After our Yoga Break the children calm down a bit, and we continue on for a short time on numbers And before we know it, it is time to go outside and play! In the front of the school there is a spigot and a tree with some tiny bit of shade. The children scatter in different directions some heading off to pee (somewhere, I really don’t want to know where, and neither do you), somehow the teacher seems to know who is where (or maybe she is just not concerned about it) but regardless everything appears to be okay. We start to navigate around to the back of the building, passing a hole about 8 feet deep that would swallow up half the children if they miss-calculate a step or happen to stumble. Ali and I appear to be the only ones to even notice this cavernous hole, as we carefully step by. The play yard, I guess you could say is a “courtyard” style… an open area with several shanty shacks backing up into the red dusty earth yard. The women are doing laundry, gathering buckets of water and generally doing morning chores. They look up at us; some smile but generally seem to be unfazed by our presence. Some of the kids are running around, pushing each other, falling down and crying. Others are simply clinging and hanging on Ali and I. A small amount of the children have a Popsicle type of thing they are sucking on, I have no idea where the Popsicle came from, but those children are the happiest. In a short while, one of the women appears with 2 balls and we begin to play pass the ball. Now don’t forget the ages are 3 – 6 years old, I get passed the ball by the teacher who passes the ball like I would imagine one of our all star Huskies Ladies would pass the ball, fast and accurate. To my surprise I catch it, and begin to play catch with the children. They catch every pass. I throw it further, they still catch the ball. Doesn’t matter if they are 3 or 6, these kids are coordinated. Nobody falls down unless they are pushed, and we are having fun. (Did I mention, it is about 90 degrees?) Eventually our game of catch ends and the girls show us a circle game. I will have to video it; I don’t think I can do it justice. Suffice it to say it is adorable. Next we all go back to the front yard, and the children are given porridge. The porridge is sweet hot oatmeal; they each get about a half-cup full. We had been told that was the first meal they would receive that day, and maybe for some the only meal. We are offered some, and we say “hapana sante”, (no thank you) They are quiet and content for the moment. After porridge they file back into the classroom. They are hot and tired, the teacher motions them to put their heads down and some of them fall asleep in just a few seconds. The Peace does not last too long. We only have about a half hour to go, but these kids are so done. So I read a story, and the teacher translates, they really enjoy it! We sing Twinkle, Twinkle little star and then the horn beeps and it is time for us to go back to home base. As we leave they all jump up and run out to the Dala Dala (Van) waving and jumping, hugging and laughing. No Mamas come, our 3-6 year olds walk them selves’ home and they are fine and happy.
Generally, speaking we feel the morning went well. Yes there was chaos, but we all survived. Considering the circumstances, I think these kids are great! Our American children would not make it 5 mins. in a situation even half as bad. Ali and I are dirty, sweaty and tired. We are both overwhelmed by the experience and immediately start to plan the next day.
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