Maria's happiness moments

Last week, I had the privilege to journey through the garden route. Throughout the weekend, I found myself crawling barefoot through a cave, loving elephants, and dancing my way off the world's highest bungee bridge. While swinging through the air, I did briefly think I was going to die. However, I have never felt as relaxed as I did hanging an insane height in the air. With my feet in the Indian Ocean, I realized how happy I have become since arriving in Cape Town. During the car ride, we were talking about happiness moments. I didn't realize that all of mine revolved around Cape Town beginning with my acceptance. 

This week was a little aggressive at Maitland. Screaming and crying was the soundtrack of the week. On multiple occasions, the nurses scolded the children for being too loud, playing their music too loud and other child like activities. In my short time, I've found myself advocating on the children's behalf quite often. Therefore, I was not pleased to watch the children sit in silence, afraid to have fun. I did my best to brighten their days.  Borrowing a crochet needle as a microphone, I held a Justin Beiber concert. The nurses most definitively didn't seem to pleased. When I showed up riding a physio wheelchair, they seemed even more confused. However, the kids were full of smiles. In physio, I helped a girl work through her fear of walking with only one leg. I felt beyond proud when she was able to walk with a walker all the way from the physio room to the ward. 

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to cast a tiny human all by myself! I couldn't stop smiling the whole time, unable to speak words of my gratitude. later, I visited the orphanage I'll be working at for my activist project. walking into the rooms, I was happily greeted with smiled and a chorus of "aunty". my heart broke hearing how these children have been removed from their homes because of neglect and abuse.  I was even further upset to hear that many fostering is done for the money rather than for the love of children. watching how happy the children were to have visitors, I wanted to come back every single day just to bring smiles to their faces. 

currently, I'm struggling with how happy I am in Cape Town in comparison to the struggle in Cape Town. I find myself always wanting to have food on me to give to someone in need. I make it my mission to bring smiles to the tiny humans at Maitland who get scolded for this and that. last weekend, I climbed through caves for fun when the tiny humans at Maitland are stuck on bed rest. Life shouldn't have to be so difficult. Even worse, a difficult life shouldn't be the only quality of life you know. Every day, I think about how I can come back in the future and help even more. while I can't erase their struggles, I can try to bring sunshine into their lives.