I'm long overdue for an update here. Once I arrived in the US after my week long journey filled with miscommunications and cultural frustrations, I wasn't really in the right mind set to post on what the readjustment has been like. So, a month later I'm finally writing this.
There are days where Georgia seems like a long ago dream. There are others that make me regret my decision not to renew my contract. Overall, I'm making the big adjustments (transferring to UW Madison in the spring, moving to Madison this fall, getting a job) that I need to in order to continue on in life. I'm enjoying seeing friends and spending time with family. I can once again drive and understand all the conversations around me not just bits and pieces. I have all my luxuries like free wi-fi and easily accessed libraries. It's been a good month back.
However, I still say "modloba" instead of "thank you" sometimes. I think our money looks weird and really, really miss Georgian coins (kinda an odd thing to miss, but I never said I was normal did I?). I have a ton of stories to tell people, but when I'm asked about my trip I'm at a loss of words. I can no longer cross the street like an American and find myself bracing for the crazy driving of Georgia. I miss bargaining for things at the market. Almost everyday I see or read something that gives me an idea for a lesson plan. Those are the days that I want to jump on a plane and fly back.
I don't know how to bring this to a close. I'm still in an inbetween place when it comes to my thoughts and feelings about the whole experience. I wouldn't change my decision to go to Georgia, but there are many challenges that I wish I could have been more prepared to handle. I recommend the program to anyone who is considering taking the risk of volunteering overseas. I walked away knowing and being more than I imagined (I had some pretty high expectations about how I'd change too, so that's saying something).I want to go back, and I want to travel more.
I'll just have to find some more adventures while I save up the money to do just that.
Showing posts with label School of Americas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School of Americas. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Sunday, October 31, 2010
First Protest!
Yesterday I spent the day at a retreat for Creighton's trip to the Igantian Teach-In. On November 12th I will be leaving with about 50 other students and faculty for Washington DC. We will be meeting with other members of the Jesuit community across the world to learn and protest against injustices. Our group will be lobbying to many senators for three issues: climate change, immigration, and the closing of WHINSEC (previously known as School of Americas).
This protest all started in 1989 when Jesuits working in South America were brutally murdered by graduates of the School of Americas. For those who don't know what this organization is, I suggest this wiki link. The United States, in hopes of preventing communism in South America started a school during the cold war for armies of many Latin American countries. Currently the school is located in Georgia under the name of WHINSEC. Graduates have gone on to become noted dictators, civil rights abusers, and cruel leaders of many of the wars seen on that continent in the last sixty years. You are certainly entitled to your opinion on the pros/cons of this organization. I'd love to hear about them. This protest called the Teach-In, however, speaks out against the school and hopes to stop what we see as injustice.
I'm going in hopes of learning more and becoming connected to the larger international community of Jesuits, their schools, and the lay people connected with hundreds of social justice orientated organizations. It will be my first protest. I see it as a great way to use the political rights we all have to make a stand for an issue I believe in. I don't plan on doing anything illegal. No worries, I won't be getting arrested or anything. I believe in being pragmatic in my search for justice and working within the system of law while opportunities still exist to allow for civil discourse and mutual action.
There is a lot to do between now and leaving. I should prolly finish all my essays I have due this week. Not to mention that E&M test. *sigh* I need more time to accomplish everything in a given day.
Enjoy your Halloween and be safe.
This protest all started in 1989 when Jesuits working in South America were brutally murdered by graduates of the School of Americas. For those who don't know what this organization is, I suggest this wiki link. The United States, in hopes of preventing communism in South America started a school during the cold war for armies of many Latin American countries. Currently the school is located in Georgia under the name of WHINSEC. Graduates have gone on to become noted dictators, civil rights abusers, and cruel leaders of many of the wars seen on that continent in the last sixty years. You are certainly entitled to your opinion on the pros/cons of this organization. I'd love to hear about them. This protest called the Teach-In, however, speaks out against the school and hopes to stop what we see as injustice.
I'm going in hopes of learning more and becoming connected to the larger international community of Jesuits, their schools, and the lay people connected with hundreds of social justice orientated organizations. It will be my first protest. I see it as a great way to use the political rights we all have to make a stand for an issue I believe in. I don't plan on doing anything illegal. No worries, I won't be getting arrested or anything. I believe in being pragmatic in my search for justice and working within the system of law while opportunities still exist to allow for civil discourse and mutual action.
There is a lot to do between now and leaving. I should prolly finish all my essays I have due this week. Not to mention that E&M test. *sigh* I need more time to accomplish everything in a given day.
Enjoy your Halloween and be safe.