Olivia's school puts on a performance in December each year. The teachers at school had given us a copy of a DVD with an English song (Three little kittens) and a Chinese song (no idea what it is about but I am reliably informed it is something to do with love being the best thing in the world). I am unclear if all her classmates got a DVD or whether we were special parents who needed their child to have a little at-home coaching! Certainly Olivia was less than cooperative at home with the songs, and from what I could see she wasn't much better when practicing at school. Luckily the school director took the opportunity to tell me that it wasn't about the result but all about taking part and being part of a group (phwew).
Anyway, on the night, Carl and I managed to get seats right at the back (the auditorium was already full of keen parents) and i felt quite inadequate with my little compact camera. Other parents had monster giant cameras with enormous lenses and tripods! Luckily one dad took pity on me and made me point out our little cherub and he took photos of her for me! She wasn't that hard to spot.
Olivia did a good job singing the English song, although somehow she decided to take off her clothes after only a few minutes. A nearby teacher managed to avoid a complete strip tease. Then Olivia discovered the same thing as puppies and kittens worldwide - a tail! She seemed to be in her own little world, twirling and twirling up on stage. Every other child on stage was standing perfectly still. No idea what was going on there. She looked a little bemused during the Chinese song and was then led off stage by the teachers.
When questioned by mummy as to what her favourite bit was, she replied "eating the candy cane teacher gave me". I don't think that we have a stage performer on our hands but the whole thing was very cute and the teachers had worked so hard to pull it off.
