Hey everyone, sorry it's taken so long for me to get this posted. We've had various internet crashes and power outages since I've arrived, so that makes it a little difficult. Anyway, here I am at TLC...I guess a few details would be useful. TLC is divided into two parts; the Main House (MH) and the Nursery. The MG is home to Thea (the founder), Pippa (one of her biological daughters) and about 30 kids that they've adopted over the years. The Nursery right now has about 35 babies, divided into 5 groups; Nesties (0-3months), Fledgies (3-6months), Grubs (6-12months), Creepies (12-18months) and Lions (18-36months). That number grows every Christmas when most of the other kids' homes in the area close down for the holidays and their kids get dumped on our doorstep. TLC can only legally keep kids until they're three, after which they have to move into a state home where the care is significantly less...care-y. Since Thea and Pippa wouldn't let that happen, that's when they adopt the kids.
We all live in a walled compound of about 23 acres. The volunteers share three cottages away from the MH, but that doesn't stop the MH kids from coming over and pouring water on your towel when you're trying to suntan. We also share the compound with two horses, three sheep, various disgusting pigs, some ducks and just yesterday, four rabbits and ten guinea pigs. Oh yes, and six or seven dogs who have been known to bite strangers, volunteers and kids...so we generally try to avoid them...
Our days usually start at 6 am and end at 7 pm (unless you get your break in the morning) and involve tons of diapers, loads of laundry, endless bottles to make and dishes to wash. And when the water pump breaks (which it has, twice since I've been here - once for two days and once for three), we boil pool water for dishes and don't do laundry or take showers. And at the end of the day, when you're covered in barf, poo, play-doh, dirt, various foods, snot and slobber, that can be a little depressing.
Surprisingly enough, I have to admit that the smiles, random giggles and watching them learn new things every day makes it all worth it (how sappy is that??). They're all so different from each other and so expressive. Yes, some can be very annoying - like Farren (a Grub), who throws temper tantrums for fun and is totally lazy. Then there are the babies like Alexis (also a Grub), who has TB and HIV and is constantly in pain and never complains. She is so ridiculously cute. :)
Most of the volunteers are lovely and I made friends quickly, which is nice since it helps me not to miss home as much. I'm the only North American; the rest are all from Europe, mostly Holland and Germany. Surprisingly, only 6 out of 15 of us are Christians, which I wouldn't have expected considering the strict application forms for this place. And only one guy in the whole lot - from Ireland - best accent ever. Tammy is my favourite. She's actually not technically a volunteer, but she's been working here for two years as the Head Nursery Coordinator (or something like that). She's from Australia and is absolutely wonderful.
Social services here is just as frustrating as it can be in Canada. The social workers seem to have only a head for the rules and not a heart for the kids. Many of the kids have been left here for 3 years by their relatives who don't want them, visited every 6 months, then deposited back in life-threatening situations when they're too old to stay. Often, they come back here shortly after with diseases or injuries that could have been prevented if they were allowed to be adopted out to the hundreds of wonderful families waiting for them. I guess it's a fine line though...For example, Lena has been here since she was born since both her parents are drug addicts. Her grandparents came to visit her once when she was 3 weeks and she is now 8 months. There is a SAn lady who loves her and has visited her every Saturday since she was born. She was recently screened and cleared for adoption, but the SS people notified the grandparents who suddenly showed up out of nowhere just to visit. They made it clear that they didn't want Lena, but the fact that they visited makes it impossible for the other lady to adopt her. It's so frustrating...Three adoptions have taken place since I've been here though and it was so beautiful to see. It was as if these couples were at the hospital picking their baby up out of the bassinet with their name on it. :) Apparently 48 TLC babies have gone to Denmark this year alone, which is absolutely amazing. :)
I've gone out once since I've been here, to a restaurant called Moyo's, which had good food and a fantastic atmosphere (so much better than earth's normal one...). There was live music and we got designs painted on our faces and there was a market underneath the restaurant and yes...you should go. It's lovely. :)
In terms of security, um...heh...I've locked my door every night since I've been here, and when I'm gone during the day, but now we're on high alert since we've been robbed twice in the past couple of nights. The first night they went into Rhys' (Thea's son) cottage while he was sleeping and took his computer, DVD player and TV and then two nights ago they took all the lawn mowers that worked - without testing any of them. Obviously it's someone who does or has worked here, which makes it even a bit scarier. Fortunately, the cottages are 'safe' because we have walls and open ground around us, areas they couldn't easily escape from. On the other hand, the perimeter behind the MH and nursery area is closed in by about a 3 foot fence of flimsy buffalo-type wire. I'm so excited to start night shift in the nursery this week...But, we do have 2 night guards and 7 vicious dogs...so I'm wondering how they even made it in in the first place...
I've only had one mishap with a kid so far. She fell off the trampoline (it's in a pit, not above ground) and caught herself with her face, coming up with a huge mouthful of dirt and sticks. Thankfully, she wasn't hurt and it was sort of hilarious. :)
I've tried two new foods since I've been here; Pap, which is a traditional SAn dish, sort of like really congealed Cream of Wheat (but made from Corn) and English flapjacks, which were good until I got sick after eating them two nights ago. The next morning, I was really sick with a little something they like to call 'Welcome to TLC'. Ha ha. Except for runs to the toilet, I stayed in bed all day and slept most of the time. Fine today though, which is nice. :)
Like I said, I start night shift tonight, so I only worked from 6-10 this morning, and now I should be sleeping and getting ready for being up all night. :) I think I'm going out for lunch though with one of the girls who is leaving tomorrow. She's been here for 5 months and is really sad to go...NS goes from 7pm to 6 am and is coming right when things are going to get ridiculously busy here. We also lose alot of volunteers who go home for Christmas...so we're a little cramped for workers. We have four more people coming this year, 2 from Canada (yay! people who understand the concept of colder than -5 degrees!).
Hopefully I'll have a cell phone either today or two weeks from now. Texting is super cheap and so is calling, as long as you call me. So for those who want it, you'll have my phone number ASAP.
Other random facts:
We have spitting cobras that we're supposed to watch out for, but I haven't seen or heard of one yet.
Pot-bellied pigs are vicious.
Black babies are cuter than white babies.
Everyone here not only drives on the wrong side of the road and car, they also drive like maniacs.
Well, that's about it for now. Much love and prayers in the general direction of Canada. I hope things are going as lovely for you as they are for me. Miss you all. :) xoxo
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