My first week at NPH

Well, I've gotten the internet set up in my computer, but for now that really doesn't mean much. I'm using someone else's now that is a bit newer and gets a better signal. I think if I go to the office mine should work better though. we'll see

Ive made it through much of the first week here as I have this weekend off, meaning I also don't have to work on Friday (I think Ill go to the beach for just saturday and sunday)!! It is still going well and I haven't decided I need to go home yet, so that is good! And all said and done, things are really wonderful here. Im really seeing hoe much everyone here is like one big family and am starting to feel much more like a part of that family.

There are 2 other volunteers who got here recently too so we are doing a little orientation thing this week to help us get settled before starting work on Monday. Stangely enough, they are a married couple from Michigan! Imagine that! We typically have a bit of stuff in the morning and a bit in the afternoon with an hour and a half for lunch (as we all get here), but I spend most of that time with 'my kids' - the ones I eat with. Those little boys are winning over my heart pretty quickly! Soon I should be getting some information from the office about their stories before coming to NPH. Though it will be good to know so I can better understand why they act the way they do, it will also be really hard to know some of the horrible things that have happened to them in the past. Some of the storries I have heard already are so sad... but it makes it a lot easier knowing they are here now and have such an amazing, huge family and so many people who love them so much.

The whole orientation is sometimes a bit long/slow but overall great as it is helping me get to know how things work here (answer: slowwwwwly), where to go for help with different things, who does what, etc. Now I just need to learn the names of all 180 or so kids... I'll get back to you on that one in a month or 10!

I've also gotten to learn a bit more about what I'll be doing as my job when I'm not running around with the kids. It involves A LOT of different things including the following:
-running a program called The Growing Connection run by the UN in which the little kids will grow plants in these 'earth boxes' donated by the program and share about their experiences with other classes around the world. It's pretty interesting, look it up online!
-reviving a composting/recycling program that fell apart a few months ago
-teaching the kids/tias all about the program
-builing/arranging the building of a new area for composting (with WORMS) and reproduction of ornamental plants. And working there when its done
-arranging/planning/supervising agriculture based projects for a huge group of canadians that visit for 6 weeks in january/february
-planning fun activities for St Francis of Asissi day and Earth Day
-plenty of other things that will change all the time!

The woman I am working with, Marijo, is just SO wonderful. I think I will learn a lot from her over the year as she is just a wealth of knowledge. We're hoping to go on lots of adventures next week to places including a huge vermiculture project, a farm school, the botanical gardens, and many more I am forgetting. We shall learn all sorts of things and hopefully get some donations as well

Sorry for SUCH a long post, but a lot has happened this week and I've only included the littlest bit of it! Next time, I'll write a bit more about some of the kids :) Though, I must tell you guys, one of them looks EXACTLY like Obama!!! Almost everyone here refers to him as Obamito or El Presidente... I'll post a picture sometime, you'll be blown away!

miss you all much