we call it Track & Field day in Canada, but it’s the same ’round the world: kids outside running around in somewhat controlled chaos.

since it’s a special event, i was given the opportunity to go out to Nakatindi community school and help. i knew Janice had a couple other volunteers trailing her at the clinic, so i jumped at the chance for a change of scenery. and i’m really really* glad i went.

this morning made up for every second i felt in the way or unnecessary at the clinic. you really can’t help but feel useful when working with kids. especially kids that don’t have any parents. especially young girls living in a culture that believes it is a waste of time to educate females. not one of these kids could ever complain of getting too much attention. and another “muzungu” added to the pile would always be more positive than negative.

the first half of the morning was spent playing games like Duck, Duck, Goose and doing the Hokey Pokey and running leapfrog relay races. i was “goosed” once and had to chase a small girl in a burgundy parka with fake fur trim around an enormous circle. she won the spot. later, a tiny boy tried to leapfrog over my back. i nearly fell over laughing. the above photo is obviously from the Three-Legged races. it was a mess! but so fun.

after the games, the real races started. the older kids had measured a proper track around the edges of the dusty sand field — complete with chalk and ash dividing lines. boys and girls ran 800m, 1000m, 1600m, and relays. the top four finishers were taken quickly to the sidelines where their name and school house were noted in exercise books. it seemed a huge honor to do well in the races.

the very small children couldn’t participate in the races, so we organized other games and gave them balloons. looking across the schoolyard, it was a swirling commotion of legs and arms, with colourful spots of balloons attempting to escape into the wind and being fervently chased down. one boy had ingeniously tied his large yellow balloon to the belt loop in his pants. it bounced along behind him as he rolled a truck tire taller than his waist across the yard.

three hours later, we were all dusty, thirsty, and smiling. the volunteers left just as mugs of some sort of oatmeal lunch were being served. we went home to egg salad and club sandwiches.

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*one side effect of living with a bunch of Brits is that i’m starting to say “reeelly” instead of “rilly”.

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