A subject outside the Classroom

There are subjects that should be taught in school but they are not.

One of the subjects is: Life and Death

I am brought up in a chinese family where the religion background is not very strong. The word DIE is not a GOOD word to be even mentioned not to say to be DISCUSSED OVER with my family. My grandma will totally FORBID us, the children to mention the word DIE on any occasions like CNY, weddings, birthdays, etc. Therefore, I am lack of the knowledge about DEATH.

I scared to think about DEATH. I was always shivering in cold whenever I thought about DEATH before I was 23.

During my last year in university, my uncle 5(papa's side) has passed away. I was very sad and scared at the same time. Before this, I had never attend any funeral except for my teacher's whom had taught me Mandarin subject in secondary school.

I still remembered the day my uncle passed away, I went to his place with my mama (my dad was already there). Once I stepped out from the car, my tears started to roll down my cheeks. I could not accept the fact that he had passed away. How could he DIED? I mean, I knew that it is CANCER that took away his life. But, to me, it means that I will never be seeing him again. But what does it mean to him?? I did not know what should I do there except paying him my last respect. Everyone looked sad with swollen eyes.

I told my close friends about the death and my feelings. My closest friend, gave me a book entitled "Tuesday with Morries" as a birthday present the same year. It is a book that has recorded the last 14 Tuesdays which the author had spent with Morries, and old man before he died. And I must say that it is a GREAT book. It has enriched me with the meaning of LIFE. It took away my fear towards death, at least I wont avoid myself from thinking about it anymore.

Three years later, I got the chance to read another book by the same author -- "the five people you meet in heaven". Although it is a bit different from the first book as it is the author's imagination, I still like it not less than the first book.