Written 10/01/2008
I have been in this country a total of seven months and in general I can’t say that it has felt a day over seven weeks. It’s unbelievable. However, don’t misinterpret that statement to have one simple meaning. On the one hand, it says that I have been quite busy (most of the time anyway). And on the other, it means that I am still settling in…which just might continue to be the situation throughout the entirety of my service. I continue to learn a host of new cultural aspects, government activities and policies, about social roles and expectations, etc. Not to mention, there exists a never-ending process of self-change and learning about myself.
There have been several occasions when I have thought about returning home permanently. To be completely honest, there are days when I put to questions the true impact of my efforts here. However, even if I question everything, even the reasons I came, I can’t find anything wrong with that. In fact, I know that the very reality that I can choose to go home anytime is what keeps me sane. Never has it been clearer in my life that everything stems from the roots of a decision. And although there may be circumstances which make me want something more than another option, I know I at least have the capacity to decide what I want.
Today I was able to get in touch with a volunteer friend of mine who shared with me that two volunteers recently “early terminated” their service. One of those volunteers arrived with my group to the country and was working in the IT sector. The other volunteer was six months away from the completion of her service and worked in the environmental sector. Both of these volunteers were strong, educated, hard-working young women that I had the pleasure of knowing briefly. I don’t blame them for their decision (I really can’t blame anyone who decides to leave) and instead I admire them for the months they dedicated to serving their country in one of the hardest jobs I think an American can ever undertake.
My stay in this country, however challenging at times, has thankfully gone by rather quickly. I have enjoyed some beautiful experiences such as falling in love and getting back in touch with true nature. And at this point in time I have passed that mark to where this country will forever represent something special and fragile in the overall collection of my life experiences.
As far as my work here, things have recently begun to gain significant headway. I have continued with the children’s English courses and will be concluding them in late November with a graduation ceremony. I formed an environmental youth group called Brigada Verde and we will hopefully be having our first community fundraiser in early November with the proceeds going towards a few learning activities and a camping trip. While working with this environmental youth group, I am planning to start a community gardens and composting project. I have acquired most of the needed seeds and am now simply soliciting funds for garden fencing which is unfortunately necessary due to the typical home being so accessible to chickens and turkeys. In addition, I have written a number of grant proposals with the hopes of getting a few projects off the ground that are more financially demanding. It is too soon to know whether my proposals will be funded but I am hopeful at this point. Soon I will begin a literacy course for adults in my community and would also like to plan an educational workshop/presentation over the environment for youth and adults.
Of course, everything I have mentioned I am hopeful that I can complete on the timeline I have set for myself. Nonetheless, I am flexible enough to understand that in my situation, timelines can mean very little; in a place where customs and familiarity rule over all else.
Until next time, miss you all,
Love Kimberly.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Making it DAY 2 DAY
Written 08/28/08
Hello everyone, greetings from the D.R. I apologize that I have not been writing consistently but my situation makes it difficult. Tomorrow I officially reach the six month mark in country and I find it unbelievable. Up to this point, time seems to have gone by so quickly and now is when I feel it slowing down. A lot has happened and I have experienced so much these past few months that I must assume that the more challenging moments of my service are still ahead. In fact, I honestly am just now starting to feel the weight of full-fledged culture shock. In the beginning, the intrigue of the challenge to adapt some how numbs you from perceiving the full impact of the changes you are experiencing. Instead, your consciousness is so preoccupied in excelling, “making it,” and “staying in the game” (not as though this really were a game) that you cannot fully realize the changes you have undergone.
That period is over for me.
Right now as I sit in my home all alone and write this blog entry to candlelight in my simple yellow notebook as it pours and thunders outside, I realize what I must grow comfortable with for the next 20 months in order to carry out my responsibilities in this country. I do not feel that I still have to adapt to the conditions of my surroundings because for the most part I already have. For example, if I am at home and there is electricity I am well aware that after 7pm I have to keep candles and matches readily available no matter what because the lights WILL go out sooner rather than later. I know that I have to pack up all food tightly or else ants, roaches (that are humongous by the way) and mice will invade (as has already occurred several times). In addition, I am aware that loud bangs on my roof that wake me up in the middle of the night are avocadoes and oranges falling from the trees in my yard. I can truly say that I have grown accustom to these aspects of my day-to-day living but unfortunately I not yet comfortable and that is something I have to work on because I know that if it continues to linger it can potentially jeopardize my experience here.
Anyway, as for my experiences, I have completed and presented my community diagnostic which means I know the projects which will make up the body of my work during my service. I have moved into my own small home within my community and although I love the privacy I also dread the solitude (which I recognize pretty much go hand in hand in my situation). In addition, I have fallen in love and am planning to get married before the end of my service. Not to forget, my invaluable companion, my six month old dog Vicki, is still my relentless supporter and follower as we walk and work in the streets (or rather dirt roads) of Rio Grande, Altamira.
During the next few months I plan to initiate a number of projects. Among them is an environmental youth group called Brigada Verde (“Green Brigade”), a literacy course for adults, a community gardens and organic compost project, and a community domino tournament to raise funds in order to carry out educational activities with the youth group. In November, I will be completing the 6 month cycle of my English courses as well as taking a pair of teenagers to a national environmental youth conference. The months ahead will be full of hard work and challenges and I am not invincible. I know that I am in for some serious ups & downs (especially mentally and emotionally) but I can only reassure myself that I am completely capable of doing this job and then hope that I never forget it.
I am beginning to see why the Peace Corps calls this work “the toughest job you’ll ever love.”
Love,
“Verenice” (what most of the people in my community call me since Kimberly is a very unfamiliar and strange name)
Hello everyone, greetings from the D.R. I apologize that I have not been writing consistently but my situation makes it difficult. Tomorrow I officially reach the six month mark in country and I find it unbelievable. Up to this point, time seems to have gone by so quickly and now is when I feel it slowing down. A lot has happened and I have experienced so much these past few months that I must assume that the more challenging moments of my service are still ahead. In fact, I honestly am just now starting to feel the weight of full-fledged culture shock. In the beginning, the intrigue of the challenge to adapt some how numbs you from perceiving the full impact of the changes you are experiencing. Instead, your consciousness is so preoccupied in excelling, “making it,” and “staying in the game” (not as though this really were a game) that you cannot fully realize the changes you have undergone.
That period is over for me.
Right now as I sit in my home all alone and write this blog entry to candlelight in my simple yellow notebook as it pours and thunders outside, I realize what I must grow comfortable with for the next 20 months in order to carry out my responsibilities in this country. I do not feel that I still have to adapt to the conditions of my surroundings because for the most part I already have. For example, if I am at home and there is electricity I am well aware that after 7pm I have to keep candles and matches readily available no matter what because the lights WILL go out sooner rather than later. I know that I have to pack up all food tightly or else ants, roaches (that are humongous by the way) and mice will invade (as has already occurred several times). In addition, I am aware that loud bangs on my roof that wake me up in the middle of the night are avocadoes and oranges falling from the trees in my yard. I can truly say that I have grown accustom to these aspects of my day-to-day living but unfortunately I not yet comfortable and that is something I have to work on because I know that if it continues to linger it can potentially jeopardize my experience here.
Anyway, as for my experiences, I have completed and presented my community diagnostic which means I know the projects which will make up the body of my work during my service. I have moved into my own small home within my community and although I love the privacy I also dread the solitude (which I recognize pretty much go hand in hand in my situation). In addition, I have fallen in love and am planning to get married before the end of my service. Not to forget, my invaluable companion, my six month old dog Vicki, is still my relentless supporter and follower as we walk and work in the streets (or rather dirt roads) of Rio Grande, Altamira.
During the next few months I plan to initiate a number of projects. Among them is an environmental youth group called Brigada Verde (“Green Brigade”), a literacy course for adults, a community gardens and organic compost project, and a community domino tournament to raise funds in order to carry out educational activities with the youth group. In November, I will be completing the 6 month cycle of my English courses as well as taking a pair of teenagers to a national environmental youth conference. The months ahead will be full of hard work and challenges and I am not invincible. I know that I am in for some serious ups & downs (especially mentally and emotionally) but I can only reassure myself that I am completely capable of doing this job and then hope that I never forget it.
I am beginning to see why the Peace Corps calls this work “the toughest job you’ll ever love.”
Love,
“Verenice” (what most of the people in my community call me since Kimberly is a very unfamiliar and strange name)
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