These days are passing too quickly!!! I've been so busy and so much has happened. The rest of Carrie and Britta's stay was quite fun. We went to Cayos Cochinos and hung out on the tropical beaches yet again. I felt so deliciously lazy, I loved it. I got a nice tan, snorkeled some, saw some amazing jelly fish, and enjoyed. When we got back, we got ready to go hang out at a house by the river for the night. Zoe, Carrie, Britta and I stayed there. The river is truly incredible and beautiful. I went down and read by its edge, listened to the water, and relaxed in the amazing beauty of the place I am at. On Saturday I left nice and early to go to San Pedro Sula to pick up the group! I was so excited. I brought Eloisa along and she thought I was quite crazy the way I was jumping up on down an I peered through this tiny slit where I could see Erica and others emerging. When Danielle came out, I about pushed her over from my hug, and then followed everyone else and it was hugs all around.
After loading up luggage, and the most donations I've ever seen a group bring, we traveled for some lunch, then to the hotel, and finally to the hogar in the night to drop by to say hi really quickly. As the bus pulled up, there were literally screams from inside the hogar in excitement. Everyone from last year got off as fast as they could to embrace their kids, and those who were new jumped right into playing and getting to know everyone. We spent Sunday at the river. The kids got there late because of a miscommunication, but once they were there everyone had tons of fun jumping from rocks and playing soccer etc. Poor Denia gashed open both of her feet. Denia is my closest friend here, 17 years old and one of the toughest girls you'll meet. To see her almost crying I knew she was in lots of pain. But we fixed her all up and it should be getting better. For dinner the group got to sample some Baleadas which they loved, though not quite as much as I love them haha. Needless to say they were delicious.
Yesterday was their first day working. I opted to continue helping with school and skip the hard manual labor. I think it was a good choice. Their project is to improve the water system so that there is a constant and reliable source of water for the kids. We have been without water for the kitchen and bathrooms for the past four days. The group hauled lots of sand, some hacked out a better path, and soon they will begin laying pipes. In the afternoon they all went rafting but I opted to stay behind at the river playing with the kids, since I'd been the week before. My plan was to wait for the rafts to pass, since I was hanging out near the end of the treck. So I passed a lovely 4 hours, playing, being smothered by little ones, etc. I figured they should be by about 3 30. Then it became 4, then 4 30 and at 5 I figured they weren't coming for whatever reason. Eloisa was staying with me,so I went in search of a telephone. Deanna lent me one and I eventually found service to call David. I was quite unsure what had happened. It turns out they simply left me! Ha. My own father forgot me. The rafts had stopped at a higher up place because the river was a tad shallow, and instead of coming to get me where I said I would be, they went back- assuming that I would have left by then! Absurdity. So I was more or less stranded up in the jungle. David did come to get me, and once I was back all the kids told me how worried they were, and how my dad was worried, and they asked if he would be mad at me. It was quite sweet. David had called Denia as well, and before he picked me up, she, Geni, and Brenda came running down in search of me. Denia looks at me and starts to tell me off about how she was studying and then David called so she came looking for me and she thought I was drowned. It was really sweet. I feel safe up there just because there are a lot of people who would take care of me.
Today was a different sort of day. Eloisa got sick this morning and is still sick and I'm quite worried about her. I don't know if she ate something or what. She didn't look to good all morning at the school, but she's one of the girls who could be dying but still have a smile on her face. She wasn't the only one. Joseal was crying because his teeth hurt. When I asked him to show me it was obvious why. He has two enormous holes drilled into his gums from cavity's. He needs them pulled badly and I told his dad that as well. The poor thing it was really hurting. Then I learned one of the girls was being sexually abused by and uncle and that just upset me because she is the sweetest thing. Sometimes things are just upsetting. A lot of the group was sick as well :( So I was wandering around quite worried.
