Buenos tardes, queridos!
Wow, so it has been about a week since my last post and I have so much to say and so little time to say it! I am going to my first Bolivian soccer game in a bit!
I arrived in Cochabamba, Bolivia on Monday after over 24 hours of travelling/waiting in airports! It has been an incredible experience being here almost one week. First of all, being almost completely immersed in the Spanish language and Bolivian culture has been awesome! I have been here less than a week and already my Spanish has improved so much. I am now finding myself thinking in Spanish rather than English!
I have been kept busy these past several days and haven't had time to be too homesick, although I am starting to feel it now. I have worked at the orphanage for several days, gone for a hike with the Director and her family and have just gotten to know the adorable children and wonderful "tias" or house mothers and other volunteers. I have not had very many opportunities to take pictures as I have just been taking everything in for the first time.
I will be working mostly at the baby home which is composed of around 18? babies ranging in age from 3 months to 2 years! They are so adorable but also quite a handful to keep up with as they are constantly testing the new volunteers! Oh yeah, and the diapers too...oh the diapers... It is a good thing that they are so cute! I am living in a guest house behind the second house where 15 children live, ranging in age from 3 up to 11 years old. These children are absolutely wonderful and it is so much fun getting to have little conversations with them in Spanish and just hang out with them during my time off! Many of their stories are traumatic ones, as they were either abandoned or taken away from their mothers who were incapable of caring for them (either prostitutes, homeless, alcoholics or drug addicts). These children are well-loved for sure in this home though, as the tias are great with them and really have genuine compassion and love for the children. And although they have a beautiful home and are well cared for, it is obvious that they are desperate for their mommies and daddies, especially male figures in the boys' lives as their are no "tios" and only a few male volunteers.
My head is swimming right now with all that I have been witnessing, hearing and learning and I am really struggling to put into words the incredible amount of emotion that is welling up inside of me. Last night I had to write a composition about my initial reactions about being here for my independent study. Did I mention it had to be in Spanish. Ay! Talk about being unable to actually express myself! I am hoping that this will not be the case when I return home though! I look forward to sharing more with you in the near future...although I am not sure of the next time I will have the opportunity to actually sit down and post something!
Until then, ciao!
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2 comments:
Hey Gretchen,
Amanda again. I just wanted to tell you how extremely proud of you i am, and i know that's weird because i'm younger than you and everything but really i am, I guess i just look up to you so mcuh that it really makes me happy to have a good role model in my life. Everything's been going pretty well here, small groups and primetime and all, but we do miss you very much. I'm so glad that you're enjoying Bolivia and getting to work with the chilren, you're going to be such a positive impact on everyone's life you come in contact with. I hope that all continues to go well, y buena suerte con tu viaje. I hope to talk to you later.
Always
Amanda
Hola senora Meibauer,
It was good to see that you had a post here and that you are doing great so far. It is awesome to know that you are in God's will directly and that your spanish is getting better and better everyday. Just want you to know that the group prayed for you tonight after we meet and that we hope you are doing ok! Peace out "tia"
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