September 18, 2007

I have lived here, in Calheta, for over 3 weeks and yes it is hard. I thought that I was fully prepared for the difficult task of integrating and being on my own. However, nothing anyone can tell you can truly prepare you for the reality of your life as a Peace Corps volunteer. I think that in the beginning it is hard because not only are the language skills low but also your job or jobs can be frustrating because you don´t fully know what you are supposed to be doing nor do your bosses know what to do with you. However, everyday it has been seemingly getting better. At first you feel completely alone because you know no one and no one knows you. Yet, the only way I have found to cope with that is to put yourself in uncomfortable positions. I mean the entire process is uncomfortable but one has to make it even moreso by getting in people´s way. Saying hello to everyone, introducing yourself to anyone you talk to (even if it is very briefly), eating lunch or dinner in another persons home, going to people´s houses to talk even if you don´t have the language (“txiga”-ing), and also attending every event possible. I have been here a very short time and I maybe know 10 people´s names but a lot of people know mine because I have told everyone I have met, and because everyone talks in town, other people I have never met know my name. I think getting out there and seeing the town and people is hard because I am relatively shy, however, in the last 11 weeks I feel my shyness slowly melting away. I do not think you can be judgmental, negative, or shy in this kind of work. I think a lot people find that out very quickly. You will not have fun, meet people, or grow as a person with any of those traits.
I have a few jobs in town. I work at the Camara (local Government). I do not do very much there but it does allow me to meet a lot of people and also puts me close to major people within the community (the President, the secretario, etc.). Through this job I also met a girl who works for Morabi, the organization that handles micro-credit for women.
I also work at the Centro di Juventude. Which is a great job because it puts me around a lot of the young people in the community. It is also the place I know I will do most of my work. I have already participated in programs about volunteering and will soon teach English classes there and help in a safe-sex informational. I know that there is not a lot I can do right now because I do not possess enough language to convey all that is necessary to be effective, but in the near future I will hopefully be a great resource for them and will help facilitate activities for the group.
I will also work at OASIS. Which is the national Women´s Association. I have not started really working with them because there is not much to do other than help with events, and because I have little language I can not really help with that quite yet. But I have introduced myself and I have let them know I am around.