Throughout the past 1½ year I have learned a lot from the
kids I live with. I have learned that:
-Patience is WAY MORE than a virtue
-That what you don’t know TYPICALLY won’t kill you (like
what you are eating or whether or not a child washed their hands before rubbing
them all over your face)
- Sharing suckers/gum/and EVERYTHING ELSE edible (and not)
is just what good friends do
-Michael Jackson, Salena, and Celine Dion music will NEVER
grow old
-And most of all, one man’s trash IS ALWAYS another man’s
(or little kid’s) treasure
Now, although I have learned a lot from my kiddos, they have
also posed just as many, if not more, questions for me to ponder. Being
primarily raised by a couple of Americans and sharing their home with countless
Americans throughout the year, they have come up with some rather valid
questions about us. And so today, I thought I would share a few of my all time
favorite questions our kids have about America and the people that live there.
I am not going to tell you who asked them but I would love to hear some of your
responses!
Feel free to laugh and contemplate!
I do both everyday!
Here we go:
1.
Why do American women shave their legs but not
their arms?
2.
Why do Americans cry so much when they are here?
3.
Why do Americans eat so much all the time?
4.
Why do Americans yawn all day long?
5.
Why do Americans love their dogs so much?
6.
Do all Americans own a pair of Chacos?
7.
Why do Americans say that they are “starving”
when they really aren’t?
8.
Why do Americans like their showers hot but their rooms cold?
9.
Do all Americans own an iPhone?
10. Why
do Americans always smile in their photos?
Anyone have answers?
~Jillian
Jillian,
ReplyDeleteI love this post, and I've often wondered what perception we Americans leave with the children when we visit. I loved their questions....valid ones, too.
My answers (but only mine)because I'm an individual and don't represent every American! :)
1. Some American women do shave their arms, but not this one. I only shave my legs because I'd look like a gorilla if I didn't. The hair on my arms is light and barely shows, but on my legs -- oh, my!
2. American cry so much when visiting because our hearts ache when we so many difficult things in life. I cried because I don't like seeing little children without safe homes and mommies and daddies to hug and hold them. I cried when I saw that food is so hard to get. Sad things make us cry.
3. Americans don't realize how much we eat. We've gotten spoiled. We don't mean to be like this, and we're trying harder to eat healthier and to share more.
4. We yawn beause of two things: 1) We're tired 2) We're not used to the heat in Haiti and that makes us feel sluggish and tired. (I don't think I yawn much, but will pay attention to this now that it's been mentioned! LOL)
5. Americans love their dogs because they are such great friends to us. Dogs are kind and gentle and fun and they love us all of the time, so we love them right back -- even more!
6. No, all American don't own a pair of Chacos. I don't even know what they are. I will google as soon as I finish this post. :)
7. American don't use the word "starving" correctly. Thanks so much for pointing that out. When we say we are "starving" we mean we are very hungry. Thanks for pointing that out.
8. Personally, I love a hot shower because it's like a steam bath -- cleansing of toxins (poisons). And, it relaxes tired, sore muscles. It's easier to sleep in a cold room than when you're hot a sweaty, although I never slept as good as when I was in Haiti -- even with Mr. Rooster crowing every morning right by my window! LOL
9. Nope. All Americans do NOT own an iPhone. I don't have one. Most of my friends don't have one. Several of my kids don't have one.
10. Ahh...I love this one! I think we smile in our photos for the same reason YOU smile when we take your pictures. We're happy! Most often when we're taking pictures we're with our family and friends and that makes our hearts happy. Besides, who wants to cry in a picture? I want to be remembered with a smile on my face!
This was a great fun -- and quite introspective!
I'd love to see more posts like this!
Love to you all,
Clara