Uniform Day
To
day we set off for Bob Stewart, the suppliers of uniforms for a number of schools across Melbourne, including Melbourne High. After dealing with some work emails we departed for Kew. Cecilia, Joe’s cousin had returned home from school, not feeling well and joined us for the uniform fitting journey.
As you would expect from a company supplying uniforms for almost ¾ of a century, when we arrived the process was friendly and efficient. There are some elements that are optional and those that are mandatory. It was interesting to see Joe trying on the clothes and the fact that the school associates with him through the unicorn logo as much as he associates with the school.
With bag, b
lazer, budgie smugglers and other mandatory elements all in our shopping bag we went down to pay. The young lad serving us pointed out he was a Melbourne High graduate and I suspect was entering university. I asked if he had any tips for Joe and he said to enjoy the co-curricular activities and not to sweat the academic stuff. It was about the marathon and not the sprint. A young man, but I think provided good advice at a good time.
Although it wasn’t Saville Row, the whole experience – including Helen and I sneaking in through the back entrance, confusing Joe a little was another small event that allows his old man to enjoy the event as much as if I was personally joining the school as a student.
My little bit of advice is to embrace the process of onboarding and embed yourself into the event rather than considering it an administrative or expense burden. I conjured up visions of the movie Kingsmen and when I shared this with Joe, although he didn’t really like the comparison, he got it.
After the fitting out experience we made our way to Chadstone shopping centre for dumplings and “cong you bing” a shallot pancake I used to eat as a student when studying at Nanjing University.
I have made comment on this before but the multicultural nature of Melbourne High and Chadstone Shopping centre where the rich and diverse mixture of ethnicities that are now Australian shows how far our nation has evolved.
The young lad in the Bob Stewart shop, recently graduated from Melbourne High speaking in a rather sophisticated Australian accent, encouraging and congratulating Joe was 100% Chinese, but also 100% Australian.
So today’s event was a short, efficient and positive event, further cementing Joe into a new future.
