Every culture has their way of doing things. And when you chose to live in a different one you recognize some simple, silly, different things ... ... ..like everyday packaging. Not only is one's brain required to think differently when opening packaging in a different country, it is actually necessary to re-train the brain.
Below is my minute of witnessing fascination and accomplishment in my seven-year old son, on our family visit to California. He has lived more than half of his life in Thailand so his native California is not his norm.
Jet lagged and strung out on the couch, I sat eyes heavy, mumbling
to my seven-year-old, "you can get your own bowl of cereal just like you do at home."
Wrong.
"Where's the milk?"
"It's in the carton."
Thai milk is in bottles.
"Mom, how do I open this?"
I was completely dumbfounded. My son has never opened a carton! He is stumped at something I did everyday of my life without thinking.
You twist off a cap in Thailand.
So I walked him through it. Step-by-step.
There is nothing to really describe the amusement I felt at watching his little brain tick, and seeing the absolute look of bewilderment and fascination as he discovered the cleverness of the spout. He was in complete awe when he poured his milk. Tickled. That's it, he was thoroughly tickled.
So what is the point? The point is that the sooner their brains get tickled, the better. Take them with you wherever you go and go places that are different. There is no way to measure the ways in which their minds are being opened to alternative possibilities. And we could use a bit of that, too!
Cheers & Ciao for Now!
For more fab. information from Gina visit www.GottaLottaHope.com.