No, we are not practicing martial arts (although, when Shelbi told someone we were joining the Peace Corps, she was asked if we'd have to fight; alas, our time has not yet come). I just returned from Chişinau where I attended and helped conduct a seminar about successful project design, proposal, implementation, and evaluation. I think it will be very formative for my PC experience and possibly the rest of my life, so I began thinking of the skills that we might not even realize we are adapting. This took me to the Napoleon Dynamite quote which stole the title of the post. Instead of listing all the skills we're developing (it would be pretty short, actually), I'd rather relate to you the basis of this seminar and the exciting things it means for anyone wanting to quantify their purposes.
The origin of the information we presented comes from Peace Corps in Washington, D.C. "Washington" has been collecting information from PC posts all over the world for years and has compiled many trainings that are used now internationally. It has been a great effort of international and inter-post collaboration to improve systematic approaches to education and improvement. Washington has recently released a whole new bunch of information and trainings which we are (having to) implement(ing) in Moldova. It's not really a huge obligation because the information is so useful.
The basis of this last seminar is all about conducting successful projects. "Project Design and Management" kicked off with why do we need this information? In an effort to be as sustainable as possible, the basis of PC is transfer of skills, in which volunteers share more "how to..." in a "give a man a fish/teach a man to fish" philosophy. To conduct a successful project, the first step is to prove the necessity of the effort. This can be done a variety of ways and we were taught and shown a few tools to help. Some basics include surveys, comparison charts, and expert suggestions along with more. At the basis of this whole process is an integral role of the community. One or even two people heading up a project are more likely to fail than a whole community working together towards a joint goal. The group-approach also offers more talent and a wider-range of capabilities than just a few. The group should also be responsible for the direction of the project, including making big decisions and such.
With the group's approval, after identifying the need, strategies for meeting the need are presented and discussed. Sometimes a project can have multiple strategies that could lead towards the goal. The group's responsibility should be to allocate roles and tasks and oversee the monitoring of the implementation of the project.
To ensure accuracy and completion as well as meeting the need and seeing the vision through, the group must have "indicators" which will be met. Once these indicators are met, the group can conclude that the objectives or strategies were effective and the group must re-evaluation the situation. This cyclical system can then be replicated to ensure consistent improvement of the community.
I've identifying my two objectifiable goals while working with our school as the following:
1. To help my partners improve the quality of the English learning (making materials, improving planning, teaching and using super-strategies in class, sharing evaluation techniques, and promoting student-based efforts).
2. To assist in the creation of a group in the school community which can assess, plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate a project to positively affect the school's situation.
Although I've outlined two items as my goals, these items can be large and daunting. The most important thing for me to remember is that they are based on education and learning new skills often is founded on attitude more than anything else.
Attitude-changing reminds me of Aristotle's Rhetoric. Although I can identify a couple of goals that I can evaluate, the "attitude" part of this service reminds me that some things are more difficult to decipher and I possibly won't even see some of the changes while I'm here. I suppose that's where faith in God really applies. Ultimately, I can't objectify everything in my life, but I can realize that some things are not meant to be objectified, but simply trusted. It's a real reminder that the world, my community, my life, and the affects of my effort are not in my control. It's a comforting feeling, and I like it.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
The Song (never) Remains The Same and I Ramble On
Just talked with my brother and Abigail Partlow and really enjoyed them letting me rant and express the ups and downs of living in Moldova. It's great to have a brother who's also my best and longest friend (next to my sister). We can take leaves of absences and not talk much, but reunite instantly when we have the time to talk over skype. It's amazing that I can relate the experience here so easily to him, and he either understands it or acts like he does. I don't know where or how my brother will end up, or if he will ever "end up," but I know he enjoys the ride.
Speaking of ride, yesterday we ventured over to Ocnița (about 30 km away, also in Moldova) where Natalie and Maryam (other PC volunteers) live and where we were treated to a tour of Ocnița, coffee and snacks, and some great experience-swapping (another great unmentioned bonus of serving in the Peace Corps). Maryam summed up a key thought well when she expressed how amazing it is that each volunteer experiences a completely different journey, even being in the same country and the same program (English teaching, Agriculture development, etc.). We are continually stunned at how much variety Moldova has to offer. So much variation depends on which relationships volunteers are blessed with and how those relationships shape the "Moldova" that volunteer gets to know. Our understanding of Moldova is very much shaped by our partners, director, students, and school community.
