I was the only Malay kid there. The thing I remember about my year there was that I always got pinched on my bottom because I refused to go with the other children to the chapel (to pray lah) above the classroom. I was always bullied by the teacher but one thing I must thank her was that she drilled me in Arithmetic and English and instilled in me self-confidence. I was not scared at all. However, at the end of the year I told Father I did not want to continue attending the Sacred Heart Convent. I wanted to go to another school - didn't like the school. So my parents enrolled me for Standard One, at the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus, another convent not far from the previous one where I stayed happily until Form 5.
My Standard One class on the right.
I remember the first day in school I wore a pretty pink frock with a white bodice and several black embroided lace roses sewn at the bodice. Mother sent me for registration after which I told her to go home because I felt independent and didn't want her to be seen 'babying' me like the other new kids. Because of the strict kindergarten year at the previous convent I think, I was slightly cleverer than my classmates (ahem..). The lessons bored me, I already knew my time-tables. I only enjoyed the art and craft lessons, making little dolls, cardboard prams and the like. So? I ran around the class most of the time disturbing or helping the other kids in their work. Surprise of surprises, at the end of the year I got double promotion to Standard Three! Must be clever, ya? I remember the others - Constance, Li Leen, Eleanor and one more Chinese kid also got double promotion. Not bad, kan?
3 comments:
Wah, Missy new look for the new year.
Welcome back to school you three!!
Salam Putri,
I remembered well my first day enroll in Form I B of Cikgu's class.
It was short liften because 2weeks after enrollment on the class we have to sit for entrance exam to determine the classes we would graded on A till G class.Mine as usual does not fall into the catageory.Average Joe that me.
But hack with it.
However,on the first week of enrolment some good news from the Form teacher,Cikgu,
She handed an application forms of the Federal Minor Schlorship forms to the deserving student.
Me squibbing for one went a head and approach her for the forms.
She blink at me,and said '...you do not deserve to apply for this Federal Minor schlorship which cost $25 at that time.'
Others deserve more than you do.
How true.
Correct what the teacher told me off.She taught me,not to be greedy.
Only deserving student need to apply which means one has to be really in dire straits to apply for one.
Some how my family manage and I do not get even Bantuan buku text till I completed school.
Ayah the provided and he provides all 3 of us ample according to his means as a salaried Govt.clerk.in the 70's.
God Bless ayah.
It was at later stage I took a loan to persued my studies abroad.
Remember,Putri in the 70's 'getah keping asap berbunga harganya 20 cent sekati.
That is how develop we was in the early stage of Malaysia.
God save this beloved country.
Wassalam
Pak Tuo a.k.a Wir
Somehow I prefer to address you as "Wir", the one I knew. Cos "Pak Tuo" was my Pak Pakeh Tamanggung. and my "Mak Tuo" was your Nenek Sayan. So calling you "Pak Tuo" sounds so old lah... Hope you don't mind.
Thanks for the visit and adding more memorabalia here. It makes "Muhasabah Diri" more meaningful. Alhmdu-li-Allah you and your sisters have done well. And I know you are not "kacang lupakan kulit" type. Keep going, Wir ...
Always like to hear from you. Your comments make interesting reading.
Salam to you n Family,
Cikgu Nazli
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