“If I paint a wild horse, you might not see the horse... but surely you will see the wildness!” ― Pablo Picasso
Today I want to talk about vision. Not actual sighted vision--but the vision that drives all of us to create, collaborate, and share matters of the heart with one another. I want to talk about the vision that gets us out of bed in the morning and propels us forward when we think we just aren't able to do it anymore. I want to talk about the visions that get us excited, passionate, and eager to wake up each and every morning.
Specifically I wanted to talk about a woman who I find particularly inspirational. Ms Yoshimi, is a woman who is Japanese and also happens to be blind. She runs an inspirational reading programme in the rural areas of Thailand. Ms. Yoshimi speaks fluent English, Japanese, and Thai. She also reads Braille in Thai, English, and Japanese. Ms Yoshimi travels in a reading caravan to places all around Thailand--bringing literature and libraries to people who wouldn't normally have access to books. This includes both sited and blind people.
Check out the Always Reading Caravan website here!
Our school found out all about Ms. Yoshimi through a parent at our school. During our Readathon charity we helped Ms. Yoshimi raise money for her Always Reading Caravan. With these funds she is able to purchase more books and reach more people in need of books. She has come to visit our school for two years in a row. In addition to bringing her caravan to the school, she also comes in and speaks to the students.
Each year, before she comes in I talk to my students about what 'being blind' means. Many of my students have never met a person who is blind before and they can be quite surprised that she does and likes many of the same things that we like to do. Before she comes in we watch some videos of her showing us how she lives her day to day life.
Check out her personal blog and some of these videos here!
We of course have many questions:
"Do her eyes hurt?"
"How does she go to the bathroom if she can't see?"
"How does she cross the street?"
"Can she see anything?"
It's so hard for us to fathom what it would be like not to see--because we all rely on our own eyesight so much!
The best thing about teaching four year olds is their complete lack of inhibition. We are quick to share our curiosity and any uneasiness is easy to spot.
Many of us wanted to put ourselves in her shoes by walking around the classroom with our eyes closed.
"It is hard to walk if I cannot see!"
"I was able to walk around because I know where things are in the room!"
"I would have a hard time eating if I had to do it with my eyes closed!"
In fact, when we meet Ms Yoshimi many of the students do express some degree of uneasiness. As Ms. Yoshimi is quick to admit--the appearance of her eyes can be a little surprising. She is quick to reassure us that her eyes do not hurt and she is in no pain.
Sometimes the students are a little shy to sit close to her--but as her session goes on--it's amazing to see the students begin to feel at ease and seek ways to scoot closer and closer to her.
Ms. Yoshimi teaches us amazing things. She shows us how to read and write using Braille.
She lets us explore books that are written in Braille! We loved exploring the bumpy texture!
She gave us the opportunity to explore reading as she does. Students felt pictures in Braille and tried to guess what it was.
She shows us how she uses her white cane to get around!
She talks to us about her day to day life. She answers the questions of four year olds without judgement and she tells us about her vision for her Reading Caravan. She talks to us in Japanese, Thai, and English. She laughs, jokes, and patiently explains aspects of her life to us.
I often tell my students, "We are all alike and we are all different." Both differences and similarities can be celebrated in learning and I have been so lucky to celebrate those with my class and Ms. Yoshimi.
You see, Ms. Yoshimi is one of those amazing people with vision. She skydives, she tears up buildings to make libraries with axes, and she travels the world around her. She is a person who gives back more than she takes. She is someone who educates others and seeks to make the world a better place.
Imagine if we all had a little piece of what she has. The vision to make the world around us a bit better--to give instead of take--to explain, show patience and demonstrate tolerance--to make connections and promote community. What an amazing vision that is.
One of my students this year said it best. Ms. Yoshimi asked what it meant to be blind.
"It means that you cannot see, but you can still do great things for others."
The vision and inspiration of others can propel our own interests, passions, and dreams.
Specifically I wanted to talk about a woman who I find particularly inspirational. Ms Yoshimi, is a woman who is Japanese and also happens to be blind. She runs an inspirational reading programme in the rural areas of Thailand. Ms. Yoshimi speaks fluent English, Japanese, and Thai. She also reads Braille in Thai, English, and Japanese. Ms Yoshimi travels in a reading caravan to places all around Thailand--bringing literature and libraries to people who wouldn't normally have access to books. This includes both sited and blind people.
Check out the Always Reading Caravan website here!
Our school found out all about Ms. Yoshimi through a parent at our school. During our Readathon charity we helped Ms. Yoshimi raise money for her Always Reading Caravan. With these funds she is able to purchase more books and reach more people in need of books. She has come to visit our school for two years in a row. In addition to bringing her caravan to the school, she also comes in and speaks to the students.
Each year, before she comes in I talk to my students about what 'being blind' means. Many of my students have never met a person who is blind before and they can be quite surprised that she does and likes many of the same things that we like to do. Before she comes in we watch some videos of her showing us how she lives her day to day life.
Check out her personal blog and some of these videos here!
We of course have many questions:
"Do her eyes hurt?"
"How does she go to the bathroom if she can't see?"
"How does she cross the street?"
"Can she see anything?"
It's so hard for us to fathom what it would be like not to see--because we all rely on our own eyesight so much!
The best thing about teaching four year olds is their complete lack of inhibition. We are quick to share our curiosity and any uneasiness is easy to spot.
Many of us wanted to put ourselves in her shoes by walking around the classroom with our eyes closed.
"It is hard to walk if I cannot see!"
"I was able to walk around because I know where things are in the room!"
"I would have a hard time eating if I had to do it with my eyes closed!"
In fact, when we meet Ms Yoshimi many of the students do express some degree of uneasiness. As Ms. Yoshimi is quick to admit--the appearance of her eyes can be a little surprising. She is quick to reassure us that her eyes do not hurt and she is in no pain.
Sometimes the students are a little shy to sit close to her--but as her session goes on--it's amazing to see the students begin to feel at ease and seek ways to scoot closer and closer to her.
Ms. Yoshimi teaches us amazing things. She shows us how to read and write using Braille.
She lets us explore books that are written in Braille! We loved exploring the bumpy texture!
She gave us the opportunity to explore reading as she does. Students felt pictures in Braille and tried to guess what it was.
She shows us how she uses her white cane to get around!
She talks to us about her day to day life. She answers the questions of four year olds without judgement and she tells us about her vision for her Reading Caravan. She talks to us in Japanese, Thai, and English. She laughs, jokes, and patiently explains aspects of her life to us.
I often tell my students, "We are all alike and we are all different." Both differences and similarities can be celebrated in learning and I have been so lucky to celebrate those with my class and Ms. Yoshimi.
You see, Ms. Yoshimi is one of those amazing people with vision. She skydives, she tears up buildings to make libraries with axes, and she travels the world around her. She is a person who gives back more than she takes. She is someone who educates others and seeks to make the world a better place.
Imagine if we all had a little piece of what she has. The vision to make the world around us a bit better--to give instead of take--to explain, show patience and demonstrate tolerance--to make connections and promote community. What an amazing vision that is.
One of my students this year said it best. Ms. Yoshimi asked what it meant to be blind.
"It means that you cannot see, but you can still do great things for others."
The vision and inspiration of others can propel our own interests, passions, and dreams.
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