Kids Just Want To Have Fun

I am so happy to be back here on the island of Lesvos working with the refugees! It is more 'work' than I am used to, but I am truly joyful. I am meeting adorable women from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, and other countries.

In Tunisia, I have the freedom to come and go as I please to the day care centers. I don't have set hours in my neighborhood. Here at the Gateways2Life women and children's center, I am working Monday thru Friday from 10:00 to 3:00, plus setting-up and cleaning everything after we close.

The visitors who come to do their laundry are usually at the center for at least an hour and a half. Even if they only have one or two loads of laundry, they might have to wait for a washer or dryer to become available. Most don't mind waiting. Tea and cookies, activities, television, wifi, and smiling, cheerful faces; who would want to leave? Not me! 

Okay, I confess, by 3:30 in the afternoon I am ready to sit and rest, for the rest of the day!

That is Turkey in the distance. I am staying in a small apartment in a village by the sea.

The children occupy their time by watching TV and coloring, (often missing the paper and coloring on the tables). They drink tea with sugar and milk, and eat cookies. Hmmm, and then we wonder why they start to run around the room.

I have introduced them to new ways to make bracelets and necklaces, and a couple other crafts like the ones I do in Tunisia.

These pictures are from a day when I brought out some of my 'dress up' items. They had fun! And they looked so cute! The same people don't come everyday, so I will bring this out again next week and hopefully catch some different kids.

I bought some speakers; the music is louder and we can dance occasionally. We already had a good time playing musical chairs this week.

Chahloula will be in the center again next Thursday. Maybe she will do more than make balloon animals. Maybe...

 

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