Tan J T and Mei Xia Choo
Tan JT:
My first school bag. Hand-sewn by my mother. It took me 3 months to learn to read this English sentence “Osman is a boy”. 1st English lesson. Sometimes, a Malay man on a bicycle with a box on his bicycle, came to our kampong. We all ran behind him to catch the nice smell, that smell called “Roti smell”, from the box.
This is where we get our water from. Our well is as deep as 350 ft deep. Everyday, I carried buckets of water from the well. Water can only be pulled up using a pulley. I was 10 years old and needed to carry and walk ½ a mile up a slope home, for cooking use. Store in house water tank to last for the day. Our neighbours are mostly recovered “leprosy patients”. We stayed next to Woodbridge Hospital. Sometimes if there are people with brown shorts who come walking pass our house, I would quickly bring my siblings into the house and peer through the window. “Why?” My mother will give him food.
In the evening, some days only, my parents will burn dry leaves. Then they will bury sweet potatoes that we planted under the burning soil. Later, we eat these potatoes and see the clouds flying in the sky. My mother will tell us stories during World War 2, how hard their life was in China hometown. If we earn enough money, we need to send some back to help them. They are our families.
If there is a festival at Potong Pasir market, I will follow my mother to sell eggs. We put the eggs & vegetable along the street. It’s illegal. Only during Chinese New Year, we get to see and drink F&N orange juice, if we visit grandma and aunty. They stay in Bukit Ho Swee. Our movie time is “Opera”, only if the temple had prayers. We went shopping in pasar malam every alternate friday. We needed to cycle 45 mins from our house to the main road to catch a bus to the pasar malam.
It was in the 70s that one of our neighbours started to supply private electricity. We will use kerosene lamps for study, for the chicken farm. Cooking with wood, open fire. At times we walk to one of the Malay neighbour's houses to watch TV. This Malay family was a big family. They work with “STC”, it's a big company, we are farmers. There are neighbours with leprosy, mental disorder but we all live in harmony. On Chinese New Year we (bake cake) make kuay together. Any of the family having a wedding, all go to help. Don’t need to invite.
Mei Xia Choo:
A New School Year Begins
Six years of primary school time has come to an end. Now Ling has to face her next challenge, going back to the “normal stream secondary”. First day of school was really uncomfortable and stressful for Ling as her classmates found her different from them. Recess time: Ling got to queue to buy food and drink from the stalls. School starts: parent bought Ling a new schoolbag.
This Is Where I Got My Water From
At times water can be taken easily from the tap. Ling started attending PE lesson. And after PE lesson, she would take a shower. When Ling reaches school, she will ring her parents. While studying and doing homework at night there is no need to worry if the light will go off.
Holidays And Free Time
During the school holiday, my mother will teach me sewing, knitting and cross stitch. Getting me ready for the next school term.
Festival
During Chinese new year, my parents will bring us to buy new clothes and plenty of CNY snacks. Go to the bank to exchange new notes and put them into ang baos. Do spring cleaning at home.
Graduation
Finally, Ling’s 4 years of secondary school life ended. And she continues to persevere to excel in her education. Though in between there are many obstacles and challenges.
