Reading week is among university students all across Canada and many of them, oddly enough, don't read. If you talk to my friends, they plan on going home, relaxing, are travelling or, in my case, road tripping down to Mississippi to volunteer with Mennonite Disaster Service.
At our first meeting as travelling group, students of Conrad Grebel University College went around and shared reasons for why they wanted to go on this trip. Answers ranged from having heard about a successful and fun trip two years ago, to glorify God or to really just having nothing else to do. I am fortunate enough to have taken part in the previous trip to Diamond, Louisiana and decided to go on the trip to Mississippi as well. But why did I choose to come? Ultimately, my reasoning was to have a good time and to connect with other Grebelites. Having taken part in the trip two years ago, I was mentally prepared for the trip down and I had thought it would be very much the same -- I was not expecting to learn much.
Since the start of our two and a half day trip this past Friday, February 18th, I had been struck by the capacity for human compassion and the power of gratitude.
Being in a car with the same people for 12 hours a day is not easy. It forces you to get along with one another. You start to notice the little quirks of one another and sometimes, you need your own space. Schedules are mixed up and you must eat on the schedule of the group: you lose autonomy of your life. Yet despite all these minor setbacks, there is a bit of magic in all of this. You really get to know your peers beyond the superficial. You learn a bit about yourself and how you react under stress and to an extent you learn about how others change in situations of stress. However, what is most touching for me is that 43 different individuals chose to spend their reading week to serve others. They chose not to go to a resort but instead they chose to spend their time to help rebuild a stranger’s home.
Two events stand out in my mind thus far. First is our attendance of a local church in New Orleans, Louisiana. As a group of close to 40 individuals, the church could have easily denied us entry into the church. However, they welcomed with open arms, introduced us and wanted to hear our stories. In fact, one woman gave all of us candy! The energy from the congregation was uplifting and its members went out of their way to shake our hands and greet us. Although we did not know these individuals, their capacity to welcome us into their community showed me first-hand how I want to life my life. The simple act of greeting others openly and lovingly is so powerful. To recognize and appreciate others is a gift, and although it is sometimes difficult to do, ought to be lived out more frequently.
Secondly, as I wrap up my first day here at Pass Christian, Mississippi, I appreciate more the power of compassion and its effects. I will only be here for 5 days but there are long-term volunteers that have served for months at a time over the last 4-5 years. Their desire to serve without compensation is remarkable. Throughout my day of scraping and painting, the future homeowner of the house passed by to greet us not once but three times. Each time, he greeted us with gratitude for the work that we are doing. He came to chat with us and told us the story of how he lost his past two houses since Katrina. But despite all the tragedy in his life, I could see the hope in his eyes. His thankful attitude towards all the volunteers truly reminded me of the impact little actions can have.
Often, when we think about “doing good”, we think about saving the world and changing it. This experience has really brought me back down to earth and reminded me that it is not necessarily the “big” actions that matter. Simple everyday interactions can have a lasting effect on the attitudes of others. The painting of a house is simple labour yet it serves as the backdrop for someone’s home. It is important, then, to not forget about the small things in life and to live out a life of positivity every day.
To be honest, I was hesitant about the work I would be doing in the Dominican Republic this summer. The Esperanza Project is a noble cause yet I kept thinking of it as summer camp. To me, its work could be done almost everywhere and to have two others with me at the placement seemed to make the placement even less special. However, the last three days has reminded me that it is not the big things in life that make the most impact. This lesson, for me, is important to me and encourages me to own my experience in the Dominican and change lives through inspiration. I, now, absolutely cannot wait to meet the children, the volunteers and my host family in the Dominican!
Check back soon for pictures from my trip to Pass Christian, Mississippi!
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Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Living Acceptingly
As a part of the current Beyond Borders group fundraising initiative, we have been asking for donations from the St. Jerome's church community at their weekend mass services. Our fundraiser involves giving donors appreciation cards that we have made as a small token of our gratitude. The cards, with themes ranging from the philosophical to a birthday wish, can be given to loved ones while it spreads the word about the Beyond Borders mission. Natalia and I ended up going to mass last night, intending to make an announcement at the end of mass and 'selling' our cards.
Again, life shows us that it is funny and that we can not expect what we expect. In fact, we should expect the unexpected. What Natalia and I ended up doing was reading all 8 announcements and bringing up the gifts for communion. I was nervous and uncomfortable but I was fine with it, I am trying to make this term about experiencing new things. I have heard previously, though, that other students forgot to bow before bringing the gifts to the alter, simply because they did not know they had to do that. I had a similar experience. I ended up bringing the basket of offering behind Natalia and the regular mass-goer as I was told. However, as it came time to hand off the offering basket, I was somewhat confused: I was told to put the basket on the floor in front of the alter. Firstly, I was surprised it was to be put on the floor and secondly, I was shocked because I didn't know what to do when I got up there: the priest was standing where I was supposed to put the basket! I finally ended up handing the basket to the priest and upon my return to the back of the room, I noticed the regular mass-goer bowing before walking back. So, I quickly turned back around, did a quick bow, and proceeded to turn around again to leave. My delayed and sporadic actions were awkward but I did not want to seem disrespectful. Since then, I have replayed the event in my head and the impact of different customs and cultures.
As I move forward towards looking at travelling to the Dominican Republic this May, I recognize the sense of pride and joy a cultural custom may bring. From the Olympic Anniversary Special on CTV that I am watching to Nicole and Brilé's posts about volun-tourism, I see how a collective experience can hold a community together yet my presence in a different culture may be threatening and detrimental to its existence. How can I integrate myself into the Dominican Republic culture without harming what is already existing? Can I be respectful and follow customs and not impose my own values? I really hope so.
