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Published: December 25th 2006
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Abansa Family
Most of the kids at another of our grand fiestas - do you have any idea how hard it is to get EVERYONE to look at the camera at the same time? Impossible, actually. Good Morning to All!!!
Today is Christmas. Although with the lack of snow, the 28degree weather, and the babies STILL waking up at 3am, it really doesn´t quite feel like it. Even so, this is the best place I can be right now - the kids are full of hugs and kisses (boogers and spit and all) love and the need for attention. It´s perfect!
We´ve been celebrating Christmas for the last 2 weeks with a party almost every day! I think there have been only 2-3 days where we haven´t had someone come here and drop of bags and bags of presents, food, diampers or clothes. I´m not going to lie, Christmas is a GREAT time to be an orphan here! The amount of stuff they receive is so ridiculous that the home is donating presents and clothes to the street kids of Valencia who don´t have anything for the holidays!
A few people had some questions about the kids and how they come here... there are a few ways
1. they are abandoned at hospitals, houses or just left on the street and become wards of the state... they come here and are eligible to be adopted
My little Nelson
The little one who had to leave! by Venezuelan families (of which there are LOADS!). If they aren´t adopted they live here until they turn 18.
2. they are taken from their families for numerous reasons. Their parents may be on drugs or serious alcoholics, they may be victims of physical or sexual abuse, or they may be living on the street stealing and begging. These kids are NOT eligible for adoption as their families know they are here and are able to visit when they´d like. The families often appeal to the Protection Council of Venezuela to get their children back and there are times when they succeed.
3. their families willingly give them up as they are troublesome, violent or they just don´t have the resources to take care of them. These kids as well cannot be adopted (unless the parents agree and fill out extensive forms), and they live here until they turn 18 or until their families are able to take care of them again.
We lost our adorable little boy, Nelson, to his family. I say ´lost´ because his mother is horribly addicted to drugs and she somehow managed to convince HER mom to take him and his older sister back.
My Babies
Don´t let their charming smiles fool you (hehe), they´re monsters! I had to take about 15 pictures just to get one that was relatively good with none of them REALLY crying!! They are all living together and I´m so scared for their safety and their well-being. He was just the cutest little tyke EVER - at night I´d wake up to something crawling around at my feet, and it would be him snuggling into my bed ´cause he couldn´t sleep. Then he´d curl up in my stomach and promptly set to snoring away and every once in awhile reaching over and grabbing my hand for comfort. I can´t believe he´s gone and I pray that he is safe!!!
Last night (the 24th) we celebrated Christmas as a massive 36 person family. It was crazy with 3 long tables, jugs and jugs of juice, and a huuuge pot of Hiyaka - the traditional Venezuelan Christmas food (I´m not gonna lie, nothing beats a turkey, but this is pretty darn good!)... it´s a tasty morsel boiled in plantain leaves. First you put down a thin layer of corn flour and water-paste... then a bit of chicken/beef/vegetable stew mixture, a few red peppers, onions, olives, capers and raisins. Then you wrap it all up in the leaves and stick it in the pot for 45 minutes. It´s deeelicious! I hope to replicate it
Making Hiyakas
The assembly line we had set out to make the christmas dinner. We had to prepare 140 of them!!! in Canadá... but I don´t know what my chances are of finding plantain leaves!
All good things have to come to an end, though. I am leaving for Perú on Wednesday morning and I´ll have to say ´goodbye´ to my new friends. I really have enjoyed almost every minute here (save for the few times I got pooed on, bit, spat on, had my hair pulled, puked on, peed on, drooled on, boogered on, pinched, had no sleep... but those are pretty minor!)... and I know that it´s going to be SOOO emotional to leave! The Tías have made me SWEAR that I´ll be back and that they will pray every day for my safety and swift return. Everyone has been so kind that it´s going to be a huge adjustment to go from a home-like atmosphere to a hostel and travel lifestyle again! Although I´m sure I´ll adjust just fine, it´s going to be a shock not having my little ones around!
Here´s wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS. I hope that all of you get to enjoy the company of your family and/or loved ones and that you have a wonderful holidays.
Dios se bendigan (God bless),
Weowww Party in the Kitchen
After the marathon Hiyaka making afternoon we all took a break and had some snacks and good natured bantering. The people who work here really have to have a sense of humour to survive!!! cuidanse MUCHO (take care), se amo (I love ya´ll),
Con cariño (With love),
Callie!
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The Kennedys
non-member comment
Your second family is here in the cold thinkin about you on this fiiiine Christmas morning and wanted to give you a huge MERRY CHRISTMAS and a great big family hug:D You're blogs are great, we can hear you saying it as we read and it makes us chuckle:D haha. So keep 'em comin ;) Love you, take care and have an amazing holiday. Cheers, Love: The Kennedy's