Summary of my time

My average days, though planned for the most part, have come to be quite unpredictable. Although I have a routine, marking all my stops to my end-of-day-destination, the in between is paved by winding roads, narrow alleyways, and dead ends. It’s good to never get too comfortable, and I can assure you, that won’t be a problem for life here. 

The work I’m doing is simple enough, but, when put into context, may prove to be a bit challenging. It’s just regular life -meals, chores, school- but it’s not meant for me. For the last few months especially, my routine has been to serve myself. Don’t get me wrong; it’s never been in a selfish way. I try to make things I do matter to people around me. But I had no real direction in what I was doing, why I was there. I felt like I was floating around in limbo between school and this internship. Eleven months is a long time to tread. So, though I did my best to make the most of my time, this is a nice change of pace, where I see a specific goal to be accomplished, and I daily work to make that happen. 

By some beautiful chance of fate, I found myself last week giving an English lesson on parts of speech, which most would find tedious and dreadful, rather I was so happy to do it. There are also little preparations to be made for meals around the house, which I, along with the girls, help with. Another responsibility of mine has come to be facilitating a “craft” time with the girls. I opened up their craft cupboard to see what we’re working with, and a slew of beads, paints, canvases, and yarn covered the shelves. Needless to say, I am living the dream, perfectly constructed for me and my quirky (some might say ‘dorky’) interests. 

There is no way, however, that I am giving here more than I am receiving. I learn something new every day, dare I say every hour. The girls, co-workers, new friends, and city all have offered me so much. I’ve had to talk slower, speak simpler, and have become one of the best charades players I know. I have to be sure not to make promises I cannot keep, because disappointment runs deep. When working with people, I have to remember that being ‘off of work’ doesn’t mean ‘out of their lives,’ so no matter where I am, there’s always something I can do. I’ve learned how well I can sing Toni Braxton’s “Unbreak My Heart,” and also how difficult it is to sing while attempting to waltz, tango, or swing. I am able (though barely) to make that popping noise when you flick your finger on the inside of your cheek. It’s still a little uncomfortable to me when people cry, especially when I don’t speak their language to offer any comfort, and yet, sometimes, what is there to say anyways? It’s good to cry, and it’s good to feel, and it’s good to cry and feel for others. I’ve barely learned the Greek alphabet, let alone any words, but I’ve found that I can understand a lot just by hearing someone’s tone of voice. 

It’s true that love is universal, and I’ve found that fun and laughter are, too. I find myself consistently laughing, even though it’s hard to carry a strong, intelligible conversation. Maybe our enjoyment for others gets overshadowed by our need for intellect. We often times strive for this sense of superiority, sophistication. I think enjoyment in life is so simple, or at least it can be. There is this basic thread that weaves its way through all of us, connecting us in some beautiful way. We don’t need to try. It doesn’t require a great effort or a service trip or a sense of we’re helping them. I think becoming a community, really understanding that we all have something to contribute, and we all have something to receive, is what will make us our best. And once there, we will find ourselves with more to offer, and know that there is still so much more to learn.