a piece from Quyen
Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 09:38AM 
This brought tears to my eyes when I read it in my inbox this morning. Thank you to our beautiful volunteer Quyen for all of her love and support.
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Nepal is very much a country of paradoxes. There is the breathless skyline of the mighty Himalayas to contrast being breathless in the grossly polluted air of Kathmandu. There are the rich, snow covered mountains against the backdrop of the intensely dry and dusty landlocked valleys. There exists extreme poverty, immense sadness and untold hardships of the Nepali people that contrast greatly against the oasis of happiness and hope that is Kopila Valley. It is, perhaps, the greatest and most wonderful of all the contradictions.
It is here that you will laugh with your belly, smile with your entire face and love with your whole being. Every day, songs of children’s sweet laughter fill the air. Like the big, brilliant sun that shines down onto Surkhet, the amazing souls at Kopila Valley lighten up your days. Falling in love with them is so easy and so natural, that it is inevitable.
Like so many before me, I did not expect this magnitude of emotion. From the moment I arrived, I could see the eager eyes of the remarkable children and the delightful staff, trying to size me up and figure me out. I wasn’t absolutely certain how to act or react to everyone. So for the first few days, I quietly observed and took in everything, not saying much. I can be a bit of an introvert and hold back quite a bit of myself, especially when so many "big people" are around. But the children, they get me and they saw right through me. They even called me out and asked why I was so different (so quiet) whenever the other big people were around. I shouldn’t be so reserved, they tell me. I need to share myself and be myself all the time. They were teaching me! Their enthusiasm for everything from reading to singing to drawing to dancing filled my heart with so much joy. I feel compelled to point out that I have spent a lot of time with children, but these children are extra-special and incredibly insightful. They are a wonderful kind of different, a complete delight.
Every night after Satsung, my favorite part of the day, we say good night to the children. Goodnights always include a hug, a kiss and a sincere I love you. One of my best memories came about a week after I arrived. After we had said good night to all of the children and I was walking past the little kids’ room, headed upstairs, and I heard little Santosh calling my name and tapping on the window, “QUYEN-DIDI, QUYEN-DIDI!!!” I turned and saw him with his face pressed up against the window. He smiled the biggest smile a four year old can possibly smile and gave me a big kiss through the window and wouldn’t stop until I kissed him back. It was then that I knew that I had fallen in love. And so this started our little routine every night. The thing is, I have a similar moment with virtually every single child: the moment I knew I fell in love with them. Whether it was sweet Deepak’s adoring affection, mischievous Maya’s unexpected sweetness or Narender’s gentle thoughtfulness, I knew how lucky I was to have been embraced by the Kopila Valley family and to be included as part of the family.
Unlike most of the children and people we know, these children appreciate what they have and what they have been given, including their volunteers. The fervor in which they embrace each day and the hope that they have for themselves and in their future are all testaments to the incredible strength of this family and to Mama Maggie. I have spent so much time in other orphanages, community centers, children’s homes and I have never encountered so much hope and so much love.
I find myself thinking of them, of their little quirks, their distinct personalities, their sweetness and the all of incredible futures that lie ahead. I miss them and hope I will get to return and see them again. They are forever a part of me.
Volunteering at Kopila Valley is not about the wonderful children, the enchanting staff nor is it about incredible Maggie. It’s about you. You will grow so much, learn so much about yourself, and appreciate life and all its wonders so much more as a result of your time with these amazing souls and all of the hopes, dreams and positive energy that they all possess. Being a part of the Kopila Valley family will touch your heart and change you for the better, forever.
Reader Comments (8)
Ah. lovely.
wowowowowowow! SO well illustrated! Great work Quyen & thank you for sharing Maggie! I am SO sharing this on my Facebook! :-D
:)
-Sean
it touched my heart - like everything else about maggie - her kids alway do -
Sean thanks for posting it in your fb acct - now i'm all teary eyed - - Maggie you are my HERO - and I wish you and your kids Life full of Smiles - laughter - Joy
God Bless you and your beautiful Children -
Sagar/VA (stole that from you Sean)
THis was so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing. It's an incredibly special place and I miss them every day
Yes, I'm sure the volunteers do gain from their experience, but the only time the children feel truly secure and relaxed is when Maggie Doyne is in situ.
This is so powerful! Everything you amazing folks are doing at Kopila Valley is an inspiration. Truly. It brings me to tears. The world is lucky to have people like you.
Love this!
P.s. Look at Madan in this picture. Just sayin. hahaha
look at santosh's eminem shirt... just sayin.