I will be living with a host family in the DR. My lifestyle will change drastically and I will have to live by the rules of the family. According to a Kwintessential, an online website outlining different country's culture and customs, these are a few things I should keep in mind:
1. Loyalty to the family unit is the most important social relationship; even above business endeavours. Additionally, family (including the extended family) often live close together. Often, family members of different generations live in the same house.
2. The people of the Dominican Republic pride themselves on hospitality and will go out of their way to make sure their guests are comfortable.
3. It is customary to maintain eye contact upon giving a hand shake. Eye contact is important as it indicates interest.
4. Upon visiting guests for dinner, it is appropriate to bring gifts of chocolate or pastries. Gifts that are black or purple are avoided as they are avoided as the colour of mourning. Additionally, gifts are opened when they are received.
5. Punctuality is a good thing but in the DR, arriving 15 to 30 minutes late for a social gathering is considered on time.
6. There is generally a saying, "Bueno provecho" ("enjoy" or "have a good meal") to invite everyone to start eating. (Kwintessential, n.d.)
These are only a few of the customs and rules of etiquette regarding to the Dominican Republic yet they will be challenging to adapt to. I think for me, the greatest challenge will be to be "punctual" and have everyone else be late. I hate showing up late and sometimes even get stressed if I am going to be 1-2 minutes late. Also, another key point for me to note is that the those receiving me will pride themselves on their hospitality yet this is not what I want. In contrast to eco-tourism and only seeing the good/easy side of life in the DR, I want to see the dirt and grit and what makes life happen. I truly hope I can be worked into the culture and become "one of them" while being mindful of being unique and individual. Mass this past week has showed me that I need to ask the vital questions to solidify my understand of the processes that are to ensue. Yet although I was not fully aware of my mistakes at mass, the priest was comforting and encouraging with my actions. I only hope that this will be the same in the Dominican Republic as I try to become an advocate for their lifestyle, hopefully by living acceptingly and openly to their culture and customs.
My goal is to live more like the family in the picture above and not take the easy road and enjoy the simplicity of volun-tourism.
Sources:
Kwintessential. (n.d.) Dominican Republic - Language, Culture , Customs and Etiquette. Retrieved on February 13 from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/dominican-republic-country-profile.html
Photos:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/dominicano+republico+familia+/La_Familia_Wilson/100_1421.jpg
http://www.esperanzaproject.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/banner_volunteer.jpg
Again, life shows us that it is funny and that we can not expect what we expect. In fact, we should expect the unexpected. What Natalia and I ended up doing was reading all 8 announcements and bringing up the gifts for communion. I was nervous and uncomfortable but I was fine with it, I am trying to make this term about experiencing new things. I have heard previously, though, that other students forgot to bow before bringing the gifts to the alter, simply because they did not know they had to do that. I had a similar experience. I ended up bringing the basket of offering behind Natalia and the regular mass-goer as I was told. However, as it came time to hand off the offering basket, I was somewhat confused: I was told to put the basket on the floor in front of the alter. Firstly, I was surprised it was to be put on the floor and secondly, I was shocked because I didn't know what to do when I got up there: the priest was standing where I was supposed to put the basket! I finally ended up handing the basket to the priest and upon my return to the back of the room, I noticed the regular mass-goer bowing before walking back. So, I quickly turned back around, did a quick bow, and proceeded to turn around again to leave. My delayed and sporadic actions were awkward but I did not want to seem disrespectful. Since then, I have replayed the event in my head and the impact of different customs and cultures.
As I move forward towards looking at travelling to the Dominican Republic this May, I recognize the sense of pride and joy a cultural custom may bring. From the Olympic Anniversary Special on CTV that I am watching to Nicole and Brilé's posts about volun-tourism, I see how a collective experience can hold a community together yet my presence in a different culture may be threatening and detrimental to its existence. How can I integrate myself into the Dominican Republic culture without harming what is already existing? Can I be respectful and follow customs and not impose my own values? I really hope so.
I will be living with a host family in the DR. My lifestyle will change drastically and I will have to live by the rules of the family. According to a Kwintessential, an online website outlining different country's culture and customs, these are a few things I should keep in mind:
1. Loyalty to the family unit is the most important social relationship; even above business endeavours. Additionally, family (including the extended family) often live close together. Often, family members of different generations live in the same house.
2. The people of the Dominican Republic pride themselves on hospitality and will go out of their way to make sure their guests are comfortable.
3. It is customary to maintain eye contact upon giving a hand shake. Eye contact is important as it indicates interest.
4. Upon visiting guests for dinner, it is appropriate to bring gifts of chocolate or pastries. Gifts that are black or purple are avoided as they are avoided as the colour of mourning. Additionally, gifts are opened when they are received.
5. Punctuality is a good thing but in the DR, arriving 15 to 30 minutes late for a social gathering is considered on time.
6. There is generally a saying, "Bueno provecho" ("enjoy" or "have a good meal") to invite everyone to start eating. (Kwintessential, n.d.)
