I was so sua ku, I didn't realise that this is actually a very old game until Kenneth's cousin who's 29, told me that he had been playing it way back when he was in primary school!
I don't see the appeal, it must be another one of those boy things. However, I can understand why it's popular - it's cheap (one eraser from the school bookshop is merely 10cts) and you can play it anywhere (in class too it seems, teachers must have a life-time supply of erasers just from those they confiscate). Anyway, it sure beats the bottle cap game where the kids would down expensive and sugar-laden soft drinks just to collect the priced bottle caps.Andre's collection is growing at an alarming rate, despite my warnings not to buy any more. Most of them, he won in matches with his friends. He keeps his precious collection in a cardboard box, he's up to 67. Some erasers are considered more valuable than others, eg during the World Cup, predictably it was those of soccer teams that came up tops.
I was wondering how to put a stop to this madness until the situation partly resolved itself. Apparently, because Andre had been taking a long time to choose his erasers and digging through the pile, the bookshop auntie has since banned him from the bookshop.
aiyoh, aren't we from the same era?! I played with those erasers when I was in pri schs too! don't tell your sch banned playing erasers...
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SC: I really don't recall leh! Maybe cos I was from a girls' school?? I only played games like 5 stones and zero point during recess...
ReplyDeletei don't recall this eraser game too. But i do recall playing a similar game using the colourful plastic(is it plastic?) fish that you get from the tikam stalls.
ReplyDeleteMrs Cheng
I just found a box of these erasers given by an aunt. We took out Greneda (where on earth is that?) and Thailand. To my horror, Thailand has been split into half -some kind of foresight of what's to come, perhaps - cos the boy prefered playing with his eraser to focusing on his homework.
ReplyDeleteHey, aren't these erasers meant to be used?
Peath
Mrs Cheng: plastic fish? Hmmm... sounds vaguely familiar but can't quite recall.
ReplyDeletePeath: LOL @ Thailand splitting being a sign! I think the boys consider the erasers too valuable to be used to erasing!
Oh, I forgot to mention, do let Andre know that I have 2 complete boxes (sans Greneda and Thailand). Which are the valuable ones? I can sell him at a premium - maybe 50cents. Deal or no deal??
ReplyDeletePeath
Peath: Auntie ah, I'm secretly rejoicing that Andre can't buy any more from the bookshop, what do you think my answer to you will be?? No deal lah!!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this game. Very clever. And Andre must be pro at recognising the different flags and names of countries. Sure to do well in secondary geography! hehe...so now will you let him complete his collection?
ReplyDeleteLilian: yay, your comment works again! Aiyah, recognise flags only doesn't mean will be good at geography right? And you shd hear his pronunciation when he's spouting his own battle monologue ("the winner is Looosemberg!!")
ReplyDeletei never played this game. But my boys did, and we just bought a WHOLE box of these erasers so they didn't have to keep buying!
ReplyDeleteIt's educational for the baby now though. Now that the older ones not so interested already. haha!!!!!!!!!!!
ROFLMAO Loosemberg!!! Sounds like some special case of Diarrhea!
ReplyDeleteps I actually copied my comment into gmail in case it didn't turn up...grrr...
Karmeleon: Wah, you're so obliging! Lucky boys.
ReplyDeleteLilian: Imagine it announced in a 'Wheel of Fortune' voice some more!
Darn Blogger, must be so frustrating for you :(
Loosemberg sounds just about right - after all, they were no where close to winning the World Cup!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, coincidentally just this week, my father - indulgent grandfather & retired teacher who still occasionally relief teaches at his *all-boys* old school - gave 3yo Anthony a whole box of these erasers "because boys like them", how timely, guess teachers/graddads know best... now I know what he should be doing with them (yes, these didn't feature much in my school either) ! Thank you once again for a most informative post (hopefully Anthony won't be banned from the bookshop when his time comes, at least it shouldn't be for buying country erasers!!!!)
(And that concludes my 1st comment on your blog which I've had so much fun catching up on)!
ada :D
I remmeber playing that in primary school...yup started off with the boys and the gals caught on the craze too. Never would have thought this game has lasted for so long like five stones, hopscotch, etc. But honestly I see the game like zero point is phasing out. None of the primary kids I know, know how to play zero point.. Maybe they don't like to be sweaty during recess...
