Sunday, March 22, 2009

The school then...and the trees..

It has been quite awhile since the last time I came in here to talk about my school as my schedule seems very tight since the start of the year this year. Been going all over the place from north to south and out of the country too. Anyway, after talking with all the friends that have been found recently, all the more it became interesting to think back about the school we have grown up together in.

As what has been said in one of the comments, I passed by the school some months back. Yes, I do realise that the school appeared to be smaller than I thought it was. During the schooldays, the school feels so big with big compounds and of course with nice big field and big trees around the school. The rainforest trees in the school are some of the good things that I like about the school. Yes, I am talking about trees again :)

From primary to secondary days, the trees are some of those things that is part of my memory of the school. So many things the trees have "witnessed". The growing kids and what has become of the children who went to the school.

During primary school days, there were the trees mostly are frangipani trees by the side of the netball field, alternate with the cement benches. We use to sit at these benches during recess when we ate our food if we were not at the canteen or tuckshop as we call it those days!! Other than that, while waiting for classes in the mornings, we will sit at the benches, reading book, reading storybooks or simply just chit chatting while waiting for the school bell to ring. Some others will just be at the netball field to just play with the rubber bands that has been linked long enough to play ZERO POINT!

I will talk about the ZERO POINT in my next blog. Stay tuned! :)

Back to the trees, then came the sports day we will go to the bigger field at the secondary school area where there was a big rainforest tree stands alone and became the shelter for everybody during the sports day. Under this tree usually will be where the high jump event will take place.

Also the nice Milo truck to wait and serve children who produce their green Milo coupons for the delicious cool free Milo drinks!

During secondary school days, Form One students will be under this big rainforest tree to assemble while waiting to go to class. Same for Form Two when we had to be on "floating classes"! Where we assemble during Form One was either at the big field's rainforest tree or at what we call the "cement patch". Cemented patch with some benches with one big rainforest tree in the middle.

Sometimes you can see the caterpillar hanging down and sometimes get fallen dry leaves fell on your head. Great that those trees were there and for other city school, probably have children who never knew such trees.

Speaking of the trees, there was this specific plant in front of the secondary school toilet. Regretfully to say, I can't remember the name and I don't know if the plant is still there or not. Next to it was the hibiscus plants, and this special plant I never forget because, the leaves apparently can be used to wash your hands with, as a substitute for a soap!!!

I was sceptical at first when I was told that time, however, I tried plucking the leaves, wet my hands and crushed the leaves on my hands, and yes, it became a bit foamy on my hands like a soap, giving out a fresh smell like a soap and when you rinse your hands after that, oil and grimes that you felt on your hands will go away. I wonder who will ever remember that??

Anyway, that's about the trees and greens of the school. Hope to visit the school again and see how the trees have grown and if that special plant is still there??

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