Testimonial

Before leaving, each volunteer had to write a testimonial about their year. Here's mine:

Volunteering as an SLP (speech-language pathologist) at NPH Guatemala is one of the most fulfilling experiences that I’ve ever had. Building relationships with the children has been the most important part. I have learned how to love them unconditionally. My one-on-one time with them in therapy is unique because children here rarely receive individual attention. Therefore, I have strong bonds with some of them. I enjoy working with kids not only as my speech clients but also as family members in the NPH setting.

Along with learning to love unconditionally, I’ve learned to be more patient. Several of my experiences working with children before I came to NPH had already helped my patience. Yet working with children from a different culture helped it to grow even more. And, I found a balance between patience and strictness. I learned that being patient doesn’t mean being too lenient.

My abilities as an SLP have also improved. Creating appropriate goals and working on them in the correct manner has become easier. I am able to better help children with speech and language disorders. Watching them progress throughout the year has been wonderful! I’ve seen the most progress in two young boys (four and five years old). When I arrived last year, they could barely say any sounds. Now they are able to say many sounds and short words – even their names!

And of course, I love the kids in my section. I chose the children with special needs. They’d never had a volunteer before. Twice a week I ate dinner with and read to them before bed. I loved seeing their faces light up when I walked in the door! Interacting with kids outside of therapy was important as well. I made friends with some of the other children, and strengthened the relationships that began in therapy.

In January, my friend and I started Club Amistad Especial (The Special Friendship Club). Our goal is to integrate children who do and don’t have disabilities so that they can build friendship and respect for each other. We meet once a week for an hour. Some big group activities include playing with the parachute, “Duck Duck Goose”, and Hot Potatoe. When we do arts and crafts or other small group activities, each child with a disability is paired with one who does not have a disability. Friendships between the kids have formed and grown! There are several children who come every week and better understand the children with special needs. One memory that stands out to me was when a new girl with special needs had arrived at NPH. During Club Amistad Especial, some of the other girls asked if she liked NPH. “I don’t have friends here,” she responded. “But we’re your friends!” said the girls.

Another aspect that I loved about this year was the cultural experience. Living and learning about Guatemala was intriguing! My understanding of other cultures and how to interact with people from one different than my own has grown immensely. One important thing I learned was how to live a more simple life. In the U.S., I always ran around crazily from one class or activity to the next. Here, I have learned to relax and really appreciate life. I think more about the big picture.

For me, the “big picture” about my year at NPH was definitely relationships with the kids. As I said before, interacting with them is fulfilling – and fun! I feel like a friend, sister, and even a mother figure sometimes. The children have changed me in so many ways. They will always remain in my heart and mind.

Adios Guatemala

I wrote this in my journal when I came home on the airplane:

July 18, 2011

Wow. I'm almost home to Chicago - sitting in the airport thinking about my year in Guatemla. The last few weeks have been SO intense - such a bittersweet mix of strong emotions. I'm super excited to be with family and friends, be home, and eat good food.

But I'm going to miss all the children and other volunteers SO much. It was hard to say goodbye. I know I'll visit and see the kids and some of my friends again. But that didn't make leaving easy.

The big despedida (goodbye party) on Thursday night in the dining hall was really intense. I had already had the despedida with my section and the psych department. So I'd cried earlier in the day. But before the big despedida started, I felt like I was going to my funeral. I'm not sure if that's the correct analogy because obviously I'm still alive. But I felt like I was going to something sad about myself and the other volunteers. It was the end of our lives at NPH; maybe some of us will never see each other again.

The despedida had such a strange and emotionally charged atmosphere. The other volunteers and I sat in the center of the room so that everyone could see us. (I brought a lot of tissue because I knew I'd cry.) Erik, the one who I want to be my "godson", sat on my lap the entire time. It was really sweet. Toni and Jose Luis took their turns sitting with us as well.

