These #photographs are from the Sydney ESL College Christmas Party on 24 December 2004.
Ok so we know that one is not supposed to have favourites but this was the first school James taught in following the completion of the Trinity TESOL Certificate at the English Language Academy of the University of Auckland & firsts are always special.
But this bunch of students, by any measure would be considered a bit remarkable. Each of them were unique individuals who had come to Australia to immerse themselves in a new culture and they were living their best lives! James says the cool factor was off the charts in his classroom and the lovely gold horse phone decoration that was his first student gift hangs proudly where he sees it every day!
This was a most excellent Christmas Eve Party and James says he would not have missed it for anything. It was lots of fun and it was lovely to get to know the students outside of the formal classroom and who knew the boys would turn out to be such skilled cricket players?
Going forward it has been lovely to hear news of the students. I was excited when I found out Chikako had had her first child and I bet Shohei has been a great husband and father! Keiko was a great host when James went to Tokyo and they travelled on the Bullet train to Osaka and Kyoto and went to the most exciting Kibuki theatre! James has always appreciated Keiko's grace kindness and is most thankful.
Shohei's adventures off the beaten track in Australia were an inspiration that led to James choosing to go climbing up the near vertical stairs on the side of Putucusi Mountain in Peru to get photos of Machu Picchu from and being eaten by the local bugs! Thanks for that travel inspiration Shohei!
Tatiana, Tomomi and Chikako were the super glamourous girls who were always dressed in lovely clothes that were most classy. The photographs of Sam in his bright shirt and cricket bat turned out very well. Sam was from Thailand if we remember correctly and he was very popular with the ladies of Sydney!
Where ever they are we wish them all well and thank them for being such grouse students! Sorry if we've not recorded names properly. James has turned out to be a crap archivist and librarian! But we hope our students are living their best lives and are, most of all, are happy and content!
The Galleres, Above, contains a mix of colour edited images and the original camera proofs for narrative context and your viewing pleasure so that's why there are a few "doubles"!
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