(views from our Saturday hike in Loja...beautiful!)Lately we've been having a number of ups and downs. I think part of it is coming back from our trip home and getting readjusted, and I think the other part is simply the Peace Corps lifestyle and facing the fact that we won't always be busy, productive, or having a blast (hmm, it kind of sounds like life in general huh?).
In regards to the Peace Corps lifestyle, it is a difficult thing to describe. It depends on the person, the community, the counterpart organization, and the country- but for many, our schedules are quite flexible and our work isn't always defined. And a common nemesis of many volunteers is having too much time- it sounds wonderful doesn't it? But really, it often gives volunteers too much time to think. So often volunteers are on a hunt for more projects, reading material, podcasts, dvds...anything to keep them from just sitting.
Clearly this is a stark contrast from our past life in the working world. For some, I think it is an easy adjustment- they like the added free time, the flexible schedule, the ambiguity. For others (ahem, Adam and I), we like to be busy and productive- and we like clarity (objectives, goals, how we are going to get there). And we also want to do work that we are knowledgeable and skilled in. Sometimes that just doesn't happen.
Although we both have work that we are doing, the work we do at times doesn't necessarily fit all of the above criteria. So we have been searching for additional opportunities that might get us more motivated, make us feel more productive, and keep us busy (and happy), in addition to the work we have already been doing. Which leads us to the ups and downs.
Up for Adam- He was able to have a few meetings with the Municipio person in charge of the trash management in Loja and took a trip out to the local landfill to see how the separation of trash (organic, plastic, glass, cardboard, and other trash) worked and to see how the composting and worm bins functioned. The guy is excited to have Adam work with him on improving the trash program in Loja. Adam has already begun working on a website to educate people on the separation of trash (a big problem) and has some ideas for ways to get people in Loja educated (so that they don't throw plastic cups into their organic bin).
Up for me- Eri and I have been organizing activities in various communities to teach kids origami and to talk a little bit about children's rights. She has gotten a few things set up to happen weekly so it puts a few more things on my schedule. Usually one of our colleagues from INFA CPD comes with us to do dynamicas like singing songs and talking about the work our office does (I still have no clue about the children's songs here in Ecuador!). I am so appreciative of having Eri there. I know when I go to the office I will at least have someone to talk to and brainstorm ideas with- and someone who will plan things with me. I have also been trying to get involved with the UTPL (one of the universities in town).
And the downs.
Down for Adam- The 2 meetings and the visit to the landfill has occurred over the past 2 weeks. So although it is very productive from a PC lifestyle point of view...it doesn't occupy a whole lot of Adam's time. And it is still unclear exactly what the guy at the Municipio would like Adam to do (we have brainstormed doing trainings of teachers so they can do activities in their classrooms about recycling, littering, and the trash program in the city, among other things). So these few meetings, along with his regularly scheduled computer classes and his work at the orphanage, still leave him with a lot of time.
Down for me- Eri is off to Mexico for 2 weeks. I have no desire to go to the office. There are all new colleagues there who still can't remember my name after 2 months (That girl...she is Asian. Possibly Japanese like Eri? Or maybe Korean? Probably Korean. You know, I think her name is Eri too. That is what I'll call her. What does she do here? I think she fixes viruses and computer problems. Hey! Eri! Venga! My internet is down!). It is incredibly awkward. And I haven't been able to get a meeting scheduled at the university because everyone is busy and I was gone at home for half of Feb. So I will also have a lot of time on my hands.
So how do we cope with our free time (the cause of our downs, can you believe that?)? There is an endless number of crafting, scrapping and baking blogs to read and I have encountered textured cardstock at the local paper store so I've been doing some scrapbooking. Plus we finally have a World Wise Schools match where the teacher is responding to us! So we just sent our first letters to the students and are devising other ways to share our experiences with them! I am throwing ideas to Adam about ways he can use his time- go for a run, hike up the beautiful hills around us, visit the print shops so he can give a budget estimate for an education campaign on trash, set up additional meetings, create a gameplan to hit up each of the 50+ barrios in town to educate people on separating their trash, etc.
I think the reason why free time leads to the so-called downs is that it gives us too much time to think "why did we quit our good jobs to come and do things that we aren't good at in a language that we can't speak well, would things be better if we were with counterparts that were more into us being here, are we being bad volunteers because we have this extra time, how come our Spanish isn't better after 8 months" etc. etc. You get the drift! And I think that we aren't alone in sometimes having these thoughts.
However, as many of you probably know...when you are in a slump, you are in a slump. There is nothing you can do but hope that it passes. And that next week will look up. Such is the rollercoaster that we ride. I am sure next week will be a great week for us (suddenly we will have community meetings to attend, home visits to go to, special events to plan, etc), and that before the end of March, we will have at least a few more ups and downs.
Ok, hope this wasn't too "down" of a post! With that, some photos from the past few weeks.
We made "Lunar New Year" lanterns with the kids at the orphanage
Me demonstrating how to cut the lantern (Adam is camera shy)
Driving in heavy fog to do home visits and a charla in Zambi (2.5 hours from Loja)
Kids in Zambi are so adorable! Especially with newspaper samurai hats!
Only 3 yrs old but he sure could follow directions!
Hooray for talking paper birds!
One thing not great in Zambi- red clay that sticks to your shoes!
Passing time in the office making origami mobiles
More arts & crafts at the orphanage- dragon masks!!
