Tuesday, April 21 – Thursday, April 24
It’s sad to know that for some of us the program is coming to an end. It’s going to be hard saying goodbye to such an amazing team and the children of PPA.
Since we had a special goodbye dinner set up on Thursday and Friday, we had to miss out on a day of teaching the high school girls English. We tried making our last day with them a fun one in which we taught them English through dance. Libby, Jozi and I spent our break on Tuesday afternoon making up dance moves. Our legs were killing us during rehearsals. Talk about being out of shape :/. We made sure to incorporate some of Libby’s gymnastic moves which the girls love to see. Fortunately, the entire thing was a hit. Dan video taped a piece of it, Laura and Lisa helped out the girls ensuring they were getting the steps right.
I spent the days closing in to my departure prepping my class and the siblings to say goodbye. With the boys I reminded them the importance of keeping their bond especially since they only have each other for now. I explained to them how I’d have to leave by the end of the week to get on one of the planes that always flew over PPA. They asked why, and I let them know about my responsibilities back home which included work, a family and so much more. Mili helped me take some pictures of them so that I may create a photo album as a gift.
Wednesday and Thursday were a bit crazy for me. On Wednesday evening we went to dinner and then visited the Illuminated Water Fountains. Unfortunately, I never go to experience the fountains. During our cab ride there I got so unbelievably sick. When we arrived I almost puked my brains off on the side of the entrance. Jozi ended up leaving the place and headed back to the hostal. Mili paid me a visit once she was done touring the others and provided me with meds to help me with my symptoms.
Thursday morning I woke up just as sick and ended up missing out on my kindergarten class. The kids kept asking about me and wondering why I had not arrived. I spent the morning in the hostal but forced myself out of bed since I couldn’t possibly miss out on my sibling program. Not during a time in which we managed to have such a break through and were getting ready to say goodbye.
I picked up the boys as usual and let them listen to music on my ipod. During that time the ear piece came off after Mili took photos. At the exact time I was putting it back Luisito requested to be the one to fix it. It was already in and I told him it was ok. He immediately broke out into an uncontrollable tantrum. I asked him to relax and he refused to. It was as if he wasn’t listening to a word I was saying. I tried offering him cookies, the ipod, everything available to me and he just continued crying and screaming. I told him if he didn’t relax he would no longer get his favorite cookies. He yelled at me saying he didn’t want anymore of my cookies and walked away from me towards his dormitory. His little brother tried to hug him and he refused him. Enrique was in shock and immediately became quiet. As Luisito walked away from us we followed him to ensure he went back to his caretaker. He stopped at the entrance and I moved forward letting him know we would have to find his teacher. He started throwing himself on the floor. I was so heartbroken and devastated not knowing what to do next. A male staff member passed by and asked what was wrong. He said I didn’t want to give him cookies. The man walked away and came back with a handful which he handed to Enrique. He told Luisito if he calmed down I would give him some. Enrique tried handing Luis a cookie but was brutally rejected. Luis yelled that he wanted all the cookies and that none should go to his brother. At that moment Enrique stopped himself from biting into a cookie and became extremely quiet and saddened. Finally one of the nuns and the teacher came out since they had heard him wailing from inside their offices. I told them the issue and they began to take him away. They told him he couldn’t be misbehaving in such a manner and that he wouldn’t be permitted to receive my visits if he continued to do so. The nun asked me to walk away as I continued to try to console him. As I walked away, it was even more heartbreaking when I heard him yell out to me “No me dejes! Por favor no me dejes! Regresa!” (Don’t leave me! Please don’t leave me! Come back!). I felt like my heart had been ripped apart. I knew I couldn’t encourage his bad behavior by staying but it truly was so hard walking away.
As Enrique and I walked away I asked him if he was ok and he remained a bit quiet. I told him it was now ok to eat his cookie and he proceeded to do so. I took the rest from him and told him I would save them for both to eat the next day. I squeezed Enrique with a big hug and handed him over to his caretaker.
I think the most devastating part of this entire thing was knowing that I only had one more day left with them. I had asked Mili earlier during the week if there was anyway the boys could get at least one more week in the sibling program. Jozi had volunteered to work with them if it got approved. I immediately followed up with her after notifying her of what had happened :(.
We ended the evening on a much happier note with a dinner which included a show of various cultural performances. However, I can’t deny that the entire time I was brainstorming the best method to deal with the mornings issue and how to explain the situation to a 4 year old.
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