Back to school 返回校园

25. BACK TO SCHOOL

Since Dad‘s income was more than enough to raise our family which did not need my help any more I started nourishing the dream of going back to school. When I brought it up to my parents they greatly supported it. It was big joy for me to be able to live my normal life as other kids at my age.
There was not much choice for me in choosing school because I had dropped out for two years. If I continued to study Vietnamese I would encounter difficulties with mathematics, physics and other subjects. I might not catch up with my study. Moreover it was hard to find the school that would accept me. My second uncle and aunt made the suggestion that I should study English. Their kids, my cousins were studying in the English Elementary School in which there was high school section. The tuition was unthinkable for me so I tried to get in the Vietnamese school where the tuition was affordable. With the assistance from my third aunt, dad’s sister who was a housewife I went to many Vietnamese, Chinese Vietnamese schools but failed in making the registration. Finally I had to take the advice from my second uncle and aunt by making the enrollment in the English School where I was luckily accepted.
The tuition for a semester was equal to my earning for three months. It was a school for the rich. I had to wear uniform and shoes. My uniform was white shirt and blue skirt. My fifth aunt, mom’s sister who was a dress maker sewed the uniform for me. My second aunt took me to buy shoes and other necessities. Since I was a very good worker my second uncle helped me out by letting me work half day in the farm continuing looking after the hatchers with the help from a new part time assistance who looked after my job while I was at school. With the help from so many relatives I was able to make my dream come true.
I went to school in the morning and worked in afternoon and at night. It was so excited and delighted to go back to school. Though it was English school students and teachers spoke Cantonese. Teacher taught English with Chinese explanation and writing on the blackboard for the first year so I had a chance to study Chinese as well. My Chinese writing and Cantonese speaking got very big improvement obviously. I did not have friends but books and chicks. With my hard work I was ranked the top in class by the end of the semester. It was excited in receiving my first report card with the stamp of free tuition for the next semester. I was overwhelmed with joy for the unexpected scholarship. It saved me a lot of money which I could spend on other necessities.
To encourage me my second aunt bought me a pencil case as a reward which I valued and which also reminded me to work harder. My cousins went to school for morning and afternoon sessions. Due to the different time for schooling I was unable to take the ride with them in car driven by chauffeur but took a small ferry to cross the river and then walked for half an hour to school. I did not consider it a tough life which I was content with and was much better than I expected. My goal was to work hard and to study hard for the bright future.

25．返回校园

父亲的工资，可以供养家人。我不用为家人的生活操心。因此，向双亲提出返回校园的打算。对此提议，他们都非常的支持。得到他们的同意，感到很喜悦、兴奋、开心。我很快就可以好像别的同年小孩一样过着正常的校园生活。
姑姑是位家庭主妇，不用上班去，有空出来的时间，陪我去找学校。我们去过很多越文、华语中学，都不肯接纳我的入学申请，因为，我已经停学两年，没有证书证明我的学历。在失望中，二叔、二婶，建议我该去读英文。他们的小孩们所就读的学校有中学部。该校是有钱子弟的学校，学费非常昂贵。华语和越文学校的学费比较便宜，适合我的经济状况。在没有别的选择之下，只有去那间英文中学报名去，得到接纳，感到非常的开心。
五姨是一位裁缝师，免费给我缝纫校服，白色上衣，蓝色裙子。二婶带我去买鞋子、上学需要的东西。二叔，也对我很慷慨，继续地聘用我，并且，多聘请一位助手，协助我处理事务。有赖很多亲戚的协助之下，我可以把梦想实现，返回校园读书去。
早上，上学去，下午和晚上干活。生活非常的忙碌和踏实，感到很兴奋、幸运、高兴、满足。在第一年的学期里，学基本的英语。老师，用广东话讲课，把中文写上黑板去。我不懂中文，因此，可以有机会学习中文的书写。广东话和中文书写，都得到很明显的进步。没有要好的朋友，而书本、小鸡是我的友好同伴。整天，用功读书、工作。到了学期结束的时候，成绩单出来了，排名第一，免去下学期的学费，看到自己努力的效果，感到很自豪、自信、开朗，自卑感也慢慢地消失了。最意外的得益，是可以省下那笔巨大的学费。它等于我三个月的工资。真是喜出望外。
为了鼓励我，二婶买个新的笔盒送给我。我很珍惜它。每次，使用它，都会提醒自己要继续努力读书。唐弟妹们，有司机开车接送他们上学。跟他们上学的时间不同，因此，我要乘坐渡轮过河，然后，走路半小时上学去。对此的生活，没有怨言，不会感到辛苦，而感到很幸运、满足。物质的享受，只是次要，追求知识才是最主要。