This afternoon we drove a few minuites to a poverty stricken area, Anil, where we played with kids from a neighborhood that the school was involved with. The kids were so cute and sweet. It was nice to be able to put a smile on some little face, even though we couldn´t really speak to them. The head of the organization of the kids in the area took me to her house, to show Geraldo and I their recycling programs for composting and sending in used soda bottles. The SESC students who we went with taught the kids how to play games like duck-duck goose and then they taught them why it is important to throw away trash, instead of leaving it on the streets. The kids were so friendly and never stopped talking, even though there was a bit of a lack of communication between us. Some of the students with us would be translators and taught the kids to repeat English phrases to us. One little girl knew how to say `what´s your name´ from a talking doll that she had. It was hard to get back into the bus with kids pulling at your legs and arms. All of the Americans got a numerous amount of hugs when we had to leave. We all wished that we dould have spent more time with them.
--Reta