Wrapping up

If you take a moment to stop what you’re doing and look around you will see happiness everywhere around you. On my afternoon home visit on Wednesday, we visited Anjelica. When Mario, our translator, fell out of his chair it made Anjelica laugh so hard that everyone started to laugh too. Anjelica is 26 and when she was 7 she fell out of a tree. She had liquid in her spine and they had to remove vertebrae, which made it hard for her to move or walk. On another home visit we met Esteven. He is 6 years old and has one of the most heartwarming smiles in the world. Esteven has PC and could not walk but he was one of the sweetest kids ever.

When I was in Mrs. Rosivals class yesterday Greybi would smile every time he got a question right or someone told him his picture was bonito. Jose Carlos would smile every time he got a math problem correct. Both Greybi and Jose Carlos loved to play around and they loved to laugh and smile. All the kids at Esquela Especial are some of the happiest people I have ever met. 

              Today I went on three morning home visits to meet Mateo, 2, Gary, 3, and Iriany, 2. Mateo has liquid in his head which they have to drain and he does physical therapy four times a month.  He has a really nice family, and is one of the most joyful and smiley kids ever. Gary has Down syndrome and was really antsy but I was told he loved to dance so I can't wait to see him dance tomorrow at the Fiesta. Iriany has Down syndrome and a heart problem. We met her at the local town clinic and I can't wait to see her again tomorrow.

               When I got back to the school I went to the class room for the young men and women who are deaf Alaina, 17, Christian, 16, Carlos, 10, and Juan Luis, 16. They were all very nice and where very understanding. If I didn't get something they would try and help me understand by signing slower or pointing to what they were talking about. Alaina is studying to be a hair style list and braided my hair. She is amazing. They were learning math so Margaux and I got to go up and do a couple problems too. The intelligence of the people at the school truly amazes me.

                 I really don't want tomorrow to be my last day. I love all the kids there and seeing them smile and laugh makes all my troubles go away because happiness is contagious. I know Alaida won't be at the party tomorrow because she has to work and that just crushes my heart because I want to spend tomorrow with everyone. During the Fiesta I plan to give Alijandra a bracelet I made for her. It is a turquoise stone wrapped in silver wire with a white and blue wrist band. I really hope she loves it because now whenever I see turquoise I will think of her and Nicaragua and I hope whenever she looks at the bracelet she will think of me. 

                The Spanish here has been really cool to show me how different countries speak different languages and how diverse our world really is. It has been really eye-opening for me to see the world I live in and not just to see "perfect" America. I really do not want tomorrow to be my last day with the kids because I am going to miss them all so much and I will treasure the time I spent with them forever.