In Reply to: Kids point of view? posted by Megs on Thursday, 29. April 1999 at 16:56 Bali Time:
I will be in Ubud in June with my two kids, ages 12 and 16. While I know from experience that bored, irritable or despondent kids can be very draining, I'm planning to "bore" mine to the max. I think they'll enjoy the cooking, woodcarving, batik, dance and gamelan classes we plan to take, but they are none too keen about spending a day in a local school, helping in rice fields, or staying in a family compound. However, they have access to so many mindless and questionable "amusements" in the US (their last school fieldtrip, supposedly for "educational purposes", was to an IMAX and then lunch at Hard Rock Cafe!), that I can't wait to get them out of this country and our entertainment mindset to see how so many in this world live. In June, they may be complaining, but the trip can't help but impact their perspectives and philosophies for a lifetime. If I sound preachy, I don't mean to -- I'm just really excited about what I see as an incredible cultural opportunity for all of us.