylong,Big-Po,Da-zhu,
Current Ht:Officially 151cm!(No more rounding off)
Wishlist/Personal collections: Canon or Olympus or Sony Digicam ,The Body Shop Series(love the fragrances),Swatches(classy,exotic timepieces), Lamps(of exotic designs),Travel,travel,travel!(Who can sponsor me on a Round the world tour?) FREEDOM .
Missions for this sem: Healthier lifestyle(regular meals + fitness routine + adequate rest),SOIREE2005(NUSHB Annual Concert),CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS:ORIENTAL SUITE, IMPRESSIONS 2005(Harmonica Orchestra annual concert/recitals),
more active volunteering, do sth for those i care abt b4 i graduate,do a kind deed for those who cannot return my favour,spend more quality time w fam/frens, be more observant/sensitive, maintain/pull up my C.A.P, indulge in my likes, pamper myself.
[[*My Adores*]]
Finger-lickin' gastronomies: Kenny Roger's muffins, Fish n Co. Chips,seafood platter, buffets of all sorts,cholatey chocs,
,desserts(Oh, my Cendol!) n patries(TOP FAV:peach Danish),Spicy stuff,Softshell crabs,Almost all fruits(except jackfruit n banana),
Local delights eg. Rojak,BakkutTeh,Popiah,Mee Siam,any (hygenic)mamak dishes,the list keeps evolving...
Savoury concoctions:Iced lemon tea,zappel,fruit juices,green tea,chrysanthemum,honey,tantalising spills!
Idols:My family,my frens,oh, AND I worship myself!wahaha~
My trendy colours:Sapphire blue,soft hues.
[[*My Detests*]]
Pests:Hypocrites,narrow-minded-and-small-hearted ppl,BIG Liars,underhanded cheaters,shallow/insincere creatures!
Solid/fluid wastes:Herbal tonics claiming to boost ht increase,Used to hate bittergourd,but fantastic culinary overode its bitterness somehow.
Obstacles:My hostel's loosened shower grip,AND i got anthr hopeless heater tiz sem!
[[*Music's Playing*]]
Artist:
Song:
Amidst my search//visit Iwebmusic for music
[[*Princess's Past Dreams*]]
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[[*The Conversations*]]
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