Today was my despedida (goodbye party) at work. They made a special chicken lunch and had the older kids dance for me and gave a small speech. It was really nice. But when they asked me to say a few words I about lost it because from where I was standing the comedor (cafeteria) I could see the window into my sala and 4 or 5 of my kids on their tippy-toes peering out into the comedor looking at me. I know I´m coming back in two month, but I really, really, really hate goodbyes.
Also, today was my last Albertina day - her goodbye to me was a handshake and kiss on the cheek. Sabina also was at lunch (because all the staff had been in a meeting earlier in the day) and I gave her a hug as she was leaving and we both about lost it before she said not to worry she´s coming in tomorrow afternoon to say goodbye - even though she´s on vacation.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
Antua
Next week is my last week. I can hardly believe it´s actually here and I have had quite my share of emotional ups and downs (which I´m sure will continue into next week) recently. The thing that really hit me yesterday was that over the last month or so Antua - one of the 8 kids who has been in my sala the whole 10 months I´ve been here - has taken to following me to the door every afternoon when I leave and bursting into tears when I have to shut the door behind me. Even the days when I´ve tried to say goodbye to him when he´s outside, he always knows when I´m leaving and is waiting at the door when I´m trying to leave. It breaks my heart a little bit every day to leave him, but I´m consoled by the fact that I can tell him I´ll be back tomorrow. Next Friday though, that won´t be the case.
I originally thought it might be easier to leave my kids than it would be if I was working with older kids, because they don´t understand that I´m leaving and there is no need for explanations. However, as the countdown begins, I´m starting to realize that maybe this will be a little harder than I ever expected. How do you say goodbye to the little people you´ve watched grow up - learn new words, learn how to climb up and down from their cribs, learn my name, learn how to run, learn how to dance, learn how to drink out of a cup instead of a bottle - over the past 10 months and who have completely stolen my heart? Obviously I will miss every single one of my kids, but Martin, Antua, Omar, Jose Carlos, Julio, Jose Armando, and Gisel - who I´ve spent 5 days a week with for the past 10 months are going to be the hardest.
I originally thought it might be easier to leave my kids than it would be if I was working with older kids, because they don´t understand that I´m leaving and there is no need for explanations. However, as the countdown begins, I´m starting to realize that maybe this will be a little harder than I ever expected. How do you say goodbye to the little people you´ve watched grow up - learn new words, learn how to climb up and down from their cribs, learn my name, learn how to run, learn how to dance, learn how to drink out of a cup instead of a bottle - over the past 10 months and who have completely stolen my heart? Obviously I will miss every single one of my kids, but Martin, Antua, Omar, Jose Carlos, Julio, Jose Armando, and Gisel - who I´ve spent 5 days a week with for the past 10 months are going to be the hardest.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
I just consider it a loan...
Well as the days and weeks wind down I find it more and more likely that Martin will be returning to the States with me in two short weeks. I know it´s a terrible, no good, very bad thing to have such a favorite in the sala - but every day he does something to make me want to steal him away a little more.
1. Sabina told me that this weekend when I wasn´t at work he would put his fist up to his ear and say "Hola, Katy!" and "Katy, ven!" (Katy come!) which made my heart melt just a little
2. Last Friday we were playing with cubes that had holes of different shapes and he was trying to fit each shape into the hole. I had to point out which hole went with which shape, but he eventually was able to get about 80% of the shapes in the hole and then look up at me, clap and say "Bravo!" - and the times that he wasn´t so successful he would slowly sink sideways to the ground and then look up at me as if to say "Okay, I´m tired...do we really have to keep doing this?"
3. He´s started copying almost ALL of my facial expressions- including one of complete shock where he opens his mouth wide and his eyes sparkle.
4. His new dance. Where he throws his entire body into it, falls over (every time because he´s lost complete control over his body with excitment) and looks up at me - not crying - as if to say "look what you made me do!"
So Mom and Dad, when I get off the plane in D.C. don´t be surprised if I tell you to handle my backpack with care - Martin could very well be stuffed inside. I just consider it a loan since I´m coming back here in August after all...
1. Sabina told me that this weekend when I wasn´t at work he would put his fist up to his ear and say "Hola, Katy!" and "Katy, ven!" (Katy come!) which made my heart melt just a little
2. Last Friday we were playing with cubes that had holes of different shapes and he was trying to fit each shape into the hole. I had to point out which hole went with which shape, but he eventually was able to get about 80% of the shapes in the hole and then look up at me, clap and say "Bravo!" - and the times that he wasn´t so successful he would slowly sink sideways to the ground and then look up at me as if to say "Okay, I´m tired...do we really have to keep doing this?"
3. He´s started copying almost ALL of my facial expressions- including one of complete shock where he opens his mouth wide and his eyes sparkle.
4. His new dance. Where he throws his entire body into it, falls over (every time because he´s lost complete control over his body with excitment) and looks up at me - not crying - as if to say "look what you made me do!"
So Mom and Dad, when I get off the plane in D.C. don´t be surprised if I tell you to handle my backpack with care - Martin could very well be stuffed inside. I just consider it a loan since I´m coming back here in August after all...
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