San Martin de Porres

Today was our second day in the San Martin de Porres orphanage in Cochabamba. We can´t believe how fast we have bonded with the children. In one day we went from children shying away from us and us also being timid to playing loads of games, sharing stories and being silly. Yesterday as we were leaving they would ask us: are you leaving? when do you come back? for how long? We love it and we are sad to say that tomorrow is our last day.

We should be uploading some pictures soon; haven´t been able yet as the internet here is slow and we are not the only computer users. Our days have begun around 9AM in the orphanage. We usually just walk around their small campus and engage them in conversation and/or help them with whatever they may be doing: chores, homework, etc. At 10AM there is a morning snack break where children grab a cup and line up to get some tea or milk drink with some bread. We join them and chat and joke around.

At noon the bell rings and it is lunch time! The chefs cook so well and we, for the most part, enjoy their meals. The kids are so well behaved too. They have chores and do them right away. Some of them are assigned serving plates and cleaning up. I was impressed as to how well they cooperate.

At lunch time kids that were in school in the morning arrive and those that go to school in the afternoon get ready. It is all nicely timed so that all kids eat together. At the orphanage there are four houses based age groups. Each house has its own chores. They consider themselves family! It is great!

Today we played a whole lot with them. Kenny taught them some martial arts and they loved it. We played basketball, soccer, threw the freesby around and some other random games.

At 3:30 when we leave, we have gone site seeing. I´ll leave the pictures to tell that part of the story. I have to go now. Adios!