These are only a few of the customs and rules of etiquette regarding to the Dominican Republic yet they will be challenging to adapt to. I think for me, the greatest challenge will be to be "punctual" and have everyone else be late. I hate showing up late and sometimes even get stressed if I am going to be 1-2 minutes late. Also, another key point for me to note is that the those receiving me will pride themselves on their hospitality yet this is not what I want. In contrast to eco-tourism and only seeing the good/easy side of life in the DR, I want to see the dirt and grit and what makes life happen. I truly hope I can be worked into the culture and become "one of them" while being mindful of being unique and individual. Mass this past week has showed me that I need to ask the vital questions to solidify my understand of the processes that are to ensue. Yet although I was not fully aware of my mistakes at mass, the priest was comforting and encouraging with my actions. I only hope that this will be the same in the Dominican Republic as I try to become an advocate for their lifestyle, hopefully by living acceptingly and openly to their culture and customs.
My goal is to live more like the family in the picture above and not take the easy road and enjoy the simplicity of volun-tourism.
Sources:
Kwintessential. (n.d.) Dominican Republic - Language, Culture , Customs and Etiquette. Retrieved on February 13 from http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/dominican-republic-country-profile.html
Photos:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/dominicano+republico+familia+/La_Familia_Wilson/100_1421.jpg
http://www.esperanzaproject.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/banner_volunteer.jpg
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Living Together
Last week while I was volunteering at WASL, I was asked by another volunteer if I was there because I wanted to be there or if I was there because I had to be. I gave his question a quick thought and answered him. However, I think his question deserves more attention than a quick answer. I have been thinking about it a lot and have posed the same question to myself while I was found myself in different situations throughout the week.
For the most part, my answer is that I'm there because I want to be there. I came into Beyond Borders knowing that there was a local volunteer component and I also had the opportunity to choose which part of The Working Centre I was working with. On the other hand, I was there because I had to be there if I wanted to complete my hours for my class. Additionally, it was my first week there so I had not yet formed a sentimental connection to WASL that drew me back. However, the concept that I struggle with is what it means to want to be there and how do we determine that?
Almost everything we do in life has a purpose. We go to school because we want to eventually have a high-paying job. We go to work because we have to pay bills. We go on dates because we want to find a life-partner. In almost all circumstances, I think there is something we gain. What, then, does it mean to be somewhere because we want to be there? To be somewhere because we want to be there does not necessarily mean we don't gain anything out of it. The most important factor, in my opinion, is the qualitative factor of sentimental connection. It makes you happy and despite the hardships, you find joy in working through life's obstacles. In that regard, I would say that last week, I was there merely because I had to be there. In fact, going to WASL this week still felt like an obligation but leaving was a different story. I didn't necessarily long to return to WASL this week but I am currently looking forward to my next week there!
This week at WASL, I started to feel comfortable -- I felt like I was finally at home. I was welcomed and my volunteer coordinator was happy to see that I had returned. After I had taken off my jacket, she asked me to go get my nametag and to sign in. It was not until I let her know that I do not have a nametag that she realized I didn't get one last week. But to be officially welcomed with a machine made nametag, I felt like I had a purpose at WASL. I was then asked to help out in the front of the store! However, due to different demands for help, I spent some of my time in the back and got shown a lot of the key routines that happen at WASL. I interacted well with my co-volunteers and continued to make those crucial connections.
At home: I started to feel at home at WASL. What does this mean? Carissa wrote on her blog about this topic based on her readings by an author, Michael Jackson, in At Home in the World. She noted that to feel at home is to be familiar with her surroundings, to live in a world without boundaries as described by the Warlpiri people. In their lives, everyone is connected. Wives, husbands, and brothers are abundant and related by their skin names. To be at home is to be comfortable, living and working together and to have a connection with the people whom you work with.
Now, this concept of being at home and working together relates to one of this week's readings by Jim Lotz. On his chapter on What is Community Development?, he describes that community development "focuses on the process of enabling people collectively to achieve goals and to influence actions together, rather than as individuals." He also notes that the group in question must feel a collective need for this change rather than have it imposed by a foreign group, which he considers an intrusion. I think this week, I have started to feel a part of the community that exists in the initiatives at The Working Centre and that I am connected. Yet I have a sense of pride in the work I do but at the same time a respect for the environment I was in.
To feel at home at WASL was to be respected and to have a conflict-free day. It was to make connections with fellow volunteers and to laugh and smile together. Yet this does not reflect real life. Personally, I have a fundamental problem with this conception of home described both by Jackson and by Lotz. To me, these authors describe a low-conflict world that aims at solving problems collectively. To fight against the same thing and to develop the community with everyone's needs in mind. However, this is not what being at home is to me at all. Being at home is being with family; with family, we are obscene and uncensored. Perhaps it is my ongoing relationship with my family but sometimes I think being with my parents and my brother brings the worst out of me. I become opinionated and seek to get what I want. We bicker all the time and do not necessarily get along. We have selfish desires that we need our family members to fulfill. I remember my dad saying that he felt proud that our whole family attended my grandfather's 80th birthday gathering. Why did he feel proud when the dinner was not to celebrate him? I was distraught when I heard this. Feeling at home to me is not necessarily about being the most comfortable. It is not living conflict-free nor is it knowing the landscape of life. Feeling at home, for me, is living together despite our differences and working together towards a common goal. You cannot escape family and, to an extent, it is an obligation. So does this mean I only spend time with my family because I have to be with them, or do I want to be with them?
I don't think we necessarily have to make that distinction in life. Whatever the reason, we are there for the good of the community and have a vested interest in bettering it. Living together means making the occasional sacrifice to help those you are with. Although I felt at home, in the conventional sense of the phrase, at WASL I do not feel that I am necessarily being challenged. I hope to find my place at home at both WASL and the Dominican as I challenge myself to live together with others and be true to myself.
