I sat down for lunch with some of the minor big shots, the meal: rice with mildly fried fish and mushroom soup. If you know me you know that that is not my favorite type of meal. Although being here I’ve been able to develop a sleek technique for remaining full at these large Thai gatherings; eat as much rice as possible.
However quickly the Big Man and his compadres got up and left, saying what I thought were goodbyes. I migrated out of the open auditorium and out to some old friends to watch the karaoke. White Vans pulled out of the school and drove away. I thought, “Finally Ideal School is over.” Arworn walked by showing off her grin, which replaced the stress filled blank after the English presentation.
The auditorium was full of people, the karaoke was…Thai, and my friends gossiped each others ears off. I on the other hand just sat there. Tired and beat up from the heat of the sun, I was entirely ready for the day to end as the white vans return and parked round back. “Did they forget something?” There was another moment of anticipation as the traditional Thai two tiered speaches began. I don’t know who spoke first, it could have been anybody. I didn’t realize this was the “verdict” till the Big Man took the stage.
He followed his journey step by step through the school, this much I could tell, the rest was lost in a flurry of mistralations in my head. He proved to be an eloquent speaker getting laughs and cheers as he went. Giving each teacher feedback on how they did. Some appeared to be better than others – then he came to English. I tensed up. The Big Man spoke quickly and said “Mister Conner,” people looked over at me. He kept talking for a sentence or two then again “Mister Conner.” What did he say? The part of the crowd shifted their gaze toward me. I chuckled and my friend sitting next to me repeated the title I had been given.
I could tell he was working to his closing, he spoke slower and with more intesity. I even caught a few dramatic pauses. And he paused once more, building his audience for something good or about to deliver hard news.
It’s rare you can feel how everything has built up to a single moment. A pin point on the timeline of the past 2 months. All the decisions and choices that you and others made all avalanche into this final phrase. And the crowd went wild, cheers and standing ovation. We did it! All of the tension released, everyone either screaming or crying. The teachers gathered on stage and accepted officially the plaque and enormous shield like trophy stating that we are an Ideal School. I move in to thank the Supervisors, past the rows of crying kids. “Mister Conner…”, people congratulate me, I deflect to Arworn. I felt good and everyone else did too.
However quickly the Big Man and his compadres got up and left, saying what I thought were goodbyes. I migrated out of the open auditorium and out to some old friends to watch the karaoke. White Vans pulled out of the school and drove away. I thought, “Finally Ideal School is over.” Arworn walked by showing off her grin, which replaced the stress filled blank after the English presentation.
The auditorium was full of people, the karaoke was…Thai, and my friends gossiped each others ears off. I on the other hand just sat there. Tired and beat up from the heat of the sun, I was entirely ready for the day to end as the white vans return and parked round back. “Did they forget something?” There was another moment of anticipation as the traditional Thai two tiered speaches began. I don’t know who spoke first, it could have been anybody. I didn’t realize this was the “verdict” till the Big Man took the stage.
He followed his journey step by step through the school, this much I could tell, the rest was lost in a flurry of mistralations in my head. He proved to be an eloquent speaker getting laughs and cheers as he went. Giving each teacher feedback on how they did. Some appeared to be better than others – then he came to English. I tensed up. The Big Man spoke quickly and said “Mister Conner,” people looked over at me. He kept talking for a sentence or two then again “Mister Conner.” What did he say? The part of the crowd shifted their gaze toward me. I chuckled and my friend sitting next to me repeated the title I had been given.
I could tell he was working to his closing, he spoke slower and with more intesity. I even caught a few dramatic pauses. And he paused once more, building his audience for something good or about to deliver hard news.
It’s rare you can feel how everything has built up to a single moment. A pin point on the timeline of the past 2 months. All the decisions and choices that you and others made all avalanche into this final phrase. And the crowd went wild, cheers and standing ovation. We did it! All of the tension released, everyone either screaming or crying. The teachers gathered on stage and accepted officially the plaque and enormous shield like trophy stating that we are an Ideal School. I move in to thank the Supervisors, past the rows of crying kids. “Mister Conner…”, people congratulate me, I deflect to Arworn. I felt good and everyone else did too.
The drummers started their Finale.
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