Another school visit today, to Brightway, a public school in Dhangadhi, so not such a long trip (as usual, on the back of a motorbike.) Refreshingly, no formal welcome – welcoming party of children, garlands, etc – this time. Instead, a lively playground, which I enjoyed watching. Joining in too, bowling and batting in the nets, playing volleyball…
They were then summoned, via someone banging a drum, to gather for assembly, standing in lines in the playground, followed by the national anthem, and a sort of prayer, and then I was invited to give a speech; nothing very profound was said. I was invited to watch the smallest class, in a separate small playground, have a music and movement workshop, led by one of the teachers, dancing and singing along to some songs played on a tape player – appropriately for the time of year, the first song was Jingle bells, though with different words. I contributed “if you’re happy and you know it” and then joined in with an extremely energetic song which involved (let me see if I can remember): thumbs up, elbows back, feet apart, knees bent, bum out, tongues out, shake about, turn in a circle… all most exhausting.
And then on to my speech/ lesson, in their Seminar room – it seems to be a universal term for a small hall. I was to address the top two years, and was about to start, when an executive decision was made that other years too should be included, so a false start or two.
I had learnt from my experience the other day, of finding out just how much was expected from me (even though the answer did turn out to be, “As much as you like.”) But I had a clearer plan, and that meant I was much happier with the way things went, spending half of the time talking about me, about UK, about Shakespeare, and then with a structured lesson to eight volunteers.
I declined lunch, so got back in good time, enough to buy some provisions, and to rest before the rehearsal. More or less as anticipated, we did not get through as many of the scenes as I had hoped, but at last we were beginning to make some real progress. But their discipline is appalling, and something will have to be done about it.
