In my work with refugee resettlement I teach an English as a Second Language (ESL) class. One morning, I thought it would be fun to learn body parts by singing the 'Hokey Pokey.'
As we sang 'put your left leg in' several of the students began to giggle and laugh. I thought to myself, they are getting it and having fun too. Fantastic! When we put our right legs in all decorum collapsed. The women nearly fell to the ground in full belly laughter.
I’m not sure what the Hokey Pokey is called in other countries or what it may have implied to my refugee friends. But considering all they have gone through and what they continue to have to do to remain—well I just have to say I think the Angels in Heaven were doing the Hokey Pokey with us that morning.
- Kim Wyatt, CBF field personnel serving in Research Triangle, N.C.