I have a schedule!

So in case you didn't know, I'm the kind of person who likes to have a schedule. I live off my planner during the school year (and I wish I would have brought it here! I'll probably buy one soon), and in general I just like to have some kind of plans. My first week here, I wasn't on the CDA schedule, and I really didn't have to be anywhere or do anything specific. I pretty much never knew what I was going to do until I woke up. I depended on other people to pick me up and take me home since I didn't know my way around the city (still don't really, but I'm starting to learn). Going with the flow like that was kind of nice for a week, but I am so relieved to now be on the volunteer schedule! I actually have somewhere I need to be at a specific time!

Yesterday was my first day on the schedule, and the first time to travel in the city by myself. The night before, Teresa took me out and showed me which trufis (basically vans used for public transportation) I could take to get to and from Casa 1, where I need to get off, and where I need to walk. I wrote everything down, and yesterday morning I set out alone. I had my notebook for reference, but I actually remembered pretty much everything! The only problem was the trufi driver almost passed where I had to get off because he was taking his time getting to the side of the road, even though I had told him that I was about to get off. A few guys in the trufi yelled at him to get over because "she said she was getting off!" After that he quickly went over to the side and stopped for me. It actually ended up being the perfect place, and I walked to rest of the way down to the home.

I worked there from 12 to 8 pm, then called a taxi to take me home. I had my address but the driver didn't know exactly where to go, so I told him when to turn and stop and everything. Landmarks are my saving grace. Most streets don't have signs or anything to indicate where you are, so pretty much the only way I know where I am is by looking at billboards or distinct houses.

My day at Casa 1 went pretty much like this:
Got there around 12, helped get the kids in and out of the bath and dressed, went with them down to the dining room to eat lunch. Ate with the kids and tias, then took them upstairs for naptime. Brushed teeth and put some of the smallest kids to bed. During naptime the tias usually just rest, but I wanted to do something. I went to the kitchen to see if the cook needed help, which she said she didn't (she always says that, but if I bug her enough she gives me something to do :p). I ended up helping give the triplets their 2:00 milk and burping them. Then I sat around for a while, until David came in with a carload of groceries. I helped carry all that in, then helped the cook organize things in the kitchen (she tried to show me the difference between naranjas and mandarinas, but they looked exactly the same to me). The kids got up from nap around 4. Changed some diapers, made some kids go potty on their little training toilets, then downstairs for dinner. Helped serve dinner, fed Baby F (the only real baby there besides the triplets), and ate a little dinner. After dinner, I helped fold laundry with one tia while another tia was singing songs with the little kids and some of the older ones were outside. After a while everyone went upstairs. I stayed in a room with the little ones, played with them and broke up fights. Around 7:30 everyone got ready for bed, and by 8 everyone was in bed. That's when I called the taxi and went home.

At home, I ate dinner and played games with Maite and Teresa. SUPER FUN. I taught them a card game, and they taught me a few. We played until about 11, then Maite and I did a puzzle and finished around 12. Then it was time for bed.

Today is apparently a holiday, so pretty much everyone is off work. This morning I've just been hanging out at home with M and T, but we may go somewhere later today. Tomorrow I work at Casa 1 in the morning, so I'll probably blog about how mornings are there. Hopefully M´s friend will come today or sometime this week to get my computer configured with the internet! Ciao for now!