A few frustrations

In preparing to come here, I read a few places about the processes people tend to go through when moving into a foreign culture – especially in relation to doing volunteer type work. I was never sure of how much truth they held… but now I am starting to notice one of the things mentioned in my own experiences. I had read of the ‘honeymoon period’ in which when you first arrive in a new culture/place/etc everything is exciting and new, so you tend to notice only the good parts of your experiences and overlook the things that might be more difficult/frustrating/troubling. Looking back, I can see that period… and now I can see that it has ended! I think I have reached what might be one of the harder points of my experience.

I am settled enough that the place is no longer new and most of the people I have at least a little knowledge of, but not settled enough to feel completely comfortable with my surroundings. I’ve started to notice a lot of trends in the way things work here, many of which are so different from anything I am used to, making day-to-day life at times a little troubling. For example, nothing here is planned until the very last minute or not at all. Something that usually I am pretty comfortable with, I enjoy types of spontaneity. But when it means that a meeting doesn’t have any sort of agenda and they people there don’t know much about why they are there, then the meeting just starts with no explanation and everyone is talking about completely unrelated things for a few hours, moving us backwards instead of forwards… it makes me feel as though nothing will every be accomplished sometimes.

Although I really do like a lot of the boys in my house, they can be little snots quite often as well. I know I mentioned the constant hitting and yelling. This week especially, it seems to have erupted to a whole new level. Kids are fighting to a point that one will get hurt, and from what I can see there isn’t always much consequence from the Tias. To make it worse, whenever they are allowed to watch TV and there is WWF style wrestling on, they are watching it. Some of them are as young as 5 years old, and to be allowed to watch such violent TV… its no wonder they are always fighting! I’m at a loss for what to do, as I don’t feel I am established enough to suggest to the Tias how to take care of their kids and most of the kids don’t listen to white people as a rule – so just laugh when I scold them.


As for my work, it is moving really really slowly. On a day to day basis, I keep myself busy but often it is with little things that don’t necessarily relate to the reasons I came here. Ingrid and I both understood that we were coming for a big reason to work in the garden and teach the kids about gardening, helping to set up a program in which they each have their own space. Well since we were hired, a couple from Spain has come and taken over the farm, doing exactly that with the kids. We’re now left with the little ones who they began working with but said they couldn’t handle because they were too badly behaved. I am very excited for our project with them! We will be teaching during school, partially in the classroom and partially in a new little garden we are just starting to prepare. We both have some great ideas as far as bringing other environmental issues into the class and hopefully it will go somewhat smoothly! We've had a meeting with the teachers we'll be working with and they were all very inviting of our ideas. I think that meeting has been one of the most hopeful experiences I've had as far as work is concerned since getting here!

I hate to sound like such a downer in a lot of this post, but I have definitely hit a point where I know it is going to be sort of rough going for the next month or more. From what all the volunteers who have been here for a while say, everyone goes through this for a while... and no one ever feels content or like they are actually accomplishing something until being here for a few months. Although that is a hard way to look at it, it gives me a lot of hope for the year!

Last of all, thanks so much to those of you who have been emailing and who have sent mail, although sometimes it takes me a bit to get back to you, know that I really appreciate it. As for everyone else, I would love to hear how things are going wherever you might be in life! Emails and letters are greatly appreciated :)