Tuesday, June 28, 2011

I'm so sad...We just got back from my last visit at el orfanato El Rosario. We just colored and hung out with them outside all afternoon. They love to just color. Some of the little boys were entertained forever by having tire-pushing races with scrap tires that were around! haha hilarious. I LOVE these kids and I'm so bummed I'm not going to be greeted by their smiling faces and kisses on the cheek anymore! I have really grown close to one little girl, about 11 or 12 years old, Haydee, in particular and she was so torn up today when I told her today was my last day. She drew me a picture saying "Te amo Zara! Que te valla vien!" (Which is funny because not only could she not spell my name, she misspelled the spanish, which is really que te vaya bien! meaning may you go well...) After I drew her a sign with her name and a little letter telling her I was going to miss her, but she would always have a place in my heart and I gave her my address to write, she literally wouldn't let go of my neck all afternoon telling me "Voy a extranarte mucho senoriittta!" I brought all my clothes today to leave at Rosario. I was supposed to leave just all of my clothes with the director to distribute, but I really really wanted to set aside a few that I knew would fit her to give directly to Heidi. Perhaps it is selfish of me, but there is something about actually seeing a child receive a gift and light up in person. So at the end when were leaving I ran back to the little house where Haydee lives in and gave her a bag of clothes and told her to put them in her room. She was soo excited, but so sad to tell me bye. Broke my heart. All the kids here share a little apartment like home-style dorm rooms and a little kitchenette with a little family of other children and one "mom". It's really a neat set up because they made it feel more like a community of homes than an orphanage. It is such a beautiful place. Also, right before we left I was talking to Doris, one of the older 16 year old girls, who I had helped with homework one day. I just complimented her green sweater and she jokingly said no I like yours better wanna swap? I had on my black mountain hardwear jacket that I had planned on leaving in Peru anyway but thought I might need to keep it until Cuzco and Machu Picchu because it will still be cold. But after she said that I could not keep it on any longer. Who cares if I get a little cold over the next few days, these kids wear the same ratty clothes every day. Doris especially wears the same sweater and same leopard print fleece pants everyday. I just told her sure you can have it, but she would not believe me and wouldn't take it at first saying, "Mentira, mentira! No vas a dejarla!" (Lie! like you're teasing, you're not going to really leave it!) Finally I convinced her that I really wanted her to have it, and she just lit up in shock. She gave me a big hug and a kiss and at that I left Rosario. :(

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