Another storm today, and it seems there is always thunder rolling in the distance, slowly approaching. It hit today as Youme gently eased our massive van down the endless thin roads towards the school where we are teaching. I teach the older children today, about eight or nine twelve year olds. I am still growing used to small faces looking up at me for guidance, for teaching, but this is what I am here for. It is only now am I understanding the massive responsibility teachers hold in their hands, the fragility of that task, and I sink into the two hours with my hands careful as I become teacher and student, all at once. The best is outside, seated around a picnic table in the glaring sunlight, and I see that they are grasping the concepts, and walking back I have a beautiful conversation with a little girl about what "abstract" means. What I love most about this project of blind contour drawing is the way in which these children are being forced to change their idea of beauty, and they are being taught that these abstract drawings and paintings they are producing are not wrong or ugly, but they are lovely, unique, original, fantastic. This is something I hope they will carry with them.
Monica
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