Shoes, Sugar, Ice Cream, Wrestling and Thank You's :]

Things are still wonderfully amazing here at the Hogar in Peru! I am working on a long blog post right now, but someone (AKA MY MOM) has been bothering me to post an update! So here's a few things I have begun to realize as a long term volunteer...

1. No more complaining.
-The other day, the Doctor noticed that one of the girls with Spina Bifida had shoes that were too small for her. Another volunteer took Flor up to the donation room to find her a new pair of shoes that fit. She picked out a cute pair of pink new balances and went back downstairs in time for lunch. Another little boy, Luis Sanchez, saw that Flor got new shoes from upstairs. You think you know how this story is going to end, right? Well, instead of most other boys who would be jealous and complain that someone else got new shoes...Sanchez came up to me after lunch. He said, "I really like Flor's new shoes. I am so happy she got a new pair, she deserves them. I was wondering if there would be any shoes for me upstairs because I haven't had new ones in a while and when I walk my feet get wet." Before I almost started to cry, I looked down at Luis' shoes. His shoes were beat up, ripped, torn and had huge holes in them. I feel horrible for not noticing sooner, but new shoes is something I definitely take for granted. I didn't even think that some of these children don't have comfortable, new shoes to walk in. I took Luis up to the donation room and told him to pick out any shoes he wanted and of course he picked out the shoes with the roller skates on the bottom. Not only has this boy not complained for I don't know how long, but he told me that if other kids needed shoes too...he wanted them to have them first. Lesson learned :] I have so much to be thankful for from my good health to small things like good shoes.

"You never truly know someone until you have walked a mile in his shoes."

2. When volunteering at an organization or a charity, never ever bring sweets!
-Here at the Hogar we have schools, children and other people visit all the time. Of course the children from the schools are going to bring some type of food for the children of the Hogar to eat and it always ends up being cookies, chips and coke. HORRIBLE IDEA. I completely understand they want to bring sweets to make everyone happy and have it be a celebration, but the aftermath of a child eating 40 cookies in the corner is terrifying. Feeding the children sweets may seem like a great idea, but once they leave in an hour...the volunteers are the ones who have to deal with the intense sugar comas. Yesterday, a little boy named Samir ate enough chips and cookies for all 57 children and of course threw up everything he ate an hour later. Samir has epilepsy and the extreme sugar and vomiting not only affects our sanity but his seizures as well. So, moral of the story...bring fruit and vegetables when visiting an organization with children. Go Pipkin's! hahaha :]

3. Learning the difference between disciplinarian and "the sneaker of ice cream" is hard!
-Being a long term volunteer comes with a lot more responsibility than being the volunteer who only stays a week. I know every child's routine, eating habits and diseases. I am not just a volunteer, I am now apart of these children's lives! We all know that I am such a push over...I would give every child 25 scoops of secret ice cream after dinner if I could! Haha :] And since I am here for so long, I have to be able to "say no" and learn to be more stern. It's the coolest feeling in the world being invited into 57 children's lives which includes the good and the bad. Just in the past few weeks I have witnessed Changai losing his first tooth, Tomi's temper tantrums, my intense love affair with my favorite baby John Pierre, teaching Franco to ride a bike, hospital visits, late night ice cream runs, heartfelt hugs, countless falls, unity at Mass, walking in on everyone taking a shower (awkward), meeting wonderful volunteers and having coffee with a saint. I am beyond grateful to be here with all of these children not just for a short week, but until next May! I am so blessed :] And I may be better at breaking up fights now, but serving secret ice cream to my favorite kids may never stop. Oh well!

As my Mom has always said..."Life is uncertain. Eat Dessert first."

4. The kids show no mercy...
-Watching Victor and Franco wrestle each other on the patio seems like such an unfair fight. Victor only has one leg while Franco has all four limbs. Who do you think won? Victor put up a good fight, but obviously Franco won. Franco doesn't care that Victor only has 1 leg, he wrestles him just like any other boy and that's why the kids all get along so well. The kids try and trip children with missing limbs, hide crutches and make jokes...it sounds mean but it is such a life lesson to be learned. The children don't treat each other differently because they have a disability, deformity or disease. You learn within the first few days what is considered helpful and what is overbearing. There is no need to help David move from his wheelchair up the stairs, but taking his backpack up to his bed is very helpful. The kids always ask us for help when they really need it and aren't afraid to ask the other children as well. No matter the problem on the outside, the children are all the same on the inside. Every one of them has hopes, dreams and fears regardless of their outward appearance.

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them."

5. Always thank the cooks :]
-At the Hogar, there are 2 cooks called Mamitas who have cooked every single day for the last 20 years. The cooks can be quite protective of their kitchen and as a long term volunteer, I have learned already to always thank the cooks. The Mamitas basically know everything about everyone and aren't afraid to let you know when you have done something wrong. Because my Spanish is better than any other current volunteer, I take the blame for most accidents and incidents in the kitchen. Of course, it kind of sucks always being blamed for taking the wrong towels, spilling food (actually that's usually always me) and putting something back in the wrong place...but whatever. After meals or during the day I always remember to say thank you and have a conversation with them. It not only let's them know how much I appreciate them, but it also lessens the blow when I break something in the kitchen ;] A simple thank you and smile really does go a long way, especially when I will see them everyday for the next 9 months. And I don't want someone spitting in my food hahahaha :]

"Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see."

The things that I have learned in Peru so far, are lessons I will remember for the rest of my life. I am so grateful to be here and as my friend Megan told me tonight, "you are having the time of your life and you will never ever forget these moments." So true. I am cherishing every moment here no matter how big or small, whether about broken shoes, wrestling matches, thank you's, ice cream or sugar comas.
Life is amazing and I am happy as can be :]

SMILE :]
-Teaner!