Johnny, Whoops!

One of the biggest challenges of teaching in the slums is the language barrier. Without consistent, formalized schooling, most slum kids don't learn English as well as other children in India. I wish I could interact with the kiddos in my classroom as freely as I’m used to! It’s getting easier though, and it pushes me to be extremely expressive. It actually brings out exactly why I love kids - their willingness to connect with anyone who brings silliness and care – things that transcend language.

Here is one such moment!

I played this camp game countless times as a child and often whip it out when I’m around kids. My class in Kalwa picked up the game in a second. I had one of those moments with a head tilt and smile, where I thought just how small the world is. Kids from Shaver’s Creek, PA to the Kalwa slum in India go just as bonkers figuring out the same, silly riddle. Games like this slip past that pesky gate of language into the universal joy of kids – something I hope to never lose.