This has not been the first time that I have prepared to alter my daily routines and way of living for a trip. This has been the first time that I have decided to prepare for more change in alterations in my life philosophy and also see change in another culture.
This will sound cheesy: as long as two people change, someone from El Salvador and myself, then I will be satisfied with my service.
I enter with so much joy and desire to help, learn Spanish, and have great moments of conversation over tea and coffee. I also know the hardships, the burden, the motivation or lack of motivation I will receive from others. So much will change from now until 2011, but I hope to help one person, maybe two. If I could help two salvadoran people I would be so happy. Help two and ask them to help me help two others, and so on. How much different could it be after I leave? How much of a difference can I make after I am gone for 2 years? I want to help someone, but not for the short term. I want to change things for the better, for the long term.
I am changing the world.
And so are you.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Your Hand In Mine
Sold my car!
Now I can enjoy the rest of the month riding my beautiful Schwinn that I got from Katie Mac, or borrow my mom's van.
The other day I was running and I got to thinking about my expectations for the Peace Corps and what exactly it is that I want to learn and leave with after my 2 years of service. I came up with...
- Patience
- Creativity
- Work
- Honor
- Spanish
I consider myself a patient person. I honk and yell whenever I drive, but I make it a point to never do it whenever I am angry. And I think honking is just fun. Although it is hot in Lubbock, TX I am already aware of how hot it will be in El Salvador; add in the work of learning a language, a new culture, and of course new food and it can get a little frustrating. I want to learn how to deal with all things new with the patience that I believe that I have and leave with a greater understanding of living it out.
Writing papers, making up skits in classes, and the projects that I am used to from school will be nothing like the type of creativity I will need to have every single day. Not only do I want to learn how to work with others and create projects to help people, but I cannot wait to see ,through volunteers that I meet and the people I live with, what sort of ideas they have and what they desire to see.
I have never been so ambitious to truly understand what work means until now. It is sort of funny because here it seems like work is making money which would mean vacation is relaxing from work, or from making money, and not doing anything. I am very optimistic to know that work is much more than making money, and much harder there in El Salvador than anything I could ever imagine here in the USA.
Along with work I want to know more about honor. I am very excited to see what that particular word means in another country and culture.
Lastly I am very excited about learning Spanish in El Salvador. Although I majored in Spanish and have gotten to learn it in Spain and have had many semesters with great professors chatting over tea or coffee, I cannot wait to learn Spanish in El Salvador. Just the idea of learning their accent, the way they use or don't use their hands to speak, and all the things that make it theirs is fantastic to me. I hope to actually use it in some form or fashion after my service.
Most importantly I want to help people. I want to find out what they need help with, and help them. I want to help the people of El Salvador.
Less than a month away. I will give you an address so you can send letters.
Now I can enjoy the rest of the month riding my beautiful Schwinn that I got from Katie Mac, or borrow my mom's van.
The other day I was running and I got to thinking about my expectations for the Peace Corps and what exactly it is that I want to learn and leave with after my 2 years of service. I came up with...
- Patience
- Creativity
- Work
- Honor
- Spanish
I consider myself a patient person. I honk and yell whenever I drive, but I make it a point to never do it whenever I am angry. And I think honking is just fun. Although it is hot in Lubbock, TX I am already aware of how hot it will be in El Salvador; add in the work of learning a language, a new culture, and of course new food and it can get a little frustrating. I want to learn how to deal with all things new with the patience that I believe that I have and leave with a greater understanding of living it out.
Writing papers, making up skits in classes, and the projects that I am used to from school will be nothing like the type of creativity I will need to have every single day. Not only do I want to learn how to work with others and create projects to help people, but I cannot wait to see ,through volunteers that I meet and the people I live with, what sort of ideas they have and what they desire to see.
I have never been so ambitious to truly understand what work means until now. It is sort of funny because here it seems like work is making money which would mean vacation is relaxing from work, or from making money, and not doing anything. I am very optimistic to know that work is much more than making money, and much harder there in El Salvador than anything I could ever imagine here in the USA.
Along with work I want to know more about honor. I am very excited to see what that particular word means in another country and culture.
Lastly I am very excited about learning Spanish in El Salvador. Although I majored in Spanish and have gotten to learn it in Spain and have had many semesters with great professors chatting over tea or coffee, I cannot wait to learn Spanish in El Salvador. Just the idea of learning their accent, the way they use or don't use their hands to speak, and all the things that make it theirs is fantastic to me. I hope to actually use it in some form or fashion after my service.
Most importantly I want to help people. I want to find out what they need help with, and help them. I want to help the people of El Salvador.
Less than a month away. I will give you an address so you can send letters.
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