First Day of School

School started this week and what Chaos that was! The first day of school comes with a lot of fanfare and celebration. Some volunteers reported going to big Khorovats’ or barbeques after school let out. Others reported flag raising ceremonies and again parties to attend at their directors’ house. Yet some others reported much like myself, reported speeches by various community figure heads, dancing, balloon waving and student led renditions of the latest hit in Armenian pop culture. As we eagerly prepared for the first day of school myself a bit nauseously as I had to give a speech in Armenian for 50 fellow teachers, 800 hundred students and some parents, the usual frustrations that go along when choosing that first day of school outfit is no different in Armenia than in the US. I remember so well the agonizing task of picking out the perfect outfit and fighting with my mother over what exactly that would be. My poor 10yr. old host sister suffered the same fate that was of course accompanied by tears, foot stomping, yelling and a temper tantrum that fell just short of rolling around on the floor. AHHH the first day of school!
As for myself, of course, I also was concerned about how to make a good impression with my colleagues while capturing the kids’ attention and dressing “cool” enough to not get written off on day one as another boring adult. In the end, I should of known that unless I dressed head to toe in all various shades of the same color there was no way I was ever going to even come close to passing the “cool” test. While we like colors that compliment each other, it’s a bit different here and really only all shades of the same color go together. So yes, I was doomed to either feeling like a banana, blueberry, maybe a raspberry, and most definitely a cherry. Some protesting on my part and some giggling from my host family led me to the old standby of black and white. Can’t go wrong with those I figured…even if I do look like a penguin. As it turns out I was quite right in my thinking as every single person students, teachers and director alike had on black and white. WHEW! Maybe a bit boring for my liking but at least I was safe!
If I was ever nervous about having to stand up before a huge crowd of people and speak in Armenian, there was absolutely no need to be so. During school assembly’s people talk, most don’t pay attention and the ones who do pay attention are undyingly supportive. When my I told my fatherI had to give this speech he advised telling them that when we are born the brain starts working on overdrive and doesn’t stop until we get up in front of a crowd! I think there’s a measure of truth in that! As I was waiting to speak a women walked by smiled and said, “don’t worry just open your mouth and let God do the talking.” Funny enough I think that’s exactly what happened. I don’ t really remember much of it but I know I got through with out tripping, shaking, coughing or worse yet choking. It flowed rather fluidly, I didn’t read off my note cards and my colleagues seemed impressed with my level of Armenian. I do remember having a moment right before I went on where what I was about to do hit me full force. I was about to get up before 800 hundred people and speak in a language I had no clue about 3 months ago. I was the only English speaker for miles around and knew (barely) 3 people out of the 800. I can’t really articulate the feeling but it’s a cross between overwhelming amazement and trepidation that settles straight in one’s bowels. Fabulously, its moments like that that serve as a reminder of what it means to be alive when ALL your cells jump to attention, your mind shuts off and spirit takes over.