There was supposed to be a power outage yesterday. The Headmaster sent emails:
We teach with computers, projectors, lights, DVDs, and most importantly, A/C, so "adjusting" would be difficult. At 07:15 our principal, a Thailand veteran, added, "the power is supposed to be cut off from 09:00 to 13:00, but this is Thailand, so it might happen any minute, all day, or not at all."
For our comfort it was a free dress day. Some teachers were in shorts and sandals, but of course I forgot. As for the students, the boys were sagging and the girls were dressed for the beach. Gerhard was sagging so low that I thought his pants would drop to his ankles. He had a good reason: he wanted everybody to see his Bjorn Borg underwear. "Gerhard," I asked, "do you realize that some teachers don't like to see your underwear?"
"Yes," he laughed, "especially Mr. Neller."
As for the girls, let's just say I prefer to see them in their uniforms. Perhaps some of the young teachers like the beachwear, but a stodgy, old teacher like me prefers the egalitarian effect of their proper, unfashionable school uniforms.
We probably consumed more power yesterday than any other day. We all had the A/C on full blast trying to get the rooms as cold as possible before the cutoff. But it never came. Instead, we all sat in frigid rooms frantically typing into our computers knowing that any minute might be the last of electronic bliss. Then, after the dreaded cutoff, we would be required to read, write, communicate, sweat, talk to each other, and act like human beings.
There will be a power outage from 09:00 until 13:00. Please adjust.
We teach with computers, projectors, lights, DVDs, and most importantly, A/C, so "adjusting" would be difficult. At 07:15 our principal, a Thailand veteran, added, "the power is supposed to be cut off from 09:00 to 13:00, but this is Thailand, so it might happen any minute, all day, or not at all."
For our comfort it was a free dress day. Some teachers were in shorts and sandals, but of course I forgot. As for the students, the boys were sagging and the girls were dressed for the beach. Gerhard was sagging so low that I thought his pants would drop to his ankles. He had a good reason: he wanted everybody to see his Bjorn Borg underwear. "Gerhard," I asked, "do you realize that some teachers don't like to see your underwear?"
"Yes," he laughed, "especially Mr. Neller."
As for the girls, let's just say I prefer to see them in their uniforms. Perhaps some of the young teachers like the beachwear, but a stodgy, old teacher like me prefers the egalitarian effect of their proper, unfashionable school uniforms.
We probably consumed more power yesterday than any other day. We all had the A/C on full blast trying to get the rooms as cold as possible before the cutoff. But it never came. Instead, we all sat in frigid rooms frantically typing into our computers knowing that any minute might be the last of electronic bliss. Then, after the dreaded cutoff, we would be required to read, write, communicate, sweat, talk to each other, and act like human beings.
No comments:
Post a Comment