DEJA VU
By Ferdinand Mwongela
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n this last stretch for many of us- okay for me, I can not help remembering my first day at school. The first step into the world of academics, examinations, headaches and of course terror before the cane (yes corporal punishment was still the in thing then). Never mind that I didn’t know what the while school business was about.
But my opinion did not matter, the old man knew better. Picture a small boy in blue shorts, a white shirt and a neat pair of shoes, don’t forget the inevitable lunchbox. Time to go to nursery school. That was almost twenty years ago. Don’t be surprised, it isn’t so soon, those days we had only one year of nursery school, not like the current breed who go to pre-primary for more years than they do primary school.
Well, this poor blighter hardly knew the basics; his father’s name was baba, period! Was he supposed to have another? Remember the “A for Apple; B for Bat; C for… can’t remember today’s kids probably say “C for Corruption” – it’s a whole new world I tell you. But that is beside the point, there was that “head, shoulder, knees… stuff.” The problem was where the head ended and the shoulders began. You just touch whichever was closest at that time.
Woe unto you if you crossed a small girl during break time. I wonder why those little girls could virtually lick any boy who crossed their paths. Feisty! I wonder what happened down the line. The poor brother would be left wondering if he was facing front or backwards after the harassed teacher had pulled the screaming terror ( in pony tails) off him.
Anyone remember the admission requirements? Your hand had to go over your head and touch the ear on the other side and you went sailing down the academic highway. Very easy. (Only like some saying, this highway has no end in sight. Not yet any way.)
Just wish campus could also be that simple. Touch your ear and voila! You are home dry, no ‘supps’ hanging on to your coat tail.
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