Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Pretty lazy morning.  We were both VERY tired (silly jetlag).  I have to say, and this isn’t complaining as much as it is just interesting, that it is exhausting just BEING!  Jetlag and the heat add to the just being tired (the two days a year its 95 at home Im poolside, not running around with kids hanging off me).  It’s also exhausting to get to from one place to another – because you can never just be.  As I have said before you always have to worry about motorbikes hitting you (in front of you, behind you, coming at the side).  The sidewalks aren’t even really sidewalks as they are parking areas for motorbikes, driving areas for motorbikes, restaurants and storefronts for people selling food.  On top of that, nothing is even, so you literally have to be mindful of every step!  I guess I am just saying this to feel a bit better about being exhausted today J

Long didn’t have a tour today and was kind enough to say he would love to join us at the orphanage!  He had a meeting this morning as he is training new tour guides on Saturday (go Long!) so we decided to meet after lunch to head to the orphanage.

I took a sleeping pill last night (yay sleep) so it was nice to be able to sleep in this morning.  Once we got up and had breakfast we headed out so I could get coffee (caffeine, sleeping pill, repeat) and so we could head to the bank to exchange some money.

We then came back to rest a bit (yup, apparently running those errands deserved a mini nap) before grabbing a quick bit to eat and meeting up with Long to head to the orphanage.

We took the rest of our goodies and the stroller with us to the orphanage today.  We ended up a bit early as the kids were still sleeping but everyone was pumped to see us and we were greeted with hugs at the door!

It was so nice to have Long with us as he was able to do some translating, so we had Dorothy in a stroller and George II (I was confused, who I thought was George was a George look alike!) in a stroller and Thoung, Cap and Bob came with us for a walk!  Though and Cap had a BLAST pushing George II and Mom was in charge of Dorothy as she is a bit bigger and needs some maneuvering over the uneven ground.

We parked ourselves at the other end of the Pagoda and brought out the music and iPads.  

Our spot!

The kids LOVE playing the iPad games, mostly I think because they like being challenged!  The spend their entire weekend laying around as the big room isn’t open, and spend about 3 hours a day “napping”/having quiet time, so I think its great to do things that stimulate their brain! 

Bob being silly!

Gangman style was another hit today – both Bob & Cap were getting down and actually George II was getting his groove on too!  The “naughty” boys…there are maybe 6-8 of them…and they are probably between 6-8, came over.  I feel awful because they are orphans too but they are so aggressive and they take the other kids games so you literally have to barricade your kid and swat the other ones away.  #terrible

Anyway we had a blast outside dancing and playing games but then it was time to eat so we headed inside.  

There were a lot of volunteers today so I sort of walked around aimlessly in the hopes I would be given a task – and another worker took me to a boy who I knew from my first year here.  At that he did NOT like girls and would NOT let girls feed him (can ya blame the kid).  

Luckily I am glad to see he has matured and while he wouldn’t look at me we had a successful go of it!

So by far the best part of the day is that Long was able to ask the head lady her name, Kim Yến.  Not only this, but…wait for it – WE BECAME FACEBOOK FRIENDS!  Ahhh technology – I LOVE IT!

So in the past we really haven’t been able to communicate and have never been able to tell her when we’d be back.  It will be interesting to see how/if/when we do communicate but Long was sweet enough to say he would be happy to translate for us.  At the very least, Long was able to tell her we would be back next January (and are currently recruiting for that trip!!!!) But one of the best things is she has posted some pictures of the kids, so it will be awesome and we are able to “see” them throughout the year! 

Photo of the "big room"

I was really tired today and cant say I was too sad when we brought all the kids back to their rooms and were ready to head out!  Unfortunately, we were going back during rush hour (it sort of all seems like rush hour until it really IS rush hour and is pretty much a standstill the whole ride home).  Needless to say I wasn’t feel too hot, but luckily a nice shower and a bottle of water helped!

It is SO so so nice having a kitchen here so we don’t have to go out to again (it just feels like so much work to get yourself to another place).  It’s so nice to be able to put PJs on after you shower and just feel relaxed while eating dinner (yup, pasta again)!