Thursday, January 19 - Part One

Thursday, January 19 

This morning Julie was able to facetime with Nate & Dan (funny thing, I couldn’t purchase a plan to buy some phone minutes – remember Vietnam has gone to ‘pay as you go’, but we can face time for  free – even better!!).  Cracks me up – with Nate we end up doing close ups of eyeballs and other fun stuff like that.  Although what really cracked me up was when I face timed with Rus later that night, he ended up doing close ups of eyeballs etc.  No wonder he & Nate get along so well!!

We are so blessed when we show up at the orphanage.  For some reason this year we usually see Kap first and he is so excited and starts running to get all our kids rounded up.  Today Julie and I had thought maybe we wouldn’t include George in our outing. The debate being, “is it better to give more kids the opportunity to get outside (but with just two of us not be able to give each of them much individual attention) – OR – is it better to just get as many outside as we think we can manage without losing any?”  We had decided today to go with quality over quantity.  

We considered leaving him inside today, but Kap insisted he join us!  Look at that smile!!

However, Kap had different ideas.  Apparently, at least in Kap’s mind, whoever goes out on day one with us is in it for the duration.  There was no way Kap was heading outside without George included.  (Read on as Kap would live to regret that decision)

Perhaps the real reason Kap wanted George to go was so both he & Thuong would have a stroller to push.  The strollers we brought over are absolutely awesome on the pavers (which are very uneven and tough to navigate, but allows the older kids to push the strollers with minimal difficulty and help from us - which they love).  So, with only a few exceptions of getting stuck or simply running into a wall (due to his weak left side) Kap wants full (and solo) control of one of the strollers (as does Thuong).  As we were leaving the big room and heading out to our usual spot (available today thank goodness) Kap took off with child in stroller.  Julie and I were trying to get our sneakers on (you take off your shoes to go into the ‘big’ room) and disengage from other kids that were trying to hold on and join us (it is so hard not to take them all outside, but we can only take so mnay).  Anyway, I get my sneakers on first, look up and can’t see Kap and stroller.  I take off at a mild jog down the hall, turn the corner and see him going as fast as he can on to the section with pavers.  This - could - be - a - disaster.  Not only could stroller and child tip over, but there are also people and other kids around and Kap has no problem simply driving right into them.  

Kap has so much energy and love for life!!

He is far enough away that I know I can’t ‘get to him’ in time before the obstacle course becomes a problem, so I decide I need to yell to him to stop.  Now fortunately he is one child who’s Vietnamese name we know.  His name is “Hai”, his nickname is “Kap” … I don’t know where the nickname comes from, we’ve just been told this.  Since we call him Kap I start with that.  “Kap, Kap” – nothing, he’s still on the move.  A little sterner now, “HAI – HAI” – aha, I have his attention, he turns around, sees me – does stop, but he is CRACKING UP.  He is so proud of himself.  I still don’t see Julie and the rest of the kids so I’m wondering if she is having some issue.  What to do, what to do?  Do I trust Kap to stay ‘put’ while I run back and check on Julie?  I don’t know, he is still giggling.  I look at him sternly and I think he gets my point that he is to wait, so I take a chance.  I run back to find that Julie (and kids) have been detained by other volunteers chatting with her.  Okay, they are fine.  I head back to Kap and we navigate our way together to our spot! 

Phew, disaster avoided.

(the video is us coming back in to eat.  Sorry it goes sideways, but what cracks me up is if you look through the back of the stroller you can see George peeking out, checking out what is going on!!)

We all get settled in our spot  and hand out what we have brought to play with today.  All is going well until Kap decides he is no longer happy with what he has and wants someone else's device.  Now if he hadn’t insisted on bring George out today we could have switched things around and he would be happy.  But since only certain kids can do puzzles …. And they don’t always want to be doing them, he has to settle for something he is not happy with, and so the meltdown begins.  (Just yesterday Julie and I were commenting on whether Kap ever has an unhappy day since he is usually so full of energy & excitement & laughter. ) Apparently we spoke too soon. 

We don’t want to give in to his tantrum (and we know he is fine), so we let him cry and cry, knowing he is hoping we will give in to his tantrum.  We offer him alternatives, but he wants what he wants.  Sorry bud you have to share and take your turn.  So, it is just a tad embarrassing when one of the ‘security’ guys who sits at the entrance to the orphanage comes over to see what is going on.  How to explain to this man that we are not torturing Kap but that he is simply  having a meltdown. It is amazing what smiles, facial expressions, gestures etc can convey, because he seemed to think all was well and we had things relatively under control and went back to his security spot.  

Phew – another disaster averted. 

After a bit I was able to convince Bob to take the digital camera and he and I went off for picture taking.  He LOVES this.  This opened up device switches and Kap was able to get his choice once again.

Part two to come ……..