The Best Part About Working With Kids

4/8/11

Last week I went to a zoo type thing with llamas and different types of tropical birds! It is actually right across the street from my house, only a couple of blocks away. It is right behind the Central Bank, which is the biggest bank I have ever seen! There is also a museum next to the bank and ancient ruins. Here are some pictures of me with the ancien also another picture of me with my two good friends, Krista and Suzy… and a llama J If I wanted to , I could have gone up and touched it. J But I didn’t because I was scared. I was t ruins. And this is also excited to see a toucan in the zoo, a tropical bird that I have never seen in real life.

It is so crazy that I am right in the middle of the city next to these big buildings and homes, and right there next to it is this huge park with llamas and a pond and ancient ruins!

4/9/11

Today I went the orphanage with like 30 girls and 15 boys. It was great. I haven’t been there in a few weeks and it was just great to go back. First we worked. I washed windows with a little girl who always follows me and laughs with me when I am there. She is probably 10 years old. We washed the windows with a bucket of water and newspaper. And surprisingly, it worked! Then we did face painting. The girls were the ones who were supposed to get their faces painted, but I ended up getting my face covered and smeared with paint twice. They are so convincing! Like I would be right in the middle of painting one girls’ face who was sitting on the table, and then a girl was on my right, and then one on my lap… and the other girls would just paint my face. And I couldn’t really get away so I just let them have their fun. The little girl Adrianna later helped me clean off my face with the same bucket of water and rag ( it was actually an old shirt) that I had used to clean the window. I really don’t care about getting dirty when I am there. It is just all about the kids.

                Most times I would be grossed out by certain things like dirty water or mud, but there all that matters is that I am making the kids happy. I love them so much. I played chase with several of the little girls today. They kept on shouting, “ You cant get me!” So I’d run after all of them, then scoop them up and spin them around and tickle them. And they just laughed and laughed. I tried to not think about how out of breath I was getting because I knew those cute girls were having a blast.

                There was also a little toddler boy there today. When I first got there and throughout the first hour we were there, I tried to smile and wave at the little boy, but he would frown and turn away. So after awhile, I decided that I wouldn’t give him a choice. I was going to give him some attention. So I went over to him, just us two, and I sat down and smiled and talked. And smiled some more… and some more… At first he was hesitant, but then he smiled again and again! Later, I saw him standing alone, looking around the bush at some of us playing, and then I went over to him and had him play with us. It was great. To make one of these children smile when they seem like they don’t want to is one of the best feelings ever.

Soon the time came for me to go, and one of the girls grabbed on my leg and wouldn’t let go. Of course finally she did. As I drove away, I waved at them and blew as kiss. And just before the bus turned the corner, she blew a kiss right back at me. That’s one of those memories that will be etched in my mind forever.

P.S. On the way home the bus overheated. We got out of the car and it soon began to pour J CLASSIC! I didn’t mind at all. It was a nice little adventure and we got to know the bus driver better.

3/23/11


                                                      Kel and two friends  in Cuenca

                                                    Toucan in Cuenca

                                                               Ruins in Curnca

Last night was our going away party for the volunteer girls who finished their time here and left today. It was so much fun. We all got all dressed up and had a fancy dinner at a hotel. It was awesome. The room was decorated beautifully with rose petals all over the table. There was a total of 23 people in attendance. I had no idea about this before last night, but if you put a little rose petal on your hand when your palm is cupped, the rose petal will make a loud pop. It was fun trying to get my petal to pop. I was using my friends hand and kept having to hit her hand hard in order to make the noise… it was really funny.

                Today was a blast! In the morning I had half a day off to do whatever I wanted. It was awesome because we just took off from the house and walked to down the streets to “Parque Central.” This is an a shopping Center with a huge Cathedral right in the middle of it. As we walked, we were able to just stop at any store on our path that looked interesting. So we were able to see quite a few different little Ecuadorian shops. I loved it. I bought a few T-shirts for myself and also got a few instruments for my nieces and nephews.

