Quite often I have an escort on the last leg of my walk home. The neighbor kids think it's fun to greet me, hold my hands, and follow me to my gate. They're cute, so usually that's fun. But sometimes it seems excessive because we don't really know each other, especially if they ask themselves in or tease our dogs.
So this day I decided on a consolation prize to keep my sense of humor: a photo of the parade! That's the challenge with cultural differences. When behaviors clash with one's sense of appropriate, you tell yourself that there are lots of ways to do things and yours isn't the "right" way and it's fun to try new things. And you laugh:)
Wednesday I taught some of my students how to tie dye. Yesterday I got a WhatsApp photo of a gallivanting hippie. On the normal school day this student is respectful, focused, and calm... But when she puts on her tie dye... Oh dear. Earlier in the semester I got a photo of another student. She'd turned into a mermaid! Finally, a treasured gift, my hippie student drew this picture of the two of us. 💗 The drawing skills! The capturing of our appearances and personalities! The mermaid appreciation!! My work is complete.
