We can learn many things regardless of time and place and people. Education does not only come in the form of you doning your school uniform. Education as represented in the dictionary implied;
1.the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
2.the act or process of imparting or acquiring particular knowledge or skills, as for a profession.
3.a degree, level, or kind of schooling: a university education.
4.the result produced by instruction, training, or study: to show one's education.
5.the science or art of teaching; pedagogics.
Notice how easily we have simplfied the meaning of education to that of 2,3,4,5? Basically, what we achieve by going to school for the first 20 years of our lives are set out in 2,3,4,5. Of course, for others that have less inkling and opted for a more adventurous journey, the education years are shorter and they may not experience the impacts brought about by 2,3,4,5.
Does it matter if we took the less travelled road? Does it mean we have less of an education because we travelled the untravelled road? The answer is no.
Look at meaning "...acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment...preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life." You get some development in school but that is not the only place. In world, our environment in a way acts as the best tutor for us in picking up the cues and skills neccessary for a mature state of mind that is able to handle situations and judge with reasoning.
I came across the son of my elderly neighbour when i had drinks with willy at the coffeeshop near my place. I had not seen him for quite a while and he sat himself down with us and talk about his story. There is really one thing i took away from and that which came from him that i truly admire. His sense of filal piety. He was an adopted child of my elderly neighbour. He was not showered with as much love and care and had taken the untrodden route in life. His siblings bullies him a lot when he was younger and even now as all had grown older, accord him with no respect. His elderly mum, like most in her time, have shown preferences towards the other siblings and he was left out of it his whole life.
His duty towards his mother and his sense of purpose impressed me most. In a defeated sign of breathe he said in hokkien:" Pei Bu Si Ai Shoi Eh." (Father and Mother are to be well taken care of). In his tone of voice you could sense the frustrations. Years and years of pent up frustrations and the desperations and exasperations that whatever he does will always not be enough. He will not be appreciated. The last straw came when his mother said:" if you don't take care of the dog, you dont stay here..."
He intends to leave the place and seek a new house for himself. Can i blame him for not being filal and leave the place? Why do i still admire his sense of worth? Because i do not think i can even endure half of what he went through. You must be asking? What has this got to do with the first part of this posting?
Well... at the coffeeshop, i attended a valuable lesson on filal piety. I believe Willy did too.