A Trip to Boys Town
Yesterday, we went to Boys Town, a place where young orphaned children stay and are being taken care of. We actually didn't know what to expect. When we arrived in Boys Town, we were greeted by teethy smiles. We spent the day talking with the kids, playing with them, giving them food and drinks, and pretty much learning to be patient with them. They were at the certain age where they can be rather uncontrollable. Through our experience with the kids at Boys Town, there were certain things that I realized. One, I could not imagine surviving a week of taking care of the kids. After just one day, I already felt more spent than any regular schoolday I've had in Ateneo. Secondly, to converse with the kids, to eat with them and to play with them, you'd really have to just let everything else go for a minute and forget who you are. The kids really wanted your attention and some, would even go to extremes just to get it. I just thought to myself that I have to understand that these kids only have one teacher/mother who takes care of them and it can really be hard for them because they're at the certain age where they need the most attention. When we arrived back in the Ateneo, I guess I just learned how to be more patient, to be more selfless and to be more understanding. The whole experience was a fruitful one because it made me open my eyes to the reality that many kids are parentless and they need our help and attention.