I must apologize for the pessimism of my recent blogs once more. I'm doing just fine! I have just returned from a little breather with my fellow peace corps volunteers and now, things are really back in perspective. Every one goes through times like this. It's just part of the experience. I've realized that being in village for too long can sometimes warp your perception of things. In my case, I had been focussing on all of the negative implications of my upcoming project instead of all of the positive ones. Sally as well, has provided some great wisdom and advice from her peace corps experience. Even my good old dad- who is the smartest guy I know, provided some wisdom:
"With all your assets you are missing one - experience. But that is what you are building now. Experience would have told you to expect some unrealistic demands and faulty expectations. Experience would have prepared you for the initial clash of wants and ideas - now you know. Em, hope does not come in a steady, predictable stream. Wanting things to be better is a very uneven process. It can start with a rush, recede, slowly build again even take a bit of turn. It's akin to the boat that sails in changeable winds. Negotiate those winds and it gets some where. Through numerous tacks, turns and bailing, it eventually reaches it's destination."
I'm heading to site tomorrow with a renewed spirit of optimism. I'm going with a peace corps trainer to show my villagers how to fix some wells. Which is really a good thing to do- it is. And I'm going to try my best to get some of these nice wells in my village.
If I remember correctly, I was anxious about my handwashing station project too. But with your contributions, it really became a success! THANKS! (Check out the picture)I thank you for your concern, but please take my rampage with a grain of salt. It's passed and things are looking better and these blogs will be interesting to go back and read when it's all said and done. Peace Corps is a rollercoaster. They warned us about these mind games, but they also gave us ways to overcome them. Thank God for my friends, and for you!
Em
