As we were sitting on the boat preparing to leave the village, our students struck up a very simple (in Portuguese!) and friendly conversation with some of the local little girls who were standing on the pier. And this is when one of my favorite moments of the trip occurred...
Our students decided that they wanted to give a little gift to the girls as well as to the children that that they just had seen in the village playing and cutting coconuts. Our fun students had a stash of "silly bands" with them that were just perfect for the occasion.
For those of you (like me), who do not have children to inform you of the latest trends, silly bands are rubber band-like bracelets which come in a huge variety of shapes (Disney characters, animals, etc.). They are special because they never lose their shape. Our students gave them to the girls and then ran back into the village to share them with the other children. Then more children came out and even a few adults, including the steward of the church who had been so nice to us. It was a touching scene of encounter and exchange and I was very, very proud of our girls for reaching out and making a simple but beautiful human connection.
Our students decided that they wanted to give a little gift to the girls as well as to the children that that they just had seen in the village playing and cutting coconuts. Our fun students had a stash of "silly bands" with them that were just perfect for the occasion.
For those of you (like me), who do not have children to inform you of the latest trends, silly bands are rubber band-like bracelets which come in a huge variety of shapes (Disney characters, animals, etc.). They are special because they never lose their shape. Our students gave them to the girls and then ran back into the village to share them with the other children. Then more children came out and even a few adults, including the steward of the church who had been so nice to us. It was a touching scene of encounter and exchange and I was very, very proud of our girls for reaching out and making a simple but beautiful human connection.
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