Teachers' Day: STAR Style!

Some teachers were conveniently missing!

As with every year, 16th of May makes its arrival again today, amidst all the fanfare of a celebration only the students of this school can possibly think of and organize.  Teachers walk slowly from the school's open hall to the main hall lead by a procession of students in traditional clothes, with some of them carrying 'bunga manggar' and others beating drums.  Teachers were then greeted at the entrance of the hall by a group of male students who presented the 'silat' including an amazing demonstration using real machetes!

Possibly the highlight of the day!

And as usual, once inside the hall, official sequence of events dictates that the ceremony begins with a speech by the principal, then another speech from the Education Ministry Director General and yet another speech from the Education Minister, all of which were beginning to spiral me into doldrums.  Apparently I was not alone, because I noticed that the students too were getting restless, until a magic show was presented to the audience.

After a half hour break, two games ensued, which was then followed by award presentations alternated with performances by students.  The insipid performances were in fact a foreshadow of the food prepared for such a celebratory event for teachers, which sadly comprised of the usual dishes; those that you could even eat on an ordinary day, unlike today!  All in all, I was fidgeting to go home, a feeling which was generally shared by a majority of my colleagues. 

On a scale of one to ten, with one being the lowest, I would rate today's celebration a three!  Oh well!  There's always next year!  Sigh!