Friday, August 21, 2009

Ti Moun Yo

This morning the new sizyem class arrived for their three day orientation. Sizyem is about 7th grade, and there are almost 60 of them. Last week the school administrators were interviewing the kids and parents of the kids who qualified for the school based on their test scores in order to choose the new class. This is a huge decision that no one took lightly. They know that inviting a child into this community will change the course of his or her life, and they also know that they need to choose the right child who will fit into this community and contribute positively to it. My favorite story from the interviews was of a little boy who was asked to describe his parents’ work. He was a little shy and embarrassed because though his parents work – his mom sells things on a street corner, and his dad pushes wheelbarrows – he seemed to be afraid that this work wasn’t good enough to talk about. The interviewer asked him what he does around the house to help, and he became animated as he described all the things he does to help with cleaning and caring for younger siblings, and when asked if he likes all that work, he replied with a shrug and explained “ki moun pa travay pa manje.” If you don’t work, you don’t eat. That is the kind of kid who will fit in at this school.

After the list was narrowed down, the lucky 58, appeared at school this morning with their parents. We weren’t responsible for any of their activities at all, which was kind nice to watch other people interact with them, and to just enjoy their cuteness from afar. I loved that the first thing they did this morning was clean. I looked out from my own work cleaning some glass doors, and there was a little army of 11 year olds sweeping the campus. They met some of their teachers and I heard lots of singing at various points in the day. Then tonight they appeared out on the basketball court for one of the greatest camp-style-sing-a-longs I’ve ever heard. I understood none of it, but there was clapping, singing, call and response, dancing, stomping, and tons of laughing. I loved watching one of the junior staff – herself just two years out of high school – leading the fun, and then about died laughing as James, an almost 7 foot tall member of the security staff, led the 11 year olds in a ridiculous dance. My only concern is that all of these little boys look so similar: they’re all skinny, and have really short hair, and huge, gorgeous eyes, and beautiful smiles! I can’t wait to meet more kids.

1 comment:

Meg said...

PICTURES!!!! We need PICTURES!