Some days are more frustrating than others pt. 2
Friday, April 4th, 2008Last week I wrote about one particular day. Here is what happened after dinner.
As it turned out there really was no one working in the elementary boys side that night. After dinner is usually shower time, and even with an 엄마 it can be hectic (it depends on which 엄마 is there)!
The kids don’t really wash every day. Often they do little more than splash some water around their waists. Shower time is not managed well. Granted, it is a big undertaking. Some parents struggle with just a few of their own kids, but 20+ kids is a whole different battle. And only the oldest kids really do it themselves. 1st-3rd and sometimes 4th graders are washed by an adult. It struck me as odd when I first saw it happen, but it is indicative of an aspect of Korean culture, and perhaps living in an orphanage. Since no staff was around the fell falls to me. Of course, kids are also supposed to be doing some homework, but that definitely didn’t happen.
After cleaning up from dinner, Josh (my friend who also volunteers there) and I announce that it time to wash . Starting with 1st graders. One of them is obedient and goes right in, but the other tries to object saying he washed two days ago, so he doesn’t need to tonight. After much cajoling (forcing) he surrendered. It was slow going all the way up the line.
In the middle of all this one of the staff members finally appears with all of the pre-school kids in tow. Apparently there was a staffing shortage that night, and he would have to watch all of the kids for a time. So he brought the little ones over to the elementary boys house with a movie to pacify everyone. But his movie choice … Die Hard 4 is probably not one that I would show kids.
I don’t mind being a firm figure in their lives, they certainly need it, but I cannot do that for them 24-7. Often I feel like I don’t have any solutions either, and staff shortages are a real problem! That day gave a bigger picture for the magnitude of their circumstances. There is nothing easy about their life. I can intersect it from time to time, but they need positive input on a daily and sustained basis!
Posted by 오민 (Austin) in Austin's Orphanage |
April 10th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
How frustrating and sad. I think there are probably many cultural notions regarding orphans in Korean society that I don’t understand. Isn’t there any kind of charity group that takes interest, or mandatory community service that could be put in place? Perhaps things are more complicated than that there. I am sure, though, that you are doing things now that may seem small, but someone among those boys is going keep them in his memory when he is grown.
I know a Korean-American woman here who was adopted from an orphanage. I wanted to ask her if she had memories of being there, but I thought it would be too personal. She celebrates her Korean heritage though, and she is proud of having a Korean name as well, even though she was rechristened with a Western name on adoption.
May 6th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Austin … I am looking for an orphanage to volunteer at (or anything with kids in need) here in Daegu - any suggestions? I scanned your posts but sorry if I missed any info on this …
May 7th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Kristin…
That’s great! I’m sorry that I know nothing about opportunities in Daegu! You could try asking your Korean co-workers (or fellow students if you’re studying here). I guess you could also ask on daves esl cafe (www.eslcafe.com) there is a forum there for living/working in Korea that loads of foreigners frequent. I got involved through my church, so if you are going to a church in Daegu, there might be an opportunity there..
Hope you can find a way to get involved!