Day 2 and 3 were tough days for us. Maggie Sonia is grieving for her care-takers and we are struggling with the ethics of taking her away from all the people that loved her so much.
None of the books really prepares you for these challenges. One of the biggest hurdles for us is that we don't speak or understand Oriya -- but we have a english-oriya dictionary which helps just a bit.
So the 1st and 2nd day was spent walking the hallways of the hotel at some ungodly hours to keep Maggie Sonia from crying -- lugging 20 lbs isn't good for the back and 2 days without sleep sucks. Unfortunately she will only go to Mary so I can't help -- there will be a day soon when she'll come to me. Mary hasn't slept for two days....
Helpful hints for those following us to SMSS:
The staff and care takers genuinely love the children, and with limited resources are doing their best in raising 60 girls. Dr. Smurti Mohanty is in charge of the international adoption and is a good resource for questions on the process and status of the kids (she can be contacted via email).
The orphanage is about 20 minutes from the Trident hotel outside the city limits of Bhubaneswar.
When you arrive at SMSS -- the kids will just come to you and want to be held. Its quite chaotic --initially you will not get any one on one time with the child. Our first day we spent more time talking to Mr.Mohanty (the director of SMSS) than being with Maggie.
On the first day, it will be mentioned that a going away lunch is expected and hosting it will be 10000 rupees (that was a cost we didn't expect but were glad to be part of it --but with typical Indian-English translation we had to hold the lunch not on the day Maggie left but two days later). Mary and Maggie stayed at the hotel for this lunch because it would be very traumatic for her to go back.
Dr. Smurti Mohanty is the only one that speaks English but its difficult to understand her completely. There's a lot of the "Indian waggle" going on during the conversations -- you have to visit India to get what it is! :+)
Bring bug spray -- the mosquitoes are big and fierce.
If you are planning to give any in-kind donations to the orphanage : here's what we observed. The school age kids loved the multi-subject activity work books. Pencils, erasures, writing books and books for little kids are needed. During play time they could really use more soft balls to play catch, jumping ropes -- but the space is very confined so we think even board games would be fun especially for
the older kids. The major construction addition that is in progress but halted due to lack of funds needs
approximately 17 lakhs rupees. (Our catholic church in Starkville Mississippi raised over $4500 the week before we left for SMSS which we will send to them after we return home).
Gift in kind is suggested for all the caretakers (there are 15). It was also suggested we give Maggie's two caretakers 500 rupees. Mary made a gift bag of lipstick,nail polish, shampoo and hand cream but we only had enough for 9. It was well received by all.
And most of all, be prepared to want to take more than one child home with you -- emotionally that is the toughest.
Washing hands before lunch
Helpful hints for those following us to SMSS:
The staff and care takers genuinely love the children, and with limited resources are doing their best in raising 60 girls. Dr. Smurti Mohanty is in charge of the international adoption and is a good resource for questions on the process and status of the kids (she can be contacted via email).
The orphanage is about 20 minutes from the Trident hotel outside the city limits of Bhubaneswar.
When you arrive at SMSS -- the kids will just come to you and want to be held. Its quite chaotic --initially you will not get any one on one time with the child. Our first day we spent more time talking to Mr.Mohanty (the director of SMSS) than being with Maggie.
On the first day, it will be mentioned that a going away lunch is expected and hosting it will be 10000 rupees (that was a cost we didn't expect but were glad to be part of it --but with typical Indian-English translation we had to hold the lunch not on the day Maggie left but two days later). Mary and Maggie stayed at the hotel for this lunch because it would be very traumatic for her to go back.
Dr. Smurti Mohanty is the only one that speaks English but its difficult to understand her completely. There's a lot of the "Indian waggle" going on during the conversations -- you have to visit India to get what it is! :+)
Bring bug spray -- the mosquitoes are big and fierce.
If you are planning to give any in-kind donations to the orphanage : here's what we observed. The school age kids loved the multi-subject activity work books. Pencils, erasures, writing books and books for little kids are needed. During play time they could really use more soft balls to play catch, jumping ropes -- but the space is very confined so we think even board games would be fun especially for
the older kids. The major construction addition that is in progress but halted due to lack of funds needs
approximately 17 lakhs rupees. (Our catholic church in Starkville Mississippi raised over $4500 the week before we left for SMSS which we will send to them after we return home).
Gift in kind is suggested for all the caretakers (there are 15). It was also suggested we give Maggie's two caretakers 500 rupees. Mary made a gift bag of lipstick,nail polish, shampoo and hand cream but we only had enough for 9. It was well received by all.
And most of all, be prepared to want to take more than one child home with you -- emotionally that is the toughest.
Lunch in honor of Maggie Sonia at SMSS started with playtime.
Lunch was mutton with potatoes (it was more fat than meat and there was only one piece of meat on each plate but everyone got seconds), cauliflower, eggplant, salad and rice.
Washing hands before lunch
