When we think of desert, our mind see the vast and endless sand dunes flowing in front of our eyes. Though there is certain beauty in it, few of us desire to go there. But one tends to forget there are oasis dotted among the desert.

So there was one for me in the harsh years of growing up - There were 2000 children in 'True Light' school. age 3 to 18. It is half way up on a hill. It occupies quite a few acres. It is the envy of many other schools because the land was granted by the government, as a reward to the principal who held a PhD in education from a famous university and had a distinctive track record in her profession. Children all wore white and sky-blue uniform.

Unlike some other luckier families who lived closer to the school, my sibling and I had to walk 45 minutes up the slope to get to the school. (It would be wonderful news for nowadays parents if their grade school children can be out of the house independently and get some needed exercises.) We never missed a beat except when typhoon struck and school had to be closed.

Some days, the sky poured down torrential rain, even with our oil cloth rain jacket, we were soaked from head to toe, school would still take us in. There was a large playground for the primary grade. It was equipped with fantastic but basic equipments - a large climber where we like to play 'catch' on it while no one's foot was allowed to touch the ground; swings which we could fly off midway and a 'swinging bridge' on which a very long square log was hung from a swing. Two kids pumped it like a swing on both ends and the dare devil boys would stand across the log, holding onto nothing while it may be pumped four to five feet high. Those were good sources to let out the steam in strict classroom environment.

There were two democratically voted prefects in each classroom (but of course it was usually the few high profile kids got voted in, year after year.) But I can't remember what they do except to hit the bell when the teacher stepped in or out of the class while the rest of the kids all stood up to greet him/her. There were one row monitor assigned by the teacher for every 6 or 7 children in class with actual responsibility, like collecting home works, giving out papers, buying stationary at the school, keeping their row quiet (after all there were 40 children in each class.)

Each student had a diary where we record our homework assignment and a special column listed with different virtues where the teacher would put a check mark beside if any one made a distinctive effort on that day and was recognized by the teacher. She would also make a cross mark beside any virtue which we broke. So parents can be notified by a simple sign. (I feel so sorry for nowadays teachers who have to put so many kind words in report cards even for the rotten students in order to be politically correct.)

We had favorite teachers who would tell us stories if we get our class work done quickly. I don't remember any teacher stood out poorly. Some might be straighter than others but they were all very kind. We had school assembly under a large shelter with no walls. In the winter, it could be quite cold trying to sit still. We sang a lot of school songs, which encourage character building, school family life (yep, that was what we learned, school is like a family to us.) and lots of encouraging songs of God's love (which was the only love we ever heard in my family.) No need to say, it really help our reading skill by singing the words on the songbooks.

Every two or three weeks, different classes would put on skits, plays, special singing or talent display at the assembly. I was selected one time to say some English poem on stage but my teacher kept telling me to slow down (which I didn't see the point.) There was a small plot on a little slope made into stairs about two feet wide for grade 6 students to grow vegetable. Though the harvest was meager, we took great fun and pride in it. We also learned about where organic fertilizer come from - only the brave ones would used it sparingly, may be that's why our vegetable was always slinky.

There were also display boards along the wall outside each classroom displaying the students' work, be it calligraphy, drawings, painting, handcrafts etc. I love art. I remembered spending a lot of time painting, crocheting, making needle points, embroideries, so my work could get onto the display boards. One time, my adorable art teacher (he was a professionally trained art teacher and very serious one too) chose me and another friend to paint a big Christmas mural framed with poinsettia for the whole primary school to sign their names on. I was so proud of it.

The school also had a big athletic field, which, amazingly still exists consider the astronomical cost of per square foot of land. Even the fairy tale garden, which used to situated across from the school had been demolished in order to build expensive high rises. We had sport days once a year. We had so much fun in different races. It was always team effort. All the winning teams got 'praise' as reward. The high school students would carry out their lantern ceremony close to their graduation day. The primary students would carry out the promotion ceremony along the corridor outside their classroom facing the playground. We would sing songs designed for the occasion and climbed up one flight of the building as a symbolic gesture.

The school was run so orderly as a perfect little community. Everyone felt safe in it. There are monitors on each flight of the wide stairway which had a red line run right in the middle, so people would keep the courtesy of going up or coming down on the same side. If one trespassed, his name will be taken down by the monitor. We also have playground monitors to make sure the rules are followed.

Oh yeah, every year, the school would also have a bazaar for fund raising. Every class would think of games which would lure people to spent their tickets on in order to play. It was so fun. The midway in N. America would look pale compare to it. I loved the eating parlor of the senior students the best. Mmmmmmmm..........the wonton noodle soup..........etc. School was my home in those years. I thrived in it. Nowadays, it gives me joy to hear my sponsored children love going to school, which is their lifeline.