Alchemy
Trip Start
Aug 19, 2008
1
20
29
Trip End
Oct 29, 2010
Barahona,
Dominican Republic
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Alchemy
By Justin Lee, CED - Bahoruco, Barahona
"Every person plays a central role in the history of the world, even if he doesn't know it"
-Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
We all have the power to turn something of insignificance into something of value, not unlike an alchemist turning dust into gold. All of us have something innate and confident within us that we can spread like wildfire and positively change a situation or experience. With change, comes challenges. So far, we have all dealt with something that has been a challenge - language, culture, homesickness, lack of motivation, tests of patience, project failures, and/or scorpions crawling inside your mosquitero when you are sleeping, but we have gotten through it in some way or another. We are Peace Corps volunteers and we came here for a specific reason, or maybe many reasons, yet, we are here doing something, whatever that may be. I am a new volunteer and right now the excitement over potential projects, new experiences, and fervor for being a resource to my community overwhelms me, and to be honest, kind of scares me.
I have talked with many volunteers thus far in my months of service (I was even at the exclusive C.O.S. white party in Bahoruco last October*), and in conversations with experienced volunteers, that excitement seemed to have been transformed over time. Not necessarily in a negative fashion, but turned into something of practicality and realism. Volunteers have said to me, in some form or another, that even if we did absolutely nothing; no projects, no activities, no meetings, no conferences, that we have still done something with our simple presence and conversations in our communities. I know so far as a new volunteer, I hardly have anything substantial to put on my Peace Corps resume, other than being voted 'Most likely to be an American tiguere' by my CED sector during training. However, I know that development takes time and that I will eventually have more substantial accounts of my service. Even through training and the time I've been at my site, I have made an impact on people, both Americans and Dominicans. Be it through an exchange of cultures and ideas, clarification of customs and traditions, or just telling a girl in my community, "Hay Americanos que no les gustan comer las hamburguesas de McDonald's," I have done something here. As for now, my presence seems to be building in my community and being a follow up volunteer, maybe I have to work harder, but I'm ready for the challenges that lay ahead. We can all walk around with our heads held high because we really have made a difference by taking that leap of faith and venturing into the unknown. Even now, if I just smile and say "buenos dias" to my vecina or hold out my fist, stick out my elbow, and grunt "BIEN, BIEN!" to the random guy on the street, at least then I have made some sort of presence to better the American image.
Our drive, motivation, and passions brought us here to make a positive difference in the Dominican Republic. We all already turned dust into gold with our presence, so maybe now we can do more to go beyond sensibleness while continuing to be grounded in service. After all, we are Peace Corps volunteers and we can change the world, right?
*Note: At this point in time I instinctively make the movement to "brush the dirt of my shoulders."
Comments
Get it Boy!
I love you still! I'm so glad that even though you are speaking Spanish all the time, you still have your sense of humor! :) You're beautiful, and this was written spectacularly!
Rick Daily