Two of my secondary school teachers departed this year. One was my literature teacher who called me 'girlyboo' whenever she wanted me to answer a question. She gave different people different pet names and as far as I can remember mine was quite consistently 'girlyboo.' The other was my P.E teacher, she made us run 2.4km around VJC every lesson. And on her bicycle she'd be on the lookout for girls that were stolling and chit-chatting away. She spotted me chatting once and she ran her bicycle over my toes. That's punishment...how painful. Since then, I learnt how to be on alert and run only when she's within sight. During reccess, we'd walk as far away as possible from her when we spot her as she'd call out to whoever nearest and ask you to pick up the litter on the floor and clear the tables. When the assigned task's not done efficiently, she'd call the one responsible 'Bodoh-sai.'(i.e Stupid shit) I suspect it's a term coined by her 'cos I've yet to hear anyone else use it.

On a lighter note, I thought about a teacher that impacted my life. My P6 form mistress and math teacher. She's stern and commands respect. She walks into the classroom with killer stares and everyone listens to what she has to say. I recall how she stood up for myself and another friend when we had a little dispute with the prefect mistress. We were taken off our prefectorial duties for renting out storybooks. (We bought storybooks and rented them for 20 to 50 cents per week to friends.) The prefect mistress thought it's wrong to profit from fellow students but that form mistress of mine defended us by saying we were just enterprising. She thought well of me and believed in me. Encouraged, I did my work conscientiously and handed my work up on time. She made me love math. I did love math for that very little while. Those were the good 'ol days.

I'm so touched when I received the gifts from my students. It's not the gift that I'm concerned about but the thought of it that warms my heart. It's nice to feel appreciated. The student that I earlier complained about, he saved a little of his pocket money every day to buy me a gift. And I truly appreciate it especially since I know what a miser he can be. *hehe* Times like these will make you feel that teaching's really rewarding. Sadly, it's once a year. Rest of the time, I'm usually frustrated over the sheets I've to mark and getting anxious over grades that doesn't reflect potential. It's funny how my ambition during my younger days changed from being a nurse, to being a ballerina then a teacher. But none of those I've mentioned are what I hope to be. I enjoy teaching and I love little children. (Scrap that and make it well-behaved children.) I can't see myself teaching full-time though, I guess it's not my call.

Cup and teapot set from T and gold cross from K.