i went to watch wall-e with a gaggle of geese today.

but the good thing about going out with a bunch of children is that they're a real chick magnet.

anyhow, i managed to meet my yoda for dinner, the first time we've met up in 2 years.

and i think i must have talked my past 2 years together with my thoughts and experiences over dinner, about things that i'm not normally able or unwilling to talk about- thoughts about how pointless reading widely and thus, forming your own views on worldly issues may seem in poly because the only thing that one needs to read is the lecture notes, my relationships, the year 2006, my parents, my faith, everything.

somehow, my yoda is someone who i can pour my feelings out to, and still challenge me to think, and proffer wise council.

i'l always said that, and believed that i'd kind of stumbled onto optometry after making my mind up to leave junior college.

and today i repeated that to him again, after me asked me 'why optometry? it's so unlike you.'.

but he was unconvinced, saying that knowing me, i'm not one who just 'stumbles' onto something, that from what he knows, i'm one who looks before he leaps.

and he challenged me, asking 'if optometry were a philosophy, what would it be?'.

and the brilliant thing is that after pondering about his qestion for a long long while, i realised that he was right all along, i had never 'stumbled' onto optometry- a course that is 'quite unlike me'.

and i really enjoyed our conversation, where i could share freely, without being judged, to someone who is just so wise and insightful.

after all, how many teachers would you bother to add on facebook?

after all, how many teachers would you bother to keep in touch long after you've left the school, and meet up for dinner?

after all, how many teachers took a personal interest in your well-being ever since you first stepped into his classroom?

after all, how many teachers have torn a straits times into half in front of his class?

after all, how many teachers work part time at the zoo because that is something that he enjoys?

after all, how many teachers can you share freely without reservations with?

chances are, zero. even if you change 'teachers' to 'people'.

so i'm thankful, really grateful, that i've found just one.

thank you, mr koh; you've taught me so much more than you can imagine, cliched as it may sound, but i truly mean every single word that i type.

the BEST teacher that i have had, and perhaps ever will have, by a long long shot.