At Dago, my hosts suggested I go to the orphanage around 2pm to do something with local kids. As per African Standard Time, they sent me at 4:30pm. When I arrived, there were about 14 children waiting for me.
By 6pm, there were 42 kids... and growing.
Apparently they had heard a mzungu was around and kept trickling in, even as we left the building.
My Dago host, Mr. Odoyo, suggested I make crafts with the kids like the other volunteers have done in the past, but I insisted on using books somehow (even though I had no clear plan except winging it SLP-style!). Mr. Odoyo also said not to go alone to see the kids, because "they are too much to handle without help." Susan came with me, and I'm so glad she did because she helped with translating back and forth between Luo and English whenever we didn't understand each others' accents.
They started off like the kids I came across last year, pushing & shoving, loud & rowdy, and extremely eager to touch/grab any part of the mzungu and her belongings. But after my experience at Kamiak High School, I gained some guts and disciplining strategies (thanks to some great special education teachers there!!). So even as the crowd swelled, I actually had control of the room using my ONE book, which held everyone captivated because... well it's a book. Something new.
(I took this video after I released the book.
They were all fighting over The Three Little Pigs until they noticed I was recording.
This is also a glimpse at how the kids were before I got stern, and before the crowed tripled in size.)
They were all fighting over The Three Little Pigs until they noticed I was recording.
This is also a glimpse at how the kids were before I got stern, and before the crowed tripled in size.)
We went through a couple books that night. I kneeled on the table and read a page or two for them at a time, then asked a comprehension question. They were very simple picture books, and my questions were extremely basic (e.g., "What is the boy doing?"). I also found a pack of math flashcards and did that with them as well (I know, once a nerd, always a nerd. Everything's gotta be educational with me! But they apparently enjoyed it!).The kids initially all raised their hands and shouted "Me! Me! Me! Me!" even though none of them knew the answer or even understood the question. They just wanted the stickers I was giving as rewards. I didn't want to run out of stickers before I got to Sirua Aulo Academy (where I was headed the next day), so I changed the reward to getting their picture taken. At this point, Susan sat behind me and was in control of my camera.
These boys each earned their picture taken several times, and eventually started posing for them in their own ways. So cute.
Afterward, I taught them Simon Says, which took a while with lots of examples and Susan translating for me. But when they cottoned on finally, I let an older student take over and I was able to sit back, enjoy the game, and rest my voice.
<--"Simon says, 'Stick your tongue out!'" 
"Simon says, 'Pat your head and rub your tummy!'" -->
By dinner time, we had to stop. Mrs. Odoyo, who entered during the last hour, told the children to sing something for their guest. Here's what they came up with:
