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Show Daily Utah Chronicle Monday, March 7, 2005 Like The Chronicle is hiring page designers. See Brooke or Katie in Union 240. Dental Hygiene Careers UTAH COLLEGE OF DENTAL HYGIENE Earn up to $60,000 a year Call to enroll: 801-226-1081 uwv.UCDH.edu ORPHAN Fortunately, there was a community party at Loreto continued from page 4 that day. I was busy directing kids have a big brother. Al- a play and helping with odds most every child in the or- and ends. But then dinnertime phanage had been abandoned came, and it hit me-—this is my by his or her father. Many had last meal with my best friends, mothers, but because of social my angels, my life's greatest shook with desperation. Agony would be an understatement for the pain I felt in that moment. Jean Carlos started a domino effect in the children as each realized what was happening. In choked voices, we sang our Ryan Oliver Hansen's next venture is to move to Cameroon, Africa to work in an orphanage and participate in community outreach programs involving women's rights and AIDS education. To become involved, e-mail Ryan at Ryaninnev@aol.com. discrimination against women in Esmeraldas, mothers could no longer care for them. So a male role model—one who was not a beer-drinking, macho, multiple-girlfriend juggling sperm donor—was sorely needed. They'd never had a male volunteer stay as long as me. They'd never had a male volunteer who taught crazy dances all the time, painted fairy tale characters on every wall available, taught the kids yoga, and sang songs with the kids from morning till night. One time, while I was swinging on what we considered a swing set with some orphans, and as we belted out Disney songs, Sister Isabel, a Loreto nun, walked by and said, "Look, there's Loreto's biggest kid." It was true—I had become Loreto's biggest orphan. . Loreto became home to me. My American world of school stress, cars, fast food, big malls, nice clothes, dating, hot water and tabloid-magazine checkout lines seemed light years away. My every minute was spent doing what matters most—loving and serving. I had completely forgotten about the importance of being cool. Time flew, and like a stinging slap on the face, my last day at Loreto arrived. treasures. I served the usual rice and greasy meat "mixture" to each child for the last time, and as I passed around the food, I gave each of the 60 kids a kiss on the forehead and said, "I love you." The heaviness in my chest seemed to pull me toward the floor. Thus far, I had held it together...that is, until one orphan broke the silence. Jean Carlos, 9, ran to me, pleading, "Ryan, please don't go! Please don't go! Don't leave us!" and clinging to me. His voice favorite songs for the last time. We huddled together in a cluster of tear-soaked brown faces (one white). It was bedtime. I peeled myself from the kids, and thanked Sister Alexandra for allowing me the extra few minutes. Then I left. "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened." My time at Loreto with the orphans was a personal miracle—our bonds came straight from heaven. But more than the miracle of friendship that will live on in my heart and the hearts of the orphans is the miracle of Nadya, a 23-year-old woman I befriended in Ecuador. Nadya was suffering from an abusive relationship when she met me. Our friendship helped her discover her worth, and she started coming to the orphanage with me to play with the kids. I told her it would help her forget her problems. The nuns didn't like Nadya at first—claiming that she only wanted to hang out with an American and wasn't interested in the kids. But she proved them wrong, and to this day she goes to Loreto to be with the children. Thankfully, the nuns have grown to love her. Nadya is now the orphans' big sister, and she's not going anywhere anytime soon. I met Nadya only one month before I left, but I believe that Nadya is the true reason I felt called to go to Ecuador in the first place, and also the reason I stayed seven months instead of three. Nadya's last letter said, "Today I took some Loreto girls out to the park and we ate treats. We talked about you. These kids still love you, Ryan. They're not soon to forget you." Nadya, the beauty of all of this, to me, is that they won't forget you. rhansen@ chronicle.utah.edu OPENS THURSDAY SALT LAKETRIBUNE 57th ANNUAL SPRING HCME & GARDEN FESTIVAL MAR.! 0-13 SOUTH TOWNE EXPO CENTER 9575 S. STATE STREET CELEBRITY GUESTS ~ 750 EXHIBITS ROBERT VERDI* MICHAEL MOLONEY' TOM SILVA* "This Old House" "Surprise By Design" "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" 23 fully landscaped gardens with water features. Home Entertainment • Appliances/Furniture Windows & Doors • Repair & Remodeling Kitchens & Baths • Decorating/Gardening FM1OO MOO r /lilt ^ ..L.'.:.. /ll.'fc " Subject to change S SAVE 1 Regular adutt admission S8.00. Presentation of this coupon and $7.00 at the Show box office entitles the holder to one adult admission. Must lunender at gate. (Jot valid with any other offers, fhis coupon not for sale. Void if distributed at the South Towrce Expo Center. ADMISSION SHOW Adults S8.00 Senior Citizens....$7.00 Juniors (7 - 1 2 J..S6.00 Kids (6 & under) FREE Thursday HOURS 2 -10pm SPRING Friday Noon - 10pm Saturday ..11am - 10pm Sunday 11am - 6pm a GARDEN FESTIVAL March 10-13 - South Towne Expo Center- www.SaltLakeHomeShow.com " HcvME Unforgettable moments My bus ride the next morning through the jungle to Quito was surreal. I passed in and out of a dizzy state of confusion. That bewilderment lasts even today. I have not fully come to grips with the injustice of not being able to save those precious children. It comforts me that at least they have food and a safe place to sleep. I try to be positive. My mom always reminds me, \Famili; Retirees. Sine! Couplei S Earn great money S | Travel the ylobe g Overseas Free Seminar • 7:00 PM 1st & 3rd Mondays 1739 S.RedwoodRoalSLC 2nd & 4th Mondays 384 West Cenier, Provb 5-day International TESOL certification course l-888-TESOLUT(837-6588) www.globaltesolusa.com Are you interested In a career in The MASTER OF SCIENCE A N D TECHNOLOGY Program a t the University of Utah is offering a new science track in the field of biotechnology. We feature a unique interdisciplinary program. BUSINESS and MANAGEMENT training • Advanced graduate SCIENCE coursework • Work experience through an INTERNSHIP For more information, call 801-585-5630 or visit our website at www.uiah.edu/pmst THE U UNIVERSITY oi UTAH |