Orphanage #1
I haven’t written about the kids at orphanage #1 much…think I’ve been avoiding thinking about them because as much as I love these kids I’ll have to leave them. If their parents don’t get their act together in one month’s time, then they will go to a permanent orphanage or to a school that has both kids with parents and boarding for orphans. They will stay there until they are 18 but unlike Sasha they won’t have a apartment to go to, no home to live in. Alex told me that there are Training schools and the orphans can board there and Sergei told me that they get about $2/mo. So, as Sergei says the country has a problem…100,000 orphans who will grow up and need to find jobs, housing, etc. Ripe for a good solution. Wish an NGO would form to take on part of this here.
But back to my kids….
I am in love. I’ve been here long enough to know their personalities, games they like to play and for them to know that when I come I’m the adult who plays. I come to them each afternoon and get this lovely reception. Alin, a 2 ½ yr old little girl gives me a kiss, looks into my eyes and then a hug. Two twins that must be 4 come to play a sailor went to sea sea sea. There is another 2 year old boy who is very shy but he likes to play near me. The rest of that group is Olah, who is 7 yr old, probably given too much authority with the other children and her sister Alin. The other day she was in the bathroom with Alin and must have done something mean. The housekeeper, who always is smiling, heard Alin cry and she walked in and I heard this huge slap, then a scream and Olah came running out holding her face. Hard for me. Very very hard. Olah sometimes comes over and curls up on my lap and I rub her back…but this is just a moment in time. I can’t even explain to her when I leave.
And there is new 3 yr old…Liza…she pretty much was a wild one when she came and they have rules here. But I notice that she is blooming under the rules, playing with the other kids. As for the rules…when you sleep, when you nap,what you do when you wake up, how you pull your chair over for snack and put it back, slippers on , slippers off, lots of rules to keep the order and to train these children who come from some really rough backgrounds to actually be taken from their parents by the police. I think the rules are great .
So, the other day with this group of 11 I bought 6 little cars and 6 dinosaurs. (The store did not have two packages of either…urgh) Oh, my gosh, it was the biggest event ever. They all just couldn’t believe that they had their own toy. They were so happy. Such a little thing created so much happiness. I just soaked it in. Bittersweet.
The room they play in has one set of building blocks and that’s it. So, we play inside for an hour or so and then head outside to the playground for jumping, running, basketball…you know the drill. I bought chalk for everyone…another big hit. It doesn’t really take much to bring a little spark to their lives.
In another group there are 5 sisters from the same family. They are 12-16…can you imagine being taken from your mother at this age? Very nice girls. But they put the youngest one…who is normally really sweet to help with that first youngest group I told you about. Usually Kolah, this wonderful 16 yr old boy plays with them and he is patient, kind, gets them playing games. Well, this girl does not like her babysitting I guess. I was in another room with the kids…doll houses, stuffed animals, cribs and the little kids were all being kids playing make believe having fun. She walked in and yelled at each one…big yells, moved the toys back to where they were, made each one cry! I was shocked…what was it? Did we have to go outside, clean up, what the hell was it that would make her scream? Are we supposed to play in a playroom without moving toys? I was at a loss…my kids all frightened.
I tried to mime to her are you angry, sad, what is wrong? She smiled and said nothing, fine. I mimed breathe, calm, and said patience….come sit here with me. She is a lovely lovely girl and I was shocked out of my mind to have her rant at the little ones. She doesn’t know about another way or something? This is the part when not having an interpreter makes me NUTS!
So it’s tough here when I don’t know the language and miss all kinds of things. I’m guessing a lot of the time. The kids have many many tough lessons that they cannot be protected from…getting slapped, screamed at. One little boy cries every time they make him sit on this pot…and it really is a pot! What is that about? Some of the kids are wearing shoes that are too small, not warm enough clothes. I know the orphanage tries to do their best but jeez….no hugs, few smiles, gruff orders…but not all. There are a few of the teachers who are warm, loving with the kids.
In the older group, there is a 6 yr old boy who rescued his 2 sisters from their house fire. The mom was out drinking. He is amazing…smart, wants to learn, strong, and really fun to play with. His sister now after 3 weeks will almost smile at me but then I’ll be gone won’t I. In that group are two brothers who are full of life, love to play, seem to be adjusting to life here but then the 3 teachers of the older group are also kinder behind their gruffness. This is a tough job as the kids are always changing...no continuity so hats off to the ones who can manage to train these kids to follow the rules and provide a kind atmosphere. I'm sure if I was in charge there were be utter chaos!
I was at the fountain in the park the other day and saw all .the loving parents with their children running around and I thought oh my gosh….my kids can never go to a park. They are confined to that orphanage for 1 month and after that a boarding school. So, the thought now is how to help them? I think we could send some things to them or if you like, I could buy something for the orphanage for you while I’m here. A little money goes a long way….let me know….balls, games, more cars…crayons, coloring books, dolls. Shoes!!! Yea, maybe shoes!! Is there an NGO that does Shoes for Orphans? Thinking if there isn’t one that might be very cool to start?? I saw a group of very well dressed women leaving the orphanage the other day with empty boxes and I hope they were bringing clothes, maybe shoes. Wonder how to get local people volunteering here too…the ones who have the time and don’t have to work long hours. I'm quite sure the way I see people care about their children here that they would be game to help out. Or maybe they do...again, without the language, I miss a lot. Just two eyes, no ears looking at things. But let me know if you want me to buy something and what it is and you can mail me a check later.
So, there it is. I have to really focus on the idea that I am here for moment in time to bring some laughter to a child and then need to be able to walk away. They aren’t thinking about their whole lives…they are just in the moment. So, those are some of my kids…the afternoon job. They are so much fun for me to play with even when they are jabbering away in my face telling me all kinds of things and all I can do is look, smile and say da da or neit. Still works somehow. The sanitorium is a totally different experience…more on that later. .
