The Puppet Project

There are toys for all ages

A Melbourne school teacher approached me with an idea to teach her students about digital media. All she had to mention was the word ‘toy’ and I was spouting off ideas with such random force I am sure she was questioning either the sanity of her idea or me. Or who was the real child in the project.

The one with the most toys win! [That would be me, btw]

My mission, should I choose to accept it [and why wouldn't I, once you have heard the details?], is to cart a little green alien puppet with me on my travels in August. Basically, I am to blog about my travels [which I have done in the past] and just have a few photos with the little puppet. The students will be encouraged to read a few posts and comment on my blog.

The teacher, Ms C, suggested sending me a ‘care package’ from Melbourne with notes from the children. Of course, my mind started racing with the sheer possibility of making this fun for both me and the kids. [Okay, okay, if I had to cart a children's toy around the clubs in NY's lower east side, I had to make the strange looks worthwhile.] I suggested having them include the alien’s favourite foods, dislikes, likes, quirks, personality traits, sleeping patterns, habits etc so I could use this material for the blog posts:

• My perspective of my travels mentioning my unusual green companion. Of course, I will take photos of him/it will be poking out of my backpack or sitting across from me as I eat Rissotto alla Milenese in Genoa.
• His perspective of our travels using his personality traits i.e. if he is an early riser, a post about him becoming frustrated with my sleep ins and possibly venturing out in the streets of London before I woke, or his impressions of the sights/people we saw/met based on his disposition as described by the children.
• His adventures without me, i.e. going through the luggage carousel from Sydney to LA and then insisting to sit in his own chair on the subsequent legs around the USA.
• Him playing pranks on my travel partners and them blaming me for his escapades.

The possibilities are endless really!

Whether this indulges my inner child, my creative writing ability, or my repressed multiple personalities, stay tuned for these August posts!

Mr Alien trying to climb into the computer

[Photo courtesy of Ms C.]