Bhutan's Inner Peace

Laughter, Love and 1pm Goodbyes

Butterflies swarm in my stomach as the mini-van pulls around the corner, smoke the colour of charcoal bellowing from the back. Fellow nervous volunteers join me, waiting, waiting; in a bare concrete jungle, hotel car park. The lush green mountains of the Spring City, Kunming tower behind us, yet it seems we have the mountain to climb in front. Will this be a great week or an emotional disaster?

Eager faces press to the windows; some hide behind headrests, not keen to see the outside world. Others are anxious as us to see what waits behind the slowly opening bi-fold doors. The adventure begins, as some of China’s orphans walk gingerly off the bus. Remarkable college students act as translators reassuring the kids, the scary foreigners are not going to eat them, but here for a week of fun.

Not having children before. I now find myself face to face with two china dolls. Fingers, thumbs in mouth scared out of their minds. Argh! Ice-cream breaks the fingers free, and smiles begin to reach their cheeks as the sugar fix hits their tiny brains. With a crazy Australian at their side, and my wonderful translator doing her best to figure out ‘what’s going on and how to translate.’ We are on our way. Laughter.

Amidst the week of chaos, laughter, swimming, and games, we form a tight family group. New discoveries and firsts are imprinting, a different world from the orphanage. Here no one judges them because of disabilities, or they have no family; just laughter, lots of love, and hope.

The end comes too quickly, same smoky bus pulls up where we started. It is 1pm, time to say goodbye. Tears leak beyond my sunglasses, as they grip my hand and want let go. How could you grow to love someone so much in just a short week? Sometimes you have to give totally to receive, even though it breaks your heart, you give hope. Hope for something better.

Will I go with Bring Me Hope charity again, this summer, in a heartbeat.