Nanyang Girls' High School visits MGSS Melaka
Tues 27 May 2008 - This morning, MGSS Melaka played host to 39 students and 3 teachers from Nanyang Girls' High School, Singapore, who were on a 3-day 2-night visit to Melaka. The morning programme began with a speech by Mdm. Zaharah Tahir (Senior Assistant I of MGSS), followed by a PowerPoint slide show and icebreaking (picture 1). The chicken dance taught by the school counsellors Mdm. Ng Gaik Lam and Mdm. Ungku Safiah was absolutely hilarious and for about 5 minutes or so, the Lee Kuo Chuan Hall was turned into a chicken farm!
After a short tour of the school, it was time to savour some local delicacies - onde onde and kuih cara (picture 2). Up next was the playing of traditional games which consisted of congkak, hantu galah (picture 3), batu seremban (aka five stones), cap teh (feathercock kicking) and teng teng (hopscotch). The present generation of children are only familiar with computer games but do not know anything about the joys and pleasures of these simple and fun (and sometimes silly) traditional games which can be played absolutely free. Besides, playing these traditional games foster closer ties among children and families in the neighbourhood, something which is sadly lacking due to our so-called "progress".
I think our Singapore guests enjoyed those games so much that they continued playing in spite of the fact that the time was up. The morning ended with an exchange of gifts and a group photo (picture 4).
When our big city guests had left, we browsed through the Nanyang Girls' High School 90th anniversary magazine that had been presented to MGSS and our jaws almost dropped out when we saw how modern, affluent and high tech their school is. While in MGSS, the students run bare foot (I always call them jaguh kampung i.e. village champs) in the green field dotted with sprawling rain trees which are as old or even older than our grandparents, in Nanyang they run on bitumen track. And their hall is an auditorium while their library is of at least two-storey high. And, their school magazine was hard-bound, all glossy colour photos, with no advertisements at all... what a world of difference!
Ah, well... in spite of our shortcomings, I am thankful that I am a part of MGSS Melaka, where we are surrounded by lots of greenery and where life is simpler and not so harried. It is a place with a heart and a soul and "where everybody knows your name" (tagline of the sitcom Cheers).
After a short tour of the school, it was time to savour some local delicacies - onde onde and kuih cara (picture 2). Up next was the playing of traditional games which consisted of congkak, hantu galah (picture 3), batu seremban (aka five stones), cap teh (feathercock kicking) and teng teng (hopscotch). The present generation of children are only familiar with computer games but do not know anything about the joys and pleasures of these simple and fun (and sometimes silly) traditional games which can be played absolutely free. Besides, playing these traditional games foster closer ties among children and families in the neighbourhood, something which is sadly lacking due to our so-called "progress".
I think our Singapore guests enjoyed those games so much that they continued playing in spite of the fact that the time was up. The morning ended with an exchange of gifts and a group photo (picture 4).
When our big city guests had left, we browsed through the Nanyang Girls' High School 90th anniversary magazine that had been presented to MGSS and our jaws almost dropped out when we saw how modern, affluent and high tech their school is. While in MGSS, the students run bare foot (I always call them jaguh kampung i.e. village champs) in the green field dotted with sprawling rain trees which are as old or even older than our grandparents, in Nanyang they run on bitumen track. And their hall is an auditorium while their library is of at least two-storey high. And, their school magazine was hard-bound, all glossy colour photos, with no advertisements at all... what a world of difference!
Ah, well... in spite of our shortcomings, I am thankful that I am a part of MGSS Melaka, where we are surrounded by lots of greenery and where life is simpler and not so harried. It is a place with a heart and a soul and "where everybody knows your name" (tagline of the sitcom Cheers).
posted by Lim Ai Ling at
7:07 AM
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