Ok we would be lying if we put up post after post about how volunteering is amazing and that we are enjoying every moment of it. Truth is: it's hard. Really hard. There have definitely been moments where we wanted to pack our bags and make a beeline to the closest McDonald's...which is hours away. It is really hard sometimes to see the bigger picture when you feel like you are starving, never stop sweating (even at night) and have to flush the toilet with a bucket. Yes, that is right, a bucket. They do not have modern toilets here. Every bathroom contains a toilet, a bucket, and a water faucet to fill up the bucket. You pour the water from the bucket into the toilet in order to make it flush. It is a 3 hour walk to the closest grocery store so you have to REALLY need something before going. But we are now on our second trip to that store to buy juice so that Kayla doesn't die of vitamin deficiency and ice cream that will melt down our hands within minutes of buying it. It is worth every sticky minute. :) Finally...
Mom: we promise to NEVER buy another piece of clothing that is "Hand wash only." We have realized how hard it is to stay in clean clothes when you have to wash everything by hand...in a small bucket. We apologize for all of the years of hand washing that you did for us. Thanks mom!
The good thing is that as soon as we think we can't eat one more mushy green vegetable one of the kids does something so ridiculously cute that you can't help but laugh. There is always something going on around the home. They fly kites, paint pictures, play soccer, sing, dance, ride bikes, constantly sneak food from the kitchen, play cards, and ask us to take their picture. We realized that we can stick it out and eat rice for every meal for the rest of our time here if it means helping them.
One day during a lesson about the different regions of the world one of the older girls told us that most of the children at the home, including her, will never have the opportunity to leave this village, let alone Bali. This made me want to stop and cry because this group of kids is so hungry to learn anything and everything they can about the world. They want to look at pictures of South America, the United States, and Europe and soak up as much information as they can. Right now they are all learning English and if you ask them what they want to be when they grow up most of them will say an English teacher at a local school. There are kids here that have amazing potential and will power but that will never see another island in Indonesia. It was that realization that led Kayla and me to decide that we could possibly do more. We talked to a German couple that has been working with the school since 2009 and they are going to try and bring one of the girls that is almost fluent in German to Germany for a visit. So why can't we help bring a child to America? Why can't we do everything in our power to help broaden the horizons of these children and help them to realize that they can be anything they want to be. There are a million possibilities that would be open to them if they just had help.
So that is our next project. We are not going to start saving money for our next big trip, we are going to start saving money for their first big trip. We are not sure the logistics of it and we know it is going to be hard but just the thought that we can help provide such a huge experience makes it all worth it.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Some days are just tougher than others...
Kayla has had quite a string of bad luck lately. She has broken her shoes, bruised her feet, fallen down in the dirt (and rolled a ways), gotten a blood blister the size of a quarter, and now this...
Are you ready for some futbol?
Growing up Kayla and I loved playing soccer. We found the sport through a handout that was sent around our school and our parents were game to let us try anything we wanted. We were hooked after our first practice and played competitively all the way through high school. When the children at the home discovered this information a "futbol" game was immediately scheduled. We soon discovered that there are several differences between the game we played and the one played here aside from the name:
The kids were all very excited about the game and Kayla and I were more than a little nervous. The field had brush behind each goal and neither of us were willing to wade in to retrieve the ball due to the multiple snakes the children have killed since our arrival. Soccer is normally a pretty fast paced game that can get physical at times. We did not want to run over a kid or hit them really hard with the ball and ruin our first game at the home. These concerns were quickly dashed when we realized that the kids were MUCH tougher than we were. By the end of the game I had to remind myself that I could not cry after getting hit in the face with the ball if the 8 year old didn't.
By the end of the game everyone was very hot, sweaty, and dirty but it was decided that we would definitely be playing more often.
- Traditional rules are not enforced
- You don't wear shoes (unless you are a weak foreigner)
- There are no field boundaries
- There isn't any grass, only a dirt field
- Trees can substitute as players since they are located on the field
The kids were all very excited about the game and Kayla and I were more than a little nervous. The field had brush behind each goal and neither of us were willing to wade in to retrieve the ball due to the multiple snakes the children have killed since our arrival. Soccer is normally a pretty fast paced game that can get physical at times. We did not want to run over a kid or hit them really hard with the ball and ruin our first game at the home. These concerns were quickly dashed when we realized that the kids were MUCH tougher than we were. By the end of the game I had to remind myself that I could not cry after getting hit in the face with the ball if the 8 year old didn't.
By the end of the game everyone was very hot, sweaty, and dirty but it was decided that we would definitely be playing more often.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Lessons, Ducklings, & Birthday Parties
Well we have been here for 5 days and it seems like we are starting to understand the routine. We are also starting to remember more of the children's names. It is no easy task considering there are 60 of them and that they are not always around when we are in lessons. We have 2 different teaching groups: class 1- 6 and class 7 - 12. Most of the time there are about 30 children in each lesson which normally would not be unusual for a teacher; however, considering the fact that the youngest in the class is 5 and the oldest is 11 it takes some extra energy to make sure that they all have something to do at their own level. The older group (class 7-12) is a lot calmer but it still has an age span of 12 to 18 years. All of the children in both groups are very eager to learn which provides for easier lessons.
