!!!!!!!!!

For Day of the Dead pictures go to this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2063367&id=1146001044&l=31a818d6d

6/11/10

Well I’ve been here for four months now and really it seems like quite a bit longer. At the same time, I can’t believe that four months have already passed; time is going by so quickly and I only have eight months left here.

A week from tomorrow we’re going to Mexico!!!!!!!! My friends Ruth, Josh, Michael, Janna, Christina and I are going to Oaxaca and San Cristobal. The cities are supposed to be really cool, and apparently Oaxaca has wonderful food. It will be a nice change from eating beans almost every single night. (Although we do usually get lunch that is pretty good.)

This weekend is really relaxing so far. Today, Christina and I went to Antigua. While she talked to her family on Skype, I did some errands. Then, I sat in the central park and enjoyed people watching. An indigenous musical group performed, and they had a marimba (it is a huge wooden xylophone and sounds pretty cool). I also got approached by at least four little girls begging me to purchase their bracelets, which is very typical especially in Antigua. It is the biggest tourist city in Guatemala; whenever I go there I see “gringos” (foreigners who are usually white people) and think it is strange to hear people speaking English. A lot of tourists even live there.

I also walked around and explored a little bit more of the city that I hadn’t seen yet. I went into a really cool church and also found an amazing textile shop.


8/11/10

Today was a VERY exciting day because I worked with one of my clients Andres for the first time in over a month (due to scheduling changes because of holidays and random events; sometimes it is really frustrating having to cancel therapy sessions, but I’ve gotten more used to it now).

Anyway, he has severe autism and is non-verbal. He’s the one who hit me really hard a few times. I’ve changed his goals at least three times – it’s been difficult to figure out what is most appropriate for him to work on in terms of language. He is very withdrawn and likes to lay on the floor, moving his head back and forth while blinking (he has a tick in his eyes); it is very difficult to get him to pay attention.

So, one of the goals I made is to have him say “sí” or “no” with his head, or with sign language. I didn’t know how this would go, and today was the first day we tried it. He laid on the floor in the stimulation room and started moving his head back and forth. So I just kept asking him if he wanted to play with playdo. Then I would guide his hand to say “sí” or “no” in lenguaje de señas. And one time when I said, “Díga no” (“Say no”) he DID THE SIGN FOR “NO” BY HIMSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was extremely excited especially because he is so withdrawn and can be very difficult to work with. Not to mention that many children learn slowly; I wasn’t expecting him to do the sign by himself at all. After that, I had to go back to guiding his hand again; but it was still SO GREAT!

This Friday and Saturday we are celebrating the 14th anniversary of the home here at NPH Guatemala. We were all put into teams for the event. Friday we’re supposed to perform dances and cheers, and Saturday we’re playing outdoor games (kind of like Field Day) all day. Although many of the groups (including my own) are completely disorganized and don’t have any dance choreographed because the children aren’t cooperating, I think the event in general will be fun. Especially the game day. That night we also have a dance for the kids and I love to dance. The next morning we are leaving for Mexico!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!