A quick trip to the campisino village today, back to the hogar and then to dinner, and I am now here exhausted writing. Se vaya bien.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The little things
Time has been good here, running as normal, at least as normal as normal gets. I go to school and help with Kinder, or anything else that needs doing. Classes are good, and the school has settled into a nice rhythm. There are always interesting things happening. The kids continue to amaze me. One day last week the bus had to leave an hour early because of a strike that was supposedly going to happen and possibly take over the bridge of the highway so that no one could cross. Since we were early, I watched from the window of the bus as one of the girls, Norma, crossed the river carrying not one, but two of her family members across, barefoot while fighting against the current. She must have feet of steel in order to do that. I have difficulty crossing on my own barefoot because of all the rocks that constantly jab into my feet.
The new play set at the hogar is finished now. It's quite something to watch the kids fly down the slide and then keep going because the concrete in front kind of slopes down to the next classroom. Danerous? Just a little. Supposedly there is supposed to be a fence built in front but we shall see. Fresita got really sick for a little bit. I think she had worms and all of the sudden she became listless and wouldn't eat. I got so worried and we eventually took her to the vet. He kept her for a few hours, gave her some medicine, didn't charge us money! and now she is on the recover path thank goodness. One of the little kittens wasn't so lucky :( She also got sick and didn't make it. The poor thing was so cute, even as you could tell she was fading, she was still purring. The other four seem to be alright. Not perfect because they have some sort of bowel movement problem but they are running around and okay. I just want to deliver them all safe to the kids, and ready to be good pets.
Carlos and Moises had a bit of a fight the other day at the hogar. It's strange how quickly things can turn from play and joking, to pure hostility. They were working on some homework and apparently Moises farted and then put his hand as if to grab it and rub it in Carlos' face. Well Carlos wasn't too keen on that, and since he had scissors in his hand he decided to reach over and gash Moises' leg. After that they made a move as if to start hitting each other, but luckily Kenedi was there and took a slug on her arm for the team, broke it up and then I stepped in, grabbed them both and tried to sort it out. Moises seemed to kind of shrugged it off, but Carlos was shaking with anger. That kind of took me back, because I still don't see how that could have set him off so badly. I decided he needed to walk it off and try to get himself under control, so we went for a stroll around the block. He wouldn't say much but he looked better at the end of it. I still feel like there must have been something more, but who knows.
Carrie and Britta are here! It's so exciting and we're having fun. I hope they are enjoying themselves. I went to San Pedro Sula on Friday with Cristy. We stayed with Lenner (her brother and nicest man in the world) and went in the morning to get them. Unfortunately I slightly mixed up the times of their arrival so we left late to pick them up. On our way over, we had a bit of an incident when the hood came up and hit the wind shield and completely cracked the entire thing. It was an enormous bang and thank god we were in a semi deserted street or that could have been a problem. We continued on and finally got to the airport to pick them up. Me, Carrie and Britta headed back with a friend of Cristy's to Ceiba while she stayed to get the wind shield fixed, so here we are safe and sound. We went to the hogar the first day, and as we walked in Cherlin took one look at Britta and a mischievous smile lit her face and she tells me all sassy like 'I knew she was coming!'. Britta hadn't told Cherlin, and I'd only mentioned that a surprise was coming. She had then guessed what it was and I denied it, but the two of them really are inseparable. On Saturday the rain foiled our river plans, so we went early to the Hogar to help decorate for the fiesta. The Hogar looked really nice, and Zoe face painted almost everyone. There were lots of little tigers running around. The program was good and the food was nice, and it was my favorite to just dance around with everyone after. I got to tell them about our 5 30 wake up call which they were thrilled about, but they seem to be hanging in there. They are on miscellaneous job duty, which includes organizing the library, painting and covering books. I think they're enjoying it.
On Sunday we hiked to an amazing waterfall, on Monday after school we hung out at the river with 23 kids, and today we went rafting on the river. So beautiful, and such amazing days. Yesterday I was in charge of all the kids, and wore my voice out yelling to not jump off rocks, not bathe naked, etc. etc. I wasn't too stressed though. And today was beautiful. Drifting down the river with the sun and friends and everything. Amazing. So I'm enjoying myself a lot. I'm going to miss so many things. Actually mostly the kids. I love them. So thats it, same old story :) lots to look forward to!
