welcome to the neighborhood Frank!

Question:  What do you do, when out of nowhere 30 kids just show up on your somewhat small front porch? 

Well this was the question running through my mind about a week ago when, one minute I was alone reading and the next was surrounded by hundreds of kids (really it was only like 30 but as all of you know I am dramatic and a chronic overexaggerater).  But seriously I am not kidding.  The kids, who ranged in age from 2 to 14 years old, all from the neighborhood in which I am living, just showed up to visit me. It was fantastic!

We had a very nice visit.  I introduced myself to them and they did the same for me.  They then sang some Mozambiquan songs and did some dancing.  I of course then was forced to stand up and sing and dance to Bad Romance…but who am I kidding no one has to force me to do some Gaga!  All the kids then did it with me as they know it as well.  It was brilliant.  Then, prompted by the kids, I started to do a little English lesson….which they all seemed to totally enjoy. 

And so it seems that now I have 30 new little and very loud and energetic friends.  They have all or almost all of them, come over every other day or so, to hang out with me.  I let them decide what we do… they are very into learning English, so we do that often.  We also spend time singing and dancing and playing games.  Their favorite games seem to be “duck, duck, goose and “red light green light” (which totally brings me back to summer time on Park Ave in Downers Grove). 

I have no idea if their visits will slowly stop, my guess is, for some yeah and others no.  But nonetheless I have very much enjoyed hanging out with them.  They have helped me greatly in integrating into the neighborhood, which is imperative to my work here.

And now back to the original question “What do you do, when out of nowhere 30 kids just show up on your somewhat small front porch?”    

Smile. Breathe.  Be thankful for the beautiful openness and curiosity of children.  And then begin to speak and listen and share and sing and dance and play and laugh.