This is my attempt to blog quickly, the night before a week long stay at a local village, chaperoning 15 ninth graders who will sometimes complain about not showering or using a dirt trench as a toilet. I'm looking forward to the experience, but at the same time, am also apprehensive about camping out for a week. I don't think this is how the villagers live, but since we are guests asking to stay there, then we try to be as least intrusive as possible.
Today, Woodstock School middle and high schoolers took a 45-minute walk to Wynberg-Allen School. Here are some scenes from the walk.
(Wynberg-Allen School)
We went there to compete against four other schools in field and track events in the Interschool Sports Day. All schools were private, most being Christian. I was quite impressed by the uniforms and togetherness of the other schools as compared to the straggly, potato chip eating-ness of our Woodstock students. Teachers included. I liked their polish, and I liked our unwitting irreverance. I felt a little embarassed. But of course, us teachers took out our chips and finished our lunches before 11am too. Take a look at the marching!
(nice form!)
(nice technique!)
(nice try!)
(chaos vs. order)
Well, we came in last in most of the events. But again, spirit first, technique second! Here are some of our awesome students, trying their hardest. It reminded me of the time when I coached the Cerritos Chinese school parents in the Long Beach dragonboat race. We came in dead last out of 49 boats, but hey at least we looked good. Our competition was "Al's Garden". Same thing here, hey, pretty good if the students placed in any place. And they were probably spending most of their time eating and checking out the other students anyway.
(Go Woodstock!!!)
(I'm pretty sure that guy is telling our student how to do the triple jump)
Further to the subject: Did you see any hot teachers there? Answer: No, but I did make some new teacher friends:
(These are teachers from Wynberg-Allen and St. George's.)
CLICK HERE for more pictures from Sports Day. This a continuation of the October 2007 set, so please scroll to the bottom.
2 comments:
ah...you're a hoot! Rebekah did well, right? she's the one point of pride for woodstock
Rebekah, Thanks for the pictures and your comments.I enjoyed them all. This is the only website I could find pictures from the Mussoorie Olympics. I graduated from Allen in 1960, and of course remember many people from Woodstock. I recetly met a teacher from Woodstock who taught in the 50's, but alas I did not know her then.
By the way this is coming to you from Irvine, California, where I have been living since 1960.
Best Wishes from my wife Judy and myself. Good luck to you.
Surj Bains
surjbains@yahoo.com
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