After sorting out the tapes and making sure all the settings on our cameras were set, we split ways, me to my creative writing class upstairs and my friend to the dance class just next to where we were setting up.
I grabbed a bag of cheez-it's from the snack box and headed out. Approaching the "white door", I held my breath, only to let it out in relief to find it open. I wouldn't be making 7 more trips to and from that door today.
When i reached the classroom, or rather the creative writing section of the room (there are 3 groups that share that room, separated by dividers), I set down my camera and participated in the initial icebreaker game, as we had one new student. At first I spaced out as Sarah, the lead teacher, asked me repeatedly whether I knew what game they were playing. after what i would have to guess was the 6th time, I finally managed to pull my head out of the clouds and everyone had a good laugh.
This time we played two truths and a lie, and I managed to trump everyone with mine. After everyone had gone, I guess Sarah decided one game was not enough, so we played fruit basket, a game like I have never but slightly different as you say what people have done or have on rather than saying something you haven't done and everyone who has done it has to switch seats. I had a lot of fun as I decided not to follow the normal pattern of rotating to counter-clockwise and rather quickly grabbing the seat of the person I wanted to get in the middle. So I guess you could say i was somewhat in control?
After the Ice breakers, an assistant teacher took over as Sarah had to do some math homework, most likely preparation for the geometry final she had mentioned to me yesterday.
For some reason I didn't seem so in touch today. Maybe it was the fact that Calvin, the team leader hadn't been there, or that we hadn't prayed, giving glory to god, or maybe it was because I had slipped more into my role as a documenter and observer. Most likely, it was a combination of all of those factors put together. As you see I'm also not to "in it" in this post, as it is both short and boring. I will apologize for that.
Anyways, I must say the day went by too fast, or rather, the days, as I have so much to do on top of Illuminate. But that is another story.
Back to Illuminate, right after the introduction of the word of the day, metamorphosis, another student arrived. Her name was Erika, and she was shy at first, but started to slowly come out of her shell. She also wasn't very camera shy as far as I could tell.
So after the word of the day I stood off to the side to film, and sometimes when your only link into the world is the electronic screen of the camera, it is easy to get disconnected and be consumed by the documentation. Should I capture the kids or the teachers? Close up or wide shot? How can I shoot good shots with only one angle to work with? Why is it so bright today? Have I shot too much?
Now with these thoughts running through my head, and also just that nervous twitch that comes with the first day of filming, especially by yourself, I found my mind wandering off even during snack time.
Though through my camera eye I was able to see the teachers beginning to breakthrough with on girl, Paulina, so I mainly focused on her. She really opened up, as she was quite shy the day before. Also very helpful to her classmates and eager as well to write the poem, though we never got to it since we had to prepare our group chant. It went like this:
There's no other class like us
Our rhymes are a must
don't make a fuss
to be like us!
I won't say anything, as I didn't contribute, but I'm sure WE can do better. The other chants were pretty ok as well, which was comforting, though I remember one group had a really good chant. Mini Illuminate had the best chant! They all just jumped up and shouted "Mini Illuminate!!!"
Ya so after repeating the Illuminate chant, which they had added onto that morning at the assembly, everyone dispersed and my friend and I quickly packed our gear up and rushed to the teachers office to grab dinner before rushing off. Maceo, my film partner, has to get up at 3:00am for work so he has to go to bed really early. It's really cool that he can take the time to serve with us at illuminate though, because I'm sure his schedule is plenty grueling.
So that was Illuminate for today, and I hope sometime later on I will come back and rewrite this because the words just aren't flowing... Better luck next time then.
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