Tomorrow starts a short week in Briceni for both of us as by the end of the week we'll be heading to Chisinau for a training focusing on "Program Design and Management." I am especially excited about this training because I will attend it with our school director and be a part of directly transferring skills to her so she can implement improvements. The most sustainable Peace Corps models don't just include host-country nationals, but center the training, skill, or project around the host-country nationals' implementation of some change. A more experienced volunteer who I look up to said it like this: "The most sustainable practice we can be involved in is development through education." Although my training in the summer was greatly focused on transferring skills to my partners and school, a fair-deal of it was also focused on preparing me to live and work in Moldova (language training, generic teacher-training, etc.). This upcoming training will be directed towards my director with me tagging along for the ride. It excites me just to think about the concept.
With this training wholly focused on skills-transfer to our director and school, it reminds me of the reality of the situation. A large part of how we think about this experience and Moldova in general is tied to the fact that we plan to stay here for a limited amount of time. A big part of the Peace Corps goal is for us to aid development through the transfer of skills, but a big part of our time already spent here has been our development to become a bit integrated to our community. By the end of February, we will pass the 1/3 marker, which is astonishing, because I truly feel as though I just arrived. Indicators of progress have barely been nudged, and evidence of my short existence in Moldova is limited to a few students' vague memories of the "Americans who couldn't speak Romanian (or Russian)." (I don't really believe that sums it all up, but it might get close). I spoke with another volunteer about this briefly. She is five or six months away from "Close of Service," so I asked her how she felt. She couldn't believe it and, of course, said the time flew by. I realize that will be us in one year, with only a few months to wrap up with. We will be looking back at our brief stay in Moldova to wonder what it means for us and our Moldovan friends. It reminds me of a quote written by Tolkien which I will apologetically use out of context here: "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." Looking forward is a funny way of looking backward, so I will apply this bit of insight to the future and hope that I don't look back on any part of this and regret something. I know that each day is a gift to use to make a little of heaven more apparent on Earth.
There are some intimidating differences between Americans and Moldovans. Some of the differences can easily produce guilt in my heart, and at times when those differences are noted in my presence, I try to have the where-with-all to accept it with dignity. The vast wealth of America is no secret, but talking about it from my homeland is a little different than it being discussed in my presence by a group of people who wish on their best day to have a taste of that feast and on their worst to merely be able to clean up after it. When we look at the numbers, I try to put a stoic, concerned-but-not-corny look on my face that will show I empathize with how Moldovans feel about the stark void that separates our lives. As hard as I try, some days that expression is little more. I will never fully comprehend the extent of the difference, nor will I ever completely grasp or fulfill the responsibility it garners.
One thing I believe I'm learning is the value of my confidence. The fact that I have security taught by my family, reinforced by my options, and challenged but proved by my choices gives me a huge advantage in the world. That advantage does not necessarily make me a better businessman, money-maker, or entrepreneur, but it does make me a better learner and, prayerfully, teacher. But what lesson should I teach? What America may lack, it makes up for in choices and variation. Our endless options make us optimists and schemers of the best sort. Our over-used expression is exactly what we can offer the world: "Where there's a will, there's a way." When applied to developmental anthropology, this optimism is the ideal enemy of the oppressive limits created by suffering.
Speaking of ride, yesterday we ventured over to Ocnița (about 30 km away, also in Moldova) where Natalie and Maryam (other PC volunteers) live and where we were treated to a tour of Ocnița, coffee and snacks, and some great experience-swapping (another great unmentioned bonus of serving in the Peace Corps). Maryam summed up a key thought well when she expressed how amazing it is that each volunteer experiences a completely different journey, even being in the same country and the same program (English teaching, Agriculture development, etc.). We are continually stunned at how much variety Moldova has to offer. So much variation depends on which relationships volunteers are blessed with and how those relationships shape the "Moldova" that volunteer gets to know. Our understanding of Moldova is very much shaped by our partners, director, students, and school community.
Tomorrow starts a short week in Briceni for both of us as by the end of the week we'll be heading to Chisinau for a training focusing on "Program Design and Management." I am especially excited about this training because I will attend it with our school director and be a part of directly transferring skills to her so she can implement improvements. The most sustainable Peace Corps models don't just include host-country nationals, but center the training, skill, or project around the host-country nationals' implementation of some change. A more experienced volunteer who I look up to said it like this: "The most sustainable practice we can be involved in is development through education." Although my training in the summer was greatly focused on transferring skills to my partners and school, a fair-deal of it was also focused on preparing me to live and work in Moldova (language training, generic teacher-training, etc.). This upcoming training will be directed towards my director with me tagging along for the ride. It excites me just to think about the concept.
