(...)
By the time Leinira, Tarine and I reached the pension there were already quite a few children and mothers waiting for me. The limited amount of time didn't allow me to speak to them as I would have liked, particularly those who were my Art and Language development students some time ago and whom I had a stronger bond with.
The fact that the presents are handed out to each child "individually" but in front of all the other children does allow them to sometimes "compare" the presents, this being one of the reasons as to why I feel there ought to be some "balance" as to what each child receives, though I have lately come across some lack of understanding on the part of a few "godparents", whether it is because they feel they want to send everything they had decided to or very little on the basis that children get happy with whatever one sends them.
Based on some of the recent "requests" on the part of some children I have concluded that depending on the "oddest" present they have seen some children get they rapidly "adhere" to that trend irrespective of whether they like it or not, and what I mean by this is that because of having seen one child get a watch and another a disposable camera all they want to almost instantly ask for is any of those.
I do strongly encourage "godparents" to send them books (though they have to be carefully selected bearing in mind the level of Portuguese teaching on the islands) and things to further develop their creativity, taking into account the local circumstances and what I know about each of the children' interests and even skills.
From the look of the number of children walking in every other second it looked as if I would be handing out presents and taking photos for the rest of the afternoon, which I felt wasn't a bad thing, once only a mere seventeen had been handed out their presents so far.
Maria de Jesus (left) wearing her new dress and her sibling Nolita holding the new T-shirt and other presents (right).
Maria de Jesus and Nolita's mother holding the envelopes with the money for the school needs of her two daughters.
Evilise wearing her new T-shirt dress (left) and holding the sticker book she was sent (right).
Osvaldino wearing his new shirt and holding his construction kit (left). Marcio holding his new school material (right).
Erica holding all her presents (left) and Ana Elena (right) holding hers.
Rosana (left) and Ivanilde Elena (right) holding their presents respectively.
Jessica holding her new school bag and presents.
Jefferson holding his presents together with his "godmother's photo (left). Jefferson wearing his new clothes, whilst looking concentrated on opening a little bag which contained quite a few new toy cars.
Little Eduardo holding onto his new puzzle book and new toy cars (left). Edeson surrounded by his presents, whilst holding his new T-shirt (right).
Josefine holding her new book (still wrapped).
Marcia holding her present and photo (left). Marcia's mother Dulce holding her niece Iviline's presents, once she was out of Calheta.
Mena holding her presents (left). Mena completely overwhelmed with her new dress (right).
Cynthia (left) and Daniela (right) holding their new clothes.
Ariete's mother holding the envelope containing the money for the child's school needs.
Note: The fact that Erica has a lot more presents than any of the others has to do with not having had any last time because of the package sent from France having "vanished" in the post.
(To be continued)
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