Well, I had an amazing time with my parents, and already miss them so much! It felt so surreal that they were in Bolivia with me. My parents got to come to work with me, and they absolutely fell in love with the babies and the girls! They also saw the Cancha, the biggest outdoor market in Latin America, where I buy vegetables and fruit. During our Cancha visit, we bought souvenirs and coca leaves, which my dad was most excited about! And, we even ate a traditional Bolivian meal--choclo con queso (Big corn with cheese)--with a few of the tias I work with! They also met all the Maryknoll members and Alfredo. Alfredo is a wonderful Bolivian man, who has taught many young kids in the Southern Zone his art of woodwork. We visited his workshop, and my parents got to see the products being made by hand, the original drawings. They were very impressed and enjoyed meeting Alfredo! Urkupina, a festival celebrated in Quillacollo, a small town next to Cochabamba, was celebrated the weekend mom and dad were here! On Saturday, August 14th, we went with a group of Maryknollers to the entrada, a parade with traditional dances and music. It was absolutely amazing! I loved the dancing, and I got to see a friend who was dancing the Tinkus. All in all, I had an amazing, fun ten days with my mom and dad!
I tried to show my mom and dad daily life and the culture of Cochabamba. But, I know it was not the restaurants or the shopping or the Cristo de la Concordia or the Urlupina festival that impacted and affected my parents the most--spending time with the girls and babies of Corazon del Pastor and Pedacito del Cielo left a permanent imprint on both their hearts! Both my parents commented that they will miss the kids, even after only meeting them for a few hours! At the baby home they held the kids and got on the ground to play with them!
The young Bolivian children I work with are truly spectacular! Although many of the girls and babies have suffered traumatic pasts, each child possesses so much love and so much kindness. After two months of getting to know the girls and spending time holding the babies, I feel like I am a friend, an older sister to these kids. My time and my presence is my gift to these kids, and after this experience, I think that is one of the best gifts you can give to someone, especially kids looking for affection and love, attention and encouragement. I could not have been assigned to a better organization! Although I have about four months left, I already know I am going to have a very hard time leaving the girls and babies! I have become accustomed to helping the girls cook and do homework, talking and listening to their stories, giving them hugs and kisses when I arrive and when I leave, listening to their problems and trying to find a solution; I have become accustomed to sitting with and holding the babies, getting them ready for nap and for bad, picking them up after they fall.
I really cannot put into words what an incredibly amazing experience this has been so far, and I know there is so much more to come! And, it makes me most happy that my parents got to see me at work, to see where I live, to see what daily life is like, and to meet the wonderful kids who bring such joy to my life everyday.
Beautiful!
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