why working at ji's school rocks

Aside from the fact that I get to see Ji every hour or so during the day, and in addition to the fun of eating lunch with him and his buddies, it's moments like this one from last Friday that make it a great gig...

I'm walking out from the P5 (grade five) classroom. I have a new classroom, just-built over the christmas holidays. Thus far the walls are still standing (knock wood) and the electrics continue to function. I did have to make a special request to have the electrician move the light switches for the class from outside in the hallway to inside in my room, but other than that things have been fine. I'm carrying a big basket of books to mark. Our kids have homework books that they fill in relentlessly, and also in-class work books that seem to spring new pages every time I turn my back. And this is just English. The other day I stepped into the hall carrying my big basket and nearly ran into the math teacher and the chinese teacher, both of whom were carrying their giant baskets. Well, it is good for our biceps I suppose.

But back to the story, I'm walking out of my class and carrying my books over to the other building to do my marking. Ji's class has just left the music room and they're walking across the courtyard ahead of me. Most of the class is right behind the Teacher's Assistant, keeping in tidy formation. Ji Hong and his chubby, big-brown-eyed buddy Zaffrul are holding hands and walking in teeny-weeny mini-steps about 3 metres behind the rest of the kids. One of the girls ahead in the line suddenly sweeps up her little plaid dress, and Ji guffaws and shouts out, "I see your PANTIEEESSSS". Immediately, five other tiny girls flip up their dresses, proudly showing off a parade of adorable underpants. My son laughs till he's doubled over and he and Zaffrul literally have to support each other so that they can remain standing despite their overwhelming mirth. The Teacher's Assistant and I can't help but laugh, too, and then she tells the girls to put their dresses down.

[Ji Hong-12-February-2006]