I spent a lovely quiet New Year's in site. During the day I got some lesson planning done and cooked a big New Year's Eve meal. I made garlic mashed potatoes, lentils with onion and garlic, chicken with taco seasoning and onions that would have been part of the cheddar cheese quesadillas I was going to make, salad dressing for a salad of carrots (the cucumbers were spoiled), and some chicha de naranjilla (juice from a fruit that is like a lemon and an orange put together).
I didn't end up eating any of that though because Prima invited me to dinner where we had rice with guandu (a kind of bean), pork, and a salad of potatoes and carrots with mayonnaise. It was really good. There were a ton of fireworks that night and some people burned the "old year" in the form of a muñeco (doll) stuffed with straw to represent giving themselves a fresh start for the new year. I chose to celebrate in a calmer way, so at midnight I was sitting in bed sewing and watching Tangled.
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For the next few weeks I'm going to be participating in a blogging challenge called Blogging Abroad for people living, working and volunteering abroad, so bear with me as I introduce myself.
For our first "prompt" we've been asked to write about why we're living abroad. As I'm relatively close to the 12 month mark of my Peace Corps experience (and it's a new year) it's also a great opportunity to reevaluate my goals and look back on my experience to date.
Here we go:
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| A beach on Long Island |
My name is Kara and I grew up on Long Island in New York. I went to college at American University in Washington, DC where I graduated with a dual BA in Spanish and International Studies with a focus on Peace and conflict resolution. After college I started working in the DC professional theater scene as a stage manager, electrician, and sometimes carpenter. I loved being surrounded by art and artists all the time and the feeling of actively creating something.
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| Assistant Stage Managing in DC |
After a few years I wanted some more stability than the freelance life offered, I was interested in doing more public service, and I missed living abroad. I'd been interested in Peace Corps since I first heard about it in college, but it was never the right time to actually finish my application, until it was. Juggling 4 or more jobs just got exhausting, but I was still nervous about changing my entire life.
After I applied I waited 2 months to have an interview where I was nominated for a volunteer position with the Education sector and then I waited 6 months to be invited to serve in Panama and then I waited 9 months to leave for service. It was a long (and sometimes) frustrating process, but I'm so glad I stuck it out. The application process has since completely changed.
After joining the Peace Corps in February 2015 I went through three months of pre-service training with 23 other Peace Corps Teaching English Trainees. At the end of the sixth week of training we received our site announcements where we would be living and working for the next two years. I've now been in the Peace Corps for just over 10 months and been a volunteer for just under 8 months.
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| Swearing In Ceremony, May 2015 |
I knew I loved teaching and that I wanted to make a positive impact in the world and improve my Spanish, but that was where my initial expectations and hopes ended.
After training that changed a bit.
So, How'd Ya Do?
I present a report card on a summary of my goals to date:
- Integrate into my Community:
- School: A-
- Community: C
I worked really hard to create relationships with my counterpart teachers at school and with the students and was really successful. I was less successful in integrating into my community. I have a pretty big site and the heat and my own introverted nature made getting to know people hard. I have some really good friends in site and I'm planning on making more in the coming year.
- Teach a Community English Class: E (for Effort)
Didn't happen. I tried to organize it, but it never came together. I'm planning on starting a class in February or March once school starts again.
- Start an English Club for students: E
Also didn't happen. The timing was poor with the November holidays and the end of the school year. Another goal for March.
- Organizing a book drive and create a reading club for students: E
- Read books, learn how to sew, write letters, generally have fun: A
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I'm really excited to continue to share my passions for learning (about everything from the correct way to cook lentils to teaching methodologies and equal access to education) and art with Panamanians, PCVs, and the Internet. I guess my overarching dream would be to infect people with curiosity about the world and all of the beautiful plurality and diversity that exists.
Also, I have a cat named Canela and I love her very much.
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| Lady Canela in a hammock |
Some New Year's Resolutions:
- Get better at Spanish
- Learn how to cook (specifically things with vegetables)
- Become more confident at public speaking
"If you judge people you have no time to love them"
-Mother Theresa
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| Blogging Abroad's Boot Camp Blog Challenge: Starting January 2015 |
Hi Kara. I'm excited to have you in the Blog Challenge! I like your idea of "grading" yourself on past goals. And we share one of your future resolutions: get better at Spanish!
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