The new play set at the hogar is finished now. It's quite something to watch the kids fly down the slide and then keep going because the concrete in front kind of slopes down to the next classroom. Danerous? Just a little. Supposedly there is supposed to be a fence built in front but we shall see. Fresita got really sick for a little bit. I think she had worms and all of the sudden she became listless and wouldn't eat. I got so worried and we eventually took her to the vet. He kept her for a few hours, gave her some medicine, didn't charge us money! and now she is on the recover path thank goodness. One of the little kittens wasn't so lucky :( She also got sick and didn't make it. The poor thing was so cute, even as you could tell she was fading, she was still purring. The other four seem to be alright. Not perfect because they have some sort of bowel movement problem but they are running around and okay. I just want to deliver them all safe to the kids, and ready to be good pets.
Carlos and Moises had a bit of a fight the other day at the hogar. It's strange how quickly things can turn from play and joking, to pure hostility. They were working on some homework and apparently Moises farted and then put his hand as if to grab it and rub it in Carlos' face. Well Carlos wasn't too keen on that, and since he had scissors in his hand he decided to reach over and gash Moises' leg. After that they made a move as if to start hitting each other, but luckily Kenedi was there and took a slug on her arm for the team, broke it up and then I stepped in, grabbed them both and tried to sort it out. Moises seemed to kind of shrugged it off, but Carlos was shaking with anger. That kind of took me back, because I still don't see how that could have set him off so badly. I decided he needed to walk it off and try to get himself under control, so we went for a stroll around the block. He wouldn't say much but he looked better at the end of it. I still feel like there must have been something more, but who knows.
Carrie and Britta are here! It's so exciting and we're having fun. I hope they are enjoying themselves. I went to San Pedro Sula on Friday with Cristy. We stayed with Lenner (her brother and nicest man in the world) and went in the morning to get them. Unfortunately I slightly mixed up the times of their arrival so we left late to pick them up. On our way over, we had a bit of an incident when the hood came up and hit the wind shield and completely cracked the entire thing. It was an enormous bang and thank god we were in a semi deserted street or that could have been a problem. We continued on and finally got to the airport to pick them up. Me, Carrie and Britta headed back with a friend of Cristy's to Ceiba while she stayed to get the wind shield fixed, so here we are safe and sound. We went to the hogar the first day, and as we walked in Cherlin took one look at Britta and a mischievous smile lit her face and she tells me all sassy like 'I knew she was coming!'. Britta hadn't told Cherlin, and I'd only mentioned that a surprise was coming. She had then guessed what it was and I denied it, but the two of them really are inseparable. On Saturday the rain foiled our river plans, so we went early to the Hogar to help decorate for the fiesta. The Hogar looked really nice, and Zoe face painted almost everyone. There were lots of little tigers running around. The program was good and the food was nice, and it was my favorite to just dance around with everyone after. I got to tell them about our 5 30 wake up call which they were thrilled about, but they seem to be hanging in there. They are on miscellaneous job duty, which includes organizing the library, painting and covering books. I think they're enjoying it.
On Sunday we hiked to an amazing waterfall, on Monday after school we hung out at the river with 23 kids, and today we went rafting on the river. So beautiful, and such amazing days. Yesterday I was in charge of all the kids, and wore my voice out yelling to not jump off rocks, not bathe naked, etc. etc. I wasn't too stressed though. And today was beautiful. Drifting down the river with the sun and friends and everything. Amazing. So I'm enjoying myself a lot. I'm going to miss so many things. Actually mostly the kids. I love them. So thats it, same old story :) lots to look forward to!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Thank God for HHK
There are certain times when I am here that really make me realize the amazing work that HHK does. This past weekend drove that in for me more than any other time I have been here. I decided to go to El Progresso in order to attempt to make some connections with an organization called Students Helping Honduras, which also does awesome work. I had run into them on the Georgetown campus, and since I will be there soon I wanted to see what it was about. They have chapters all of the US that send volunteers down to build housing and schools in and around the El Progresso area. I met the director, Shin Fujiyama, and he and his crew have accomplished an amazing amount. It was great getting to talk with him and meet some people from Georgetown as well. It even looks like we may be able to work out some sort of work together with SHH and HHK, so that is exciting as well. We shall see if it develops. Hope so!
