25 April: Clowning at a School, Paudwar, Nepal

25 April Clowning at a School, Paudwar, Nepal

I didn’t sleep well (yes a familiar scene for me).  Pat and Gordon are early rises. I went to the toilet and saw Gordon and just asked if they could be quiet as I so need the rest to get energy. I have my period which shouldn’t have come as I am on contraception designed to stop it, but indeed it has defied chemistry. I have a cold and chest infection to add to it. I am not in tip top shape but have to clown. I wasn’t feeling that happy either so quite a few challenges to overcome. I put on my clown suit, applied make up using my little mirror and took out selected props. In life you just have to wing it and do your best. 

The school is a public school in Paudwar and it is primary and secondary.  I was guided by Gordon to the first class of primary aged children and I do what I always do, make it up. I never know what I start with but just go with it in the moment. The children’s eyes were shining and faces full of smiles and surprise. That is what brings my clown to life. I showed them my puppet and gave kisses. I had some rubber eggs which I had in an egg carton. I have a plastic chicken as well. So I have that flying around the class and squeezing it to give a good ‘haw haw’. I drop the eggs and the kids see they bounce. They are Australian eggs I tell them, my own joke given Australian rules and the oval shape of the football. I tend to spontaneously respond to the audience and found myself with a teacher miming a mirror mime. We just copy each other.  I never said a word.  She just went with it and joined in. We don’t need language, messages are mostly sent without language. I jumped on the desk and made out I was a mountain climber. I put my peace bag across my forehead similar to a Nepali carrying goods. I communicated to the children my recognition of that cultural aspect. I jumped from table to table and stood on the edge, making out I was very scared, pretending to fly and flap my wings. I hugged kids and put on my love glasses. They always love that. I danced, sang and goofed around. I blew up a balloon as a finale and let it go and then tied it up, I sent it around the room and then finally sat on it. I waved and thanked the class, they all clapped.

I then went to the next class of teenagers. I started with running up to some students and hugging and dusting them with my duster. I sat next to kids and sidled up to them saying ‘Namaste’. I climbed up on the desks and did a moon walk by Michael Jackson, of course mine is a very silly version, I have had to train for years to perfect his moves. They laughed. One of the kids I identified as Elvis as he had his hair jelled (copying Bollywood). I turned another boy’s baseball hat around to make him look cool. I jumped into a group of boys at the back. I like to tease them as they are at that age shy of girls and being pointed out. I put my love glasses on one of the boys and played that up. I have a wolf whistling gorilla and squeezed it for a few whistles. So I walked between the desks wolf whistling at him. The kids laughed. I pulled out my glowing microphone and did a Madonna and tried to get them to sing a Nepalese song. It can bounce on the ground, so it can be fun to use. Gordon pointed out one of the boys was a good dancer so we got up on the desk (like a stage) and danced together. He was good and he reminded me of the talent of the people. I left them with the blowing up of my balloon. They were full of smiles and happy. That was my objective. I did it sick and all, so I think I climbed one of my mountains. It was a powerful experience.

Children are vibrant and exciting which is why I like clowning with them. They are the future, it is in their hands. The question is what direction do they go? Personally, I am quietly optimistic. They have an amazing life here, freed from freeways, too much technology and the breaking up of families. How long that continues I really don’t know. Social ills are here and they are still evolving but it is so easy for them to follow India, United States and become another materialistic society. In my experience we lose ourselves in technology. My preference is to see wisdom, philosophy, life skills, values and conflict resolution taught in schools. I think this creates a foundation and then they have the power to discern what is in their own interests. Critical thinking and community is one of the keys.

My clowning interactions with the children was filmed (documented) by Peter and I am sure he will edit it for the Rotary International Convention in Sydney. It will be interesting to note the responses from Rotarians when they see this. Clowning is not understood, it is seen as entertainment, yet the interactions go far deeper than people realise. It is a way of creating goodwill and connection without language. It is funny, I wrote REAL HOPE anti-bullying program for the world with the intention of no language, but really the clowning has been more effective. I can communicate with anyone as a clown, it is a universal archetype.

We somehow in this world have to find ways to coexist with diversity and difference. I do see a great deal of ignorance with communication and sensitivity to others. To learn that life is not about control but to learn to let go and let others live their way, it is a key teaching. Control is at the heart of conflict and lack of awareness of a person’s impact on others. It is so important to learn to speak up, I am learning this as well, but to do it in a way that shares power without conflict. You can’t control anything in life but you can change yourself. It is interesting to observe nature, it doesn’t dominate or control, it blends, interconnects and adapts to change. Nothing is forced, just working for the greater whole; we have much to learn from natural processes and spirit.

I enjoyed the clowning and Pat and Gordon did songs, games, harmonica and painting with the kids. It was a successful day and hundreds of children were happy by this western intervention coming from love and goodwill. The core of Rotary’s mission!