Things have been pretty crazy around here. I can't remember the last time I had a full week of school--new volunteers, committee meetings and a grant application have kept me busy over the last month, and it's not going to slow down anytime soon. I never knew I'd feel stressed out about being busy in Georgia, but here we are. I welcome the challenge!
So what's up, anyway?
The first thing is new volunteers. I'm helping with a few Pre-Service Training things and I've gotten to meet the 31 new volunteers. They all seem pretty positive, eager to be here and get into it. I'm excited to get to know them better and welcome them into the fold come July when they swear in as official PCV Georgians.
It's actually pretty weird to see them from where I stand now. If you recall, because our group was the first to come back since the "incident" of 2008, during our PST we didn't have current volunteers. So I feel kind of silly being one of the people who talks about "the way things are because I know things," but I realize sometimes that I...actually...do know some things? Because I've lived here almost 11 months? WHAT?!
I like hearing their perspectives on things because it reminds me a lot of what things were like for me at the beginning, and also brings to mind how comfortable I am in most ways now (this is a scary, scary revelation).
Anywaaaay, in other news, I finished writing a grant and turned it in today in order to start an Agrotourism conference at my school next fall. Here's hoping I didn't screw it up.
School is beginning to drag, much like I imagine it does EVERYWHERE during the month of May when everyone (teachers and students alike) decide that maybe it would be better if summer just got here already, OK?! It's been kind of frustrating for me dealing with this attitude from my counterpart and students, and makes me want to ask one of the dreaded PCV in-a-rut questions: What am I DOING here if you won't let me help you! No question mark.
But I do feel like I have a purpose here and I feel like I'm actually getting some things done, which is really exciting. This summer we're going to put on a girls' fitness camp that unfortunately was interrupted during the summer of 2008. It won't be anything flashy or showy probably, but it will do a lot of good for the girls in the village communities, and it will lead to bigger and better opportunities next year, when we have more manpower and more time to plan.
What else...
Played a game of Ultimate Frisbee in a park this past weekend and some young Georgian boys no one knew wanted to play too. They caught on RIDICULOUSLY fast (they don't have frisbees in Georgia), and then AMAZED me with how good they were. On an unrelated note, I am pathetically out of shape. Seriously I am a disgrace.
More to the point, it's amazing how some things we can plan and slave and sweat over for months to do something good for our communities, and in the course of 2 hours, an impromptu frisbee game that benefits the community in a pretty great way can happen almost effortlessly. Peace Corps. I love it. I really, really do.
That's all I've got for now. Sorry it took so long for the update. And sorry this is kind of dry. Next time, friends!
Lauren
The most interesting thing I've learned about Georgia-- that they don't have frisbees. What country doesn't have frisbees? It's a strange world.
ReplyDeleteIt's really amazing to think that you've been there for 11 months. I, like so many other people, am quite proud of you for doing this!
Lauren! Sounds like you're doing great! Can't believe you're almost half way through it! Are you teaching at all over the summer or just the Fitness Camp stuff? Hope all is well! miss you!
ReplyDelete