sudden memory

[elusivek]

I was thinking about doing a manicure (just those nail strengthening lacquer thing) myself when suddenly, this little memory surfaced to the front of my thoughts.

It has nothing to do with manicure, nails or anything. It just popped out, and with a vengeance (because the situation did make me feel vengeful).

When I just started out kindergarten, I was actually in a Portuguese school. Then my mom changed her mind and put me in an English school as she hoped I'd (and my sister) be able to communicate with my dad. I guess she pretty much regretted it soon.

When I was in Grade 2, she started talking about having me transfer back to a Portuguese school at Grade 4. At that time, I hadn't "blossomed" or "come out of my shell" yet, so I was basically still friendless and group-less at that point in time. It shouldn't have been a problem, but for some reason, I rebelled against that idea.

So Grade 4 came and went, and I was still in my English school at Grade 5. By Grade 6, I made my first real good buddy friend (we had a fallout later in grade 9, then got back together as friends a little into university, but that is another story to tell).

Mom thought my Portuguese sucked, so she enrolled me into our parish church catechism class. I loathed it.

Most of the kids are Portuguese speakers, and had that "western people mindset", while I was all "Chinese mindset" despite studying in an English school (and a nun school at that). I was a little slow digesting the orders and conversations in Portuguese.

One time, I was sitting on a bench, the catechism teacher asked me to step up so that she could move it, I didn't understand the request as quickly, and behind me, a couple of think-they-are-the-boss-bully kids laughed. "She's as slow as a pig! Probably because she has such a fat ass!"

I continued to pretend not to understand that, and the catechism teacher didn't say anything either. (Bitch!).

One time, we were told to memorise the Hail Mary and that there would be a dictation the following week. Dictation my ass. Dictation is you read I write. That was a write out from memory. Oh how I studied for that. I remember asking mom for help but she just said "it's just a dictation!" and left me to my own devices. I thought I had it pretty good by the evening before that Sunday.

On that Sunday, I couldn't recall a word of it. I failed the "dictation."

You can imagine what happened next with the stupid as a pig comments.

After some time, a new priest came. Maybe he intimidated people as he's black. Anyway, one day our catechism teacher couldn't make it for the class, so the priest had to take over.

He asked some elementary question. I recall it was something about God and his entities or whatever. The class was quiet. He asked me to answer. The class started tittering. That bully either snorted or tried to do a pig snorting noise. Oh I was so mad. I asked the priest, "posso responder em ingles?" (May I answer in English?)

The priest? "Sure, you can answer in any language you like."

And goddamit did I answer the whole The Father The Son and The Holy Spirit thing then started a major discussion with the priest, me in English, him in Portuguese.

I remember at that time, I went back home and firmly told my mom "I study in a religious school anyway, please don't waste my time making me go to these catechism classes. The school has weekly catechism classes for Catholics on Wednesdays apart from the twice weekly religion class as part of the module."

And that's how I got out of that hateful Portuguese catechism class.

Today, if I were to be in the situation again? You can bet your arse I'd be swearing at those bullies. Take that, you goddammed mxtherfxckers, that's so nursery school material. I can recite and write all Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Apostles's Creed and much more in both modern English and a slightly more archaic version too! (That's back then)

erm... I've now turned into a non-devout non-practicing catholic if there's such a thing. I practically only go the the Easter Mass, Christmas Eve Mass, and the year-end Te deum. I also fast on Good Friday. That's about the only things I do now... Sorry if that offends any devout believers' beliefs/notions/whatever. Please don't try to preach me. I've been preached at enough. Not just from a nun primary and secondary school, I was also part of the Student Union as vice chairperson of the Religious Affairs Committee (not my choice) for 3 years, required to assist in all school Masses during my tenure as that, and blah blah blah. Okay, enough of a show off.

Right.... This has run all over the place. The point in this? I don't think I have a point either. Oops, sorry!

Comments

[found-world.livejournal.com]

The catechism teacher saying nothing to the bully is offensive to me. Not that the bully's behavior isn't, also.

[notte0.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know that now, but back then I was this timid little kid that thought if the adults said nothing then it must be ok. Sad. But now I know better!

[katemacetak.livejournal.com]

Your classmates sound terrible, and it's even worse that the teacher didn't say anything.
I agree about being non-devout though...Non-practicing Catholics with traumatizing catechism stories unite! *high five*

[notte0.livejournal.com]

*high five* XD