Jump Rope Club

I've been teaching my Jump Rope Club at los "Hogares María Goretti" for four weeks now, and... well, it isn't exactly the structured, organized team that I had anticipated! It often seems like chaos (imagine 27 girls with jump ropes in a small space), and I still don't have enough ropes for all of them. I try to plan "lessons," but it turns into "do whatever you feel like." Last week, one little girl had an "emotional crisis" (imagine her screaming/kicking/yelling at a man who wasn't there) in the midst of Jump Rope Club, and she was in a psychiatric hospital for 8 days. It was sooooo crazy and so sad! The girls definitely come from broken homes and have had really horrible experiences in their short lives. I was feeling like a huge failure with the whole thing, but one little girl (a 6-year-old) and I had the following conversation: Girl: "I wish I could go and see my mommy. I can't, and it's my daddy's fault." Me: "Oh, that's really too bad." Girl: "He was raping me. Do you know what raping means?" Me: "Yes, that is really awful. No one deserves to be treated like that. I'm so glad that you don't have to experience that any more. Aren't you glad that you are living here at los Hogares Maria Goretti?" Girl: "It's okay. I wish I could live with my mommy, but I really like it when you come and jump rope with us. That's what I like about Hogares Maria Goretti." Ah, that totally made my day! See? I may not teach them a single trick, but it made me feel like I'm some sort of positive influence for them. =) I do hope to get a little more control and organization with it at some point, and I'm even hoping to have a little performance. We shall see...

Since I don't really see myself in the role of "coach" yet, I feel like my main role is official photographer. Seriously! The girls LOVE to have their picture taken, and I think I've captured about 350 shots of them thus far. I often regret revealing the fact that I had a digital camera to them (as they pull on my arm and tell me, "Now take a picture of me like this! And like this! And like this!"..."And how about a picture to send to my grandma? And one to put in my bunk bed? And one for my friend?"... "And now PLEASE take a picture of me with my dolly!!"... "And one with my favorite stuffed dog!"), but I think it really is something that they can have that means something to them. I try to do things that individualize them (as you can imagine what it's like living in a small home with about 30 girls of various ages), so I guess it's worth it. I just have to set picture-taking limits...

"And now a picture of me with her because we both are wearing pink..."

One notable event that I experienced with the Girls of Hogares María Goretti was a large dance performance. (They apparently are more dedicated to the art of dancing then they are with jump roping; perhaps I'll have to talk to their instructor to get some pointers!). It was quite the affair! There were many preparations (hair, make-up, costumes), and their 15-minute show featured various types of dances from different regions of the country. Volunteers had graciously donated and made the costumes, and the girls were quite fetching. I felt like a proud parent!!