My Kindergarten days (blog dedicated to Ate Simon)

I found an old friend in the net today. We were not really that close as we are at least 8 years apart.( Don’t really know her real age, can’t remember anymore) She’s not like the closest friends that stayed with me all this years, but she played a significant part in my life as a friend. This is our story.

I was about 6 years old then. I remember I was crying, sitting on the curb that morning. I know its not the first day of classes, but for no reason I decided to cry because my mama left. So the teacher let me sit there outside, crying my heart out. Thinking if I cry harder, mama will come back to get me. My not so developed but full of imagination mind was like that. I think I’m crying for an hour or so, when this teenage girl, with curly hair and full smile came to sit beside me. She asked me why I was crying, and I just said, “Mama! Mama!” She comforted me, Don’t know the exact words now, but most likely she said, “It’s ok, she’ll come back later, she loves you, she just have to go to the office”
Then she showed me, her fan. It’s an “abaniko” (dried leaves weaved together to form a fan) with her name stitched on it. It says, ‘Simonette” her whole name. She introduced herself to me and said I can call her Ate Simon. I don’t know if I was fascinated with her fan, or she has such an angelic face that I stopped crying.

From then on we became friends. Honestly, I don’t remember anything else about our “friendship” after that. The only other instance that I remember is that she lives in the same street as we do, “Prudencio” about 50 meters from our house. I also remember that me and my parents went to her debut party, and our gift to her was a shoulder bag. That my father saw her, on his trip to Japan about 10 years ago. Cant remember anything else.

If I’m going to count the years that I’ve known her, its already 20 years. Not so much of memories, basically because of the age difference. How would you imagine a 6 year old hanging out with a 15 years old. Very few moments together, but I could say that its really significant, It’s been 20 years, but I still remember exactly how we met. If I’m going to analyze it further I could say that, that moment made me stronger, made me not afraid of school, or whatever it is that I’m afraid of. That moment, also made me realize, that it’s ok if your mom leaves you in school. Eventually you’ll find friends that will make you stop crying. So to “Ate Simon” this blog is dedicated to you! Thank you for being there.

As for my little girl Jea, I now understand you more. That even if there is no good reason to cry, you will still cry, simply because you want your mommy beside you. Finding ate Simon, and remembering how we met, made me realize that, that’s just how kids react. When you’re young, in a new environment, missing your mom. This makes me realize, that I should be more patient and more understanding when Jea cries, because once upon a time I was just like her, crying my heart out, sitting on a curb, outside the classroom. Alone, afraid, and simply sad… I just wish you find your “Ate Simon”. In your case, this maybe your teachers, but somehow its different because if they do that, its because its their job too. I know you fill find her, or him, Maybe when you’re 6 years old, or 26 years old. You’ll find that not so close friend, but nevertheless, very significant friend.