The Pool at School is Cool

Today I dropped Mia off at her kindergarten and the pool was open. They stock their little pond with koi. In the morning the kids help feed them and clean the pond. The little goldfish were shiny and sparkling in today's sun. The kids spend endless time watching the fish and hopping around from stone to stone.

Here's Mia and her friend Aru doing just that. Aru is about the sweetest girl around. She doesn't speak a word of English, but is always friendly with Mia, myself and Baby Rhett. I adore this little girl. She's one of four kids in her family and I can tell what a great sister she is to them. With my limited Japanese, I've learned to say, "I like Aru" and I really do. These are the red play hats that they wear when they are outside for recess. Mia looks like she's ready for the Tour de France with her brim flipped up.

Feeding the fish. The woman kneeling down with the orange smock is the head mistress of the school. She is by the school gate every morning to welcome the children to school. Each morning the children greet her and shake her hand as a sign of respect. She has a quiet calmness to her and the kids love her. Another mother described her demeanor as that of a Buddhist monk.