I am writing from a bunk in a strange but very well designed "yotel" in Amsterdam's Schipol Airport - the last two weeks have been too busy and intense to sleep or think, much less post or email, so my apologies to anyone that tried to get in touch - including my lovely and very patient UK family. I am currently experiencing severe cultural whiplash - 8 hours is not nearly enough to travel the billion cultural miles between TZ and an Amsterdam airport - and, obviously, missing the kids. The pain hasn't fully hit me yet - I cried like a baby when I had to say goodbye to them, but now it just feels like a day that I'm not working and I'll be back in a few days, my subconscious - ok, not entirely subconscious - denial mechanisms are working pretty well. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
Since I am in no way close to ready to talk about leaving, let's talk about last Wednesday's birthday party for the kids - since none of them have ever had a birthday party before, we decided to have a big group one for them all. In an ideal world, we could have one for each kid on their birthday, but they don't totally understand the concept and get sad when it's someone else's birthday and they are told theirs isn't for another X number of months. So this was our solution! Also it ended up being a nice way to help our newest little one, Miriam, to settle in - she transferred in from another orphanage that ends care at two years, and the poor scrap had only ever really been cared for by white people so she was terrified of the mamas for the first few days. As you can see, she has since adjusted nicely, and is a beautiful and happy kid.
Miriam with stickers, bracelet, and biscuits
Simoni sang "Happy Birthday" to himself for days after the party - probably still is singing it right now. To be fair, he sings to himself all the time, so this isn't necessarily related.
All the volunteers with a fraction of the kids, everyone on a sugar high
Z with lollipop lipstick
Lots more to tell, here are a few preview pictures:
Little Ebenezer before hospital admission - Pneumonia and Malaria, poor little scrap.
From left: Zawadi's grandmother, sister Pendo, Zawadi, Mama Pendo, and Zawadi's great uncle in front of the hut Pendo and grandmother were sharing
Zawadi and big sister Pendo back at Nkoaranga - she's here to stay!
Love you Bekka...safe travels and may your re-entry get easier with time. Those children will be in your heart forever and ever. See you soon, Patty
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