Just Call Me Dad

The head of the school is about as equal to a king as they come.  I brought cookies to share with the faculty and found out that it is impolite not to offer any to the head of the school first - in my case because of our relationship.  Otherwise I would be expected to just offer first to the assistant principal whose office is with the rest of ours.

Now you have to picture the head of the school.  This is the sweetest and most adorable elderly man!  He is retired, but comes to school every day and holds his office apparently because his title is still Head of School.  Our middle aged assistant principal is retiring after this school year and the HOS will still be in office.  In fact he decides who the next assistant principal will be.

He’s actually old enough to be my grandfather, but took a liking to me early on and has asked me to call him dad.  My elder brother is 50 mind you, but “dad” he is.  When I see him, that’s what he waits to hear.  When I walk into the cafeteria and he is there, I am expected to sit with him.  He has actually moved people over to fit me in at the table and the only reason why my co teachers get invited to sit with him too is because he needs them to interpret.  Sometimes he speaks to me on his own.  My co teacher then has to ask me what he said because of the choppiness of his language.  Lucky for me I get the jist and can tell them so I don’t seem like I am just nodding and grinning (although sometimes I am).

The day I brought him the cookie, I was a bit hesitant about presenting a snack to him since I had to leave one building and cross into another, climbing two flights of stairs to get to his office.  Sometimes when people tell me I need to give a gift or offering, I feel like doing so would be over zealous.  Other times I feel like I need to give and people say it is not necessary.  This was one of those unnecessary times to me, but culture prevails, so off I went with a cookie in a napkin and an interpreting co teacher beside me.

The conversation was short.  All I could understand was something sounding like “you should call”.  Upon leaving I asked my coteacher, “Is he asking me to call him from time to time to say hello, or is he telling me to call first before I choose to stop by?”  We still don’t know.  I admire him for trying to use English that he hasn’t had to use since perhaps a small boy.  Still, no more cookies for him.

http://bariatricbeginnings.com/2012/02/06/just-smile-and-nod/