Day 17

Just got home from the orphanage and MAN is it amazing. I love it so so much. That same worker, I still have not figured out her name, speaks in romanian to me ALL the time because she says she wants me to learn faster. A few things I can understand because of spanish.. with a combination of hand gestures haha. I mainly know things to help with the kids, colors, numbers, animals.. stay here.. sit there.. that is not allowed.. good job.. beautiful.. be nice haha. Guess what! Jello was babbling today! First time since I have been here! The fact that Jello was babbling is SO SO good because that is a first step. I was throwing a ball in the air saying 'sus!' or 'up!' He started making 's' sounds.. I am really working with him annunciating colors and numbers.. it does not help that all romanian words are so long (say blue! Ummm alabastru…!) but I really think that I can help him. When he gets really excited about something.. when I was blowing bubbles for instance.. he was babbling like crazy. I think because I make him happy and when he is happy.. his anxiety or “frica” disappears.

The two workers are strict but really love the kids. They are actually very affectionate. The one things though.. is that they dont seem to have a lot of faith in the kids abilities (Jello speaking for instance). The Romanian people are incredibly.. passive about things. The missionaries were saying a lot of times people will say after taking the discussions.. investigating the church.. yes I love your church but I was born orthodox and so that is what god wants me to be, or that child cannot speak so .. he cannot speak. They accept the situation as is and do not try to change it.. fatalists if you will. It is sad because if only Jello had more practice, a better environment, more this or that he could grow up to be completely normal. Maybe a little shy but normal. If only he could be adopted.

There is a girl named ‘Maria’.. she is paralyzed and probably like.. three years old. They laid her on a mat and I was blowing bubbles for the kids (Friday treat:) She cannot speak but I blew a bunch of bubbles right above her head. She squinted her eyes and looked really scared but as soon as the bubbles landed she just burst into laughter. It made me so happy! The workers noticed and were so surprised which made me feel really good. The workers asked for a picture with me. I got all the kids birthdays today so I am thinking that I will send them each something for their birthdays. I can tell that the workers really like me and I really am starting to fit in in my room. I feel good there and am so excited to help these kids progress even only 3 months.

Hospital: I went to Jessi and Kala's floor today and played with the cutest little boy. When we asked what his name was they only told us the Romanian word for "boy". Jessi showed me that he loved to have his legs stretched out. He was probably 2 but was pretty disabled. He also seemed to have severe attachment disorders. The nurse would not let me change the diaper but when she changed it, she held the boy for only 5 seconds or so and the moment she put him down he started bawling. We are not allowed to hold him and it is hard because attachment disorders are a nasty cycle: the disorder develops because the child is not held and loved enough... the child becomes abnormally clingy and then holding the child is discouraged because of the attachment disorder.. This little boy absolutely loved animal noises. I played my ipod for him to and he loved Regina Spektor... song of the day is Us! Here is a picture of him: