Last friday night, the international school fourth graders put on a circus. Isaac was SO excited to see it, he may as well have been anticipating Christmas morning. Luke and I did our best to gently prepare him for a most likely "less than Ringling Brothers-caliber experience" by kindly reminding him that the fourth graders only had one week to prepare (and that they are only fourth graders), so try not to expect too much.
Boy were we wrong.
The circus opened with the kids jumping through a hoop of fire. Yes. Real, scorching, FIRE. It proceeded to unfold with acts that included boys walking on broken glass, laying on nails, some pretty great magic tricks, a trapeze act featuring some very flexible and strong young ladies, and it ended with more fire. More specifically, a group of boys actually lit their fingers and arms on fire and then rubbed it out…There were a few clown acts--one skit included a joke about drinking gin, vodka, and whiskey! Overall, it wasn't just Isaac who left the big top impressed. (And by impressed I might mean alarmed). As I was watching the skits unfold (and urgently whispering to Isaac--DON'T try this at home), I noticed the parent reactions. From the American parents came the ooooh's--(with faces that clearly communicated "oohhh my goodness, someone is going to get hurt")…and the other parents seemed more like, "ohhhhh", (that joke about hard alcohol told by 10 year olds is hilarious!). Just one of those subtle cultural differences, I guess. (you know, subtle as in that would never be allowed in A MILLION YEARS in a US school)
On the flip side, I have to say, it is really pleasant to see kids rise to a challenge, and for the parents to not freak out about "danger" and "inappropriateness". One thing I don't miss here are the 24 hour cable news shows that would have probably snatched up this story and then gone on a 72-hour craze about any number of ways that the circus was compromising safety, or how it may have been morally questionable, or yadda, yadda, yadda. The bottom line is, it was impressive and enjoyable and fun! The kids and I all had a great time…and I have been reminded to never underestimate a 10 year old. Or a clown. And to be sure I've hidden all the matches.
