ten years (or more?)

when they come up to you and say "hi", and you can't remember them or take a while to do so, i can think of 2 things:

1. far too long.....i've been here for quite some time now.
2. i must hv done something nice, for otherwise they wouldn't have come forward.

Singapore Girl
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I was on my way to Bali for a weekend getaway with @ncy, bK and the rest. the drama of that trip was that i didn't get my tickets confirmed until 5 am the morning the plane was supposed to take off. but that's another story. while i was looking for my seat on that singapore plane, a girl tried to help me with my bag. then she said, "do you happen to be Mr Tan?" and i thought i must have been the 1,000,000th passenger or something for a stewardess to know my name. Her name tag said "shuhui" and she said i thought her english. totally not possible. but she did get my name right.

DBS Girl
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I'm usually in and out of parkway parade within 2 hours each time i go there. but this day, i was having lunch with stef who has just flew in from indonesia. we were waiting in line to draw money at the atm when this girl at the next queue asked, "are you Mr Tan?" i tried to recall and thankfully i was honest enough not to say i remembered her. turned out, i have not taught her but she "has seen me around in school". i wished her a great day.

Tamil @ Prison
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He works there. I was there every wednesday evening last year. this year it's mondays. we gathered as usual at the gate until some officer comes to escort us to the classrooms. this indian guy walked past us and then turned back and called out "Mr Tan". and i immediately recognised that smile. i have always missed my 5A1s. i always like 5A1s.

Girl on MRT
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It was after watching ndp preview. i hardly ride on the train nowadays so it's really great to bump into someone who knows you when you do so. She said, "Hi Mr Tan." I pretended to recognise her and i suspect that she didn't think i was pretending. Because the journey lasted more than a few stations, i had to do the adult thing and behaved like one in public. We talked for a bit and she did an almost touching thing. She said that she's still using my class notes now. She is studying early childhoon education.

Girl at Macdonald's
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This was the night before the opening of Harmony Room. We worked late and i decided to bring the kids to Macdonal's for a happy meal. Just as we were about to start eating, this fellow-patron-of-the-(fastfood)-restaurant at the next table said, "Hello Mr Tan". In front of two current students and a young colleague, I could not lie. So I admitted that I have aged and apologized for not remembering her. She tried to help me recall but I guess I have really aged too much. So I said, "anyway, it's great to run into you. teach your kids well for soon they'll be mine." She is working at a child care centre now.

I have a good feeling there will be lot's more. and i'm happy that there's going to be more. it really does feel quite good.