Sitra.

Sitra.

One word that brings back millions of memories. The place where I attended primary school.

Those enormous green gates was where I learnt from how to spell my name, to give my first speech on stage.

The first thing I remember about the school was that small play area. Sandy floor and monkey bars gave me unforgettable recesses; the slides have seen so many little arguments of whose turn it is to so many moments of pride, climbing up the slide! From ring-’round-the-roses to ice and water. We grew up fast, the play area always remained the same.

This school gave me so many good friends and my first best friend. We literally were inseparable that some years we even ASKED to be in the same class. Those were fun days. Sometimes, I miss her and the good times we had, a lot.

I remember once in 3rd grade we had to write a description for the picture given for an English exam. It was a picture with a man pointing a gun at another on a plane, so I wrote “This plane was hijacked.” My teacher was impressed and that was my first ever compliment for something I wrote (even though it was just for one word!)

Another time, when I was the senior most at school, 4th grade, I was called to give a voice over for a play done by the juniors. Reluctant as I was, I did it. And after the show so many people told me how fluent my speech was and how great my voice sounded over the mic. Definitely an encouragement for someone who used to shy away from any sort of microphone-events. That gave me an immense morale boost.

I was once asked to read a news on stage for my class assembly and I fumbled and read “26th January” as “26th December”. The teacher chided me, but my friends laughed it off. That was the day I learnt what friendship meant. It makes me feel nice that I still am in touch with some of these friends. You get people like these, once in a lifetime.

This school was a place of wonder, laughter, curiosity, tears and happiness.

The place with that dance class that we ran to for practice because it meant getting out of classes.

The place where I learnt the value of friendship.

The place where I recognized some talents I should use and others that I should never, ever do (DRAWING.)

The place where I made so many mistake and learnt a little from each one.

But most of all I miss the Sitra campus, because we used to get doughnuts for 100 fils! We don’t get that anywhere anymore.

And the fact that, the red and white buildings aren’t there anymore is a little sad. But hey, it may as well be called Mini Hogwarts because it added a little bit of magic to my childhood (mini because the campus was really small.)