Bienvenidos to my Blog!

Hello Family, Friends, and Curious Readers,

Thanks for stopping in to see what I am up to. This is my first blog, and I hope not to bore you too much with the details of my life. But rather hope to offer you some insights into development work, the highs, the lows, and well the boring.

But before I move away for 27 months, let me give you a little information about myself before I lose a steady internet connection.

So after graduating from Boston College in 2005, I decided I wanted to learn Spanish and "save the world" so I moved to Cusco, Peru. I began by volunteering for The Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco by researching and writing a small business plan for the organization. I continued to work with the organization until February of 2008, when I returned to the US to prepare for my move to Madrid, Spain for 15 months to study an International MBA at IE Business School. And now, after a year of searching for the perfect development job, and taking odd jobs in the meantime, I have joined the Peace Corps and am volunteering again. So wish me luck, and PLEASE someone stop me from volunteering again!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Never was there ever...

Never was there ever a better time to tell people to make good choices than yesterday. We had our despedida (good-bye party) with our youth group. We were able to meet up in the park and then went to the Salvadoran Pupuseria here in Masatepe (something they never get to do based on the cost of eating out vs. eating at home). After about two hours there of eating, certificate presentations and gifts, we went to the park and hung out for a while. If I was ever unsure before about the value the youth group had, I understand it fully now.

When we asked the kids why they joined the group, they simply responded that they wanted to be a part of something. Unlike in the US, where kids participate in any and every activity they can get their hands on (to presumably get into a great College) kids here simply don’t have those types of opportunities. There is no dance club, or environmental club, or public speaking club, and if there were their peers would probably make them feel bad about participating. Being the best and doing anything to get to that position is not part of the culture here. People work as a team, they are part of a collective unit, and they work to push everyone forward. Therefore, we had a hard time getting the youth to volunteer their ideas, but when they did they were exceptionally bright and creative.

Overall, the youth group experience was a great one and I will definitely look into starting one in Matagalpa. After meeting these exceptional young people with all of their amazing and difficult stories, I am proud to have met them and truly hope the best for them. When we parted I gave each of them a hug and told them to make good choices. I sincerely hope they do and can go to the University here and have careers and make a difference in their country’s future.
Posted by at

4 comments:

  1. Betty DoerrJuly 24, 2011 at 10:21 PM

    Oh Vieve, It just strikes me from what you write that we go down there thinking we are the ones bearing gifts, when it is what we receive that is so precious. Has hecho un buen decision.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JohnJuly 25, 2011 at 6:17 PM

    This is Aunt Mary on your pop's iPad, cuz he just got here.
    You are so cool.
    Love you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jonathan DoerrJuly 25, 2011 at 7:41 PM

    Glad to see you're spreading your mantra.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Aunt FranJuly 26, 2011 at 1:23 PM

    Nice that you were able to complete you student group with a celebration. Group work does touch everyone in a special way including those that lead them. Carry on the good efforts!!!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)