The Sarnelli Orphange

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Since my last blog I have travelled the lenght of Thailand and have arrived in Nongkhai, a small town on the boarder between Thailand and Laos.  Luckily I managed to get some sleep on the bus as when I arrived at Nongkhai I had a busy day infront of me.  I was met at the bus station by Ko (he drives the school bus) and we travelled along the bumpy roads and through the fields to arrive at The Sarnelli Orphange.  I was greeted by three other volunteers - Hans and Natasha are from Belgium and have been volunteers for 15 months.  They have just had their own house built in the grounds of the orphange and children adore them.  Marita has been here for a week and has been travelling through Thailand carrying out various volunteer work.  They were all very welcoming and I was glad they were there to show me around. 

There are four orphanges in the village which were all set up by Father Mike O'Shea.  The Sarnelli Orphange accomodates around 60 children of all ages with AIDS.  There is a separate boys and girls orphange for the other children and The House of Hope is for the children from 0 - 5 years.  Over my time here I hope to visit all of the orphanges and get to know some of the children.  The children are here for various reasons - some have lost there parents to AIDS, some have been neglected or abused so have been taken from their parents, others were put on the market to be sold.  Some of the stories I have heard over the past few days have brought me to tears.  It amazes me what these smiling, caring children have been through. 

I have spent the past few days playing games and introducing myself to the children.  They are on holiday from school for two months.  I have spent every afternoon with the children with AIDS from Sarnelli House and they are beginning to accept me and treat me as one of the Orphange  mothers.  The children are very animated and completely adorable.   They have smiles on their faces and their main aim is to make you laugh.  Some of the boys of Sarnelli have already found my weakness and having me teasing me with a dead snake!  At the moment I can cope but I am not entirely sure what will happen when they bring a live one!!  Finding bugs seems to be there favourite game of all and I can imagine they have had some great reactions from former volunteers.  The bugs are huge!!!

There is a seven year old girl called Oi who has taken it upon herself to teach me some Thai songs.  She has taught me several which I am singing with enthusiasm even though I don't know what I am saying!  Her english is really good and she is eager to be taught more.  She can now sing Old MacDonald perfectly and we are now working on Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes!  The other children are yet to join in; they sit around watching and giving Oi and I thumbs up or down.  It is like having Louis, Sharon and Simon with me!   Yesterday afternoon I was watching Thai pop videos with some of the children.  The words of the songs were written across the screen in Thai and English, so you know me ...singing along.  The children found it hysterical! 

The girls from the other orphange visted Charlene House (where I am staying) yesterday morning to use the gym (Father Mike had bike and a few weights put in under the house a few years ago) ...they actually just listened to the stereo and taught me some origami.  I can now make a swan!  The girls were all very well behaved and polite and enjoyed teaching me how to play various board games using a chess board and some stones.  I think I am going to need some practice because the smallest girls where beating me in one turn!  As with all of the orphans I have met here they have created a new family unit and they continously support and care for each other. 

I have also visited the House of Hope and was quickly pounced upon by several children.  The toddlers all crave attention and want you to pick them up.  They are such little characters and within a split second they can be up a tree or fiddling with the light switch...I need eyes in the back of my head!  There is also a baby room which is my own personal target.  I went in several times and each time the babies just cried...I think it is going to take time until I can hold them.  Watch this space!

I am really enjoying the experience and am looking forward to my relationships with the children developing over the next few weeks.  I have not taken any photogtraphs yet as I want the children to feel comfortable and safe first.  I promise to add some next time I am on the internet...and to everyone who made a little complaint I promise I will be in them!!! 

Internet access is limited at the moment as the orphange is around 30 minutes drive from the town and organising a lift is a challenge all by itself!  I will try to get to the internet next week to update you on my adventure.

xxx

KATE - Happy BIrthday!!  Missing you heaps and wish I was there to celebrate.  Love you always xxx