Holiday

 

Today is still a holiday in Lima.  Not a lot of people and cars.

The PPA girls took a cab as usual to PPA.  Maddy and  Jacquie went to Nino Jesus for the morning.  Today, everyone cried.  Maddy and Jacquie took turns helping the two-year olds look out the window to watch men working on the grounds.  They were fascinated.  Some of them didn’t want to leave.

Blanche, Maddy and Edith continued her work on the library.  They talked about the job of patching up the holes, sanding and priming.  They were covered in dust, as usual, when we met them for lunch.

With La Molina closed for the holiday, Kay joined us at PPA.  She had six classes of middle schoolers to teach English to.  She spent time searching Global Volunteers’ resources to make sure she could keep the kids busy and interested for an hour.  Maddy went with her and turned out to be the star of the afternoon class with seventh grade girls.  They wanted to know all about her.

Edith, Maddy and Blanche talked about the library.  One wall will be covered with a picture of Machu Pichu.  Other colors could not be picked until the picture was selected.

The girls spent another night out at at Mavery’s.  The girls regaled each other with stories, most of which were funny.  The girls had a great time.  We desperately searched the menu for a new culinary adventure.  Maddy was in Chi Cha heaven.  Jacquie, Kay and Blanche dined to Pisco sours.

Same Old

The girls at PPA had a typical day at the orphanage. Jaquie and Maddy went off to Niño Jesus and attended to the same babies who are always crying and washed the same dishes that needed to be done. Nothing out of the ordinary. Blanche started her daily routine of sanding in the morning. On Monday she sanded the putty she had put in the walls on Friday, mentally cursing herself for being so eager to fix every discrepancy she laid eyes on.

The afternoon began. Same old, same old. Jaquie went off to try and wear out the energy of three year olds, who played with every interesting thing they saw; while Blanche and Maddy went to collect their siblings. Blanche's little babies have started to run to the gate every day when they knew it was time to be collected. Blanche had a thought of what would happen when she disappeared? Another abandonment for these kids. Jazmani (Maddy's 2 year old) just stood at his playpen gate, grinning his toothy grin; his cute and very chubby face alight with joy. Estefany, Maddy's 8 year old sibling arrived late with only 30 minutes of the afternoon to go.

Kay, like the rest of the week went to La Molina, where the hot topic of the day was Extra Terrestrial. UFOs, Aliens and the like where discussed.

Birthday Parties

La Molina activities started with a birthday party for a teacher presented by her students – cake, popcorn, chips, soda, and juice followed by guitar music and singing.  Informal classes in the afternoon competed with a student march to protest the amount and cost of food in the University restaurants.  A second birthday party completed the day.

The PPA girls worked with the children as well as in the new library peeling and filling spots in the wall.  A party for the children in the afternoon was full of havoc with lots of jumping and dancing.  The rice pudding was squeezed out of a cup and into their mouths, a technique they mastered with little trouble.  A fascination with the children continues as their individual personalities emerge.  The little ones are expressing delight with daisies and bugs as they explore outside.  Being warmly dressed seems to be an objective.

The lunch time included a side trip to a market in the Magdalena del Mar area.  It was interesting to see all the items available.

 

"Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community."

 

 

La Molina students are in the midst of finals with most looking exhausted.  Kay had fewer students than usual, but those present were actively involved in skits with laughter, creative responses, and clear English the results.

Progress is being made by the girls at PPA.  Blanche and Maddy sanded and sealed in the new library and reflected on the notion that it is good to do something you don’t like to do.  Pamella and Diego learned to sit up on the swing by themselves.

Maddy taught the chicken song to her group and demonstrated the actions at dinner…  Three more toddlers were speaking coherent words.

Jacquie was surprised at how sharp the kids are at the age of 3; their sense of self is firmly developed.  Territorial fights with avengence is their style of play with no boundaries in evidence.

                  

Day of Sunshine

Blanca- concrete floor is laid, electricity grid placed. Sealing and patching walls today - a less dirty task. Discussions of wall colours and grouting makes me hopeful that I will see a finished room? Juan, Jose Carlo and co. move fast. I was stood up by my siblings- a trip to the dentist for Pamela meant a stay in the Hospitalito for her. Instead, I hung out with a bunch of 3 year olds, along with Jaquie. Adorable. I am left with neverending admiration for the two carers who generally manage all 14 kids by themselves.

Kay- attributed the wakefulness of her students to the day of sunshine in La Molina, however, it may also be a result of the highly successful 'some' and ' any' rap accompanied by foot stomping, that she devised for her class. All 9 staff members attended a birthday luncheon. The afternoon conversation classes comprised personality tests ( only one definite B from the dozy guy at the back) and idioms and slang, with a ' cat got your tongue' from Kay when no response was forthcoming.

 

The Fairy Tale of Some Kind Stranger

Blanche (aka Blanca) - a derelict room - no floor, no windows, rotten wood beams- this room is to be the library? I feel overwhelmed by the task ahead. Sanding for 3 1/2 hours left me tired, filthy and still unable to meditate. Perseverance, diligence, service - my mantra. I was nervous about the afternoon; my charges, two siblings who hadn't seen each other for weeks. I am not a person who "loves kids". I was unprepared for the love that comes with spending time with them, the pang that accompanies the clip clop of their tiny shoes as you walk with them across the pavement holding their trusting hands.

Maddy ( aka Muddy) - was exhausted by lunchtime - physically, mentally, emotionally. The toddlers fought for her attention and would climb onto her and tug at her clothing in order to get it. She was simultaneously sad to see them so starved of attention, and happy to be wanted by the tiny children.

Kay- her arrival at La Molina Universidad was slightly delayed by a taxi's mechanical problems. Unperturbed, she had her 10am impromptu English Class enraptured with discussions of Justin Bieber and Salina Gomez. They asked her to come again. After planning and lunch, her two classes of 2 and 12 students were treated to the same lesson about learning and working modalities, which allowed Kay to refine her technique. Kay's companion for the day, Maria, stayed by her side the entire time and was invaluable.

Jaquie ( aka Yukki) - writes ' the orphanage. A bittersweet experience. The innocence of children, vibrant, like the noon sun. For a while anyway, they are ignorant of the hardship that engulfs them. Will they live the fairy tale of some kind stranger who whisks them away? " I want you," the stranger says.

Coming to an End

Today brings an end to an all encompassing two week cycle. The past two weeks were my first with a team of volunteers, and now I fully appreciate the need for more hands on deck at PPA. The Stein family who were with us for the first week and the Mylond family, both provided great help and ideas to better both my personal experience and PPA as a whole. The journey began with great enthusiasm and it didn't let up. Along with Martin, we tackled a 10 square meter room with a high roof and really improved it. The stories we all shared over dinner showed me how much enjoyment we all got out of the past two weeks and how passion and perseverance can bring joy to what could be a very glum situation. The insite the families offered PPA really helped me broaden my feeling of influence. Moments like putting a cute hand washing skit together and watching Jessa Stein dance at Junius kept the momentum and made the past two weeks fly by. I can truly say how glad I am to have served with them and they have definitely impacted the way I will approach every situation in my life.