When my dog Phryne sees sheep, she comes alive, in a way that I haven’t seen before. It’s like she’s had an inner and dormant sheepdog inside, that has been woken up. If she weren’t on her leash, there’s no way I could ever get her to “stay”, or to even “come”. This new environment has given her experiences she didn’t have in Brooklyn.
I know I’ve been thinking about what the children I work with see in their everyday lives. Many have seen sheep, but only here on the mountain, when the teachers take them out, or if they take a trip outside of the city center. I don’t think that’s too unusual for a city kid.
In the play room, there is much joy, and the children love the songs and routines that are part of their time here on the mountain. They are eager to explore, and are growing in their ability to tell adults what they want, to play together, and to share experiences.
When I can, I’ll post pictures from their neighborhoods. This is some of what they see:
Brooklyn to Belfast 