By Jarrod Bastin
VE Volunteer from Perth, Australia
As I sit in my apartment and glance at the slowly deflating balloon animals (that I have been trying to teach myself how to tie) piled up in the corner, I wonder how I could ever go back to what’s considered a normal life? How can I wake up and not look forward to a day of colouring in, making funny faces, swinging the kids around as they yell “¡Levante me!”, hugs, kisses, and a daily smack from 5 year old Pamela* that I still am not quite sure what I did to deserve?
Volunteering has definitely been a rollercoaster of events. From the first steep incline of fear and anticipation when arriving here and not having a clue what to expect. To flying down the other side with a big smile on my face, hands in the air, just letting go and waiting to see where the ride takes me. I can now say I have been through the loops, twists and sometimes sharp turns of day to day life as a volunteer and it’s without a doubt one of the best rides I have been on.
The Sharp Turn – Getting an annoyed look from a child or Tío as they try to explain something important to me and I respond with what looks like an elaborate game of charades while attempting to use a horribly butchered version of Spanglish. Eventually they give up and say to me ” Tío, tu no entiende nada,” which is ironic because I understand that sentence perfectly: “you don’t understand anything.” Maybe that’s what the daily smack is for?
The Loop – When one of the kids, who for some reason or another has been opposed to your very presence/existence since day one, finally has a change of heart. Some amazing moment when the universe aligns, the sun shines through the clouds and you are there for them when they need you and from that point forward you both have been changed from arch rivals to the best of friends, wondering how it was ever the other way around?
The Twist – It was a little while ago now but we were helping plant vegetables in the garden out the front. There were limited gardening tools, and one of the boys was hogging the use of the shovel. Paulina* whose turn it was next grew impatient at Mateo’s* reluctance to give her the shovel. A small fight started and as Paulina tried to take the shovel by force, she unfortunately ended up with a hit to the back with it. Previous to this day every time a child was upset they would go to the long term Tíos, often running straight past me in the process. As the tears started to well in Paulina’s eyes she ran straight to me and I picked her up and comforted her. This was definitely a highlight considering the long term Tío was only a metre or so further away. I never thought I would be so happy that a child would be hit with a shovel (luckily she wasn’t badly hurt!).
After pulling up in a taxi yesterday morning for an 18 hour day (Christmas Party), the kids screaming our names out from behind the fence, I realized the months have flown by and every day has been filled with countless moments like the ones above, bringing me closer to the children and staff here, but also bringing me closer to finishing here too. Even though I still “no entiendo nada” I know that as soon as I get off this ride, I will be lining back up for the next one.
*Names have been changed.