With this training wholly focused on skills-transfer to our director and school, it reminds me of the reality of the situation. A large part of how we think about this experience and Moldova in general is tied to the fact that we plan to stay here for a limited amount of time. A big part of the Peace Corps goal is for us to aid development through the transfer of skills, but a big part of our time already spent here has been our development to become a bit integrated to our community. By the end of February, we will pass the 1/3 marker, which is astonishing, because I truly feel as though I just arrived. Indicators of progress have barely been nudged, and evidence of my short existence in Moldova is limited to a few students' vague memories of the "Americans who couldn't speak Romanian (or Russian)." (I don't really believe that sums it all up, but it might get close). I spoke with another volunteer about this briefly. She is five or six months away from "Close of Service," so I asked her how she felt. She couldn't believe it and, of course, said the time flew by. I realize that will be us in one year, with only a few months to wrap up with. We will be looking back at our brief stay in Moldova to wonder what it means for us and our Moldovan friends. It reminds me of a quote written by Tolkien which I will apologetically use out of context here: "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us." Looking forward is a funny way of looking backward, so I will apply this bit of insight to the future and hope that I don't look back on any part of this and regret something. I know that each day is a gift to use to make a little of heaven more apparent on Earth.
There are some intimidating differences between Americans and Moldovans. Some of the differences can easily produce guilt in my heart, and at times when those differences are noted in my presence, I try to have the where-with-all to accept it with dignity. The vast wealth of America is no secret, but talking about it from my homeland is a little different than it being discussed in my presence by a group of people who wish on their best day to have a taste of that feast and on their worst to merely be able to clean up after it. When we look at the numbers, I try to put a stoic, concerned-but-not-corny look on my face that will show I empathize with how Moldovans feel about the stark void that separates our lives. As hard as I try, some days that expression is little more. I will never fully comprehend the extent of the difference, nor will I ever completely grasp or fulfill the responsibility it garners.
One thing I believe I'm learning is the value of my confidence. The fact that I have security taught by my family, reinforced by my options, and challenged but proved by my choices gives me a huge advantage in the world. That advantage does not necessarily make me a better businessman, money-maker, or entrepreneur, but it does make me a better learner and, prayerfully, teacher. But what lesson should I teach? What America may lack, it makes up for in choices and variation. Our endless options make us optimists and schemers of the best sort. Our over-used expression is exactly what we can offer the world: "Where there's a will, there's a way." When applied to developmental anthropology, this optimism is the ideal enemy of the oppressive limits created by suffering.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Chillin' Our Way Through January
The beginning of January has been a tumult of emotions. First of all, we continue to miss family during this time. We've happily been able to skype with family lately, which has been very good. Yesterday we started our second semester and were reminded of some of the joys and stresses of our work here. Rewind... on Christmas by the Julian (old) calendar, we were invited to our former host's home to enjoy a masa and share the holiday with them. Here are a few picture of the wonderful time we had with them.
So, I know we have a post titled "Cooking With Shelbi," but these treats have just been such an important part of our time during these holidays, we needed to show them here where you are more likely to stumble upon them.
Shelbi's family has sent a package and just look at these smiles. We were surprised with some wonderfully warm Smart-wool socks, head-warmers, and a cookie-cutter kit. All of these very practical gifts we have put to immediate use.
Our neighbor woke us up (old) Christmas morning and gave us what you see below. We didn't quite understand if anything was expected of us when she gave us these gifts, so we just smiled and said, "Thank you" as many times as we could. After asking later we learned that nothing was expected of us, but that this is either a regional tradition or a neighbor being neighborly or a little or both. Our neighbor speaks a little Romanian, but mostly Russian. Still, she is very amiable, as you can see.
