Memoirs of my Alma Matter (Part 3 of 3)

The symbol of Dominica

The last part of a 3 part series… Here goes…

“The fourth and fifth years in high school I enjoyed the most. During these two years, I got to know my classmates very well, especially those in my science classes. I have really learned to appreciate the friendship of my classmates (although they sometimes seemed that they could care less! Anyway, life’s like that!).”

In the fifth year, there were three really hip fellas in the science classes, the Boyz ‘n the Block: Jim J., Fernandelle B., and I. We became Mrs. Isaacs’ favourite boys (I wouldn’t know about the girls!), and whenever we had any problems, the three of us came together for solutions. This truly, I will not forget. Anything else not mentioned are faded memories. Except two:”

“Lois C.! A very sweet cousin of mine. Which I could give (share) all my problems to. All my secrets. All ‘Bef’ I can come up with. She is very nice to be with, at home or at school. God Bless her for the hospitality she has given me.”

“And last but not least, the last day of school. This was very restless. Before I arrived at school, I met Vernanda, Norma, and Giséle, going to shop for gifts for our teachers. I (being the adventurous type) went along. We arrived back to school about 9:30 AM that day. The last two periods, we had one of the best school leaving ceremonies Grammar School has ever had. Some good features were our modeling, the Play Drama Club, Doctrove’s karate moves, and our teachers’ imitation entitled ‘Guess Who!'”

“The same afternoon (May 7th) we got back together and went into the town to get some ice cream. Then we came back to school to reflect on old times. Some of us were dancing to slow songs. Of course, I was too! I was sitting fooling around with a pair of shades when Vernanda took them of and told me ‘Let’s dance.’ My heart skipped a thousand beats (well, maybe not that much). Why? Because I didn’t know how to dance. Anyhow, when we were dancing, I told her she was the first girl I have danced so close to. And guess what? She did not believe me. I wonder why. Anyhow, I ended up dancing four songs with her, and my! Were they great! I still feel a love for her, but does she? I doubt, my friend, that this is infatuation.”

“These memories may seem to be a lot of bull, but to me they are like silver and gold, for I have no hope of reliving them. See ya!”

“My Personal Glimpses of the Dominica Grammar School. 15th May, 1993.”

So, there it is! Quite embarasing in some places, but I was a kid then. Does this sound anything like your teenage memories (for you ’70’s babies out there)?

PS. – Did you like this story? Good. Now go read Junot Diaz’s “The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao”, you won’t regret it!

T.

Memoirs of my Alma Matter (Part 2 of 3)

My high school, as I remember it!

If you’re reading this second part of my memoir, then, nope, I did not make a mistake when I titled this page. My first post is indeed “Memories of my Alma Matter“; for it is indeed a my memories, but this is as well a memoir. Here is the second part…

“These teachers had an influence on me, in that they all helped my fellow students and I to reach our goal. Mr. Coipel, also, had such an effect, giving me two demerits and one detention, for what? Oh, forget that!”

“Third form in the Grammar School are now faded memories. However, I remember a very important aspect of my life; meeting a girl, which maybe was not the best in other people’s opinion, Giséle E. C. S.. You’ll hear later!”

“The last two years at the Dominica Grammar School were indeed enjoyable. I really discovered my love for these sciences during these years, especially Chemistry.”

“My list of friends grew rapidly. I never really had trouble with my classmates, but sometimes they made me really mad.”

“For example when Lynora F. and Mignon R. ganged up on me, criticizing my closeness with Giséle. However, I take these as jokes now.”

“Jim J. and I grew very close as friends, and his friendship I enjoyed during the past years. The science classes consisted of the best students (contrary to Ms. Isaacs opinions, however), the ‘Untouchables’. We have survived a lot, and I’m sure we can survive the worst. We’ll come back to this, however.”

“Giséle S.. I really met her through one of my classmates in third form, Robert. We began talking to each other, and soon we got very close to each other. It has been said that in love, people tend to deny one’s faults, not so with me. For one, she probably believes that because she has been blessed with money, that everyone else is also. She is also impatient most of the time. She is also known for building very thick walls between people she doesn’t like and herself.”

“Enough of the bad. Like I said, ‘There is a little bit of good in everyone’. Giséle has helped me cope through most difficult times (and persons, like Mr. Paquette). Giséle, has, to some extent, showed appreciation for me but then again, who knows? However, I still love her (yes, even though she’s caught up with Eric!), and I will never forget her.”

“There is another person who has made my stay in the Dominica Grammar School a very enjoyable one. This dude is very cool and caring. Productive, he;s one hell of a guy. Of course, non oter than Fernandelle B. I really got to know him during our last two years of our schooling together. He has what it takes to be a friend, and he has been the best friend I’ve ever had. I hope we remain the best of friends forever. Peace, bro!”

