Well now I'm doing the same stuff all over again, except this time most of it is done already. I don't have to get a government passport because I already have one! I just had to update my resume and sort of tweak my aspiration statement that I'd written for Guinea.
I felt like I was sort of cheating at first, but then I realized my aspirations haven't changed much since last year. For example:
My strategies for adapting to a new culture include:
- Withholding judgment and staying in the moment
- Remembering that cultural adjustment takes time and being patient with myself and others during that adjustment period
- Being accepting of and patient with different cultural behaviors, even ones that I may find puzzling
- Trying not to compare to the new culture to my own cultural background, and when I do, celebrating the differences
By the end of my service, I think that I will have gained an insatiable thirst for knowledge, traveling, and new experiences. This may shape my life differently or push me in directions that I cannot yet imagine. I hope that I will have been inspired to continue to engage in activities that will help communities and people in need. I hope that I will have grown into a more compassionate, more open, more aware and wiser person. I hope that I will have developed lasting and meaningful friendships.
My strategies for adapting to a new culture include:
- Withholding judgment and staying in the moment
- Remembering that cultural adjustment takes time and being patient with myself and others during that adjustment period
- Being accepting of and patient with different cultural behaviors, even ones that I may find puzzling
- Trying not to compare to the new culture to my own cultural background, and when I do, celebrating the differences
By the end of my service, I think that I will have gained an insatiable thirst for knowledge, traveling, and new experiences. This may shape my life differently or push me in directions that I cannot yet imagine. I hope that I will have been inspired to continue to engage in activities that will help communities and people in need. I hope that I will have grown into a more compassionate, more open, more aware and wiser person. I hope that I will have developed lasting and meaningful friendships.
So that was just a sample. Pretty good, huh? Don't copy me, other future PCVs! Haha!
Anyway, I also got rid of most of my things before serving in Guinea, but now I have the opportunity to re-assess what I should store and what I should take along and what I really don't need. Today I've been trying to organize my things that have been stored in Joy and Tony's garage. (They are sooo good to me!) I am getting rid of 90% of my substantial book collection, which sort of breaks my heart, but then I remember that it's just paper so get over it! I am getting rid of clothes I never wear. I am cleaning and simplifying and it feels good.
Another thing I'll have to do all over again is PST (Pre-Service Training). Hmmm. I've been reading about the PST in Nicaragua and it seems similar to the one I did in Guinea. It is a community-based training, which means I'll be living with a host family. I will have sessions on cross cultural stuff, health, language, teaching, etc...
Sometimes I think about going through the whole thing again and I'm like wooooaahh I'm crazy for doing this. But I must remember to be patient because it will be different and new this time and I'll do a stellar job because I've learned so much already in Guinea.
Also I'm excited about meeting my new training group. I know they will never be like G-18, but I'm sure they'll be awesome and smart and I'll love them all!
Can you feel it in the air? Everything is changing! I am blessed.
Next step: study Spanish! I've been slacking...
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