My time in San Félix: La Casa de Hogar

Last week I spent a lot of time at the Casa de Hogar with the boys. I went in the mornings to help with homework and whatnot like usual, but I also went a few times in the evenings to hang out which was a lot more fun. Without having to work on homework and everything we got to just goof off. I slept over there on Tuesday night which was great. I hadn't realized how much responsibility they each had. Every night one of them is assigned to making dinner for the rest of the house. The night I was there I helped make arepas, but they are very independent and responsible. Until about 730 there wasn't really a supervisor or anyone there other than the two oldest boys Luis and Jesus. I found out that they did in fact grow up there, they don't just work there. Luis told me he's been there since he was little. It was a fun night with lots of loud music, having a penalty kick shoot out in the house using a flip flop as a ball, etc. I was in bed by 9, asleep by probably 930. It was definitely the best nights sleep I've had since I've been here. I woke up at 630. The boys that go to school in the mornings get up at 5, but I didn't hear them. I once again just gave my camera to the boys so they could document the night rather than me. The result of that is a couple hilarious videos of some of them dancing, and some good pictures as well.

Yesterday was Alejandro's birthday. He turned 11 years old on 11/11/11. Pretty sweet. I'm not really clear on who they were, but a group of adults came to throw a party for him and just for the kids in general. They brought balloons, cake, a piñata, it was nice. We played musical chairs, hot potato, games like that. The night was full of loud music and laughing kids, I liked it a lot. I almost won hot potato! I was in the round of 3 but lost. Whenever someone was eliminated they had to do some sort of embarrassing "penance" as they called it. The person who was eliminated before me got to choose. So when I got out I did a pretty quality chicken dance/walk/noise. Overall just a really fun night hanging out with the boys.