It was a special week, with the seniors taking part in various traditions, demonstrating their respect for the teachers, loyalty to the school and closeness to each other.
Each day the seniors came to school wearing formal clothes: dressing in colors according to their student groups (A, B, C or D). Throughout the week senior classes assembled outside the staffroom waiting for their teacher to exit.
When the teacher came out the class serenaded him or her, and presented the teacher with flowers before escorting him or her to the classroom.(Chad, another American teacher; and Marianna, the English department chairperson, listen while the seniors serenade from outside the building Thursday evening)
On Thursday evening the seniors and faculty held a farewell party.
Each senior group made a presentation that included a “roasting” of their favorite teachers and usually a slideshow of their years at Varga. The teachers also prepared four Hungarian songs to sing to the students (I mostly mumbled and hummed).(At the mics are, from left, Gergõ and Berci)
Friday was a very special day. All students dressed formally, and each underclass decorated classrooms with flowers and balloons to honor the seniors. (Hungarians go through an amazing number of flowers.)
Then, at noon, all classes ended for the day and the seniors gathered by group on the 3rd floor. While holding hands and singing, they slowly snaked their way throughout the entire school, including through the staffroom where the teachers were assembled. The songs were generally reflective, often sad; Some of the students cried as they walked, as did some of the teachers and underclassmen as they watched.The “parade” ended in the courtyard where the seniors stood by group, and the rest of the school assembled to watch. A student from each group spoke, as did the principal. Then an award was presented to the “teacher of the year” as voted on by the students. When this ended, the school day was over.
Then, Saturday morning the students gathered again in the courtyard, this time with their families, and said a final farewell to the school and faculty. From there they walked down the streets of Szolnok (along with the seniors from the other secondary schools in the city: the cops blocked off the streets) with the faculty walking along the sides, arms locks, essentially creating an alley in which the students walked.
It was a very moving week, and one that I only wish we could duplicate in the States. The students here have so much school and class pride (as opposed to spirit: Here it's much more reverent), a lot of respect for their teachers and a strong interest in maintaining traditions. It was an awesome experience and one I won’t soon forget.
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