Kids Are Cool

I rode a rusted old bike to the village after school to deliver my injured student some magazines, books, get well cards and treats. Tuesday night he snapped his collar bone in half after he fell hard from of a four wheeler. The normally rambunctious, quick and full of life little boy was sedate and cringed in pain, though I could tell he was trying to hide his discomfort. Summer officially begins in eight days and he was excited for weeks of commercial fishing with his dad. He won't be involved now, at least not for the first several weeks. Tough to see a kid like that in such rough shape. Poor little guy.

I hung out in the village for a while after my errands, and since I'm not there often, when I am, the kids are pumped. A few of them rode their bikes with me the five miles back to my house. I fed them a snack and they turned around and did it all again. I hope that when I have children they are as cool as some of the kids I've met here. They go anywhere without complaint, they are funny and they will tell you everything they know from their very oral culture.

The ice has (almost) melted! Here's a look at the overflowing river in the village. You can see at least one sunken skiff from this picture.

Skipping rocks. I needed a good lesson. My skills pale in comparison.

We stopped to visit some grandparents along the way. One of my sweetest little girls talked about each person buried and explained all she knew.

Hill climbing. They brought me all the way up to my house, I fed them a little snack and they were off again for another five mile trek home. Super cool kids.