Take Care Kids

January, just like the last part of December, was very emotional. We celebrated Christmas with the sick children in the Banglamung Hospital (along with Danilo and Khun Noot) and then with the children who live and hang out at our shelter. We brought more than 35 gift packs at the hospital, and each pack contains a bear, a dark chocolate bar and a milk chocolate bar and some lollipops. Most of the bears and stuffed animals came from Italy. The only new thing (and to me this was a real big change) was that this year, Piero was the Santa Claus instead of myself.

All the children loved their presents and sometimes, when they got a little scared they tried to pull at Santas' beard. We had great laughs! Sunday the 25th we had our first Christmas at the Shelter. Our canteen was overbooked, and the restaurant next door offered three Thai dishes which were exceptionally good. I'd like to thank Khun Ae for this. All dishes were very much appreciated and everyone cleaned out their plates, then we all had Pandoro and Panettone. All the live-in mothers and their children were present and we also had some guests coming from the slums and the area around the shelter because many kids love to come to the shelter and feel safe at least a few hours a day even if they don't live in. Everyone got a present, and many of them didn't expect anything at all therefore were in awe as soon as they received the smallest gift. Their smiles are priceless when this happens. Our official guest star was of course Faa, our six months old girl who collected love and affection from everyone around. After Christmas, we took all the kids out for Children's day and went to the swimming pool. We had a blast, adrenaline and pure fun for everyone, especially for those who had never been there before. We packed our lunches (a great dish of rice made by our own cook Maria), and had the best time under the hot sun. At the end of the day tired as logs (at least I know I was) we went back to our Shelter. The following day we prepared to receive our volunteers coming from Spain and Italy. After Frida Lori, who spent one and a half months with us working really hard, our eldest volunteer, Marina, came to visit with Silvia Panato and Silvia de Stefano. One of these girls is our Secretary in Italy and the other one is one of our strongest supporters from Ibiza - Spain. Together we started a very strong emotional rollercoaster. We saw the Shelter, the Orphanage, the kids in the slums and touching our daily work with their own hands will give them an experience they'll remember forever. As a matter of fact, while I'm writing this Journal, our volunteers are playing with the kids on the Shelter's balcony. Before the girls leave, we will also go to the Zoo. It will be lots of fun but it will also be a chance to teach all the kids something new. Before their return to Italy and Spain we will also meet the Italian Ambassador in Thailand, Dr. Michelangelo Pipan, who gladly accepted to get to know our TCK Thailand Foundation Representatives. As I said in the beginning, thousands of emotions which I will write about in the next part of the Journal. Even though the crisis does not seem to be giving up, keep on following our day to day activities on Facebook and our official site.....a big hug to all of you!

TCK