Day 10

It is now Friday and the beginning of day 10. Angus wrote in his comment that I could perhaps write a bit more about what I am feeling. Up until now, I have felt quite settled and enjoyed the work. However as of yesterday I am now feeling totally exhausted and very homesick! I have finished my morning shifts and now begun my late shifts. This means I start work at 1pm and finish anywhere between 9pm and 11pm. Yesterday was the first day I begun to fell really fed up with the children and with the work. It is very hard at times to get them to do their jobs and to follow instructions. They can be so kind and happy but then if you tell them off they can be so mean! They curse and argue with you and it is a very unsettling feeling.



Celebrating a birthday.



Yesterday, the kids were also very hyperactive. I did some painting with them, which went reasonably well. However, then one boy just decided to be silly and put paint all over his hands and arms and refuse to wash them. Everytime I tried to speak to him, he would run away. Then he would sneak back and put more paint on himself. It is little things like this that just ruin it for everyone else.  On top of this I have got a cold, as do most of the volunteers.

I am feeling much better today and have had a great sleep in. I am about to head off to the pool to relax and get away from the orphanage for a couple of hours. I am working with some different volunteers tonight and I think that may help my mood. The weekend also should be great. We are going surfing on Sunday. They do this most Sundays - all the kids and the volunteers and the owners head to the beach for the day. I am also going on Saturday morning with some of the older boys. They are allowed to go on Saturdays and it is a good opportunity for the volunteers to get away too. I had to really fight for my place on tomorrow¨s beach trip which has probably added to my bad mood! I do not like confrontation and usually just give in to others. But this time I decided that it was my turn to go surfing!

This has been a very long post, so will leave it here and hopefully write again in a day or so. Petra x