I have written a previous post about Football, which is the Year 6 boys' favourite activity. They would play it every day of the week if given half a chance. Since it invariably ends up close to another Middle East Revolution, I have limited it and introduced other games as well - the Pakistani boys were jubilant when we started with cricket.
We have made some adjustments to the game, to suit our unique circumstances. LBW doesn't count, because we do not have impartial umpires and I don't have the strength for their arguments. We have our own way of dealing with 'wides' and 'no balls' - coz half of them can't bowl. In fact, I don't even distinguish between bowling and throwing, in order to keep the game flowing. We have a high wall directly behind us, so if you hit it across the wall - you're out! But we still play and they enjoy.
We have made some adjustments to the game, to suit our unique circumstances. LBW doesn't count, because we do not have impartial umpires and I don't have the strength for their arguments. We have our own way of dealing with 'wides' and 'no balls' - coz half of them can't bowl. In fact, I don't even distinguish between bowling and throwing, in order to keep the game flowing. We have a high wall directly behind us, so if you hit it across the wall - you're out! But we still play and they enjoy.
Cricket has become almost as exciting as football, just a lot less murderous. This was last week:
Shoaib: ”I’m having a wery bad headache.” Crying because his team lost. Kept saying: “I’m the captain and it’s the 4th loss in a row. It’s wery bad”
This week his luck changed: “Vickets are raining!!! Hit the ball man, they’re vasting overs. Celebrations!!!”
(I’ve given up trying to correct the pronunciation of ‘v’ and ‘w’ which he swops around. I now find it endearing.)
Our students are basically either Arabic-speaking, or Urdu-speaking. They do not refer to the latter as such, but rather use the term “non-arabic speakers”. Though there are many exceptions to the rule, it comes down to Egyptians and Pakistanis. When we have PE, the Arabic speakers all want to play football. The Non-Arabic speakers all want to play cricket. One should therefore take turns and never allow them the last say. The screaming match could drive you to the brink of insanity, and invariably ends in tears, for whatever reason. Man, they cry easily when they lose. First swearing, then fighting, then tears. And five minutes later, it’s all over and all is forgotten and forgiven. Till the next time.
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