I’ve spent the last two weeks helping to train the group of new volunteers who arrived last month. Their training is in the same city mine was last year, so it was fun to see my host family and re-visit old hang-out spots. It was also neat to see how much the city has grown in the past year, and after hanging out with the new arrivals, how much I’ve grown as well.
My host family is hosting another volunteer this summer. I must admit that my first reaction upon hearing that news was, “Oh no! What if they like him more than me?” It was a very made-for-TV moment- when the only child finds out that Mom is pregnant- but I think I handled it pretty well. No temper tantrums, screaming, or reverting to baby behavior. I met their new volunteer (who seems pretty cool and will coincidentally be my closest new neighbor), and went home with him for dinner one night. My host siblings (two brothers and a sister) were very excited to see me, and we chatted about school and soccer. The younger brother shared with me his newfound obsession with the game of marbles, and the older brother showed me last year’s report cards. Bragging moment: he’s entering his senior year in high school ranked number one in his class! He wants to go to University and study science. I’m crazy excited for him.
The big news from their neighborhood is the continued keenness for Ultimate Frisbee. I introduced my host siblings to Frisbee last summer. They seemed to really like it, so I gave them a disc as a going away/thank you present. Fast forward a year. My 13 year-old host brother invited me to play with him before dinner one night. Him and all the kids in the neighborhood! We went down to the field by their house, and I quickly found out he wasn’t exaggerating. The disc I had given them was…well-loved, to say the least. And we had a group of kids at the field that could really play well. They told me they play every morning and are thinking of organizing a tournament before school starts! Frisbee hasn’t yet replaced soccer as their sport of choice (they still play soccer in the evenings), but morning games? A possible tournament? How’s that for cultural integration?
It was also very fun to meet the new trainees. They’re in the middle of their training now, have just found out where they’ll be living for the next two years, and are about to start teaching in summer school. They’re all excited about being here, but a little nervous about moving into their villages in a couple of weeks. Hearing their thoughts on training, their questions, and their excitements really put the last year in perspective for me. I look back and see the same thoughts, anxieties, and excitements in myself a year ago. But hey: my French is more-or-less passable; I’ve successfully kept a class of 95 students under control (OK…sort of); and I’ve gotten used to not having ice cold drinks in 110 degree village heat. Not bad! However, my time with the trainees also reminded me of the things I still want to accomplish in my service- I’m hoping to do HIV/AIDS sensibilisations before Christmas, strengthen my math/science club, and possibly collaborate with a Girls’ Education volunteer for a girls’ camp in my village next spring.
I think the best thing I’ve realized this summer is that I’ve been here just over a year, and I love my life. And that’s a pretty satisfying thing to be able to say.
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