A Field Trip, Three Random Acts of Kindness and the Chili that wouldn’t end…

Yesterday (Tuesday) was my 2nd annual field trip with the local orphanage. We took 10 kids (and will be taking another 10 next week) to a larger, nearby city to see the local zoo and Dolphin Show. It was good fun.

We started the day with a minivan ride to the Zoo. Unfortunately it was a hot morning and one of the little guys spent most of the 45 minutes throwing up on a nurse. Aside from that, the kids were angels – they always are shockingly well behaved for a pack of 3-4 year olds.

We got to the zoo and it was fun to watch the kids run up to an exhibit (aka chain link fence ‘habitat’) and launch into questions.

Them: ‘What is that?’
Me: ‘A camel.’
Them: ‘Is it a horse?’
Me: ‘No, it is a camel.’
Them: ‘What is wrong with that horse’s back?’
Me: ‘It is a camel that’s how camels are.’
Them: ‘Hey, what’s that? [pointing to a peacock and running off].’

So, I am not sure how much education they got out of the whole deal, but at least they saw something new and were asking questions. I was able to deem the Zoo trip a success when we had covered the required zoo checklist (you know - lions, tiger, and bears).

On our way out, one of the trinket venders stopped us and asked if the children were from a home; we said yes and he gave each of them a small blowup beach ball. As we walked out of the park, he started singing a famous children’s song and like out of a movie, the kids took the queue. We sang our way to lunch, which was a hunk of cheese, two slices of bread, and a cucumber. They seemed to like it and we were all happy to get in some shade and get some water.

Lunch time gave way to the Dolphin show. The kids seemed sufficiently dazzled and clapped like mad when the dolphins made the hoop jumps. I don’t know if they will remember it, but it was fun to see them so excited.

Outside the show, a family of German tourists came over to the kids and started giving them little bits of candy. The mother had that look of ‘I wish I could do more’ on her face and we chatted about the home and what kind of work we have been doing for the children. I recognized her reaction from my first experience with the kids – pity, anger, etc… A reaction you have to get over if you really want to do any good at all.

The last bit of kindness was the most interesting. Our walk back to the car took us past a row of junk venders. And our time was mostly spent keeping the kids from grabbing the key chains, refrigerator magnets and cheap stuffed animals off the tables. Just as we got past it all, a baba (grandmother type figure) came and told us that she was an orphan too. She made sure each of the kids got a souvenir and sent us on our way.

All in all, a very good day.

The never ending Chili…

I made a giant batch of chili on Sunday. I guess an attempt at some ‘comfort’ food for the week – strange since I never liked chili until I got here.

I have now eaten chili four times in the last three days. Believe me, this is too much chili. I predict the batch to be finished by Friday and that I will never cook that much of anything again.

Hope all is well, full of kindness from strangers, and chili free,

Mark

PS: Looks like I have a place to live in Chicago – a big hurdle down and one step closer to the land of the free.

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