Casa Guatemala - the place where anything and nothing is possible or where there is no one right answer for no matter what the question is

The last 2 weeks have been just full of new experiences, challenges, up and downs, problems to solve, serious discussions, extreme happy moments on the one side and extreme sad ones on the other, difficulties to manage, emotions to share, and feeling like being on a roller coaster...but I will try to share it with you as best as I can

Finally arriving at my dream destination has been a wonderful feeling and I am happy to be here despite the fact that circumstances are currently not as inviting. This is due to unexpected departures of previous volunteers, meaning that we are short staffed for the moment being but this is, yet again, just another challenge to face and opportunity to try to make the best out of the situation as only possible - which Marie-Claire (MC) and I do every day since we have arrived!

Both of us are "Orientadoras" for the big kids, meaning that I am literally taking the parent role for the "Varones Grandes": 37 teenage boys aged from 10 to 16 full of energy, different needs (usually at the same time for some reason!!!), fun, happiness and/or anger, stupid ideas, love and kindness, and whatever else is possible! Knowing that every kid has its "own sad story" you can only imagine...Now this role as the "new mummy", I must confess, has both advantages and disadvantages but at the end the advantages definitely overweigh and it has already been such a valuable experience in this short amount of time!

First of all, unlike the other volunteers, we are sleeping in the house with "our kids", meaning that we are having our own room with bathroom ensuite!!! There are no rats like in the volunteer house and it is not only in a better shape but also a lot cleaner given the fact that the kids actually have to clean it every single morning! The only downside is that we don't spend as much time with the other volunteers due to the fact that we also have a completely different timetable.

Being the orientadora also is a great way to improve your Spanish skills and not only that, I just learn sooooo much from the kids every day! One of the main advantages for me is the fact that you are actually getting the chance to build relationships with the kids which is not really possible to that extent working as a teacher, for example. Living with the kids and sharing their everyday aspects of life every single day means that the time with the kids is a lot more intense and I absolutely LOVE that!!!

As hard, tiring and exhausting it can be, I want to be honest, as much fun it can be at the same time and I really enjoy my work as the "new mummy of the Varones Grandes" - being in a stage of almost bursting out in tears OR laughter at the contrary, almost like living on the edge..."the place where anything and nothing is possible"