ETA Ian Morse’s school likes to get everyone involved in big events, like Ian’s upcoming farewell party. It’s combined with the 12th grade graduation, so all the performances will likely keep the guests from the food for hours. Ian’s English Club has three events, plus Ian’s farewell speech. The most fun one – and the one that has taken the longest to practice – will be a surprise, but it can be shared here.

Ian’s English Club students like to dance, but after a failed search for an American “formal” dance, Ian settled for close to the exact opposite and one of his favorites, Cotton Eye Joe. On May 5^th. the English Club will perform a story, a song and a dance mix of Cotton Eye Joe and a popular Gorontalo dance. The Gorontalo dance will end abruptly and Ian will jump up to join the Cotton Eye Joe portion (that’s the surprise part, shhh). But there’s a lot of practice to be done beforehand.

Beginning the last week of April, the English Club spent at least an hour each day getting the moves down. It’s an active dance, so Ian sneaks in English lessons on popular song lyrics in the breaks. Because Ian isn’t teaching much anymore, it’s a productive way to stay involved and cement relationships with students before the final farewell.

Ian Morse is currently teaching at MAN 2 Gorontalo, North Sulawesi