Another good week at the House!

1 March 2010 – Journal #9


Today could not have been better. My parents came to visit me and were able to come with to the House. I not only had the opportunity to share my experience with them, but Sandra gave them a wonderful tour that I got to take part in and I learned even more about the House. My morning was still similar to always I just got to do everything with my mom and dad there too. First we met with Sandra as a group and then I went off to the nursery. I introduced my parents to all of the children and we sat and played with them for awhile. We took them outside and had all the ones that could walk on little bikes! Next Sandra took my parents and me on a tour. I gained a much greater understanding of AIDs and the ARV situation here in South Africa. The way the government gives money and ARVs out doesn’t make sense or seem practical to me which is frustrating. I also learned more about Sandra and how passionate she is about her job. She is a tough woman but that is what the kids and the Haven need. After the tour we went to the playschool which was a blast. We played the sing and dance along songs with the kids again and they did such a great job listening and playing. I was happy that the kids were already getting acquainted and familiar with the songs. I think the songs are a wonderful way to help the children learn about their surroundings, about listening, and following directions.

I also learned how great of an impact volunteering at the House has had on me. It was wonderful to hear from my parents how much they have seen me change, grow and become more confident and so loving towards the kids. It was also moving for me to see how touched my parents were by all the kids in their one short morning at the House. From seeing how moved my parents were I learned a lot about giving. How giving of ourselves and of our time is so important and I also learned a lesson in when a gift of money is a good idea. My parents felt something at the House and with those kids and hence that is when it makes sense to give a greater gift, not out of pity, or guilt, or wanting to just make someone’s problems go away.

After today I’m interested to learn something totally different than what I’ve previously mentioned. I want to learn more about myself and reflect on my experience to a greater degree. I’m realizing more and more that these kids will probably have a greater impact on my life than I will on theirs because they are so young and experience many wonderful volunteers coming in and out of their life. However my life will forever be impacted by these young children and I don’t want to forget or miss out on anything of the wonderful things I learn from them or learn about myself in the process.

2 March 2, 2010 – Journal #10

Today the House was a little crazy. I was with the nursery children the entire time however we were in the lounge most of the morning and not in the actual nursery which seemed to throw the children off. I constantly felt as if I was walking a child around, bouncing them, and singing to them because they were fussy. It wasn’t that the kids were misbehaving some of them were just off. I took Tylo to the nurse and he got medicine to help him out as I think he had a bit of a fever. Dese another little girl was fussy because she had a very dirty diaper that leaked out on the couch and on my leg. This was quite an experience for me!

It was still a very good day because I felt that my presence was really needed to take care of the kids but I was frustrated because it didn’t feel as if the care taker in the nursery was doing a good job. She kept giving us things to do that she is responsible for and showed the kids no attention and was unwilling to change their leaking diapers. This was hard to see because usually the care takers do an incredible job and appear to be very grateful for our help. This experience did teach me how much work it is to care after so many kids and how difficult it is to have hard workers since the job is so exhausting. I also learned how much a thank you can mean!

After today I want to learn how to approach Sandra or that Matron about our experience with one of the care takers. I would like to let them know about the experience with out just “tattling” on someone, but to make the situation better for the children. I do not like confrontation so this scares me a little bit but I know it’s something I need to learn how to do.