Friday, March 6, 2009

Meet Mr. G!

Yesterday was Graham's first day of school and he's already got a cool teacher name: Mr. G! Unfortunately he's been dubbed so out of necessity more so than anything else; there is no lingual flexibility or framework for Castellano speakers to pronounce "Graham", adults can't do it let alone 6 year olds. The most common reaction people have when Graham tells them his name is to smile slightly, look around the room and shrug their shoulders, but sometimes a brave soul will venture "Gra-ham?", or "Grey-ham?". So Mr. G it is, and for anyone who watches Summer Heights High, it's extra sweet.
I have absolutely no desire to work with children, but from what he's told me so far I'd give anything to sit in on a class or six. Since Graham doesn't speak Castellano the kids think it's the best thing ever to go up to him and say "Hola Senor Caca" and then beat a hasty retreat in a giggling fit. And today, on his second day, word has spread of a teacher who can't fight back. In the lunch room children stare wondrously at him until he catches them looking, and then they nervously avert their gaze. It seems the main protagonists of his career there are going to be Luna, Matias and Agustin. Luna, the wide-eyed angel child who does her work and hangs on every word he says will serve as sweet relief from the harrows of Matias and Agustin. The former has shocking blond hair and blue eyes and the devil in him; running around the class, screaming, banging stuff and causing an overall decent into chaos. However, the mac daddy of them all is Agustin, the son of a Tibetan monk, who cares not for personal space and boundaries. He attacks unwitting pupils by tackling them with a running dive while they wait peacefully in line to go to lunch. Like Matias he screams and bangs but he's in a league of his own, even certain teachers refuse to teach him. Yesterday Agustin queried of the head of the English department, Manuel, pointing to a woman in the lunch room "Didn't you used to lick her titties?" (his words, not mine). He was then taken to the principle's office, and feeling a great deal of injustice done to him, spat at the secretary. I must reiterate, he's the son of a Tibetan monk! I have the luxury of not having to deal with Agustin so by far I'm most fascinated by him, but hopefully Graham will learn how to deal with him quickly and swiftly.

1 comment:

  1. omg, devil argentine children at the worst. happened to have a few of those not able to communicate no idea what the 7 yr old was saying to me experiences myself....and tell graham i can relate to them not being able to say his name, no one can say my name either, hence the reason im catalina in latin america :)

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