Today is the start of a new semester for those who are still schooling. Me? I am still on my long vacation. It feels almost sad that I'm no longer going back to school. Wonder when I'll finally commence on my next journey.

Back in primary school, it was rather predictable; year after year, I would get new shoes, new socks, new stationery, a new bag. When I was in primary one, I thought that I would go on to primary two, then primary three then primary four........primary eleven, twelve and so on. Forever in primary school. I was that stupid. Primary school was fun. I still keep in touch with some of my primary six classmates and I remember some of my primary 1-3 classmates for the wrong reasons.

There was one who always managed to come into the classroom with cowdung on his shoes. We always tried to sit as far away as possible from him. There was another who looked furry and everyone called him "Ang Zang Mao"--Dirty Cat because he looked like one and behaved like one. Mucus always dripping onto his books and he never had tissue paper to wipe his face clean. It was a sight looking at him talk with mucus dribbling down from his nostrils. What he did was to clean his nose with his sleeves or on rare occasions, toilet paper. There was an Indian classmate whom I only remember as Sumi. Sumi was nice and he was my neighbour. It's a pity that I forgot his name. It was Sumisomethingsomething.

There was also this particular incident about this boy who was paired up with me on the first day of school. Can't remember his name but he was paired up with me because we were the shortest in class. We had to hold hands because the teacher instructed us to. Some nosey little girl behind me said he was my boyfriend and I said "NO! He's just my boy friend". It's quite funny how little girls and little boys can broach the subject of relationships at such a tender age. Too many rubbish tv serials.

My Chinese teacher was also the object of much gossip. We always couldn't help laughing when he pronounced "lao3 bo2 bo2 (old man)" as "lao3 be4 be4". He still is living in my block and I still call him "Lao3 Shi1 (Teacher)" although I feel embarrassed to do so. He's this eccentric guy who is still a swinging bachelor and back then, some kid walked by the block on the way to school and looked up to where he was staying and saw underwear at the window. It became hot news.

Then there was this time when a girl had diarrhoea in the middle of a lesson and she defecated on herself while in the toilet. I can't really remember what actually happened but I know we were pretty cruel to laugh when we heard what happened. I only remember it's got something to do with drawing block; those A3 sized paper we used to draw on. I think she either used the drawing paper to clean herself or she got her drawing dirty. Doesn't make much sense both ways.

Of course, primary school wasn't just about these. There were some people who were best friends back then and even though they are no longer in my life now, I am glad that they made my life beautiful at that point in my life. Especially this classmate who always gave me marbles. I don't know where you have moved to but I hope you're happy wherever you are. Thanks for the marbles Kiam Peng!