Indonesian children are wonderful to hang out with. They’re generally well-behaved and best of all, they’re fun. They seem to live in the moment…naturally. And most like to play games.
But not the kind you might think.
Certain kids, neighbors I met while staying/volunteering in a village (Tiakar Guguak, Payakumbuh) in West Sumatra for a few weeks, had special games they played. Involving me, the foreigner.
They didn’t use boards and little plastic pieces. There was no soccer ball being kicked about. No electronic devices were involved, either (although some of the local tweens/teens played games online at the local Internet cafe).
Keeping It Simple–and Silly
In these kids’ case, the games were simple. And silly. And toyless. Oh wait–maybe I was the ‘toy’ and didn’t realize it (until now)?
These delightful children kept the games going the entire time I was there, about three weeks, and know what? I loved it. Later in my trip, I met kids on other islands who played similar toyless ‘games with the foreigner.’
After a while, I figured out all the games–how they’re played, what the rules and what one needs to do to win. I then enjoyed them for the next few weeks. Here they are:
1. Hi, hi, hi, hi, hi…
In this game (one I’ve seen played in other countries, by the way), kids spot you walking down the street and a few of them say ‘hi.’ Soon, more say it. Then, eventually, they all say it repeatedly, their voices raised, until they get your attention.
When the kids did this with me, I waited a while and then said ‘hi’ back. The kids got giggly and stopped. Then, a few said ‘hi’ yet again and one or two kicked it up a notch and said, ‘Hi, Mister.’ Sometimes, I corrected them and they kept saying it anyway.
2. Repetition of Anything/Everything
Here, you say something in English. They repeat it—and use the same intonation/pronunciation you used. Then you say it another way and they mimic that, too. All the while, they laugh…at you.
I had fun playing this one–until I really wanted to talk to them. Then, it got confusing!
3. Reverse Repetition/Incorrect Pronunciation Mocking
In this variation of Game 2, the kids try to get you to repeat them. They put out a simple phrase in Bahasa, one they’ve heard you attempt. They say it a few times until you repeat it. Then they laugh at your poor pronunciation.
In my case, when the kids were victorious–meaning, when I was drawn into playing–they mocked my pronunciation many times. I laughed, too.
4. Racing/Sprinting
Not sure if this game is common in Indonesia or if it was specific to these kids, but I thought I’d share it nevertheless.
They played it when I arrived at the small street I was living on–or when I was leaving. They would spot me from a distance and run as fast as they could while laughing hysterically. This always put a smile on my face because I saw how happy they were to see me.
Or maybe they were just happy to be racing?
I think this was my favorite game. 
4a. Over-Exaggerating Exhaustion
Because this occurred right after Game 4, I consider it an extension of that one. In it, a kid would act super exhausted when he/she finally caught up to me…sucking in air, touching his head, etc. One day, one of the kids pretended to fall to the ground. I guess he won that round!
PS: The one boy you see in several photo (next pic, left side)–the one with the intense look of mischief on his face–was my favorite. Can you see why?
5. Drama Kings/Queens
Vying for your attention (minus the running) is what it’s all about. The goal is to be be the most mischievous or dramatic, jumping, laughing, making funny faces, being silly or trying to mock punch someone else. This cracked me up each time they played it.
7. Peekaboo Photo…
In this game, kids pretend they want you to take their photo; then, they hide behind someone else so that you can’t. Then they peek out from behind their sibling or friend, just long enough to get you to think you can take their photo. But like birds, they move fast and most often, you don’t get their photo. Or it’s a blurry mess.
Looking Forward To It–and Loving It
Guess what? As silly as all of this may seem, I began to look forward to the kids and their games. It was a blast. Just when I thought I had things figured out, I saw that I didn’t. They’d come up with something new and it was always fun.
The kids were adorable. They seemed quite happy, playing with each other, making mischief and/or just hanging out with me. When I left, I got emotional. We had gotten close in our own way.
I didn’t know if I’d ever see them again. I was happy, of course, when two guys I met in a nearby tourist town showed up. They’d agreed to volunteer in the village, as I had done. They were staying at my friend’s house, too, which meant the kids would be their neighbors.
Continuing the Fun…with Other Foreigners
As soon as they unpacked their backpacks and went out on the porch, guess who showed up? The kids.
Know what they said?
‘Hi, hi, hi, hi, hi…’
Your Thoughts/Reactions/Experiences?
During your travels, have you been part of one of these foreigner-focused games? If so, which one/s?
Do you typically connect with the children you meet when in another country? Does it happen no matter where you are or more often in smaller towns/villages? If so, what and how? Are they toyless, tech-free games?
I find children in other countries to be a pleasure to hang out with–generally less spoiled (exceptions, of course) and more respectful than in the U.S. Have you found the same? If so, where and what was your experience?
