The time here at Casa Guatemala has come to a close.  It is now time for me to say goodbye to the girls that adopted the name my girls. This project was different than we ever could have expected, but I would expect nothing different when walking into the unknown.I only hope I was able to teach a fraction of what I learned. I could be disappointed because all of the goals that I set as the Director of BRIDGES were not met.  I failed to manifest a solid movement program which could continue after my departure.

However, I am not disappointed… We shook our bodies, transformed into animals, played coordination and verbal comprehension games, had obstical courses, stretched before bed by candlelight.  We had syncronized swimming and balancing competitions.  All these activities hugged between the other beauties of daily life. Living together everyday, like a family, showed me the importance to produce creativity in order to fill hours with positivity.

They loved watching me dance, especially ballet, and would hop and spin behind me. We made music, we sang.  Daniela peed her pants and Greysi snuck away to steal my chapstick. They taught me the booty-shaking dance for reggaeton, always very amused by my gringa ways.  We played follow the leader using english and spanish… The magic and beauty of creativity softening a place that wasn’t always so beautiful.

I am so grateful to be a part of these girls’ life and development, even if for only a sliver of time. I learned not to underestimate what a person that has nothing can give you, and not to underestimate what you can do for someone else.