Today we had our sixth session with the girls from AFESIP, and from a personal perspective, it was groundbreaking.
When we arrived we set up our iPod with speakers to begin the stretch and dance exercises as usual, but this time the girls came to see us with a stack of c.d.’s and asked us to play their music instead. At the top of the pile I saw Justin’s face smiling kindly at me. You can imagine my enthusiasm. I took the c.d. and held it against my heart to show the girls how I felt, which made them smile and giggle. One of them took the c.d. and kissed the picture of Justin on the cover. Just like that, a new bond was formed.
From that moment on the Bieber fans and I were inseparable. Despite the language barrier, we giggled together like a bunch of teenage girls at a slumber party. Who knew that The Biebs crosses cultural boundaries? After today, I am entirely convinced that love for him is universal, kind of like how we all smile in the same language.
Once we had danced our way through “Somebody to Love,” we sat down for a question and answer period. I began with the question, “what is your favorite animal?” As we went around the circle and each girl gave her answer, I discovered yet another point of interest I had in common with the Bieber fans: cats.
Those of you who know me can testify that I am somewhat of a young version of a crazy old cat lady. For example, I’ve been known to have movie nights with my cat. I’ve pretty much already mentally prepared myself to grow up husbandless and surrounded by furry feline friends. Sometimes you just have to accept who you really are.
Anyways, many of the Bieber fans told me that cats are their favorite animals as well. It makes me wonder if crazy-cat-lady syndrome and Bieber adoration are somehow correlated.
To end the session we asked the girls to separate into two groups and perform improvisation pieces for us. The group to which my devoted Justin fans belonged decided to do a play about a family of cats. I will admit that my ego has flattered itself into believing that this was done entirely for my personal entertainment.
The play was metaphorical. It began with a scene in which the family was eating together. One cat was taking most of the food and not letting the others eat, forcing the mother cat to send the troublemaker away. If she could not share with the family, she could not stay with the family either. The cat wandered off and encountered danger, she then became weak and eventually fainted. Her family found her and revived her. In the final scene the family sits down to eat again, and this time everyone shared equally.
The play was about living in a community where commodities are scarce but an “each man for himself” attitude does not equate survival. It was about sticking together, helping each other, and surviving as a community rather than as an individual. Strength is found in numbers, and I believe that this is a lesson that these girls have experienced personally through the individual trials they have faced in this world, and through the revitalization they have found in each other’s companionship.
Today I bonded with them as women, as girls, as Bieber fans and cat lovers, but above all, as genuine friends.
When I first arrived in Laos, I expected the hardest part of my work to be the sessions with victims of human trafficking. I expected to see young girls full of anger and hate, destroyed by all they had been through. Instead, I met an amazing group of strong and resilient young women who have made the conscious decision to be happy. Far from being difficult, my sessions with them are often the highlight of my day. It is reinvigorating, inspiring, and powerful to spend time with these girls. When today’s session ended, for the first time ever, the girls surrounded me, hugged me, hung on to me, and begged me not to leave. I realized in that moment that the difficult part is yet to come; it will be when I have to say goodbye.
The most heartbreaking aspect of our work is that it is only temporary. Next Friday will be our last session with the girls from AFESIP, and it is difficult to accept that there are no means to keep in contact with them afterwards. I am lucky enough to be so well surrounded by amazing friends and family in Canada that I sometimes forget how scary it can be to face the world alone, but I know that this is what many of the girls will have to do when their stay at the centre has run its course. My only hope is that they will not lose contact with each other, that they will retain the valuable lessons they have learned with AFESIP, and that they will continue to be as strong in the future as they have proven to be thus far.
My dream is that in the future they will all be surrounded by as much love and joy as I will be by cats :)
!
When we arrived we set up our iPod with speakers to begin the stretch and dance exercises as usual, but this time the girls came to see us with a stack of c.d.’s and asked us to play their music instead. At the top of the pile I saw Justin’s face smiling kindly at me. You can imagine my enthusiasm. I took the c.d. and held it against my heart to show the girls how I felt, which made them smile and giggle. One of them took the c.d. and kissed the picture of Justin on the cover. Just like that, a new bond was formed.
From that moment on the Bieber fans and I were inseparable. Despite the language barrier, we giggled together like a bunch of teenage girls at a slumber party. Who knew that The Biebs crosses cultural boundaries? After today, I am entirely convinced that love for him is universal, kind of like how we all smile in the same language.
Once we had danced our way through “Somebody to Love,” we sat down for a question and answer period. I began with the question, “what is your favorite animal?” As we went around the circle and each girl gave her answer, I discovered yet another point of interest I had in common with the Bieber fans: cats.
Those of you who know me can testify that I am somewhat of a young version of a crazy old cat lady. For example, I’ve been known to have movie nights with my cat. I’ve pretty much already mentally prepared myself to grow up husbandless and surrounded by furry feline friends. Sometimes you just have to accept who you really are.
Anyways, many of the Bieber fans told me that cats are their favorite animals as well. It makes me wonder if crazy-cat-lady syndrome and Bieber adoration are somehow correlated.
To end the session we asked the girls to separate into two groups and perform improvisation pieces for us. The group to which my devoted Justin fans belonged decided to do a play about a family of cats. I will admit that my ego has flattered itself into believing that this was done entirely for my personal entertainment.
The play was metaphorical. It began with a scene in which the family was eating together. One cat was taking most of the food and not letting the others eat, forcing the mother cat to send the troublemaker away. If she could not share with the family, she could not stay with the family either. The cat wandered off and encountered danger, she then became weak and eventually fainted. Her family found her and revived her. In the final scene the family sits down to eat again, and this time everyone shared equally.
The play was about living in a community where commodities are scarce but an “each man for himself” attitude does not equate survival. It was about sticking together, helping each other, and surviving as a community rather than as an individual. Strength is found in numbers, and I believe that this is a lesson that these girls have experienced personally through the individual trials they have faced in this world, and through the revitalization they have found in each other’s companionship.
Today I bonded with them as women, as girls, as Bieber fans and cat lovers, but above all, as genuine friends.
When I first arrived in Laos, I expected the hardest part of my work to be the sessions with victims of human trafficking. I expected to see young girls full of anger and hate, destroyed by all they had been through. Instead, I met an amazing group of strong and resilient young women who have made the conscious decision to be happy. Far from being difficult, my sessions with them are often the highlight of my day. It is reinvigorating, inspiring, and powerful to spend time with these girls. When today’s session ended, for the first time ever, the girls surrounded me, hugged me, hung on to me, and begged me not to leave. I realized in that moment that the difficult part is yet to come; it will be when I have to say goodbye.
The most heartbreaking aspect of our work is that it is only temporary. Next Friday will be our last session with the girls from AFESIP, and it is difficult to accept that there are no means to keep in contact with them afterwards. I am lucky enough to be so well surrounded by amazing friends and family in Canada that I sometimes forget how scary it can be to face the world alone, but I know that this is what many of the girls will have to do when their stay at the centre has run its course. My only hope is that they will not lose contact with each other, that they will retain the valuable lessons they have learned with AFESIP, and that they will continue to be as strong in the future as they have proven to be thus far.
My dream is that in the future they will all be surrounded by as much love and joy as I will be by cats :)
!
