Punishment

       Today was fun day, although it did have its difficulties. We went to town today, which was really fun. We turned our shalwar kameezes we had got last time in town in to the tailor. Getting new clothes is always fun and I’m excited to get these back! After we got back we all kind of lazed around and listened to Christmas music. At 3:30ish pm Chantel and Lauren headed down to decorate the cafeteria for Christmas. I wanted to finish up some stuff on my computer before I headed down, so I stayed and Elizabeth stayed with me. While we were sitting in our bedroom, we heard movement out in our living area. Elizabeth went to look to see who/what it was. I asked her if it was Chantel thinking one of them came back up because they forgot something, but she said, “No, David.” We went out the living area, but no one was there, he had already left. We went back to our room and I continued doing what I was doing and didn’t think anything of it, thinking Chantel or Lauren may have sent him for something they forgot.

       Not too long later Rebecca and a couple other girls came in and said that David had taken something. Not quite sure what they were talking about, I asked them to explain. They said that David had candy in his pocket but wasn’t admitting to it. I’m not sure how exactly they figured out where he got the candy from, but when they told me this I went out to investigate our food area and sure enough the sound I heard could have been the bag of candy. I decided to talk to David and not just take the girls word for it, so I searched him out. I was pointed out to where he was, in his room hiding under his bed. I asked him straight up if he had taken anything from our room. And although I’m sure he doesn’t understand English the best, he knew he was in trouble and so he lied. I think it is common for kids to lie when they know they are/will get in trouble, so I wasn’t too surprised at this. I then made him get out from under the bed and talked to him. I told that we love having kids visit us in our house, but that we like to invite them. That we love giving candy out and sometimes all it takes is a child asking and they might get some. Before I even started talking to him I made all the other kids leave, only keeping Rebecca to translate if needed, they are all too nosy for their own good! Some weren’t listening, but finally they left. David knew he was in trouble, I could tell he had been crying. I asked him if he knew taking things was wrong and he said yes. Then I told him that he needed to apologize to Chantel since it was her candy he had taken. He was not cooperating about going to apologize, but I made him go. Once in the cafeteria, he started really crying, which made me cry (As I said before, I am a sympathy crier!). Shati then talked to him in Bangla and made him show her where he hid what he took. Mrs. Waid says we have to punish him. I understand that we need to but it is still hard for me. I wish I could speak fluent Bangla and understand as well, I would feel much better about this whole thing, because sometimes talking and guilt trips, as much as I hate them, are more effective than any punishment given. But without being able to speak the language fluently we don’t have many options other than punishing him.