Bricks in the foundations of a Growing Child

Thought of the Day: "One generation plants the trees, another gets the shade." --Chinese Proverb

The quote is perfect. It so conveys a begger picture of the collective purpose of Global Volunteers. When I first explored the possibility of serving as a volunteer, I wondered how the children at PPA adapted to so many different people coming to volunteer. It seemed as if life would feel like one giant revolving door with people moving in, staying for a very short amount of time and then moving on. I imagined that children might need to protect themselves with so many hellos and goodbyes, and perhaps be reluctant to embrace yet another group of volunteers. What I have come up understand is that the children look forward to each and every new team. Although each child I have met has a unique personality they have opened their hearts t the 59th team. And then will continue to open their hearts to each team that follows us. The words that our team leader expressed during our Sunday orientation come to life when you experience the history that has been built by prior teams. It is like each volunteer works and plays with certain children never knowing exactly what the impact will be. We all place several more bricks in the foundation of a growing and developing child but we most likely will never get to see the child again.
I can only hope and trust that sweet little Fabian will know that just as I have cuddled him in my lap on the long taxi ride to the deaf school that the next volunteers will as well. If you are lucky enough to spent time with Fabian you will soon learn that his smile and giggle will be one of the absolute best parts of your day. If each of us can work to strengthen the muscles of the children who need it, bring siblings together to play and enjoy each other, struggle with the high school girls as they learn more English, tuck just a few more toddlers into bed at night. If we can do our volunteer tasks with love and kindness for the children we have come to care deeply about them we have indeed contributed and we will have succeeded in placing a few more bricks to build a brighter future for the children who will undoubtedly wrap their hands around your heart just as they have done to me..and all in such a short time. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything! I feel honored to have worked with and been a brief part of the lives of the children and staff of the PPA and Global Volunteers. They provide the mortar that makes our contribution possible.

To Laugh Like a Child

Thought of the Day: " The challenge is to be true to yourself and live as one. To laugh like a child and love with the power of your soul. To follow your own heart and act for the world." --Unknown

We're now a team of two. Katie's last day was Friday and Erin and I will miss her, as well the children at the PPA. We had an eventful day Friday with the morning spent at Toñito Silva and Erin working with her 2 guys, Franklin and Ricardo. The afternoon brought us all together to share Hulk 2 with the 5th graders. It was hard to tell what the kids enjoyed more--the movie or the treats!
It is so different starting week 2. We will be so much more familiar with PPA, the routine of the children, and our jobs. Erin and I plan on giving it our fullest--even though we are few in number, we are mighty in our desire to contribute and continue the work of Team Awesome.

P.S. Team Awesome celebrated Robi's birthday with style of Friday night--great food, great company, and yes, some Cusqueña which we have all enjoyed!

Team Awesome

Thought of the Day: "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." --Michelangelo

Time has gone so fast. It's hard to believe that tomorrow is the end of out first week. Team Awesome, formerly known as Team 59, has really bonded. I feel so blessed to be working with my 2 stateside teammates, Katie and Erin, our team leader Milagros, and Molly our team intern.

After completing our day jobs with Toñito Silva, working with Franklin and Ricardo, facilitating the siblings group, and teaching English to the 3rd grade girls, all 3 of us worked with the high school girls on their English and then read stories to the little ones (Katie and I didn't actually read due to our limited Spanish. We did a lot of single words, pointed, and let our 3 year old buddies take the lead!) We ended out long Thursday with a great dinner at Donatello. I think I can speak for all 3 of us, we thoroughly enjoyed the kids today and are so glad we chose the Peru site for our first Global Volunteers experience.

Different Perspectives

Thought of the Day: "The flip side also has a flip side." -- Chinese Proverb

Today was a day of different perspectives. Seeing life from the experiences of many of the children who live at PPA. We took public transportation to one of the many shantytowns of Lima. THe congestion of the streets, the competition of transportation vans for passengers, and the daring habits of Peruvians bring new meaning to the phrase "reach out and touch someone." It is amazing that side view mirrors exist on Taxis and vans! We learned about shantytowns from Molly prior to leaving--basic insight into how and why they exist in Lima. Our 2 hour 2 bus ride took us past a variety of visual images--some interesting, some viscerally challenging to Katie (the slaughtered cow hanging by its feet--fortunately for Erin and I we missed that sight!), and some difficult to experience (the slums of downtown Lima). The 3 of us volunteers really noticed and physically experienced the pollution, which visibly worsened the closer we got to Huaycan. The social worker from the PPA came with us as did 2 girls from PPA.

It is difficult to describe the shantytowns we visited, its best experienced. I suspect that no one visits a shantytown without being deeply affected by the sights, sound, and smells. For me I saw extreme poverty, shacks supported by pieces of metal and wood, homes made of cinderblock. Dirt roads and paved roads. Houses with electricity, houses without. Children playing in the streets, children watching us as we passed by. Being sensitive to the plight of animals, I saw many many dogs, scavenging for food and scratching flea bitten bodies. I also saw a puppy carried by a smiling, laughing child and a puppy curled up in a basket of laundry. And as we have come to know, there will always be a few dogs dressed in shirts and sweaters!