On Saturday morning I caught a bus over to El Progresso, about 2 hours from La Ceiba, and met up with the staff. A new group of 60 volunteers was coming in that day so I met a bunch of new people, and went with two of the girls to see Villa Soleada, which is the pioneer project of SHH. There are 44 homes there that were built I believe, with a community center and what will soon be a full running Children's home. It was nice seeing the families and the kids, and just taking everything in.
Sunday made a huge impact on me. SHH took their group to a state run orphanage in San Pedro Sula. It was awful. Simply awful. The minute I walked into the place I didn't like it, I can hardly imagine living there. It is built like a prison, complete with a guard tower. The rooms are all locked up, and the entire area smells. The only redeeming aspect is a nice play ground in the back, but besides from that there isn't much. The poor kids though are what got to me. These are not healthy kids. Almost all of the boys had scabs on their heads, and a lot of kids had cuts or wounds on their faces and bodies. These kids also weren't socially or mentally healthy most of them. There were many special needs kids that were not getting the attention they needed. None of the kids get the attention they need. All of the kids are 13 or under and there are about 130 at the facility with 3 staff members to look after them all. One staff is dedicated to the 20 or so 'babies' in the nursery, another to the 20 special needs kids, and another to all the rest. These kids are growing up with almost a complete lack of any adult figure. They don't get medical attention, educational attention, basically no attention. They are growing up among kids in an environment that no kid should be in. But of course the answer is always the same. There just aren't the resources to take care of them. Not enough money sent over. Which is true, but why? So what's the answer. The only thing we can do is build a private orphanage and get them out, which is exactly what HHK did. Thank God our kids are where they are. I don't know if they were ever in a place like that but I certainly hope not. But now that I saw it, I can't stop thinking about the other kids. Who won't grow up healthily or develop correctly. Many will probably become social misfits or gang members.
I went into the baby ward. That for me was maybe the worst part. Cribs are stacked together, each with a baby or two in them. One of the babies was had arms and legs about as big as my thumb. She was absolutely tiny, and just sucking on her thumb like she was trying to eat it, but completely quiet. Others cried from hunger, from needing to be changed, from wanting attention from the one house mother who was paid to watch them. Not all of them were babies in the cribs. There were kids that looked at least 7 or 8 years old, who never developed past the baby phase. I don't know their stories but it's so difficult to see. I worry about the babies who wont get the love they need to grow. The entire thing was a mess and I did not leave that place a happy person. It's not fair.
So after that we grabbed lunch and I had a 2 hour bus ride to sit through with those images in my head. It almost surprises me though how quickly I can get back into my normal routine, and not think about it. Maybe I"m in the mind set that I can't do anything at present, so it's better not to dwell on it, though I'll make sure not to forget. I am more convinced though that we need to make sure HHK's work continues. It takes so much to support a small orphanage, but the work is worth it. The kids deserve the attention. HHK isn't perfect, but it's quite a bit better than that. Of course it's resources that are the problem, and they could do more with more, but how will they ever get them. Ugh
Monday it was back to class and helping out with Kinder. Actually, thinking about it that's a lie. I came down with a 103 fever on Monday and was asleep all day. I don't know where it came from. Could have been from the orphanage. So that was fun. Tuesday was also a recovery day, but luckily by the night I was ready to go. We went out to a movie with the kids which was fun of course. Wednesday was school again, followed by the hogar and then a night time swim at the beach with the kids. I played some soccer and we all had a blast and it was awesome. I love them. All the time I spend with them only pounds this fact in more and more, and yet my brain echoes ' your leaving... your leaving....' but I try to deny it. Today I went with David to help drop off donations in the Campesino village. I hadn't seen it in quite awhile so it was good to go. In the afternoon we went to buy paint in order to paint the kinder class tomorrow and I spent a bunch of money. It was great. Then I went to the Hogar to pick up a batch of 5 kittens I am now currently caring for. The mother had them in the hogar and then left. They are quiet needy and will be more work, and the house is becoming a half way house for animals but they are adorable. So thats it, I am tired and goodnight!
