When I was in primary school, there were quite a number of Eurasian students who studied in the same school. In a school which consisted primarily of Chinese and Kadazan students, they stood out with their large eyes, sharp facial features and had hair colour other than black. I thought they were most exotic and exquisite.
I can't really remember when Tessa joined our class but I think I was in Primary 3 or so. She is of mixed parentage; dad from Sarawak and mum from England.
Tessa was so petite, with huge eyes, medium-brown hair, and sun-kissed tan. She was soft-spoken with an engaging smile and had such lady-like manners! I remembered that I didn't talk much to her because she spoke in English and I couldn't then! But we conversed in BM once in awhile, I think.
I only got to know her better when I was seated next to her when we were placed in the same class in Form 1.
My most distinct memory of those days is the number of admirers that Tessa had. Whenever we went to the toilet together, there would be wolf-whistles and "kissing" sounds made by the boys in the classes that we passed by. Of course it was meant for Tessa. I was merely the invisible sidekick :)
We got to know each other better, stayed back after school doing nothing, tried to join the tennis club which was non-functioning, tried to cheat during a Commerce subject pop-quiz (but it was more of my idea :P).
There was no hanging out at shopping centres in those days. We just talked - gossiped, talked about boys and crushes (what else do 13-year-old girls talk about?), about period and period pains and we talked about religion (she was a devout Jehovah Witness and I remembered that at such a young age, she knew so much about her belief than me about mine!).
It was because of her that I improved my English. I had wanted to speak to her in English rather than her switching back and forth in BM while conversing with me. I remembered borrowing English novels from the school library and made conscientious efforts to learn more of the language during lessons. And of course she was my guinea pig (without her knowing it) - patiently enduring my much less than fluent spoken English.
It was, however, only a short one year of really getting to know her for her dad was migrating the whole family to England for good.
There were the occasional letters and a few close friends tried to keep in touch with her and vice-versa. Those were the days of snail mail - no emails, Internet or handphones.
However, one year, her brother, Tim, visited KK and he came to school. I was in Form 4 then, I think. He passed us letters and gifts from Tessa.
Mine was a Body Shop pink bath salt and bath oil gift set, all the way from England! There was no Body Shop in KK yet. I did not use it because of its sentimental value and instead put it on display in my bedroom.
I only got to know her better when I was seated next to her when we were placed in the same class in Form 1.
My most distinct memory of those days is the number of admirers that Tessa had. Whenever we went to the toilet together, there would be wolf-whistles and "kissing" sounds made by the boys in the classes that we passed by. Of course it was meant for Tessa. I was merely the invisible sidekick :)
We got to know each other better, stayed back after school doing nothing, tried to join the tennis club which was non-functioning, tried to cheat during a Commerce subject pop-quiz (but it was more of my idea :P).
There was no hanging out at shopping centres in those days. We just talked - gossiped, talked about boys and crushes (what else do 13-year-old girls talk about?), about period and period pains and we talked about religion (she was a devout Jehovah Witness and I remembered that at such a young age, she knew so much about her belief than me about mine!).
It was because of her that I improved my English. I had wanted to speak to her in English rather than her switching back and forth in BM while conversing with me. I remembered borrowing English novels from the school library and made conscientious efforts to learn more of the language during lessons. And of course she was my guinea pig (without her knowing it) - patiently enduring my much less than fluent spoken English.
It was, however, only a short one year of really getting to know her for her dad was migrating the whole family to England for good.
There were the occasional letters and a few close friends tried to keep in touch with her and vice-versa. Those were the days of snail mail - no emails, Internet or handphones.
However, one year, her brother, Tim, visited KK and he came to school. I was in Form 4 then, I think. He passed us letters and gifts from Tessa.
Mine was a Body Shop pink bath salt and bath oil gift set, all the way from England! There was no Body Shop in KK yet. I did not use it because of its sentimental value and instead put it on display in my bedroom.
Somehow we lost contact after that. Occasionally I would try to search for her on Facebook since two years ago when I've started using the site but to no avail.
Whenever I clean my cubicles and come across the gift set, I would think of Tessa and wonder how she was doing.
Lo and behold! On new year's day, I received a short message on Facebook from Tessa!!! I was overjoyed that she had found me through FB! It's only been three days and I am still ecstatic :)
It is so good to find long-lost childhood friends. Now I don't have to wonder where Tessa is and what she is doing when I see the pink bath set.
Tessa's gift nearly 20 years later
Jan 3: Bedroom
It is so good to find long-lost childhood friends. Now I don't have to wonder where Tessa is and what she is doing when I see the pink bath set.
Tessa's gift nearly 20 years laterJan 3: Bedroom
sooo sweet...I've goosebumps reading this!
ReplyDeleteit is one of those sweet memories... can't really remember all but somethings are just unforgettable :)
ReplyDelete