If I had a million dollars?????!

Well today is just one more mark on my list of humiliating things I have done to myself. I just returned from my postponed addressing of the school. To start it of we arrived late, holding up the assembly. Besides which I had been envisioning assembly as in children sitting in a gym with a little podium and mike. When I arrived the hordes of children were assembling in Military Formation rows on a huge lawn in front of a podium. Yikes. Then they had a ceremony because (unbeknownst to me) this is Martyr's Day to remember Ghandiji's assassination on this day. Then I was introduced by the principle and by a teacher who described my aptitude on computers (administrative assistant) and praised me for my work with the 'OSAP' disabilities services...Then I took the podium and delivered my speech, slightly awkwardly and halfway through I entirely lost my train of thinking, BUT I actually adlibbed and pulled through which I think is a first for me. (Usually when I lose the thread I just decide that that's the end of my speech).

After the speech I was given many refreshments in the Principle's office, including special Indian fruit christmas cake, and a dish of the regional delicacy which is similar to whipped cream flavoured with saffron and cardamom I think. If I make it out of this trip with only 1 cavity it will be a miracle. I really like the principle, he was willing to talk more openly about the education system and his frustrations and what he likes and we also talked about Scrabble, and the "political correctness" of Canada.

So then I went to talk to a class of grade 11 students. The principle was really great and asked the students questions so that they would talk. I was put on the spot on a number of things and under the pressure ended up talking about things like broomball and trying awkwardly to explain how much I appreciate the people I have met here without sounding trite. And to coherently explain why I want to do medecine. There were only minor bloopers UNTIL we were talking about hobbies and I (unthinkingly, stupidly) mentioned that I sing around the house. Then I was told that I must sing.

At first I thought I would get away witha panicked refusal but after the class quieted down one girl stood up in the back and said "Maam, we all humbly request that you sing, and then I will sing a song for you". Then there was silence and all the eyes looking at me and my beseeching look at Suprabha only resulted in her saying that "it sounds like you have a deal" and then the Principle said "oh come on just sing a carol or soemthing". However the problem was not my shyness at singing, but the fact that I could not think of a single song. Not happy birthday, not jingle bells, not (as I thought 2 seconds too late) about "This land is your land", no no. Not one single song was there except for...If I Had a million dollars. That's right.
I sang it to Avinash as a joke in the car a week ago and my stupid brain had clearly stored in near the front. At least I had the presence of mind not to say the band's name first. But honestly, here I am, a visitor from the west and I sing about money--please, allow me to pass on my capitalist torch! I can just imagine their memories...they won't remember me talking about my appreciation of thier ceremonies, or my admiration and gratitude of thier medical practioners no no they will remember "Once in class 11 there was this girl from Canada who came and sang about money". Swell. Glad to have enriched our foreign relations (again). I thinnk probably any song would have been better, Bryan Adams, or "There was a Moose" with all its actions. But no. I can only hope (as with my speech) that they were too focused on staring at me to listen. But I doubt it. They then sang beautiful songs about truth and light and smiles. Sheesh.