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.
3 comments:
Long! But good. I'm excited for you man.
2 weeks TWOday.
Hey, so I heard this thing about traveling... advice really...
Make lists about what you expect to find in the country. For example, how the people dress, how they speak, what they do, the weather, religion, food, recreational activities, schools, roads, etc. etc. etc.
So, when you come back you can read over them, see how different it really was, and keep in mind that people who have never been might think along those lines.
I thought it was a cool idea. But who knows!
so glad you're still enjoying the bike! I'm really excited for your adventures, xo!
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