"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself" -George Bernard Shaw

After reading Shaw's quotation, I realized that this trip is not just going to happen and change my life. I am going to have to make it life-changing. For the past couple of months, I have been a bit uneasy about revisiting the place, which opened my eyes to the global inequities and sparked my passion for social justice. Four years ago, I left El Progreso, Honduras determined to return and better its environment and community members' lives. So, I had placed quite a large task in my hands. Up until today, I was more scared for this trip than anything else--scared of disappointing El Progreso, my grandfather, and myself.

Today I tried to push those fears aside and begin working on my agenda for the 5 weeks I will be in Progreso. Just sitting down and envisioning what I will be doing makes my mission much less daunting. However, with so much to do at home for the fund (New fundraiser kick off for Benjamin Royer's Appalachian Trail "Hike for Honduras", partnering with Better World Books, and other fundraisers), I'm going to have to kick it into high gear and get to work. While I still can't really plan ahead for the life-changing part of the trip, I have an idea of some of the experiences that will definitely be influential.

I aim to collect some media to use in a mix of social documentary photography and videography. Through my service, I have learned that often the best service we can do is to simply open one's eyes to the ways others live their lives. So, upon returning, I will compose a social documentary, exposing the raw lives of the Honduran locals and showing the reality of the regional issues that we are so far removed from. I also hope to improve the environmental sustainability of the organizations I will be working with. Already, the Pronino detox centers (where I will be working most of the time) have free-range cattle and chickens, a biofuel supply, a talapia farm, and a garden. Unfortunately, the garden was ruined in the recent flooding, so maybe I will devote the majority of my time to recreating the garden with the kids there. For now, I will be working on these upcoming fundraisers, and creating an environmental curriculum to teach at the John Grove High School.

Let the learning begin!

So this is somewhat backwards, as my first official day of service is tomorrow. Day 1 of 11 full (5 day) weeks of 8 to 5 work in the Outreach department of Polk County's Supervisor of Elections Office. It is definitely going to be a learning experience - hence the title of this post :) I am really looking forward to the person to person work, but to be completely honest, I am really nervous! I'm expected at the office by 7:40 for coffee in the break room with my new team members. I might bring a tea bag, since coffee 1) is addictive 2) requires sugar (at least for me it does and I'm trying to cut back on that) and 3) isn't nearly as yummy and healthy as green tea.

Instead of living at home, my parents have graciously allowed me to "rent" a small apartment from them. This apartment happens to be the same one I grew up in when it was just me, mom, and daddy. :) Kinda cool. Also weird.

I'm desperate for one more grade to be posted on Banner web. Anyone care to comment with the date grades are due? I'm doing great so far, but this one remaining grade is the only one worrying me!

The Civil Rights Travel Experience is going to be so eye opening. I'm finishing up the first book, God's Long Summer, and I am in awe of how much the ideals behind the movement are the same ones that (should) shape the concept of community engagement and the Bonner program itslef.

I miss the Seniors - now Stetson Grads - so much already! If any of you read this, thanks for 2 wonderful years of friendship!

So, tomorrow I plunge feet first into the water. I shouldn't be nervous; I have volunteered there for the past 6 years (whoa, typing that has made me realize just how old I am and how young I was!). I shall update you henceforth weekly, maybe more. I really enjoy blogging, I'm just not good at keeping up with a personal blog.

Have a great day, whoever you are reading this!

It's different when you're there the whole day.

SoS Week 1

I officially kicked off my summer of service by going on a field trip with my fifth graders as a chaperone. We went to Canaveral Seashore National Park in new Smyrna. There were about sixty students, two chaperones per class and the teacher. We got to get in the Mosquito Lagoon (a nursery) and net for baby water creatures. It was really neat to see the students engage in the activities. They take what they learn outside of the classroom and bring it back and vice versa, which is one of the main goals of education.
Day 3: The teacher was out today so naturally, we had a substitute. He was the most aggravating and incompetent substitute ever...he's been one for seven years, however, he is use to subbing for high schoolers and NOT fifth graders. He didn't realize that they need more attention, direction and discipline. He literally told me to "yell" at the kids too so that he doesn't always seem like the bad guy. HELLO!! Who is the sub here? Granted, I did have to step in because the students listened to me better than they did him. At one point he left me alone in the room with the kids so he could use the restroom (which he was not allowed to do) so I had to ask the teacher next door if I could leave the door open. Overall, it was a rough day, but I can't really expect too much more. Kids will react to the grown-up, but if the grow-up isn't doing his/her part then the reaction will be negative.
One day during lunch, the teacher and I were talking about the students and it was really discouraging to hear that she is able to pick out who will be successful and who will not. They are only fifth graders! Don't get me wrong...the teacher is one of the best. But she said that no matter how hard she tries in the classroom...there is only so much she can do because the kids go home to the same environment everyday. That is something she can't change.
The rest of the week went pretty well. I caught up the teacher with grading and helped her with other things in after-school care. The kids are getting use to the fact that I am there the whole day. They keep asking if I'm staying and if I'll be there tomorrow. It's only the beginning of May, yet I'm already sad that they are going off to middle school next fall. There's only about a month left.

