graduation

This morning was E.'s kindergarten graduation.

That's E. in the front, with the long-sleeved shirt on under his robe, looking like he'd rather be having a few teeth pulled. (The ceremony was outside in 85-degree heat, so at least I can say that he's adjusted to the Bahian climate.)

As a proud parent in the audience, I have to say that I would have rather been having teeth pulled, too.

The ceremony started with the kids singing a couple songs. That part was cute. Then the school director gave a speech in English and Portuguese. Then the principal.

Then there was about twenty minutes of a video presentation with bad sound of the kids singing songs.

Then the handing out of certificates, which took another twenty minutes, because they had to pause after each one for the professional photographer to take a picture.

Then the presentation of gifts to the teachers and administrators, which took another twenty minutes.

After a year here (and after attending two other graduations this week, for the 8th and 12th grades), perhaps I should be used to it. The full makeup at 8 am, the thousand-dollar sunglasses, the whole show staged for the sake of the photographers. (None of it actually for the kids themselves, who sat patiently sweltering in their caps and gowns the whole time.)

Maybe I'm feeling particularly uncharitable since I got home at midnight last night from the senior graduation.

But I have to say, I haven't gotten used to it, and I'm relieved to be taking my kids out of this school.

Of course, I haven't been to a kindergarten graduation in the States. Do they even have them? If so, please tell me they're not like this.