Near encounter with flood at school

The field from my car window while stuck in jam at school compound

Wow, it was raining cats and dogs today. Even though we tried to be out of the house earlier, we're still caught in traffic jam on the way to 姐姐's school. When we reached, there's already a traffic snarl outside her school. As we inch towards the covered porch, then we realize why. The school compound is practically flooded! Teachers (who park along that way) were trying to move their cars to the other side of the school, causing further congestion. One mom was carrying her boy wading over muddy water. The water rise so quickly and I dare not stop the car, but just step on the gas and move out quickly. I parked by the roadside and asked 姐姐 to wear a jacket and take an umbrella for herself. We will walk into the school instead. 爸爸 was away for business trip and I wouldn't know what to do if the car stalled, luckily it didn't.

Not such a good idea after all. Water was flowing back from the school field towards the school building. The left wing of the school where the covered walkway is located already covered with flood water. The water kind of created a "moat" around the school building. Even before I can stop her, she was already wading in the muddy water with me! I had actually wanted to dunk the heavy school bag over first to the corridor then carry her across so that her feet will not get as wet. Oh, too bad! The muddy water reached mid-way between to my calves and ankles. We just don't have experience dealing with flood. I personally had never encountered any type of flood before. She got her feet and shoes wet again trying to cross over to the other building where the canteen and school hall is located. Some moms had already lined up benches for children to walk over. But my little anxious girl just dash through the muddy water ignoring the benches, sigh :( That auntie was so worried she was almost screaming for her to get on the bench.

After sending her to the school hall, I made my way out of the "castle/moat". As I was wearing flats there is no way I could not get wet, as it is my feet are already wet to the core! I walked here and there trying to find a spot to hop over, but there is none. Finally had to wade through the muddy water again :(

There was traffic jam all the way back and it seems like the congestion continued for a couple hours more. I only dare to brave the traffic again ~3pm to bring dry socks and her spare old school shoes to 姐姐. Luckily I did (and traffic was almost cleared), she was sitting on the walkway jabbing at her wet shoes. She said she was walking about bare-footed in class. Some of her classmates have such incredible stories to tell me as I was waiting for her to change. She had to go back into class immediately as recess time ended in a jiffy. Even though she didn't have the chance to say anything, when I pick her up from school in the evening, she was very happy to have dry shoes. I can imagine how uncomfortable it is to have wet feet all the time.

The heavy downpour caused such havoc at her school! After this incident, I was asking 爸爸 should we buy galoshes (or rain boots) Pua Chu Kang yellow boots and keep in the car in case flood again? He poured cold water on the idea, saying I'm 夸张 (over-reacting) :P I hope we don't have to encounter another situation like this again. Well, at least next time I hope to have a pair of spare slippers in the car and hope to stop the child in time before she or he step into the flood water. But sometimes this situation is not easy to control, especially when there are cars moving around, cars honking like mad outside and hands are full with umbrella and stuff.