Carnival Contradictions

Today was Carnival day at placement. Translation? I was outside from... nine-ish until noon-ish. The grade eights had the privilege of hosting the event for the rest of the school and I was to be the "responsible adult" at station eight.

Station eight was stick handling. Basically, you have a hockey stick and you have to weave a wiffle ball through pylons. It's not very complicated (though it is adorable to watch barely coordinated six year olds attempt it). The first few times the event was done, it was pretty subdued. Like... pretty sad. The kids walked through the pylons and when they were done, they sat down staring at us like "Yeah, so what's next?" Damn the mandatory eleven minutes at each station! It was after the second team left that I did something I never thought I would do.

I told the two students manning the station to stand at the end of the course. I told them to really play up that it was a race. I told them to make it a best two out of three. And then I really outdid myself by asking them to add some enthusiasm by cheering on the kids who were racing. The one student... is a lot like me in a number of ways. She grumbles, she talks a big game, she's got attitude buried under her fairly quiet demeanour, but she's a softy. When I told her to be enthusiastic, she just looked at me, completely unimpressed and said "What? Like a prep?" and then mimicked a cheerleader on crack. Unfortunately, my Me-ness shone through and I cringed. I told her she should probably tone it down a bit. She snorted and walked to the end of the course calling back "I don't do happy!" I think I've actually said that to people... so it was really hard not to laugh. She was actually a very good sport. And yes, I cheered along (as much as I ever cheer for anything) to be the good example.

Is this that principle that parents threaten their children with coming into play? You know, when you're a horrible child, as a reward, you give birth to a horrible child that stresses you out the same way you stressed your parents out? Does that apply to teaching?

Carnival continued with a visit from Bonhomme Carnaval. It's a French thing. The only issue with our Bonhomme is that the costume is really old and kind of creepy looking. So it scared kids. While funny, that's not really the reaction loveable snowmen are supposed to elicit. The day ended with a volleyball game between teachers and students. I nearly had to play. I'm dangerous while walking, I don't play volleyball for a reason. Didn't stop two of my students from trying to coax me into playing. It would have made for excellent blackmail material. I'm so onto them it's insane. Crafty little boogers.

This isn't our Bonhomme. Ours has a glossy plastic head that's yellowed with age. Super sexy.

Tomorrow I go bowling. What will happen when I return to my former summer workplace? Probably nothing because they didn't know I was working there when I was working there. But I know they have banana slushies... so we'll see.

Lauren.