A look at Montreal

For starters, I want to clue all my readers into the code names I will be using in this blog.  As stated earlier, Montreal is the code name for the school.  To make it easier to separate teachers and students, I will be using movie characters to identify teachers, administrators and VIPS volunteers.  Students will be named alphabetically, with appropriate gender, in the order they are introduced.  This is as much for me as it is for anyone else; I can use student A, student B, etc. as a shorthand while I am taking notes in class.

Montreal is not much to look at from the outside.  Brick, square, utilitarian.  The foyer was nicely decorated, with posters, murals and awards.  The office reminded me of a small police station.  A long wooden bar separated visitors from the secretaries behind the desk.  There were three chairs for the waiting, and exposed plumbing on the ceiling.  The police officer who entered later only added to the image.  The principal's office had a sign on the door that said "If you wish to speak with the principal, talk to the secretary.  Do not knock on this door."

No open door policy in Montreal.

It was intimidating, overall.  Not a feeling I'm used to.  One of my classmates, Spock, from the music department, walked in while the secretary was getting a badge for me.  I got the last one; they have run out of badges because the VIPS volunteers keep taking them home.  It was a relief to see him, and he was clearly relieved to see me.  It was my first visit, and his second, so we were both nervous.  I followed him down the halls to the music room.  After the foyer, the school resembled a subway station.  All cement, all white, with a stripe running down the middle of the hall.  No decorations, no signs, and other than directly outside the foyer, no lockers.

The music room was small.  It held five long tables, about 25 chairs, a set of risers and a piano.  Mr. Ed, the supervising teacher, had a small office where I hung my coat.  Also, there were four small practice rooms in the short hallway before entering the music room.