Earlier today, just before dark, it began snowing. For a good hour it dropped heavily, covering the trees again. It was so beautiful I had to take a little video. As we've mentioned before, we've never lived in a truly winterly place. Texas doesn't quite quality as a winter wonderland every year, so we're experiencing something new but exciting with the snow. It still makes us giddy when it falls :)
Here is our lunch today. It was just so colorful and strange. Pictured are pickled tomatoes, pickled cucumbers, scrambled eggs, salami slices, and a bit of bread. It was great. My partner and our school director have given us large jars of preserved items, including cucumbers, tomatoes, cauliflower, and others. They also gave us compot (natural fruit juice), so I know we will make it comfortably through the winter with these. The tomatoes below were some of these.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Noroc for Anul Nou
Cu Anul Nou fericit! Happy New Year! We are in the midst of the Moldovan holiday season, beginning with Christmas (Dec. 25th), continuing through New Year (possibly the biggest holiday we've experienced in Moldova thus far), and finishing on January 7th with Christmas (based on the Julian calendar). Live 3-4 ft. Christmas trees can be bought in the piata, families are spending much more time together, and children are caroling. Altogether, this time of year is not very different than what we've experienced state-side.
Some things we're encountering during this time of the year definitely include missing family, as well as a continued challenge regarding our purpose and how God is using this time in our lives. Luckily for our missing people we have Skype and the internet (although the last three days we found ourselves internet-less but have since cleared that up). We've been able to clock some face-time with family especially because they are spending more time at home. Free video time with Skype is something we are very thankful for, and it is truly a great example of technology's benefits.
We had very vague expectations when applying for the Peace Corps and even when we began traveling to Moldova. As a matter of fact, even through the summer our expectations remained vague. So much depended on who we would be working with and how our school would be structured (not to mention where we would be living and how we would integrate into the community). God has granted us so much and only in retrospect can we begin to appreciate a little of it. Here is a quick list of what we are praising Him for right now:
This list cannot really be complete. The range of emotional impressions and daily surprises will never be properly conveyed through these meager words. Below are a few of our latest endeavors, beginning with some interview questions taken of foreigners to Moldova at an event we got to attend. It was the Christmas Bazaar in Chisinau at which many international organizations presented their traditional cuisine providing a fundraiser for women and children of Moldova.
Here are wonderful and accurate verbal descriptions of Moldova by foreigners. We agree:
What Is Moldova? video
When the temperature dropped, Shelbi got super creative and thought of a few ways to festive-up our apartment building. The first was to freeze colored water in balloons and when the balloon skins were scrapped off, we had some hanging color balls. They looked nice hanging from our clothesline (students even mentioned them curiously) until the temperature spiked, and, like Frosty, they went away.
Evidence that we celebrated in true Wallace tradition. I'm okay with making Coca-Cola a Christmas ritual in the Rucker family.
John can barely hide his enthusiasm for colored hanging balls from the clothesline.
A nice walk in the snowy woods we got to have with Matt Rutter (below). Matt spent a few days with us around the New Year and we were able to relax with walks and conversation.
Vadim is a bold believer who loves to laugh and joke. He has been to our apartment a few times and always brings great joy. He has been our biggest helper in understanding what's going on at church because he can translate Russian using excellent English. We look forward to working with him in the future. By the way, here he is wearing a mask we brought back from Romania. The tradition is that around New Year's, people dress up in "ugly" masks to scare away evil spirits for the New Year. Kids go around caroling and reciting poems for people who give our treats or money. (Think Halloween at New Year's).
Vadim brought over some amazing coins worth thousands of U.S. dollars. The most impressive that had all of our jaws dragging the floor was this coin allegedly featuring Caesar's head. We discussed the possibility of this being a Roman coin and the far reaching Roman Empire, and Vadim said it helps him understand when Jesus tells people to give to Casear what is Caesar's.
Above is the center of Briceni New Year's Eve. Many people gather in the center and set off fireworks and drink. We stayed for ten minutes and realized the danger that this combination created and left.
I am currently writing this blog from our tent. It is raining outside and I'm sure you are amazed at the advanced technology in Moldova. Although we, too, are amazed at the inexpensive, reliable, and rapid internet access, I've left out some important information.
We wanted to have a fun evening, so we set up our tent in our big room (which also happens to have the heater) and ate our dinner, watched a movie, and have been hanging out together for the past few hours. It's really fun. We can't wait to get back and go camping with whoever is reading this.
With the low temperatures here, Shelbi often says, "I'm cold," to which I reply, "Put on more clothes." I hadn't noticed how much extra time she had been spending drying her hair until I happened to walk in one day and found Shelbi sitting next to the heater and smiling, warm for once.
Some things we're encountering during this time of the year definitely include missing family, as well as a continued challenge regarding our purpose and how God is using this time in our lives. Luckily for our missing people we have Skype and the internet (although the last three days we found ourselves internet-less but have since cleared that up). We've been able to clock some face-time with family especially because they are spending more time at home. Free video time with Skype is something we are very thankful for, and it is truly a great example of technology's benefits.
