Monday morning and again i couldn’t sleep but i did have a little bit of a lay in and got out of bed at 6.45am. I managed to get into the shower first again which is a luxury for me right now, as that way i can guarantee getting the most of the warm water and it feels really good.
So breakfast this morning was soda biscuits and black coffee, and before i had chance to finish it i could hear the little monkeys downstairs, so i grabbed my keys and went downstairs. They had not long finished breakfast themselves but they saw me this morning and i always get the best welcome, interestingly they liked i had washed my hair and left it down, so of course they were full of praise and i loved it and they got extra kisses for it too.
Today we had a couple of volunteers who had been here before me and were heading back to the UK, so they came round to spend time with the chicas before leaving. After the last couple of rainy days the sun was shining so we took them to the little playground area just across the road. We played many different games but most of it was chasing the girls, because they liked screaming and running away and playing football.
We spent a little while outside and it was fun in the sun, but then we soon came in because although the sun was shining it was cold and the ex volunteers were soon to head home.
The rest of the day has been spent colouring and doing school work with the children, today was ‘teachers day off’ so the kids did not need to go in, I also found out that the schools are closed for teachers birthdays too which i was surprised about, but nonetheless i got to spend the whole day with them. We did a lot of colouring as this is something they do enjoy most, mainly because of all of the pretty colours and they get to make the pictures their own and they do like being praised for the work they have done. We then cleared the table as they would have their afternoon bible reading class, again all in Spanish so i sat there quietly whilst the girls were tested and asked questions. Lunch was soon served and today they had Arroz Chow which is basically chicken fried rice with egg.
Soon after we did more colouring and more reading and practising their numbers in English and sentences like, ‘what is your name?’ and ‘how are you’. I was also being taught Quechua which is the traditional Peruvian language from the new recruits, Brisaida (7yrs) and Jesenya (4yrs) and they even tested me and would giggle if i got the answers mixed up, as they have the sweetest laughs i did forgive them with kisses for laughing at me. Soon after the girls started watching some movies, i cannot remember what the name of the first kids movie we watched was, but there were bears involved and i thought it was Tarzan until i was quickly corrected but they did say the name rather quickly, so i just sat down and watched it with them. The room was so cold and we all sat in our coats and the girls have a wooden bench that they tend to all squeeze onto and happily watch it, i think it would be lovely for them to actually have carpet in there to watch movies on, but funnily enough they seemed pretty happy. This movie and half of Monsters University all in Spanish took us up to dinner time and they had the same as lunch with their flavoured herb infused hot drink.
After dinner again i helped wash up and again i was told off as the water is so cold, so instead i switched to drying, but the problem with that is the towel they use to dry is wet, so my hands ended up just as cold drying, as they would have done washing up!
It was now approaching 6.30pm and the girls were getting ready for their dance lessons. It was absolutely brilliant to watch and i did join in as it was a spanish version of a theme song from a children’s movie i am sure, i just couldn’t figure out which one, (it wasn’t Frozen). I did not have my phone on me this time and was unable to take pictures or film it, however mamita had her phone and i did see her filming and snapping away, so i must ask for them. It was a lot of fun and the girls were giggling but really getting into it and at one point, i wanted to do another song it was so much fun.
I couldn’t actually figure out if this was their way of calming the chicas down, because not long after all the dancing it was time for them to brush their teeth and wish me goodnight. I had all the kisses and hugs from them and they pray for me and make the symbol of the cross before i kiss their hand and say goodnight.
I did struggle quite a bit today, it has been increasingly cold and i know i am not well but i can’t rest and time really is just flying by here, but with only my last week i have to continue and will think about how i feel on the plane back home. You may have noticed they do wear pretty much the same clothes as they do not have enough jumpers to keep them warm, they wear the coats indoors all the time and they have no heating around the home, but i guess they are used to it and as kids can run around and keep warm. I get quite emotional with the girls and i am tired from the lack of sleep and the lack of heat, but for me this is just another week, for these children it is their way of life and that is what is keeping me strong and keeps me going.
SaimasCharityTravels 