Jim Lotz' reading: http://www.theworkingcentre.org/wscd/pubs/understanding-canada.pdf
Carissa's Blog: http://cabaron33-beyondborders.blogspot.com/2011/02/being-at-home-in-world.html
For the most part, my answer is that I'm there because I want to be there. I came into Beyond Borders knowing that there was a local volunteer component and I also had the opportunity to choose which part of The Working Centre I was working with. On the other hand, I was there because I had to be there if I wanted to complete my hours for my class. Additionally, it was my first week there so I had not yet formed a sentimental connection to WASL that drew me back. However, the concept that I struggle with is what it means to want to be there and how do we determine that?
Almost everything we do in life has a purpose. We go to school because we want to eventually have a high-paying job. We go to work because we have to pay bills. We go on dates because we want to find a life-partner. In almost all circumstances, I think there is something we gain. What, then, does it mean to be somewhere because we want to be there? To be somewhere because we want to be there does not necessarily mean we don't gain anything out of it. The most important factor, in my opinion, is the qualitative factor of sentimental connection. It makes you happy and despite the hardships, you find joy in working through life's obstacles. In that regard, I would say that last week, I was there merely because I had to be there. In fact, going to WASL this week still felt like an obligation but leaving was a different story. I didn't necessarily long to return to WASL this week but I am currently looking forward to my next week there!
This week at WASL, I started to feel comfortable -- I felt like I was finally at home. I was welcomed and my volunteer coordinator was happy to see that I had returned. After I had taken off my jacket, she asked me to go get my nametag and to sign in. It was not until I let her know that I do not have a nametag that she realized I didn't get one last week. But to be officially welcomed with a machine made nametag, I felt like I had a purpose at WASL. I was then asked to help out in the front of the store! However, due to different demands for help, I spent some of my time in the back and got shown a lot of the key routines that happen at WASL. I interacted well with my co-volunteers and continued to make those crucial connections.
At home: I started to feel at home at WASL. What does this mean? Carissa wrote on her blog about this topic based on her readings by an author, Michael Jackson, in At Home in the World. She noted that to feel at home is to be familiar with her surroundings, to live in a world without boundaries as described by the Warlpiri people. In their lives, everyone is connected. Wives, husbands, and brothers are abundant and related by their skin names. To be at home is to be comfortable, living and working together and to have a connection with the people whom you work with.
Now, this concept of being at home and working together relates to one of this week's readings by Jim Lotz. On his chapter on What is Community Development?, he describes that community development "focuses on the process of enabling people collectively to achieve goals and to influence actions together, rather than as individuals." He also notes that the group in question must feel a collective need for this change rather than have it imposed by a foreign group, which he considers an intrusion. I think this week, I have started to feel a part of the community that exists in the initiatives at The Working Centre and that I am connected. Yet I have a sense of pride in the work I do but at the same time a respect for the environment I was in.
To feel at home at WASL was to be respected and to have a conflict-free day. It was to make connections with fellow volunteers and to laugh and smile together. Yet this does not reflect real life. Personally, I have a fundamental problem with this conception of home described both by Jackson and by Lotz. To me, these authors describe a low-conflict world that aims at solving problems collectively. To fight against the same thing and to develop the community with everyone's needs in mind. However, this is not what being at home is to me at all. Being at home is being with family; with family, we are obscene and uncensored. Perhaps it is my ongoing relationship with my family but sometimes I think being with my parents and my brother brings the worst out of me. I become opinionated and seek to get what I want. We bicker all the time and do not necessarily get along. We have selfish desires that we need our family members to fulfill. I remember my dad saying that he felt proud that our whole family attended my grandfather's 80th birthday gathering. Why did he feel proud when the dinner was not to celebrate him? I was distraught when I heard this. Feeling at home to me is not necessarily about being the most comfortable. It is not living conflict-free nor is it knowing the landscape of life. Feeling at home, for me, is living together despite our differences and working together towards a common goal. You cannot escape family and, to an extent, it is an obligation. So does this mean I only spend time with my family because I have to be with them, or do I want to be with them?
I don't think we necessarily have to make that distinction in life. Whatever the reason, we are there for the good of the community and have a vested interest in bettering it. Living together means making the occasional sacrifice to help those you are with. Although I felt at home, in the conventional sense of the phrase, at WASL I do not feel that I am necessarily being challenged. I hope to find my place at home at both WASL and the Dominican as I challenge myself to live together with others and be true to myself.
Jim Lotz' reading: http://www.theworkingcentre.org/wscd/pubs/understanding-canada.pdf
Carissa's Blog: http://cabaron33-beyondborders.blogspot.com/2011/02/being-at-home-in-world.html
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Living With(out) Privilege
This week, I started my local volunteer placement with The Working Centre in Kitchener, ON.
Early Saturday morning, I woke up to shower, to grab a quick bite to eat and to head off to my volunteer placement. My shift was from 12:00 - 3:00 pm, and Google Maps told me I was going to arrive about 15 minutes early. I was in no real rush, and took my time to walk to the bus stop to catch the 7A to head to downtown Kitchener. However, as I approached the bus stop, it struck me as curious that the 7 did not, in fact, stop at the bus stop I was at. I started to freak out and tell myself I was going to be late, start off on the wrong foot and everything was going to go downhill from there. There was not much time to react as the bus was scheduled to arrive at the stop at 11:18 and it was already 11:13! Fortunately, I was able to take out my phone and search Google Maps and zoom into the bus stop I was supposed to be at. I quickly ran to the stop on Ring Road and caught my bus.
