Graduations

    This week is the final week before the long school break and so far I have been to two Graduations/ Prize Givings and have another two to attend tomorrow. There seem to be several VIP's invited and they are welcomed by the gongs which is the traditional Dusun form of celebration and yesterday there were some pupils in traditional Dusun costumes dancing with the gongs. After the VIP's are seated in their sofas, there are long boring speeches from the headteacher and each VIP. The prizes for each class are presented, interspersed by a dance, which ranges from traditional to break dancing or songs from some of the classes and then finally a raffle that seemed to go on for hours. There is a lot of noise and parents and pupils talking all the time throughout the speeches which is exactly what they do in Normandie. What is different is how confident the pupils are of singing into microphones and performing on stage from an early age.

       The children are given their report cards tomorrow and on Friday there are just the teachers left to have meetings, food and karaoke! At my base school the teachers LOVE karaoke and welcome every opportunity to sing - the headmistress sings flat in front of the pupils and parents and they all seem to think it is great! I admit I have been up too but I'm at a loss as to what to sing. The only one that springs to mind is "I will survive" and I will never sing that - suggestions are greatly received! I'm already feeling sad about saying goodbye to all the lovely teachers who have been so welcoming and have made my first four months in Sabah so memorable. I have ordered a strawberry cream cake from the bakery Delicious ( rightly named) for the staff with Thank you on it. My headteacher said " No need, but if it comes from your heart.."   and it sincerely does come from my heart.