A Sight to Behold
Two teen Afghan girls arrived to my car wearing dresses and sandals and gasped loudly when I showed them a picture of where we headed: an ice rink. Unsure of what got lost in translation, I knew we came prepared for situations like these.
It wasn’t long before all were suited up in warm gloves and long socks, with ice skates cramped awkwardly on their feet. With a quick lesson from the staff at the rink, kids were eager to experience this American pastime. Many couldn’t wait to touch the ‘snow.’
With more than thirty students (and adults!) having never ice skated before, the moment we all took the ice was a sight to behold.
Many kids’ wobbly legs buckled right under them, the recent lesson out the window. I began shouting, “You can stand up! The ice can hold you! You can do it!” I watched dozens of little Bambis attempting to stand with little luck. Once a few could stand (with the help of volunteers), others gained confidence and began following suit.
A few remembered the instructor’s advice and put them arms out to try to balance themselves once standing. Others enjoyed the ‘snow’ and didn’t mind the constant contact with the freezing floor.
Volunteers lent students an arm, convincing them that they could get around the ice successfully with their support. Confidence was slowly built and many students could ice skate independently, with proud, wide grins.
Some stayed on the outer edge, cautiously holding onto the rail while going around and around, crushing the selfie game. For others, the highlight was the tasty fried chicken and waffles we had for lunch!
Our students have been begging us to go ice skating since our last trip six years ago. It was amazing to see those kids whose muscle memory picked it back up like riding a bike.
Experiencing something for the first time with our students is priceless. Connecting outside of the classroom builds stronger bonds. Thanks to all of you who donate to SDRT to make opportunities like this possible. Consider donating today.
