A broad volunteering, part 2

Dear family,

Don't worry, I won't be posting every day, but I just feel so full right now and I'm at a cushy internet cafe and so I feel the need to share.

Today was my first day at the Caroline Children's Home and it was just perfect. I may be in an urban area, but this home is definitely rural. I work with two of the volunteers I live with, Josefa (from Mexico) and Lee (from Korea). They are sweet and Lee doesn't speak English too well, but Spanish fluently so there isn't a TON of conversation, but I like it. Less bullshit. Anyway, we leave at about 8:30 and take a 20 minutes matatu (bus ride) to a rural area and then walk about 20 minutes.. a hard walk, I might add. But, it's incredible. Where we are dropped off is the classic Kenya you would think of. Dirt roads, shacks along it with people selling things, donkey's leading a cart filled with long grass (not really long grass, but I don't know what it is) and then we walk down this remote path that's about a foot wide, and it winds through corn fields and a woodsy green area. Very beautiful, but steep and makes me sorta sweaty. Or, a lot of sweaty. Maybe my buns will benefit from it?

The home is just as you would imagine, two buildings, one for the children to sleep and one is the classrooms. It's surrounded by the countryside and woods, so it feels remote. And then there is a shack sorta thing where they cook, etc, and that's where Josefa and Lee work. I will say, the women that work there are not terribly welcoming (one of them is actually pretty rude, and Josefa said she thinks she doesn't like volunteers), but the children certainly are. They call us "auntie" or something that sounds just like that, and I guess it is a term of respect. Some are more clingy than others, but overall so cute. So, so cute. I don't know how the pictures will ever do justice. At one point I had 5 of them around me with different pieces of my hair and I felt like a maypole.. ouch, my scalp... but I kept quiet. I was first put in the younger class with the rude lady but then the older classroom's teacher asked me to fill in for her for a minute and just mark the children's tablets as they completed their English.. but then she never came back! Totally disorganized, but what did I expect? I sorta just figured it out as I went and went on to Math, testing the kids to find out how advanced they were. When I come back tomorrow I might not have any guidance, but what can I do? I am very happy to be able to lead a classroom if, in fact, that's what I will do (I'd rather do that than assist) but I'd like to know what the children are working on!

Anyway, I already have favorites. One is Francis, this one boy that reminds me of Willie. When I said "Who can help me with this?" he didn't even raise his hand, just walked over and helped me. He's all smiles. And there is one girl names Teresia. Poor thing, thought she was a boy all day. Most of their heads are shaved so, you know, hard to tell until they stand up and you see the skirt under the sweater. She looks like Gary Coleman, no kidding, and when it was playtime she stayed in to work on the Math problems I wrote on the board. She goes slower than some of the others, but is SO proud when she finished each one. I love her already.

The grounds are very Kenya, but dangerous! For the kids, I mean, not me. For example, the end of the grounds is ravine like, and it's right where the old, rotting, swing sets are! And right in front of the swings is this massive pile of wood. For a while, I was the only person outside with the children, as the other girls were cleaning the dishes and then African women were.. I don't know what. Leaving me with a classroom, again? So I am standing there with over 50 children running around me and hazards everywhere. One boy, Felix, fell out of a tree, so I picked him up and consoled him for a while. I found a couple of boys behind the cow pen, which I didn't even know existed. At one point I just sorta looked around and realized this was the chaos they were all used to, so what can I do? I did have to escape into the classroom for a bit to do some math with some of the girls, as the hand-holding and hugging can be overwhelming. And it is so hot under the sun! It's a perfect summer day here.

Sorry, this is so long. I just feel like I left everyone thinking I was depressed, and today I just feel so much better. I slept most of the night last night, only waking up for an hour. I felt panicky again, with that awful feeling in my chest, but I had Mike call me and he calmed me down. No tears, though :) Mike has been so wonderful. To be able to talk to him each day and text him makes all the difference in the world. He is so patient with my rambling and boy, is that what I need. AND I could kiss you all for making me feel okay about not necessarily staying for 4 months. What a relief!! I feel lighter already. I told Mom last night I am going to stay as long as I am happy. And I am homesick right now, but happy nonetheless.

I feel like I am taking over the blog! Please post pictures of the babes.. Paul, a Burrito or two, etc, etc. I want updates from home! I wish I had my computer to show you guys pictures while I'm here. The house I am staying in looks so cool and makes me feel sorta cool, too. I think this placement is just what I needed to get me through here. Mom, you were spot on. God always has a plan.

Anyway, I'm done, I'm done! Gosh, this is long. MISS YOU ALL and I love you to bits.

xoxo Lisette