Jen: Attacked By Children, 123

This is Jen. Today has truly been hectic day: and the busiest so far (we don't know about tomorrow). According to my quick morning survey, everybody slept better than they did yesterday because all of us have gradually adapted to the local time and environment. Last night, I was the first one to lay in bed and to get ready for sleep because I predicted that today would be a tough first day. I set the alarm for 8:00 am, but I woke up at 7:15. I woke Erica and Chandler up, and both girls felt like sleeping in. We had our breakfast (french toast, which is really quick and quite like American ones) and we got ready for the school that we were going to. We already painted the school yesterday, but we had no idea what to expect. We walked to the main road from our volunteer center and we all got into one taxi (6 people: all 5 of us and Richard, the guy who is in charge of Blue-Med, the NGO we are working with).

The car stopped at the school where we painted the walls yesterday. This time, the school was no longer empty and quiet: instead, sounds of children's laughing and running filled our ears. The moment we stepped off the car and walked into the sight of the children, I could see the faces of small children lighting up with surprise and curiosity. I don't know if it was their first time seeing white-skinned people like us: perhaps for some of them it was.

The school is divided into kindergarten, elementary school and middle school. The children there all wear certain uniform: usually a purple plaid dress for kindergarten girls, purple plaid top with khaki pants for kindergarten boys, green dresses for elementary school and middle school children. Some of the teachers also wore a brown and yellow uniform as well. The kindergarten children have their classes in the room that we painted yesterday. I felt so fulfilled knowing that our work served some purpose: We gave the kids a little more color in their lives.

The children all shouted "yevu" at us, which I didn't know what it meant at first but later Erica explained that it means "white people". To them, no matter if we are yellow skinned or not, we are "white people". Some of them were shy: they hid behind the trees in clumps. I could see curiosity flickering in their eyes, but their introvert nature wouldn't enable them to express their interest in us. Others just went crazy: they ran with full speed towards us, wishing to hug us and touch our fingers. All of us were surrounded by at least one crowd of kids. We trudged (with kids all over us) towards the classroom and settled in the classroom that they all stay in. There were mickey mouse chairs all over the classroom. About 40 pairs of fresh eyes stared at us, and our eyes surveyed the room as well. Erica began the day by teaching the kids how to count in English (some of them seem to know it well but some don't). The children's age range from a year and a half to 4 years old, maybe that plays in as a factor. Then we drew on the board and asked them to guess what we drew. Chandler was a good artist: she drew a door, a tree, a house, a lizard, etc. Emily drew a Mickey mouse (which the kids responded: "boy!") and a Minnie mouse (which the kids responded: "girl!"). She also drew a frog, a corn and a dog (which the kids thought was a cat). I drew some fruits and Erica drew some clothes. The children had no problem identifying the objects and calling their names in their own language, but few of them knew the English.

Then it was the break. The break was the time where we could truly interact with the children. We didn't talked much to them, but we all loved holding their hands and giving them a ride in the air: I picked a girl up and then spun her around. Then, a crowd of children targeted my and asked me to spin them around. I did one after one, and it was so rewarding to see their happy face. Emily gave a  little girl a piggy back ride, and one of the teachers wrapped a tower around her so that Emily looks like the Ghana women that carry their babies on their backs. Erica and Chandler each picked their favorite child and nurtured them with profuse attention. Linh was jumping with the elementary school students: since one time they invented a game named "jump, jump, jump". We played until noon and the children went to have lunch. We had bananas in the headmaster's room.

In the afternoon, we taught the kids a nursery rhyme: "An itsy bitsy spider climbing up the spout/ Down came the rain and washed the spider out/ Out came the sun and dried up all the rain/ And the itsy bitsy spider climb up the spout again." It was too hard for the children so we taught them how to do the hand
 motion. They learnt it very well. After learning the song, we said goodbye to the children and promised to come back again.

We had our late lunch (fried plantains and beans) at the home and rested. Linh was a little too tired so she took a nap. After resting until 5 o'clock, we set off for the orphanage, where we met with more children. When I see the children in the orphanage, my heart was overcome by compassion: How hard would it be to lose their parents at such a small age! We distributed stickers, and all the children wanted for the stickers eagerly. I only wish they could have more of what they already have: no matter stickers or love or care, they really deserve to have more of them. We stayed for two hours and left. When we left, it was already dark and we walked along the roads. We all had a dense and intense day, but it was worthwhile. The children's smile has left an indelible mark in me, and I will never forget the moment when they look at me, demanding with their eyes: "Would you love me? Would you remember me?"

Yes I will.

After we come back the orphanage, we had our dinner (Asian style: kimchi-like cabbage and sauce, rice and fried chicken....not sure of where that chicken is from...) The chicken reminded me of Linh's quote when we walked by a beautiful goat this morning: "What a cute goat......DINNER!" Whenever she sees a dog, or a chicken, or a goat, she goes: "Hey......DINNER!" I cracked out loud. But now it seems like her saying is coming true......I have my fingers crossed for the lives of the roosters that woke all of us up the other day.

Today has been a hectic day, but it has been amazing. I don't know it will be the most amazing one, though. I am sure there will be more surprises to come.

Love,

Jen