It was about 11:50 when I actually arrived at Worth A Second Look (WASL), a used home-furniture and decor store opened by The Working Centre to provide items for household living for an affordable price. Being there early, I felt good about myself, and I headed to the counter to find my volunteer coordinator. Having read Tim's blog, I was expecting to be greeted, get a name tag and be put to work. Tim, another Beyond Borders student, is also volunteering at WASL and had a great first experience working the store front and it sounded like he was able to interact effectively with his volunteer coordinator. My experience was not quite the same.
When I got there, I talked to the volunteer behind the counter to see if my contact person was available to see me. Quickly, I was asked if I had filled out the appropriate paper work to volunteer. I had no idea what he was talking about and continued to explain that I was a University of Waterloo Student part of the Beyond Borders program, hoping to volunteer on a regular basis. Shortly after, the volunteer coordinator came out and greeted me. She did not seem to know I was coming and did not know what to get me to do. I remember quite vividly, she told me to "Look around the store." Perhaps it was to get me to familiarize myself with the environment but it was probably the most awkward 10 minutes of my life. It felt like an eternity and I felt uncomfortable. I walked around, expecting to be put to work, perhaps get a name tag like Tim did and interact with other volunteers and customers. This did not happen, the coordinator soon came to find me and went on a search to find me something to do. She also asked me to leave my jacket in the cupboard by the cash register in the front.
We then headed to the back of the warehouse area and she showed me the coffee/snack room. I felt that my being there wasn't necessary, or to some extent, it created more work for the coordinator. She eventually asked me to sweep the floors of the break room and of the whole back warehouse area. Although it was a "joe job", I was fine with that. Anything I could do to help, I was familiar with cleaning; some of you may know that I worked at a Bed & Breakfast in Quebec this past summer doing all of the cleaning. Cleaning was nothing new and I found peace in doing it too. As much as I could, I tried to interact with the other volunteers, learning their names and asking about their involvement and their experience with WASL. They were all very friendly and seem to connect with me as a person. I couldn't help but notice, however, that everyone was wearing a name tag -- a name tag that Tim mentioned getting soon after his arrival. Additionally, there was a coat rack in the break room where all the other volunteers hung their jackets. I thought about this for a bit while I was sweeping. What did this mean? Why was I not offered a name tag and why was my jacket placed separately from everyone else's? I then continued to feel uncomfortable but kept on doing what I was asked -- I was expecting to be uncomfortable but I was also expecting to be treated like everyone else. I was hoping to work in a relationship of reciprocity where I learned from others and they learned from me. Thus, I was a bit shocked that I was differentiated from the rest of the volunteers.
After about an hour of sweeping, the volunteer coordinator asked if I wanted to work in the "dungeon". I was happy to do whatever they needed me to do, so I enthusiastically said "Yes!" I was left in charge of myself and another volunteer, who is now in grade 8, to clear out a section and move crates upon crates of plates and to organize the room. I ended up doing this task for the last 2 hours I was there. I did have 3 observations from this period though.
First, I was asked to work with the other volunteer but I was not sure what my "status" was. At times, he would fool around and play with some of the toys in the room. Other times, he would pass me things we were cleaning one at a time when they were in a box. However, I held back in asking my co-worker to stop fooling around but I did sometimes ask to do things more efficiently when he was working. I ended up doing most of the work myself and that was okay. I was fine with it. It was just odd in that I did not know what my relationship was with him and if I should have told him to stop fooling around.
Second, I knew my coordinator did not forget about me! Shortly after my friend left and I was working in the dungeon by myself, two other volunteers came in to help me. This made me feel better as I knew my work was important and needed to be done but also to be remembered for the work I was doing. Shortly after explaining what I was doing and what I was asked to do, the older volunteer started to take control and "boss" us around. He wasn't rude but he took control of the situation and ordered us to do things his way. This was fine for me. I was not expecting to take the lead, it was my first day.
Third and finally, at about 3:05 pm when we just finished moving all the crates, the volunteer coordinator came into the dungeon to check on us. Oddly, she was somewhat shocked that I "stuck in there" and did not leave yet. I still don't know what to think of this.
I noted to her that I needed to go and that I would be back next week, and every week after that (except for reading week; I'm going to Mississippi to work with Mennonite Disaster Service to rebuild homes affected by hurricane Katrina!). I said my goodbyes, and was then told about the volunteer book to log my hours and headed home.
So, as you can see my first day at WASL was a bit different from that of Tim's. It sounded like he had such a friendly and positive experience that it was a bit weird when my expectations weren't met.
I was scared to be late when I thought I would miss the bus. Little did I know, my volunteer coordinator didn't really even know that I was going to be there and also did not have anything concrete for me to do in the first bit. But this was a learning experience that I will treasure and reflect upon as I continue to go back to WASL. I am not going to go in with the mindset of trying to "help them". This first week experience really brought me down to earth. To go into a situation and really drop all status we hold and to interact as equals is something I will need to work on. I did not go into the situation expecting special treatment, nor was I thinking that I was better than everyone else but it was somewhat hard to feel like I wasn't worth a name tag. It's silly but really challenges me to think about my placement. What is my relationship with others during my stay and am I allowed to exercise authority over someone (like my volunteer friend in gr. 8)? Would it have been okay to be as forceful as the older volunteer who took control of the situation after he came? This experience reminds me of a passage we read last term, in chapter 2 of The Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire. In critique to traditional top-down education systems he calls the "banking system", he notes that:
"One cannot impose oneself, nor even merely co-exist with one's students. Solidarity requires true communication, and the concept by which such an educator is guided by fears and proscribes communication."
