Everywhere we are we can learn something, every situation can be a lesson and every person can be a teacher. All we have to do is pay attention. I was reminded of this when I was sitting at my gate on the airport of Salvador, waiting for my plane to São Paulo.
It was almost the scheduled time for boarding and so a line was already forming for my gate. I was sitting down and there were two children in front of me, playing with a stuffed ball. They were siblings from probably five and nine years old and they spoke Portuguese. Next to me there was a Spanish speaking family with a girl from around six or seven years old. As the siblings in front of me were playing I noticed the Spanish speaking girl peaking over at them. Slowly she started to move closer, carefully smiling back at her parents as if asking for encouragement. As soon as the 9-year-old girl sees her moving closer she makes eye contact, nods her head a little bit and then throws the ball.
They played for many minutes, all three laughing those giggly children laughs that go beyond any language. Without talking they start doing ‘tricks’ before throwing. They are clapping hands their hands, turning around, jumping, and they all giggle when it goes wrong. At one point the boy accidentally throws the ball at the ceiling and it makes a noise. All three children put their hands in front of their mouths and burst out in giggles. At times the ball bounces away into the line of people waiting at the gate, or to people coming out of the gate next to ours. All these people join the play when the ball bounces into them by kicking or throwing it back, smiling. Some even dribble a little bit.
The siblings at some point have to go. Their plane is leaving from another gate and their boarding has started. The siblings ask the name of the girl in Portuguese. Sofia, as I found out the Spanish speaking girl is called, looks over at her mom who translates for her. The parents of the Portuguese speaking siblings translate for the siblings and I found out they are called Ana and Guillermo. When Ana and Guillermo wave goodbye to Sofia, Sofia hesitates a little but then comes over to both of them and gives them a hug. Then the siblings leave and Sofia gets in line with her parents.
Throughout the 30 minutes that I have been watching these children, I have only see them smile.
Within the seconds Sofia had decided she wanted to play with the siblings she was playing with them. There seemed to be no doubt, no questioning on whether they would accept her or not. Similarly there was no questioning from the siblings either. Someone wanted to come and play along? Of course she could!
In 30 minutes and without talking these children reminded me that connection can be so easy, that connection is not based on language but on mutual recognition – which can of course arise through verbal communication, and they reminded me of the power of playing; the power of laughter; the power of not taking life so seriously. Their play and their giggles spread to the people around them. Everyone in line who the ball touched, even the ones that seemed to be getting tired or frustrated when the boarding was delayed, put their worry aside and played along.
Although I recognize the value of learning through reading or watching videos or episodes designed for the purpose of learning you something, sometimes all we have to do to learn is pay attention to the world around us.
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