Little little

Credit

Govinda always says that when we're reading through his homework. "Little little," he says. Little by little, everyday, he improves.

Spending time with Govinda and his family has been such a wonderful experience. They are so kind and hospitable. They've helped show me what it means to be patient with oneself, something I feel is insurmountably valuable. Especially when I consider everything I'm doing in my life.

I've enrolled in a TEFL course, which is going really well so far. Also, I'm officially all set to tutor ESL students at my old high school. Going back regularly will be quite the adjustment, but it's one I'm excited to make. Leyden was my safe-haven for four years, and I'll never have anything but warm and fuzzy feelings about it. It feels like I'm going back home, which is fitting. I'll get to say goodbye to it equally, like I'm saying goodbye to all the things that I love before I leave.

Speaking of leaving, I've been keeping my recruiter updated with all my advancements. I'm hoping the steps I've taken will be enough to get me nominated next time around!

But honestly, any disappointment I felt from not being nominated right away has dissipated completely. Taking the TEFL course and tutoring will not only build my confidence with teaching others, it will create skills I didn't know I needed and prepare me for challenges I didn't know I'd face. It's important to get those things before going off, because getting them first in a foreign country would be even more challenging.

Everything happens for a reason. And I'll get there when I'm meant to. In the mean time, I'll simply keep learning. Little little.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Building Up

Well, it wasn't the email I was hoping for. My recruiter informed me that I hadn't been nominated just yet. Was that something I was expecting? Not exactly. Should I have expected it? Probably.

While of course I am disappointed that my journey has been momentarily set back, I can't say I'm discouraged. In fact, I'm excited. This is just another facet of the adventure. I was told to continue volunteering, to really do what I could to make myself a more competitive applicant. And I fully intend to do just that. I need to build myself, and make myself the best volunteer I can possibly be while I'm still here in the States before I set sail to become one on a distant land.

So far, I'm looking into tutoring, particularly with those who are non-native speakers. ESL programs and the like. Also, I want to start a course for TEFL. I think that'll be helpful in the long run. I also intend to email my recruiter to see if he knows of any programs that could be particularly useful in making me a better volunteer and applicant.

This is only the beginning. From this point out, my focus will be on becoming the best, most competitive applicant I can possibly be.

Happy Building!