Hang in there, take stock and give thanks...our worries are truly small

I borrowed that title from a fellow blogger.
Seriously. I can not get the people of Myanmar,
and now China,
out of my mind. Endless suffering.

All the while the little kids in my class are making deals with their parents for "A's"...
If I get 5 A's I get a new i pod...
If I get an excellent on my homework assignment I get a new x box game...
It goes on and on.

Well, today, hot and bothered after gym class they all wanted a drink. And they didn't get one. Instead they had the opportunity to engage in a great discussion about all things "clean water" related. Yes, you are thirsty, yes you worked hard in gym, yes, in fact you deserve a drink but today you can do without for 30 whole minutes...

We talked about he water cycle (curriculum) and the devastation in Asia (real life) and the children, just like them, who are thirsty. The children who are thirsty and have the choice to drink filthy water now or drink filthy water later. We even went so far as to talk about being ill with vomiting and diarreah and feeling desperate for a drink and having only the water that made you sick available to quench your thirst.

My mom gives me freezies...I drink ginger ale when I'm sick with vomiting...A nice cool bath makes me feel better...My mom wets a cloth, puts it in the freezer to make it cold and holds it on my neck...they have medicine called gravol for vomiting...

I don't teach in an area considered privileged, far from it actually, but it is a large school and we can clear $400 profit in one popcorn day. Another $300 selling 25 cent freezies for one Friday.

And on the other side of the world there are mommies that have no way to soothe their very sick children. A child that may very well die, dehydrate, before help is allowed to reach him. Help that is available if only it was accepted.

My heart is heavy.