Thursday, October 12, 2006
i am in LOVE
with HISTORY
my first semester in NTU is coming to an end. And although i didn't get to do much ART this time round, i find myself immersed in reading lots and lots of HISTORY. Ironic: i used to loathe it but now i'm seeing signs of 'love' for it.
HISTORY, its just like reading a STORYBOOK about the past. .... .. .Without the past there wouldnt be the PRESENT. Without studying mistakes of the past, you will not have been more careful today. Without knowing what happened in the past, you will not know why we have this and that today.
i'm begining to see more reasons why we need to learn about HISTORY
and yeah soon to come i'll have to convince my students why they have to learn about the past.
I spent my day today at my grandma's place. Had to do a project regarding the Japanese Occupation. Grandma went through the Occupation, she was approximately seven then and it is amazing how she remembered the past vividly. I had to interview her and get as much stories possible, and with all this information at hand, i'll have to write a biography of her experiences.
All that we know of the Occupation was hardship. All the fear, hunger, sufferings and killings summarized those times. Her experinces was exceptional though. As a kid, she was ignorant of what was happening. She worked for the Japanese under her mother's name. As brutal as they were, the Japanese were still humans. Perhaps it was sympathy that saved Grandma of a hard life. Grandma was too young to work at the rubber plantation and was taken to work for a Liutenant named Anasi and Sohara instead, whom she addressed as Masters. It was an easy job. Apart from cooking or serving coffee to the masters, she had to take care of the comfort women 'kept' in a room nearby the kitchen.
Anasi and Sohara are very protective of my Grandma. Perhaps, because she reminds them of their daughters. There was an occasion where Sohara killed a Chinese for chasing after Grandma for plucking a flower in their garden. Grandma seek protection from her masters. Without haste, Sohara took his sword and plunge it through the Chinese man stomach. There were many other occasions where either Sohara or Anasi protected Grandma.
Nevertheless Grandma was not taking advantage of the situation. She was just to young to understand the situation in greater depth. It was fulfilling having to sit down and listening intently to all these treasures of the past.
if not recorded, no one would have known the hardships our forefathers went through.....
and i am so grateful, even at this age, grandma is still so healthy and strong.
She's a wonderful granny. Love her alot.......
left paws;
