Name: Avan Fung Chi Yan Student no.: 50366720 Tutorial Group: 4
A weird stranger in the English Language Centre
Having the first step into the entrance hall is an open space with koala-grey carpet and mushroom-grey walls. A potted plant that looks as if they never wilt situates on the left beside the entrance, saying hello to every new comer. Computers are located on the right of the entrance with students playing online mini games and ICQ chats, with fingers flying on the keyboard, typing, surprisingly, Chinese. In the middle are cookie-brown coaches lining up in a horizontal ‘Y’ pattern with a projector standing in front of the letter ‘Y’, which is, on the right of the centre; while four television closets and coffee tables along the tail of ‘Y’. Classrooms and staff rooms stay quietly in the one o’clock and eleven o’clock position. In this place, it is ordinary to see students chatting like mice talking to each other, like spies exchanging confidential conversation. The only aim is to speak Chinese without letting people know – the English Language Centre.
I jog forward few steps to the coach, where I promptly sink two feet into it, transformed into a 10-year-old girl dwarfed by hillock of cords. Once I crawl to the table and grab the headphone, two students come and sit on my right. They sit still in front of those televisions, having earphones on their heads, without blinking their eyes, lacking any facial expressions, staying like statues.
Once I am watching Celine Dion performing in front of me, a chubby bolded man with round, dimpled cheeks and plump, dent hands holding a Time Magazine block my way. He passes in front of me and sits on my left, leg crossed and his foot swinging along. Though he holds up the magazine, his hollow, sesame eyes are staring at the charming actress on the television.
All of a sudden, ‘Haha’, a big laugh suddenly burst out. The man’s laughter allows a snap shot of a tennis ball to his mouth! He looks normal as if he doesn’t notice that the ‘keep quiet’ sign is hanging right besides him! The heads of those statues finally turn and cast an eye at him, then they restore to their original position. However, it is just the beginning of my nightmare.
Focusing at the interview of Celine Dion, a burly, gross leg abruptly came into my sight. His crossed legs now changed their position, with one hanging on the arm pad of the couch, occupying one-third of my seat; and the remaining steps on the floor without even notice by him. Having the headphone staying behind, his head lounged on the other arm pad with half-opened mouth. The magazine, which being abandoned by the ill-mannered mister, now lies on the hummock of the man, moving up and down with a constant speed. He seems to be exhaling and never inhaling. Z’s coming out from his mouth and he starts snoozing.
By the time I decide to complain about it, I freeze as I realize that he is highly invigilated, and multitasking is his strengthen, aware of the surroundings while sleeping simultaneously. Whenever people who speaks English passes around, he opens his unnoticeable eyes and put down his leg, pretends sitting naturally! Staff in the counter seems all have wear sunglasses even sunlight can ever been entered the centre. Showing the time 2:00 on my watch, I make my step out, promising myself not to be here again at the same time.
