EGBOK

Today I came to lunch a little bit late because I was teaching one kid music upstairs, and then I wanted to stay and play after they left, and ended up staying fifteen minutes past lunch started. By the time I got downstairs to eat, Mike was pretty much almost done, although he did talk a little bit about The Wire, which he started watching recently and has gotten really into. But he ate much much faster than usual because one of our students, a boy in maybe 9th or 10th grade, is leaving our orphanage to go to another branch of the organization. Basically, he decided that he doesn't want to go to high school and college, so instead he's going to a kind of brother-org of ours called EGBOK that teaches kids English and hospitality professions and helps them find jobs in hotels, restaurants, etc. Mike had to take him to the spot he was being picked up, and needed to leave at about 11:30.

I finished eating maybe five minutes after I sat down, and without Mike to talk to, there wasn't much reason to stay. So I gave my extra food and rice to the kids at the tables near me - I still can never eat everything I'm given here - and then went over to the sink to wash my spoon. While I was, I noticed a few kids standing near the kitchen door, and usually I just look and smile and say hello when I see people, so I turned my head to do that, but then saw that one of the girls was crying very obviously, and so was her best friend standing right near her. I had no idea what it was about. I wondered if it was because one of them did very well on a math test last night and the other one night quite as well, but I then I decided that was probably not it, and wondered if I could ask someone what was wrong.

Before going back to my room to put my spoon and water bottle away, I walked over to the boys' side of the orphanage, which is near the gate. I noticed that older boy who's leaving standing on the steps ready to leave with his bags, and he gave me a hug and said goodbye. I asked if he was excited, and he didn't answer. I asked again, he said, "Yes, very excited." I asked if he was sad, and he said, "Yes. But I am a boy." So you can't cry? "No."

He got on the back of Mike's moto, and I could smell the gasoline burning inside the engine. They put the bags on, too. I noticed the girl and her best friend in the background, watching, faces red. They didn't want to be seen anymore once Mike began to drive, and disappeared out of sight.

Peace out.