 I have less than two months left here actually… it so crazy how fast time is flying by here. I am making the most of everyday so even though the time passes quickly; I know my time here is being spent in the best ways possible. Like the quote says, “Carpe Diem.” As long as you know you are living each day to the fullest, you will know that you lived your life to the fullest once that month has passed. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time. For that’s the stuff life is made out of.” And I totally agree!

When I got to the orphanage, we took the kids on walks and did therapies. Then I had the most fun Ive probably ever had at shift doing an activity! Mackinzie and Erica, and one of the Tias Clara sang some songs together to the children in Spanish. They just loved the upbeat ones we sang and we just had a blast stumbling over the Spanish words! I started singing head shoulders knees and toes in Spanish to them, but instead of singing “Cabeza” or head, I sang “Caballos”… which means ‘horse’ in Spanish. The Spanish speaking workers were all laughing, and I joined in also! Then me and two other volunteers started singing a Girls Camp song in English called, “Boom Chicka Boom.” Clara, one of the Spanish speaking workers was repeating us and it was so funny. She would stop and say in Spanish, “No entienda!” ( I don’t know what it means.)

After that we all went to HML, where I am the new site leader. We made braclets out of yarn and thread. When we were leaving, I was helping some of the girls make their bracelets. I told them I had to go, and then a teenage girl came up to me. I was thinking she needed help, but then she took my wrist and tied this beautiful bracelet onto my wrist. I think I will keep it on for quite awhile. J

Playing Soccer with the Tias

These pictures are at an Iguana Park that I went to on a field trip in Guayaquil Ecuador. Iguanas live there wild in that city, and this is an Iguana Park where probably 70 or more iguanas live at. The city feeds them and then just locks the gate at night to keep them inside for people to see.

face painted by orphans

Guayaquil Ecuador Temple

 corn field passed each day to orphanage

 Iguana Tree -- Look hard and see all the Iguanas

 This is at the Iguana Park! I was having alot of fun with the pigeons :)

 small Ecuadorian vans

 countryside

 boy feeding iguanas

J I also started reading a wonderful human relations book called How To Win Friends and Influence People and it is so good!!!

3/13/11

Today was just amazing! I worked at the Special Needs Home for both shifts and had the best time playing soccer with the kids and workers- who we call 'Tias'. All of these particular kids are i wheelchairs, so as we play soccer, we grab a kid in a wheelchair and run away with them chasing the ball and competing with the other workers and volunteers. It was seriously one of the best days I had volunteering here because I was able to joke around with and really build friendships with the Tias by playing soccer.

Now, as you may know, soccer is pretty big down here. Alot of people are very competitive players, and there are soccer jersey stores found all around town. So naturally, the native Tias (meaning 'Aunt' in Spanish) were-- pretty good at kickin that ball around. One of the Tias who I work with alot was with a child pushing them around in the wheelchair, playing soccer with the rest of us... you know, just normal. I was actually running around switching from child to child since there were less workers than children. Now, we were getting a little more and more competitive little by little, and pretty soon, this particular tia got so into the game that she forgot about the kid in the wheelchair all together and was just goin after that ball! It was so funny. The best part was this: I was running with the ball and the child, and I tried to kick it in her goal. But she blocked it, started running and kicked it! I watch as the bouncy light ball flies through the air headed straight towards a little girls head... and smacks her straight in the face! We all gasped. The little girl looked startled at first, and then a second later she covered her face with her hand. We all started cracking up! The ball of course was not a real soccer ball, but a soft kid one containing a bunch of air. After that, I said in Spanish to all the Tias, "She gets another goal because she hit the little girl in the face!" And we were all laughing. After that as we continued to play I kept on telling her, "No en la cabeza!" (Not in the head) as i ran with the kids around her.

