International Day

 Mountain Man looking flamboyant in his Traditional English wear

Whilst the school moves slowly but very surely from it’s seven year coma, it is more than can be said for the crappy PTA. The last meeting held on my site a week ago had all the Primary Management Team and just 2 parents, one of which was Dr F.the kind  but inept PTA Chair. Completely pathetic.

I called him to my office the week before, telling him bluntly that i thought the PTA were ineffectual. I tell him i don;t want to take over as i am neither a parent nor a teacher, but wanted to offer him guidance. Why not just get parents across both Primary and Secondary schools together. We boast 56 different nationalities amongst our student cohort and have an International Day. I tell him to find an appropriate venue where we could get our 660 students, 140 staff + parents and guardians. Get parents to cook food and the school would provide the music and the dances.  Mr Z has identified 8^th December and i tell him to get his ass into gear.

But he doesn’t.

Mr Z (Deputy n Head of Upper Primary) informs me on Wednesday informs me he has asked the upper primary students to wear national costume on Friday. Nice gesture methinks.  

Come this morning and i am kitted out in my England football shirt and jeans. A pretty pathetic effort, but token nonetheless. I am put to shame completely by all my beautiful children. They look as delightful as they are. Parents watch on with pride as do the teachers, Ed. Assists, SEN, Clerical and Maintenance staff. 

However, I am on a mission of resource purchasing and armed with my Kia, Yasin The Weasel and Birr 8,000, i’m ready to blow it all on role-play equipment for my adorable Early Years students. Ms J says i will definitely find at Novia – one of the most expensive stores in Addis. And she is right. I pick up assorted blackboards, plastic fast food, tool-kits, farm animals and cash registers. I also pick up assorted rubber insects, reptiles, mammals and fish for our newly appointed Science Co-ordinator - Ms Menbere.

I come back on site at 11.30 and there is a huge party going on outside. The PA system is on max and a mix of Ethiopian classics are blaring out and the Grade Four and Five kids doing traditional dances. Benches have been brought up from the underground Dining Hall to under the canvas shelter on the playground for the spectators. Mr Z is MCing and announces its the last dance. He calls for teachers and about 30% come up to the front. It’s simply rocking with kids joining in and i can’t resist surrendering myself to this somewhat unplanned  (at least by me) chaos. The kids go bonkers as i strut an impromptu Egyptian mummy dance, and even the the sourest faced members of staff (i have at least three of these) are laughing and clapping.

When Mr Z announces the celebrations are at an end, the Grade Fives begin the chant “We Want More” and soon 80% of our 443 student population join in. Time for me to slink off back
into my office and leave it to Mr Z to end what he has started. 

Postscript: As a reader it is easy to make presumptions. No doubt regular readers think i romanticize about how gorgeous and lovely my students are. I remain completely objective as these photos testify.

 All my 440+ children are gorgeous, delightful, loving and respectful (or at least respectful to me) - it is is why i am still here amongst all this madness