Peculiar

Unexpected things happen in life, don't they? I suppose the most memorable and unforgettable experience was the third and final School Based Experience (SBE). Never in a million years did I think I would experience this in my life. I was terrified, stunned, uneasy, and shivering all over. Before I continue with the "peculiar yet unexpected" part of my life, let me begin by helping you picture how it all began.

 

We were informed just a few weeks before the SBE that the date had changed owing to a few circumstances, and other than the word "Yes," I was at a loss for words. Similar to how SBE was previously established, choosing the school, getting in touch with the administrator, attending a briefing, and mailing letters are among the initial steps.

 

I was aware of the school's location, but I couldn't resist the urge to visit and see it for myself. Therefore, Christhilda, Emmelyn, and I made the decision to visit the school the day before to simply take a look around. As soon as we spotted the school gate from a few kilometres away, we became enthusiastic. But as we got closer, all the enthusiasm gradually faded away. We became uncertain as to whether we were going in the right location or not. I stepped out of the car to check with the security guard about whether the location we were looking for was the correct one. I could only think of the phrase "Sometimes, I could not believe my eyes" at that precise moment. The school did not seem like a school to us because it was simply too small. Compared to the images on the internet, it was quite different. If I were to explain how it seemed, I would say that the school looked to be almost the size of a basketball court. How tiny is it, in your imagination?

We introduced ourselves to the headmaster on the first day of our SBE. He told us that their school was so far behind other adjacent schools in development that he seemed to fully comprehend how we felt about his school. He then chose an instructor to assist us and serve as our mentor for the entire week. The teacher gave us a tour of the school and offered us a chance to meet the staff, pupils, and other members of the school community. I was rather surprised to see that everyone is truly polite and pleasant, even though some faces appear to be so firm and arrogant. Ah well. In any case, I should never ever judge a book by its cover.

 

I'd like to skip the second day. They always say to save the best for last, don't they? On the third day, nothing remarkable occurred. For our tutorials and tasks, we recently conducted several interviews with the teachers. Yes, we did take a few shots occasionally just for fun. The school held an Award and Appreciation Ceremony on Thursday to congratulate pupils for their hard work and efforts during the previous academic session. The school, meanwhile, celebrated Chinese New Year on Friday. Food, beverages, mandarin oranges, and do not forget the "angpao" were given out to the pupils. The officers arrived in the middle of the festivities to deliver some donations, including cash, school uniforms, and shoes for certain kids. You must be wondering why they give it to them, right? 

The most memorable part, which I will refer to as the "Peculiar Event," is about to begin. Just as we were about to wrap up our interview with our mentor, the school's security guard started mysteriously running back and forth and all over the place. He appears to be very confused and was unsure of how to respond at the time. As the school was built nearby to the river, I can't envision any other circumstances occurring at that period besides "the visit" of "the king of the river," Mr. Crocodile. We hurried outside to check what was happening at the moment.  I froze like the Statue of Liberty as that event entered our range of vision and was unable to speak. Well, there was no sign of a crocodile, but there was a large, fierce fire that was soaring and leaping through the air. As loudly as he could, the security guard called for everyone around to call and inform the fire station. Fortunately, I had my phone with me. I looked up their phone number online and immediately gave them a call. I could feel my hands, legs, and entire body shaking uncontrollably as I told the fireman what had truly happened.

The sounds of the pupils crying, weeping, sobbing, and shouting were the only music in the air at that very moment. Everyone left their class quickly to discover what had occurred. Patting their shoulders and having to persuade them from crying so hard were the only things I could do at the time. I could feel a heavy rain coming down on my eyes as a result of the way I was seeing things. When I realised that I was speaking as a "teacher," I quickly wiped away my tears before anyone could notice since I knew that what they needed most were words of encouragement and support.  Some pupils tried to run away from the school and rush to the fire site, but they were fortunately caught by the teachers and a few workers. They were then assembled in the dining hall to calm them down and make sure that nobody could enter the school through the gate. Now, the majority of them must spend the night with family members or in a modest tent. They must put up with the sweltering sun and the biting wind, especially when they are about to fall from the sky.

I never thought I would experience these things. Indeed, strange things did occur.