But then they go and pull off a major event just so beautifully, where everything goes like clockwork.
This was just the inter-school athletics day, but they held it at the stadium, which was completed recently for the Pacific Mini Games, and ran it just like a professional international athletics event. Children mean a lot in this culture - they eat first at community meal times - and a big deal is made out of children's events or activities.
All the schools marched in to a drum beat - and we're talking proper, competitive marching. I was so impressed with how disciplined they were, and how much they must have practised. Not a foot out of place, hair neatly plaited with matching ribbons, spotless sports uniforms.
C's school, Apii Te Uki Ou, fielded one of the smaller teams. She is in the sixth row, nearest to the camera (remember with all the photos on the blog, you can click on them to see a larger version).There was a panel of people on laptops running the record-keeping; cold drinks and food circulating constantly for the officials out on the field; a team of drummers; the deputy prime minister to open the ceremomies; and well-known local businessman and PMG chef de mission George George as MC. (Traditionally, islanders take the father's first name as their surname. But lots follow the modern way, where the surname is passed on. Sometimes, if it's not certain which tradition will be followed, a kid will be given the same name for both first and second names, just to make sure the desired name lives on. Thus the likes of George George.)
Competition was intense. Islanders are naturally very sporty - tall and very well coordinated - and rivalry between villages or schools is fierce. I guess that comes as no surprise when you consider it wasn't all that long ago they were still killing and eating each other. For ritualistic purposes, that is, not as a source of food per se. But I digress. At any rate, I completely understand why the All Blacks team is full of Pacific Islanders.
The senior students ran on the new artificial track - with socks on, because most of them don't own running shoes. The younger children had their races on the grass. C competed in sprints, and high jump - and got quite high before being eliminated in the latter. I was really proud to see her representing her school.
I loved watching the finish line - the mamas and teachers wildly cheering their kids on and encouraging them.
And big hugs at the end of the race.*****
