I have had about 5 angelic-nuanced moments in the last 24 hours indicated by seeing repeated numbers in the time on the watch like 1.44, 7.44, 8.44 pm. Also, my paths crossed twice within half an hour with this person whom I saw on Crown television 3 nights ago in a split second of an unanticipated moment during my walk. Plus, I am now wide awake at 3.51 am and I am filled to the brim with angelic inspiration to share my life stories and memories by recording them on Blogger. Not to forget mentioning the countless times I had hearing songs playing in my ears even before I wake up in the mornings, thanks to Archangel Sandalphon, the angel of inspired music and poetry.
Earlier in the night, I briefly mentioned my school-day interest and introduction to performing arts, fine arts, music, acting and dancing during a chance encounter with 1 of the courteous reception staff of Crown. I would now like to record the details of my happy times in school in between 1970-80.
When I was in Standard 3, I had a Chinese teacher teaching us Mandarin by the name of Mrs. Chow. I remember her especially for the regular 10-Mandarin character or phrase spelling test which I consider challenging for a 9-year old girl. Besides that, she once coached us to dance this train dance which went like this -: hong-long-long-long, hong-long-long-long, hong-long-long-long, ooh! Mrs Chow was quite a skinny and petite bespectacled woman who walked fast into our classroom. For the train dance, I remember we were given a soft and fluffy white hairband to wear while on stage in the green hall performing to and entertaining the assembled primary school and invited guests of teachers and parents. I enjoyed the experience.
While in Form 2, we had a Ceylonese young, female teacher called Miss Chandra. She taught us some kind of farm or barnyard dancing where I would have to count my steps, hold hands with my dance-partner and twirled around as we changed our dance-partners. I can recall the loud country-western style dance music she spun for us on a big, round and black playing record or disc.
Lenggang-lenggang kangkong was another Malay paddy-field song that we danced to as a class during 1 of our annual school concert complete with Malay batik sarongs and lacey Nyonya tops or blouses.
The Filipino bamboo dance which we practised was quite a feat as the rhythm of the banging bamboo sticks held by 2 girls at both ends of the bamboo would have to synchronise or be on time with the jumping dancer in the middle. Besides the loud banging sounds, the dancer had to be nifty in her jumping in between the banging bamboo stick movements in order not to get her feet caught in between the stick or trip while manouvering a dance sequence.
Form 2 was a busy stage year. We also had a flag-raising ceremony preceding our school assembly in the red hall where I remember practising folding the Melaka state or the National flag of Malaysia, tying the folded flag a certain way, hoisting it up and pulling on one of the thin ropes to loosen or unravel the flag so that it is flying in the breeze at the top of the pole in heralding the rendition of the National song of Malaysia, the Negaraku. It goes like this-
Negaraku,
Tanah tumpahnya darahku,
Rakyat hidup, bersatu dan maju,
Rahmat bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan,
Raja kita, Selamat bertakta.
Translated verbatim, the National song of Malaysia ushers in the peace, harmony and success of a strong and courageous nation, blessed by God-
My country,
The land on which I spill my blood meaning I work hard in or devote my life to
Citizens live united and successful or progressive
The blessings of happiness God bestows on us all
Our King safely rule.
Besides this, we also had the Rukunegara where we memorised and recited the 5 important and abiding National principles during our morning school assembly right up till Form 6.
Spirit of God in the clear running water
Blowing to greatness the trees on the hill
Spirit of God in the morning
Fill the earth, bring it to birth and blow where You will
Blow, blow, blow where I will be
But breath of the Spirit blowing in me.
The above hymn is one of our most popular, cherished and unforgettable morning assembly moments and accompaniment.
For all of this and more, I am blessed to have attended Catholic schools in my childhood and teenage years.
