One of my favorite things recently was the time I got to take some of my students around London and Paris. They literally chased after me at times, as I wound them through the buzz and hub of the cities and their transit systems. And, from what I understood during and after the trip, they totally loved it. As did I.
In all the photos, of course, my friend and I looked like two of the kids on the trip, instead of the adult chaperones, but that was okay – it wasn’t like we acted much differently than the kids, anyway. 😛 Sure, we were responsible and all, but also totally silly and fun like kids. And, while I loved getting to be with a group of people who could be fun and goofy with me, that wasn’t the best part.
What I loved most was what I was able to give to the kids, what Inwas able to share with them, impart to them.
Everywhere we went, I kept buying them snacks of all sorts (all local favorites, of course). I was sure to take them to do the silly things you don’t usually get to do on an organized travel tour (like experiencing a grocery store, taking time to sit and enjoy street music, discreetly convincing a pub to let you use their bathroom without having bought anything, finding your favorite books for half the price and in the language you’re learning – things like that, and much more). I literally spread joy and enhanced people’s world views just by sharing my own knowledge and experiences with them.
Ever since then, I have wanted to do more and more of that. Sure, I get to do it every time someone visits me, wherever I happen to be at the time, but it just isn’t the same as that trip… perhaps discovering the difference will lead me to a way to make it happen on a consistent basis… That would be awesome. 😀
Post-a-day 2017
hannah ananas 