Friday, March 12, 2010

Whitney's Story... Last Couple of Days!

Thursday was our last full day of volunteering at Dora Reed. It was definitely a bittersweet day. One little boy absolutely stole my heart after he climbed up onto my lap while on the playground and just sat there for a long time. He didn't want to talk or to run around... he just wanted to sit with me. Another boy woke up after nap time and asked if he could get up into the rocking chair with me. He gave me a huge hug and said, "I love you!" I enjoy being around children because they have this unconditional love for people and such an innocence about them. A child's heart is so rare in our world that is full of hurt and we as adults can learn so much from them.

After leaving Dora Reed we went on an adventure to find supplies to make Dr. Bryant a Thank- you card. Our car ended up driving to Sylva, which was the absloute opposite direction of where we needed to go. Oh well, we had fun! The whole gang had dinner together which translated to a very entertaining night. :)

On Friday we went to say goodbye to all of the children and teachers. We also drove around Cherokee and took pictures with the 20 or so painted bears. Each bear has a different painting that represents a part of the Cherokee culture. My favorite bear is the "Patriotic bear" that is painted in red, white, and blue and supports the men and women who serve our country. It was a very neat testament to the military.

This past week has been absolutely amazing! I learned so much about the Cherokee culture through exploring the town and working with the children at the childcare center. It was great to get to know my peers and Dr. Bryant better. We had a great group and had a wonderful time. I would encourage everyone to go next year if they have the opportunity! :)

Thanks Dr. Bryant!

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