Friday, June 27, 2008

June 27, 2008

Time for Celebration and Reflection!

Thursday evening was a time to celebrate our successes as Global Volunteers. Some team members enjoyed an evening at a local jazz club, while the rest were treated to a very elegant dinner with Carl and Esperanza at San Miguelitos. The decor was authentic and reflected the flavor of Mexico, but even more important, the evening gave us an opportunity to appreciate our diverse group and all we have accomplished in our mission.

But where has the time gone? Less than two weeks ago, 14 volunteers were streaming into Querétaro, full of questions and anticipation. Most of us had NO IDEA what our volunteer experience would be like! Uncertainty reigned. But now, we are experts at introducing ourselves, we know which photos to share, and most of all, we know how to make the UTEQ students feel at ease and encourage them as they work to master the English language. For days we worried about what lessons we´d be expected to follow, but now we "go with the flow."

We have learned that in some ways, the students resemble our own; they share interests in music, movies, food and sports. Yet two things stand out: their close bond with their families, and their sincere appreciation for their opportunity to obtain a quality education.

The students, with the encouragement of their teachers, are curious about us and abour our country. They want to know about our families, our favorite music, and even our marital status! But from them we learn about the history and culture of Mexico, and the places they are so proud of: Chiapas, Veracruz, and Guanajuato, among others.

But they are a thoughtful lot, too. At the end of one class, the teacher announced that there were two minutes left and to say our "good-byes." I asked the students if they had any questions for me. Immediately Antonio asked, "What do you think about the situation in your country?" Puzzled, I asked, "What situation?" "Oh, the war, immigration, oil and drugs." I laughed and said, "Antonio, all of that would take an hour!" Fortunately, I did get an opportunity to meet with him again, and we made time for an in-depth discussion, and from that, we both learned much.

As we prepare to return home, I´d like to end with a statement from an UTEQ student. He spoke aloud what countless others have thought. He shook my hand and told me, "Thank you so much for coming. I like this when we get authentic English speakers so we can learn from people who speak the language everyday."

And so, our mission in Querétaro has been accomplished!


Thought for the Day:

There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

June 26, 2008

Eunice presented us with a Song of the Day:

Out on the highways and byways of life
Many are weary and sad.
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife
Making the sorrowing glad.
Give as was given to you in your need
Love as the master loved you
Be to the helpless a helper indeed
Unto your vision be true.

Make me a blessing, make me a blessing
Out of my life may Jesus shine
Make me a blessing, oh Savior, I pray
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

June 25, 2008

Our team has now completed seven days of volunteer work and we have 3 more working days ahead of us! Yahoo!

On Monday night Carl shared with us our first day's comments on what motivated us to come together in Querétaro in the middle of Mexico. We are a unique, diversified group of talented people with the shared vision to be of service to others, to experience personal growth and to have the opportunity to learn about others in a new culture. Each of us may use different words to summarize the vision; however, we all can agree that we are here to share of ourselves with the lovely students and teachers of UTEQ´s English Department.

For today´s journal entry, I thought it would be interesting to look at our volunteer work from a different perspective. I tried to quantify the work we will have completed by this Friday. This summary is a reference and is not official:

Completed/Activity Description:
522 hours- Working with students including evenings and Saturday
13 hours- Global Volunteers meetings (orientation, morning team meetings, etc.)
20 hours- Transportation (round trip hotel to UTEQ)
555 hours TOTAL

Another way to view the 555 hours is that it would take one person working 40 hours/week over 14 weeks to complete the work we have done in 10 days!

This total does not include the approximately 60 meals we will have shared by the time we complete our volunteer work in Querétaro. Nor does it include the time and effort done by Carl.

Each of us had a personal story we can share about how our heart has been touched by the experience in Querétaro. The moments have been as simple as a quiet thank you by a student or teacher at the end of the class, a smile in the eyes of a student that understood the English words when you spoke, and as large as being invited to a student´s home for a 25th wedding anniversary or to lunch at their home. We have also been touched by the kindness of our fellow team members as we work together to bring the best of ourselves to student interaction.

Thought of the Day:

How can I say good-bye when I am just learning how to say hello?

Monday, June 23, 2008

June 23, 2008

The second week begins. We are now three less volunteers but just as motivated. At the 7 A. M. breakfast meeting, Carl hashes out the week´s schedule with opportunities to visit homes of students and evening classes.

We have a different driver this morning--maybe we wore out Arturo. In the van, the group (team) seems lively and energetic, for a Monday. The air is always cool and refreshing in the morning, the best part of the day.

My first period assignment was tutoring but no students came. Later I went to Bere and Eve´s classes. Students always listen keenly but sometimes it takes a while for them to open up. Generally about the time I am getting more students to speak, the session ends. I just hope this exposure will help them become more confident for the next time. My last two groups were more talkative. We had some great laughs together, humor being the best communicator. Example: Question: What book are you reading now? Answer: Playboy. I enjoy talking sports to some of the boys. One student played NCAA football in Miami, Florida last year.

