This past week has been a bit tougher, at least compared to the easy breasy first week. It started with one of the volunteers, who had been sick for several days, catching an early flight home and leaving. Apparently she left her sickness as a parting gift, because two of the other girls got sick. The next day, four other volunteers finished their time here and left as well. On that same day, we found out that the teacher of the school had quit. The next day I got sick to my stomach and had to skip teaching for the day. And then the following day, my bunk mate got even more sick. The kind of sick that makes me extremely uncomfortable to be around... I must say, when you live with the same people in such close quarters, your relationship goes to a whole other level. This group may be just as facinated by bowel movements as I am lol... but back to the trying week. So, after the sickness had made it's way through the group, Amita and Prenay, the husband and wife coordinators of the program, called a team meeting to ask for our feedback and then address some issues. What could have been a very productive meeting, turned into the staff versus the volunteers, who can out argue who. As I said in a previous blog, I've been quite satisfied with my stay, and really had no feedback or complaints, but by the end of the meeting, I felt attacked, disrespected, and angry, for myself and my team. I am relatively easy going, but, as my kindergarten teacher told my mom years ago, I have an over-developed sense of justice. Without giving details, the meeting, the feedback, and the issues, were handled poorly. Period. Maybe it is a difference in culture, but I tend to think it more just a difference in personalities. Who knows. But I expected more. Seems to be a common theme in my life.
Question: Is it better to have high expectations, and run the risk of most likely getting disappointed? Or is it better to have low, or no expectations, and hence be happy with whatever?
Despite the tension in the volunteer home, I still love going to teach and spending time with the kids, and have continued to enjoy my time in India. Although I am disappointed in how things at the meeting went down, I know there are some things you can change, and some things you can't. Some things are worth fighting for, and others aren't. Maybe with alot of arguing and effort I could make the staff give in, but in this case, I think it is just better to let it go and go with the flow. Certainly not worth hanging on to and staying angry about.
While this week may have been a bit lacking, this weekend definitely was not. I had an amazing time in Ranthambhore with my travel buddy Sam. We explored the impressive Ranthambhore Fort on Saturday and then went on a Tiger Safari on Sunday. We had to drive about 20 minutes into the Ranthambhore Park, across the plains, and into the jungle before reaching the fort. It was perched up on the top of a hill looking down over the contrasting plains and jungle. The buildings wer massive, almost like a small town, and had a dreamy ancient feel to them. There were monkeys everywhere, claiming the fort as theirs I suppose. Dinner was amazing as well. Our driver took us to a cheap local place. The food was amazing, very filling, and cost a total of $3! The Tiger Safari the next morning was a success as well. We spotted two tigers (which, apparently, is quite lucky), in addition to several other animals. The deer here seem to be much bigger than those in the states. I never realized how big camels were either.
I really enjoyed the change of scenery and the opportunity to get out of the city and into the wildness. I love seeing the different types of land, the different people, the different arts/crafts/fabrics, the different food. It's such a blessing to be able to travel and volunteer and not just be a tourist looking from the outside in, but actually be living in and experiencing the culture and the country. Hopefully I am able to give even just a small portion back to what this country and experience has given me.
Question: Is it better to have high expectations, and run the risk of most likely getting disappointed? Or is it better to have low, or no expectations, and hence be happy with whatever?
Despite the tension in the volunteer home, I still love going to teach and spending time with the kids, and have continued to enjoy my time in India. Although I am disappointed in how things at the meeting went down, I know there are some things you can change, and some things you can't. Some things are worth fighting for, and others aren't. Maybe with alot of arguing and effort I could make the staff give in, but in this case, I think it is just better to let it go and go with the flow. Certainly not worth hanging on to and staying angry about.
While this week may have been a bit lacking, this weekend definitely was not. I had an amazing time in Ranthambhore with my travel buddy Sam. We explored the impressive Ranthambhore Fort on Saturday and then went on a Tiger Safari on Sunday. We had to drive about 20 minutes into the Ranthambhore Park, across the plains, and into the jungle before reaching the fort. It was perched up on the top of a hill looking down over the contrasting plains and jungle. The buildings wer massive, almost like a small town, and had a dreamy ancient feel to them. There were monkeys everywhere, claiming the fort as theirs I suppose. Dinner was amazing as well. Our driver took us to a cheap local place. The food was amazing, very filling, and cost a total of $3! The Tiger Safari the next morning was a success as well. We spotted two tigers (which, apparently, is quite lucky), in addition to several other animals. The deer here seem to be much bigger than those in the states. I never realized how big camels were either.
I really enjoyed the change of scenery and the opportunity to get out of the city and into the wildness. I love seeing the different types of land, the different people, the different arts/crafts/fabrics, the different food. It's such a blessing to be able to travel and volunteer and not just be a tourist looking from the outside in, but actually be living in and experiencing the culture and the country. Hopefully I am able to give even just a small portion back to what this country and experience has given me. 
It is always better to have high expectations and risk disappointment than to have low expectations. I've noticed over time that both can become self-fulfilling prophecies and that people will often rise to the level of the expectations placed on them. While people higher than you in the food chain or organizational chart may not respond to your expectations, your expectations will be eventually be noticed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for including pictures in your posts. I know you said it's hard to get them to upload, but they really add to the reading experience.
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