Hurray for learning! =D
So all this week I've been teaching, and well actually mainly learning! Meeting the kids I'll be teaching, learning what they've been learning, that they're really bright! and i'm learning my place in this complex, fast paced, yet always relaxed world. People were friendly enough at first, but I felt a distance between us, as if a whole sea of past experiences and history was washing between us, keeping us still and observing. Without knowing though one can only bow with acceptance and be present. Anyways I got right into the swing of things, taught one class of yoga and games with the younger kids and they went a bit crazy (a great lesson for me on preparedness and discipline!) and then taught the older kids who were better. I feel like I'm going to progress really fast though, understanding what the kids need and what I'm capable of.
Man those kids, they won't be fooled! They actually didn't even pay attention to me for the first few days, no surprise or curiosity or fear. But over the course of the week hearts slowly opened up, and now a few of the kids call my name and smile and hold out their hands to me, which is really heartwarming to me. The kids have their own barriers up and you have to prove that your trustworthy, which both makes me feel comforted that they are wise to the world, but at the same time a little bit sad that they've had to become wise.. hmm I'm sure it's good in the long run though. You can never judge someone for what is necessary, but only try to understand the multifaceted cradle it sits in. Today the kids performed a musical too! they were really cute and did well (even though they never took practice seriously geez haha) A bunch of the kids sponsors and some funding people from the netherlands were the audience and afterwards Ketut (the man who started the yayasan) talked about the programs. It was interesting though when he picked out certain kids and told their story, of being poor and uneducated.. it felt uncomfortable even for me, let alone how the kids felt. It brought up some inner dialogue about what I've heard been called "NGO porn" (bad name I know) but it's when organization show kids in terrible situations to envoke pity, and money from watchers. It made me think of what is necessary in these organizations to attain funds and keep afloat and for funders to feel appreciated. But is there a way to do this without parading the childs life and harships around? Nonetheless I think these kids seem really happy, cared for and have open futures is probably the main point. Just thoughts floating through the ether.
They sure are a lot more proficient at english than I thought they would be! They're pretty clever, which is awesome and means we'll be able to do more complicated fun things. I'm excited and nervous for next week, but that probably won't really go away! It'll just keep me on my toes :)
Other than school that we've moved houses, and now instead of our little bungalow with a pool we have on old castley house, thats kinda run down in an awesome old temple kind of way. There are three floors and we got the top! A room and a patio with an awesome view... of the lightening storms... eep! haha but at least we aren't the tallest thing around so i'm not too worried :) We have tea parties and cake and watch the clouds roll by and laugh.. yep life is good. And Nyepi is in two days! Which is indonesian new year, the biggest celebration of a year chock full of celebrations so it should be a spectacle! So everyone is making these huuge statues right now called Ogo Ogo's, which can be a variety of scary animals, creatures and spirits (all very scary looking) and then tomorrow night they'll parade them around the streets like giant puppets, make tons of noise, yell and scream, and scare all the demons away. Then the next day is a day of silence and meditation where the spirits and demons are roaming the streets and you have to hide in your home. Airports, streets and whole cities shut down for the day and there are spiritual police (wearing checker clothe so the demons can't see them) who patrol the streets so no one leaves their home.
.... pretty awesome!!!
Tomorrow we're off to the holy water spring and were invited to a friend's family celebration, so it should be a beautiful weekend.
LOVE YOU ALL!!! :)
