Every Balinese house has an architectural and spiritual significance. This was very apparent when arriving inside theYayasan Widya Guna in Yeh Pulu, Bedulu-as Balinese structures are merely very high stone walls from the outside. Inside there are multiple different buildings used for different functions-a kitchen, bedrooms, the bathing area, the library room, and many outdoor living platforms as it is about average 85 degrees F here with tropical rains every couple of days. There are also several trees throughout the compound and a small garden space bordering some of the walls. The green color is endless and on sunny blue sky days, the clouds are so defined and plump that I want to grab them to sleep on at night!
We have spent the last 2 weeks living at the Yayasan (a childrens home inland Bali). Originally this compound was Ketut and Nyomans home which they turned into an educational center and orphanage for children about 6 years ago. There are only 8 children that actually sleep at the Yayasan, but over a hundred come for English lessons, sports games, cultural dancing and companionship everyday. Our time is split between hanging out and playing with classroom time.
The Yayasan is never silent. Whether it is the chickens roaming free about the compound, the sound of Nyepi drums beating alongside noisy bamboo sticks, or just the children laughing in pure bliss, there is always something to fix your mind on. Mornings usually consist of breakfast and a little trip into town to visit a temple or witness a ceremony which happens more regularly than any other place Ive visited. Then around 10 AM, we teach the special ed class until lunchtime alongside 2 other volunteers from Holland. We do all sorts of activities with the children ages 7-20. Saying the months of the year, writing, art projects, singing, ABCs, numbers, and chalk are a few of the activities. They are all at different levels so it sometimes requires us to break off and do individual projects with different students depending on their needs. The range of needs in our classroom consists of autism, cerebral palsy, hyperactive disorder, and down syndrome. The children are amazing and mostly smiles which just makes it so rewarding to work with such inspirational stories. One of my favorite times of class is when Putu, the oldest member, freestyles to boost moral. His confidence and passion for music and performance shines through, always ending his skit with a kiss to the sky or other form of theatrical dismissal. I might also add that it is difficult trying to teach a second language to these children when you cannot speak their native tongue. We have been attempting to learn vocab words and phrases that they may understand but this requires always having the Indonesian-English dictionary handy.
Lunch time rolls around and everyone piles into the outdoor living space that is Ketut and Nymans bedroom stoop outside. Usually it is rice with some veggies and chicken or tempe with eggs and coconut sauce. Nasi goreng and Mi goreng, fried rice or fried noodles, are some of Balis traditional go-tos which we enjoy on a daily basis. Frankie their dog is always roaming willing to eat anything we throw to him including just bones od the fish!
The afternoon class is the lowest level of English that attends here at Yayasan. We just recently have been given full responsibility of these 6 year olds for the rest of our stay here. They can do simple conversation English, know some vocabulary, and really enjoy interactive games and activities. We always end the day with a trip down to the New Yayasan, a 5 minute walk away to rolling rice fields and space to play.
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