"Simon Says...Daba Says"

Waking up this morning I found myself getting excited, because today was the first day we were actually going to do activities with the children at the school of the Senegal YMCA. We of course made our introductions this past Monday when we walked room to room and told the children, in French our American name and in English our Senegalese name, seems a little backwards perhaps, nonetheless they were thrilled. 

It's such an amazing feeling to know that I get to wake up every morning and work with kids within our branch, when at home, however this feeling of being able to actually spend time and energy with kids that don't speak the same language but has just as much curiosity and happiness as any other child, gives me chills. There are multiple thoughts racing through my head, what will they think of us, how will they react, will we be able to communicate, will they think we're boring, can we make them as happy as they make us, and most importantly, will they have fun?  

When arriving we organized the string bags and placed school supply donations in them, for every class room that the school has. We got in pairs and picked a class room to give a bag to the teacher, for the class, and to show them how to make a necklace. Andre and I were the first ones done with the necklace, the kids in our class were great and caught on quickly just by non-verbal communication. When Andre and I were done, I realized that none of the other classrooms were done, especially since we were the third duo to go in a classroom. I felt bad at first, I over analyzed it and thought we should have spent more time with them, but then I turn around and the teacher went right back to teaching, he picked up where he left off. I appreciated this more than anything, the teacher allowed us to interrupt the educational influence he was providing, to make necklaces, I couldn't be more appreciative.  

Andre and I start throwing the football, then the siren goes off, it's break/fun time! The kids start running towards us, it's like they were waiting for this day just as I had. I made a lot of hand gestures to have some sort of communication and it worked, we understood each other, we didn't have to talk. We all ran to the recess area, all dirt, which means my calfs are burning from the running around. This is where I started to throw the football with the kids, then jump rope, then the colorful parachute came out and every kid wanted their hands on it, then we got into smaller groups and each one of us played games. I turned "Simon says" into "Daba says" (my Senegalese name), the kids loved it, we danced, laughed, learned, exercised, jumped, ran, anything I could think of we did it, I even pretended I needed a nap and they laid on the dirt with me.

 

It was time for us to go, I have to admit an hour of playing with kids and running around with them is exhausting, I was so tired, but I was equally if not more sad that is was over, for now. I made hand shakes with kids when leaving, they all wanted something specific from me, either a hug, hand shake, high five, or a fist pump they felt like they were the only ones that had that special thing from me, that was important.  

 

I can write all night about the feeling I had today from 11:05am-12:10pm, but it wouldn't do the feeling justice. Think of a time when you were your happiest, when you smiled or laughed so long your cheeks hurt, now multiple that by infinity, that still wouldn't even come close to the feeling I had for that one hour and five minutes. I'm grateful for, this experience, the people I have met thus far, and for the impact this community has made on me, I only hope to be able to make the same in return.  

Merci et bonne nuit,
Danielle "Daba"