Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Duty's and Privileges of a Coach
As I mentioned before we’ve had technical difficulties, so I am posting Monday’s blog today :).
A Coaches Privilege
Today we’re going to reach back into the past few weeks. This experience was to “good” not to share. Now, part of the job description for quiz coach includes the extras that the kids are involved in at school. Alicia has attended many graduations over the years and felt like a proud parent. Only in the past few years have I been able to share in these wondrous occasions, ha. We all know it’s a dream to go and sit at a graduation to hear the same speeches of kids who would rather be anywhere but there. It’s not just graduations that we get to go to. Lucky for us our quizzers are participants in every organization, sport, activity POSSIBLE. These events call for lots of caffeine, food, and text messaging.
High School Chorus
A few weeks ago two of our quizzers were involved in their high school chorus (they go to the same school). Odigene invited us separately to the spring pops concert. When we realized both of us had been invited we breathed a sigh of relief. We met at Starbucks for coffee and a quick chat/catch-up of our daily happenings. Then it was off to the high school. When we arrive it’s the typical sad little theatre in the high school w/ a small turnout. I turn to Alicia and ask, “surely you don’t think they’re going to dance right?” Alicia answers emphatically “NO! Why would they dance? It’s just a chorus”.
Performance
OH MY WORD. The curtain parts and there is a sea of lime (horrid) green t-shirts. We quickly spot Odigene and then Kap Sum. The look of dismay on his face can’t really be described, ha. Suffice it to say he was less than thrilled we had come to see him perform. So then they were off. Growing up Pentecostal you have this innate ability to notice even the slightest bad note, a faulty sound system, or even an unmoved singer. So the music started, the two microphones placed at the front edge of the platform, the kids placed halfway back. On a side note, have you ever noticed that all ‘costals (get used to this term, I always refer to pentecostals as ‘costals) refer to the “stage” as a platform? I find it very humorous. Okay back to the story. As you will notice in the next month I am sidetracked easily. Anyway, the kids burst into the first note and I am not exaggerating when I say that my mouth was agape. Then the next thing I know they start flailing their arms and moving in some sort of line dance. This made it even funnier because there were hardly any white kids up there. So here you see an array of ethnicities trying to move in some sort of line dance. Words can’t describe the look. I immediately grabbed Alicia’s arm and held on for dear life. At this point I was thanking the good Lord that I had brought my coffee cup in because it was my lifeline. I promptly placed it in front of my face and held it there for oh, lets say the next HOUR! Poor Alicia just had to sit there and fake it. I have to say that both Kap and Odigene’s solos were fantastic, and that’s not because we’re proud “parents”. Kap’s brother Sang showed up near the end of the performance, sat down, and promptly started laughing. We were told later that the lovely musical had been choreographed by one of the star soloists. I know you think we are so lucky to be able to benefit from such events, but the truth is- we really are. Wouldn’t trade them for the world.
-Alicia and Chauntay
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!
A Coaches Privilege
Today we’re going to reach back into the past few weeks. This experience was to “good” not to share. Now, part of the job description for quiz coach includes the extras that the kids are involved in at school. Alicia has attended many graduations over the years and felt like a proud parent. Only in the past few years have I been able to share in these wondrous occasions, ha. We all know it’s a dream to go and sit at a graduation to hear the same speeches of kids who would rather be anywhere but there. It’s not just graduations that we get to go to. Lucky for us our quizzers are participants in every organization, sport, activity POSSIBLE. These events call for lots of caffeine, food, and text messaging.
High School Chorus
A few weeks ago two of our quizzers were involved in their high school chorus (they go to the same school). Odigene invited us separately to the spring pops concert. When we realized both of us had been invited we breathed a sigh of relief. We met at Starbucks for coffee and a quick chat/catch-up of our daily happenings. Then it was off to the high school. When we arrive it’s the typical sad little theatre in the high school w/ a small turnout. I turn to Alicia and ask, “surely you don’t think they’re going to dance right?” Alicia answers emphatically “NO! Why would they dance? It’s just a chorus”.
Performance
OH MY WORD. The curtain parts and there is a sea of lime (horrid) green t-shirts. We quickly spot Odigene and then Kap Sum. The look of dismay on his face can’t really be described, ha. Suffice it to say he was less than thrilled we had come to see him perform. So then they were off. Growing up Pentecostal you have this innate ability to notice even the slightest bad note, a faulty sound system, or even an unmoved singer. So the music started, the two microphones placed at the front edge of the platform, the kids placed halfway back. On a side note, have you ever noticed that all ‘costals (get used to this term, I always refer to pentecostals as ‘costals) refer to the “stage” as a platform? I find it very humorous. Okay back to the story. As you will notice in the next month I am sidetracked easily. Anyway, the kids burst into the first note and I am not exaggerating when I say that my mouth was agape. Then the next thing I know they start flailing their arms and moving in some sort of line dance. This made it even funnier because there were hardly any white kids up there. So here you see an array of ethnicities trying to move in some sort of line dance. Words can’t describe the look. I immediately grabbed Alicia’s arm and held on for dear life. At this point I was thanking the good Lord that I had brought my coffee cup in because it was my lifeline. I promptly placed it in front of my face and held it there for oh, lets say the next HOUR! Poor Alicia just had to sit there and fake it. I have to say that both Kap and Odigene’s solos were fantastic, and that’s not because we’re proud “parents”. Kap’s brother Sang showed up near the end of the performance, sat down, and promptly started laughing. We were told later that the lovely musical had been choreographed by one of the star soloists. I know you think we are so lucky to be able to benefit from such events, but the truth is- we really are. Wouldn’t trade them for the world.
-Alicia and Chauntay
Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail me!
# posted by 99 Blogger @ 10:24 AM 
