The morning of our first session with our counterparts got off to a bad start. Most of the counterparts, mine included did not show up. Pretty disrespectful. Your organization has a free volunteer for 2 years and you can't show up to a 3 hour session that ensures everything is working out properly between the two of you? That's rubbish. We're busting our butts for two years here, put in the effort to get yourself to town to work with us. Now, one of my counterparts eventually showed up, but some of the other volunteers weren't so lucky. I hope those volunteers gave their counterparts the stank eye for the next week.
Anywho, the first part of the session was to go over successes and challenges while working with each other. It was really helpful to hear the counterparts side of the story, especially when they shared their "successes". Often times we get stressed or depressed as volunteers because we feel like we aren't accomplishing anything. Usually this is due to a glorified idea of the Peace Corps; saving children left and right, curing AIDS, rebuilding economies etc.. When, in reality, we are winning smaller battles; caring for a child, teaching someone to read or write, putting a smile on a sad face. So, it was nice to see that we are making a difference even on days when we feel useless.
I was excited for the second half of the counterpart session because it focused on developing a work plan at our sites. YESSS, finally some direction and responsibility!. Psyche. Me and my counterpart could not hash anything out during this session because he had no idea what my head counterpart, our boss, wanted me to do at NaDMA and he said anything we talked about now would have to be checked by him anyways. Pushing for some direction was futile at this point. The only thing we agreed upon was that the project plan I have been working on was way to big for me to do alone, he didn't even know I was working on it. I'm glad my counterparts communicate so much about my work here... After this disappointing day for IST I walked through town to the bank to deposit some birthday money from home. The line was wicked long and there was some German lady talking extremely loud on her phone, GAH! White people don't realize the setbacks they put us volunteers through when they make themselves stand out like that, it usually puts us back at square one when trying to integrate into new places. Seriously, learn about the culture and social norms before you go travel somewhere outside the US, damn. I don't know where they are coming from, but there has been an influx of white people in town. Maybe they are here for Carnival, who cares, what I care about is the fact that they walk around looking like tourists. I sit in the back of a bus and constantly shake my head in disapproval when I see a few of them walking around in shorts, flip flops, bathing suits, giant bags, fancy cameras, the list goes on. Go ahead and do yourself a favor, don't wear shorts outside the US, they really aren't appropriate anywhere else and besides, shorts look way tacky. I digress.
When I reached home after the bank I was ready to get a workout and a run in, but my kids came over. Story of my life. Whenever I want to workout, eat a meal, relax by myself, here they come. They don't understand privacy either. If I tell them I have work to do or I want to eat alone they just say okay and look at me. I swapped my workout to go play 2v2 football with the kids on the fort, so all was not entirely lost. The kids also said I could have one of the new puppies which is awesome.
Moral of this story, show some respect. Whether it's professionally or recreational understand that your actions are affecting other people indirectly.
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