This guest post is written by Erin Shanly. I had the privilege of meeting and becoming friends with her while we both volunteered in South Africa.

Terri and I met in Cape Town where we both signed on with Cross Cultural Solutions as volunteers. We had just finished one of our lengthy conversations about what had impacted us the most about the trip when she asked if I would consider writing a guest post about my placement. I jumped at the opportunity to share my incredible experience in South Africa.

I had the privilege of working in an orphanage with the most vibrant and loving children I have ever encountered. You may think that doesn’t mean much, but I have worked with children since it was legal for me to work.

I fell in love with all of these incredibly special children. They had lost their parents to AIDS, were HIV positive themselves and overall in poor health. They had ooze dripping out of their ears and strange growths on their faces, but none of that mattered.

They had beautiful hearts and they took care of each other like a family. If one child cried, the others flocked to that child to comfort him or her in any way they could. If it was a hug or a joke (that I didn’t understand) or a toy, these kids knew how to look out for each other. In all of my years of working with children, I have never seen anything like it.

These children who face nothing but challenges have somehow remained caring, sweet, funny, and open hearted. They give so much love and somehow demand your love in return.

They captured my heart the second day I was there. These kids, who laughed at me when I tried to speak their native Xhosa, taught me more than any college class, advice column or self help book ever could. They taught me how I want to live. They taught me to see the world with new eyes and a refreshed heart.

They taught me that even my worst days could never compare with the reality of their every day. I have a family that loves me. I have shoes that fit and keep my feet dry and warm. I have clothes without holes. I have my health.

I have so much and yet I still have the nerve to complain about the price of gas or a bad day at work. How is that fair? How can I do that when I have fallen in love with a group of children who are so much braver than I am and have so much less that I do.

These kids live. Really live. They love and laugh, dance and play. Even with their unsure futures looming ahead of them, they continue to find delight in the simple things.

Since I returned home, everyone I’ve talked to about my experiences with these children in South Africa has said, “Well they don’t know any different; this is how they grew up.”

And trust me, I know that. But, I know the difference. The difference between what I have and what they have. The difference between my childhood and theirs. The opportunities in my future and the uncertainty in theirs.

One day when I was crying about missing these beautiful children and the fact that I would probably never know what happens to them, someone told me that I would “get over it”. I felt like I had been slapped.

I never want to get over it. I want to hold these children and the life changing lessons they taught me in my heart forever. They taught me to love, laugh, be delighted by the little things and they also gave me a healthy dose of perspective. I will be forever grateful to these tiny people who taught me a giant lesson.

Erin Shanly lives in Boston MA. She currently works in the Family Protection Unit for the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office