You’ll never know what you’re actually getting into until it’s happening… We’ve spent a month volunteering here at Casa Guatemala and it has already been an experience that could never be matched. The actual orphanage consists of a school (14 classrooms), a boys dorm, a girls dorm, a health clinic (with no doctor), a common eating area (room for 100), an office, two volunteer quarters and an entire farm (pigs, cows, chickens, and a really old horse, Norman). there is a pond, a playground and a really fun second story balcony to jump off into the dirty river.

Casa is only accessible by boat and is about a 25 min boat ride to the closest town. The setting is beautiful. We’re in the middle of nowhere and there is jungle filling the landscape. There is a small village we can walk to with nothing but a few huts, a church and a store that sells powdered milk, eggs and the occasional beer! Other than that, it’s the kids, the mosquitos, the full-time employees, and the volunteers.

My job is to be the orientador (dorm mom) for the youngest group of girls. There are ten girls aged between five and ten. I walked into a difficult situation, because until two months ago, all of the children had long-term Guatemalan orientadores to be there for them for numerous years (ten years for my girls) and were only assisted by volunteers. Those people have been fired for finanacial reasons, and from what I’ve heard the girls have taken a downward spiral in behavior and respect. Most suffer from serious personality disorders and are filled with rage and disrespect for others and themselves. The job is very difficult, but in general, for every ounce of rage these girls have, they are as beautiful and playful.

Each day is a rollercoaster of frustrations and triumphs solely getting them to do the daily tasks of hygene and cooperation.

My day begins at 4:30 and ends at 8:00 with some breaks to have personal time (ususally reading, napping or yoga). I’ve been blessed with a dance floor in the boys´dorm which overlooks the river and is usually desolate while the boys are away at school.

Our program is not as easily added to the childrens´week as we had previously understood. The schedule for the girls is packed with school and chores. They have free time, but currently, most is spent on the uphill battle against the lice which has infested our community. (Not only do I have lice, but an ear infection, i’m covered in mosquito bites, and currently have a mysterious rash on my arms that keeps me up itching all night.) We are infiltrating movement into any free-time, but have yet to come to a place where we are able to start a proper class during weekend activities. Right now there is not much interest, but the girls are still getting to know us and open up to movements that are foreign to them.

The girls love to listen to reggaeton music and all are properly trained in booty-shaking. They have talent, but lack the desire to focus on something new. We trick them into learning movements and know one day our cartwheels, crabwalks and dance for your toothpaste game will bloom into something more concrete. Some of the older girls have begun learning turns and like to watch lindsay and I dance for them. It will take time for the staff and the girls to trust us.

All in all, I am surrounded by beautiful, talented and very funny children.
The job is hard and the days are long, but the inspiration is still strong.
There is a lot of work to be done here in many aspects and we are well needed.
Hope all is well in the States, and happy st. patrick’s day!!