Sad goodbyes
Today was the last day of placements for four of the volunteers that started before me. They have been here for 5-8 weeks and two of them were with me at my placement (Hospital for Children) today. The tears and sadness shown by the kids and the volunteers are a preview for me of a very sad day that I dread.
The placement went very well. I made som emore friends and several of the children remembered me even though I had only been once and that had been a few days ago. As soon as the door opened I heard a couple of small voices saying " Bearus, Bearus". It is simultaneously humbling and thrilling. I have so much and have been so selfish with my time and energy.
After a couple of hours of arts and crafts projects that we had prepared last night, we got to go out on the playground for an hour or so. We had a blast blowing bubbles, kicking the soccer ball (thanks Sonja), throwing the fresbee, etc. Everyone was glad to be outside after a couple of days of rain.
I had two MOMENTS today. One was after the boy I was playing with threw the fresbe over the fence into a fairly overgrown area. I went out the gate, since they are not allowed, and went to get the fressbe. As I approached the fresbe amongst the weeds I could hear my playmate become very excited and start shouting Russian to me from from the inside of the fence. I, of course had no idea what he was saying until our interpreter came over and said--He sees the apple. Sure enough I was under an apple tree and a green apple had been beside the fresbee. I started to leave but he became more excited. I said the apple is rotten, but of course he did not understand. I say the tree it fell from and it was full of green apples. But I did not know the rules or whose apples they were so I came on back around. By the time I came in my playmate had told other older childern, that had asked and been granted permission, and were heading over to pick some green apples. I have never seen anyone enjoy an apple so much. I may not have ever e\seen anyone enjoy anything so much.
Later a small girl of maybe 3 or 4 or so came up to me and held her arms up for me to pick her up. I did and we walked aroung the playgroung exploring the items that were 6 feet off the ground...the tree limbs, the roof over the sandbox, the top of the jungle gym. We were laughing and playing and having a jolly ole time. But after a while my arms started to tire and I tried to put her down. No way--she grabed my neck so hard it hurt a little. So I decided to just go sit down for a while with her. We did and played for a while but she would not let go of my neck. When it was time for us to leave she still would not let go. I almost cried. But then several kids came up and started asking me the same thing in Russian. The interpeter said they were asking if I was coming back on monday. Even though this had been my least favorite assignment of the week I am scheduled to go there every day next week. Yes I am I replied in my southern English, I will be here every day next week. Funny how things just work out sometimes.
Have a nice weekend.
The placement went very well. I made som emore friends and several of the children remembered me even though I had only been once and that had been a few days ago. As soon as the door opened I heard a couple of small voices saying " Bearus, Bearus". It is simultaneously humbling and thrilling. I have so much and have been so selfish with my time and energy.
After a couple of hours of arts and crafts projects that we had prepared last night, we got to go out on the playground for an hour or so. We had a blast blowing bubbles, kicking the soccer ball (thanks Sonja), throwing the fresbee, etc. Everyone was glad to be outside after a couple of days of rain.
I had two MOMENTS today. One was after the boy I was playing with threw the fresbe over the fence into a fairly overgrown area. I went out the gate, since they are not allowed, and went to get the fressbe. As I approached the fresbe amongst the weeds I could hear my playmate become very excited and start shouting Russian to me from from the inside of the fence. I, of course had no idea what he was saying until our interpreter came over and said--He sees the apple. Sure enough I was under an apple tree and a green apple had been beside the fresbee. I started to leave but he became more excited. I said the apple is rotten, but of course he did not understand. I say the tree it fell from and it was full of green apples. But I did not know the rules or whose apples they were so I came on back around. By the time I came in my playmate had told other older childern, that had asked and been granted permission, and were heading over to pick some green apples. I have never seen anyone enjoy an apple so much. I may not have ever e\seen anyone enjoy anything so much.
Later a small girl of maybe 3 or 4 or so came up to me and held her arms up for me to pick her up. I did and we walked aroung the playgroung exploring the items that were 6 feet off the ground...the tree limbs, the roof over the sandbox, the top of the jungle gym. We were laughing and playing and having a jolly ole time. But after a while my arms started to tire and I tried to put her down. No way--she grabed my neck so hard it hurt a little. So I decided to just go sit down for a while with her. We did and played for a while but she would not let go of my neck. When it was time for us to leave she still would not let go. I almost cried. But then several kids came up and started asking me the same thing in Russian. The interpeter said they were asking if I was coming back on monday. Even though this had been my least favorite assignment of the week I am scheduled to go there every day next week. Yes I am I replied in my southern English, I will be here every day next week. Funny how things just work out sometimes.
Have a nice weekend.
posted by Bryan at 9:39 AM
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