I saw in my elephant camp handbook that we are supposed to teach English at the school....so I asked Jin about it. We went to school one day, but not to teach English, we were there to play. Oh my goodness- this was amazing!!! The children saw us walking up the street and got very excited, they started to run over to the fence and watched as we came around the corner; instantly I had multiple children hanging off of me. They were excited for a new play partner. First I was showed the playground, then I had a rousing game of shooting...? I don't know but they boys made guns with their hands and shooting sounds, so I died a few times.
Then I was shown inside the school, i had a circle of about 7 children in tow. They are kindergarten aged. They stopped after they finished showing me around and stood in a circle, and looked at me like I am supposed to do something-what? Think quickly, children can smell fear. So I started to play ring around the rosie. Children loves songs, especially those with actions. So it was perfect, and they caught on so quickly. I was so happy for this. We played this for a while and then went back outside.
Out on the playground there is a jungle gym, besides the people that went to play that morning. I lifted one child up to the bars, and then 50 more came, raising their arms screaming "hello, hello hello" simultaneously so they can get their turn and be lifted up onto the handle bars too. When you start this process you can't stop.
I was able to break away eventually, only to find myself being pulled into multiple directions and then the children decided that we could go inside. I was given a book to read (it was English) so we read a story. then I was given another book to read, it was not English. I tried to charade out sorry. I think they understood eventually that I can't read Thai, because one little girl started saying something to the little boy about the book he brought to me. So cute, I am excited to go back and play.
Their smiles are enough to get any heart. Laughter and play have no language. All anyone needs is a smile, love, an open heart and some energy (kids are fast).
I asked if I could take some photos and then it got crowded, a selfie stick would have been helpful
So cute, oh my goodness! One of my best friends for the morning
Laughter ensues as I am trying to not fall
These girls <3
Best friends I think, they were together the whole time
And so the lifting begins...
Jin = Human jungle gym
The playground with a rumba line going through it
That face - doesn't it just make you smile. It makes me smile. So funny!
Making a funny face
Love is what I experienced when I went to the school. I am still feeling it as I write this, looking at these pictures bring me so much joy and happiness. I can't help but smile.
