Volunteer work

Greetings from an official Peace Corps Volunteer,
After three months it has finally happened. Training was rough and had a lot of restrictions and I am glad to be out of that routine. I feel so free now and I would like to think I am ready for it.

I started working at my health center today, still getting to know communities and community leaders. Today I accompanied some health center staff out to a community to weight and vaccinated children, just trying to get my face out there and get the people used to seeing a gringa (that's what white people are referred to here). I noticed a lot of need for education in the communities where we were weighing children. It's almost a consistent finding that children start to fall on the growth chart after they are 6 months old, when they are no longer strictly breast fed. This is a great opportunity for me to educated and empower the people to be able to live healthier lives.

I have to admit that I have felt overwhelmed a fair number of times since really taking on my site. Development work is a slow process but the end results are worth their weight in gold. I am just a grain of sand in all the things that Peace Corps has done and for me to become that contribution of a grain of sand it will take me two years of working with community members and empowering them. I think I have my work cut out for me!

The first three months at site promise to bring their difficulties. There is so much that I have to go through to adapt to my community which also includes getting a basic understanding of the mayan language that is spoken here. It looks to be like a good challenge but helpful nonetheless in helping me integrate into my community. I will also have to get to know the community, it's people, resources, common health issues and much more information. I imagine that to be a significant challenge in itself. And of course in all of this I will still be working on perfecting my Spanish.

This experience promises to be one of significant growth. In many ways I will be challenged and in many ways I already have been. I only hope that I can reach my full potential here and not settle for less than my best.

I have an internet connection at my site but it is less than reliable and I am working on getting a better connection. When that comes, I hope to be more consistent in my updates and in putting up pictures.

Until next time,
Kelsey