It Begins

So after settling in and having a day or two to explore the city, the Salvation Army put me to work. Yesterday I worked in what they call 'die Insel', which translates to 'the island', and is a cafe more or less for underprivileged/poor people. I can't be sure but I think most of the people who come in aren't homeless. I think sometimes it becomes a place for people who don't have, or don't feel that they have, a community of their own and so die Insel becomes a place where they feel welcome and can relate to the other people.

The cafe sells food and drinks for €-.50 but gives tea out for free. I work with another volunteer, he comes from northern Germany and his name is Manuel. We have a lot of fun together and when it gets slow in the cafe we give each other lessons on how to speak our respective native languages... it gets interesting. Our cook, her name is Maria, is really funny too and has a great personality. Though die Insel isn't the most exciting place to work for 5 hours, it goes by quickly with the people I'm working with.

I'm still SUPER jet-lagged but I hope that feeling will go away soon. I met some new friends that go to the local university here from my friend Jessica Moon who goes to Stetson. We went out the other night to a local Irish Pub which gives lessons to its patrons on how to dance...Irishly?? and had a lot of fun, hopefully we can do that again soon.

Summer of Young Life, Week 1: So, I ate a goldfish.

I am half way through my first week of summer of service for my service site at Young Life. So far it has been very hectic. Not only did I move into a new home (the Wesley House), but I also got my transportation this week (my new road bike). Here is what it looks like so far:

I will give you some updates on that soon.

Also, moving into the Wesley House allows my roommate and I to cook. Here is our latest creation: Too large cookies

But, enough about that, and more about my actual service. Monday night we had our last regular club, which was senior night. In other words, the Deland seniors ran the club and we just made sure everything went smoothly. In one of the mixer games (in which everyone is involved) we told them that the first team to be completely covered in newspaper wins:


It’s definitely a classic. I had a great time with my seniors after club at Groundchuck’s also.

Tuesday was even crazier because we cleaned up from the club of the night before. We had some YL girls come over and help out, and in return they received money for camp. Now, YL camp is something that we push for students to go to all year. The only problem is it is really expensive. Luckily, throughout the summer we do all sorts of fundraisers and kids work for their money. This week has been spring cleaning week for our YL house and what better way to do it than to higher some kids. So, yesterday we filled about 8 giant garbage bags with newspaper and other things thrown around the house. We swept and mopped and organized and we still aren’t done. So just working around the house and hanging out the girls received about $80 for camp just in one day. This, of course is great for them and an awesome bonding experience for us.
Oh man, talk about bonding experiences, the girls received an extra $10 to eat a live goldfish from the club skit the night before. After they had done it, and after much persuasion, my awesome area director said, “And because Abbey loves you guys so much, and wants to show here support in any possible way, she too will eat a live goldfish.” !!!??! Thanks Aaron…you’re awesome.

Arriving In Deutschland

So the plane ride to Germany was loooooooooooooong. Thanks to Iceland's hissy fit the day before, we had to go up over Iceland flying above Greenland (amazing views btw) to avoid the ominous ash cloud. After my 10 hour flight I had a 2 hour layover at the Frankfurt train station and then a 2 hour train trip to Freiburg where I currently am. I met my host family, they are amazing, and have awesome kids. I'm really jetlagged and cannot wait to sleep tonight. Tomorrow I'm going to one of my host family's children's english classes or something, they say they're going to slowly build the work load as the weeks progress... we'll see how that goes.

I need to go shopping for some sweet German clothes.

Maria's SoS - Week 1

So, technically this blog is about last week. But we won't tell anyone that.

I began my Summer of Service on a beautiful (and stifling hot) Tuesday morning. Amanda had given me several "assignments" the day before, as she would be out of the office. The day consisted mainly of alphabetizing papers and filing them away. I have been assured that the rest of the summer won't consist of much paperwork, a fact for which I am extremely grateful. I mean, I'll do office work if that's what's needed, but I hope to get out of the office for most of the time and work face-to-face with our community partners.

Until the end of this week (yes, this current week), I'll be working on the Bonner Video Project for SLI. I interviewed several people and gathered hundreds of pictures last week. One video will focus on the Bonner program at Stetson, giving a brief history, a description of the interview process, the FSEM, our T&E, and our main community partners, aimed at prospective Bonner students. Hopefully, this video will go on the wiki after it's finished to use as an "advertisement". The second video falls under the category "Bonner Green," and will highlight Hatter Harvest. This will certainly be a test of my video-making skills, but luckily the technology king Alex Sanchez is lending me a hand with the editing. I'm really excited to see the final result.

What else, what else? I think that's it.

Until next week (well, later this week, technically... :D),

Maria