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A day of sadness and happiness. I informed both my family and my volunteer boss of my decision to leave a week early. Whilst I have enjoyed working at the orphanage and living with my host family, I have also been itching to go travelling and explore the rest of the country. Taking buses around the mountains are extremely time-consuming and the trips have left me feeling tired and wishing I'd been able to stay longer. I guess I have also become used to being more independent with a car and bus travel takes double the time - or even longer - because of connection times and all the stops to pick up and drop off passengers.
Tia Xenia told us, in hushed tones so that the other kids wouldn't hear, that Baby B was being adopted by his Uncle and Aunt! Tears were welling up in her eyes and I was also sad because I would miss him (even if it's only for a day), but I was thrilled to hear that kids do get adopted and don't become institutionalised for the long-term. He has been my favourite kid - he's not even 2 years old but his face would just light up as soon as he saw me and he'd come running up to me. When I first met him, he was sick and crying all the time but he soon got better and loved the attention I gave him. I think he was suffering from separation anxiety. His story was very sad: his mom took him to his grandmother's house and said she was going shopping and then never returned. Luckily, for him, he will be with family that love him. I saw his Uncle and Aunt come to pick him up and they both looked so loving and gentle. They will give him all the care and attention he so badly needs.
There are so many other sad stories. One baby was dumped in a toilet. Another group of children have one mother but 4 separate fathers. Another toddler has a drug-addict mother. So many sad, sad stories. When I was changing anther boy, I noticed he had scars all over his torso - his father used to beat him and his brother - they're both under the age of 4. Although, at first I was a bit surprised at the lack of affection and attention that the Tias showed towards the kids, I soon realised that the children are lucky to have a clean and safe environment which they would almost certainly not have had at home.
However, having said that, most of the children exhibited behavioural problems and were extremely aggressive. So, although they were safe from adults, they were not safe from each other! Alot of my time was spent separating fights, dealing with tantrums and trying to give them all equal attention. It certainly was not easy, but I think I mastered the Art of Distraction!
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