06.08.07
“Mira, tu hija,” Alba says to me, signaling to 18 month old Blanca, who is standing and smiling as she messes her nicely combed hair. Calling the children “hijo,” son, or “hija,” daughter, has become part of our daily language in the infant room at Hogar Infantil. Instead of the children seeing the women in the room as just workers and the women caring for the children as just part of their job, the infant room is like a small family that I am fortunate to have been a part of the past nine months.
As an Augustinian Volunteer, I was assigned to work at Hogar Infantil Orphanage three days a week mainly assisting in the infant and toddler room. At the beginning I mostly saw my daily job as chores that needed to be accomplished: folding clothes, feeding infants, changing diapers. However, I quickly learned that the women in the infant room, Alba, Noema, Meche and Lupita, do their tasks not only to perform their assigned job but also out of love for all the children in the room. When a child leaves there is a little bit of emptiness in the room for a while, and when a new one comes they are embraced with open arms. Just this past Saturday, I arrived at the orphanage to find three-year-old Alejandra had been adopted. The atmosphere in the room was definitely one of sadness, everyone feeling they had lost a sister or a daughter. Each child is an integral part of the family who is deeply missed when he or she leaves.
Since I am from Philadelphia and currently living across the country, I am unable to really see my family often. But going to the orphanage and being greeted by the toddlers smiling and screaming, “Keeley!!” and hugs from the women who work there, I feel I enter a home away from home. I feel more than welcome each time I visit. One day Alba decided to invite me to her home for lunch and to meet her family. In Spanish she explained to me that she knew it must be hard being away from home and that she would be my surrogate “mama” if I ever needed anything. She has treated me like another member of her family, just like she treats the other children at the orphanage. The children are given so much love by the women and learn to give it in return. It is amazing to see how a group of people who have all different stories come together to form a close family caring for each other.
Recently I was cooking in the kitchen with Noema when Jorge ran in and said, “Las dos mamas! Mama uno! Mama dos!” I turned around surprised to see Jorge pointing to Noema and myself. I had never seen myself as another one of their “mothers” at the orphanage, but I was touched that the children think of me as another member of their family.
Soon I will be done the volunteer program and move back home, but I feel so blessed to have been a part of such a family. Not only have I developed my Spanish language skills and learn more about the Mexican culture, I have also established many meaningful relationships that I will forever cherish. I am a little apprehensive about moving and leaving behind the orphanage, but I know a piece of Hogar Infantil, my second family, will always be with me. I hope the future volunteers are able to have such an unforgettable experience as well.