Gringas In Shorts

Last Sunday we went to an orphanage place that houses children from 10 months up to 21 years. These children might be orphans or they might have parents that can't or won't take care of them. It was a sad situation. We enjoyed spending time with the younger children. We brought bubbles, bouncy balls, stickers etc. It was a blast to see how happy they were to have some extra love & attention. We were also able to see where they were housed. It was by no means fancy, but it was clean which is encouraging. There are also dorms for the older children.

They go to a 7th Day Adventist school for both primary and secondary school. Also often they are able to receive technical training so that when they leave each person can support themselves.

As we were leaving the orphanage a boy in a Nissan truck pulled in with 6 armed guards and about 10 other friends piled into the bed of the vehicle. We came to find out that this guy was one of the richest children in the area and his father owned dozens of hardware stores. The reason he had armed is in the past he was kidnapped and ransomed. SO as they were pulling out, I lifted my camera to a "un photo" and they all started whooping and hollering. Then Sara (the hotel owner's daughter and one of our translators) said "Yeah.... they LOVE gringas (white women) in shorts!"

This moment was funny but then all of us students started realizing that all the natives don't wear shorts. The women are in dresses or skirts. The men are always in pants. The only people who at anytime wear shorts are children, both boys and girls. But even then the girls are usually in skirts, and the boys have shorts that are longer than Bermudas. It's just one of those cultural things that you don't anticipate.