April 14, 2009
Back from Day 2. The trip to Patulul was bumpy, but not nearly as long as estimated. They thought it might take up to
3 hours, but it was more like 90 to 100 minutes each way.
I met Siomara at the CI office, and although I've now met ten children in person, each time I see one, if you were to read
the bubble over my head, it would read, ¨Wow, it's really her!¨ It's a thrill each and every time.
Siomara is a quiet girl that speaks in hushed tones, but she's also knows what she wants. Unfortunately, she also has
to be responsible far beyond her years. Although only 11, the way she watches over the smaller children in the
household is indicative of a girl who has had little chance to just be a child herself. I feel for her.
That said, she was like a barnacle on me as we take the road to her house. I answered countless questions and asked a
few of my own. A few short minutes later she led me to her house.
The Barillas family is desperately poor. It gets quite warm in Patulul, and she didn't have a fan for her bedroom. She
does now. She also didn't have a doll to play with. Not any longer! She also got a blouse, shorts and sneakers (Mom
wanted her to get school shoes, but Siomara insisted. Like I said, the girl knows what she wants!). A trip to the local
grocery store means the cupboards are no longer bare, either.
One interesting side note is that Siomara's Mom is 50 and just gave birth to a child last year. It was her 11th, and for
Siomara's sake, hopefully her last! Our introduction included Mrs. Barillas breast feeding the child. I would have sworn
she was Siomara's grandmother, as it is clear that she has led a very arduous life. And after I met other members of the
family, including the oldest child, it turns out that the Mom´s newborn is younger than her daughter´s child. Think
about that: Her grandchild is younger than one of her own children. My brain hurts.
The highlight of our day together was a boat trip. I think the name of the place is Lake Atitlan. The name didn't matter.
The weather was much more to our liking, and the cool breeze felt wonderful. Even better was watching Siomara relax
and enjoy herself. Mission accomplished.
Much like Day 1, it was hard to say goodbye to this adorable child. She wants me to return, so I will do my best to grant
her wish. She knows what she wants, so who am I to argue?
Day 3 promises to bring new challenges. For the first time in my CI ¨career,¨ I´ll be visiting two children at the same time.
I´m not sure how this is going to play out. I doubt they even know about each other. I hope they understand,
because I´ll do it again the day after.
Back from Day 2. The trip to Patulul was bumpy, but not nearly as long as estimated. They thought it might take up to
3 hours, but it was more like 90 to 100 minutes each way.
I met Siomara at the CI office, and although I've now met ten children in person, each time I see one, if you were to read
the bubble over my head, it would read, ¨Wow, it's really her!¨ It's a thrill each and every time.
Siomara is a quiet girl that speaks in hushed tones, but she's also knows what she wants. Unfortunately, she also has
to be responsible far beyond her years. Although only 11, the way she watches over the smaller children in the
household is indicative of a girl who has had little chance to just be a child herself. I feel for her.
That said, she was like a barnacle on me as we take the road to her house. I answered countless questions and asked a
few of my own. A few short minutes later she led me to her house.
The Barillas family is desperately poor. It gets quite warm in Patulul, and she didn't have a fan for her bedroom. She
does now. She also didn't have a doll to play with. Not any longer! She also got a blouse, shorts and sneakers (Mom
wanted her to get school shoes, but Siomara insisted. Like I said, the girl knows what she wants!). A trip to the local
grocery store means the cupboards are no longer bare, either.
One interesting side note is that Siomara's Mom is 50 and just gave birth to a child last year. It was her 11th, and for
Siomara's sake, hopefully her last! Our introduction included Mrs. Barillas breast feeding the child. I would have sworn
she was Siomara's grandmother, as it is clear that she has led a very arduous life. And after I met other members of the
family, including the oldest child, it turns out that the Mom´s newborn is younger than her daughter´s child. Think
about that: Her grandchild is younger than one of her own children. My brain hurts.
The highlight of our day together was a boat trip. I think the name of the place is Lake Atitlan. The name didn't matter.
The weather was much more to our liking, and the cool breeze felt wonderful. Even better was watching Siomara relax
and enjoy herself. Mission accomplished.
Much like Day 1, it was hard to say goodbye to this adorable child. She wants me to return, so I will do my best to grant
her wish. She knows what she wants, so who am I to argue?
Day 3 promises to bring new challenges. For the first time in my CI ¨career,¨ I´ll be visiting two children at the same time.
I´m not sure how this is going to play out. I doubt they even know about each other. I hope they understand,
because I´ll do it again the day after.