I was trying to figure out what to write and had something happen on Thursday that made me think I would write a couple stories about the kids here. --- With Marcel and I dating, many of them see us together at dinner or when we spend time in the evenings, but are not really sure what to make of the time we spend together. I did not realize how confusing the idea of 'dating' was to the little three and four year olds until I had one child approach me one day at lunch.
"Miss Elizabeth, where is your brother?"
"My brother? Well, he lives very far away in Ohio, in America. He lives with my mom - actually I have two brothers. Do you have brothers?"
"I have Lucy, she's my sister."
At that point, the conversation changed and the subject was dropped - the conversation continued later at dinner.
"Miss Elizabeth, where is your dad?"
"My dad, well Emily -- why do you want to know?" -- Was not sure what to say that did not go into a conversation about death, seeing as my dad died about 4 years ago. I was really confused for a minute, then it clicked.
"Emily, do you mean Marcel?"
"Yeah."
"Emily, Marcel is my friend, we are good friends."
She was good with that answer, and I just started laughing. I heard another story later from a mom that her son was watching myself and Marcel walking on the dock on evening when he said that he thought Marcel was a good dad. She tried to tell him that we were 'dating', but was not exactly sure how to explain it.
On Thursday, I had a fun conversation with the grade 1 and 2 students I was picking up for Gym class.
"Miss Elizabeth, do like Marcel?"
"Yes, I like him, why do you ask?"
"Well, I see you together all the time and . . ."
"We are dating, he
is my boyrfriend."
"Ohhh." (You know those ohs, that imply so much more)
At this point another student pipes up with "I like she loves him!"
I did not really have to reply to that one because before I could, one of the other boys turns and in a really serious tone says
"You can't say that to a teacher!"
The rest of the conversation on the way to a field near the ship was about boyfriends and although not embrassing, was interesting with seven and eight year old girls.
The whole thing just makes me laugh. Being in a dating relationship is not something I try to hide from them and I would rather they asked questions and tried to understand. Life is so different here on the ship - even the kids know your 'private life.' :)
"Miss Elizabeth, where is your brother?"
"My brother? Well, he lives very far away in Ohio, in America. He lives with my mom - actually I have two brothers. Do you have brothers?"
"I have Lucy, she's my sister."
At that point, the conversation changed and the subject was dropped - the conversation continued later at dinner.
"Miss Elizabeth, where is your dad?"
"My dad, well Emily -- why do you want to know?" -- Was not sure what to say that did not go into a conversation about death, seeing as my dad died about 4 years ago. I was really confused for a minute, then it clicked.
"Emily, do you mean Marcel?"
"Yeah."
"Emily, Marcel is my friend, we are good friends."
She was good with that answer, and I just started laughing. I heard another story later from a mom that her son was watching myself and Marcel walking on the dock on evening when he said that he thought Marcel was a good dad. She tried to tell him that we were 'dating', but was not exactly sure how to explain it.
On Thursday, I had a fun conversation with the grade 1 and 2 students I was picking up for Gym class.
"Miss Elizabeth, do like Marcel?"
"Yes, I like him, why do you ask?"
"Well, I see you together all the time and . . ."
"We are dating, he
is my boyrfriend.""Ohhh." (You know those ohs, that imply so much more)
At this point another student pipes up with "I like she loves him!"
I did not really have to reply to that one because before I could, one of the other boys turns and in a really serious tone says
"You can't say that to a teacher!"
The rest of the conversation on the way to a field near the ship was about boyfriends and although not embrassing, was interesting with seven and eight year old girls.
The whole thing just makes me laugh. Being in a dating relationship is not something I try to hide from them and I would rather they asked questions and tried to understand. Life is so different here on the ship - even the kids know your 'private life.' :)
1 comment:
yeah picture the comments of little kids comming out of the mouths of everyone and you have the Philippines... nothing is off limits and they want to know everything :-)
Mom says you're headed to Germany for Christmas. That will be a change from Africa.
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