Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Kids in Context

Things our kids probably wouldn't say or do if we still lived in small town Canada:

- When playing 'house' with the dollies or putting on a puppet show there is almost always an episode of the power or water shutting off.

-When daughter #1 saw the olympic torch for the first time she asked if they were burning flags.

-Upon witnessing one of the frequent protests marching by our house daughter #2 asked why they weren't throwing candy.

- It rained.  Daughter #2 was so excited and started frolicking on the street and shouting "It's raining, it's raining, IT'S RAINING!!!"  Followed closely by "AHHHHH!!!  It's getting in my eyes!!!"

- Daughter #1 is regularly praying for the situations in Syria and South Sudan.

- When on our way to visit a new friend some of their first questions are, "Do they have an elevator?" and "Do they speak English or a different kind of English?"

- When singing Happy Birthday to anyone they insist on singing it in English, Arabic and Korean.

- After being  given a face cloth as a gift from a nearby store keeper, Daughter #3 proceeded to lay said face cloth gently down in the elevator and wordlessly kneel on top of her new 'prayer mat'.

- All three girls are experts at flagging down taxis

- Daughter #1 can confidently cross 3-4 lanes of busy traffic without a break in conversation.

-Daughter #2 can be found carrying around dog and cat treats just in case she comes across 'familiar' stray dogs and cats.

- Daughter #1 has asked to carry small toys around with her to give out to the street kids we come across daily.

- Everyone knows how to get to the flashlights in the dark.

- Daughter #1 no longer likes eating meat after repeatedly seeing animals herded in the street and then later hanging lifeless outside the butcher shop.

- Daughter #2 was flabbergasted upon seeing a water fountain at the Canadian Embassy.

- Daughter #2 was equally flabbergasted the one time our taxi driver stopped to get gas..."What is he DOING?!?!?"  Apparently she does not remember the gas station.

- When stuck in traffic the girls keep themselves busy by counting goats, sheep, donkey carts, horses, tuk tuks, stray cats, and 'Rapunzel towers'.

- The girls are quite comfortable squeezing five or six people in the back seat of a car however they are inept at figuring out how to do up a seat belt on the off chance there is one available.