Here we are in our final day at Sodere. I didn't realize we had internet access until yesterday or I would have added some entries. It has been a mostly enjoyable experience. There are aspects that can be quite overwhelming. We are used to speaking English to 4 other adults in Gesses. Our children are used to speaking to 2 other children and 2 toddlers.
The first comment our children made when we arrived in Sodere was: we didn't know there would be so many people. Kalia and Joel were in the kids program together and were somewhat apprehensive. After the first evening, the most challenging thing they found was the screaming and yelling that they were "required" to do. You don't scream in Gesses. If you do, people will come running because it means that there is either a snake or an accident.
One of the areas that Kalia struggles with the most is being pointed out in a group. So if someone says, "Kalia you need to yell louder" she wilts. In the end, I decided to talk to one of the leaders of the group. They come out especially from the States and don't realize the different places we come from. I think after that they put less "pressure" on the kids and Kalia thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the program.
(I am not criticizing the teams that come out but rather highlighting the challenge it is for some downcountry kids to suddenly be placed into highly organized events).
Joel had a blast ... he is a very social kid ... and made friends with a bunch of other boys (several of them being Korean boys that he got to know at Bingham Academy in September).
Ariana is a very confident kid (in our home) and loves to serve but she was not interested in the age 2-5 kids program. I was amazed at how confident many of the children were in the group. Some of it is exposure but a lot of it is personality. So in the end, Rolf and I tag teamed so that each of us had the opportunity to be part of a session or two.
I, on the other hand, enjoy the opportunity to catch up with other missionary women (especially since some of them I only see once a year or less!)
I think that we may have touched on the subject of kids not blending into new social situations when we saw you last. I find the same thing to a different extent with our kids... Being homeschooled, they are not conditioned to fit into a large, structured group, but they thrive in relational, interactive ones.
ReplyDeleteBreak's over. I'll say more later.