thoughts on the kids and so on

The halfway point in this year of service is nearly upon us, so it seemed proper to do a bit more reflecting. On top of which, two Americans from Mennonite Mission Network have just visited this far flung unit and a lot of conversation about the project as a whole has taken place. So here I am, living in Bradford. Most of the time, that fact doesn't strike me as anything amazing--I've gotten used to it and formed my routines; it feels normal. Just the other day though, while I was walking to the local store, I was a bit overwhelmed by how many differences there are! So many terms and phrases, the whole way people talk and what they talk about--driving on the wrong side--the way houses are set up, thinking in pounds (there is no quarter equivalent--I occasionally give 20 pence pieces thinking that they are really 25 p--oops!), the demographics, the shops, tea, public transport, the way the government works. By the way, watching the Brits watch American politics is really interesting! But, like I said, for the most part, these things don't pop out at me. They slip by in the flow of life.
I'm more focused on the behaviour of the kids I work with on a regular basis--the ones that live in my neighbourhood, are in my class, and go to the after school clubs at which I work. As probably all of you who would read this know, I have never worked with kids before this year. Thus the learning curve has been steep indeed. How was I to know that I would become so personally involved? There are a few kids in particular, with really convoluted home structures that sometimes behave pretty well--are smart and creative, and other times just are terrors. I am so proud of them when they do well! but on the reverse, so down when they don't live up to their potential. If I were ever to become a teacher, I'm sure it would be necessary to not take the bad behaviour personally. Sigh... I had a chat with the two learning mentors at the primary school the other week (they work one on one with the kids with behavioural problems and home issues, and also run the breakfast club and arts club after school that I help out with regularly--I've gotten to know them pretty well). Many of the kids with whom I'm the closest meet with these two women at school--meaning they really do have some serious issues. These two women are doing some really good work, and it was good to talk with them about it. One thing they made clear was how important it is for them not to get their hopes too high for "fixing" these children. Rather, they need to celebrate all of the small things--even that one of their pupils didn't get expelled that year. What sobering goals! Before that chat, I had been despairing at the lack of effect that we seem to be making in our work here. I mean, what does having two extra adults care about them really do? Will they still get into crime like some of their older brothers? Will they become abusive boyfriends and fathers like they have been exposed to? The whole scope of this project is to make a small difference over the long run, and it wasn't until that conversation that I realized how worthy that is. This MVS stuff is really so far from the glamorous "saving the world" ideal. So much of it just seems to be about being a decent and caring person--trying to be aware of issues and doing what you can.
The other night, Matt and I gave a bit of a talk about what we're doing here to a church organization in a nearby, very white town. They wanted to know what is going on in multi-cultural Bradford. One woman asked us what we are enjoying--what we are going to take back. The question was a bit more than I could nicely answer at the moment--said whatever came to mind the quickest, but later I got to thinking more about it. Something I've realized I really enjoy is having fun with the kids, entertaining them, making funny faces to make them smile. Several weeks ago, one of my little boys at the after school club was crying because one of the bigger lads had hit him. After asking him whether he was actually hurt, or just upset, and ascertaining that it was the latter, I thought it best to try to cheer him up by distraction. So I made up a wild story about a little boy who loved to skip (true of the crying boy of course), but he had lost his skipping rope! He tries to find a good substitute in a muffin, a rubber band and a scissors (gasp!). After healing up in the hospital, he finally gets another rope and all is well. It was so cool to watch this boy go from crying to laughing and smiling and suggesting silly twists in the story. That was possibly one of my favourite things that has happened since being here--one of my most positive interactions with children--though I am still loving helping with this after school arts club. I need to bring my camera along to all of these things and share a bit more.
I've gotten back to the fair trade cafe again this last week, and that made me really happy too. It's a good connection; I like working with food and the people there--though I find running the cash register stressful. I've noticed that they do story telling for children, and offer training for story tellers--I think that would probably fit me really well. I need to get on it and really look into it.
One other good thing in my life here is my friendship with a Canadian student named Sara. She is a fellow Jane Austen fan in a big way, and we both love walking in the countryside and baking. So just about every Saturday we get together to do something nice, be that going on an organized walk, or visiting a town nearby and exploring, or baking muffins and watching a Jane Austen (or similar time period---We just watched Jane Eyre) adapted film. And knitting! We are both very ambitiously trying to make sweaters at the moment--ha!
There is so much more going on in my life here. I'll have to really be good and update again soon.
Now some pictures*:

Sara is in front of Bolling Hall--the oldest house in Bradford--dating back to I think the 1400s.

Within which was the creepiest room I have ever seen! It was just so red and shiny!

Here I am in front of Bradford Town Hall.

So Sara and I took the train to Hebdon Bridge (this lovely little town in a valley) on a miraculously snowy Saturday, and walked up a hill to Hebdonstall. Our wanders brought us to this gorgeous old church ruin.This is the "new church"

Spin off of a Victoria Sponge Cake, a very popular cake here. This cake has for alternating layers of white and chocolate sponge, each with spreading of a sour cream frosting and raspberry preserves, with icing sugar and dollops of each on top.
a tea party!

*Don't trust my pictures to give you an accurate portrayal of the weather here. It's only snowed twice in Bradford--neither time amounting to more than an inch and staying less than a day. I also only seem apt to take out my camera when it's sunny out. Really, it is quite gray and rainy here