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