GUIDING THROUGH THE EYES OF A CHILD
It was nearly 6:30 PM on Saturday, the 12th of July and the weather had considerably changed: from sun to light rain in a few hours. I was waiting for a group to embark Amma Sigga - ready to enjoy a Big Whale Safari.
To my surprise my passengers were just 4 adults and then, 8 brave kids that really wanted to watch the whales. I could notice that it will be a challenge for me to communicate with them: they only spoke French, but I do not.
Their parents were translating all what I was explaining and I was watching their reactions: They were enjoying as kids do: laughing and pointing at the weird and clumsy movements that the “clowns of the ocean” – the puffins – were doing.
Later on we started to look for some whales. It took some time, but suddenly we saw a huge blow. The captain and I were astonished when we realised that it was the blue-fin whale hybrid. I wanted the children to participate. So I asked them to teach me the numbers in French to enable me to use the clock system (which we use to point out the whale’s position) in their mother tongue.
Imagine 8 kids yelling the numbers from 1 to 12 in the middle of the sea: IT WAS MAGICAL!
Later on, when we approached the hybrid, I explained them that whales can hear . That was when they started to call the enormous whale: “Come whale! Come whale!” AND THE WHALE CAME!
Isn't it MAGICAL? It was one of my best experiences so far as a guide!
- Sandra
PHOTOS: Sarah Arndt
A humpback whale raising its fluke out of the water just before leaving for a dive.
The same whale surfacing next to our boat just some minutes later.