On Saturday morning I caught a bus over to El Progresso, about 2 hours from La Ceiba, and met up with the staff. A new group of 60 volunteers was coming in that day so I met a bunch of new people, and went with two of the girls to see Villa Soleada, which is the pioneer project of SHH. There are 44 homes there that were built I believe, with a community center and what will soon be a full running Children's home. It was nice seeing the families and the kids, and just taking everything in.
Sunday made a huge impact on me. SHH took their group to a state run orphanage in San Pedro Sula. It was awful. Simply awful. The minute I walked into the place I didn't like it, I can hardly imagine living there. It is built like a prison, complete with a guard tower. The rooms are all locked up, and the entire area smells. The only redeeming aspect is a nice play ground in the back, but besides from that there isn't much. The poor kids though are what got to me. These are not healthy kids. Almost all of the boys had scabs on their heads, and a lot of kids had cuts or wounds on their faces and bodies. These kids also weren't socially or mentally healthy most of them. There were many special needs kids that were not getting the attention they needed. None of the kids get the attention they need. All of the kids are 13 or under and there are about 130 at the facility with 3 staff members to look after them all. One staff is dedicated to the 20 or so 'babies' in the nursery, another to the 20 special needs kids, and another to all the rest. These kids are growing up with almost a complete lack of any adult figure. They don't get medical attention, educational attention, basically no attention. They are growing up among kids in an environment that no kid should be in. But of course the answer is always the same. There just aren't the resources to take care of them. Not enough money sent over. Which is true, but why? So what's the answer. The only thing we can do is build a private orphanage and get them out, which is exactly what HHK did. Thank God our kids are where they are. I don't know if they were ever in a place like that but I certainly hope not. But now that I saw it, I can't stop thinking about the other kids. Who won't grow up healthily or develop correctly. Many will probably become social misfits or gang members.
I went into the baby ward. That for me was maybe the worst part. Cribs are stacked together, each with a baby or two in them. One of the babies was had arms and legs about as big as my thumb. She was absolutely tiny, and just sucking on her thumb like she was trying to eat it, but completely quiet. Others cried from hunger, from needing to be changed, from wanting attention from the one house mother who was paid to watch them. Not all of them were babies in the cribs. There were kids that looked at least 7 or 8 years old, who never developed past the baby phase. I don't know their stories but it's so difficult to see. I worry about the babies who wont get the love they need to grow. The entire thing was a mess and I did not leave that place a happy person. It's not fair.
