Last night was movie night and I showed Pirates of the Caribbean 3. They loved it. But before the movie I showed all my kids some Sarah Hubbard baby pictures. I had asked my mom to send me some so I could show them what baby Sarah looked like, so she scanned them and emailed them to me. So on the big screen last night I enlarged all the pictures I had received and asked the kids if they knew who it was. After a little bit of thinking, because why would Sarah be showing pictures of some random white kid they've never met before, they finally figured out it was me. Hilarity ensued.
But here's the kicker - towards the end of the reel was a non-baby picture of me and Morgan, from a wedding in 2010, the summer before I left for Peace Corps. Obviously since it was in America, and a wedding, I looked kinda pretty (if I do say so myself). I had makeup on (duh) and had straightened my hair (duh). When this picture went up on the big screen the kids said "Well I definitely don't know who that white boy on the right is, but who is the girl on the left?" They were literally stumped. I sat there for what seemed like ten minutes shocked and appalled that Kenya has actually made me so ugly that my own kids can't even recognize me before Peace Corps. Even with me looking them straight in the eye they still couldn't figure it out. So I had to tell them, "No no. That's Sarah. I promise. It's me." The shock and awe then transferred to them, which was followed by a barrage of questions about why I was so beautiful in that picture and not in real life.
Here's a conversation from today between myself and one of my Form 4's that obviously stemmed from last night's Shubbard baby reel:
Sarah: "Did you really think that was someone else besides me in that picture? You didn't see any resemblance at all?"
Gona: "You just looked so pretty. We've never seen you like that. Why don't you ever get pretty in Kenya?"
Sarah: "Because it's too much work and I don't have tons of other gorgeous mzungus around that make me feel like I HAVE to put on makeup." (Although there are a few)
Gona: "Maybe tomorrow you can become beautiful for school. Just one day ok?"
Sarah: "Not gonna happen."
Gona: "How did you hair get like that?"
Sarah: "It's called a straightener and it gets really hot." Commence long explanation of American hair style devices)
Gona: "Then maybe just do that tomorrow ok?"
Sarah: "No can do. Didn't even bring it with me to Kenya."
(Cue immense disappointment on Gona's face.)
Sarah: "You guys are just going to have to live with me like this. I know it's hard, but you're strong. You'll tough it out."
(Commence Gona now giggling like a crazy person.)
Gona: "Sarah, why do some mzungus have REALLY blonde hair? Like the sun? Why?"
Sarah: "I dunno Gona. Why are you black like the night?"
Gona: "Cuz God made me this way,"
Sarah: "Are you sure? Are you sure you didn't just smear a lot of dirt all over yourself?"
Gona: "Yeah, I'm sure. But why are mzungus SO white?"
Sarah: "Who knows Gona. Maybe you're so black because I've been feeding you guys too much chocolate this past year and half. Have you been eating a lot of chocolate today?"
Gona: "NO. Have YOU been eating a lot of RICE??"
Needless to say it was a hilarious conversation, as most of my conversations with my kids are.
Ok, test-grading time!
<3
~ Shub :)
How does a group of deaf children watch Pirates of the Caribbean 3? Did you sign the whole movie to them?
ReplyDeleteI have done that before with different movies.. paused after every scene to interpret what just happened. WAY too much work. So I download subtitles and sync them up, and though the kids don't really know English they like to have the words on the screen anyways. BUT I always make sure to get a very visually stimulating movie as well. It's no fun for them if it's not fun to look at. The week before last was Transformers. Total hit.
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