The first actual week of work has
begun. Yesterday, the volunteers and I went to an orphanage called San Antonio.
I was able to work with the little ones. I’m hoping that next week I’ll be able
to work with the older children. Work the young toddlers was fun. We played
with them, fed them, and watched over them.
When the volunteers and I arrived
to work with the toddlers, we were asked to help the staff with watching over
the children in the park. Walking to the park was a breeze. All the children
held each other’s hands and they were essentially a human train. But once we
got to the park, oh my goodness gracious. The children were running everywhere
in the little park. It was kind of hectic but very fun. One little boy just
wanted to stay with me and hold my hand. It was adorable. We sang songs and
played games in the park.
After that, everyone walked back
to the orphanage where the volunteers and I helped the children get ready for
lunch. While everyone sat and waited for lunch, I talked with three older girls
who seemed to be around 6 years old. They were touching me a lot and honestly,
I felt uncomfortable. One girl pinched my cheek and two others started to run
around me. I was annoyed so I just left to the baby side. Here, I was asked to
feed a little boy who fell asleep. He was dreaming plenty of sweet dreams that
he did not even want to wake up. It was adorable. When he did wake up, he was
grumpy and did not want me to feed him.
When lunch was over, it was
naptime. I helped the babies get ready for nap. A little toddler with Down
syndrome held onto both my hands and he just sat and stared at me while
caressing my hands. It was an amazing feeling. He just radiated love and peace.
I was so grateful to experience that rush of feelings. I wanted to cry.
Naptime for the children meant
home time for the volunteers. When the volunteers and I got home, we had lunch
and then we rested a bit before we went to the Incan market. I bought so many
things at the Incan market, but my favorite thing of all is this one painting
of a Native Peruvian child. It is just beautiful and intense. Love it!
Dinnertime came and later that
night I was able to meet Lidia (the woman in charge); amazing woman, really.
She’s both spirited and kind.
As for today, it was an ultra
long day. I am very tired. In the morning, the volunteers and I left
for Pachacutec. It was quite a long drive down to Pachacutec, so I fell asleep most
of the way. When we got there, I saw that the houses were built on sand and the
neighborhoods were very poor. The new volunteers and I left to the Wa Wa Wasis
which houses orphaned babies. The babies are so cute! One baby in the third Wa
Wa Wasi that we visited kept hugging me and holding onto me. It was a great
feeling. Then he took my hand and led me to one corner of the Wa Wa Wasi and
wanted me to write with him. He took out all these duck stencils and we started
to trace ducks (made me think of someone who likes ducks very much :).
After that the volunteers and I walked back to the church and I played a little
volleyball with the children and some of the volunteers. My arms got so red.
Then everyone gathered inside the church for introductions. It was time to go
home afterwards.
At home, after lunch, the volunteers and I went down to La Punta to make
bracelets with the girls. Man was I terrible with that. I could not manage to
make a decent looking bracelet. It was hard! The rest of the volunteers and the
girls made beautiful bracelets. It was wonderful to see how happy the girls
were to know that so many people care about them.
Later that night, after dinner,
I went to the Totto’s Market and another store that I completely
forgot the name of. I only needed some shampoo, detergent, a hat, and facial
cleansers, but man it took forever! The cashiers here take their time scanning
things (-___-). Right now it is 11:39pm over here, so I need to go
to bed. Tomorrow will be another long day so I better rest up well. Goodnight! :)
