Orphanage | Zach

From Saturday, March 22

I wasn’t to sure what to write my blog post on but I figured the orphanage was the way to go. This is straight from my journal so don’t expect much. I left out some stuff for reasons of being ok for the public audience, but this is what I experienced on my first day at the orphanage.

Today is the long anticipated day at the orphanage. Coming into today I didn’t know what to expect was going to happen really except for the fact that it was going to be quite the eye opener but I wasn’t sure how I was going to react to it. Knowing myself  well I know I’m not that emotional so I was curious and worried to see if this would change or not. the plan for the day is that we would leave at around 8:30 and be there at 11. When we got there we would have time in pairs or groups of three to roam around and interact together until lunch. After lunch we would be able to take off on our own.

The plan started a little late when the bus didn’t show until 9 but then we all climbed aboard and we were off to the orphanage. During the long ride my thoughts were on how anxious I was about this experience. I wasn’t extremely nervous like some or over the top with excitement like others. I was simply stuck in the middle of both feelings. As the ride continued my thoughts were on talking to my family the other night and seeing them again. As I was thinking this the bus stopped and we were here. It wasn’t what I had expected at all. I pictured it to be somewhere in the country but it is right in the middle of Santiago. Rachael and Erica got out of the bus before the driver could park. I could tell they were really excited to be there. A boy named Ricardo was waving and shouting at the for them to come on in from the porch. It made me smile that the boy remembered them from past trips. Rachael and Erica went inside to ask if we could come for a visit and the remainder of us waited for the back gate to open. When it eventually did we were greeted by several kids waving us to come in. Everyone couldn’t help but smile. We made our way of the bus and walked though the complex. It was really well kept and was constructed ver nicely again not how I had imagined it. Rachael announced our partners and groups for the first little bit. Bethani and Jae were both in my group. It was hard to be with my group because a few little boys kept tugging me along to hang out with them. I decided to break away from my group seeing as I felt pretty comfortable already. For the first hour I gave kids wheelchair rides which was pretty fun to see them having fun. Most couldn’t speak Spanish never mind English so they simply just pointed in the direction they wanted to go. It was a really neat experience communicating with these kids this way. Soon enough the nurses stopped me from the wheelchair races because it was It was time for most of the kids to eat lunch. While the kids were eating lunch most people helped feed their kid while others walked around, I was one of the people that walked around. I saw a lat of my friends with big smiles on as they fed the little kids while some others struggled to get some kids to eat. As I walked around I saw a little girl just sitting in bed with no expression so I sat with her for a while. It was a really awesome to just sit there holding hands. Rachael then came around saying lunch was available but you could also just help with feeding the kids I decided to help the girl I was with. Soon Sophia came as well and we tried to feed her. Tried is definitely the right word to use because we didn’t get any food in his mouth although we were persistent by trying anything. The nurse eventually came into help after we already made ourselves look like idiots. After this I decided to go and get some lunch as well. The food was great but the mood of the group was really quiet. I decided immediately after lunch to get back at it. I went back to the same room as before lunch were the girl was but as I made my way around the room I came across a little girl who was little in stature but she had the biggest smile you could imagine. Her name is Rosa. I spent the rest of the afternoon with her as we played peekaboo as I crawled under the bed and then jumped up. She was cracking up. Emily came up to her bed as well and we played some more peekaboo and tickled her. we made her laugh so hard that she threw up because she got too excited after he had just ate lunch. The nurse says that this happens often but she still wasn’t too impressed with us. As time wore on Rachael said that we better leave. It was tough to leave such a beautiful smile, but I knew I’d be returning soon, so I simply said “Hasta pronto me amore” which means “see you soon my love” She gave one last shinning smile as I left. As we boarded the bus It occurred to me that this was both the best and worst day of the trip. Why? I honestly can’t explain it. It’s just crazy to experience this here, because back home these children could have the chance of a normal life just by some steady physiotherapy but here their stuck staring the ceiling all day. 

My thoughts on the bus ride home where with Rosa and how beautiful she is. I never asked what’s wrong with her but that’s for the next time at the orphanage. The feeling of the group was mixed, some loved it and some weren’t to sure about how they felt towards the orphanage. I’m for sure excited to go back and see that smile once again.