We had very vague expectations when applying for the Peace Corps and even when we began traveling to Moldova. As a matter of fact, even through the summer our expectations remained vague. So much depended on who we would be working with and how our school would be structured (not to mention where we would be living and how we would integrate into the community). God has granted us so much and only in retrospect can we begin to appreciate a little of it. Here is a quick list of what we are praising Him for right now:
- We are both healthy.
- Our partners are all extremely patient and willing to work.
- We had a gracious host family who are as friendly as family and continue to welcome us to their home.
- An apartment was arranged for us and is a place for us to relax or have guests in an already accommodating and pleasant place (we didn't have to redo or change the place).
- We have found a church with similar traditions to our faith and members who can relate to us in English (although services are in Russian).
- God has opened our eyes to a (more) real winter than what we've had in Texas, but Moldova's distinct seasons continue to impress us.
- Peace Corps allows vacation days and we've used a few to see some of Romania (and accidentally see some of Ukraine, which was stressful, but God brought us through).
- We work at jobs and maintain schedules more synchronous than we ever imagined, so have more time together than we've ever had both professionally and informal. This time together has not made us tired or irritated with each other, but helped us re-realize why we got married in the first place. We are truly in love and with time continue to experience how God blesses our relationship despite our imperfections.
- We didn't consider this next one until it was forced upon us: a sideline bonus to joining the Peace Corps that is actually quite remarkable is the surprise of all the Americans we've met who are crazy, passionate, dedicated, and interested in cultural exchange. We've met Peace Corps Volunteers from all over America, and during training as well as at times we get to visit each other, we continue to have cultural exchange. We were further surprised by how many PCV Christians we've met and the depth of conversation they've provided.
- The idealistic applicants who began this journey almost two years ago wanted to go somewhere and help. The biggest slap-in-the-face of this experience has been the utter helplessness we've felt and the infinite welcome most Moldovans have expressed for us. I can speak for many volunteers here when I say that we are a bunch of confident and competent people who have had the rug pulled out from under us. We've found the shoe on the other foot as we've had to ask for more help than we can offer. The biggest contributors to this situation are the language and cultural barriers. Luckily, we are developing relationships and the host-country nationals seem interested in continuing our cultural exchanges even after they help us get adjusted and explain what surely to them are mundane details of life.
- We are also surprised at how thoroughly Peace Corps as a program takes care of us. The medical unit is top-notch and will provide any expense to maintain our health. The safety department in Moldova goes so far to provide "Yak-Traks" (ice-gripping shoe bottoms) during our stay so we don't bust on the ice like so many around us (seriously, I've witnessed many a Moldovan drop and spill due to slicker-than-slim conditions with the ice). Furthermore, the administration here is open for discussing any issue and the basis of Peace Corps seems to be an organic approach ready and willing to be flexible to host-country and volunteer needs.
This list cannot really be complete. The range of emotional impressions and daily surprises will never be properly conveyed through these meager words. Below are a few of our latest endeavors, beginning with some interview questions taken of foreigners to Moldova at an event we got to attend. It was the Christmas Bazaar in Chisinau at which many international organizations presented their traditional cuisine providing a fundraiser for women and children of Moldova.
Here are wonderful and accurate verbal descriptions of Moldova by foreigners. We agree:
What Is Moldova? video
When the temperature dropped, Shelbi got super creative and thought of a few ways to festive-up our apartment building. The first was to freeze colored water in balloons and when the balloon skins were scrapped off, we had some hanging color balls. They looked nice hanging from our clothesline (students even mentioned them curiously) until the temperature spiked, and, like Frosty, they went away.
I am currently writing this blog from our tent. It is raining outside and I'm sure you are amazed at the advanced technology in Moldova. Although we, too, are amazed at the inexpensive, reliable, and rapid internet access, I've left out some important information.
We wanted to have a fun evening, so we set up our tent in our big room (which also happens to have the heater) and ate our dinner, watched a movie, and have been hanging out together for the past few hours. It's really fun. We can't wait to get back and go camping with whoever is reading this.
With the low temperatures here, Shelbi often says, "I'm cold," to which I reply, "Put on more clothes." I hadn't noticed how much extra time she had been spending drying her hair until I happened to walk in one day and found Shelbi sitting next to the heater and smiling, warm for once.
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