I'm writing this entry in honor of Pica, a little girl I have watched grow up so much in these last eight months. Pica turned four last week, right around the time I found out that her adoptive parents will be arriving to take her home May 1st. This news was unexpected - we know a lot of the little girls have adoptive parents, but the international adoption process takes so long, usually more than a year. So I've always known Pica has parents somewhere in Holland, but it didn't hit home till I knew their arrival date. I honestly didn't think I'd be still be here to see her leave. Anyway, it's going to be pretty dang hard to say goodbye. Not sure how I will do it! Why does she have to be so super precious?!
Pica has some developmental disorders, and has only just begun to speak better than some of the two year olds. Some recent achievements include referring to herself in 1st person rather than 3rd, and learning to say "I love you" in English when I taught all the kids. Because she isn't as developed as the highly-precocious kids her age, she is especially childlike, innocent, vulnerable, and lovable. Pica was not always so special in my heart. When I first arrived, I really struggled with her. She seemed unresponsive, and I just didn't understand her mental/emotional capabilities in relation to her physical size (which is pretty grande). When something didn't go her way, she would go limp and spend forever pouting and fuming. I usually ended up feeling the same way after trying to deal with her. As the months passed, she began opening up more, and so did I. We have both grown immensely this year, and in the process have really grown quite attached to each other.
And now, I'm preparing myself for goodbye. All I know is that I will cherish these last few days with her! I can't well express how special she is to me, but her presence has greatly impacted my time here. I guess the best thought I can have is that she will grow up in a loving home and have a bright future, and receive the special attention and education that she needs. What a blessing, to be able to say goodbye knowing that she is headed off to a better life. That will surely make her parting easier.
Dear Liz, It's so great to read about what you have been doing. It sounds like something you pour your whole heart into and really get a lot back from too. Do you stay until October, too, or when?
ReplyDeleteI just read through the whole blog in one sitting. Don't apologize for the posts being so long; it is great to have all the details, and it certainly wasn't boring to me. (Also, it's good to remember how to express yourself the right way in English, huh?!? I know when I spent 2 1/2 weeks in a nearly Italian only environment it made me want to speak Italian-style English like the people I was talking to... whoops!) I love your comment about dreaming in Spanish! That is great!
Once, I was good at sending letters. Now, I am not... but if you post how many months you have left, it might encourage me to get through my mental pile of 'people I owe letters to before anyone new' and then write to you!! There's your offer! (I copied down the address, from the first page of posts.)
Here in Texas, things are pretty good. The weather has been humid but not too hot yet--a blessing. I'm working in the Keller Public Library, which I like. I sent you a message on Facebook too with my email and a few other things. Mater Dei has acquired a property, a former Protestant church on Irving Blvd, and is a 'personal parish' (defined in 'Summorum Pontificum'--basically the idea of the parish has to do with being attached to the TLM rather than where you live) since Easter. I still go every week so I see your neighbours, the Doughertys! In the interim while the church church is being refurbished Masses are in the cafeteria which is of course neatly arranged. There's room to breathe... but things are still pretty full, I guess more people come or else they just sit farther apart.
While you're studying Spanish I'm studying Italian. Several months ago I realized I needed to memorize the subjunctive and a few times tried to do it by brute force, but I think I tired my brain out on it a bit so I've been focusing more on vocabulary and speaking in sentences. I got an mp3 player a few months ago with recording/playback capabilities, which is unexpectedly very useful in practicing speaking (not having the advantage, unlike you, of being surrounded with dozens of people eager to speak to me only in the target language!) I found that both recording myself reading Italian short stories, and talking extempore about my day into the recorder, are good ways to practice speaking.
I have this daydream that your mother could probably teach me a lot about bread-baking, about which I know some things but I feel that I am still a novice. I'm not thinking of weekly appointments here, just an afternoon or two. If you think she would enjoy that encourage me and I'll get in contact with her somehow or other (I know she must read this and she could read this before you... hi, Mrs Lowery!).
Que Dios ti bendiga, y los pequenos!
Love,
Mary