I’ve been a
cheerleader, princess, Wendy Moira Angela Darling, a pirate, grandma, and even
a unicorn. While I’m not an Oregon Beavers’ fan, something about the orange and
black in October is almost comforting. It’s the time for spookiness, corn mazes,
candy corn, dress-ups and carving pumpkins. Most TV shows will feature at least
one Halloween themed episode throughout their seasons to capitalize on
Americans’ love of the holiday.
One of the objectives
for Peace Corps Volunteers around the world is to share American culture with
the culture we are living in. Myself and a couple other volunteers spent time
this summer helping promote English to 5-15 year olds at a nearby orphanage/abandoned
children’s home. One night a couple of us decided it would be fun to do a
monthly activity out there to help promote English in a fun environment while
strengthening relationships. September was full of holidays, trainings and
crazy schedules, so we decided to start in October.
The original plan was
to have it Halloween themed. Not spooky or scary, but a glimpse into our
culture. We were going to have a jack-o-lantern looking piñata, read a book
about pumpkins, make animal masks, have a toilet paper mummy wrap race, and
watch “Hokus Pokus.” The pinata was made, the book set aside, and toilet paper
bought yesterday when we called to confirm that the program was still okay.
One of the women who
runs the orphanage/abandoned home brought our awareness to something we hadn’t
even realized with her concern about a Halloween themed activity. It wasn’t for
the pagan traditions that often hinder religious organizations from doing
something, but rather the jack-o-lantern. Ethiopia is currently in a famine.
8.2 million people are currently being affected due to drought, though the
number continues to raise. She informed us that they didn’t want to encourage
playing with and wasting food in a country dealing with famine. Her experience
in Chad where she attempted to do an art project with macaroni and spaghetti
noodles (something many kindergarteners do in the States) expanded her
worldview to make sure that mixed messages weren’t being sent.
So, last night the
pumpkin piñata got a brown paper fringe and glitter glue make over. The book
was changed out for “The Cat in the Hat.” Toilet paper would just remain toilet
paper. We’d bring the colorful paper and crayons, but try to think of something
else to use them for.
Kelsey and I arrived
at Grace Village around 2 and by 2:15 we had 9 kids ready for fun. We played
duck-duck-goose, which is their favorite, and something to see if more kids
would come. Afterwards Kelsey DJ-ed it up as we played Music Freeze. When the
music was on, everyone had to dance. When it stopped you had to freeze.
Afterwards they all sat in chairs around the room for “The Cat in the Hat.”
Before reading we defined real and fake. Throughout the reading, the kids had
to see what was real and fake, what has possible and impossible in our world.
The rain on the cold day was very understandable. The Cat in the Hat balancing
objects while hopping on a ball wasn’t. Afterwards, I brought out the colorful
paper and they had to draw fake animals. One boy drew a 6 colored dog wearing
glasses eating injera and shiro with hands like a human. Another girl drew a
yellow horse up on stage singing into a microphone. Some drew realistic animals
but added two suns and two moons into the sky.
Afterwards we did some
relay races and then brought out the piñata. Using a scarf I blindfolded the
students as Kelsey, bravely held the piñata. All kids were given three whacks
to attempt to break it. Everyone had two turns before one girl stabbed it,
finally breaking it apart.
On the way back to my
house for the night, Kelsey and I couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t anything
like we had planned. The piñata didn’t break. The movie was left out. Our games
were changed. Fewer kids were there. But it was so much fun. It was fabulous to
see kids aged 4-15 working together in a relay race and trying to get the
piñata to break. While creative thinking isn’t a popular skill, it was
reassuring to see kids trying new things with colors and reality on their
pictures. They also loved speaking English and could understand more than many
of our 9th and 10th grade students this year.
Halloween isn’t for
another week. Back home, this would be when we’d pick out our pumpkins so we
can carve them on Mom’s birthday. Instead, I’m putting on sunscreen in the
afternoons and enjoying a cool breeze. It’s different, but still a lot of fun.
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