#3: Kids Around the World

Now, as a self-admitted “own child-a-phobe” I am actually quite enamored of children. Especially other people’s children. I was raised to respect little people as just that…deserving respect and to be heard as much as any adult.

Some people pointed out that I did not blog about some places. Vietnam was one of those. For a few reasons I just didn’t get the chance to share my love of Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon with the world. The main one being that I did my service visits in this port. I spent one day at a School for the Disabled (I’m not sure how I feel about that term, is it right? I mean they taught ME how to tell them my name using American Sign Language (ASL)) and another at a Day School which had kids from all socio-economic brackets.

Those kids wore.us.out. and we loved every minute of it. Kids everywhere are the same, unbiased, affectionate, curious, kind-hearted, hard headed, desiring to give and receive love. I still don’t want any of my own, but I had a great time playing with kids from Brazil to China. Peek-a-boo, the Hokey Pokey…magic, no matter what language barriers separate you. And little boys….all of them, love.love.love.karate. I spent literally about an hour “playing” karate with these two. Thank God for my very own 10 year old nephew. I knew exactly what to do.

We loaded them up with stickers, pens, pencils, bubble gum, toothbrushes and one professor did magic tricks! the funny thing was that most of these kids have NOTHING, school isn’t free so their families are scraping together the $35 US/year it takes to send these guys and girls to school. Makes you appreciate our (admittedly) flawed but free and compulsory system here in the US huh? Anyway, I think that cheesey Whitney Houston song has it right…”I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way….”  Plus, they’re just so darn cute, it makes you feel like your heart will burst out of your chest.

6 thoughts on “#3: Kids Around the World”

  1. Sounds like a lot of fun. Last Summer while I was up in Wisconsin, I learned quite a bit from working with preschoolers, toddlers, and infants. You’re right, they can be lots of fun.

  2. Sounds like you had fun playing games and visiting with the children.
    The faces of the children are “precious”.
    I kind of agree about the School for the Disabled – we all have our own areas of disability.

  3. ANYTIME you want your kiddie fix, head on down!! My kids have loved seeing all your pictures and hearing about your adventures in South Africa (they love the animals). I have to remind myself on the days I want to beat my head into the wall with frustration with them that they are kids and they need adults to show them how to grow up with hope and hopefully not loose their love for life!! I heard a person in an interview the other day say the greatest thing their mother taught them was to have a love of life, and I realize we can all demonstrate that to children. I am trying everyday to love my life – bloom where I am planted so-to-speak!!! Love you and so glad you are doing well – how is the adjustment home?

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