So after that we grabbed lunch and I had a 2 hour bus ride to sit through with those images in my head. It almost surprises me though how quickly I can get back into my normal routine, and not think about it. Maybe I"m in the mind set that I can't do anything at present, so it's better not to dwell on it, though I'll make sure not to forget. I am more convinced though that we need to make sure HHK's work continues. It takes so much to support a small orphanage, but the work is worth it. The kids deserve the attention. HHK isn't perfect, but it's quite a bit better than that. Of course it's resources that are the problem, and they could do more with more, but how will they ever get them. Ugh
Monday it was back to class and helping out with Kinder. Actually, thinking about it that's a lie. I came down with a 103 fever on Monday and was asleep all day. I don't know where it came from. Could have been from the orphanage. So that was fun. Tuesday was also a recovery day, but luckily by the night I was ready to go. We went out to a movie with the kids which was fun of course. Wednesday was school again, followed by the hogar and then a night time swim at the beach with the kids. I played some soccer and we all had a blast and it was awesome. I love them. All the time I spend with them only pounds this fact in more and more, and yet my brain echoes ' your leaving... your leaving....' but I try to deny it. Today I went with David to help drop off donations in the Campesino village. I hadn't seen it in quite awhile so it was good to go. In the afternoon we went to buy paint in order to paint the kinder class tomorrow and I spent a bunch of money. It was great. Then I went to the Hogar to pick up a batch of 5 kittens I am now currently caring for. The mother had them in the hogar and then left. They are quiet needy and will be more work, and the house is becoming a half way house for animals but they are adorable. So thats it, I am tired and goodnight!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Transitions
This week was my first week without a job. I got booted out. Well not really of course, but I was really just beginning to really get into the swing of teaching kinder. I quite love it surprisingly and its strange now that its no longer my classroom. But of course that means that there is good news and that we found a new teacher! He is now teaching 5th and 6th grade and the kids seem to really like him. Bien chistoso. Maestra Kenia went to first and second grade, and the teacher for that level moved down to Kinder. So therefore, I am no longer maestra Kyla. Just volunteer haha. But it's better that way. Since I'm leaving and all. Although, in some way moving out of a teaching position really hit it home for me that I am indeed leaving in a little over a month. My heart kind of aches every time I think about it. So I prefer not to, though it's never far from my mind. I feel like I'm on the countdown now. I had hoped for a little while to extend my stay until May, but it doesn't seem like thats going to be possible.
Anyways, I've been helping the new teacher, Marie, get used to the classroom routine. She is very young, 18 like me, and inexperienced, and to be honest the first three days I was quite annoyed with her. Almost angry. Sometimes she lacks the strength to run a classroom, she is soft spoken and doesn't have that great of control. She would prepare during class and she didn't have a great grasp on when the kids were bored. After working pretty hard at ordering the class, getting kids to listen etc, I didn't want all my work undone. So, for better or for worse, I wrote a note on Wednesday telling her that she needed to be a bit more prepared and a few other things. It wasn't mean but it was pretty direct and I debated whether or not to give it to her, and once I did I regretted it but I figured it was too late to dwell on it after that. Thursday morning came and I was quite nervous that she would be mad at me, but thankfully she took it in the best way possible. She admitted that there were things she needed to work on and she took some of my advice really well. She had a lesson planned out, took control of the class pretty well, looked over both parts of the class, led the line etc. etc. I was really impressed and relieved. No one likes to be criticized, especially by someone that is the same age as you. I also was nervous because looking back it really wasn't my place to say those things. I think once in awhile I have a problem with doing things, or wanting to do things, that are the responsibility of others. I mean it in the best possible way, but I have realized that I do like to be in control of certain things. I'm working on knowing the difference of when help is wanted, and when I'm infringing. Someone needs to give me a job haha. I've taken a backseat in the classroom though.
A new nurse came and he and Kim are working on doing head checks for all the kids at the jungle school and treating the worst cases of lice. We desperately need more lice shampoo. Some of the kids are simply covered. Well not just the kids. You can add me into the mix. Awesome, though I've mostly got control of it I believe. There is also a scalp infection thats going around that makes the kids loose their hair and I reallllly don't want to get it. I should be fine. Lots of hand sanitizer. I feel like I've learned a lot more about abuse lately, different cases of it. There has to be a point where I stop thinking about it, because otherwise I would never rest. These kids who are typically so full of smiles come every day and you fall in love with them and they go through so much. I just hope each and every one will turn out to live a happier life. Today I went with Maestra Kenia to visit a family who isn't sending their kids to school any more, though they did last year. For those of you who remember my complaining about Kevin from kinder the year before, he didn't return to school this year and it made me worried. So we went up their and Kenia talked with the parents. I think they may come Monday, though their seemed to be problems because they had no birth certificates or something of the sort. On our way down we met up with a few of the volunteers who had gone swimming with the kids. While swimming, Samir from my kinder class had fell and gashed his eyebrow, and Deanna, his older sister, was so so worried because she said that her mom was going to beat her for not watching him better. She asked us to stay and talk with her mom so of course we agreed, and so we just hung out for about 3 and a half hours waiting for her mom to get home. Kenia had left with Cristy, so it was three of us. I was worried for her, because I know how things work here, and she was definitely going to get a beating for something that wasn't her fault. It sucks so much and there is so little we can do. Hitting is so ingrained up in the area. The first response to anything is to grab a stick and wield it high until a kid listens. It's kids, animals, anything really. You get obedience through force. I extremely dislike it, even though I love the people. It's so hard to change.