After lessons one day Kayla, Savitha , and I were able to take 29 of the children to the beach. We had to walk in a single file line for about 20mins to reach the coast.We looked like a line of ducklings. I was very anxious setting out due to the fact that there aren't any sidewalks between the home and the beach and the road is barely wide enough for 2 cars to pass. Mopeds and cars were just whizzing around the corners and I was terrified that one of the kids was going to get run over on my watch. Savitha was leading the pack, I was in the middle, and Kayla was bringing up the rear. Somehow we made it without any incidents and I was once again impressed with how well behaved all of the children are.
Today was different from all of the other days we have been here because today is Sunday and the children do not have school. The children attend school Monday through Saturday 6am-11am. Today was also different because a German couple that has really done amazing things for the home arrived for a visit. The couple travels to the home every 6 months bringing donations and gifts from sponsors and friends. They have helped to build a new building on the property, purchase computers, and provide for the daily needs of the home. They arrived around 10am and we all loaded up into the vans and headed for a natural spring fed pool for the day. There were 61 kids, 9 adults, and 5 vehicles. Needless to say we did not follow any of the regulations Kayla and I are used to back in the states. There were probably 20 kids and 1 adult in one of the vans. The other vans contained most of the older children and the rest of the adults. We will post a video of the inside of one of the vans so that you can get a clearer picture of how people travel in Indonesia. Once we arrived at the pools we were swamped with children that wanted us to teach them how to swim. We learned that most of the people in this part of Indonesia do not know how to swim; even the fishermen out on their boats! We really enjoyed helping the children learn to swim. They were very eager to learn and never gave up trying.
Overall it has been a great couple of days. Kayla and I have started getting used to the food here but we have definitely been craving things like chocolate, meat, and juice. Tonight we are having a birthday celebration for the children who were born in June. I think Kayla and I are more excited about the party than the kids are due only to the fact that we are anticipating the spaghetti, fruit juice, and most of all....CAKE!
After lessons one day Kayla, Savitha , and I were able to take 29 of the children to the beach. We had to walk in a single file line for about 20mins to reach the coast.We looked like a line of ducklings. I was very anxious setting out due to the fact that there aren't any sidewalks between the home and the beach and the road is barely wide enough for 2 cars to pass. Mopeds and cars were just whizzing around the corners and I was terrified that one of the kids was going to get run over on my watch. Savitha was leading the pack, I was in the middle, and Kayla was bringing up the rear. Somehow we made it without any incidents and I was once again impressed with how well behaved all of the children are.
Today was different from all of the other days we have been here because today is Sunday and the children do not have school. The children attend school Monday through Saturday 6am-11am. Today was also different because a German couple that has really done amazing things for the home arrived for a visit. The couple travels to the home every 6 months bringing donations and gifts from sponsors and friends. They have helped to build a new building on the property, purchase computers, and provide for the daily needs of the home. They arrived around 10am and we all loaded up into the vans and headed for a natural spring fed pool for the day. There were 61 kids, 9 adults, and 5 vehicles. Needless to say we did not follow any of the regulations Kayla and I are used to back in the states. There were probably 20 kids and 1 adult in one of the vans. The other vans contained most of the older children and the rest of the adults. We will post a video of the inside of one of the vans so that you can get a clearer picture of how people travel in Indonesia. Once we arrived at the pools we were swamped with children that wanted us to teach them how to swim. We learned that most of the people in this part of Indonesia do not know how to swim; even the fishermen out on their boats! We really enjoyed helping the children learn to swim. They were very eager to learn and never gave up trying.
Overall it has been a great couple of days. Kayla and I have started getting used to the food here but we have definitely been craving things like chocolate, meat, and juice. Tonight we are having a birthday celebration for the children who were born in June. I think Kayla and I are more excited about the party than the kids are due only to the fact that we are anticipating the spaghetti, fruit juice, and most of all....CAKE!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Photos of our first days
 |
| On our way to the beach like a row of ducklings. |
 |
 |
| 26 out of the 60 children at the home. |
 |
| Siwa having fun in the water. |
 |
| Sweet Mina |
 |
| Savitha, another volunteer, with a group of silly girls. |
 |
| We were all intrigued with the crazy green moss. |
 |
| Ista & Kayla |
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Our First Days
We have started our volunteering and it is definitely a new experience for Kayla and me. We were not really sure what to expect coming in and it is a good thing that we did not try to picture it as we never would have pictured this. The home is set on a plot of land about 5 hours away from Denpasar. About 6 buildings make up the entire children's home. There is a prayer/yoga/study hall, the main office building (which has an attached outdoor kitchen,) a boys dorm, a girls dorm, and a bathroom/bathing building. They have enough land to have a soccer field, basketball court, and farm land. The school grows most of their own fruits and vegetables including papaya, bananas, corn, eggplant, and chilies.There are 60 children and 1 adult that live at the home. There are 2 other women that work as cooks for the home but they do not live on the premises. The children range in age from 2-19. The home functions like a big family. The older children help the younger children with homework and all of the children have daily chores. Kayla and I were amazed at how well behaved the children are. There is a schedule that all of the children have learned and no one argues about it. The children put themselves to bed at night without having to be told....which as a babysitter in the U.S. I did not think was possible.
