Hey guys, sorry I have not posted in forever. It is a new week and my last real week in Romania so i will be sure to keep you all updated every step of the way
So it is Monday and what a day it was indeed. If I could "personify" my day with a cartoon character I would go with Taz the Tasmanian devil. So the day started like every other day... woke up at 8 am.. stayed in bed until about 8:35 am.. get up get changed brush my teeth.. eat some honey nut cheerios and am out the door by 8:45 am. The only real difference this morning was the number of layers I put on. This week has been chillier than past weeks and the morning fog definitely cuts to the bone.
The day today was not like a normal day though and it all started with the mattresses. The orphanage got new mattresses today which was really exciting for me because it seems that things are looking up financially (at least a little more so). It was exciting for the kids because just look back to when you were a child and how you would feel if suddenly these new and fresh smelling mattresses just started to fill the room. The problem though, is that because there are so many kids in my room they rotate their nap times to optimize their resources and minimize the craziness, but today all the kids had to be put in the main room. While they were switching out the mattresses, I was in charge of watching the 17 or so kids in the small play room. It got wild. In just a matter of seconds "The Monster" had managed to slip out of my grip, dash down the hall, run into the bathroom and by the time I got there (even though I ran) he already was arm deep in the bath tub water. "The Sidekick" was acting more like the boss today as he screamed bloody murder and was as rambunctious as a little 4 year old boy can be. At one point I was dragging 4 little boys, one by my foot, back into the room. I dont know why I did not think of it earlier, but as The sidekick ran out and crouched in the corner I told him to go inside on the count of three or else he would go to 'nanni' or nap time. One .. two.... (and then he started to count with me)... three! He tried to squirm away so I picked him up, brought him into the back room, placed him in a crib and walked out. He screamed and screamed but the moment he was put in his time out, all the other kids simmered down and were fine! I do not know if it was because he was the trouble maker, if they were like 'dang she is serious' or just did not want to befall the same fate but regardless, it worked. In just a few moments Sidekick was lying down sucking his thumb, subdued. He must have just been tired. I know it sounds a bit silly, but I felt satisfied in myself that I was able to handle the 17 kids in a successful manner. Lumi came out and asked where the sidekick was. I told her he was in timeout that he had been really naughty. She was so surprised and kept exclaiming 'bravo ashley'. It was a crazy day but for once I was able to really have the kids listen to me and be obedient.. all at once.
A.U had a fun little experience today as a past BYU intern and her husband visited. He absolutely loves showing off his skills! He showed them the letter board in Boardmaker software as well as his counting skills. In boardmaker Teo asked him to spell Ashley.. He spelled the A and then an L.. she told him no you need to type S when I realized that he just wanted to spell his own name! He definitely has an independant spirit which is so great to see. At first one may think, ah how frustrating, he wont listen and wants to do his own thing. While it is important to maintain the rules and boundaries, I find that his choices reflect his sense of independence.. even though we may ask him to do something, he is exercising his agency to do something else. This is so important for him and it is really great to see that despite the daily schedule and typical banes of institutionalized life, AU is able to maintain his identity. I think that this, as I have said before and as Robby has explained to me, is the main thing that we as BYU interns can help AU do. Have faith and confidence in his decisions, while maintaining the rules and boundaries. To be able to choose what he wants based on what he likes but also based on curiosity and desire to learn. He has a desire to learn and his persistence to understand and to get an answer right is something I am really trying to keep alive. I try to challenge him by asking him to try and answer something on his own. I know he knows, like with numbers or letters, he knows his numbers and letters sometimes he just needs help with connecting the dots. I try and wait for him to connect the dots in his mind, and you can see his mind working through his eyes. Sometimes I just like to wait if it takes a few seconds or a few minutes. When he needs help, he will ask, but this is how I really try to help him. I think the term is 'scaffolding'.. to slowly work with a child by giving less and less the more and more they improve. So today I tried explaining to AU that Friday is my last day. He did not seem to understand what I was trying to say. I may have to have Teo translate because I want him to understand. It is so crazy to think that all of these people and children that I have become so close to in my life here, I will never see again. Such a daunting thought. I have some email addresses but it is not the same. I really hope that girls in the following semesters will let me know updates, at least the big things like, this child is walking, this child is talking, this child was fostered. After I leave, there is very little that I can do here but one thing that I can do is to pray for these children. They are so loved by our Heavenly Father and I just hope that they will remember me. I am also glad that this program will continue for many years down the road. They will only have to go a month or so before another byu intern is there to work with them, play with them and love them in ways that the hired workers cannot.
OH! One more thought. I wonder how much it would cost to send a baby gate to the orphanage. I think that it would be THE biggest lifesaver in my room as the kids can open the door and are running out into the hallway every few seconds. When I go home I want to look into sending one. I think that it would be so great for them.
Well that is it for now, I will be back monday! oh and one more thing. I absolutely love working out.. I have been doing pretty good lately. It kind of stinks because my resources are pretty limited so my workouts consist of running stairs and p90x but I just love how healthy it makes me feel. I just wish I did not break out in rashes after intense workouts!
No comments:
Post a Comment