i really hope the answer to that question is never.
yesterday i had an amazing experience talking about writing with eighth graders here in new york. they are so much cooler and hipper than i EVER was (or will be). it was astonishing. it also made me think about how Nepalese children grow into their adult selves.
recently i learned that some of the orphanages are separating the older children so it's all girls or all boys in each house. which i suppose makes sense.
but it also is deeply saddening for me.
when i was over there, i was awestruck at the way the older children took care of the younger ones. feeding, clothing, even rocking them to sleep. after supper, we played clapping games and once there was a circle of us playing "operation" - that game where a secret is passed from one ear to the next and the final person has to announce it to see how it's changed....we played in pigeon english/nepalese that made everyone confused and giddy. it was a circle of children ranging from 4 to 18. how many american 18 year olds do you know who would jump at the chance to play operation for an evening activity?
and the adoration the younger children have for their older "brothers and sisters" is phenomenal. they often begged to start the operation message, only to repeat the one that was sent before:
lakshmi is a beautiful princess
lakshmi is the pseudonym i'm giving to one of the girls at the orphanage. and she is a beautiful princess. a smile that warms the entire room. long, graceful limbs. but most of all because i watched her as the message was passed around again. she ahd no idea they were talkinga bout her again. she was too busy cradling one of the smallest boys, Ram in her arms because he was feeling left out.
devi, sima, shakti, bami
(names changed for safety)
suki
loves his new socks!
sima and lalli
on the doorstep of the orphanage
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