Something truly magical is happening. I started playing badminton with a boy in my neighborhood last weekend. Now nearly a dozen children have joined us, and I’ve met several of my neighbors as a result. My community really seems to be opening up to the idea of having a few foreigners as part of the family.
Moving into a neighborhood in Yangon, Myanmar, is like moving into a family. Everyone lives so close. Everyone seems to know each other. Everyone looks out for one another. And just like a family with quarks and quacks, characters of my neighborhood are coming out of the woodwork.
What impressed me about Soe Min Oo was he didn’t seem afraid to interact with me. He actually wanted to talk to me. He came up to me a few weeks ago, tugged on my shirt, and tried to communicate. I’ve sought him ever since. I’ve looked for opportunities to communicate with him, and what better way to cross-culturally relate than to play?
I ran into Soe Min Oo on my way home from school the other day. I could tell by his gestures he wanted to play. I fanned myself to show it was still too hot.“
At 7,” I said, pointing to my wrist as if there were a watch on it,
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