One Garden Treasure

I recall many presents big and small, given to me when I was still young and when I started teaching. I remember my first dial up toy telephone from my godmother residing in America. I will never forget the water canteen I was so proud to display in my school as a gift from an aunt. I still recall the many chocolates and cloth given to me by my Chinese students or the presents from my international friends.



In my travels, I often meet friendly people who became my good friends. I met people from Korea, Japan, Greece, Malaysia, France, and others. They gave me something to remember them: cards, small souvenirs, or a pleasant and lovely company. But in one of my local trips to the Sunday market, I happened to board a cab driven by a very friendly driver. When I reached my destination, he refused to accept the fare money and asked me not to pay. I declined, gave the money to the driver, performed a wai (polite Thai greeting) and got off the cab with a questioning face.



One day, there was a knock on my door and there he was, the cab driver. He asked me where my residence was during our short conversation but I didn't know he'll be able to find me. He came to ask for some help regarding his project (later discovering he was studying for his Master's), and gave me a small fern plant (7 cm. in length per leaf) as a token of gratitude. He offered me a wai and was never heard of again.



The plant is still with me, prominently displayed with all its grandeur in front of the house door. It is now 165 cm. in length per leaf and still growing. It continuously produce seeds that grows into small ferns which now surrounds the mother plant. It is one of my most guarded treasures simply because it has a history of madness, surprises, friendship, and loss.



Some presents could be traded off, sold, exchanged or returned. This fern plant goes where I go, as I have transferred to three different locations now. It is a living proof of how I love gardening and how I treasure gifts from people who made a difference in my life.

Gifted

I am deeply honoured to have the chance to meet this wonderful boy and be a part of his learning. He is a typical six year old child who likes playing and reading children's books. What makes him spectacular is his fascination with other things which are simply mind boggling.

He studied in our school when he was three years of age and has shown a delightful interest with the lotus flower. His art works would always have the semblance of a lotus, close or open, in its position and floating above water. He would always excite the teachers and his friends with his interests.

At age six when I started giving him special classes for reading and writing, he talks about three major kingdoms of Thailand and thus our writings will center on them accompanied with illustrations. It is mystifying to see him pick a temple and tell me which period in Thai history the temple was built. It is also mind boggling that he illustrates the temple free hand and without an image to copy. I am always dumb founded since I cannot recognize which temple belongs to the Sukhothai period and what makes a certain temple a product of the Ayuthaya period. I have to do my research so that I can cope up and make sure he is writing correctly about those temples.

One day, I came in early and he gave me a tour of his toys. In one corner of the house was a weaving machine, the old wooden weaving thing found in many provinces and houses of weavers. He told me he was weaving cloth to make himself a shirt. Then he showed me what he was building. Scattered on the floor where numerous candles that he stack one by one to build a temple. Then he decorate them with his treasures. What were his treasures? His collection of rocks, both precious and semi-precious ones.

To top all these surprises, he gave me a rundown of his plans for a birthday party. No birthday cakes as they are very sweet. Thai desserts will be stack together to form a birthday cake. There will be no cola but herbal drinks. There will be games such as weaving cloth, Thai dancing and puppet shows. A stage will need to be put up showing the battle between Thailand and Myanmar. They will have to be dressed in authentic clothes and accompanied by Thai musicians using local instruments. A backdrop will showcase the three kingdoms with illustrations of temples. Everybody needs to come in Thai costumes.

I don't teach him anymore but his great thoughts and creative ideas will always be in my mind. He is indeed a wonderful child and will be a great asset to this wonderful world of us.

First Impression

Mrs. Morgan's Lawn tells the story of a little boy who has lost countless balls to the mysterious lawn of Mrs. Morgan. She was seen as a mean lady who kept her lawn immaculately clean so she hated returning any balls that lands on her lawn. When the boy's most favourite ball falls prey to her lawn, he was forced to go and talk to her. Thus the surprising ending.

We have our immediate opinions and impressions about people. I had been told to be stern looking at all times. I was also told to be very funny. Some people even mentioned that I am so polite and friendly. There were varying impressions about me and I make varying impressions about people.

There were illustration in the book that made me laugh when I read the words and saw the pictures. It reminded me of myself in some way. It reminded me of the way I think about people. It reminded me of how I ended making judgment about others. It reminded me not to make final judgment based on something tangible.

What makes me alive is when people gives me a chance to prove my worth, basing not on physicality but on the inner values I carry: the sincerity to be a true friend, the gentleness of a dedicated mentor, and the desire to grow with the people I cherish and love.

A Long Wait

so ordinary

awakens from quiet sleep

buds of beauty

majestic roundness

unfolds its splendour

little by little

of curiosity

sight and bursting emotions

tomorrow's present

magnitude embrace

simplicity at its core

 opulence revealed

Steps

On this day a child starts
A meticulous journey of wonder
To begin, to seek and depart
Life in school to meander.

Greetings abound, politeness
Friendships to build, so tight
Think, share, what brightness
Explore learning sweet delights.

The walk curtails ups and downs
The path sometimes, uneven
Beseech the knowing crown
Stand tall, go straight, hard driven.

It's not the road but the journey
That makes the way so great
The passing torch, the magic key
Flooding wisdom through the gates.

Life is sweet but so dictates
Some things may seem so harsh
Embrace, believe, make mistakes
Hold, fight, immunity to crash.

Through the months glorify
Of characters and minds
Embrace the end, magnify
An exit, worthy and spellbind.

A Short Dialogue

"Why are your posts always sad?"

Coming from an eight year old boy, I was stupefied when he asked me this question. I know that most of the posts are about flowers and the way I see the world. I didn't realize that one child will eventually tell me that most of my posts were too sad for him to read. "They are sad because I am a sad person."

"Why are you sad?"

Traversing an hour ride from my student's house to my home, I tried to recall the many happy moments of my life with my friends. In my former school, I had a circle of friends whose company I enjoyed a lot. We meet for lunch or dinner, had Friday games, strolled around the park or biked during Saturdays, and even go out for holidays to other countries or nearby provinces.

"How come you have no friends?"

I do, but I made a choice to be away from them. I do miss them so I give them calls once in a while and I send them e-mails every now and then. I just don't see them physically. We all live afar. And those who are near me are difficult to classify.

"I am sorry."

The child need not be sorry for me but I am just sharing some life lessons. That we make choices and decisions we can pursue. That everyone make plans and make their own lives. That we have a choice to be happy and a choice to refuse to be one. Whatever we decide to do, we better accept the consequences.

"I am your friend."

Yes, and I believe you. The reason why I teach you is because you are so good to me and our simple conversations show your intelligence and deep thinking. I am equally proud to be your teacher.

( art work courtesy of Lucas - 4 years old ; conversations with Tabby- eight years old )