Language Barrier (Poem Written October 2010)

I wrote this poem sitting under a tree here at the orphanage after two weeks. Thought it would make sense to share since I'm leaving in two weeks. It's cool to read it after being here a year; the "silent communication" that I longed to have with the people has definitely been reached!

Language Barrier

When words can't communicate

and expressions can't display

What is there to do but sit in silence?

and to relay, what you would say

if only you could say

and to contemplate what you would express

if you could digress

the language barrier...away, away

until, then, when communication so clear

all that is needed is a glance or stare

when silence is a story.

Stickers

What do you give 67 children as a gift to make then feel special and loved, that doesn't cost a lot?

Stickers.

And might I say, I have never seen stickers handed out in a more orderly fashion;

My mom had them line up in a single file. She sat at a table with a notebook and a bag of stickers that had been pre-cut, by her, into groups of 20. One by one they stepped in front of the table and chose their stickers. Next, my mom would smile and say, "Mete non ou la" (Put your name there) and she handed them a pen and pointed to the notebook. They would proudly scribble their name and skip away. You see, once your name is on the notebook you can't get in line again and say you didn't get any stickers. After one hour, the end result; everyone with 20 stickers on their faces and clothes and no one with 40.

After 11 months here we finally got it figured out!