This is written by AAR in 2017. |
I first heard of VI when i was studying in TIGS, Batu Pahat. My band girl frens used to spend months in KL preping for Merdeka Day celebrations. They proudly showed me pics of handsome VI boys clad in their band uniforms. They told me of VI band boys, a clan of good looking gentlemen. I envied my frens n i secretly wished that i wud one day meet a VI boy.
Fast forward many stars n moon years.. Hub n I decided that we would bring up our future babies in KL. VI was never too far away from my mind. I never knew where VI was actually. But one day while stuck in a traffic jam, i turned to my right and there it was. The signboard proudly said VICTORIA INSTITUTION. Whoaaa. I was geli geli giddy excited. From that day onwarrds, everytime we passed by VI i wud announce out loud that if we had boys, they will be in VI. Everytime. My hub who hailed from Kuala Terengganu didnt know what i was talking about. But i was determined that my boys will be a Victorian.
Well i guess since i said it too many times it became a du’a. I have 2 boys n i am so proud to say that i have, since 2011, became a VI mom. Alhamdulillah. So what does it mean actually? What is it like to be a VI mom?
Being a vi mom means you have to abide by VI rules n traditions. There are so many. Shoes must be laced. They have to be only white, no stripes n the tapak must also be white (well this rule has somehow been “cancelled” when ali came in 2013) else the always unsmiling, unfriendly looking abg prefects will send ur little darlings to dc. Detention class. Name tags have to be worn 2 fingers on top of d school badge. N d badge sewn (later d then gb ordered all boys to use metal badges, much to d dismay of d 5th formers who all these while were the only ones who cud wear one to show that they are d boss. The abg senior u-dun-mess-with-me sign). I used to have to spend precious hours in my mornings to help umar put on his name tag. His fingers were slender n mine chubby. So whose finger to choose now? Haha
Those rules do drive us moms up the wall. Imagine u promised ur boss “I nak pegi amek anak I dekat sekolah kejap. Nnti i will join u in the meeting” but upon reaching school u found out ur darling moomoo had to stay back for an extra half an hour becoz he n his classmates had to go dc bcoz they forgot to switch off d kipas n again, the abg prefect garang dunno how to smile had shouted at them BOYSSSS DOWNNNN (meaning kena push ups la what summore) plus oso sent them to dc. So there goes my meeting! Grrrrrrrrrr
Alas, my boys stayed n persevered, love n adore n respect their school, its rules n all n so do I. My fav spot in school? Of course the green lush field where i used to spend hours n hours waiting for Ali. Unlike his bro Umar (who tho funny n cheeky, presented vi for school chess n robotics comps) Ali wanted to do n excel in sports. Becoz of him, the Green n i have become good friends. 365 days in a year, i wudve easily spent 250 or more days on that field A YEAR. U do d maths. I love it at the Green. U cant tell that jez behind those walls, traffic jams were choking the city. When i sit to watch d boys train, i forgot abt my sometimes 1hr drive home to cheras (note: pengsan). The smell of d earth, the grass n the boys crowding around me asking for a drink or a choc chips or two, or an “Auntie ada ice pack tak?... i am so going to miss all that.
There are many more “roles” of a VI mom actually. But i wud need 60 or more chapters for that! .. to be cont 😀
So today.. o well yesterday, was my Ali’s last day in school. He thus joins his bro Umar as VI old boys. N what’s left for me, like the other VI moms, are warm memories of this school, tucked in d middle of the city, its boys, its old old buildings, its wonderful Green, its tradition n grandeur n its wonderful aura that will surround these budak2 biru all their lives.
When I asked Ali why din VI organise graduation ceremonies for f5 students like the ones organised by other schools, his answer was simple. “ Mommy, VI boys never leave their school”. Well, neither will a VI mom dude! Hahah
Thank you VICTORIA INSTITUTION who has made my boys who they are today. I have truly enjoyed being a part of you (albeit minimal). Thank you for having us. Glory Glory Victoria!
And all the best for SPM this coming monday! Pray for us!!
Bisous 💙 umar@1115 ali@1317 mommy@1117
Victoria Institution, VI Koala Lompar KL Malaysia. |