It was not the last work day of the year but since we could work from home next week, it could very well be.  

Today began ordinarily enough, with me exchanging light banter with colleagues and trying to make jokes that were not funny (my forte!) But as the day wore on, people started to drop by my cubicle and shared a story, gave me a pat on the shoulder, offered a handshake, said words of encouragement, gave me gifts, among other gestures. I was caught off-guard by this showing of kindness.  

It brought me to an earlier period of my life. On my last day at Onoue Elementary School in Japan, when I stood up to say “I will leave here before you”, all the teachers looked at one another and gave me a standing ovation. My two supervisors then followed me all the way to the exit, bowing and saying thanks so profusely that for a spilt second, I wanted to cry.  

Of course, being in my 40s, I’m rendered hardened by the ebb and flow of life. No desire to cry, but I was moved enough to want to record this on FB so that FB Memories would remind me that I was loved at Naval Base Primary School. And that after leaving NBPS, I always had the presence of mind and generosity of heart to pour such love on other people.  

I’m also heartened about my decision to choose teaching as a profession. The nicest teachers exist everywhere - and they are the best antidote against a midlife crisis.