It must have been a hundred years ago when I was in the kindergarten, apparently going through those torturous moments learning the A-B-C and 1-2-3. Can you imagine what it was like, trying to memorize the 26 letters of the alphabet? And then the numbers—oh! so many of them, and there’s just no limit too! Not to mention that we also had to do a bit of Jawi. The only good thing I can remember about the kindergarten was that I had so many friends to play with everyday.
But apart from waking up early to go to school, each day we had plenty of homeworks to do too! Those forsaken homeworks—we had to practise writing the letters and numbers. Such a torture, especially since the “d” looked so much like the “b”; and “17” looked so much like “71”. Little did I know that that was just the beginning of the years of mental torture I had to go through! I’m so glad that my schooling days are now behind me.
Actually, except for the above, there isn’t much I can remember about the kindergarten days. Well, OK, there was this big bully I was so scared of. And I just hated it when he kept picking on me—and only me alone! Was I a magnet for big bullies or what?
One thing I can remember was that my kindergarten days were not very sophisticated as what we have these days. Certainly there wasn’t any concerts where the kids had to perform; we did not have the so-called graduation day too.
Recently, JJ had finally completed her 2 years at the kindergarten. A couple of weeks before the end of the school term, they had a big concert where all the kids took part to perform a couple of songs and dances. That has become almost a trend these days. It’s a good opportunity for the school to raise funds. They sell tickets to the parents and grandparents. And those tickets are not exactly cheap! But, y’know, when it’s your kids performing on stage, can you refrain from attending those concerts?
But apart from waking up early to go to school, each day we had plenty of homeworks to do too! Those forsaken homeworks—we had to practise writing the letters and numbers. Such a torture, especially since the “d” looked so much like the “b”; and “17” looked so much like “71”. Little did I know that that was just the beginning of the years of mental torture I had to go through! I’m so glad that my schooling days are now behind me.
Actually, except for the above, there isn’t much I can remember about the kindergarten days. Well, OK, there was this big bully I was so scared of. And I just hated it when he kept picking on me—and only me alone! Was I a magnet for big bullies or what?
One thing I can remember was that my kindergarten days were not very sophisticated as what we have these days. Certainly there wasn’t any concerts where the kids had to perform; we did not have the so-called graduation day too.
Recently, JJ had finally completed her 2 years at the kindergarten. A couple of weeks before the end of the school term, they had a big concert where all the kids took part to perform a couple of songs and dances. That has become almost a trend these days. It’s a good opportunity for the school to raise funds. They sell tickets to the parents and grandparents. And those tickets are not exactly cheap! But, y’know, when it’s your kids performing on stage, can you refrain from attending those concerts?
After the big concert the kids had a graduation day! Graduation day!? During my time in the kindergarten, we’ve never heard of a graduation day. It’s no joke—they’re dressed up in the robes and square hats. All very grand, you see.
And apart from the graduation ceremony, my JJ also received a Certificate of Participation for some sort of maths classes which her mommy enrolled her in. She still gets confused between her “17” and “71” occasionally, but she gets a certificate! Wow! Cool, huh?
JJ is very happy that she's done with kindergarten. She has the (wrong) impression that she’s done with school. Perhaps she thinks she can now spend everyday staying at home watching Mariposa and Island Princess. Little does she know that she’s going to spend the next 15 years or more in school.
In about 2 weeks’ time, she will be going to primary one. I really hope that she will be able to cope with her studies. In about 15 years from now, if I’m lucky, she will be dressed up in a similar robe and square hat again; and get a piece a paper known as a degree. Only this time it will probably cost me several hundred thousand bucks. But that is if she’s hardworking enough to get that far. Otherwise, I’m gonna enjoy her education fund myself!
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