Instead, he promotes "problem-posing" education which seeks to create solidarity between the teacher and the learner. I think in this approach, like with the concept of reciprocity as mentioned by Kenneth Westhues as mentioned in one of my earlier posts, communication is key. I think we could have worked just as efficiently without having to be forceful when it was me and the other two volunteers. But what about the situation where I was with my gr. 8 friend? I think that we must work with others; to have power with and not power over them. But is there a time when this is necessary?
My first week volunteer was challenging uncomfortable. I was expecting to be part of a team. Instead, I was set aside and did not interact with any customers at all. But someone has to do the behind-the-scenes work. I need to drop my expectations and stop living with privilege; not everything is handed to me on a silver platter and as Nicole noted in her post, we need to stop taking things for granted. Like she learned to not take food for granted, I must learn to not take my relationships with others for granted and expect to be treated in a certain way.
Tomorrow, I have a meeting with Joanne to talk about my placement. I'm super excited about this and I hope to blog about this next week!
For more information about Worth a Second Look, take a look at: http://www.theworkingcentre.org/ct/wasl/wasl.html
My first week volunteer was challenging uncomfortable. I was expecting to be part of a team. Instead, I was set aside and did not interact with any customers at all. But someone has to do the behind-the-scenes work. I need to drop my expectations and stop living with privilege; not everything is handed to me on a silver platter and as Nicole noted in her post, we need to stop taking things for granted. Like she learned to not take food for granted, I must learn to not take my relationships with others for granted and expect to be treated in a certain way.
Tomorrow, I have a meeting with Joanne to talk about my placement. I'm super excited about this and I hope to blog about this next week!
For more information about Worth a Second Look, take a look at: http://www.theworkingcentre.org/ct/wasl/wasl.html
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Living Unexpectedly
Life is not always a perfect series of events. In fact, life is full of unexpected twists and turns and we must be prepared for that. I guess, in a sense, that the Beyond Borders program tries to prepare me for that in challenging me to live uncomfortably and to live intentionally. But despite the copious amounts of preparation through readings, volunteer placements and alumni presentations, the smallest things in life remind us of the fragility of life and how we will be challenged once abroad in our new homes, in May.
This past Wednesday, I was hit with a fever that caught me off guard. I was bed-ridden for 3 days and felt groggy for the next two -- only today am I feeling better. For the first few days, aside from attending classes, I was almost exclusively in bed. I felt like a koala bear, having slept for probably 40 of 48 hours in the initials stages of my sickness. As a result, I did not start my volunteer placement this week at Worth A Second Look as I felt that I would have been unable to give my all to the placement.
I fully intend to start next week and make a committed effort to get to know and engage the work environment.
But this committed engagement is something that we, as North Americans, often fail to achieve. Having grown up in an individualistic culture, there is a tendency to "not want to bother others". Thus, life becomes a monotonous series of scripted behaviours. Think back to the last time you asked or were asked "How are you doing?" Now think about the response you get. Chances are, the answer was "Fine." But what does that really mean? Alternatively, if I were to answer something differently, does the person who asked the question really care about how I was doing, or were they simply asking as a part of the conventional method of interaction?
One thing that has stuck with me since 2007 is asking the question "What's your story?" Each person has a story and we can learn a lot more about a person in their stories. So here's a story about a challenge I had for the Christmas break.
In the season of giving, the Beyond Borders group was challenged to do a "Random Act of Kindness". That is, to do something nice for someone without necessarily having them know and to do it randomly. What did I do? Well, I went to Starbucks, ordered myself a drink and then gave the barista an additionally $20 and asked her to use it to pay for someone else's drink afterwards. However, I wanted it to be used on people who were only ordering one drink (so it could be used on multiple people) and for it to not be used all in a row. I also asked the baristas to keep it confidential. And so, I sat and "read a book". In reality, I sat and watched to see what the person's reaction. Surprise and gratitude was the general reaction. I managed to get see Starbucks get 3 different people drinks. But even more surprisingly for me, two of the three people that got drinks from me, in fact paid the amount their drinks would have costed towards the next person's drink. In the end, only 3 people actually get a "free" drink but the meaning behind it is so much more. The gratitude that was expressed was heartwarming and showed the power of the unexpected. So do something unexpected, be spontaneous.
There are certain things in life that make you stop and think why did it happen to me? Whether it's sickness that prevents you from doing something or getting a free drink, we sometimes think: "why me?" But more often than not, we think "Why me?" as a response to sickness, to a negative event. In contrast, when we get something good, like a free drink, we might say "Thanks!", forgot about it or think about how lucky we are. This tendency to worry about oneself only in the presence of negative events is too common. I think it is important to think about what we do and how we got somewhere in every step of our lives. In doing so, it becomes easier to relate to others and also deters us from taking life for granted. Life is full of challenges and obstacles and they do not occur uniquely to you. I felt bad for myself being sick but it does not and did not give me an excuse to be a bad person.
So no matter what life throws in your way, remember that other people may be having challenging time in their life as well. Be unexpected and change the social script. Live intentionally and make an effort to get to know them. Live unexpectedly and embrace the unexpected. Sometimes, it's the unexpected that help us appreciate what is expected.
That is my hope. Let my Dominican Republic show me life in a new way.
Oh, ya. I'm going to the Dominican Republic in May! Just a little teaser, I'll talk more about my placement in another week!
This past Wednesday, I was hit with a fever that caught me off guard. I was bed-ridden for 3 days and felt groggy for the next two -- only today am I feeling better. For the first few days, aside from attending classes, I was almost exclusively in bed. I felt like a koala bear, having slept for probably 40 of 48 hours in the initials stages of my sickness. As a result, I did not start my volunteer placement this week at Worth A Second Look as I felt that I would have been unable to give my all to the placement.
