First Bell (Birinchi Konguro)

A loudspeaker played a song in Portuguese. The students assembled, from toe to braids in black and white, an air of excitement floating at the ends of strings like helium balloons, pulling each student taller, straighter, prouder. It was the first bell ceremony, Saturday September 1^st. New first form students had gathered with their parents, crowded together in groups – a look of mixed determination and wonder on their faces. The vice-principals each spoke in Kyrgyz and Russian, offering their best wishes and encouragement for the year ahead. The principal announced that this year their school had been chosen as the best in all of Kyrgyzstan – an honor to be proud of, and to live up to. The bell was marched around the courtyard, ringing in the new school year, and all the students flowed inside for their first lessons. In a short while a vice-principal came back outside to announce that parents would need to prepare their sons and daughters better for Monday – the soundless tears could be heard on the faces of each parent present.