So my last update was about the emotional rollercoaster I experienced after going home in August. This time, I'd like to focus on what I'm actually working on in my second year of Peace Corps service as a volunteer. But also, special shoutout to my team 517-11-02 because tomorrow marks 1 year of actual volunteer service in the D.R. It has been filled with a lot of tears, smiles, goodbyes, lifetime forming friendships, adventures, bolas, oatmeal with raisins, yucca yucca yucca, salami's fall from grace, laughter, lots of carro rides, lots of walking, plenty of praying, not enough praying, Caribe tours, and visits to and from some of my favorite people here, uncertainty, undeniable reassurance, and many hugs! I would not trade or take this experience for granted, and I am reminded to live in and appreciate each moment (especially on those days when I wonder exactly what I'm doing here).
The last 2 months have been exceptionally gratifying and extremely busy as well. I've developed some really amazing relationships with my youth, and strengthend relationships with some of the people that I work with. The past 2 months have not been without various trials, one of which was not being able to get to the gym for over a month, but I think I'm in a really good place now.
Here is what my last 2 months have been all about: capacity building, my goal has been to prepare my youth to effectively run groups when I am not here, because in reality by this time next year, I will not be here. But before I got to that point, I spent the first 2 weeks after my vacation to the states adjusting to the fact that we have a new directora in my org (in fact I think I'm still adjusting). I basically went through a proving process via reports on what I've done (results focused), my plans for the upcoming semester, descriptions of the Peace Corps programs I work in, and how I divide my time between both centers. I found nothing about this process to be gratifying, it was stressful and I was missing the previous directora who I love and treated me like her daughter. My relationship with the new directora is still a work in progress, but we are both interested in the same thing, supporting youth in Santiago, so I think we will be just fine =)
After that, I presented to the incoming group about my experiences as a volunteer in an urban setting which was really cool. Any opportunities to reflect on my experiences and what I see everyday is humbling because I get to do this (shoutout to TDP + my trainers). Then I went with 2 youth leaders from the then newly formed youth group to Celebrando el Mundo, which is a camp about diversity awareness and appreciation. I didn't know it then, but these youth have been essential to my integration into their youth group, this group trusts me and we have done a lot of programs together so far (with a lot more to go!)
The following week, I re-started my groups of Chicas Brillantes and Chicos Superman, both of which have been the centerpieces of my work in my community center. Then I had a volunteer visit from the trainees, where Deandra came to experience my life as a volunteer. It was a surreal feeling, being a "expert" for someone else on the volunteer experience while I am still trying to figure this out myself. It was really fun hanging out with her and I tried to make her volunteer visit as eventful and fun as mine was with Vicky. We visited both centers, karaoke night at a colmado, went to a VIP style club, walked the community, started my volleyball group, went to Monte Cristi to hang with other volunteers, and went to El Moro which is a beautiful and and quiet beach.
After that, I started my leadership development entrenamiento for my DPV trainers so that we could plan out who partners with who in which communities, review what we've done, do some team building and create some personal, career, and DPV goals. DPV is probably my favorite program because of the involvement of Dominican partners, and the curriculum reminds me of my College Summit rap director manual. Some of my trainers then came with me the very next day to a regional Deportes conference where we discussed program updates, presented what we've done since May and what we hope to accomplish by December.
The following weekend we had our "Con Ojos Abiertos" program that focused on diversity awareness, HIV/AIDS prevention and nutrition. This was my first major event geared towards older youth (14-25) in my community. The two youth who went to Celebrando el Cibao, plus 2 of my awesome DPV trainers, plus some of my amazing Chicas leaders, and Sam, one of my favorite volunteers all pitched in to form the awesome team of people who organized the event. It was also my first event where I spent a majority of my time during the day facilitating (shout out to my improved Spanish) and although the group was a little talkative (I'll call it their adjustment to day long mini conferences) but they def left with accurate info on HIV/AIDS and how to protect themselves, strong sentiments on discrimination after the Archie Bunker game, and knowledge of more programs that they can come to the Community Center for (Escojo mi Vida, Chicas brillantes, deportes para la vida).
All in all, I forgot to take my rest and relaxtion (R&R) days in September, but it was a very fulfilling month workwise. There must be something about year 2 as a PCV, because there are a lot more people who know about my programs and projects, and would like to work with me. I can now warmly reflect on all of those tough times year 1 as setting the stage for all of the positive interactions, interest, and support my barrios are showing me in year 2.
Stay tuned for my October review next time around.
