Our time at the orphanage has been nice. It's been a bit of an adjustment period – living and working in the same place always is. This month we've been working with the special needs children (though the eldest is 19) and it's been really good but pretty hard, as well.
I think meal times are the hardest: most of the kids can feed themselves but there are three who need some help. Some of them have their mouths perpetually open so they drool a lot, even while eating. Sometimes it's hard for us to eat when we're feeding them mushy food. In the mornings, they usually mix fruit (papaya or watermelon) together with cubed bread and then pour a hot milky-vitamin drink over it, mixing it all together. I would not want to eat something like that and have a hard time seeing the kids have to eat it, thought it appears as though they enjoy it.
A lot of times the kids who cannot speak and can't feed themselves get really frustrated when they are not eating as much or as fast as they would like. I can't imagine what it's like to not speak. I don't know if they are forming clear thoughts in their head, if they are formulating sentences that just won't come out. I know that they understand what is being said to them, and I'm sure that for most of them it's just that they cannot respond, they can't make their feelings know, they can't explain why they are crying, why they are frustrated. They can't say anything. and it's hard to watch that from an outsider's perspective.
The nannies are the real hero's in this group. I give mad credit to this group of 6 nannies. They are split into 2 groups of 3. They are on for 2 days, off for 2 days. Ana has been here 7 years. Elida, 2. Most of the others have been between that range. And it's hard work. They're with them for 48 hours straight. What they do is amazing. They truly love these kids. They have to – they wake up with them, shower them, dress them, do their hair, feed them, clean their poop, pee & vomit, wipe up their drool, and teach them. They are the loving mothers of these children. It's a beautiful thing to see.
I am also very thankful for their gentleness and patience with us, visitors in their homes. They have been amazing with us, not only as we attempt to understand the kids and the culture, but also as we (myself especially) butcher the language. They are helpful and correct me when i need it. A few of them have really become friends. I've gotten to know them over the last 2 weeks and I'm excited to get to know them more and learn more about their stories outside of the orphanage. They are all so sweet!
