Her name is Miriam and she cared for the youngest girl's dorm, the six and seven year olds. This was so named, Dorm 7, then Dorm E and then finally Dorm Perdah after one of the mountains in the Cameron Highlands where the school was situated.
Now she lives in retirement in a small seaside town, where she herself grew up.
In these days of local international schools and home schooling, boarding school at age six, for any reason, can seem reprehensible. And yet it worked in the main, because of the commitment, hard work and care of such as Aunty Miriam.
Arriving after a long journey from Bangkok, (a short flight to Kuala Lumpur as an unaccompanied minor and five hours in a taxi) a weary and perhaps slightly car sick six year old would find themselves, arriving to an environment where great care and preparation had gone into getting ready for all these little arrivals. The dorm was decorated with some theme in mind, beds neatly made, and lockers labelled.
Over following days, unpacking would take place, bed making lessons ensued for the littlest and routines established. The week would settle into a familiar pattern of rising early to drink immediately a beaker of water, dressing, breakfast, school, break time, more school, lunch time, rest hour, afternoon school, sandwich at 330 pm in the dorm, change into play clothes, play time, supper, an evening activity of treats/craft/story time/games outside and then baths and bed. Clothes became categories of school clothes, play clothes, Sunday clothes and even travel clothes on going home. Saturdays were patterns of washing one's hair in the sink (an invaluable skill), changing the sheets on the bed (hospital corners all round, challenging on a bunk bed), roti breakfast sometimes, trips out in the number plated WAX and WAM vans and short hikes in the jungle. Sundays were another regular pattern of Sunday Clothes, Sunday School, getting to church, Sunday groups waiting for church to start, return to school, Sunday Lunch, rest hour, a long play time, supper and Evening Prayers.
Aunty Miriam was particularly expert with the youngest girls because of her high standards in terms of behaviour and consistency but also her imagination and creativity in generating regularity and routine that was both fun and enjoyable. Such was this the case, that although homesickness reared it's head from time to time there was comfort to be found on these occasions from her but also the dependability of routines that divided the days and made them flow rapidly so that suddenly it was the last weeks of term with the excitement of suitcases airing on the basketball court, packing up school work and taxis leaving for the KL Mission Home or airport.
I have not mentioned teachers or other dorm parents in this article and of course they were invaluable and made many wonderful contributions, but in many ways Aunty Miriam set the tone and traditions that followed one through school and into other dorms. There are good patterns of behaviour and habits that I developed in those early years that I trace back in large part to Aunty Miriam and her faithful influence.
There are so many things that can be said of my years at Chefoo School; memories of now life long friendship and connections, creating imaginary worlds, learning to love reading, playing in that green and pleasant valley, the rush of cool air in through the taxi windows after driving through Tapah and then on into the hills, God's hand of protection from various hazards including poisonous snakes, learning hard lessons, some tears and sadness because of separation from parents, trying to care for siblings, making mistakes and making up. I could go on and on.
Mark and I were both struck on visiting the now retired and still single Aunty Miriam, of her simplicity of life, the habitual frugality still in evidence, her commitment to her local church, her clock that has different birds chirping for every hour, her beautiful garden, the amazing neatness of her little house and the keenness of her on going service. I realised that many traditions and habits that were established when I was a child at boarding school were not as it were summoned out of the air, but were due to Aunty Miriam's innate character and personality, gifts used to serve God and many missionaries and their little girls.
It was a very special visit, and I left with full heart and rethinking many memories and pondering treasures.
With Mark on the way to the beach.
Promenading on the sea front.
(Aunty Miriam with a halo in her beautiful garden. Very appropriate).
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