Giselle Onanian | DESS Alumna

Call it 'same, same but different' as I tried to piece together my time there against the upgraded classrooms and facilities. Still, as much as the puzzle pieces didn't exactly fit, what long remains is the friendly and familial feel of the leadership team and teachers, the children's charisma and confidence, and the humble and homely feel of the school grounds.

Still buzzing from my visit a week later, it was at my daughter's birthday that myself and a handful of friends, also DESS alumni from the 90's, laughed as we remembered some of the best bits of DESS school life; the grazed shins from running too fast up the giant concrete step back to class from the sunken central sandy playground, the muffled giggles in anticipation of jumping out from hiding in the cubby holes to scare our 5 Blue teacher on April Fool's Day, the pride and self-importance felt playing the lead in the school plays whilst mums and dads moaned about having to figure out how to make the costumes (Latifa Hall felt a lot smaller from when I was dressed as cracker on the Christmas stage), the blue carpeted tiles of the library that no longer exist to have their corners picked at during story time and, a firm favourite from us all (and one I am sure isn't still a swimming lesson staple), being told that it is Mat Day as our PE teacher unravelled the floating mat across the width of the school pool as we egged each other on, hurtling towards each other from both sides and seeing who would belly flop into the pool first with the winning push.

As we sat laughing together; friends who had met 30-odd years ago dressed in red and white, and friends who are now considered family, 'aunties', 'uncles' and godparents to each other's children, it is clear that DESS has had a significant role in my journey. And as I near 30 years in the UAE, my time at DESS fondly made up the first six years from the moment that little girl walked in those school gates and gave me the educational framework, the life-long friendships and the personal freedom (as much as headteacher Mrs McCarthy would allow, of course) to grow into the woman and author I am today.

It all started with those red shoes.

From One Yellow to Six Green.

From Alumni to Author.

Go Leopards.