However, there were some unexpected shake-ups in my work--first, I found out that Elizabeth wouldn't be back from vacation till about a week after I returned, though this wasn't a huge problem, as I'd been making visits on my own. But even now that she's back, I'm still mostly working independently as Vida Digna is in the midst of restructuring. So, I feel like my interest in conducting an assessment project probably won't work out in the near future, as they're so busy with other issues. But even more troubling was that there seem to be issues with funding for Vida Digna. As a foreigner, I don't fully understand the nuances, but a decent number of Vida Digna staff members aren't getting paid for their work. When I first heard this, I got pretty worried about the participants, but thankfully, they are safe and don't need to worry about losing their spot in the nursing homes.
Yesterday, Janet, Willy, and a few of their friends came along with presents for the Vida Digna participants: clothes, pajamas, and shoes! Everyone was so delighted and a few even started crying. We didn't end up getting the paneton and hot chocolate that many of the residents wanted due to dietary restrictions, but I felt that the afternoon was a fantastic success :)
But in general, day-to-day, things are becoming quite routine, especially as the residents almost always ask to color soon after I arrive. I've tried to mix things up with Christmas tree collages and tangrams here and there, but most of them really do seem to enjoy drawing and coloring.
Here are some photos from my work so far:
Un fuerte abrazo de Lima!
