Days in the office are filled with trying to look up spanish words I don't know in the dictionary, browsing the internet, and of course lunch for an hour. The biggest meal of the day, starting with soup, then the main dish which usually consists of meat, rice, potatoes and/or yucca, salad and fresh fruit juice.
I am growing antsy with sitting in the office with not much to do, and am getting frustrated with not having a camera to take photos. Today I'm going to hopefully enroll in a Spanish class at a nearby university.
Last week I went to a mission in one of the poorest parts of Bogota. The Padre proudly showed me around the mission(combination of a church and home for old ladies). Here also, in the afternoons they serve kids a hearty lunch and help them with their homework. After showing me around, the Padre sat me in a chair and had the kids come and ask me questions and then he left the room. I know! That was my first reaction also, 'what! he's leaving me in the room alone with all these kids!' The second, 'What's to fear? Bring it on!' Then came the questions- rapid fire. How many aunts and uncles do you have? Did you actually fly on an airplane? How many kids do you have? Do you shower with warm water? They were sooo excited, all of the kids started talking at once. I could not understand a thing, even when only one child was talking at a time. It was great. Eventually the kids requested that I sing, I don't sing. I sang. Animated camp songs. This got the kids even more excited and they dragged me out to teach me how to play soccer in the street.
Any fears I had about working with children, or not knowing a language evaporated within milliseconds and I left the mission completely speechless. They were so wonderful, and so happy, so simple in the most magnificent of ways.
Being a little selfish on my part, I want more of this more interaction, more depth, more challenge, more of anything. I am still 'observing' and learning so much and know things will begin to fall into place as the year carries on, trying keeping in mind this is only just barely completing my second week in Colombia. Patience Audra, patience.
4 comments:
Sounds like your experiences are getting better and better, and more rewarding. You are doing a great job of "rolling with the punches" and making the best out of every situation. Sounds fabulous Audra!
Camera - why no camera?
Love the story about the kids - all those years of Camp Cross training come together in one moment:)
xoxo
I love to work with children they accept and love with such a zest. They have such a limited view of the world. Plus we have so much and are so spoiled that we forget to appreciate what we do have like hot water.
We have some friends in Southern Missouri that for his whole life had never been to St. Louis when their baby had problems they had to go to "The Big City" it was so different for him. I remember your Grandma Bev took us to so many places when we were growing up it was great.
We are proud of you and expect you to have a very rewarding mission for yourself plus all who touch your life. Love YA!!! Aunt Sue
i LOVE that you sang them camp songs! yay! sounds like you are getting quite the experiences, even if you get stuck in an office a lot of the time... :)
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