It is winter still here in Toronto, Canada. There is still snow on the ground and it has been bitterly cold for weeks. Spring is slowly emerging and soon will take ‘hold.

The school has a program of skating for the junior and senior kindergarten classes, as well as the older children in the 1rst, 2nd grades and etc.

While waiting outside for the morning bell with my 1rst grade son, a really charming dark-skinned child approached me and asked me if I know how to skate. I explained no, I don’t know how to skate and that I’m somewhat afraid to learn. He said that he is learning too, and that he really enjoys skating.

Image by star5112 via Flickr

This child exuberantly explained to me that he is in senior kindergarten and had been going to skating practice. He demonstrated the boot-shuffling walk that is part of skating for beginners. Then the child proceeded to show me longer strides by shuffling through the snow, explaining that this will make you move faster upon the ice. He admitted that it is okay if you fall down, -it is all part of learning.

I acknowledged the effort and promised that I might someday try to learn skating, thanking him for his instructions. He proudly informed me that he is ’self-taught’ and that this is not only his first season skating, -but the first winter he has ever seen snow. I inquired where he came from and he told me matter-of-factly that he came from India.

He told me about how hot it is in India right now, and that there isn’t any snow there. I said to this child that India is a very beautiful country and I want to go there someday on vacation and take photographs.

He grinned ear to ear, clearly he was basking in pride for my interest in his native country.

I mentioned that I also want to see a real live elephant to which he flatly shook his head and in a scholarly way informed me that “…if you want to see a real elephant you have to go to The United States for that!“

-I laughed.