One of my students died on Thursday. He was only 14. The cause is not yet known but whatever the case it was sudden and unexpected. He was a considerate lad with a calm, quiet way. Death seems to be unnecessarily familiar around here, but to happen so abruptly to someone so young makes it seem all the more unjust.
Things will be quiet at the school while the community deals with his passing in their own way. While it is impossible for me to truly understand the goings on of 'sorry business' (the term used up here for ceremonial and cultural activity relating to death), it seems to me to be a dignified and sensible way to deal with grief. The space for mourning is so clearly defined, offering people a more familiar and communal way to respond to such a tragedy; something that seems so desperately lacking in our own culture. Not that this necessarily lessens their pain or justifies the condition... it is just an observation.
On a more positive note I got to go on a trip with the kids to the Gold Coast last term, which in itself is worthy of a 10,000 word entry. I don't have the energy nor the time just now, but here are some pics from the beach...
Things will be quiet at the school while the community deals with his passing in their own way. While it is impossible for me to truly understand the goings on of 'sorry business' (the term used up here for ceremonial and cultural activity relating to death), it seems to me to be a dignified and sensible way to deal with grief. The space for mourning is so clearly defined, offering people a more familiar and communal way to respond to such a tragedy; something that seems so desperately lacking in our own culture. Not that this necessarily lessens their pain or justifies the condition... it is just an observation.
On a more positive note I got to go on a trip with the kids to the Gold Coast last term, which in itself is worthy of a 10,000 word entry. I don't have the energy nor the time just now, but here are some pics from the beach...
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