I won't take credit for this trip to an orphanage as it was arranged and organized by a group of moms who wanted to expose their young children to other children who don't have parents. I was dragged along. LOL. Well, the reason why I was dragged along remains a mystery but I suspect it had something to do with physical labor? hahahaha....kidding .I wanted to be a part of it mostly because I wanted my kids to atone for their 'behavior' during an earlier visit to another orphanage. They, let's just say, were not into it.
Not the kind of 'into it' I was hoping for, anyway. They didn't know what to say, to ask or how to react as they were young and awkward (as hell). Plus, there was a language barrier.They promised to do better on other visits.
But it so happens that a sleepover happened at their cousin's house and granted it was an impromptu one so, I was a little disheartened. They were too, my kids. But they don't get to meet their cousins as much as they would like to, like they used to, so, every opportunity was fab.
So, I went there sans my kids. There WILL be future visits and I might even bring the cousins along this time!
You know, every visit to an orphanage is very enlightening. You bring home so many things with you and none of them physical or easily definable. I bring home stories with me. It is not a surprise that these children love to talk and all you need to do is to ask questions and then listen.
And every time, I feel like bringing a kid home with me and this time is no different.
It was an 'Indian-looking' girl, this time. Bear with me, this is not about race. Physically, it was obvious that she had Indian blood in her but even the manager took delight in surprising us (and other visitors too, I suspect) with her name. It was clearly a Chinese name. So, that is why the manager, and even she herself, loved the surprised looks on our faces. I bet she gets that a lot in school. =)
Anyway, she was the brightest of them all and she was attracted to all the gem stone beads that I was wearing, asking me if I was a Buddhist. And when I replied in the affirmative, she talked to me about her favorite teacher in school, her moral teacher who was a Buddhist, a type of tree that had blood in it and how to make a lamp out of it. She is an incredibly smart person with a gorgeous smile and it makes me smile just thinking about her.
There were young boys who rattled off a list of football (soccer, if you're American) players' names that I have never heard of but pretended that I knew them. There were young teenage girls who were shy but showed great leadership and sisterhood with the rest of the younger kids. They were responsible for tougher tasks and took care of the younger ones like real siblings.
And when I asked them who was their best-friend in the home, they said, 'I like everyone here, they are like my family'.
Isn't that wonderful to hear?
Some families are so broken on the inside and yet, we have these children from 'broken families' coming together in an orphanage and calling it family. And I think that's the most important thing to them....a place to belong. I doubt any of the older kids are going to be adopted considering their ages but it is great that they have a place that they can call refuge despite their 'circumstances'.
That's my friend telling the young kids a story.
Have a splendid Saturday, it's rainy over here again and it ruined my plan to go out to the park and I am sitting here writing this post. =)
Love,
Marsha
Not the kind of 'into it' I was hoping for, anyway. They didn't know what to say, to ask or how to react as they were young and awkward (as hell). Plus, there was a language barrier.They promised to do better on other visits.
But it so happens that a sleepover happened at their cousin's house and granted it was an impromptu one so, I was a little disheartened. They were too, my kids. But they don't get to meet their cousins as much as they would like to, like they used to, so, every opportunity was fab.
So, I went there sans my kids. There WILL be future visits and I might even bring the cousins along this time!
You know, every visit to an orphanage is very enlightening. You bring home so many things with you and none of them physical or easily definable. I bring home stories with me. It is not a surprise that these children love to talk and all you need to do is to ask questions and then listen.
And every time, I feel like bringing a kid home with me and this time is no different.
It was an 'Indian-looking' girl, this time. Bear with me, this is not about race. Physically, it was obvious that she had Indian blood in her but even the manager took delight in surprising us (and other visitors too, I suspect) with her name. It was clearly a Chinese name. So, that is why the manager, and even she herself, loved the surprised looks on our faces. I bet she gets that a lot in school. =)
Anyway, she was the brightest of them all and she was attracted to all the gem stone beads that I was wearing, asking me if I was a Buddhist. And when I replied in the affirmative, she talked to me about her favorite teacher in school, her moral teacher who was a Buddhist, a type of tree that had blood in it and how to make a lamp out of it. She is an incredibly smart person with a gorgeous smile and it makes me smile just thinking about her.
There were young boys who rattled off a list of football (soccer, if you're American) players' names that I have never heard of but pretended that I knew them. There were young teenage girls who were shy but showed great leadership and sisterhood with the rest of the younger kids. They were responsible for tougher tasks and took care of the younger ones like real siblings.
And when I asked them who was their best-friend in the home, they said, 'I like everyone here, they are like my family'.
Isn't that wonderful to hear?
Some families are so broken on the inside and yet, we have these children from 'broken families' coming together in an orphanage and calling it family. And I think that's the most important thing to them....a place to belong. I doubt any of the older kids are going to be adopted considering their ages but it is great that they have a place that they can call refuge despite their 'circumstances'.
That's my friend telling the young kids a story.
Have a splendid Saturday, it's rainy over here again and it ruined my plan to go out to the park and I am sitting here writing this post. =)
Love,
Marsha
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