Haayo’s Table 1

Location: Netherlands

Today I finally started with the Listening Table. People gave great reactions to my announcement on social media. I started at 10:00am and sat down at the city center next to a community house and the church.

Many people passed me and even even with a small greeting I was able to bring a smile onto people's faces. around 10 people asked what I was doing, and I explained them the role of the listening table and how I want to better myself in learning to listen better. I joked to the Pastor who was getting his garbage bin that I was taking his job.

We had a nice conversation about the church and the differences between Catholics and Christians. He also told me that every first Saturday of the month, there will be a carillonneur playing. I promised him to put it on Facebook for him so more people can enjoy the sound coming from the church.

No one really sat down with me, but I think it was because of the cold weather and the wind ( 6 degrees Celsius and quite some wind). There was a couple that came by to compliment me for the Listening Table initiative. They saw the post on Instagram and wanted to meet me. There was also a group of women passing by.

One stopped and asked what I was doing. After explain the Listening Table concept, the woman told me that she was visiting her old school where she used to work. She now lives and teaches in a city 10 km away. You could feel her passion for teaching and she told me a little story while standing nexxt to my table.

She said that she teaches kids from different cultural backgrounds and she said "If you manage to teach these kids, you can teach everyone". She explained that she uses structure and strictness and a flair of humor to teach these kids. She also recently saw one of the kids she taught in the local supermarket. The kid said "Hey miss .... ". And the teacher told him" Isn't it Teacher..... for you?" And the kids replied: "Still after all these years?