Well, I didn't manage to write this yesterday as there are no locutorios open of a Sunday... qué sorpresa. Just as well anyway as I was quite content just to stay in bed all day making up for the lost sleep during the week. It was nice just doing nothing! We went out on Saturday night to Veronica's, although she was away on business so her mum, dad, friend Carolina and husband Marcelo entertained us insted. Plus, I had been so pleased with myself when I got back in on Saturday evening from blogging at exactly half 7, thinking I would impress Cuca, but when I arrived there was no tea on the table and she told me that Marcelo had phoned and we were eating with him! Typical! I will probably be late instead tonight, though... oops! Too much to do!
We met up again with Hannah, Tim and the other new girl, Jenny, who had just arrived. She was knoackered and did a good job of surviving until abotu 10 pm. We had pizza and empañadas, a local speciality which in reality are something akin to cornish pasties. I'm afraid my jury is still very much out on them. Then Marcelo served up the Tinto de Verano, evil Fernet and beers and it was time (1am) to head out to Power... I love it!
Power is a massive warren of rooms and it's impossible not to get lost in there, but somehow I ran into 2 of my new Posadas friends - Chantal (who, shall I say, has designs on young Jonny!) and Francisco, who I met in Mentecato last week and who greeted me as I passed with "hé, Escocesa!", which was quite amusing! We paid a bit extra (about 1 pound 60!) to get into the "VIP" section and were treated to music from the 80s and 90s - but it was mostly latin american or Spanish stuff. I was pleased to hear them play a couple of tunes that I heard in 1996 on a totally random tape I bought in a French market, thinking it was French music. It was the weirdest feeling when I realised where I recognised the tunes from.
We ended up dancing until the early hours (around half 5!) and headed back home, but it was well worth it. I am sad that I only have one more weekend here now. I intend to make the most of it!
Nothing much to report about yesterday, but today I woke up feeling really fed up. I have been reading the memoirs of Sandra Gregory, a British woman who was arrested in Thailand in 1993 for smuggling herion. Her book is a graphic description of prison life, and last night I dreamed I had been sent to prison. I woke up feeling really scared and a bit homesick, which I suspect is a lot to do with reading the book. Hmm!
Sile and I went with Jenny and Hannah to Arcoiris (I have been spelling it wrong all this time) this morning and took them to the park. It was a beautiful day (compared to yesterday - there were terrible storms and the power cut out again, in fact we ended up eating dinner by candlelight!) and the kids were really enjoying themselves, but the park was covered in glass and we had to watch them every single second. It was incredibly tiring and worrying, as we had had no idea the park was so dangerous.
We went into town for lunch, which was lovely as we sat in the sun outside a cafe. We were also pleased to be recognised by Marcelo and Veronica, who beeped the car horn at us as they drove past. It made us feel like proper locals!
After that, we headed back to El Refugio. We had explained to the new girls a bit about the situation... but they were still as shocked as I had been. We agreed that we would take 8 kids to the park and of course, we were met with the usual moaning and cheek from them. They were absolute pains in the rear the whole way there, and then one of them hit her face on the climbing frame and started gushing blood. We had to go back with her and at least 1 other kid, and they were all being so annoying about who was going to go. None of them has any sense of authority and I'm afraid that at that point I lost my temper with them, and said I wasn't going to take them to the park again because none of them did what I say. They just do what they want and are so cheeky, and there's no support from the staff, so why should I put up with it? More than anything else, I came out here to make a difference to the lives of kids who have suffered, are suffering and need to be nurtured. But I just feel I can't do it like this. I don't really know what to do next.
Sile, Jenny and I are going to try and buy some simple toys tomorrow, such as a skipping rope, so we can play more constructively, but I am sorry to say that my patience with the lack of structure or support is really starting to get me down.
Off to the cinema tonight, though, and I'm not as down as I sound. I just feel like I'm banging my head off El Refugio's dirty brick wall.
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2 comments:
however up and down things are, i guess u just have to remember u are making a difference just by bein there, bringing a little something different into the kids' lives, and hopefully, making memories that stay with them for the rest of their lives!
:-)
Chin up toots! Hope you're not letting everything get to you too much. I'm sure you're doing an amazing job out there and, although it probably doesn't seem like it now, I bet all the kids really appreciate the fact that you're there and are spending time with them. I bet they'll miss you when you're gone! (we all do!)
mo xx
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