Alice in Wonderland, OMG and Bureaucracies

The entire student body of James’s school, the Furneux Pelham School, put on the musical, Alice in Wonderland. James, Sarah and I watched it a few weeks back on DVD. Not Tim Burton’s version but a more conventional one. After seeing this production by primary school students, the meaning of the story still puzzles me. But the singing was wonderful, with some songs set to a sweet, jazzy music. Unsurprisingly, we sat in the first row. Sarah has never been late for a plane, bus, train or one of James’s performances. I was really digging the music, bopping along, laughing loudly at little buts of humor (and most of you have heard my laugh) so I probably came across as the boisterous American who makes a spectacle of himself.

James was a teardrop, for those of you who remember the story, as was neighbour Tommy. Amy, Tom’s older sister, was both the Two of Hearts and the Cook on alternate nights. Ben, another neighbour, was the Caterpillar. I’d have to say that the Madhatter gave a masterful performance only upstaged by the Queen of Hearts. “Off with his head” is now the recited punishment when James doesn’t finish his vegetables. As a side note, I didn't notice that a new, second Alice assumed the role midway through the show. I thought the original "actress" got tired and developed a lisp.

Footnote: Greg reminded me that I missed an opportunity to comment on "Alice in Wonderland." He thought I should do David Sedaris-style critique of the primary school play. Sedaris commented on a children's Christmas pageant, "Tommy Smith, who played Joseph, delivered a wooden, uninspired interpretation of Mary's husband...."

Separation of church and state. James’s school is a state school (i.e. public school for you Americans) under the aegis of the Church of England. No separation of church and state, here, unlike the US constitutionally-mandated separation in schools and elsewhere. This issue is continually debated and challenged in the states but I had taken for granted the general principle. James has a class in religious education (RE) as part of the curriculum. They say prayers and grace and sing hymns. I’ve decided that I am going to offer myself as a guest lecturer in his RE class on keeping kosher (see BLT and milkshake in earlier entry). Do note that not all state schools are Church of England.

Now I understand why Sarah has chided me for saying “Oh my god” in front of James. He has started copying some of my American expressions and “OMG” doesn’t go over too well in school. I’m not sure about “Holy Cow” (which I picked up from Phil Rizzuto).

Shorts weather. Brits won’t wear a jumper (a sweater or fleece for Americans) or admit that it is a bit nippy. When I say Brits, I mean Sarah, but from what I’ve heard about beach expeditions with wind breaks and wet weather gear, I think it’s fair to generalize. I go to the bus stop in the morning to put James on the bus and I’m the only one wearing a fleece. It’s “summer”, after all.

Employment. I am slowly unraveling the mystery known as the educational bureaucracy. I have to have my educational credentials, including high school, evaluated. The agency that handles that then issues a comparative document. I can use that document to secure my status as an Overseas Trained Teacher. All to work in the understaffed state education system.

Next chapter, the immigration system.