Well, I
can’t speak for everyone. I can’t even speak for the majority. But I can speak
for me.
These are
some things people have said to me over the past 2 years that have made me feel
really good in a job where I have often been left feeling pretty crappy.
"Your Spanish is really good"For me, that compliment was the
best and did the most to lift my spirits over the last two years. Period.
"You are friendlier than the other volunteer" or "we like you more than her, or your Spanish is better than hers ever was." There is so much love between volunteers, don’t get me wrong. But there’s also a bit of competition, especially with volunteers that you’ve replaced. When we get to site we are constantly hearing about how great they were, and it makes us want to live up to and beyond their reputation. Whenever I was told I did something better than the last volunteer, I felt a guilty twinge of happiness and success.
"Wow, you can knit!" Sometimes people think they can’t relate to
you because you can’t do the things they do. Like knitting and volleyball. Both
of which I couldn’t do coming here and now I’m pretty good, if I don’t say so
myself.
"You’re the definition of Peace Corps." I actually had a teacher say that to
me the other night. He had known other volunteers and said how they worked in
site like I do but he’s never seen some one so engaged and a part of their
community as I am. SO. SWEET.
"We are going to ask your boss if you can stay
an extra 2 years." Sometimes
people don’t seem like they appreciate you. But when they want you to extend
you time here, that’s saying something. They like you. They like what you do.
"You really do eat everything." Maybe I’ve internalized the Peruvian
idea that food is love and that’s why this comment makes me proud. Yeah. I like
ya’lls food, and yeah, I’m pretty awesome because I eat it even when I don’t.
"My baby likes you now. Here, hold her." First, no babies liked me when I
got here. The little ones had never seen a face like mine. The toddlers were
taught that gringos would take them away if they missed behaved. This comment
shows the progress I made on ¨gringa awareness¨ and the trust I’ve gained with
their moms.
"I thought you were from around here!" A tourist told me that. I was in my
poncho, sitting with a couple town people playing with their kids. Yeah. I
blend in. Proud of it.
"When my baby’s born, I’m naming her Alexis." The lady who told me that is still
pregnant, we’ll see! There hasn’t been an Alexis named here in Chocta yet, but
quite a few Alexandras and Alexanders this past year. ;)
"We’re gonna miss you. Please don’t go." *sniffle sniffle*
