One Week Down

I don´t even know where to start, its been such a crazy week. I´ve had some of they biggest emotional and physical ups and downs over this past week than I´ve ever had in my life. Upon arriving at the orphanage Monday morning, I suddenly inherited 38 varones grandes (big boys), between the ages of 11-16. I am their orientador, or care taker. I live with them, wake them up, hand out their toothpaste and shampoo, make sure they shower, make sure they clean their rooms, do all their chores, get to breakfast, eat their food, clean up after themselves, watch over them while they play, get them to school on time, make sure they stay in class and don´t wander off, make sure they listen to their teachers, meet them for lunch, meet them after school, make sure they shower again and make it to dinner, make sure they go to bed and actually sleep. I live in their house. I have a small room that holds all of their necessities (shampoo, tools for making jewelery, toilet paper, toothpaste, first aid, toys, etc.), plus some spare shelves for my own clothes, my guitar, and some books. I have my own bathroom and shower as well. There are six rooms in which the kids sleep, and in the center is a common room. There is also a deck that hangs above the river and holds beautiful views of the Rio Dulce. Basically, I have to be daddy for the following hours: 5-7:30am, 11-1pm, 4-6:30pm, and 7:30-through the night. I try to get the kids to sleep by eight. There is electricity in the house between 4:30 and 7:30 am and 4:30 - 8:30 pm, so long as the batteries have enough juice. The kids wake up and fall asleep to the same damn cd every day. I blast it full volume at 5 in the morning to wake them up. I think it might drive me crazy. The kids mostly behave pretty well during the day, but its getting them to sleep and getting them to wake up which is the hardest part. I´m sure any parent reading this is laughing at me right now, or maybe with me. The first couple days I was on the verge of leaving because I was exposed to all this, adjusting to the new living conditions, didn´t know any of the kids or names, or the schedule of the place. Its hard getting kids to do their chores when you don´t know any of the names and can barely understand what they´re saying. Then they lie to you about who they are and boy gosh jeez all sorts of fun games and tantrums. I have finally earned most of their respect at this point, and things are much easier. Even though there are still some problem kids that give me much attitude and set a bad example for others, I more or less have control over them now. Its not exactly the way I would like to govern, by promising punishment for wrongdoings, but in the beginning, it was the only way to earn their respect (or fear).
It is very tiring work. Even though I get breaks during the day, it passes quickly, and I am still in the midst of the orphanage, so it is hard to get away. It is not nonstop work, everyday. As time passes though, I am getting to know the kids, and they are beginning to trust me and confide in me. This is the most rewarding part, and the reason I came. I give them the sense that they are loved and cared for, and make sure they follow the guidelines and schedules given to them so they have some sort of regiment in their lives.
Although the meals are very monotonous (beans at every meal, sometimes with either rice, eggs, or vegetable stew on the side), there seems to be enough for the kids to eat. During their free time, they seem to really enjoy this mini-foosball game (which of course I school them at), and to fish for mojorras, the local river fish. With the fish, they either supplement their meals, or give them to their two kittens that have made a home in our house. Plus there is also the constant drum of a soccer ball being bounced around somewhere in or around the house. They also wash their clothes often, and enjoy making rings and other ornaments to adorn necklaces out of coconut shells. What they can make out of a mini coconut seed is amazing.
There is much more to write about, like the conditions of the orphanage, the village of Las Brisas that lies just beyond the orphanage boundries, the howler monkeys that pick fruit from the canopies of the trees, the debilitating intestinal problems, and so many precious moments with my children, and the rest of them here at Casa Guatemala, but my time has come to go play dad once more.
At the moment all is well here. Until next time.
Chris