Day 2 – 10.11.10
Today was the first official day of the work project. We began as an eager bunch enjoying another lovely breakfast from Sol de Quito. Steve began even earlier with a run around Parque Carolina, clearly this was before he realized how much energy would be necessary to make it through the day!
After our morning meeting we made our way to Calderon where we were able to tour Centers 1 & 2. The tours were a small glimpse into what was to come, some children lively and excited, others crying and already tired or hungry. Finally after Lilia’s tours we were assigned to our first work projects.
In Center 2 – Bill and Cora went with the babies. Steve P. went with the 3 & 4 year olds and I went with the 4 & 5 year olds. Fox ended up with KP duty! At Center 1 Jane and Bonnie began work on murals while Jan, Carol, Kathleen and Joanne went to work with children.
Some observations:
* The children are incredibly well behaved with the tias, less so with us.
* The tias are incredibly busy with teeth brushing, hair combing, face washing, bathroom monitoring, tear and nose wiping, feeding…all the while doing art projects, teaching songs and reading stories, yikes!
* Cocina duty looks tough and may have to be avoided.
* Fox looked incredibly busy peeling and chopping yucca and washing an endless array of dishes. Thankfully he finished the day with all of his fingers.
* Cora was able to handle 11 babies at one time with no tia and there was NO BITING!
* Steve found he had many previously unknown talents…from scaring the boys to sleep to magically repairing batman’s cape – all while supervising 13 children on his own!
* Bill, on the other hand, found a new appreciation for Jane. He is also rapidly improving his Spanish including learning all the necessary bathroom terms. However, it is not quite up to par as he lost his first contest with Sylvia!
* I learned it is true what Lily said…the children are like any other children; they want attention and hugs, lots and lots of hugs. If we do nothing else here perhaps we will be able to offer love to the children and a rest for the tias.
Happy hour and stories of the day were enjoyed before and during dinner and after dinner…I am exhausted, time for bed! Tomorrow hopefully we will hear from Center 1!
Thought of the day: “I expect to pass through this life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again” William Penn
Submitted by Stacey Peterson
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