I fully intend to start next week and make a committed effort to get to know and engage the work environment.
But this committed engagement is something that we, as North Americans, often fail to achieve. Having grown up in an individualistic culture, there is a tendency to "not want to bother others". Thus, life becomes a monotonous series of scripted behaviours. Think back to the last time you asked or were asked "How are you doing?" Now think about the response you get. Chances are, the answer was "Fine." But what does that really mean? Alternatively, if I were to answer something differently, does the person who asked the question really care about how I was doing, or were they simply asking as a part of the conventional method of interaction?
One thing that has stuck with me since 2007 is asking the question "What's your story?" Each person has a story and we can learn a lot more about a person in their stories. So here's a story about a challenge I had for the Christmas break.
In the season of giving, the Beyond Borders group was challenged to do a "Random Act of Kindness". That is, to do something nice for someone without necessarily having them know and to do it randomly. What did I do? Well, I went to Starbucks, ordered myself a drink and then gave the barista an additionally $20 and asked her to use it to pay for someone else's drink afterwards. However, I wanted it to be used on people who were only ordering one drink (so it could be used on multiple people) and for it to not be used all in a row. I also asked the baristas to keep it confidential. And so, I sat and "read a book". In reality, I sat and watched to see what the person's reaction. Surprise and gratitude was the general reaction. I managed to get see Starbucks get 3 different people drinks. But even more surprisingly for me, two of the three people that got drinks from me, in fact paid the amount their drinks would have costed towards the next person's drink. In the end, only 3 people actually get a "free" drink but the meaning behind it is so much more. The gratitude that was expressed was heartwarming and showed the power of the unexpected. So do something unexpected, be spontaneous.
There are certain things in life that make you stop and think why did it happen to me? Whether it's sickness that prevents you from doing something or getting a free drink, we sometimes think: "why me?" But more often than not, we think "Why me?" as a response to sickness, to a negative event. In contrast, when we get something good, like a free drink, we might say "Thanks!", forgot about it or think about how lucky we are. This tendency to worry about oneself only in the presence of negative events is too common. I think it is important to think about what we do and how we got somewhere in every step of our lives. In doing so, it becomes easier to relate to others and also deters us from taking life for granted. Life is full of challenges and obstacles and they do not occur uniquely to you. I felt bad for myself being sick but it does not and did not give me an excuse to be a bad person.
So no matter what life throws in your way, remember that other people may be having challenging time in their life as well. Be unexpected and change the social script. Live intentionally and make an effort to get to know them. Live unexpectedly and embrace the unexpected. Sometimes, it's the unexpected that help us appreciate what is expected.
That is my hope. Let my Dominican Republic show me life in a new way.
Oh, ya. I'm going to the Dominican Republic in May! Just a little teaser, I'll talk more about my placement in another week!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Living with Meaning
About a year ago, I decided to embark on a crazy adventure. I decided to apply to become a Beyond Borders student for the 2010-2011 school year. Turns out, it was one of the best decisions of my life. Originally, Beyond Borders was a means to fulfill a field studies and an opportunity to travel abroad and volunteer, a dream I've always had. But over the last 5 months since being in the program, it has developed into so much more. I knew I had to take two courses in preparation for my adventure to come but in no way did I imagine it as challenging and thought-provoking as they have turned out to be. We learned from different authors describing their life experiences of struggle, their attempts to create community and different styles of pedagogy and leadership. These were eye-opening but also created a challenge for me, a challenge to live life intentionally and with meaning. Living in community is one aspect of doing so and I think we've got it right, at least for now. Our class of 14 Beyond Borders students has grown exceptionally close, through great discussion, class outings and seeing the fruits of our labour in wonderful fundraising events. But as a new term begins, so do new challenges as new insights are brought into my awareness.
On the first Thursday night class I had this term, I was immediately struck with a challenge. Maybe it was because our professor told us we would be thinking about it over the next bit but I can't help to notice that I am thinking about it a lot. In my Community Conflict Resolution class (PACS313), our professor showed us a TED Talk by Brené Brown. The basis of her talk was to describe how to live a meaning of worthiness as she has 'discovered' through some research. But what struck me was not necessarily the topic of the talk, but the insights that she drew. She argued, worthiness comes from a sense of love and belonging. Those who are strong, feel they are worthy and have a sense of courage. But this courage is not courage in the traditional sense where we fight battles and jump off buildings. This courage is the courage to be imperfect. She argued, for true happiness to be achieved, we must embrace our imperfection and make ourselves vulnerable. We often try to "numb vulnerability" but this cannot be done without numbing other emotions. So we need to let go of the person who we think we should be, and be the person that we are. More importantly, we shouldn't project our values onto others too and embrace imperfection in all aspects of life. Embrace the uncomfortable, the vulnerability of not being perfect and "be".
While that TED Talk was replaying in my mind over and over again, my class met at The Working Centre in Kitchener for our first class this past week. We were given a tour of the facilities as we were going to start our local volunteer placements there in the next little while. The Working Centre and its services were buzzing with life. A little project here and there but what was most inspiring was the connections that were being made between individuals. I think this was the concept of reciprocity talked about by Kenneth Westhues in one of our readings this week. To live like a dance, to share power and work together to achieve a goal. I was more than excited to start volunteering at what I had originally thought were my safest bets: St. John's Kitchen as it is similar to work I've done with Ray of Hope, or Speak English Cafe on Thursday nights as I'd merely be speaking English. But fortunately, our host gave us a challenge. To find a placement that will make us uncomfortable. And when it becomes comfortable, shake it up and break the routine.