The experience is, at least for now a bit of a paradox. Through some eyes, the shantytowns represent land relegated as undesirable with sandy soil, a distance from worst employment, and void of services. Seen through other eyes, a shanty town represented the opportunity to own land, to construct one's home.

Through one set of eyes, one sees despair, through another set of eyes I see a phenomenal resourcefulness and resiliency of people who live int he shantytowns. Through one set of eyes, I see children who used to live at PPA because a healthy life could not be sustained for them in the shantytown. Through another lens, I saw the tears in the eyes of a 12-year-old girl who hugged her mom hello and goodbye in the span of 10 minutes and perhaps might of wished that she could have stayed.

The experience will forever be etched in my memory. But along with the memory of extreme poverty and hardship of day-to-day life, will co-exist the memory of 3 proud women at the soup kitchen, who warmly greeted us,thanked us for coming, and though Mili conveyed the importance of us visiting their community. A day of contrasts, a day of understanding, a glimpse into the lives of some of the children and parents at PPA. A day like no other.

Creative

Working with Emily was great.  She is so sweet. She really didn't like physical therapy--immediately crying as soon as the doctor tried to hold her. She kept reaching for me. She likes the balls--she laid in them and kept handing them to me one by one. She cried as hard as she could when doing each task, but then took a nap while I waited for Nancy.

With the siblings we made jewelry. Candy was done in a few minutes. Diana pouted at first, but then got into it and was very creative in her execution. We took photos of the kids.  They loved it and kept taking our cameras to take some of us. Tutoring the high school girls was fun. We talked about music and who they liked. They actually seemed interested to learn--asking us how to spell things. We played Tic-Tack-Toe and HopScotch. Then we read to the little ones. They were so sweet.  We all noticed how they put their little slippers away and pulled down their own sheets. As soon as they laid down they closed their eyes. THey have been taught well--they know the routine.  All and all, a full, exhausting day.  It went well--except getting yelled at my the nun about the cold weather and my sandals.  A good day.

Day 2: Staff Meeting and Afternoon Projects

Thought of the Day: "Do something every day that scares you."--Eleanor Roosevelt

We arrived on campus and immediately saw how much property there actually is for the kids. The building are gorgeous and when first built is must have really been a palace and an amazement for the community to see.  I love how many kids run up to Molly and Mili shouting their names and giving them big hugs. You can really see how they've impacted their lives. Some of the kids immediately hugged us, which is a good sign that they know the volunteers are there for them and they trust them because they are with Mili and Molly.  I got to observe the communication between the staff and Mili.  Global Volunteers seems to be an extremely important part of PPA.  

The afternoon session was good.  I thought it was funny how many kids pretended to be siblings in order to come with us. Getting to and from our project was difficult. Lots of tagalongs and all trying to rifle through our games that we were carrying. It gave us some ideas on how to better organize for tomorrow--right up my alley. And I cant wait to work with Emily and Fabian. The language was a barrier. It really makes me want to learn as much as possible so that I can communicate better with the kids. Or I'll have to come back next year after I learn some more at home! We picked Mili's brain about the culture at dinner. That is something that I have a feeling we will do a lot.  We're a curious bunch. The small group continues to be great--we all get along well, so I think we are lucky to be just three.  

Day One: Orientation and City Tour

Thought of the Day: "Every day do something that will bring you closer to a better tomorrow."--Doug Firebaugh

Today was surprisingly exhausting.  Orientations was a day of learning--about PPA, Global Volunteers, the team, and the projects.  Our team is small, which I feel will be a great advantage.  Not only was getting to and ordering dinner easy, but also we all seem to have similar goals and expectations for this trip.  Erin and Robi have a teacher's perspective and their skills for lesson planning will be a huge advantage.  Mili and Molly have already been a great help with the language--and they don't seem to get annoyed when I ask what a simple word means.  It was interesting to see how priorities emerged once we heard about the projects.  I thought for sure I'd be doing arts and crafts with the 3-5 year olds, or holding babies, but instead we all chose to do something that will most benefit PPA--working with Toñito Silva, Franklin and Ricardo, Siblings, and English for girls.  I think its more important to be where Global and the PPA need us most that to use my arts and crafts skills with the kids.  And Sweet Dreams sounds like it will be a really meaningful experience.  The city tour was full of interesting architecture--some Tudor housing seemed oddly placed.  The wooden balconies were amazing craftsmanship--although wood from bottom to top is not the kind of balcony I can imagine sitting on to enjoy, I'd definitely prefer one with the glass windows!  There was an adorable little girl named Stephanie on our tour, and she and Robi become fast friends.  Robi's teacher skills shined through immediately, crouching down to get on her level and asking her questions that brought out funny little stories.  Erin also immediately asked her age.  I think I'll learn a lot about interacting with children from these two.  Stephanie's journal was great! Little drawings of things going on around.  Everyone I've met is so well traveled and enthusiastic about everywhere they've been.  I don't think meeting the goal of understanding the culture will be an issue, as it seems like we all appreciate other cultures and hold our experiences high.  The anticipation of meeting the staff and kids is on my mind.  It will be a good day!