Day of frustration and some shining moments

So we woke up today and everything just started out badly. Our hotel suddenly decided that they couldn't exchange money for us even though they have been exchanging since Sunday. However, if you buy something worth about $.50 and pay with a $50 bill, they will give the change in local currency. Whatever! From now on we will exchange at the bank down the street.

We were then advised against doing the charity work that we were SOOOOOOOOO excited about. Now I want to say, our agency, KTA has been wonderful through this entire process and continues to be. Those of you that are hoping to connect with people working here, I suggest not making plans to do any mission or charity work without checking with your agency first. This issue, I feel, also has nothing to do with the people who are volunteering or the quality of things they are doing. Enough said on that for now.

We've also had some miscommunications which I know are totally normal, but are still frustrating. Everyone waiting to travel, just be prepared that just like lines cross in the US, they definitely cross over thousands of miles and multiple languages.

Now for the bright spot, Aidai was magnificent at the park that they let us take her to. Deirdre, thanks for the idea about the ball, we have a soccer star in the making. Aidai hasn't been interested in playing with much with us. She likes us to play with her, but not with the items we give her. She just wants to walk around and hold everything. Today she had a blast playing with the ball we gave her. The three of us were rolling it back and forth and bouncing it (she tried really hard) and she is great at kicking! We had a great time and she even shared a banana with us! This is the first time she hasn't just grabbed the entire item or gotten mad when we wouldn't give it to her. Instead she let me pull pieces of banana off and give them to her. I would eat some and Bill would eat some and she even offered some of what I gave her to Bill. So we think, definitely a breakthrough day.

This afternoon we did a walking tour of the city, we still have a bit more on the tour map we have. We went to the store and got fruit for the Children's Protection Day celebration which the orphanage is having tomorrow. Tomorrow will be our first time at the orphanage without out interpreter but I think we have it down pretty well, go in and hang out with Aidai =)

Elizabeth