TEACHER FOR SMILES: February 2013

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

ALCIDES JORDAN, THE RETIRED POLICEMAN WHO STARTED AZUL WASI

Alcides was happy to receive the toothpaste and 30 toothbrushes.

Dr. Richard E. Betor is a phenomenal dentist in Rocky River, Ohio. I would like to thank him for his continued support of my international volunteering. Dr. Betor donated cases of toothpaste for the children who live at Azul Wasi. They were so happy to have their own tube of toothpaste. When you are living at an orphanage, you do not have many things you can call your own. To see the children's faces light up over something so simple as a tube of toothpaste, brought tears to my eyes. And now, as I sit, typing this blog, the tears are beginning to well-up. It is amazing how much we take for granted.

THANK YOU AGAIN, DR. BETOR!

ALFREDO WITH A WATER BALLOON

SNEAK ATTACK!

Actually, this was not such a sneak attack, but more of a human sacrifice, lol. I had hit Alfredo with several water balloons, so I thought it only fair, to let him have a free shot at me.

JUST WAIT UNTIL I GET A WATER BALLOON, YOU LITTLE MONKEY!

FRISBEE ACTION SHOT

This was an awesome photo taken by my new friend Andrew "Bear" Dare. The kids loved playing with their new frisbees, but not as much as the water balloons!

PLAYING FRISBEE

SHOWING ALCIDES HOW TO PLAY THE MEMORY GAME I BROUGHT

Some of the items I brought to the orphanage were games/toys, such as Memory, a bunch of frisbees, several small basketballs (which they will use as soccer balls), puzzles, some jump ropes, and some water balloons.

BONNIE'S DONATED COOKIES

Bonnie was my roommate on my trip to Peru. She donated a box of cookies she purchased from a bakery in Chicago. The cookies were absolutely fresh after their long journey and scrumpdillyicious! Thank you, Bonnie Chattler!

ALCIDES JORDAN, OWNER, OPERATOR AND PAPA TO ALL THE CHILDREN

OPENING THE SUITCASE

Azul Awasi Orphanage is in need of many items for the children. Just feeding the children costs $1,000 per month. The children need uniforms, school supplies, and haircuts to go back to school. Why do the boys need haircuts, you may ask. Well, the schools are strict about hair length because of head lice. So, the children need crew cuts, and it costs money to get a haircut. If anyone is interested in donating any amount of money to Azul Aswasi, please email me at Tchr4smiles@gmail.com or call me.

NEW DORMITORY THAT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED.

CHILDRENS' ART

JUST CHILLIN'

These are some of the boys in the one small building that is used as a miniclassroom for teaching English and doing art projects.

WALKING TO ORPHANAGE

After our tuk-tuk ride, we had about a 10 minute walk to the gates of Azul Wasi Orphanage. Upon our arrival, the children started screaming "Oso," which means bear.
The boys ran up and began hugging me and yelling "Hola!" We began asking exchanging names and many "high 5s." After all the hugs, Bear took us on a tour of Azul Wasi

THE THREE AMIGOS!

After our bus ride, we took a two person tuk-tuk on the second leg of our trip to the orphanage. It was a tight fit, but we laughed all the way. This is a photo that Bear took while on our bumpy wild ride down a muddy dirt road riddled with large holes.

Monday, February 25, 2013

BUS DRIVER WHO WILL BE TAKING US MOST OF THE WAY TO AZUL WASI

ANDY "THE BEAR" and me

Andy is a yacht captain and he volunteers at Azul Awasi Orphanage whenever he gets a chance.

This is Glen. Glen makes documentaries and he will be going with us to the orphanage.

MY NEW FRIENDS AT NORTON RAT'S TAVERN IN CUSCO

The guy on the left is Jeff and he owns the bar; he is from Rocky River. His sister Peggy made arrangements for me to meet him and his friends in Cusco. Jeff's friend, Andy volunteers on occasion at an orphanage about an hour or more out of Cusco. The man on the right is Richard. He is an old Hollywood producer who now lives in Cusco with his Peruvian wife. Richard produced Arnold Scharzenegger's first movie.