JAKARTA, Nov 3: When Sri Murtiningsi asked her third grade students what they wanted to be when they grew up, some said they wanted to be doctors and another a pilot. Then one curly haired boy raised his hand: Barack Obama said his dream was to be president.

Forty years later Murtiningsi — like the rest of the world — is watching closely as Americans prepare to head to the polls.

The mood at the Indonesian elementary school where Obama studied for two years was upbeat, with a crowd of 500 offering prayers for their former student at an early morning flag-raising ceremony.

Former teachers, classmates and friends fondly remember the then-chubby eight-year-old as a hardworking, good-natured and, to their amusement, sometimes naughty child.

“I taught him a few bad words in Indonesian,” said childhood friend, Rully Dassad, who still lives near the school in an upscale neighbourhood in the capital, describing how students would burst into laughter when the young Obama mimicked him. “But he was a very good sport about it.”

Though she is now 69, the memories Murtiningsi has of the boy she knew as Barry are still strong.

She describes standing in front of her class of third graders one Monday morning and telling students that when she was young, her dream was to be a teacher.

“You too should follow your dreams,” she said, asking the children what they wanted to be. Six wanted to be doctors, Murtiningsi recalled, four businessmen and one a pilot. “Barry was the only one who said he wanted to be president.

“I hope his dream comes true.”—AP