For lunch Carl took the team to a local "fonda." This is a small mom and pop restaurant. The cook didn´t now we were coming but she adjusted quickly and accommodates with a smile. I thought the restaurant looked clean and cheery with flowers, curtains and a children´s area. Food was served quickly. I look forward to eating there again.

Jan and I were taken out to lunch by Gonzalo and Raul who teach in the IT program at UTEQ. We went to a local taco restaurant. I ate 4 spicy tacos which surprised Raul and Gonzalo. We enjoyed great adult conversation for over 2 hours, which ran the gamut from politics to Apple computers. It was the end to a perfect day.

Highlights of the first week:

  • Our team members have traveled all over the world which makes for wonderful conversations.
  • Several team members have served Global Volunteers two or more times.
  • We range from age 16-76.
  • We live all over the USA from California to the Midwest to the East Coast.
  • Several are educators or retired from the field of education.
  • We all have a desire to serve others and Be Servant Learners.
  • We are all adventuresome and curious about world cultures.
  • Waking up before dawn and hearing the sounds of the Mexican workers sweeping the streets. The people of Queretaro are very proud of their city and keep it clean and well-landscaped.
  • The very cool, crisp mountain morning air which will get quite hot by 4 P. M.
  • The sun not rising until after 7 A. M.
  • Entering the dark hallways to go to breakfast at 6:00 for our two 7 A. M. classes.
  • The 30-minute bus ride with Arturo through the city to UTEQ.
  • On the way to UTEQ, seeing many international companies such as Peugot, Volkswagon, Gerber, Bombadier, Wal-Mart and Pilgrim´s Pride and many more, which makes learning English (the national language of the business world) so critical for the students at UTEQ.
  • Eating at many local restaurants, listening to music in the plazas, museums, churches, the Aquaducto, walking among the local people, shopping at Woolworth Mexicana, Farmacia Guadalahara and other wonderful markets.
  • Our Saturday side trip to San Miguel de Allende and an appreciation for their arts and crafts
  • Our Sunday side trip to Bernal, the Magnetic Mountain and to Tequisquiapan, an authentic Mexican village and the beautiful countryside
  • Montezuma´s Revenge, sore throats and respiratory infections-- we have shared medicines, visited the doctor at UTEQ and all hope to be recovering!
  • Three team members completed their one week of service and have departed to other cities. We will miss them.
But the most important highlights were our experiences with the students at UTEQ! We all agree that these young people are phenomenal. The students are respectful, polite, cooperative, motivated and so interested in learning English! Their dedication and motivation give us energy. Their smiles, bright eyes and attention to every word is gratifying beyond words.

The instructors have allowed us many opportunities with the students as well as actually teaching lessons, playing games and singing songs. Several of the team members are professional educators and we admit these students may be the most motivated we have ever taught!

  • Several team members turored night classes on Wed. and Friday. The night classes are smaller with more adult students. The conversations we had with the older students who are more knowledgeable about world events were very enlightening. We enjoyed hearing about politics, government, international events and world trade.
  • Two team members were invited to a student´s parents´anniversary party on Wed. night.
  • Two team members were invited home with 2 students on Friday. Grandma Gloria (Jackie´s abuela) prepared delicious sopes. Both of these events are great honors!!
  • A team member spent his Saturday working with the students at UTEQ.
  • UTEQ is a lovely campus at the edge of the city. Students are studying technical careers and hope to complete 2 year degrees so they may find employment in the many industries in their city.
  • Most students have said they prefer to live in Querétaro but have a desire to speak English to advance their careers.
  • Four members toured the Avionics building where the students are being trained for employment with Bombadier, a Canadian company. Half of the avionic technical students are female! How wonderful is this!
  • It is really neat to see students in the hallway, outside, and in the cafeteria and they recognize us and say hello!
  • Now we eagerly approach our second week working with the students.
  • A quote from the volunteer manual: "This is travel that feeds the soul. Everyone benefits and because of the servant-learner, the world is a better place."
Personally, I know I will be a better teacher when I return home because I have witnessed some wonderful teaching methods from Diego, Juan Luis, Deya, Moni and Fer. They fully engage all students in small group interactions, use games and employ the Socratic method. I will always remember Juan Luis asking his students: "Tell me more." "What else do you know about?" And I will always remember hearing the teachers say to us as we left the Language office and headed off to class, "Let´s go!"

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Shakers and Movers

Increasingly as the week progressed, I believe the group could be labeled the "shakers and movers." Some of us have moved multiple times within the hotel. We are moving about the campus and central Querétaro freely--not fearing being lost or feeling uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. Our shaking? Last evening there was some booty shaking in the clubs as several of our members went dancing. Others of us have been shaking as we cough, as we wretch--okay, some of us had to deal with some travelers sickness. The campus infirmary has become our friend and the doctor our buddy.

