Playtime

Playtime happens every day from 4:45-5:45. It is “cooler” in the afternoons and gives the children a chance to just be the little balls of energy they are. But for reals though. There are times I don’t feel like I can pull more energy from my body but when the kids come up to you, energy just kind of appears. I personally think we steal some of theirs, but it’s cool because it ends up being a win win situation for everyone. Really how do you say no to these faces.

 There are days you are chasing kids around playing some weird rendition of Hide and Go seek, days you watch the Cricket matches (which the boys take very seriously), days where you are the customer at the hair salon, days where you race numerous kids around the playground and in quick linear dashes, days you play badminton, days you push swings, days you sit and talk with the kids, etc. The only thing that is really consistent about playtime is that you will ALWAYS be the loser of whatever is being played. Even if it is a game that doesn’t require a winner and a loser. A.L.W.A.Y.S. If you want a steady stream of playmates you only need your iPad. You will have kids lined up to play with you as far as the eye can see. Among their favorites games to play are “Hants” (Ant Smasher) and Hanry Birds (Angry Birds).

One of my favorite things about playtime is seeing all the kid’s different personalities—there are many and they are strong! One of the BYU nurses had some Japanese heritage in her, and some of the kids came up to her at playtime and bluntly declared “Your name is China face!”. But then some of the other children would simply call her “Japan,” A few days into the session the kids ran up to her and said, “You Japan. Japan people eat Tamil children”. I don’t know where they get this stuff but they are funny little things.

This little one, Valinkani, is totally mischievous. She has a huge heart as well as a huge desire to make everyone laugh. I was in a class with her a few weeks ago where one of the teachers asked all the boys to come with him. Of course she snuck out with the boys and all the other children were going crazy laughing at her.

There are others kids that are obviously the "cool kids.”

As well as the total marshmallow hearted.

 And this one, Seengetha. She literally cried the entire first week of school because she is in UKG (which is equivalent to kindergarten) and was extremely scared and homesick. But look at her now. She is one goofily happy little girl. Her English is progressing a ton too.

 They all melt my heart daily.