Not So Great Expectations

Training above all else was a lesson in realism. Mixed in between learning how to say, “Help me! I’m bleeding,” in Spanish and not to throw tortillas to dogs (while seemingly a brilliant solution to rid oneself of a stack of the unwanted staple, this is apparently very offense to Mayans), we were constantly told not to expect to see much results from our service. Before anyone starts contacting his congressman about the ineffectiveness of Peace Corps, I should note that this ‘warning’ if you will is a much-needed reminder for all new volunteers.

Like many others working in development, we (I am speaking for all Peace Corps Volunteers here and am fully aware I am overstepping my bounds) come to our countries as a bit of idealists, whether we would like to admit it or not. We have college degrees and great ideas and are just itching to save the world. However, over time dealing with that unpredictable factor called the human being, a large portion of those in the development world become jaded. The people you are trying to help don’t care or don’t know what they really need as much as you do (because Americans always know best…that’s sarcasm). Cultural differences lead to misunderstandings and slow, if not no, progress. Locals see you as a big dollar sign and expect things to be given to them without any effort of their own.

Knowing what lies ahead, holding onto idealism can only lead to a miserable and frustrating experience that has the propensity to be frustrating even without it. To that end, snuffing any idealist tendencies might very well be the most important function of training. It is all about preparing us to go to our sites with controlled, realist expectations (I know, Jenna, me and my ‘expectation theory’). That said, regardless of however frustrating working here might get or however many times I might contemplate quitting, I am ready to give the next two years helping to improve the quality of life for a group of women weavers here in Tactic. And I am sure in the process I will be changed as much, if not more, than the women with which I am working.