Kathmandu:

With a smile, they can steal one’s heart, and one is ready to forgive them anything so as not to see a tear in their eyes. And they never fail to amaze one by the way they talk, look at you, question you and even irritate you at times.

Yes, we are talking about our young ones — the ones who’ve just started their journey of discovering this place that we call the world. Ask them a simple question and you can get any number of interesting, funny, witty and out-of-this-world answers.

And that exactly what we did with the cutie pies of the International Kindergarten at Anamnagar, Kathmandu.

This kindergarten has the credit of being the first international pre-school in Kathmandu. It was established in 1969 as a playgroup run by mothers. It was only three years later that they felt the need of a teacher who would love the children like their moms and at the same time teach them the basics before they were packed off to school. The main aim of the school is to provide learning experience to children and at the same time teach them how to have fun while learning.

Principal Sama Shrestha took us around and introduced us to the kids. The youngest group ‘the playgroup’ was too shy or too surprised to talk with us. They were more busy getting ready for their naptime.

It was story time for the other group (three-year-olds) and they were listening to the story of a gigantic turnip. Some were listening, some were not, and one even walked to the middle of the room to say that his daddy was so strong that he could lift this huge turnip all by himself.

So, here we were in the company of these tiny tots and this is what had to say.

Where is the Sun?

Satish Pant: Sun is in sky and daytime there is sun, at night moon

Srinkhala Regmi: Sun is a moon

Samantha Pandey: Sun on ground, moon and star night

Which is the biggest animal?

Satish: Elephant

Srinkhala: Crocodile

Samantha: Tiger

Debashree Ghaley Gurung: Lion

Deepsika Basnet: Bear

The four-year-olds is the next class were smart to say the least. Some of them were shy, while some were almost out of their chairs jumping to say what they wanted us to hear and praise them and even clap for them. Shina Goyel even got up and performed ‘Kajara re’ for us while the rest of her class giggled.

After her performance, we asked six of them about them, what they liked to play and what would they like to be when they grow up.

Vishal Karmacharya: (Texan accent et al) I like to play Beyblades with my brother and I win. I went with my mother and brother to buy and I chose it myself. I would like to be a cowboy as they kill bad people and ride horse.

Shama Goyel: I like to do… I like to do…noodle (she meant ludo). Like to sing and dance. I want to become Barbie doll and I know to fly also.

Saujanya Rauniyar: I have baby sister who was this big and now has become this big (showing with his hand). I call her Rani beti. I don’t beat her. I play chess with Mamu and I win always. I want to become doctor.

Avash Joshi: I like to play game. I don’t know name. Football game and Volleyo game (he meant volley ball). Robot also. I want to be Batman. Kills bad people.

Rubel Man Pradhan: I play Mario at home. I want to be Spiderman because he spin.

Biraj Lal Narkarmi: Play basketball. I want to be captain. Helicopter fly.

Half of the class of five-year-olds wanted to be astronauts, two journalist, while the rest doctors.

Doctors, astronauts, Barbies, Spidermans, Batmans, journalists — we have them here. And watch out ‘bad people’ for these bundles of joy just might catch you!