Cards from Taitung!

The cards have arrived in The Netherlands and while I am sure Martijn and Daphne are excited to see these cards, the kids in Taiwan are more excited to see their cards in The Netherlands.

A part of me feels that it is extremely important for any one, especially from a young age, to have the concept of "start" and "finish" in the sense that once you pick up a challenge, you put in all the efforts you can to finish it well. For me, it was important that these international meet events are not just one-off shows that could have been done for anyone. I think it will be far more significant if the kids can feel that they've established a relationship with the people who've put in the effort into showing them their worlds, and that these people indeed put in these efforts for the kids. Not just anyone, but them.

I think as kids, one can easily believe in everything that is told to them, like Santa Claus. However it is also easy to lose faith that magical things do happen, like Santa Claus. In this case, the opportunity to have strangers from all the way around the world wanting to share their lives with these kids is unlikely to happen else where. It is easy for them to think that these are videos that could have been made for anyone and sugar-coated to make them think it's for them. I think it is important that the kids understand that with efforts and good intentions, good things do happen.

And that's why I wanted to show this video, and thanks to Martijn and Daphne who share the same thought as I did. Technically speaking, the content of this video couldn't be more boring.... to those who are not involved. I mean, no action, special effects, not much dialogue or plot... just two persons looking at cards and saying "Wooo!" and "Ah!!!" But for these kids, it mattered. These students are asked to participate in countless competitions such as drawing and writing, but all they get is a notice that they've won. They don't ever get to see how their works are important or significant. So to them, this "victory" doesn't mean anything. Probably just a prize certificate and award money.

Since the beginning of the class, I was already learning a lot from them. So to explain a little bit for those who aren't familiar with Chinese New Year cultures, red packets are things adult give to kids during the Chinese New Year. These are red envelopes containing money. It represents good luck and well wishes. So kids love Chinese New Year because they get all these red packets as their pocket money although in most cases, the money end up with their parents.

In the city, when asked about how a kid will want to spend their bonus cash, most of them will say things like.... RC car, iPad, mountain bike, video games... But here, I heard things like a pair of new shoes, pay school fees and school excursion fees. None of these are things that city kids will ever have to worry about.

However, one thing that I am very sure and glad is that every one of these kid lives a happier life than any kid in the city, because they understand how to appreciate even the simplest live they have.