As mentioned earlier today (well, technically it was yesterday now), something wonderful happened at Racodac.
Observe:
When the attendance register was taken at primary school, pupils were on first name terms. At RWS (as “students”) the attention moved over to surnames. Regardless of how the registers were taken, the process played an important role in establishing a sense of community. You know, for example, that Selby, Peterson and Chen belong to class B sort of thing. And in each name being called out separately, you generate an understanding of who everyone is without having to have necessarily spoken to them.
Now at Racodac, the absence of any form of registration means that you only get to know who everyone is if you are put in the same group as them for a project, someone else tells you, or you ask them.
For the first couple of terms the Moving Image Design students (of which I am one) and the Graphic Design students live together as one big happy family - crossing over courses to work together on the same pieces of work, sharing the same studio et cetera.
Anyhow, on the Graphic Design course there are many students that I’ve yet to work with. One of these students is a lass called Serena, and the only communication we’ve had has been polite smiles to & fro to acknowledge each other’s presence.
When emptying my bag of outdated documents a few weeks back, I came across a cut-down version of the Racodac Studentifier. (I have no idea whether this term is commonly known, or whether Racodac people made it up. Basically it’s a list that identifies students.) Observing this list to see who was who, I came across Serena B’s entry…
…and immediately recognised her full name from some ten years ago.
CUT TO BLACK :
FADE IN :
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT.
At first this realisation was like seeing “Kobayashi Porcelain” printed on the bottom of a mug. Then I thought that if it were the same Serena B. whom I knew from yesteryear - and even lived in the same road as - she would’ve already mentioned us both winding up at the same university on [almost] the same course after all of this time. Unless (especially considering the ten year gap) she didn’t remember me, that is. Little did I know, however, that she was thinking the same thing.
Late last week, I overheard Yazz Y. telling someone to “just ask him”. As it turns out, she was telling Serena to ask me if it was in fact me. But similarly thinking that if it was me I’d have already mentioned it, she let it go.
Sitting with Zehra A. after our copyright lecture in the Graphics Studio today, out of the blue came the question: “What primary school did you go to?” Instantly I knew that someone had claimed to have gone to the same school as me, and instantly I knew it was Serena. Upon confirmation, I walked across the room to Serena, pulled up a chair and sat talking with her for just under an hour.
Serena, her sister and myself were very chummy at primary school, you see. In fact, I remember vividly playing that velcro pad/tennis ball game, and walking home from school with them both on many occasions - among a whole list of things. It was just surprising how it all came flooding back.
As for why I didn’t recognise her in the flesh – it wasn’t until I looked for it in her face that I saw it was her. Plus, it *was* ten years ago now and she was in the year above me. So it’s understandable, really.
And funnily enough, she remembers me from primary school as I look now, and doesn’t remember any of my other primary school friends. I’m assuming that it’s because of the age difference, in which case I must’ve been good at mingling in those days.
It’s quite late/early to be typing this - especially considering that I’ve got to be up early again tomorrow/later today. But I wanted to type this account while it was still fresh in mind in the hope that the magical feeling would come across well. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’ve quite managed it. Rest assured, though, that this rediscovery of an old friend has
made my week and *has* filled me with a warm feeling.And for those of you thinking
“If you were such great mates, how come you haven’t seen or heard from each other for ten years?” - what can I say? It happens, sadly. I do my very best to stay in touch with people. It just wasn’t so easy in those days, I suppose.Bringing this long-winded post to a close…
I’ve rediscovered an old friend. And despite knowing of our years apart, it really does seem as if we’ve simply returned to primary school after a long summer holiday. Only this time, we’ve got even more memories to share.
That is all.