Each section performed a skit or dance for their volunteer. We all cried. Besides my section, the presentations that stood out the most to me were:

1) Pablo singing/dancing a solo

and

2) Gomez dancing by himself. That takes a lot of courage, especially when you're a teenager. The cutest part was when Carlitos (7 years old) got up and started dancing with Gomez. Carlitos was shortly followed by Toni! It was wonderful.

And of course I lost it when my section performed. Before the despedida began, I was shocked to see Delmi, Pati, and Lupe walk up wearing traje tipica (traditional Mayan clothing) and make-up! That must've taken forever. And Emerson, Alvaro, and the tios were dressed up like cowboys. It was adorable.

Although my opinion may be biased, I think their presentation was by far the best. They had clearly practiced the dance many times. Alvaro and Emerson looked incredibly happy while they were dancing.

Of course I started crying because it was so touching. My section NEVER does presentations because it's hard enough for the tios to take care of them in the first place, let alone dress them up and organize a dance. Erika (the volunteer coordinator) told me they'd never done a presentation before. And I was the first volunteer to pick this section. So, the presentation meant more to me than words can express - because they did it just for me.

At the end they took a bow. Then I went up and hugged each of them. After that I sat back down and sobbed into my friend Michael's shoulder.

Of course when you're a child it's disconcerting to see an adult cry. I didn't like crying in front of them, especially Erik because he was sitting on my lap. But he comforted me and it was so sweet. Apparently he went crying to his tio afterward saying he didn't want me to leave. :(

But while I was sitting with Erik, Toni and Jose, I thought, "I would love to adopt these kids and be a family." Then I thought about it and remembered that we already are a family - the NPH family. (The home's philosophy is that we're one big family.)

At the end of the despedida, Erika had one kid from each of the volunteer's sections present the volunteers with a gift. Emerson gave me mine. It was a hand-woven banner that said, "Thank you for your support, NPH Guatemala 2010-2011" and had my name on it. Afterward they wanted the volunteers to dance. So I danced with Pati and Delmi one last time.

So, we were already overwhelmed. Then suddenly all of these children were coming up to me, hugging and thanking me. Alex, Antonio, Jaime, Erik and more. Wow. The despedida was the most rewarding yet emotionally difficult experience that I've ever had.

That night the volunteers went out dancing, which was fun. The following days were difficult as well, saying goodbyes again. (I was the last volunteer from our group to leave.) But nothing was as difficult as the despedida on Thursday - except maybe saying goodbye to Toni and Jose. My heart really broke, especially with Jose.

I gave Toni a hug and he cried. I was glad I managed to hold it together and not cry in front of him (although I'm sure he saw me cry on Thursday). Then I went into the baby house and said goodbye to Jose. He made the sign "trabajar" (to work)because that's what we usually do together. So I said, "No, I have to say goodbye, because I'm going home."

"Noooooooo," cried Jose. He kept jumping into my arms. Then they were leaving for mass, so I walked outside with them. I told Jose goodbye and hugged him. He started to cry and it was heart-wrenching. Especially when he wouldn't go with Tio Charbel. Then I walked on the path to the girls' house and still heard him crying. So I turned around and he was still standing there alone, crying and watching me. He definitely understood that I was leaving. (He just turned four so I thought maybe he wouldn't.)

Then I said goodbye to the other kids, and went to Parramos with my section. That was hard too.

This morning when I left, I didn't cry. I think I'd cried so much in the previous four days that I didn't have any more tears. But the good thing was, I felt at peace and ready to leave.

And now I'm HOME!

Isa

Isa's full name is Isabel, but she goes by Isa. Everyone at NPH knows her! She talks to everyone. Isa is always smiling and loves to joke around with everyone as well.

She and I have something huge in common: We love to sing. When I ate dinner with the kids in my section, I would always help her walk back down to the house. During that time we would always talk about life - and sing! Her favorite song (actually, pretty much the only song she ever sings) is "No Me Digas Que No" by Enrique Iglesias. So, she taught me the words and we always sang it together.

I was so proud of her when she sang that song in front of everyone, by herself, at the Valentine's Day talent show! It was really cute.

