Life as a TECHNO Volunteer

Have you ever wondered what life is like at an AMIGOS project where high speed internet is available at your house and you say the word "blog" to kids multiple times during the week? It`s certainly not the typical experience, and I`m sure there are some who think we`re missing out on the "real deal." But I don`t think so.

First, let me tell you about all the unique things about being here in Oaxaca on Project TECHNO. Then, I`ll try to prove that even though we are so different, in many ways, we`re still doing AMIGOS:

Section I (If you were an AMIGOS Vol in the 60s, 70s, or 80s, this stuff might make you check the settings on your monitor, twice)

1) High-speed internet - Yes, I am able to blog at 10 in the evening, read the newspaper from home, and even delete spam from my e-mail account!

2) Food - Sorry guys, there`s no mandioca or bland rice and beans everyday. We eat mole, drink fresh chocolate, and pretty much enjoy food I`d pay for at home.

3) Size - Having a community meeting or making an announcement isn`t the same here. If you remember one of my previous posts, there`s nothing three güeros can do on their own - especially when there are 8,000 people in our town.

4) Modernity in all its shapes and sizes - People here watch Desperate Housewives, see the pirated version of Superman even before Americans do, and have access to all types of technologies and products that we have at home. Here, being an American in Latin America isn`t that big of a deal, and people aren`t that amazed or curious about us.

5) The Volunteer - We are no longer 16 year olds. Most of us are majoring in crazy things like international development or public health. For most, leaving the US is something we`ve done many a time before. Culture shock for us most likely will come when we return home, not when we are here.

Section II (Don`t you worry, this stuff will make any AMIGO reminisce about "that summer")

1) Kids - Kids are always kids, no matter where you are. They can get on your nerves and you just want to slap them with a keyboard, and then all of a sudden they are lovable and friendly. They learn quickly and lose attention quickly. Even if they`re learning how to use a digital camera instead of how to brush their teeth, they`re still kids.

2) Culture and being away - No matter how much you stay in contact through e-mail or phone, you are obviously still miles away from familiarity. This is a different place than back home. Things move way slower, people say "¡Buenos dìas!" and "¡Buenas tardes!" where ever you go, and the smell - it still smells like Latin America (you know exactly what I mean).

3) The meals - People here want to be as hospitable as possible. And that means they want to feed you until you keel over. In the community, there`s still really no such thing here as fast food.

4) The AMIGOS Experience - Still tons of down time. Still classes that never go the way you want them to. Still wondering if what you`re doing is really making any difference or not. Still knowing that this will never be like USA and hoping it never becomes so.

FIN

I`m sure there`s more that I`ve forgotten to put in. But in the end, this is an exciting experience. I will never forget it. There`s one more month left in Santiago Suchilquitongo...stay tuned!

Love,
Apoorva