Now well conditioned to the concept of 'India time', we were not surprised when proceedings kicked off just 2 hours after the scheduled start time of 09:30. Why? Well the guest of honour was late of course, and a Foundation Day would be incomplete without the presence of the Gorkha Minister for Tourism...
Our power-hungry headmaster actually did the performers a huge favour in delaying proceedings as both children and teachers scuttled around making the finishing (arguably starting) touches to the stage. The main banner attracted the biggest committee of all, each person having a say in how it should be hung and how the ingenious polystyrene letters should be applied. Decision made, the Deputy Head, Sunod-Sir, hammered nails into the wall whilst dressed in his best pale suit.
Still, at 11:20 the chief guest was ushered into the building and the festivities began. Sunod-sir introduced the programme, and with it came the ceremonial presentation of rosettes and khodors to all the VIPs present. It was of course the children's day but, unfazed by the pomp, they sat patiently, each focused on their imminent big moment.
I too was poised, and with a mic in hand took on my recently appointed job of compering the whole event. Dressed in a beautiful red sari I felt every bit an Indian princess as I brought each act on stage.
First up, Michael Jackson's 'We are the ones', sung beautifully out of tune by classes 2 and 3. What a shame when Aryan, Gautam's son, and the other young boys who live in our house have been belting it out at 5am every morning for the past month! We smiled through gritted teeth as Gautam, seizing the opportunity to promote himself through his son, (the first of two occasions), stepped onto the stage mid-act to strategically adjust the microphone enabling Aryan to drown out his classmates!
Next was an uncoordinated but hugely endearing medley of rhymes performed by the little ones, but, just as the event was gaining momentum, the brakes were applied. Enter another terribly important unknown VIP. The mic was snatched and the guest was honoured with a barrage of compliments and obligatory khodors. Unbelievable!
The acts came and went, each child having their moment in various Nepali dances, Hindi songs, duets, solos and plays. Of course the VIP interruptions continued, the head continued to cluck but the climax for us was Act 9...
With the set in place Sarita, our champion narrator, burst onto the stage in a beautiful white dress and delivered her opening lines. 'Ladies and Gentlemen, this play is called The Wager, a floke tail from India...' Oh how we had practiced that opening line! Folk, folk, folk, folk... But of course in rehearsal it came out fock, fock, fock so given the choice I was quite happy with floke tale!
The remainder was dazzling. 14 students delivered lines as if English was their first language. Furthermore, star student Satish's preemption of seamless set transitions (as you might have gathered preemption is not a natural trait of Indians) was spot-on, and the timely changing of costumes and emphatic acting by all made all the hard work worthwhile. The kids nailed it and they knew it!
I now understand just how much energy teachers put into school plays. Wow. Was it worth it? Most definitely. The children were buzzing and so were we. Handshakes from fellow teachers and a huge applause confirmed the play's success.
Smiling, I was soon introducing the 'surprise act'. With only an inkling I reluctantly brought Aryan back on stage replete with shiny waistcoat and shades. As the music started, pelvic thrusts followed from this rotund 7 year old; possibly the most uncomfortable viewing to date. The older students, seeing the irony, whooped and whistled encouragement, as Dad proudly watched the truffle-shuffle unfold, and with it the foundation day banner. As the music resonated around the room the 'A' from 'FOUNDATION' parted company from the maroon sheet and fell to the ground. Timing, as always, was everything! Shabby-chic became increasingly shabbier in only a way that India could achieve.
Pics show the events unfolding. Note Gautam (over-sized and shiny suit) in the most official pic getting in on the action as the minister for tourism poses with us both!!
Great piccies guys, I missed this post when I looked earlier in the week....xx
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