- My Coach is a HUGE OSU Fan and I saw this chicken at the Grocery Store and had to take a picture to show her!-
I sent the below e-mail to my University Volleyball Coach. I was reading and reflecting over it this afternoon and felt the urge to share it with you all. I try to keep my Blog joyful and happy. Fill it with amazing pictures of students, nature, and the projects I do. That is only one piece of my story. This letter reflects another piece of my story!
Her question was: Are you happy with the Peace Corps and the opportunities you have been given to help other individuals?
"As you can image the what seemed like a simple question is extremely loaded. If you were not someone I respected and cared for, I would simply say “I love Dominica, most days!” But there is more of a story behind it. I am will try to stay focused, answer your questions and not go on too big of a tangent.
I knew at the time of the decision, I needed a changed, I needed to be challenged and I needed a change of pace. I sure got that. Being in the Eastern Caribbean is very unique because you can be very connected to the world of the USA (with internet, TV, skype, etc) but then there are moments that you think to yourself this is NOTHING like the United States of America. I rely on other people for transportation (I take the bus everywhere, I am not allowed to drive, and most places you cannot walk to), it is like living in a small town which is something I am not use to (everyone knows what I am doing, I gain a pound and it is topic of conversation), and everything and anything takes about 10 times longer then it should. Activates get canceled, meetings I am suppose to attend get canceled without anyone telling me, and that is just life. There is no consequences for negative or positive actions.
Through this journey I have grown as a person, I take things say with a grain of salt if it is negative. I have become more confident and learned a whole new set of patience. Beth, I thought I had patience until I came here and man was I wrong. Because of this adventure I have done activities that I would of NEVER done, scuba diving, sitting on a bench for hours chatting with an older man as he tells me his whole life story, living by myself, be OK with eating by myself, not being in control of every moment (or ANY) moment of an activity, work with individuals with a different work ethic as myself, and truly understand the meaning of “It will all work at,” in this magically and silent way activities get accomplished here.
I have come to the conclusion there will be no structure, no painting, no long staying project that years from now people will say, “Michelle did that.” What I can do, what I have control over is, I can fill these children days with MORE positive attention, hugs, and creative projects then they have seen in their short years of life. I can treat people with respect and kindness, I can leave lasting imprints on individuals hearts, young and old. The individuals of my village and the areas I work with will leave those same imprints on my heart. I will carry with me hilarious stories of randomness, moments of sadness we have shared together, and moments of success. I have learned that life is about the small events in ones life, it is not always about the big picture. It is one of the little one running down the street to greet me with a hug, when one of my students proudly holds out his/her collar for me to put a sticker on it for a job well done, or a student coming to me asking me to read them a story and before I know it the whole class is around me trying to hear.
Yes, I am happy with what I am doing, I am glad I made this leap of faith! It has given me the travel bug and I am ready to explore."
