Walking Down Memory Lane in NUS

Bao-er got down from the bus. She could not believe all the changes she was seeing. This used to be the only university in Singapore when she went to school here. Everyone who got into the National University of Singapore was very, very, proud to be part of the student body.

She smiled as she climbed some familiar steps, leading to the Arts and Social Sciences building. She used to do this all the time! There were steps everywhere. There were elevators in some buildings, but being young and always rushing for time, the students preferred the steps.

Bao-er could see herself, young and green again, climbing those steps, folder in her arms, and backpack over her shoulders. She was rushing to LT12 for an English Language lecture, probably the one that put her to sleep (or transport her to dreamland) most days. She day-dreamed a lot back then. However, if it was an English Language lecture, her eyes were probably glued to the back of the guy she had a crush on. Bao-er laughed at her foolish young self!

Then she passed by the Japanese Studies Department's "Tea-room". It might not be the "Tea-room" any more! She saw herself and her friends in the room. They were having a lesson on traditional Japanese tea ceremony. They were squirming because they were not used to sitting with their legs tucked under their bottoms, for long periods of time. They were also giggling because they found all the seriousness, and elegance behavior, expected of them quite overwhelming, and a little funny! They were also trying not to laugh out loud because the "sensei" was always calling one of their friends "monkey", complaining about their inelegant behavior, and constantly sticking her hand into her kimono to adjust her bra-strap! Bao-er nearly laughed out loud, just thinking about that. How she missed those days! She could almost taste the Japanese sweets that went together with the tea. She remembered devouring lots of those, together with her friends, in the back room, away from the sensei's prying eyes!

She left the Japanese Department reluctantly. She walked to the Cafeteria next. She used to gobble down food, in between lectures, and tutorials there. Of course, the stalls were all different, except for one or two. The whole cafeteria was renovated. Parts of it still remained the same. She saw herself getting some hokkien mee (noodles). She fondly recalled the girl who tended that stall. She used to tease the male students who bought from her stall. She would ask, "Hokkien mee, you want me?" She would giggle when the boys looked embarrassed!

School was out for the summer. The campus was quiet. Bao-er saw a few students here and there. Some of them might be foreign students staying at the campus dormitories. Bao-er looked at them, and was filled with sudden envy. How young and happy they looked!