Today I met a bus load of Americans. So the original plan was to go to this apparently amazing place for a picnic, where there have a swimming pool, slides, swings, nice food etc etc. but unfortunately they've closed for the winter. So we decided to bring the picnic here. Sort of.
The kids had just the morning in school, apart from those in wheelchairs, and those who find it the hardest to walk. They all came back at about 2ish, and the American volunteers were supposed to arrive at 1 and have everything set up by the time the kids got home from school, but they eventually arrived at around 3ish, with bags of mysterious items which turned out to be toys, games, crafts, and food. Oh, and presents for the kids - a bag of goodies for each and every child. Very sweet!!
So when they arrived, we all sat down in the "dinning" hall and introduced ourselves. After Brian the Irish volunteer introduced himself, everyone seemed to think I was Irish too for some wierd reason... We (the kids and me and Brian) then had momos (YUM!!!!) whilst the group took a tour round DNC. They then showed us into the physiotherapy room (a big hall with some equipment for physio, and some games) where they separated everyone into 3 groups. The 3 groups then did different activities, but it all merged into whatever the kids wanted to do. There was jigsaws, drawing, colouring, reading, tennis, football, bubbles (a big favourite!!), and after an hour or so, we were treated to a puppet show!! The kids loved it!! It was performed by 3 of the kids themselves - the best at reading English - and was about a girl called Sima, and a big brown bear. The kids really enjoyed it, especially as they knew the voices acting out the puppets.
After that, we gathered again in the dining room and had some more momos and other snacky food, and the American group handed out the bags to each of the kids. They loved going through the bags, and showing me each and every little thing they got, which reminded me of me as a child opening my stocking on Christmas Day with my brothers, then again with my parents.
So after a while, the group said their goodbyes, and left on the bus they came. Then everything went back to normal. Kinda of. All the children had received one of those sticky hand things on a sticky string (all make out of some type of rubbery thing). I had to keep dodging these as they went flying across the room!!
All the children were super tired, so an early bed for all of us!! (I like early bed times... Kind of a bad sign I'm thinking...)