Independence Day

Decorated courtyard

"Pakistani fighters"

Freedom fighters(Bangladesh) are victorious

Music and decorations appear well before 8 a.m. today. It is not only the first day of Christmas vacation, but Bangladesh’s Independence Day and we are celebrating by having a sports day with all the kids; the first sports day they’ve ever experienced!

The event begins in the courtyard with all the children standing at attention in the grass facing a flag atop a bamboo pole.  The compound is filled with 100 little voices belting out their national anthem. Then the honorable guests present (the founders and board chairman of the orphanage) together cut the ribbon and the event officially begins! Children scatter to the four corners of the courtyard and gather around their team flags. Their excited anticipation is beaming from their faces as they squirm on the wall eagerly awaiting the first event. Being the oldest kids of the orphanage, the 1^st and 2^nd graders get to start the first event, a simple race across the courtyard. Then my beloved KG class and finally the two youngest groups race. After each race, the 1^st 2^nd and 3^rd place winners are ushered over to some bricks arranged as a podium to salute their achievement. Then the caregivers, teachers, and even the Waids got to race!

Next I witnessed 100 kids play their first game ever of musical chairs! It’s such an exciting game to win, but all the elimination makes lots of  ‘losers’ of the game as well….there were a lot of tears with that game L However, the tears were soon dried with the following frog race. With their hands on the back of their thighs, 100 cute little ‘frogs’ hopped across the grass as fast as their little legs could bounce them! Then their hands were tied behind their backs for the final event and they raced to tear a candy off a string with their mouths. With the string hanging just above their heads, they jumped and jumped until they grasped the candy firmly in their mouth or fell and couldn’t get up because their little hands were tied! Even Shuniti was wheeled over in her new chair to play the candy game alongside the other children.

To finish the events, the boys were dressed in costume and emerged with sticks and painted moustaches, representing the freedom fighters who fought against Pakistan for Bangladesh’s independence. A role-play of the fighting and Bangladesh’s triumph ended in an excited victory parade circling the courtyard.

After a mid-day break, a frozen banana, and a last-minute dance preparation, the awards ceremony was held. Once our dance was over we were able to enjoy Bangla rhymes, songs, and dances presented by cute 5-8 yr old girls. Finally, the winners of the morning received their awards; hairclips for the girls, wind up planes for the boys and other special treats. Then we got our special treat—eggplant and potatoe curry for dinner! MMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!

A visit to the freedom fighter(a friend of the Waids and veteran of Bangladesh’s independence war) was such an appropriate end to the holiday. Well celebrated and thoroughly enjoyed by all was this country’s 39^th birthday!