December 11, 2006

My girls

It's my last session with them today. Jermaine and Isabelle. Jermaine, I've been teaching her for 2 years. Isabelle, for 2 years too. But, I was the tutor for Isabelle's brothers too. I've spent a total of 5 years being their tuition teacher. They've always known me as 'tuition teacher'. I doubt they know my name. Jermaine calls me 'teacher jancy'. Sometimes, she'd call me 'Mummy'. Because her mum has the same name as me. She can be quite an easily confused little girl.

Her mum's sister used to be my sister's tutor. It's a small world.

Aside from returning them all the answer sheets to their assessment books, today was very normal. We did Maths, English compre, cloze passages... corrections.

It's not the first 'last time' in this year. But, my last session with them was an anticipated one. I knew it was coming, I was prepared to finish off the session with the returning of their answer sheets and some advice, suggestion for them to spend their time when they no longer have to sit through tuition with me. I gave out my email and I told them not to be lazy, to email me. They just smiled and said they would. Good enough.

Feel... a little sad. It's been a love-hate relationship. I'd bring them out once every school holiday; they always looked forward to that. 'Cos their parents are usually too busy to bring them out during the holiday. They've told me numerous stories of their siblings, shared with me many funny incidents in school, told me the names of their good friends, complained to me about how cranky their school teacher could be and all those riddles I tried to not be able to guess just so they can regale in giving me the answer. Then, I'd have to bring them back to the work on hand, 'Ok! Let's come back to this now.'

There were times they really pushed me off the tip of my patience threshold. Especially after a long day at work, or during exams when their concentration level would fluctuate very severely. 'You are not thinking hard enough! I'm NOT going to tell you the answer. You think!' And the sullen faces. And a lot, a lot of deep breaths. Mine. There were a few times I got so stressed I felt like crying after finishing tuition. Just, so, very drained.

So, today ends it all. They've both done reasonably all right in their last exams. A little of improvement for Jermaine. Isabelle got promoted to the best class of the level next year. My job's done.

No more teacher and student. Next Monday, we are going on an outing to the airport, just as older and little friends. Haha. Because it's a place that they haven't had much chance to go. Because they grimaced when I suggested zoo or Science centre. Because I didn't want to watch any cartoon movie with them. Because I didn't want to bring them to the library again.

It's ok. I don't really mind if they forget me as they grow up. For now till next Mon, we are all looking forward to Changi Airport. That's good enough.

Posted by 杏 cy （Jancy） at 00:25