So that is it. We have a full house of volunteers now. It's been fun. Somehow I seem to be spending less and less time with the kids, or it feels like it, but I'm trying to help where I'm needed. Soaking in everything still. Looking forward to certain people coming down :) Missing everyone a tad. I send my love!
Anyways, I've been helping the new teacher, Marie, get used to the classroom routine. She is very young, 18 like me, and inexperienced, and to be honest the first three days I was quite annoyed with her. Almost angry. Sometimes she lacks the strength to run a classroom, she is soft spoken and doesn't have that great of control. She would prepare during class and she didn't have a great grasp on when the kids were bored. After working pretty hard at ordering the class, getting kids to listen etc, I didn't want all my work undone. So, for better or for worse, I wrote a note on Wednesday telling her that she needed to be a bit more prepared and a few other things. It wasn't mean but it was pretty direct and I debated whether or not to give it to her, and once I did I regretted it but I figured it was too late to dwell on it after that. Thursday morning came and I was quite nervous that she would be mad at me, but thankfully she took it in the best way possible. She admitted that there were things she needed to work on and she took some of my advice really well. She had a lesson planned out, took control of the class pretty well, looked over both parts of the class, led the line etc. etc. I was really impressed and relieved. No one likes to be criticized, especially by someone that is the same age as you. I also was nervous because looking back it really wasn't my place to say those things. I think once in awhile I have a problem with doing things, or wanting to do things, that are the responsibility of others. I mean it in the best possible way, but I have realized that I do like to be in control of certain things. I'm working on knowing the difference of when help is wanted, and when I'm infringing. Someone needs to give me a job haha. I've taken a backseat in the classroom though.
A new nurse came and he and Kim are working on doing head checks for all the kids at the jungle school and treating the worst cases of lice. We desperately need more lice shampoo. Some of the kids are simply covered. Well not just the kids. You can add me into the mix. Awesome, though I've mostly got control of it I believe. There is also a scalp infection thats going around that makes the kids loose their hair and I reallllly don't want to get it. I should be fine. Lots of hand sanitizer. I feel like I've learned a lot more about abuse lately, different cases of it. There has to be a point where I stop thinking about it, because otherwise I would never rest. These kids who are typically so full of smiles come every day and you fall in love with them and they go through so much. I just hope each and every one will turn out to live a happier life. Today I went with Maestra Kenia to visit a family who isn't sending their kids to school any more, though they did last year. For those of you who remember my complaining about Kevin from kinder the year before, he didn't return to school this year and it made me worried. So we went up their and Kenia talked with the parents. I think they may come Monday, though their seemed to be problems because they had no birth certificates or something of the sort. On our way down we met up with a few of the volunteers who had gone swimming with the kids. While swimming, Samir from my kinder class had fell and gashed his eyebrow, and Deanna, his older sister, was so so worried because she said that her mom was going to beat her for not watching him better. She asked us to stay and talk with her mom so of course we agreed, and so we just hung out for about 3 and a half hours waiting for her mom to get home. Kenia had left with Cristy, so it was three of us. I was worried for her, because I know how things work here, and she was definitely going to get a beating for something that wasn't her fault. It sucks so much and there is so little we can do. Hitting is so ingrained up in the area. The first response to anything is to grab a stick and wield it high until a kid listens. It's kids, animals, anything really. You get obedience through force. I extremely dislike it, even though I love the people. It's so hard to change.
So that is it. We have a full house of volunteers now. It's been fun. Somehow I seem to be spending less and less time with the kids, or it feels like it, but I'm trying to help where I'm needed. Soaking in everything still. Looking forward to certain people coming down :) Missing everyone a tad. I send my love!
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