common sense means nothing to me
i remembered the day i discovered common sense.

it was a cold, rainy day i remember.
i was young.
hair tucked behind my ears and all.

i was having history lesson and certainly, not paying attention in class when suddenly, my teacher icantrememberhername said "sarah, you would know this"

i looked up from my daze and wondered what i would know.
nothing, i thought.

the question was this: "where is the indus river located - 2 marks"
hmmmm. looks familiar.

my teacher icantrememberhername said: "well, you should tell the class your answer in the mid-years paper you did"
oh yes, oh yes, this question was from the midyears.
and i said: "FUZHOU!" with a gusto i never dared to muster even now.

i heard very slight giggles and my teacher icantrememberhername rolled her eyes.
she told me it was wrong and said:
"the answer is very simple. you probably don't even need to study for it. just use your common sense"

common sense? that should be easy, right? right?
then i started:

"venice?" no.
"hainan?" no.
"suzhou?" no.
"errr, usa?" NO.
"ok, singapore" i concluded.
and the giggles became apparent even my teacher icantrememberhername had troubles keeping down.

she said: "sarah, it's common sensical. just think, indus sounds like?"
i said: "industry"
she said: "NO, it sounds like INDIA"

really?

and i sat down wondering if i would ever possess common sense if i cannot even see the link. i felt like crying. and today, while teaching some primary2 children, i remembered it again.

they asked, "can i play under the table?" and i said "common sense tells you no, so i guess, no is my answer". i had an epiphany. you need age and experience for your common sense to grow.

and the tint of hurt disappeared inside of me.
it was okay that i didn't have it then.
it's really fine.