The world is my classroom, the people are my teachers

I can still remember vividly that the major downpour began on Monday, the day I played my last gig at Timbre. What a way to end the night... I can't possibly go home with Chinook so I decided to hang around with the Turk, Dutch and Singaporean in school before being chased by the security guards who seemed amazed by the sight of an SMU student. When the clock struck 6am, I headed to my usual sleeping haven.


I woke up feeling rather blurry at the SIS lounge. That's right. I managed to sneak into the lounge without any of the guards catching me. They would certainly chase me out if they found me sleeping there. But I managed to hide in one tincy-wincy corner just beside the entrance. I know how the guards work. They're kinda lazy to go in and check whether there are people inside. With them having that intuition, they would just glance in without entering and they can't possibly see me because I was at their blindspot.


Me and SMU have a bond. It takes care of me very well. I've always loved school. I would certainly say that it's my second home. Many would find it weird. Why would anybody want to sleep in school when you have a nice bed to sleep on. In my case, the sofa in the lounge is better than my bed. Besides, there is just so much that I want to remember before I leave SMU. This would certainly be my last sleepover in SMU. Gonna miss it.


I didn't really expect the downpour to continue for more than 2 days. Luckily, I found a toothpaste and a toothbrush, along with a spare T-shirt in my bag. I can't live throughout the day knowing that I have not brushed my teeth. Hygiene is important man.


I don't know how many of you notice the old lady that always cleans the SIS building. The old Malay auntie was the first person I encountered 1 year ago when I first slept in the lounge. She would just do her normal rounding and when she came in, she would smile at me and I would just explain to her why I was there. That day during my last sleepover, she came in 3 times because she thought I was sick by the way I was hugging my body close while I was sleeping. The first few sentences she said to me just moved me.

"Are you sick? I thought you were sick so I wanted to go and buy you coffee. Have you eaten yet? Do you want me to buy you breakfast"

She just moved me as a human being. The basic courtesy that one cannot teach. The basic courtesy and warmth that I felt is lacking in the modern educated society. She's a cleaner and doesn't earn much yet, she still extends herself out of concern.

This is why I come to SMU. To me, the world is my classroom and the people are my teachers. I'm lucky to have met her because at least I know, I've been blessed to meet another warm person like her in my lifetime. Something to share with my child or grandchild one day. The true meaning of humanity.

jamiel
prison break