Ok, so I know that this is not necessarily my LAST New year's in the states but there is a very very very good chance that this time next year I'll be kickin it in Europe and not here. My family keeps saying they'll find a way to get me home for the holidays during my service but, I think that I'd like to spend at least one of my winters of service in my country of service.... but anywho, I'm excited to be going to NYC tomorrow to hang with my bro and to ring in the new year with style haha. That way, just incase it is the last NYE I spend in the states for a while, it's guaranteed to be a good one. I'll probably post pictures either while I'm there or when I get back.
Either way I wish you all a safe, happy new year.
besos!!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Aspiration Statement
Yeah, so... like I said before: it felt stupid writing this because I cannot even begin to know what it will be like to be a volunteer. It really is something so foreign to me... it feels like everything that I wrote is in some way foolish or naive ya know.... like looking back in your journal to see what you wrote when you were 14. Its like, at the time you truly believed what you were writing but now you realize it was totally naive. That's what I think it will be like to look back on my aspiration statement in 3 years. I'll probably laugh at myself and think, "that girl had NO idea what she was getting herself into". but oh well, here it is nonetheless.
A: I plan to use my previous classroom experience as a professional attribute during my service. The leadership and communication skills that I was able to develop while teaching in the classroom will surely be beneficial in my new classroom experience during my service. I also plan to use the organizational skills that I used both in the classroom and as a camp counselor during my service as well; those past experiences allowed me to learn how to adapt to many situations and use my creativity to the best of my ability.
B: In order to help host country partners meet their expressed needs I would first listen to exactly what it is they want or need and then figure out how these desires would positively (and/or negatively) affect their community. After clearly defining the needs of the hosts, I would do my best to work with them and initiate a way to get their ideas off the ground; I think that because there will probably be a language divide, it will be very important to make sure that all the needs and wants of the host country partners are clearly explained and established before any big moves or decisions are made. This is vital to assuring that the end result of a project/task will actually be what they needed in the first place. With that said, it is extremely important that listen to people and try to understand their situation.
C: I think that the main strategy that I will have for adapting to a new culture will be to learn the history behind why/when certain things are/are not done in the country. Understanding why people do certain things is one of the best ways to appreciate why it is they do the things they do; and this understanding can come from learning the history behind cultural customs. With respect to my own culture, I will focus on how important and special my culture is to me and just think about how important their own culture must be to them. Another strategy I have is that I will do my best not to take any situation or opportunity for granted; when offered a food that I’ve never heard of before or invited to do something I’ve never done before I will always remind myself that what I am doing is something that many people will never have the chance to do or see. Hopefully that attitude will help me to actively participate in my new culture and community and thereby help me to adapt easily.
D: The most important skill that I believe I can learn during my pre-service training is the language! I just feel that when it comes to truly helping people and giving them what they need, it is imperative that nothing gets lost in translation. Communication is key in all relationships in life and this is no more evident than in the relationship between a volunteer and the community in which he/she works. Along with language I hope to gain knowledge about the political climate of the country as well as its societal norms and taboos. Having a well rounded understanding of my future community and project will help me to make prudent decisions, both personal and professional, during my service.
E: I think that the Peace Corps will influence the way I do business in my life; not only will it affect the way in which I do business in professional relationships but it will also affect how I do business in personal relationships. I think that the way that I look at the world will be different and that I will have much more drive and confidence to change the things that I believe are wrong or unfair. I think that after my service I will have a much better idea of what career path I want to take. As far as personal aspirations are concerned, I am sure that the way in which I spend my money, my time and my efforts will be greatly influenced by my experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer. To put it plainly, I hope that after my service, I come out a stronger, smarter, more grateful human being in all aspects of my life.
A: I plan to use my previous classroom experience as a professional attribute during my service. The leadership and communication skills that I was able to develop while teaching in the classroom will surely be beneficial in my new classroom experience during my service. I also plan to use the organizational skills that I used both in the classroom and as a camp counselor during my service as well; those past experiences allowed me to learn how to adapt to many situations and use my creativity to the best of my ability.