The children all seem to be very bright. They are all in the process of learning English. The older boys and girls are almost fluent and there is one girl that has become fluent in German as well. Aside from their daily school work the children have learned to play instruments like the guitar, xylophone, and drums. They also really enjoy yoga and dancing. Kayla and I have had the opportunity to watch them do yoga in the evenings and even the 2 year old is better than we are! Today we worked one on one with a little girl named Mina. She is in the first grade and can count and write her numbers through 100 in English, can say her ABC's in English, can write her name, and spell/say her colors. We also worked with grades 7-11 and were amazed by their math skills. They know all their multiplication tables and compete to see who can do them the fastest. Some of the problems they did in their head Kayla and I had to use a calculator to check the answer! (example: 345x27) We are excited to work with the younger kids today.
One of the most interesting/scary things that has happened since we have been here is that the children have killed 2 snakes! We were playing hide and seek when one of the children spotted the cobra in the grass. She let out a scream and yelled for the boys. Not one of the children even thought about getting an adult, they knew what to do. They surrounded the snake and one boy speared the end of the snake with a stick while the others threw huge rocks down on it. It took all of 30 seconds for them to kill it and present it to us dangling from the end of a stick. While we were walking to dispose of the snake they spotted a green viper and the whole process was repeated. Kayla and I will be watching where we walk and checking under our bed every night.
.JPG)
The food here is definitely interesting. So far we have either rice or noodles with every meal accompanied by some sort of vegetable and water. Needless to say we will probably be leaving here skinnier and well hydrated!
We will take pictures today and hope to post them within the next few days!
The children all seem to be very bright. They are all in the process of learning English. The older boys and girls are almost fluent and there is one girl that has become fluent in German as well. Aside from their daily school work the children have learned to play instruments like the guitar, xylophone, and drums. They also really enjoy yoga and dancing. Kayla and I have had the opportunity to watch them do yoga in the evenings and even the 2 year old is better than we are! Today we worked one on one with a little girl named Mina. She is in the first grade and can count and write her numbers through 100 in English, can say her ABC's in English, can write her name, and spell/say her colors. We also worked with grades 7-11 and were amazed by their math skills. They know all their multiplication tables and compete to see who can do them the fastest. Some of the problems they did in their head Kayla and I had to use a calculator to check the answer! (example: 345x27) We are excited to work with the younger kids today.
One of the most interesting/scary things that has happened since we have been here is that the children have killed 2 snakes! We were playing hide and seek when one of the children spotted the cobra in the grass. She let out a scream and yelled for the boys. Not one of the children even thought about getting an adult, they knew what to do. They surrounded the snake and one boy speared the end of the snake with a stick while the others threw huge rocks down on it. It took all of 30 seconds for them to kill it and present it to us dangling from the end of a stick. While we were walking to dispose of the snake they spotted a green viper and the whole process was repeated. Kayla and I will be watching where we walk and checking under our bed every night.
.JPG)
The food here is definitely interesting. So far we have either rice or noodles with every meal accompanied by some sort of vegetable and water. Needless to say we will probably be leaving here skinnier and well hydrated!
We will take pictures today and hope to post them within the next few days!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
The reason we wander...
Here is one of the songs that inspired us to wander...
I Was Here
Artist: Lady Antebellum
You will notice me
I’ll be leaving my mark
Like initials carved in an old oak tree
You wait and see
Maybe I’ll write like Twain wrote
Maybe I’ll paint like Van Gogh
Cure the common cold… I don’t know
But I’m ready to start ‘cause I know in my heart
Chorus:
I wanna do something that matters
Say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
Wanna do something better
With the time I’ve been given
I wanna try
To touch a few hearts in this life
And leave nothing less than something that says
I was here
I will prove you wrong
If you think I’m all talk
You’re in for a shock ‘cause this dreams too strong
Before too long
Maybe I’ll compose symphonies
Maybe I’ll fight for world peace
‘Cause I know it’s my destiny
to leave more than a trace of myself in this place
Repeat chorus
Bridge: I know that I will do more than just pass through this life
I’ll leave nothing less than something that says
I was here
I’ll be leaving my mark
Like initials carved in an old oak tree
You wait and see
Maybe I’ll write like Twain wrote
Maybe I’ll paint like Van Gogh
Cure the common cold… I don’t know
But I’m ready to start ‘cause I know in my heart
Chorus:
I wanna do something that matters
Say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
Wanna do something better
With the time I’ve been given
I wanna try
To touch a few hearts in this life
And leave nothing less than something that says
I was here
I will prove you wrong
If you think I’m all talk
You’re in for a shock ‘cause this dreams too strong
Before too long
Maybe I’ll compose symphonies
Maybe I’ll fight for world peace
‘Cause I know it’s my destiny
to leave more than a trace of myself in this place
Repeat chorus
Bridge: I know that I will do more than just pass through this life
I’ll leave nothing less than something that says
I was here
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)