New Definition of Failure

Being a PCV has taught me a lot. One of the things is about failure. Before PC I used to think everything I did had to be completely successful and perfect. Lessons had to be planned, kids had to sign up and come, and they had to learn exactly what the objectives were. Needless to say, I look at it a little differently.

Last year before the kids were going on summer break, I had a couple different ideas for summer activities: computer club, reading clubs, reading and math help. When time came for the kids to sign up, the computer clubs were packed (and I had to add extra) and no one signed up for any of the other activities.

Again last year we restarted up Girl Guides. At first the girls came regularly, but then it began to taper off, especially with Carnival activities. At the same time, the boys in the community were constantly bugging me as to when Boy Scouts would start. I didn’t want to leave the girls that did come to Girl Guides without anything, hence Boys and Girls Club aka Superstars Club.

My new definition of success is: did the kids have an activity they wanted (not necessarily the one I was planning on from the beginning), did they have fun, and did they learn something. I now tend to come up with projects in twos or threes and hope one succeeds. If an idea doesn’t come to fruition, it doesn’t mean it failed, just not want the kids wanted or needed!

Conference

This Saturday is the Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV), Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) and Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund Overseas Volunteer (TOV) that myself along with two other volunteers have been planning for months! I am looking forward to the conference because it should be a lot of fun! I'm nervous though because it's something that I've helped plan. Planning this conference comes under my VAC (volunteer advisory council) duties. It's been really fun getting to know Grace and Chika (the two volunteers I've worked with on this) better, planning, and getting to see it come to reality!
I'm sure the volunteers have gotten tired of my many emails this past month! From emails about the conference, to our MST video that I needed pictures for, to the Project Plan review that I also needed pictures for, they're going to be greatful when this month is over!
I also got to go with Luthur to get shots for the visa process. He doesn't have a shot record and last week when the school nurses were in giving the 2nd Hep B shot to the grade 6 students, they were telling them to get the 3rd one in December and I realized that we needed to start his shot process started ASAP! I don't want him to get turned down because he doesn't have his shots :). He had to get 5 shots and some drops. In a couple weeks he has to go back and could get up to 6 more shots (right now I'm checking at a hospital to see what shots they have, if they have them all, he's getting 6)!
For those of you who want to know about the visa process, we're in the waiting stage. We probably won't hear anything about the first step until about September. Thankfully the PC application process taught me all about waiting!