B: In order to help host country partners meet their expressed needs I would first listen to exactly what it is they want or need and then figure out how these desires would positively (and/or negatively) affect their community. After clearly defining the needs of the hosts, I would do my best to work with them and initiate a way to get their ideas off the ground; I think that because there will probably be a language divide, it will be very important to make sure that all the needs and wants of the host country partners are clearly explained and established before any big moves or decisions are made. This is vital to assuring that the end result of a project/task will actually be what they needed in the first place. With that said, it is extremely important that listen to people and try to understand their situation.
C: I think that the main strategy that I will have for adapting to a new culture will be to learn the history behind why/when certain things are/are not done in the country. Understanding why people do certain things is one of the best ways to appreciate why it is they do the things they do; and this understanding can come from learning the history behind cultural customs. With respect to my own culture, I will focus on how important and special my culture is to me and just think about how important their own culture must be to them. Another strategy I have is that I will do my best not to take any situation or opportunity for granted; when offered a food that I’ve never heard of before or invited to do something I’ve never done before I will always remind myself that what I am doing is something that many people will never have the chance to do or see. Hopefully that attitude will help me to actively participate in my new culture and community and thereby help me to adapt easily.
D: The most important skill that I believe I can learn during my pre-service training is the language! I just feel that when it comes to truly helping people and giving them what they need, it is imperative that nothing gets lost in translation. Communication is key in all relationships in life and this is no more evident than in the relationship between a volunteer and the community in which he/she works. Along with language I hope to gain knowledge about the political climate of the country as well as its societal norms and taboos. Having a well rounded understanding of my future community and project will help me to make prudent decisions, both personal and professional, during my service.
E: I think that the Peace Corps will influence the way I do business in my life; not only will it affect the way in which I do business in professional relationships but it will also affect how I do business in personal relationships. I think that the way that I look at the world will be different and that I will have much more drive and confidence to change the things that I believe are wrong or unfair. I think that after my service I will have a much better idea of what career path I want to take. As far as personal aspirations are concerned, I am sure that the way in which I spend my money, my time and my efforts will be greatly influenced by my experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer. To put it plainly, I hope that after my service, I come out a stronger, smarter, more grateful human being in all aspects of my life.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Procrastination!!
AGGHHHH!!!! i am procrastinating sooo badly!!!! I really need to get it together and finish my friggin aspiration statement...i've only been working on it for like two weeks, no big deal haha. They shoulda never told me that I didn't have to adhere to the 10 day deadline thing since i'm not leaving for like 5 months! Because now i'm just bein ridiculous!! I guess old habits die hard....but this ain't some college English class this is like, uh.... MUY IMPORTANTE
so hopefully you will see my aspiration statement up here soon. it just feels so hard to write cuz i feel stupid writing it. like, who wants to sit and type pages about how useful their skills are and how theyplan to deal with a situation which they've never before in their lives dealt with??!? uh....yeah its a bit on the difficult side.
but i gotta run to Bible study ya'll so i'll catch ya later! and the aspirations will be complete!!!!
besos!
so hopefully you will see my aspiration statement up here soon. it just feels so hard to write cuz i feel stupid writing it. like, who wants to sit and type pages about how useful their skills are and how theyplan to deal with a situation which they've never before in their lives dealt with??!? uh....yeah its a bit on the difficult side.
but i gotta run to Bible study ya'll so i'll catch ya later! and the aspirations will be complete!!!!
besos!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
.::Photos::.
Ok, so posting pictures on this blog is proving to be a royal pain in the ass but I finally figured out to put a link to my pictures in the sidebar on the right of my page. So, if you look to the right you'll see the link "Monica's Photo Gallery" and just click that and there ya go! My pics! haha
Well that's all I wanted to say for now. I said I'd post the reaction pics that my mom took when i got my invitation so I wanted to make sure I posted them ASAP.
have a blessed sunday!
besos!
monica
Well that's all I wanted to say for now. I said I'd post the reaction pics that my mom took when i got my invitation so I wanted to make sure I posted them ASAP.
have a blessed sunday!
besos!
monica
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