La vida es una sola...: Amalia...

Happy 2012! Wishing you all the best and that you may all find peace within for this new year...

Amalia...

As I look back and reflect on 2011, I think one of the most touching and memorable experiences for me was my trip to Romania. I participated in a Habitat for Humanity Romania trip and it was my first time working with this organization. I would not say that I am the most articulate person nor am I very good at voicing my opinion. Sometimes, I just find that some experiences are very hard to put into words However, I have had a lot of time to think about this experience and therefore, will try my best to put some of it into my awkward words...

I am always a bit hesitant to work with different development organizations because just like everything else in life, there are always strengths/weaknesses and advantages/disadvantages (especially in dealing with big organizations). I learned this lesson very well while working as a Peace Corps Volunteer for two years in Honduras. I have no regrets about joining the Peace Corps and found it to be a very life changing journey. I know there are many people in this world that want to help others and believe in living by the golden rule. However, we must sometimes be quite careful in choosing the people and/or organizations that we work with as I think some are out for personal glorification and bragging rights or they even have a higher political and/or religious agenda. With large organizations there are always certain hoops that one must jump through and bureaucracy to deal with. Now, I am not saying that volunteering and development work cannot be gratifying. It is always important to remember that those we are trying to help can teach us so much and that perhaps in the end, we are the ones that walk away more changed and touched.

With that said, I was really pleased with Habitat for Humanity. I was really anxious to see how my time of only a week fit into the whole scheme of sustainable development. How was my work and time of only one week going to create a sustainable project? With volunteer work, Habitat for Humanity is able to keep the costs of their houses down and therefore, they are able to serve more people. Furthermore, what could be more sustainable or long lasting than a house? The families that the houses are being built for are also working along side the volunteers. This creates a great opportunity to meet and communicate with people from different cultures. I met so many wonderful people from the Roma village of Baltesti. One of my most memorable experiences was laughing, playing, singing, and working with Amalia (who I think it goes without saying stole a huge piece of my heart) and the other children in Baltesti! I think that it is important to remember that "a decent home opens the door to improved health, better performance in school, greater economic opportunities and increased community cohesion" in a world where it can be such a challenge to meet basic needs for many people.

I have almost forgotten to mention the amazing and fantastic employees of Habitat for Humanity Romania that I met. From the volunteer coordinator to the constructions managers and workers on the build sites, I was able to work with some of the most compassionate, affectionate, and patient people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Moreover, I was able to get to know a fantastic group of people from Doha (many of whom work at my school) that I would probably have never gotten to know if I had not gone on this trip. I think that when hearts and minds come together for such a journey, you get to know people on a personal and intimate level that is otherwise hard to reach.

What am I really trying to say here? I had really missed doing volunteer work since my Peace Corps days and I thought going on this trip would be a great way to get back into it. I think it is important to remember that we cannot always "get" in life, but we must "give" as well. These two words were always posted in my dad's classroom and they are two words that I now use in my own classroom. We cannot fight all the battles in life, but I think it is important to find our niche and "give" in a way that is meaningful to us. Find what works for you, but also be wary of those underlying agendas if there are any...

I hope I have not spun my wheels or walked around in circles. Perhaps, this is why I tend to keep most of my opinions and thoughts to myself...

Here are a few of the highlights through pictures from an amazing week in a beautiful country: