morgaina | School Story

The elementary teacher has been planning a "Multicultural Fair", and I have been participating by having multicultural art lessons. They have gone very well.
Of course I wanted to do a Cambodian Lesson, we drew Cambodian Elephants and used colorful paper for their saddle blankets. All well and good. When I was in Cambodia I kept a bunch of their currency, Deva and Jenny gave me their currency too because with the exchange rate being at 1 US Dollar equalling 3985. Rials, they didn't find them worth bothering with. So I gave the kids two bills each worth a hundred rials (which was worth about 5 cents US.)
The kids exploded!
They left their seats to do the happy dance in the aisles, they shrieked, they hugged me over and over.
I attempted again to explain the difference in monetary value, but it was too late. Every word from them now on was a scream.
Kids: "IS THIS REAL MONEY?"
me: "Yes it is".
Kids: "CAN WE SPEND IT?"
Me: "Yes, but only in Cambodia."
Kids: "WE ARE GOING TO CAMBON-A AND WE'RE GOING TO BE RICH"!
One little boy with autism: "I DON'T WANT YOUR MONEY, I DON'T BELIEVE IN CAMBON-A!"
Happy Dance in the aisles Continues.
Another Little boy to the Para-pro.:"I CAN BUY AND SELL YOU!"
Me in a high, squeaky voice: "Alright Mr. Faul, you can excuse your class to return to their room."

I have to admit that when I retire (Please God), I will miss bits of surrealism like this.