My New Best Friends!!!

This afternoon, after I completed some work, I went on a little walk around town. All of a sudden, I heard some kids yelling at me, which completely took me by surprise. I looked around the corner of a half-constructed building, saw these beautiful kids, gave them a friendly hello, and that was that!!! They all ran up to me and swarmed me with hugs and kisses. They all wanted to talk to me and hold my hand. Wow! Suzahn, Dorico, and the crew all became my first best friends in Malawi. After some friendly conversation, the kids said they had something to show me...I followed them around the corner of the building, and saw the court, and they asked me if I wanted to play net-ball (their version of basketball). Of course I wanted to play!!! For the next hour, we all played net-ball together, and it was sooooooooooo much fun! The basketball goal (or net goal) consisted of a long bamboo pole stuck into the ground, with a bamboo hoop tied to the top of the pole. It was an absolute blast, and I learned so much about the children here from our short game. They did not split up into teams so there is never a "loser" in the game...everyone is always a winner!!! The kids make sure that everyone playing gets a pass and gets the chance to shoot, and when someone makes a "net"...they all go crazy--jumping up and down, cheering, chanting, and hugging each other endlessly! What beautiful, truly happy, and easy-t0-please children!!! This is only the first of many lessons to learn while in Africa...one thing I know for sure is this: In Africa, there is so much more to learn than to teach...

I love these kids, and I have a feeling I will be playing net-ball every Saturday I have the chance.