Day: February 23, 2018

When the RISSE kids come to Bedlam Farm, as they did this afternoon after having lunch at the Mansion, it brings out the father in me. It was below freezing on the farm, raining snow and ice. It was cold and damp, one of those days that causes us to wear several layers of clothes, waterproof boots and wool caps and hats.

The RISSE kids show up in light sneakers, even slippers, some with hooded sweatshirts, most in plain shirts with no jacket or hats. Sometimes, this is because they have no winter clothes or money to buy them, sometimes, it’s because they’ve never seen an upstate New York winter and just don’t pay much attention to it.

We’ve gotten a fair amount of clothes for the kids who need them. Ali has a great and healthy attitude to these kids. He guides them when he can and corrects their behavior where necessary, but he doesn’t take winter seriously, he’s alwas dressed for a summer or early Spring stroll.

One by one, the kids, some of the anxious, stepped forward to meet Lulu and Fanny and offer them cookies. Some were shivering, others were ankle deep in snow and ice with plan sneakers.

This brings out the Father in me, but I keep my mouth shot. I am not their father or their mother, and am going to nag them about clothing, if anybody should, it would be Ali, and he doesn’t.

When I saw them all shivering and stomping their feet, I suggested they head home before a winter storm arrives, as predicted. They loved seeing Red herd the sheep and meeting the donkeys, but I saw they were happy to get into the van.

I love these kids as I come to know them, but I am not their father and their mother, and that is a relief to me. Most had never seen a donkey and were genuinely frightened to hold their hands out to her. After a few minutes, the girls had charmed them, as they so often have done. I love introducing kids to the donkeys and telling them what amazing creatures they are.

At the end of lunch, Madeline, who is a Mansion resident in her mid-90’s, said she wanted to thank the RISSE soccer team for coming to the Mansion for lunch today. “We really appreciate your being here,” she told Ali and the boys. “I loved talking with you and hearing about your lives. Sometimes, it’s quiet her, and you brightened all of us up,” she said. The boys thanked her back.

The Mansion gave each one of the RISSE refugee soccer players a Hot Fudge Sundae as a thank you for coming. I think it was appreciated.

At the Mansion lunch with the RISSE refugee children, seven or eight different tables were set up.  Some were lively, some were quiet. Above, Barb, in the white shirt, was delighted to have three of the RISSE kids at the table, and they were all curious, and talkers.

The conversation was lively and everybody seemed to be studying the other and learning from them. This interaction is so important to the Mansion residents, and perhaps to the kids as well. I’d be curious to ask them about it when I see them next.

Maria and I helped serve and i ran around taking photos and checking on things. This was a great success in my mind, I am eager to do this again with the refugee kids and other groups. I think they did relate to one another, I think they did have more in common than I might have thought.

I had the pleasure and wonder at seeing two worlds meet at the Mansion for lunch Friday, the residents and the RISSE soccer team, comprised of refugee children from Africa, Asia, Afghanistan and the Middle East.

The residents the RISSE kids meet in two different rooms due to the size of the group, one in the Great Room, one in the dining hall. The residents were eager to meet the refugees and peppered me with questions about them. There were some awkward moments – some of the residents are hard of hearing, others have some memory issues, and some of the refugees speak little or no English.

But kids and residents broke through again and again, asking one other basic questions – where are you from? How did you get here? What are your lives like? What are the things you love to do in the world?

Maria and I and the staff served the food from the Round House Bakery – selection of sandwiches.

Four of five of the residents, Sylvie, Brother Peter, Madeline, Barb, took the lead and had questions prepared for the RISSE kids and five or six of the RISSE kids were curious about the residents and asked them how they live and why they were there?

It was a powerful thing to see, it was not easy for either side. But it was meaningful to both. I was surprised at how many people from both sides thanked me and asked if they could meet again. I was much moved by it.  Afterwards, the RISSE kids came over to Bedlam Farm to see Red herd the sheep and meet donkeys for the first time.

A winter storm was fast approaching, and it was cold and rainy, so their visit was cut short, they’ll come back in the Spring. It was inspiring of me to see this, these two groups have more in common than many think, and it was fascinating to see people realize it.

More later.