听海 - Listening to the Sea

Some of us were just sitting by the rocks just beside the sea, listening to the sea. We didn’t talk a lot, we didn’t talk too loud either. There wasn’t any need for much conversation, maybe. And I think we liked it that way. The splashing of the waves on the rocks was pretty rhythmic and so we let the waves did the talking and we listened. We didn’t talk about what we had heard, but we will certainly hear something if we were attentive enough. It was calming, especially coupling with the soothing breeze.

I was with some *little pals and we were at the beach and the sun was good.

These *little pals were in the same class in 2005, but were spilt in 2006. So they were together as a class for just about 9 months or so. Today, they decided to get together as a class again and ha.. they got me to join them too. It somewhat amazed me that this class in 2005 is that close. Many commented that they would be happier if they were to be still in the same class in 2006. Aiyo.. Is the mistake mine? Mm..

Putting that feeling aside…
I think today we still had a pretty good time.

We were playing soccer and volleyball. I think I bent all the rules of the game(s), because in the first place I don’t know the rules (particularly soccer). :P I can’t help but to notice that some people were watching us. They must be finding it weird to see a lao uncle playing with these *little pals right? Haha.. I don’t care.

Confirmed! My stamina really cannot make it. I was in the verge of giving up in the midst of the game(s) while most of them seem to be still going strong. Malu sia, but I persevered on lor. I then took any chance to support anyone suggesting a break. Haha..

Most of the time, we were just sitting around chatting. Once in a while, we just get ourselves soaked and wet.

The good part of the morning and afternoon just went by like that.
Tired, we may be.
Relaxed and contented, we are.
Aiyo.. I think I never learn. I forgot all about sun-block again.
Yes, I am red again. Heh..
Now that I'm typing this entry, I can feel that my skin is cracking at the nano level and the effect is escalating.
I hope I would not have another peeling session. Mm. Fat hope! :-)

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The following letter had been circulating in the email-circle for quite sometime. I read it a few times. Find it pretty interesting too. It makes me reflect more. I hope you can read "traditional" chinese text.

雲林縣草嶺國小李政勳的一封信

這是一所即將被合併的小學校,校長與心中小孩的對話,確實是蠻令人感慨的!

孩子：「校長，我們學校為什麼要被合併？」

校長：「孩子，學校合併後可以省很多錢呀！」

孩子：「校長，辦教育很貴嗎？」

校長：「不，孩子，辦教育比辦監獄、比請警察、比整治治安便宜。」

孩子：「校長，那為什麼要省教育的錢？」

校長：「孩子，你不懂，教育要計算成本的。」

孩子：「校長，你養小孩有算成本嗎？用多少錢可以買到孩童的笑臉？用多少錢可以買到生命裡的感動？用多少錢可以買到老師無悔的付出？用多少錢可以買到社區的希望？用多少錢可以買到校長的熱忱？用多少錢可以買到政府的責任？」

校長：「孩子，你不懂，教育是很貴的，政府沒錢了。」

孩子：「校長，政府沒錢為什麼還可以常常放煙火？為什麼還可以常常辦晚會？為什麼花大錢買武器？為什麼常常印刷一些沒人看的文宣？為什麼馬路挖了又挖？為什麼做一些沒用又破壞環境的攔砂壩？」

校長：「……」

校長：「孩子，校長告訴你，到大學校去，有多一點的同學，多一點人際互動，你的學習會更豐富。」

孩子：「校長，山上有各式各樣的蝴蝶、滿山遍野的野花、青翠高聳的大樹、驍勇善戰的鍬形蟲陪著我，和我一起玩，難道不能幫助我的學習嗎？」

校長：「孩子，美好的學習經驗必須和人互動，走入人群。」

孩子：「校長，司馬遷寫下史記時；梵谷畫出向日葵時；貝多芬譜出命運時；愛迪生讓電燈發亮時，有和人群在一起嗎？」

校長：「……」

孩子：「校長，要合成本，要多人一起讀書，那為什麼是我們要往山下走呢？」

校長：「孩子，因為下面的資源多ㄚ！」

孩子：「校長，醫院在山下、圖書館在山下、文化中心在山下、書局在山下，所有一切用稅金蓋給全民的東西為什麼都在山下，為什麼？」

校長：「孩子，因為我們人少啊！」

孩子：「校長，人少也是一種錯嗎？人少就應受不公平待遇嗎？我聽爸媽說，以前我們這裡也曾一班有很多人，九二一不是我們自願的，農產品不賺錢也不是我們自願的，我們的祖先選擇在山上更不是我們自願的，為什麼我們不能享有最基本的教育公平環境。」

校長：「孩子，你現在好好讀書，以後可以幫助家鄉啊！」

孩子：「校長，現在連學校都保不住，等我長大，家鄉還在嗎？」

希望這個孩子的父母不是您，但不幸的，這個校長就是我，我真的被這個孩子問到無話可說。

每個人心中，都有一個孩子。靜下心時，這個孩子會跟您說話，我被這個孩子問到熱淚盈眶，您呢？傾聽心中孩子的聲音吧!

雲林縣草嶺國小李政勳敬上