But why did I tell these two stories? What does it mean to me and living with meaning?
To me, these two snippets of my life are interrelated. To live by being vulnerable and to be okay with being imperfect means I am putting my pride aside and to put all external measures aside. I believe it is only in this way, that we can live out Westhues' version of reciprocity. If we go into volunteer work, a group project or any other aspect of life thinking "I am going to help them", then we are working through a contractual top-down approach. We should, contrarily, forget where we come from and see value in each person and view each person as a person. This is, as I see it, the way to live our reciprocity and to "become human" as Jean Vanier would describe. So join me in this challenge and relate to people as people this week. Start a conversation with the cashier at your grocery store, they are a person of value as well. Meet someone new. Break the barriers of us-them. Join me and live your life with meaning this week.
I invite you all to reply and post comments on how living with meaning has changed your mindset or just experiences you have had, the good, the funny and perhaps the not so nice.
Here is a link to Brené Brown's TED Talk if you are interested!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0
Here is a link to Kenneth Westhues' article on reciprocity
http://www.theworkingcentre.org/wscd/gwn/article1/article1.html
-------------------
This week, I will hopefully find out about two things! Our volunteer placements will be finalized at The Working Centre and it's possible that our placements abroad have been finalized too! Stay tuned!
On the first Thursday night class I had this term, I was immediately struck with a challenge. Maybe it was because our professor told us we would be thinking about it over the next bit but I can't help to notice that I am thinking about it a lot. In my Community Conflict Resolution class (PACS313), our professor showed us a TED Talk by Brené Brown. The basis of her talk was to describe how to live a meaning of worthiness as she has 'discovered' through some research. But what struck me was not necessarily the topic of the talk, but the insights that she drew. She argued, worthiness comes from a sense of love and belonging. Those who are strong, feel they are worthy and have a sense of courage. But this courage is not courage in the traditional sense where we fight battles and jump off buildings. This courage is the courage to be imperfect. She argued, for true happiness to be achieved, we must embrace our imperfection and make ourselves vulnerable. We often try to "numb vulnerability" but this cannot be done without numbing other emotions. So we need to let go of the person who we think we should be, and be the person that we are. More importantly, we shouldn't project our values onto others too and embrace imperfection in all aspects of life. Embrace the uncomfortable, the vulnerability of not being perfect and "be".
While that TED Talk was replaying in my mind over and over again, my class met at The Working Centre in Kitchener for our first class this past week. We were given a tour of the facilities as we were going to start our local volunteer placements there in the next little while. The Working Centre and its services were buzzing with life. A little project here and there but what was most inspiring was the connections that were being made between individuals. I think this was the concept of reciprocity talked about by Kenneth Westhues in one of our readings this week. To live like a dance, to share power and work together to achieve a goal. I was more than excited to start volunteering at what I had originally thought were my safest bets: St. John's Kitchen as it is similar to work I've done with Ray of Hope, or Speak English Cafe on Thursday nights as I'd merely be speaking English. But fortunately, our host gave us a challenge. To find a placement that will make us uncomfortable. And when it becomes comfortable, shake it up and break the routine.
But why did I tell these two stories? What does it mean to me and living with meaning?
To me, these two snippets of my life are interrelated. To live by being vulnerable and to be okay with being imperfect means I am putting my pride aside and to put all external measures aside. I believe it is only in this way, that we can live out Westhues' version of reciprocity. If we go into volunteer work, a group project or any other aspect of life thinking "I am going to help them", then we are working through a contractual top-down approach. We should, contrarily, forget where we come from and see value in each person and view each person as a person. This is, as I see it, the way to live our reciprocity and to "become human" as Jean Vanier would describe. So join me in this challenge and relate to people as people this week. Start a conversation with the cashier at your grocery store, they are a person of value as well. Meet someone new. Break the barriers of us-them. Join me and live your life with meaning this week.
I invite you all to reply and post comments on how living with meaning has changed your mindset or just experiences you have had, the good, the funny and perhaps the not so nice.
Here is a link to Brené Brown's TED Talk if you are interested!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Qm9cGRub0
Here is a link to Kenneth Westhues' article on reciprocity
http://www.theworkingcentre.org/wscd/gwn/article1/article1.html
-------------------
This week, I will hopefully find out about two things! Our volunteer placements will be finalized at The Working Centre and it's possible that our placements abroad have been finalized too! Stay tuned!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Beyond Borders!
Hi all,
This is a blog I'm starting to keep my thoughts, ideas and questions in mind. As some of you may know, I am currently enrolled in the Beyond Borders program at St. Jerome's University as a part of the University of Waterloo. This summer, I hope to volunteer for three months in either Kenya, Uganda, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic or India. I will also be volunteering locally with The Working Centre in Kitchener, ON for the coming term. Please follow if you're interested in my travels. I will post my reflections on how the term is going, updates on my placement, Beyond Borders fundraising initiatives and information about my future host country!
This is a blog I'm starting to keep my thoughts, ideas and questions in mind. As some of you may know, I am currently enrolled in the Beyond Borders program at St. Jerome's University as a part of the University of Waterloo. This summer, I hope to volunteer for three months in either Kenya, Uganda, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic or India. I will also be volunteering locally with The Working Centre in Kitchener, ON for the coming term. Please follow if you're interested in my travels. I will post my reflections on how the term is going, updates on my placement, Beyond Borders fundraising initiatives and information about my future host country!
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