Dispatches from Dreamland: Back to Reality

This dispatch is from the dreamland that is the coast of the Pacific Northwest. Home from an adventure abroad, I am getting right to work on the many things of summer that require my attention. Just one teeny thing from the trip. A recuerdo for y'all, if you want it.

The kids of Fundación Niños de los Andes wanted to sing something in English, which set me on a mental quest to find something that covered the trifecta of criteria: Popular. Useful, Appropriate. The one song that came to mind which would a) entice all to participate, b) teach phrases and constructions that one might actually use, in English and c) not teach children to say things they are too young to understand was Pharrell Williams', "Happy." Together, we got the lyrics printed and sang the chorus over and over, as I pointed in time to words on a white board. Using the one internet-connected computer at their disposal, the kids watched the official music video, and all of the over eight hundred fan homages. They saw people dance, smile, and clap all over the world, and they wanted to do it too. So, after a quick talk with the directors of the Fundación, we made this, Fundación Niños de los Andes' answer to the ubiquitous anthem for being resilient and cheerful.

I feel deeply grateful to have spent some time with the good people of this organization, and am determined to go back soon and do even more with them. The kids I met and taught schooled me in return; especially on the art of letting nothin' bring you down.