“The teachers of the last two years are as follows:

• Social Studies – Ms. Graham (a teacher who loved to give an essay!) and Mr. Francis (a rather cool guy!)
• Maths – Ms. Jones (a very good and caring maths teacher!)
• English – Mrs. Durand (the most favourite teacher I’ve ever had) and Mrs. (Ma) Harris (the teacher that has been a constant bore to our class!)
• French – Mrs. Nation (a very good and caring teacher, I must say!) and Mrs. Didier (a pain in the neck, man!)
• Chemistry – Mr. Bertrand (a teacher dedicated to his work and his sudents!)
• Physics – Mr. Paquette (man, he was such a pain in the neck our class decided he didn’t know what he was doing!) and Mr. Austrie (a teacher who deserves all the thanks he can get for helping us out greatly. Three cheers!)
• Biology – Ms. Isaacs (a teacher I have grown to like very much not only as a teacher, but a very close friend!)

Ok, another break to this unexpectedly long memoir… Check the last part out soon!

T.

Memories of my Alma Matter (Part 1 of 3)

“Mens Sana In Corpore Sano”. A sound mind in a healthy body. I can think of no better way to begin the memories of the high school that has changed my life, the place where I made the beat of friends. If you are a DGS alumni reading this, you know exactly what I am talking about!

I have recently discovered a “memoir” of sorts that I had filled out at my graduation in ’93 from the Dominica Grammar School, and I was actually amazed at some of the things that my friends wrote to me before leaving. Makes me wonder what sort of memories I placed in their books, and if they even have those books with them anymore! Of particular interest, I found a few paragraphs of “memories” that I wrote about, and I thought that I should share. This I mainly do in case a fellow DGS in cyberspace sees this, please leave a comment so we can communicate!

The following is just as it was written, almost 15 years ago. As silly as I think most of it is, I thought it important to leave it as is. After all, how will you be able to gauge how much you you’ve grown, if you can’t see where you’ve come from?

“I entered the Dominica Grammar School on the 4th of September, 1989. I will never forget the day I saw this great school building, founded by “The Greatest of all Builders”. I remember coming in through with a present good friend of mine, Jacelyn B. and her mother (I still remember Jacelyn turning and twisting, watching me momentarily, while my mother and her mother spoke).”

“The principal at this time was Ms. Harris, a very sweet lady, and the best I’ve ever met. SHe was kind and gentle to those who showed respect, however harsh on the irresponsible ones.”

“The school seemed strange to me four years ago, however, I have grown to love my second home very much. When I entered Form 2-3 (now the classroom next to the staffroom), I came in ‘Tortolian Style’ (for I had just migrated from Tortola), with my girly bounce, and one rolled up exercise book in my back pocket. My two first friends were Jim J. and Ashworth B.. I still remember that they both gave me a seat in their two-seater desk. I was very shy the first few weeks, but gradually I came about.”

“I also remember the instant crush I had on Alma J., which led me to serenade her with two letters within the first week of my entrance. Donnerson D. was my medium, in which I used him to pas my letters. nfortunately, Alma has never replied to any of my two letters, and I still await!”

“Next person I had eyes for was Eula N. Little did I know that by 1993 we would be so close as friends, (maybe more!), that it would be very hard to say goodbye! It started when our homeroom teacher (Mr. Coipel, a very odd-tempered fellow) put us to sit together. I learned about her, that she was easy going, kind, loving.”

“The rest of the students I got to know better throughout the years, sometimes, in some misunderstandings.”

“Like the time I got mad at Agnita for trying to fool me into falling in love with her with her dreamy gazes. However, we have grown up and put these aside.”

“Come to think of it, I’ve never had any real trouble with classmates. Anyway, I remember falling in love with Vernanda, My! How sweet she was, and still is! A recent occasion, (which I will talk about later), made me realize that I still love her. The glances that used to be shared by us, the long stares, sometimes distracted me from my work. The relationship ended rather abruptly, but I was able to cope with it. Strangely, I don’t know the reason why she “dumped” me, but I don’t think I’ll ever know, as she refuses to tell me when I ask. Anyway, girl, I still love you, and I always will.”

“Our teachers at this time (September ’89 – June ’93) were as follows:

• Mr.Balleti (an american peace corp, very good Mathematician, and very caring)
• Mrs. Bruney (a very small teacher, but big in personality. We bugged her ’til she refused to teach our class! She taugh English by the way!)
• Ms. Mondesire, our Social Studies teacher (very loving, and still one of my favourite teachers)
• Ms. Christian, our French teacher (very kind also, but hard on her French!)
• Our Arts & Craft teacher, Ms Burton (very talented and gave me morale to do my best in art)
• Our integrated science teacher, Mr. Coipel
• and our Spanish teacher, but I cannot recall her name… Oh, yes, it just came , Mrs. Lockhart (A very troublesome, pain in the neck about Spanish!)”

Ok, I realize this is quite a large piece, so I’ll break it up into sections… Call these reflections Part One! Scroll down to read Part Two!!!

T.