When I was working as a social development worker (under the Strategic Corporate-Community Partnership for Local Development program, a joint initiative of the Philippine Business for Social Progress and GIZ or the German Agency for International Cooperation), I met a Dutch development expert named Nanda Ritsma, who lives in Tagbilaran, Bohol, and works side by side with the Department of Trade and Industry in implementing sustainable eco-tourism projects.
During one of our visits in Bohol, my then SCOPE partner Janina Wohlgemuth and I were invited to Nanda’s home and there we met her husband, Pelden (who’s from Bhutan but people in Bohol usually thinks he is from Butuan) and their daughters – Tara and Niki. Nanda and Pelden have two adorable girls beaming with positive and contagious energy. I thought then that it must have been tough to raise two kids in another country – little did I know, that Jeff and I will experience the same thing.
I got a message from Nanda last Saturday (August 9).
“Hi Cris, keep it up! Following your posts and also preparing for a month without hubby! But not with young twins, and with yaya… Short movie of Tara reading (?) just because I appreciate the way you promote reading with your kids!”
Yes! She shared videos of Tara- who turned six years old last April – reading the story of Cinderella’s wedding in English. Tara also read another story in Dutch.
I asked her when did Tara start reading and she replied:
“Tara started recognizing letters at 4 as she was being taught at Kindergarten. But reading words is a different story… Though school really tries, and I certainly stimulated (too much?), she just did not really to be ready to start reading. Now slowly slowly the cry outs start from the back of the car: “Mom, it reads ‘no parking!?!”
Thanks for sharing these videos, Nanda! Hugs to Tara and Niki! And our best regards to Pelden!
