Emotion Building

It's late and I'm lying awake pondering the KOTO Class Six Graduation.

On Monday I helped out with art class - the kids are painting pictures for the new restaurant. They told me that Tuesday would be their last day in the current KOTO.

I got up early to catch them for breakfast. They queued up to ceremonially make me their last banana pancakes, orange juice and cappucino.

The rest of the day was not so fun. I had a million Powerpoint slides to do for the big night and the end was never in sight. It started early, it finished very late.

But Wednesday was better. G-day minus one and things were falling into place. The morning was a little tense though. Some of my late night Powerpointing was not being unduly praised and I took it badly. I was huffing and puffing around the office trying not to take my stress out on my colleagues who are all too serene, Vietnamese and beautiful to understand my moods.

And then Miss Lung came into the office. One of the soon-to-be-graduates. I heard her talking to a colleague as I tried my best to concentrate on my long over due work. Just as I was assuming the position of hands-on-ears-trying-to-type-with-elbows, I felt arms around my neck.

Then I felt tears against my cheek. Miss Lung doesn't want to leave KOTO. I don't want her to leave either. I'll miss her and class six. But I know that wherever she works they'll love here. She's a star - this amazing confident young woman who 18 months ago barely had the confidence to raise a whisper.

Then later the banner I had designed was delivered. It's huge. I had included pictures of all the trainees on it. They knew nothing about it and it was unfurled with surpise and appreciation. Watching them looking forward to their big day, and feeling proud of the special occasion we are creating for them, was incredible.

I finished at a respectable 9pm. Everything appears to be in hand. I would have got away sooner but for all the cigarrette breaks where I dissappeared to supress the lump in my throat and blink away the watery eyes. It's been that kind of day. The emotion is building.

Now it's 1am on g-day and I am realising there will be no hiding place. Crying in public seems slightly scarey right now, but I can't imagine avoiding it.

Pic of Lung, Chien and Hien - all graduating tonight and saying goodbye to KOTO.