First Formal Education

We normally have lunch in the office. Sometimes we eat at our desk in-front of our PC or laptop and sometimes we have a luxury of gathering at our resource room chit-chatting and reading newspaper while or after having lunch. The topics of discussion can vary from work to economics to artist to politics and family. Recently a colleague told us the antiques of her six year old daughter. It was really funny and reminded me of my first formal education. What a huge gap it was as compared to what children nowadays have to go through at kindergarten and school.

How's your first formal education go? Do you still remember?

I had a really short stint in kindergarten. My mom decided not to continue sending me there because after some time (I don't know how long exactly), I only knew how to spell from A to F :) She said we spend more time playing than learning. Anyway, during my time, kindergarten was more of a luxury than a necessity.

I don't remember much about my time at the kindergarten. I remember we have singing sessions and in one of them I belted 'One Way Ticket' that must have sounded like Greek because I don't know English 'sepatah haram' back then. The only thing that makes sense must be the chorus that contains 'One way ticket to the ...' I still don't know the lyrics of that song until now :D Singing is never my strong point. Dancing will be more of my type hehehe...

I still remember I don't like the rice porridge provided during recess time. I told the teacher I'm not eating the porridge, it smelled like 'fart' hahahaha... I remember I have a favorite batik matching blouse and skirt that I always wore and I also remember abah dropping me off on his motorbike. Was it his Vespa? I can't remember whether he already uses his Vespa then or did he got it much later.

When I was in Standard One, I was quite clueless to the lessons taught in school. I remember we have exercise books with big squares where we have to write 1s for full page, and 2s on the next page, 3s and so on. Similarly with alphabets. I love the feel and smell of a new book, I always lose my pencil and ended up having to write with black color pencil. My exercise book was ugly with smudges from the color pencil.

I love to read or the thought of being able to read ever since I was young. I would look at our text book and read out loud based on the pictures on the book using my imagination. I haven't a clue what was written on them. Be it Malay or English book. I can finally read the Malay books by the second term I think because the spelling session with the vowels make sense to me so much so that I proudly pronounced 'Dutch Baby' as 'dootch babai' to my mom showing her I can already read :)

My father was a fan to Majalah Gila-Gila. He kept them all and what once a material for scribbling and doodling for my brother and I, became my best friend. I read them all and would get frustrated if I couldn't find the continuing series. I can't remember the name of the series I love to follow but the hero only have two front teeth. If I asked mom, she would say either my brother or I tore the pages of some of the magazines and maybe it was thrown away. I do remember Tan Tin Tun and Dan Din Don. I learned chess from Dan Din Don.

English was a mystery to me. There were no rules. I always got scolded by our 'Cikgu Teacher' during reading session. She always pinch the back of my hand for writing mistakes. Back then there's no Sesame Street or Barney to help us with our English lesson. When I first heard English on TV I asked mom why watch Chinese movie. Suddenly one day, as if I got a revelation, I can smoothly read a paragraph in class. I was elated when Cikgu Teacher praised me. I even have few extra friends who must have thought this girl is so 'pandai' can read English already so better be friend with her.

From then on, I started reading all the English books out loud at home, whether I understood the meaning or not. I may have mispronounced some words but I love the fact that I can already read. I remember 1 pink and 1 yellow book about a girl living in Toa Payoh and I love reading the two books. After that I became a voracious reader. Anything that has something written on it, will be read. I have to thank Cikgu Teacher Jaswant Singh for that. For some reason, I remembered her name tonight. She has long straight hair and she wore glasses. I can't recall her face though.

Nowadays children already have to learn big numbers of summation and subtraction and know how to read at kindergarten. My colleague's daughter already feel pressured to pass her kindergarten exam. Children have to grow up faster now. I pity them.