Isa and I became very close. She was one of the only kids in my section who could have an actual conversation, so we talked a lot. She asked me questions about myself and confided in me. I didn't have her in speech and language intervention, but she is one of my best friends at NPH. I especially loved talking with her when I read to them before bed; that was such great bonding time. Isabel is incredibly sweet and will always be in my heart!

Pati

Pati is a wonderful girl from NPH. She is 22 so we're pretty close in age, although her mental age is much lower - I'd estimate about 7. She has a cognitive delay and epilepsy. I worked with her on speech and language issues.

But Pati has a great personality. She has a positive attitude and is almost always happy and giggling about something (she laughs even more easily than I do). She loves to dance so if there ever was music, she and I would dance together for awhile. Pati is also extremely helpful and caring for the other children. She lives in my section, the children with special needs. Pati is more high-functioning than most of the other kids in her section and always helps them walk, eat, etc. And plays with them! One girl, Odilia, loves to be tickled and Pati loves to do that.

Pati also loves to hide from me and then come out and scare me - or vice-versa. She is so much fun to play with. She and I became really close. And one of the best things about Pati is her hugs. She just holds on to you forever. I will never forget her.

Erik

Erik and I became friends when I worked as a caregiver in his section (20 boys from ages 7-9) for a week during Easter. He was new to NPH and was feeling left out. Some of the other boys were bullying him. I noticed he was alone so I asked if I could play with him. After that we became great friends!

He's really a sweetheart. He's so respectful, polite, and mature for his age. The sad thing was that he didn't have friends at NPH at first. But the cute thing was that he said, "Ud. es mi amiga, si?" ("You're my friend, right?"). "Of course!" I told him. He would always pick me flowers and offer to help me carry things, like my water bottle. It was very endearing.

When I worked with him in his section, he said, "I thought you'd be with us for more than three days! I don't want you to leave." I explained to him that I'd still be at NPH, but only until July. That part was sad. Saying goodbye to him in July was difficult. But I had him come up to my office to play! It was a lot of fun. When we finally parted ways, it was sad. During the despedida (goodbye party) for all the volunteers, he sat on my lap the whole time.

But I'm so happy that I worked in his section and met him! If I ever have money again I'd like to be his "godmother" and sponsor him. Then you get to write letters back and forth to the child. Erik is amazing!

Breakthrough

On Friday, I was really happy because an SLP from Cincinnati came to visit NPH for the day! I had no idea until it was actually happening (of course, because of NPH disorganization). But I’m super happy that it did! She worked with me with a few kids and was extremely helpful.

But, I’m writing this entry because of what happened in the afternoon. We went to work with Toni and José Luis, the brothers (see previous entry for more info about them). Unfortunately, I hadn’t worked with either one in three weeks because I went on vacation and then was sick.

Before, Toni and I had been working on the /m/ sound. He could say it in isolation. I wanted him to say /ma/. He could say /m/ and /a/, but couldn’t put the two sounds together. So, I had him divide the syllable and first say /m/ followed by /a/. We practiced countless times and he couldn’t put the two sounds together to say /ma/.

On Friday, he suddenly started saying /ma/. “Ma! Ma! Ma!” CORRECTLY, repeatedly!!!!!! I was ecstatic. Then, he was able to say Toni correctly! Before he could only say To. And he was able to pronounce syllables that begin with /f/ as well. It was a HUGE breakthrough! I was bewildered because we hadn’t worked in three weeks. Sometimes the lightbulb just goes on. Honestly, this is my proudest moment so far this year. When I first came in July, Toni and José were almost non-verbal. Now they know some sounds and signs!!!!!

The cutest part was when Toni tried to teach José how to pronounce sounds correctly. He got right in his face and emphasized the sounds. So adorable.

I’M SOOOOOO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Club Amistad Especial

This is an article about the club my friend Cassie and I started. Check it out: http://www.nph-guatemala.org/ws/page.php?path=news/archive/2011/guatemala/ClubAmistad.php&lang=en