At night, I went out on the third sory of my house and looked out at the stars and the city all lit up with my friend. We live up on a hill that looks out onto the city and mountains, and is so beautiful. There is something about staring up at the beautiful night sky that clears your mind and brings you peace. I believe that the beauty of nature satisfies a certain need for happiness. It is definately most important to spend time outside meditating a few times a week. I know that by doing this, one can come to understand themselves better and will find more appreciation in the little things.

3/6/11
Today I worked in a children's orphanage with 6 kids. They are full of energy and great. I heard a cute story another volunteer said today about one of them. I guess there was a picture of one of the boys family that he had hanging up but later hid. The volunteer asked where it went and he said, "My friends here are my family." 

 I also went to a special needs home I normally go to. One of the workers was dancing to Ecuadorian music for a very long time with one of the boys in the wheelchairs. It was so much fun! I joined in on the dancing. A few others were hit with water balloons today, and when we returned home, several girls were outside waiting for us ready with water balloons. Ha!

3/7/11

Today has been a great day and its only 5 pm, so still a lot to go! I babysat toddlers this morning who were really cute. As we were walking out of that orphanage area to the other orphanages, I saw a truck with a whole bunch of people in the back driving down the road. I thought, “I bet that would be a really good picture.” Then I heard my friend shout, “Theyre gonna get us with water!” So, sure enough, I face forward and got my whole backside drenched in water! Haha! I thought it was pretty hilarious.

The Ecuadorian Water Fighting Holiday: Carnival

3/5/11

during 4 day Ecuador water fight holiday

Ok. So, the Ecuadorian holiday that I am going to tell you about is called Carnival. It is pretty much the most awesome holiday ever except the fact that some people die from it. So, basically it’s a nationwide water fight for four days! Officially its only four days, but a lot of Ecuadorians down here celebrate it for the whole month. Its basically an excuse to get friends and strangers soaked or sprayed with water. The other day we were walking from the bus to the orphanage and we walked past the other orphanage with a lady in the front yard watering plants. So we walked by and she was unusually friendly, saying hi to us… and I was like “oh wow someone is being friendly to us” so I said HI!! And then boom, she sprayed us with the hose. It was incredibly hilarious. Then we screamed and ran away laughing. Today a few water balloons got dropped on some volunteers from the second story by the other volunteers and then the other day the orphanage workers and me and some of the orphans were in a foam fight. Like they had cans of silly string- but its more like foam- that you spray at each other. Seriously, what a great holiday! It makes everyone happy. And I like happy. J

First Week in Ecuador

3/3/11

Today I went out in the city for the very first time. Its so funny, the drivers like to drive fast and honk. And the drivers, not pedestrians have the right of way! Kind of like New York… they will not stop for you! Also, everyone  “J-walks” here. I don’t think its illegal…

The shops are all bursting with vibrant and bright colors of purses, clothes, and souvenirs. When we walk by people ask “Tu quieres? Es bonita” trying to get us to buy their things. J There are so many cool souvenirs. I saw a water bottle made out of a cows hoof!!! Like the base of the water bottle was a hoof and the bottle was covered in fur! Crazy, I have never seen anything like that before.

Every day I drive in a van full of like 10 other volunteers to the Orphanages we work in. One of the main orphanages I go to has 6 special needs kids, and it is where I have volunteered the most in the past week. Most of them can’t talk, but they communicate through their smiles and cries. I love them, it’s so precious when you arrive or tell them “Nosotros Caminos, si?!” and they smile at you with pure and complete joy in their eyes. I take them on individual walks outdoors every day and get to enjoy the beautiful Ecuadorian skies. There are always bright clouds or dark clouds scattered across the blue skies, and they are so beautiful!

Another home I’ve been to is for babies and toddlers. They are so precious, with their big brown eyes. The other day I put the six toddlers down in their Cunas (cribs) for bed, and they all started crying. So I sang them a Spanish song called “Estas Son Las Manitas.” Within a few seconds, they all stopped crying and stared at me with their cute big brown eyes and baby faces. I think it’s happy moments like that one that keep volunteers volunteering. Those looks and laughs from the children really make my days.