Back to School, Orphanage Visit

We have been very busy, attempting to settle into a routine with Jeferson and Diego.

Diego started back to school on Monday, so around 11:30 AM, Cecilia picked us up to take us to AYUDAME, so that Diego could pick up his school uniform, and backpack, that he had used previously. We had a babysitter for Jeferson, as he is not going to go back to school, and will be spending future afternoons with Mami. However, both of us wanted to go with Diego, to see the school, and also visit the orphanage. Here is a pic of the outside of the school. It is a very new building.

THE PROUD ONE HIMSELF

Five of us walked Diego to school. (Papi, Mami, Cecilia, and 2 of the psychologists from Ayudame). Diego must have felt like an absolute Prince with all of the escorts! He was very excited to be back in school. His teacher Professor Lolita, was so happy to see him, as he was to see her. She met his class in the playground, and they all walked back together to the classroom. Once in the classroom, we watched the children get settled in. We were very surprised when they started the class with a prayer. This is a public school, and they pray at the start of every class. This would be unheard of in the United States. Good for the country of Colombia! Professor Lolita is an excellent teacher, you can just feel the love and respect that the children have for her, and she for them. After the children settled into their assignment, she explained to us what Diego's strengths are, as well as things he needs to work on a little, and what he needs to work on alot. She expressed that he has never had anyone to help him with his homework, and needs alot of guidance. After only 2 days of being back to school, since he has been with us, she has noticed a marked improvement in his attitude and overall happiness. Upon hearing this from Professor Lolita, Papi was so proud of Diego, that it brought a tear to Papi's eye. With as difficult as some of the days have been, this makes us realize that we are doing good for the boys. Diego is also very proud to be able to have a family who will take him to school, and pick him up from school. His face just beams with happiness! Since Papi is the one to take Diego to school and pick him up, Diego introduces him to everybody, even the security guard, three days in a row now!!

ENTRANCE TO CLASS ROOM WITH PROFESSOR LOLITA

CLASS ROOM

WHO IS THAT "TEACHING"

THE PRINCE HIMSELF

Papi and Diego leave the hotel about noon every day, and take a taxi to his school. Then papi goes to an internet cafe and works for the afternoon. Around 5 PM, Papi picks up Diego at school, and then they taxi back to the hotel. Meanwhile, Mami and Jeferson spend the afternoon together. Today, right after Diego left for school , Jeferson packed up his backpack with sunglasses, a bottle top, and spiderman, and asked for his "jacqueta" (jacket) as he was going to school as well. So on the way downstairs, he told everyone that he was going to school.

Mami decided to take Jeferson out for a short walk, to pretend he was off to school too. We ended up at a local artesian shop. He forgot all about school.

We feel that we are on track with a routine for the boys, and their behavior is beginning to reflect this. We have hope for 2 well behaved boys!

Back to Monday- Papi and Mami visited the orphanage where Jeferson and Diego lived since December. We met this visit with a certain anxiety, as we did not know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised at the care that the children received. The children all looked happy, as we had already noticed the happiness with Diego and Jeferson. There were many children, and we wanted to take them all home. The staff at the orphanage was very willing to allow us to look around at everything, and it was obvious that they took much pride in the orphanage and their work. We took many pictures while we were there. We saw the room and bed that Diego slept in, and also the room where Jeferson slept. We were surprised to learn that he had been sleeping in a crib. The boys each slept in separate room, and we think that they were in with children of their own ages.





After the visit to the orphanage, we spent the afternoon, walking the streets of the "real " Bogota, and visited a few of the shops. We met a shop owner, who actually has a factory in the same building, where they assemble stuffed animals. He was very happy to give us a tour. We purchased a few items from him. In fact, we found the shopowner so friendly, that the next day after Eric dropped Diego off at school, he met the shop owner for lunch, so they could practice each others language.






We visited 2 markets, one was a typical American grocery store, and the other one was more of what we would think of as a farmers market. We purchased a dozen of roses for 5000 pesos ($2.50 US dollars). At this price we wanted to purchase every rose they had. We did purchase 3 dozen. One dozen for Professor Lolita, one dozen for the staff at the orphanage, and of course one dozen for mami! ( Happy anniversary flowers) It was coincidental, but along with the dozen of roses for mami, the shop owner gave us 3 free roses. (12 + 3 =15 roses) for 15 years of marriage!
Outside the grocery store, there was a man shining shoes. Eric was finally able to get his shoes shined. He gave the man 3000 pesos, and he returned 1000 pesos to Eric, as the price was only 2000 pesos, ($1.00). We also found that fruit is very inexpensive here. The cost for a whole pineapple here is 1000 pesos (50 cents). There is also not the variety of things that we have in the US. Only about 10 feet of an aisle is devoted to cereal with maybe 20 varieties. That is only about 1/5 of the variety of cereal that we find in the US. Although it seems like these items are very inexpensive, we did find that clothing is much more expensive than in the US.

Thanks for being patient as we settle into yet another new routine. Please keep the comments coming as we live by them!

Chow!

Eric, Joyce, Diego and Jeferson