Tanzanian Toys: Recycled Treasures

I spotted a little boy today playing with the most interesting toy. It was a small, narrow board with four water bottle cap wheels. On either end of the board was a half of small water bottle that had been anchored to the board. He would push this make shift car with a stick by putting it inside the front bottle half. He was having more fun pushing this small thing around than I’ve seen in a long time. It wasn’t the sturdiest toy, nor did it roll straight. Nonetheless, he was having fun pushing the thing around. The reason this stuck with me is that I had previously had a conversation about what is was going to be like going home at Christmas. I’m dreading it a bit. I like Christmas, but I find the holidays and the shopping and busyness that go with it to be a bit overwhelming. I know that at some point I am going to brave the crowds to buy clothes seeing that I have very few left in Washington since they were stolen and I don’t have any clothes to wear in Texas while I am home. Back to the point, I will see numerous families clamoring to buy the latest gadget for their youngsters that will probably be forgotten by April and the credit card bill will still need to be paid. The kid I saw was having more fun with something that could be considered trash than most kids will ever play with the toys they have in their toy box. I’m not anti-stuff, but I think this puts it in perspective and is a reminder that sometimes simpler is better. I remember my sister having more fun with a milk jug and clothes pins than her toys. I am more resolved than ever to make my life and the things that come from it simpler.