The Little People Melt My Stone-Cold Heart

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So as many already know, I've never really been around the little people, ever, in my whole life, except for when I was a kid, and I don't remember that, so they fill me with fear and dread and volunteering with them was going to be... interesting.

Part of the organisation that arranges Spanish classes also arranges volunteering positions. And I was assigned to volunteer at a government funded centre for nutrition. As far as I could understand it, they don't get benefits here so I guess this way ensures the kids get fed, but I'm not sure how they get a place, and they don't get taught, just fed, so I'm not sure how it really works. The kids are from babies to about 3 or 4 I think. And I dealt with the 'older' kids.

So with no guidance as to what the day's structure is, or what they expect me to do, I'm in a room with 10 little people. The days were the same - breakfast, play, snack, colouring in, lunch, sleep. So my day would consist of me saying, eat, eat, eat, drink, drink, drink, no, no, stop playing with it, eat it, drink it, no, stop hitting him, yes I did see what he/she did, you're ok, stop crying, stop crying, no don't hit him back, eat, eat, eat, come back here, come here, outside, stop...! To cut a long and draining story short, I came to love those little people and I can guarantee that everyone would have gasped/laughed if they had seen me on my last day rolling on the floor, playing games, jumping about, kissing their bruises better, wiping their tears, hugging and generally caring about these little people who I had only known for a week. And of the other volunteers who were there in my class sporadically, somehow, I interacted with them the most, and I knew each of their names. Yamil-Jesus, Kevin, Luis, Brayan, Alvarro, Jan-Franco, Alejandra, Maricielo, Amarice, Whinny with some that came and went.

I've learnt so much. Which will probably be really obvious to everyone else. And this is mainly to serve as a reminder to what an amazing thing this has been.

Firstly that kids are geniuses. I mean real intelligent minds. I wonder what happens that stops this. They really know how to get you. As soon as I walk into the centre this cute little pig-tailed girl runs up and hugs me. She's my favourite obviously at that moment. Then they all get in line and sing something and one boy sings every word proudly and clearly. He's a keeper too. Obviously. I needed more experience to see right through this. The little girl was a sneaky little maddam who would grab and scratch you any time you didn't do what she wanted. The proud boy was the second trouble-maker of the group. How easily they had me!

Secondly that attention is the key to all things. Something pretty damn obvious if you aren't me. Unfortunately I still don't know how to best work this when in a room of 15 kids all trying to get your attention. Straight away the trouble-some kids get your attention as they run, fight, kick, punch and cry. And the well-behaved sit quietly and get no attention whatsoever. Conundrum.

Thirdly, when a kid cries, it's invariably nothing. Literally nothing at all. And if you aren't there for them to cry at they'll stop. And that whoever made them cry, will be their best friend again in a matter of moments.

Fourthly, that all kids are good inside, really. Take trouble-kid 1 and trouble-kid 2 into different rooms and they are angels. No problem at all. In fact quite adept and well-behaved. Also trouble-kid 1 will always get blamed for anything going wrong even if he is on the other side of the room or not or if in fact the other kid punched him in the head and then decided to cry even when trouble-kid did nothing in retaliation. He hasn't got a hope just from how we treat him! This very same kid blows me a kiss goodbye. And I see the awesome little guy for what he is when you take away the attention-seeking behaviour.

My favourite memory will always be during one quiet moment, all the kids are sat around the table, while trouble-kid 2 tells them something, they are all hushed, paying undivided attention, sometimes they add something to his tale, but it's all very serious and everyone waits for the other to finish, far more civilized than anything you find in the houses of parliament! At that moment those kids could have been discussing the take over of the world. It was... amazing. I loved it.

Unfortunately I had to say goodbye one last time as I just didn't have time to focus on my Spanish and read and do my homework as my day consisted of, nutritional centre, make lunch, spanish classes, make dinner, go to bed super early. But it's been a fantastic experience and now I know I can do it, and I've learnt that these little people, are actually secret geniuses. I could write about them all day but for now, this is already long enough, so I'll leave you all in peace.

Much love.

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Comments

[pichona]

Ale really amazing ypur experience!! Now you know how to deal with these little marvels!! I am so proud of you and your effort to carry on with what you think is important in your life. Anything you need just call me. Love PICHO