Well, of course the major highlight of this past week was the visit of Princess Mathilde of Belgium on Monday. It was quite the experience. So, the Thursday before, I was notified I'd be expected to entertain about 10-12 of the K-1 embassy kids about a half hour before the storytime. Of course, they didn't seem to know kids well, because they said I could just have them color or something. Ha! That would last 10 minutes at the most! Anyway, I planned all kinds of games and activities. Good thing, as they called about 9:45 the day of to say the kids were already there. I was planning on going to set up at 10 for them to be there at 10:15! So, we hurried down. They had the Whithall Pavilion all set up with chairs for story time and tables for coloring. They looked mortified when I came in with my cart full of games, balloons, toys, etc and began moving everything out of the way. So, the kids colored and played with magnetic blocks for a bit until I got games ready. Then we played the 2-sides getting to know you game, had a paper towel snowball fight, Simon says, and sitting balloon keep away. The trick was to guard the Rodin sculptures from our frolicking game play :) We had a ball.
When the older kids and parents got back from the tour of the LOC, we had cookies and lemonade. My YRC partner Joe and I were shocked to find out we were left to run the whole show, as all the people we thought were in charge left to follow the Princess around. We had to figure out where all the refreshments were, get them set up, get everybody arranged, clean up trash, etc. It would have been nice to know ahead of time we were expected to do that. Especially since we had the typical unexpected issues, like a Mom freaking out because her kid couldn't have nuts and he was hungry.
Once we got everyone settled, I welcomed everyone, invited them to visit the YRC and introduced the stories. I then read Clever Beatrice. When I as getting ti the end, the Princess arrived. I stopped, let everyone know she was here, then waited as she made her way up to the front to sit beside me. She walked up and offered her hand to shake while thanking me for being there. I finished the story. Then she welcomed the visitors in a beautiful French accent, and tried to ask the kids some questions. I thought this was hilarious, but also felt bad for her, but the kids totally clammed up. She tried asking three different kids in the front some questions, like if they liked the story or what they liked to read, but they just stared at her and didn' say a thing! It was funny because I had just spent an hour playing with them, and they were anything but quiet, plus they had asked my a bunch of questions about the Princess. She turned to me and asked if they were always this quiet. Of course I had to say no.
Next I read Too Many Fairies, which was fun because it included sound effects that I had the kids help me with. After, the Princess thanked me and asked me how I had chosen what books to read. She then presented a gift of a couple of books to the Children's Literature librarian. She was then supposed to leave, but she was semi mobbed by the kids who wanted to give her the pictures they colored and get her autograph. Despite what her entourage wanted, she stayed and talked to the kids. They took a group picture, then she left. I figured the press was going to all leave with her, but some stayed behind and talked to the kids and parents. I was supposed to continue story time, but by then I had lost them all, so I just hung around in the background. The photographer for the LOC interviewed me real quick. Then everyone left, Joe and I cleaned up and headed back to the YRC. We were completely exhausted. I was mortified to find out the Too Many Fairies book had a huge rip in the back, which Joe told me had been there the whole time I was reading, and was the side the Princess was on. Great impression, reading a torn book! Sheesh!
Anyway, it was a crazy experience, but fun and definitely once in a lifetime. How many people on earth can say they read picture books to a Princess and a bunch of kids from Belgium? I'm very glad I had the opportunity, but very glad it is over :)
Check out this site with pics:
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