Queuereus – Journaling our learning

I couldn’t write about education without paying homage to the first teacher in my life: Aunty Katherine.

Here’s the backstory: my parents divorced when I was very young. Until I was four, I lived with various caregivers. Then, my parents decided to send me to live with my father’s family, including my two aunts and my grandmother.

I vividly remember the tantrum I threw. As many parents know, children don’t easily adjust to new environments. There was bawling and struggling. I recall my aunt Lai Wah lifting me off the floor, only to be greeted by a sharp bite to her shoulder from me.

Eventually, I settled into the house in Bedok. At that time, I didn’t speak a word of English. I communicated with my father and caregivers in Cantonese.

Aunt Katherine became my English teacher. Her methods were brutal but effective. She prepared a small B5 jotter book filled with pages of English words, about 20 words on each page, organized logically into categories like foods, animals, plants, and everyday conversation.

Every day, she recited these 20 words, and I had to spell them. If I couldn’t get them right, her impatience was palpable. Sometimes she even threatened to withhold food, though she never actually did.

My Aunt Lai Wah bought many storybooks, and Aunt Katherine would read them to me. The first book I remember was Pinocchio. Before reading, she explained the book itself, pointing out the title, author, and illustrator. She then read the story with animated pronunciation, enunciating each letter with care, imbuing her reading with emotion and rhythm. She would occasionally pause to ensure I understood not just the words but also the moral lessons.

Aunty Kat was a strict disciplinarian but not so strict that she was unapproachable. Despite her stern demeanor, she radiated care. You knew not to mess with her, but you could always go to her with questions.

I learned not just from her lessons but from her entire character. She read the newspapers religiously every morning, reacting vocally to the stories. Sometimes she laughed, sometimes she expressed frustration, particularly with political news. I mimicked her, reading the newspapers each morning, initially drawn to TV synopses and comics, later moving on to the Lifestyle section.

Aunt Kat’s training in English was the most important skill that carried me through life. Every success I’ve had is directly related to language skills. God placed her in my life early on to equip me with this crucial skill, making my life much more interesting and enriching.

Aunt Kat suffered from diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis for over a decade, confined to a bed. Her health was poor, and she had several close calls. She often joked, “I almost thought I had to say Goodbye Charlie” (her favorite reference to the 1964 American comedy film).

She passed away in 2019 due to complications from diabetes.

To the end, she was a strong woman, fighting fiercely, and even when doctors declared her time was up, her pulse refused to let go. In life, she always said “…never, never give up”, with that stern look of determination on her face. She lived this spirit to the last.

As the undertakers lifted her from the mortuary, the lights flickered on and off several times. It might have been a coincidence, but it felt as if she summoned the last of her mortal energy to bid us goodbye.