As the week has progressed, we have been shaken and moved by the students who have touched our lives. We have shared our native language skills and we have bonded with the students. At meal time we share our wonderful anecdotes of our successes and our frustrations.

How quickly these days have passed as the first week draws to a close. Tomorrow some of us will move on, whether returning home or continuing travel. However, there will not be good-byes, only "Hasta la vista y vaya con Dios."


Thought for the Day:

We are not victims of our circumstances--we are the creators.

"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

--Emerson

"Be the change you want to see in the world."
--Mahatma Gandhi

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Angels and Demons

We are an eclectic group! We are teachers and student, artist and actor, business women and retired persons, missionary and sinners, mother and child, mentor and protege! We bring a plethora of talents, skills and ideas to the table.

We can at times be demons. The early wake-up calls, the screwy schedules, the noise in the courtyard and pillows like cement bring out a bit of evil in us.

Our angel side reveals itself in the joy we share working with the students (also known as "kids.") We see it in our growing concern and caring fellowship for each other.

I think the angels in us are winning!


Thoughts for the Day:

"Happiness is not having what you want.
Happiness is wanting what you have."

"I shall tell you a great secret, my friend.
Do not wait for the last judgment.
It takes place every day."
--Albert Camus

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

June 17, 2008

I have a philosophy which indicates when to go, how, why and where. I will say, "I am hot for _____." If I have the five essentials, Go!

"I" stands for interest. Fourteen people have shown interest today in ancient Mexico, shopping, drinking Margaritas and Tequila, resting, walking and dancing.

"M" stands for money. We all needed a bunch of it to get here and volunteer with Global Volunteers, some of which goes into the economy of the community and country and some to satisfy our wants and needs.

"H" is for health.
Physical- No one has succumbed to illness yet although we lost two volunteers before we even started.
Spiritual- We need to know why we are doing this.
Mental- I think we all still have that!
Social- We´ve gotten along fairly well so far.
Emotional- There´s nothing we have not been able to work through.

"O" is for opportunity. We have been taking advantage of our opportunity to teach English to University students in groups of 1-6 for four hours a day.

"T" is for time. We have spent our time building positive relationships with students and faculty, having an adventure through service and seeking peace through understanding.

This time "I´m hot" for Mexico. I M H O T. Having those five, I hope I and my colleagues will make a difference in Mexico through our travels.


Thoughts for the Day:

The first is from Helen Keller:
Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.

The second is an old Chinese proverb:
If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.

June 17, 2008

I have a philosophy which indicates when to go, how, why and where. I will say, "I am hot for _____." If I have the five essentials, Go!

"I" stands for interest. Fourteen people have shown interest today in ancient Mexico, shopping, drinking Margaritas and Tequila, resting, walking and dancing.

"M" stands for money. We all needed a bunch of it to get here and volunteer with Global Volunteers, some of which goes into the economy of the community and country and some to satisfy our wants and needs.

"H" is for health.
Physical- No one has succumbed to illness yet although we lost two volunteers before we even started.
Spiritual- We need to know why we are doing this.
Mental- I think we all still have that!
Social- We´ve gotten along fairly well so far.
Emotional- There´s nothing we have not been able to work through.

"O" is for opportunity. We have been taking advantage of our opportunity to teach English to University students in groups of 1-6 for four hours a day.

"T" is for time. We have spent our time building positive relationships with students and faculty, having an adventure through service and seeking peace through understanding.

This time "I´m hot" for Mexico. I M H O T. Having those five, I hope I and my colleagues will make a difference in Mexico through our travels.


Thoughts for the Day:

The first is from Helen Keller:
Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.

The second is an old Chinese proverb:
If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing.
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.

Monday, June 16, 2008

June 16, 2008

On our first day we were invited to a breakfast in our honor at the university. We met the teachers and for the first time a department/major head spoke to us about his major, Environmental Technology. This was new and we could tell he was a bit nervous but we appreciated the effort. We then interacted with the students for 3 hours and it was a great experience for everyone. After school we returned to the Hotel Hidalgo and continued our cultural exploration through the city. During dinner we made plans for the weekend and for volunteering for the Saturday classes.

Another first for the program: We have been invited to have dinner in the homes of some of the students and professors! Several volunteers are very interested and excited about this opportunity.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Team arrives in Querétaro

As with any team that is new, there are stages that must be experienced: storming, forming, norming and performing. During the orientation session today our team was in the storming phase for sure. There was apparently different expectations for the university, Global Volunteers and the volunteers. Poor Carl was caught in the middle of making everyone satisfied--I´m sure he will prevail! In the end, we must remember we are here for the benefit of the students.

It´s an awesome experience we have to be invited into another country´s culture and I challenge us all to leave our own cultural experiences behind to fully engage in this gift. Through our team building exercises we have learned that we are a diverse, educated, spirited and opinionated group of people excited to mke a difference here.