So we're packing to leave Mikrevo for a few weeks. We're headed to Sofia and from there who knows where. Since it was going to be a travel day, I anticipated it being a pretty "wasted" day. Obviously, there is little else we can do on a travel day. So after packing a cleaning the house, I grabbed a soccer ball that had somehow appeared on our balcony and I headed down the stairs to see which children were still loitering outside our door.
I found Ruman and a couple other boys hanging out in the street. Carrying a soccer ball made for a great conversation starter. We start juggling, or more precisely THEY start juggling and I randomly flail at the ball when it fell anywhere in my general vicinity. Soon the game transitioned to Keep-Away, a tried and true option. From there we abandoned using the soccer ball in the traditional fashion and moved to volleyball. Upon exhausting our volleyball options, I took the soccer ball and shot it like a basketball. The boys and I took turns acting as the hoop and the others would shot our makeshift basketball.
While proficient at juggling a soccer ball these boys lacked even a basic knowledge of basketball. Hence, this girl, possessing exceptional skills in all areas of basketball (note the heavy sarcasm), taught a dozen little boys how to shoot baskets! I showed each of them where to place their hands and the motion they needed to use in throwing. It was touching to see how anxious these children were to learn. The reason most of them loiter outside our house everyday Is that they do not attend school. They are left to their own devices most days and clearly desire that someone take the time to teach them, guide them, or invest in their lives. After a month spent traveling, we are on our way back to Mikrevo. I can't wait to spend more time with these kids.
