AMAIUB’s Version of Becket’s Waiting for Godot
In Waiting for Godot, Samuel Becket, Nobel Prize Laureate for Literature in 1969, writes about two characters (Vladimir and Estragon) who wait in vain for the arrival of a person they hardly know: Godot. Yes, you’re right: if you remove the last two letters of Godot, it’s tempting to say Becket alludes to a God who doesn’t show up, and whom, of course, no one really–empirically speaking–closely knows.
But let’s leave that for a while and get a bit more personal here: I don’t know about you, but would you spend all your time waiting for someone you hardly know about?
At AMA International University-Bahrain (AMAIUB), waiting has become an art among professors. Just look at what some of them did here, while waiting (not for Godot but) Noushad to bring them home from school one June summer day.
Image via Wikipedia: Scene from Waiting for Godot, directed by Bore Angelovski
Under the mildly blazing Salmabad campus summer afternoon heat, AMAIUB professors lined up outside the exit gate of the university building–without any theatre director guiding them: they just spontaneously lined up.
Maybe, they saw someone whipping out a digital camera from its cute holster:-) And this may explain the first picture above, where, from left to right, Vladimir and Estragon were really clearly outnumbered (cast- or character-wise) by Dr. Roger Reyes, Dr. Malou Maderazo, Dr. Edgar Alosbanos, Dr. Minerva Bunagan, Dr. Roloulyn Maata, and Dr. Pura Andeng.
And so the story went this way, they said…
After Scene One of Act One, Dr. Malou Maderazo entered Scene Two, and challenged the sun to shine a bit stronger. The sun did–in the form of another camera from somewhere in front of her, and that was how the picture got here. 
In Scene Three, she was joined by one of her friends, College of Computer Science Dean, Dr. Minerva Bunagan.
The others, in the meantime, knowing that time was still not time, looked up at the heavens and saw a couple of early Stars! Two Stars? Visible in a perfectly sunny afternoon? You bet! And they descended to join the group:-)
Just look (below) at that suggestion of a gentleman’s determination and amiable confidence, and that lady’s oozing faith in the Grand Design of things that keeps her happy! Nothing short of Stars! And they got names:Dr. Wilfredo Lacambra and Dr. Roloulyn Maata!
“Hey, Mr. Scribe, don’t leave us out,” smiled, inside the building, a Constellation formed by Ma’am Marites de Alday, Dr. Liza Daoanis, Dr. Alice Santos, Dr. Judith Castillo, Dr. Marilou Maderazo, Dr. Janet Sideno, andDr. Pura Andeng.
“Is Noushad here yet?” someone asked. No one seemed to mind not answering. What about one more pose and one more click? Sure! I bet you know these Beautiful faces and the Enchanting Smiles in the scene below, but would you know who took the picture?
Tip: Ask one of the Ladies :-)
If you know the answer, scroll down to the bottom of this page, and write it in the box provided for–including your Comments:-) WRITE IT RIGHT, and SOMEONE’S BOUND TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING:-)
Still no Noushad? Well–we can afford to stand a bit some more, if you aim that magic box at us, said Dr. Pura Andeng, Dr. Minerva Bunagan, Dr. Priyanka, Dr. Roloulyn Maata, and Dr. Willy Lacambra.
“What about me? My presence serenades the sky,” stated Dr. Roloulyn Maata.
“It sure does,” remarked Dr. Willy Lacambra. “But I won’t let you disappear into a song. Come here.”
Still no Noushad? Hurray! And they found one more time to stand by each other: Dr. Rolou, Ma’am Remy, Dr. Mariano Marchan Jr., Dr. Pura, Dr. Liza, Dr. Minnie, Dr. Roger, Dr. Malou, Dr. Janet, and Dr. Arlen Arellado.
Here’s some kind of not too hard Jeopardy questions: 1) What part of the AMAIUB Salmabad Campus did these Lady Professors have their cuteness taken? 2) Is the path to the main gate (through which Noushad shall drive) to their left? or their right? Write your answers in the box at the bottom of this page:-)
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Dr. Pura Andeng. How many syllables does the adjective “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” have? Kindly share your answer: place it in the box at the bottom of this page.
I know the Lady is Dr. Pura Andeng. The Gentleman…? I’m not sure…looks like Zecharia Sitchin’s grandson
“Noushad will be here in three minutes. Kindly tell the others.”
“Okay, Ma’am Malou, I will… Wonder where they are though…”
Where are they…?
Just to make sure: I looked in the nearby rooms if some of the Stars or Constellation components were whiling their time in a comfortable way–away from the heat, and close to the aircon source. What I saw surprised me…
What? Ma’am Remy holding a class after the picture-taking? There’s some kind of mystery here… I better hunt for the rest of the group…
“Ma’am Dane, Sir Germs, have Ma’am Minnie, Sir Roger, and some teachers been here?”
“We just came in a minute before you did to start rehearsing our Variety Show number–a bit different from the one we did last April 12,” Ma’am Danebeth Glomo smiled.
“That’s right. We’ve barely started,” Sir Germs Narzoles smiled as well.
“Oh, okay, thanks. Happy rehearsing.”
I saw Dr. Donalie Cabral at the Art Exhibit area.
“Hi, Ma’am Dona! I was wondering if you’ve seen Sir Roger and other teachers walk this way?”
“I’m sorry. Mustn’t have noticed them if they had; this painting jsut mystifies me.”
“It’s all right, Ma’am. It’s indeed something to look at. Thank you.”
“Hello, Sir,” I recognized Dr. Mariano Marchan Jr.’s voice–even before I turned. “I know where they went –to the deeper part of their minds.”
“And what may they be doing there, Sir Marchan?”
“They spend time recollecting some of their beautiful memories. They may not be ready yet to ride with Noushad.”
“Okay, no problem, Sir. Will let Noushad know.”
“But I’m ready though. Click the camera and I’ll show you the rest of the way,” Dr. Malou Maderazomust have already finsihed her recollection moments. I’d seen her earlier in various past poses, while Dr.Marchan was telling me about the reverie trips.
The story couldn’t…can’t…won’t… end here…there was…there is…there will be…so much to tell…
So much for a June summer afternoon while waiting for Noushad!
Cheers, Ladies and Lords:-)
Liked it
very heartwarming story… thanks doctor ed…
Hello, Sir Roger:-)
Muchas gracias!:-)