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@Mrs Cheng and Monica: Are you referring to kuti-kuti, those colourful plastic thingy? I used to play that ages ago :-)
ReplyDeleteWendy
hey your Luxembourg one is really funny lah. Hahaha... Now it seems like I was the odd-1-out? I did play with 5 stones and zero point too but have no impression of the plastic fish. Must be the influence from my playful younger bro (2 yrs younger) lah. Thanks to him I also got to play game&watch and read the Chinese comics 乌龙院.
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Ada: So glad to see you here! Wah, Ant is a lucky boy to have such an understanding grandpa. He may not know what to do with those erasers now but assure him he'll be a very popular boy when he gets to primary school!
ReplyDeleteMY: perhaps it just takes one person to start a phase again, I don't think my kids know what zero point it but it sure was fun!
Wendy: That's what my hubby just told me!!! Kuti-kuti, such a funny name :)
SC: I got Game&watch too!! Totally addicted, it was the DS of our time.
Hey hey...I knew kuti kuti, zero point, 5 stones, top spinning, curry yongtuahu(but I forgot details how to play this except that it was a group game), ....seemed that I was more playful than you Mon....:P Anyone know the name of this game where you tie the rope or rubberband to the ankle with a ball at the other end and swing repeatedly with the left leg skipping to avoid the tripping? That was another of my fave game.
ReplyDeleteAs for the flags, always thought the erasers were interesting but my girl had already found her interest in flags on a puzzle she had many years back. And no girls have ever asked her to play this eraser game, only asked her to cut up her good erasers to get eraser dust, which was completely silly to me. Of course she did not comply to that ridiculous request as a game.
qx
QX: Curry yongtaohu?? Hahahahaha and your description of the ball swinging while tied to the ankle, hilarious lah!! Never heard of it, wonder which bright spark first thought of these games.
ReplyDeleteCutting up erasers, yup, very silly and your dd's school is not the only one with this practice. I know some of the kids also use their pencils to poke holes in the erasers until they're no longer usable. Boggles the mind!
I have been following your blog for a while and although have not submitted any comments, I really enjoy your articles. Learned a fair bit too. I was a little worried when you took a break and really glad you came back. I hope you will continue to churn out articles.
ReplyDeleteMy son learned to play the old games like Zero point, 5 stones, aeroplanes made out of ice-cream sticks etc etc in his school's National Education program. He was selected as NE ambassador and as part of the training, they learned these traditional games. Recently they even demonstrated these games to the youth delegation from some foreign countries who were here for YOG. It's interesting to hear him talk about our games. He actually liked them.
Strange thing is he never plays the country erasers game in school. The boys in his school are crazy over football and they play that during recess. Poor me having to clean his dirty (Brown) uniform, socks and shoes. btw, he is in P4 like Andre.
TW
TW: I'm glad you enjoy my blog, always happy to hear from new readers!
ReplyDeleteI think it's nice to hear that some of our old games have survived over the years, even if they have to be taught as part of NE! I guess they're timeless. I understand the exasperation over dirty uniforms, Andre used to play soccer in p1 & 2 during recess as well and the uniform was always filthy. But on the bright side, at least your ds is getting some exercise!
Hi.I am a Primary students and I am fond in collecting countries eraser in fact i call it flag eraser.I started collecting when i am Primary 4 and now i have tons of it.I think u should let him continue to collect as after i collected these,i know mostly 80% -85% of the country in the world.
ReplyDeleteI have over 300 this kind of eraser and most of it is repeated.I bought frequently last time but now i brought it when i have time or maybe once in 2 weeks,as most of it i have already have it.For me,I think is a good exposure to know some of the country and i started to do reseach on different country as to prepare for my future in Secondary Geography.
Andre is indeed fortunate to be able to play with such nostalgic games. I stumbled across this local website recently that apparently, re-packages 5-Stones, Zero Point, Plastic Balloons and even Kuti Kuti!
ReplyDeleteFound them here: farm.sg/store!
Wah, I only have 58. Does Lesley-Anne play too?
ReplyDeleteHay anyone still selling their erasers. i would like to buy it. especially the world cup flags like england, brazil, germany, and many more. i also looking for players eraser like their face in the eraser in the same size of the flag erasers. anyone still want to sell pls mail me with pics to lanz_rockz@yahoo.com. tq
ReplyDeleteNUUUUUU MY SCHOOL STOP SELLING COUNTRY ERASERS!!!
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